Cheltenham

As we head into the final month of 2022, we have lots of festive inspiration for you. From a tasty treat for friends and family, and ideas for sprinkling some festive flair on your interiors, to a roundup of beauty advent calendars, and loads of ideas for activities to keep the kids happy in the lead-up to the big day.

Our What’s On section is also full of Christmas events to help you get into the festive spirit. There are enchanted trails, crafty Christmas workshops, concerts, festivals, fayres and lots of family entertainment!

Will Mbanga highlights one of the most important messages of this season in his Looking Good, Feeling Great feature, as he encourages us to help and support others through what can be a tough time of year.

All of us at The Local Answer wish you a safe and happy Christmas. If

Delicious Dish

with Helen Kingscott

Deliciously chewy apple and date bites

Keep things simple this Christmas with a tasty traybake that is sure to be a hit with both children and adults alike. Makes 8 bites.

Ingredients:

150g cooking apples

150g stoned dates

280g light soft brown sugar

175g plain flour

225g butter

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g porridge oats

Method:

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan/gas mark 5). Grease and line an 18cm square tin.

2 Peel, core and chop the apples and put into a saucepan with about two tablespoons of water. Bring to the boil then simmer until cooked.

3 Add the dates and 50g of the sugar and continue to simmer for five minutes. Take off the heat then mash together with a fork until well mixed.

4 Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan then add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, oats and the remaining sugar and stir until well coated.

5 Press half of this mixture into the tin, spread the apple and date mixture on top, then cover with the remaining oat mixture. Press down gently

with the back of a spoon.

6 Bake for approximately 30 minutes until lovely and golden. Cool in the tin, then cut into squares.

Tip: Make twice as many, as they’re very tasty and will disappear in no time, especially if you’re hosting family and friends over Christmas!

We care about the environment

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Fully-recyclable

As well as the paper, the inks and varnishes used in producing The Local Answer are biodegradable The process used by recycling companies to extract inks and coatings including UV varnishes from the paper render the paper suitable for pulping and recycling

Medical Health

The most common male cancer

Earlier this year, much-loved journalist and BBC television presenter Bill Turnbull passed away due to prostate cancer. He spent the last few years of his life raising awareness of the disease, which sees one in eight men diagnosed in their lifetime. This makes it the most common male cancer in the UK. According to Prostate Cancer UK, the disease kills more than 11,500 men in the UK every year, with another 47,500 diagnosed. Worryingly, most men don’t know anything about the illness, according to male cancer charity Orchid.

The risk of prostate cancer increases as you get older, with most cases developing in men aged 50 or older, the NHS says. Black men are more likely to be affected, while it is less common among Asian men. The risk is also higher for those with a family history of the disease.

Men who have these risk factors may be offered a test by their GP, but there is no national screening programme for the disease. As with all cancers, the earlier it is found, the easier it is to treat.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis and is part of the male reproductive system. About the size of a walnut, it is located between the penis and

the bladder, and surrounds the urethra. Its main function is to produce a thick white fluid that creates semen when mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles.

Symptoms

Symptoms of prostate cancer will usually not appear until the cancer is large enough to press against the urethra. If you find yourself needing to urinate more often, having to wait longer before you can pass urine, or urinating involuntarily after going to the toilet, it is a good idea to get checked by a doctor.

However, Prostate Cancer UK says it is more likely to be a sign of a very common noncancerous problem in men –an enlarged prostate. Other warning signs include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine, weight loss or any new and unexplained lower back pain.

Testing

There is no single test for prostate cancer. All the tests used to help diagnose the condition

have benefits and risks that your doctor should discuss with you. The most commonly used tests for prostate cancer are:

• Blood tests

• A physical examination of the prostate known as a digital rectal examination (DRE)

• An MRI scan

• A biopsy

Treatment

If you do have prostate cancer, you may not need treatment. If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest either ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’.

The best option depends on your age and overall health. Both options involve carefully monitoring your condition. Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in the early stages. Early detection is always the key.

If you are concerned, talk to your GP, or for further information visit www.nhs.uk/ conditions/prostate-cancer or www.prostatecanceruk.org

with Kirsty Lilley

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

with Val Starr

Beauty advent calendars

Advent calendar season is back and it would be remiss of me not to share the fantastic beauty advent calendars on offer. This annual treat has become very popular and a major must-have for serious beauty fans.

Every year they seem to get bigger and better as the competition heats up to be crowned the ‘top calendar’ The great thing is that you, the consumer, are always the winner!

Advent calendars are a great way to sample products that might usually be out of your budget range to see if you like them, and may result in you purchasing the full products at a later date. This is what beauty companies hope to achieve.

The savings are often quite extraordinary. More and more calendars now offer several full-size products along with the small trial sizes, all set to entice you in. They often sell out fast, so be quick if you want to get your hands on one. Here are a few that I liked the look of this year.

Liberty

The iconic London shop started the calendar craze back in 2014. Their offering comes at a hefty price, but you get a lot for your money. The women’s option costs £245, but is worth £1,065. It contains 30 products, 20 of which are full-size, with brands such as Dr Sebagh.

For the man in your life, the calendar will cost £235, with a value of £803. It has an assortment of 27 items – 16 of which are full-size – including grooming essentials, fragrances and even a signature Liberty tipple.

Boots

Martin Lewis gave his seal of approval to the Boots No7 calendar! At only £49.50 and with a value of £211, this year there is an extra surprise as ten golden tickets have been placed inside the calendars, entitling the lucky recipients to £1,000 worth of No7 products.

Boots also offer other brands’ calendars at their cosmetic counters. At £65, the Liz Earle calendar contains 12 iconic products, including their Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser. Benefit’s costs £59.50 and contains 12 of their most popular make-up items.

Head to the Clarins counter for his and hers. His has 12 products for £65, including SPF moisturiser and an eye gel, while hers costs £75 and includes a double serum and lip comfort oil.

Charlotte Tilbury

Famed make-up artist to the stars, Charlotte Tilbury offers her Diamond Chest of Beauty Stars with five full-size and seven mini products worth £245 for only £150. The jeweladorned box can then be used

all year to store your beauty items.

John Lewis

With a value of £770, the John Lewis calendar (pictured) is a great option. It costs £179 and includes full-size products from brands such as Olaplex and Sunday Riley. Ten lucky customers will also reveal a £500 John Lewis gift voucher inside door 25 – that would be a nice bonus Christmas gift!

Marks and Spencer

M&S are back with a fabulous offer on their beauty calendar. With an overall value of £300, you can get your hands on one for only £40 when you spend £30 on clothing, beauty or homeware.

Molton Brown

A bathtime favourite, this calendar costs £195 and gets you mini candles, bath and shower gels, plus various lotions valued at £329.

Whichever one you choose, I hope you thoroughly enjoy opening each window and discovering the great products on offer this year! Happy holidays!

Looking Good, Feeling Great

with Will Mbanga

The greatest gift

Several years ago I received an email from best-selling author and international speaker Tony Robbins – not a ‘personal’ email I hasten to add!

He talked about how he had doubled his input in an initiative to help feed two million Americans that year, and something he said in his promotional material really resonated with me. It read: “My success in life will be based on my ability to give, not my ability to take.”

It was quite eye-opening for me, having grown up in Africa, to hear Tony Robbins, an American, speaking about how very real the issues of hunger, deprivation and poverty in America were, given how little media attention and discussion this generates.

It was also ironic that this initiative was being advertised at the same time as the North American tradition of Thanksgiving was taking place. As with Christmas and other festive events around the world, these times of the year are well known for over-consumption and waste, while many struggle.

A time when families and communities come together

The one thing I do know, is that this is one time when North American (and increasingly more British) families and communities come together and celebrate so many good things. I wish that all of us could live ‘Thanksgiving’ 365 days a year, rather than just one day.

Our overall wellbeing is so much more than what we achieve in the gym. I like to

think of it as ‘the four Fs’. Many of you are likely on a path to improving your life through some of these elements:

• Finances: job/business

• Fr’amily: relationships with family and friends

• Fitness: taking care of your body through exercise, sleep and good nutrition

• Faith: taking care of your spiritual wellbeing and mental health

It’s true that if your physical body is taken care of, it will perform, endure and enable you to navigate your journey through life. But I think this special time of year reminds us that there is more to life than exercise.

As humans, we feel a sense of fulfilment when helping and giving to others. As Christmas draws nearer, friends and family gather, some enjoying precious moments together, others saying their goodbyes.

I hope we all use this time to give of ourselves those things which are really important – our time, attention, courtesy, respect

and love. Giving gifts, anonymous or expected, is a generous thing to do, but during this tricky period we’re all navigating when perhaps we can’t splash the cash, maybe offering our presence instead of presents will mean so much more.

Help yourself by helping others

Whether volunteering with a charity or supporting a friend, studies show that offering help makes us feel good. So why not be a bit selfish this Christmas and help yourself by helping others? It’s a win-win!

In December 2013, the world lost an icon who gave the best of himself so that all people would know the dignity of being truly free. All around us we see, hear or read examples of men and women from every nation who have chosen to give, rather than to take.

Let’s keep that in mind this festive season and see if our actions can not only improve our own wellbeing, but that of friends, family and strangers. Happy Christmas!

Holidays & Travel

with Al Hidden

Around the world by DVD

December’s here, the perfect time to add to our film collections, do some stocking filling or get travel inspiration on favourite streaming platforms. So I thought about DVDs that always inspire me with their sense of place – and might do so for you. Let’s dim the lights in India and work our way back to Europe!

In Mumbai, an office worker’s wrongly delivered lunch drives heart-warming comedy drama set in India’s largest metropolis. The Lunchbox (stop sniggering in the back row please) is as mouth-watering as Ila’s food…

Further east, Japanese boy meets girl with a 180-degree twist in a bizarre, upside-down Anime world where the sky’s literally the limit. The beautifully drawn Patema Inverted delights and challenges throughout. So does The Rabbit Proof Fence’s true story of hope, survival and Australia’s ‘Stolen Generations’ of aboriginal children.

Thrills aplenty

Across the Pacific, 1993’s Falling Down is an unconventional thriller. It powerfully blends shattering violence with the absurdly funny as Bill Foster (Michael Douglas) makes his ‘more than angry’ journey across scorching Los Angeles –ordering fast food won’t be the same again!

Counterpoint Hollywood drama with gritty reality as two British women paddle 2500 chilly kilometres in Alaska. And if Kayaking the Aleutians isn’t scary enough, try the 3,200foot rope-free climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan with Alex Honnold in Free Solo. Don’t look down!

For great Cuban music and atmosphere, Ry Cooder’s Buena Vista Social Club is another favourite. And in a biopic once described as breathtakingly beautiful enough to be a travel ad for South America, The Motorcycle Diaries will surely reward – and inspire South American adventures.

Cool, crazy and back to the 1960s

In Europe, Norway’s Cool & Crazy engagingly profiles Berlevåg’s male choir, while Hans Petter Moland’s ‘sly, entertaining revenge thriller’ In Order of Disappearance is set in the country’s haunting snowscapes.

From 1960s France, Belle et Sébastien always takes me back to childhood’s black and white TV. And I defy you not to laugh through Mr. Bean’s Holiday journey to the Côte d’Azur. Further south, 1970’s cult Figures in a Landscape sets a mysterious helicopter against two fugitives in a landscape of arid plains and snowy mountains (actually, Southern Spain).

And finally, because I love anything Swiss, Erich Langjahr’s Hirtenreise ins dritte Jahrtausend (Shepherd’s Journey into the Third Millennium) is a gentle gem of a documentary. Hard to find and costing a fortune if you do, it’s worth the effort!

Season’s greetings and happy viewing everyone!

Dave and Da rcy Go to the Beach

Dave and Da rcy a re goi ng to the beach fo r thei r sum me r holi da ys an d a week filled with fu n . Follow the m on thei r adventu res as they make friends and me mo ries by the sea - but watch out fo r that naughty seagull!

Dave and Da rcy Go to the Show

Dave and Da rcy d ress u p s ma rt to go to the local village pony show. They face many challenges throughout the day including big ju mps and tricky d ressage routines! How will they do in the com petitions? Will they win any rosettes?

Dave and Da rcy Have a Bi rth da y Pa rt y

It’s Da ve’s bi rth da y a nd the whol e ga ng ha ve com e to cel eb rate with hi m an d Da rc y! The re will be lots of fu n ga mes an d l ots of yu mm y ca ke . Ma ke s u re yo u do n’t miss th e pa rt y!

Dave an d Da rcy Save Ch rist mas

Sa nta ’s rei ndee r a re all poo rl y so the re is no bod y to fl y the sleigh an d d eli ve r p resents . Joi n Da ve an d Da rc y as the y whi zz a roun d th e wo rl d an d hel p to sa ve Ch rist mas!

Da ve a nd Da rc y Go on Saf

Da ve an d Da rc y a re off o n safa ri to s th e a ni mals of Africa . O n thei r t ri p th ey make l ots of n ew frien ds , f ro m gi raffes to lion s , as well as a bab y el epha nt that is i n t rou ble! Will the y be abl e to h el p?

Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6£9/hour).

Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm.

You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.

Parenting & Guardianship

with Roberta Smart

Make an event out of advent

December is dominated by the ‘big day’ near the end, but why wait until the 25th to celebrate when you can create magic all through the month?

Make an event out of advent rather than simply focusing all your energies on one day – this spreads the load and takes away a lot of the stress of expectation.

By doing small activities every day, your family can make the magic of Christmas a fun and relaxing affair. So, here are my suggestions for fun festive activities you can enjoy in the buildup to the big day.

Treasured

decorations to use in years to come

Start by getting your tree and decorating with the basics, then add one ornament each day for advent. Choose from traditional saved decorations, new treats or, indeed, you could make your own ornaments using salt dough, paper, paint and glitter. These are sure to become treasured decorations to keep and use in the years to come.

Think of the birds in the cold weather by creating a nature

Christmas tree, featuring fat balls, nuts, seeds and berries strung along the branches.

Then get wrapped up warm and go on a hunt for Christmas lights at dusk. There is nothing more exciting than seeing the amazing sparkles and colours decorating houses and shop windows this month.

Try not to get overwhelmed shopping for gifts. Why not add a budget challenge just for fun? Seeing what you can find or create for a limited budget is such a fun challenge and feels so rewarding, especially for older kids who may not want to spend all their pocket money!

If you get fed up indoors, go on a Christmas nature hunt. Search for holly, ivy and other winter wonders, and collect some to decorate your home.

For the little artists, use ceramic paints to decorate a plate for Santa, ready to hold the mince pie and carrots for Rudolph on Christmas Eve. While you’ve got the arts and crafts out, why not make an angel to place on top of the tree?

Create a range of handmade gifts, from coloured pictures and baby hand prints, to thread paper chains that you can hang around the house.

Enjoy the true flavours of Christmas

For your own hungry bellies bake mince pies, gingerbread stars or even decorate a gingerbread house to enjoy those true flavours of Christmas. Don’t forget a Yule Log with melted chocolate and icing sugar snow!

What about activities with friends? Christmas is a time to come together so whether you create a Christmas sing-along, go on a day trip to visit Santa at a local grotto, arrange a sleepover to watch Christmas movies, or simply spend time with grandparents reading stories and snuggling, you can be sure that this Christmas you make more memories and share more joy than ever before.

Yule blessings to you for Christmas 2022 and I shall see you in the New Year!

Education & Employment

with Rosie Plimmer, Careers Consultant

New year, new job?

This year has absolutely flown by and 2023 will be here before we know it. Mid-January to the end of February is one of the best times to conduct a job search. Organisations implement hiring plans, while the new year triggers many to create resolutions about job progression and/or change.

It typically takes 3-5 months to find a new job, which means the process to progress in the new year might have already started with a search. October is not the worst month to land a job, but November and December are historically slow.

Hit the job market at the best time

More likely for those starting job searches now, they will come to fruition early next year. However, the rest of 2022 could still be very well-spent on preparation to hit the market at the time of maximum opportunity. Here are a few tips.

If you’ve not been in the job market for a while, it’s worth reviewing job adverts to ensure your skills and experiences are up to date. Interviewees will typically only need one example

of a skill, so doing a strategic project before year-end could address any experience gaps. Alternatively, doing a short course or research can address knowledge or skills gaps.

Reflect on achievements through 2022 and update your CV. Try applying for a few positions to ensure that your CV is resonating with recruiters before applying for jobs that you’d love to get. Follow up with recruiters, seek feedback and start building relationships.

Even if you are unhappy in your workplace, it can offer value. Ask for insight from managers and colleagues

relevant to your goal, like what it takes to progress, or work in a different role.

According to one US study, 93% of people feel anxious before job interviews. It may feel like you’re a long way off from your next interview, but considering likely questions now provides another opportunity to address shortcomings.

Common interview questions

Aside from being asked why you want the job and why you want to work for the organisation, you are likely to be asked variants of the following questions:

• Tell me about a challenge and how you overcame it.

• What experience do you have of [this type of work]?

• What are the qualities needed for this job? How have you demonstrated them?

• Tell me about when you used a key skill associated with the job.

• Give an example of when you influenced/led/supported someone.

Good luck if you are on the hunt for a new job for 2023.

Dragon

Vets Cheltenham

Pet Care

with Oliver Wilkinson of Charlton Kings Vet Centre

Farewell to Tassie

We recently had to say goodbye to our beloved elderly dog Tassie. She was remarkably well right up until the very end and, mercifully, the decision to let her go was a straightforward one.

A few weeks earlier I had written an email to the owner of one of Tassie’s offspring who had just passed away at the age of 10 (Tassie had a litter of puppies in 2012). The words I wrote to him seemed particularly poignant in hindsight:

“Our dogs are such a huge part of our lives, sharing our journey and in doing so becoming an integral part of our stories. It’s no wonder then that when we lose them, our lives and stories lose a little colour, a little joy and a little piece of our heart.”

As a vet, I am acutely aware that at some point in our experience as pet owners we must face the reality of the finiteness of their lives and our time together. Over the years, I have had more than a few bereaved pet owners tell me that they won’t get another pet, as the trauma of losing them is too much to bear.

“It is a great privilege to own a pet”

As much as the pain of losing Tassie is particularly raw, I can also remember the joy of owning her, of taking her on so many adventures; travelling to Australia and back together, walking, running and exploring all around the country. Cuddling on the sofa in the evenings, snuggling under the duvet on lazy Sunday mornings. Doggie kisses and overexcited greetings. Stealing cake and raiding bins. It is only because they bring us so much joy that their passing seems so hard. It is a great privilege to own a pet and I wouldn’t trade one memory to lessen the pain.

If you or a loved one have struggled with the loss of a pet, The Blue Cross offer a Pet Bereavement Support Service, the details of which can be found on their website at www.bluecross.org.uk.

Motoring

with Toby Aiken

Sink or swim? The Yaris Cross

I was recently sent a press release with some statistics on driving licences and the costs of learning. The survey, conducted by bumper.co.uk (a car repair payment platform –who knew that was a thing?) suggested that 72% of adults that don’t hold a driving licence said that price was the biggest limiting factor.

I get that, because driving lessons are expensive. When I learnt, they were £12 an hour (ish) and are now in the range of £25-£30 per hour, which is close to a pure inflation price rise.

Cars have definitely not kept pace with inflation

But it got me thinking about the cost of motoring in general and, specifically, the recent Yaris Cross I reviewed. A Yaris in 1999 (its launch year) started at just under £7k. It now starts at £21k – inflation should mean the equivalent car is just under £12k, so cars have definitely not kept pace with inflation. This is the Yaris Cross, simply a small SUV crossover version of the Yaris. But so much more.

My first question to myself when writing notes on this car was ‘why’? I didn’t get why a crossover of a compact car was needed, but it actually made a lot of sense, very quickly.

The standard Yaris is (in my opinion) uninspiring. But the Yaris Cross adds something –and that something is style. It’s a much more stylish car that looks much more capable –which it is. A small, frugal nippy little car with a big boot and nice stylish touches all around.

What’s not to like? Well, the £25k price tag maybe…

A lot more car for your money

Aside from the fact that, as I’ve suggested, a Yaris should be sub £15k, the Cross version does actually give you a lot more car for your money. It is suitable for a small family, the boot is capable of holding more than a couple of bags of shopping and it actually looks so much more than a Yaris –perhaps this is another case of right car, wrong badge like the Mustang Mach E?

If the Yaris starts at £21k, then the Cross version is most definitely worth the £4k uplift in costs. I would happily drive a Yaris Cross around. The standard Yaris? Unless it was the GR (which is an incredible amount of fun and more expensive) then no thank you.

I think my issue therefore is that the Yaris shouldn’t have a starting price of more than £20k, which in turn pushes the

Yaris Cross price point up. But what does the Yaris’ inflationmatched price of £12k get you in a new car nowadays? I checked, and it’s a Dacia Sandero (Stepway or otherwise) or a Kia Picanto.

The Dacia is quite possibly a good shout – based on its (relatively short) heritage, I would definitely consider this, but an entry-level Kia Picanto? It’s perfectly functional, but doesn’t have the same style, space and kudos as even the entry level Yaris.

A lot of competition at the £25k mark

So what is the Cross competing against at the £25k mark? The truth is there is a lot of competition at that point, but I think the Yaris Cross will prove itself in reliability over the years and I don’t think it will age as much as some of the competition. It’s different, and while different is always a case of sink or swim, my bet is that this is a swimmer.

Money Matters

with Roger Downes of Andorran Know your customer

Abbreviations abound amongst financial and legal language and KYC is one of the latest with which we have had to become familiar. Know your customer (or client if you prefer), or KYC for short, has become an everyday requirement as part of the financial world’s bid to combat terrorism, money laundering and the like.

It’s commonplace to be ask ed to prove your identity and where you live For most of us, it’s easy enough as we have a passport or dri ving licence, although that isn’t true for everyone and some struggle to pass even the ‘easiest’ of tests. We’ve got used to being ask ed and now it’s almost as routine as putting on your seat belt when you jump in the car.

Reckon on the banks to take it to the extreme

In most professional firms, follow up checks are then carried out to review the credentials of the person whose ID has been presented. We are told to do more stringent checks in certain circumstances and indeed we do

But you can reckon on the banks to take it to an extreme One in particular, who can remain nameless for the sak e of this article Multiple page questionnaires, often written in language that is difficult to understand and is ambiguous, have to be completed in short order, otherwise the bank will take steps to penalise you. In some cases, they go as far as closing your account without reasonable warning

I spok e to someone recently whose account was closed without reference to the proprietor of the business It was a retail business recei ving direct payments on a regular basis When the bank was challenged, the businessman was told there was nothing that could be done and that he would have to open a new account a process he was told would take at least three weeks. So what does he do in the meantime?

No bank managers to talk to any more

It wouldn’t be quite as bad if you could talk to your bank manager, but they have long since ceased to exist. You’re not exactly going to get a lot of help, therefore, if you’re struggling with these forms And if you fail, with or without help, your account will probably be closed I know we have to do these checks, but big is definitely not beautiful in business when it comes to banking KYC.

18 NOVEMBER – 4 DECEMBER

COBALT ONLINE CHRISTMAS AUCTION

Local medical charity Cobalt is holding an exciting online Christmas auction to raise funds for a Teenage and Young Adults (16-25 year old) Specialist Cancer Nurse Megan. Local businesses have generously donated over 40 fantastic lots to bid on, including a custom-made pearl and diamond necklace, vouchers for meals out, gin, wine and brewery experiences and much more. Ideal for Christmas gifts and treats. Join in the fun at www.jumblebee.co.uk/cobaltchristmas

25 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER

ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS TRAIL AT WESTONBIRT

spectacular illuminated trail. Advance booking essential: forestryengland.uk/ westonbirt/enchanted-christmas

25 NOVEMBER – 24 DECEMBER

THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Experience the magic of Christmas on board a jumbo jet! Visit Cotswold Airport this winter and participate in the world’s first grotto experience on board the Boeing 747 “Negus”. Let the elves show you how Negus is helping to save Christmas Day in this immersive theatrical production. For more information, please visit www.theflightbeforechristmas.com

26 NOVEMBER – 2 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL AND CHRISTMAS FAYRE

At Holy Trinity, Longlevens, GL2 0AJ. The Festival runs from Saturday 26th November through to Friday 2nd December from 10am to 4pm each day. Sunday from noon to 4pm. The Christmas Fayre is in the Church Hall on Saturday 26th November from 12 noon to 2pm with stalls, refreshments, raffles and tombolas. 01452 500229.

26 NOVEMBER – 31 DECEMBER

SNOW WHITE

Open on selected evenings from 4pm to 9.30pm. There’s magic around every corner on Westonbirt’s Enchanted Christmas trail! Father Christmas’ elves have made their way to the arboretum to decorate for Christmas. But they’re running slightly behind schedule… will the trail be ready on time? Witness the wonder, hilarity and general commotion that comes with playful elves creating Westonbirt’s

25

NOVEMBER – 30 DECEMBER SPECTACLE OF LIGHT

Explore our magical after-dark experience and follow the new illuminated trail around our beautiful castle grounds. Enjoy the wonderful music as you discover each new secret of this romantic environment. Refreshments available. Various dates and times. For more details, please visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk

25 NOVEMBER – 31 DECEMBER

ENCHANTED LIGHT TRAIL

Our family-friendly illuminated light trail is a wondrous nighttime experience, showcasing marvellous creations and installations. Our Christmas light trail tells a beautiful story of encouraging inclusion and kindness, with clues and puzzles for young inquisitive brains to engage with. From £12-£25, babies go free. Various dates and times. More details at www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

Snow White, the palace orphan, is horrified that her evil queen Malvinha is stripping Tewkesbury’s natural resources to fund her desperate bid to be the fairest in the land. She sets out to save the county with the help of her buxom Nanny, the palace IT guy and some very strange small people. Little does she know that the queen is out to get her with a dodgy magic apple and a very talkative mirror. Various dates and times. Tickets from £15. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org

1 DECEMBER CHELTENHAM ANIMAL SHELTER FESTIVAL FAYRE

Come along to the Shelter for our popular Festive Fayre where you can meet Santa in his grotto, shop from local traders and enjoy some entertainment, games and tasty food. There will be a pop up photoshoot for pets and family plus face painting and much more. 4.30-7pm. For more details please visit www.gawa.org.uk

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING

Join us in the Glasshouse Café at Miserden this Christmas with Jo Copsey from Aqua Flowers to create your own stunning Christmas Wreath. Jo will teach you the techniques and guiding principles of building a stylish door wreath that will be the envy of your neighbours! A great opportunity to get into the festive spirit with mulled wine and festive nibbles! 3-5pm. £75pp. The Estate Office, Miserden, near Stroud, GL6 7JA.

1 DECEMBER – 1 JANUARY

ELF HUNT

The naughty elves have gone missing in Batsford Arboretum, find them to win a prize! £3 per child. Admission fees apply to children and accompanying adults (all children must be accompanied by an adult). Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-inMarsh, GL56 9AT. For more details, please visit www.batsarb.co.uk

2 DECEMBER

CHARLTON KINGS CHRISTMAS FAYRE

The Christmas Fayre and Switching on of Lights returns to Charlton Kings. Join us from 3pm-6pm for singing, dancing, fair rides, games, stalls and a visit from Father Christmas and his

Reindeer. Free entry on Church Piece, Charlton Kings.

2-4 DECEMBER CHELTENHAM POP UP CHRISTMAS MARKET

Cheltenham BID welcome you to experience their pop up Christmas Market, taking place along the pedestrianised Promenade. Shoppers can look forward to browsing pop up gazebo stalls, mainly made up of local independent traders selling food and drink, crafts and gifts. More details at www.visitcheltenham.com/whats-on

3 DECEMBER CHORISTER CHRISTMAS COFFEE CONCERT

Come and enjoy some special musical performances from the talented Gloucester Cathedral Choristers at their annual Christmas Coffee Concert in the Chapter House. Admission is £6 on the door. All proceeds go toward the music of Gloucester Cathedral. Chapter House, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk

4 DECEMBER OVERBURY ARTISAN CHRISTMAS FAIR

‘Not just any Christmas Fair’. High quality, true artisan pieces with relaxed shopping and a warm festive

welcome. Refreshments throughout the day. 10am-4pm. Overbury Village Hall, GL20 7NZ. Raising funds for Overbury Playground.

4 DECEMBER GLOUCESTER VEGAN CHRISTMAS MARKET

60 stalls of all vegan and cruelty-free shopping, food, drinks and gifts. Get your Christmas shopping done and also enjoy some yummy vegan food and drink. £3 entry on the door. Under 16s free with an adult. Dogs allowed on leads. 10am to 3pm. Blackfriars, Via Sacra, Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester GL1 2HN. For more information see the ‘Vegan Events Gloucestershire’ Facebook page.

7 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS LANTERN WORKSHOP

Join artist Sarah Davis in the stunning Great Hall to create your own stained glass lantern with a gorgeous red glass bow and decorative beads. A lovely way to start the festive season and try your hand at a traditional craft. All materials and equipment will be provided to create your lantern using the copper foiling technique. £60pp. 2pm-4.30pm or 7pm-9.30pm. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. For more details, please visit www.berkeley-castle.com

DECEMBER

CHELTENHAM CHRISTMAS MARKET

Find festive treats and unique gifts at the Cheltenham Christmas Market. Around 80 market stalls will run along the pedestrianised Promenade and Long Gardens in front of the Municipal Offices. Daily from 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays. For more information, go to www.visitcheltenham.com/whats-on

10 DECEMBER

CAMBRAY CHRISTMAS MARKET

Craft stalls, Father Christmas, facepainting, free hot chocolate & mulled punch. 10.30am-3pm. Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS. www.chelt.org.uk

10-11 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

Themed decorated Christmas trees, Christmas stalls, luxury hamper raffle and refreshments. Entry by donation. All are welcome! 10th December 11am-5pm, 11th December 2pm-5pm. St Mark’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, GL51 8PX. www.stmarksmethodist.org.uk

11 DECEMBER

DECEMBER DOG DASH

Join in the festive fun with a dog walk like no other! Dress your pooch in their

festive best and enjoy a seasonal walk through our grounds. Entry is free, with a suggested donation on the day of £5. There will be tea, coffee, cake and a food van with prizes for the dress-up winners. Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, Church Road, Cheltenham GL53 0QJ. For more details, please email leckhampton.events@sueryder.org

13 DECEMBER

THE ROTARY CLUB CHELTENHAM NORTH CAROL CONCERT

Come and sing with us at our Carol Concert. Compere Mark Cummings BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Organist Timothy Ingold, Leckhampton Junior School Choir, Cranham Handbell Ringers, Cheltenham Silver Band. 7.30pm. Tickets £12 (under 16s £8) from https://buytickets.at/rccn/780605 For information contact 01242 680532. Supporting local and Rotary charities. The Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Bayshill Road, GL50 3EP.

18 DECEMBER CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Carols, candlelight, mince pies, mulled wine. 7pm. Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS. www.chelt.org.uk

22 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS WITH THE FLOWERS BAND

A night of festive treats – repertoire to include Brass Band Christmas Classics, film music, carols and joint items with the Beauregard Youth Choir! 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (£12 concessions, £5 under 16s). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP.

7 JANUARY

CHELTENHAM

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Prokofiev: Classical Symphony. Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite. Mozart: Symphony 40. St Andrew’s Church Montpellier. 7.30pm. Tickets £20. Students free. Tickets available on the door or from The Playhouse, Cheltenham. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk. For more information visit www.cheltenhamchamberorchestra.org.uk 25-28 JANUARY

CINDERELLA

Promenade Productions’ traditional family pantomime for fun, laughter and audience participation. The Playhouse, Cheltenham. 7pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 12pm and 4.30pm Saturday. Tickets: adults £16, children £12 from theatre Box Office on 01242 522852 or online at www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk

Christmas Fayre and Switching on of Lights

Friday 2nd December from 3-6pm Church Piece, Charlton Kings

You are cordially invited to join us for a funfilled afternoon, which offers something for all ages. There will be activities throughout and a wonderful variety of stalls where you can do a little Christmas shopping for ‘something different’ or stock up on some of your favourites from previous years. Scarrotts Funfair will provide lots of fun for young folk and Mickey Mouse will be there for photos with all ages!

If you feel lucky, why not buy a raffle ticket with a chance of winning a lovely hamper and other excellent prizes. Tickets will be on sale just inside the Stanton Hall on the day and all proceeds will go towards funding next year’s event. Tickets will also be on sale in the week before from Smart Fish Bar on Church Piece.

Moosh, Smart Fish Bar and the Co-op will be open as usual and the Merryfellow will provide drinks from their gazebo. The Dogs Event Catering Company is bringing their Hot Dog van to provide hot food too.

Schedule of events

3pm: Start of Fayre with the arrival of Santa and his Reindeer and Mickey Mouse!

4.30pm: Charlton Kings Infant and Junior School Choirs sing Carols by the Christmas Tree 5pm: Christmas Lights Switch On by Santa followed by singing from the Cheltenham Community Choir and a dance performance from Coady Crew in the Kings Hall.

6pm: Fair rides, games and stalls close. Come along and enjoy the friendly atmosphere, browse the stalls in the Stanton Hall and maybe take some refreshment along the way. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dates of December public meetings

In the Stanton Hall

Planning: Monday 5th and Thursday 15th at 7pm Community Assets: Monday 12th at 7pm

Full Council: Monday 19th at 7pm

Clerk Joanna Noles (01242 250087) Clerk@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk

@CkParish Charlton Kings Parish Council

over 30 years ago, we are a long-standing, Cheltenham-based, family-run

In the Garden

with Julia Smith

The great Christmas tree debate

While gardening magazines love to show outdoor havens rimmed with frost in their Christmas editions, it is getting less and less likely that we will have weather like that at this time of year – mild and soggy would probably describe it better!

The upside to this is that if it is not too wet, we can continue to work in our gardens, moving plants and shrubs around, putting in hedges, and preparing for the spring.

One of the most debated subjects at this time of the year is that of Christmas trees. I do like a real tree, although we have a fake one which we have used on various Christmases in the last 20 years. For example, if we have been going away and couldn’t justify the cost of a real tree when we’d only enjoy it for a few days.

As our fake tree has been used multiple times already and is there for future backup plans, I don’t feel bad about having bought it and the fact that I don’t think it will be recyclable.

If you would prefer a real tree, the best ones to get to make sure the needles don’t all end up on the carpet before Christmas Eve are Nordmann Fir trees, which actually almost look fake because they are so

perfect! A less common option, but one which also has a lovely balsam scent, is the Fraser Spruce.

Check to see how fresh your chosen tree is

When you’re choosing your tree, bump the stump on the ground to see how many needles fall off – if there are only a few, that means it’s nice and fresh. When you get it home, leave it outside until you are ready to decorate it. Put it in the corner of a room where it is less likely to be knocked, and use a Christmas tree stand with a water reservoir in it.

As with cut flowers, cut a couple of inches off the trunk, as this will help it take up the water better. Eventually the water doesn’t go down at all, as the tree has stopped absorbing it. With flowers you could recut the stems, but it wouldn’t be practical with a tree. It will inevitably start to dry, but a good tree will easily

last for a few weeks and see you through the festive period.

Don’t burn your tree when Christmas is over – instead get it shredded, either through the council schemes or your local garden centre. If you have a large garden, you could cut it into small chunks and leave it for wildlife to enjoy while it rots down into the ground. This is a good idea if you have a sheltered section in your garden – you wouldn’t want to just lay it on an open lawn.

Festive gardening gifts

If you’re on the hunt for a gift for the gardener in your life, vouchers from local nurseries or garden centres are always appreciated. Lovely plant labels, twine, indelible pens for marking, garden gloves and good-quality tools are useful presents. Of course, hand creams and bath soaks are always welcome gifts to help undo the toll on your loved one’s body from all their hours spent working outside!

Happy Christmas!

Wildlife Matters

with Dorothy Glen

Mythical mistletoe

An iconic sight at this time of year, mistletoe is common throughout Gloucestershire. In fact, it thrives in this part of England and is sparse elsewhere.

Personally, having moved here from the east of England, it still feels unusual to me and I enjoy seeing trees laden with the distinctive leafy masses that I used to think of as rare.

It grows mainly on apple trees, poplars, limes and hawthorns, and is hemiparasitic, meaning it takes water and nutrients from its host, but still photosynthesises with its own leaves.

It has been spreading across the UK

With mistletoe comes mistle thrushes, which favour the berries, and excrete the seeds. Some seeds fall back onto the branches where they may grow into new plants. In recent years, though, mistletoe has been spreading more widely across the UK. This is thought to be due to black caps; migrant birds which are increasingly

found here over the winter, as well as the warmer months.

Black caps eat the berry flesh and wipe the seeds directly onto branches, efficiently transferring the plants to new locations. Mistletoe may be one of the species which benefits from our increasingly milder winters, as the black caps increase in number.

A long history of legend and folklore

But why do we kiss under it? Mistletoe has a long history of myth, legend and folklore. For the Druids, mistletoe represented vitality, as it grew green and lush in the winter on trees which had lost their own leaves.

The Romans hung mistletoe in their doorways for protection, believing it to represent peace and love. These, and the connection made in several cultures between the sticky white juice from the berries and male fertility, has led to the kissing-under-the-mistletoe tradition we know today.

In perhaps its most epic role,

mistletoe also features in Norse mythology. The god Baldr was the most beautiful and favourite son of Odin and Frigg. His mother made all things in existence swear never to hurt Baldr, and the gods passed the time enjoying throwing weapons at him and seeing them fail.

An epic role in Norse mythology

The mischief maker, Loki, discovered that mistletoe, being too young to be considered a threat, had not made the vow. Loki went next to Hod, Baldr’s blind brother, and suggested Hod must feel left out of the festivities as he was unable to aim and throw.

Loki passed him a spear made of mistletoe, and helped him throw it at Baldr, killing him. In some versions, Frigg’s tears became the berries, and the gods made mistletoe promise it would only commit acts of happiness or usefulness for evermore.

Whether you believe the folklore or not, kissing under the mistletoe is a tradition that will likely continue for many years. Merry Christmas!

Interior Design

with Gill Greenwell

A sprinkle of festive flair

My family has always been big into Christmas, even though we can’t always be together nowadays. Our three daughters live in a mid-century ranch house in the American midwest, a contemporary Australian home and a modern apartment in Battersea.

As a family, we take decorating our homes at Christmas very seriously, so each year I suggest new festive decorating themes to suit our various styles of home. Here are a few ideas to inspire your Christmas interiors.

Eco-festive

If you like to embrace all things natural, use a palette of winter white paired with fresh greens and warm caramels. Create wreaths and garlands from nature – dried teasels paired with soft wispy sea lavender always look lovely.

Make the tree woodland themed and search out leafpatterned baubles. I love Graham and Green’s woodland-

inspired feather baubles. John Lewis has a range of sweet wildlife ornaments the children will adore, featuring owls, pheasants and hedgehogs.

The sustainable option

If sustainability is important to you, there are lots of ways you can reuse or make your own decorations. Anything made of paper is on trend –you can find honeycomb ball decorations everywhere. I particularly like Sass and Belle’s range of colours and shapes. Check out their coloured recycled glass baubles too.

Easy to make, paper chains are a fun Christmas activity for the kids. The Cambridge Imprint kit makes 10 metres of chain and comes in a beautiful reuseable box. Also check out the gorgeous reuseable crackers from The Oathouse.

Elegant vintage

For a touch of glamour, art deco themes are popular this year. Think lots of sparkle, beads and feathers. For a roaring twenties themed Christmas table search out beaded placemats, antique tableware and Capiz shell lotus tealight holders in soft dusty pinks and creams.

Create a boho idyll with shimmering crystal and Capiz shell garlands from Cox and Cox, and mix with wavy pampas grass dotted with fairy lights. Check out Rockett St George for more ideas.

Nostalgic retro

For that classic Christmas look you can’t go wrong with a red,

green and gold scheme. Add some touches of tartan, and traditional wooden nutcracker ornaments, which seem to be everywhere this year.

Search out retro bottle brush mini Christmas trees to complete the look. Don’t forget to bring out your nostalgic heirloom decorations – our family have collected ours over the years – or trawl the charity shops and start your own collection.

Nordic with a twist

No Christmas decor feature is complete without a mention of Nordic hygge and Christmas markets. For a fun, quirky touch Aldi’s cute gonks rooted in Nordic mythology are in a chic new grey and white colour this season. Create a charming German Christmas marketplace on your mantlepiece with tiny laser-cut wooden houses from Etsy.

With these individual stylish touches, you too can create a joyful uplifting space for the festive season.

Image: Gisela Graham

Image: Cox & Cox

Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm.

must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.

Buying ready-made metal gates or railings from a DIY store can seem a cost-effective way to satisfy your needs but is it the right choice?

For some, the ‘cheapest’ method will always appeal, providing you are able or don’t mind doing the installation work yourself, and have the right tools and know-how. But if you want genuine value, paying a little more for bespoke ironwork solutions is the answer.

Ultimately you get so much more for your money, reaping the rewards for years to come and you don’t need to worry about making an ‘off the shelf’ product fit your property. You get a high quality product professionally installed.

MPL Wrought Iron have been creating bespoke solutions for almost two decades, with thousands of satisfied customers all over Gloucestershire.

Managed by owner Tom Morse, MPL design and manufacture products in their workshop located near Coombe Hill. Tom is proud of the reasons why many customers return and recommend MPL’s service to friends and family. He said: “We’re a friendly bunch and focus on a reliable, quality-driven approach. The standard of our work is excellent it only leaves the workshop when we’re completely happy with the quality.

“After an initial consultation, our customers can relax in the knowledge that we’ll do the rest making and installing an exact solution, chosen by them for their property.”

long lasting and especially for you

Following a site survey, the MPL team of skilled metal workers start the process of forming, bending, welding and finally painting or powder coating the end product before professionally installing it at your home or business premises.

MPL service both domestic, commercial and industrial customers throughout Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. They also provide sub-contract services to other professionals such as builders, architects, designers and landscape gardeners.

Tom said: “It’s not just me the whole team are passionate about our work. When any of us are driving around the county, we can’t help but notice jobs we’ve done and we’re very proud.”

Carbon-friendly wouldn’t usually be a term associated with metalwork, but sourcing products manufactured by a great local company that last for decades will certainly help keep the footprint to a minimum. approach to any artisan metalwork you need

Cheltenham enjoy good times

Three into one most definitely does go at Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club.

The long-standing club, formed way back in 1887, are very proud of the fact that they are a multidiscipline club.

As their title reveals, the club offer swimming and water polo to their many members, but they also boast a well-established artistic swimming section, a section that was called synchronised swimming back in the day.

“The club are in a pretty good place right now,” said James Ross, a former Welsh international water polo player who has been chairman of the club for the past five years.

And the recently-turned 43year-old typifies the all-for-one and one-for-all spirit at the club with his commitment, energy and enthusiasm.

Ross goes above and beyond for a club he first joined as an eight-year-old because he actually lives in Andover in Hampshire, some 60-plus miles from Cheltenham. But the onetime Cleeve School pupil comes up to the club twice a week pretty much every week.

“I enjoy it,” he said. “The club have done a lot for me, I appreciate being given the opportunity to give something back to a club that have given me so much.”

Ross initially joined the club as a swimmer before joining the water polo section as a 13year-old.

He continued to swim – “You can’t play water polo unless you are a good swimmer,” he said – but it’s fair to say that water polo has been his number

one discipline for the past three decades.

Water polo is a sport that Cheltenham have traditionally been very good at – they’re the current British League winners – and Ross enjoyed great success with them over the years both as a player and a coach.

He still plays for the 2nds if required and these days he also coaches the women’s team for whom his oldest daughter Lily, 15, plays.

But while water polo obviously takes up a lot of his time, his role as chairman means that he now has an over-arching view of the club, a view that he likes.

“The aim is to provide a pathway for people aged from eight to 80,” he said.

“We’ve got a strong masters section in both water polo and artistic swimming.”

Indeed they have because the masters water polo team, for whom Ross plays, will be competing in a national event in Liverpool in February and the

masters artistic swimmers also compete nationally.

And when Ross talks about a pathway for eight to 80-year-olds, he is actually under-selling the club slightly because Phil Jones, who has done so much for the club over the years and is a former president of Swim England, is still very much involved, even though he has just celebrated his 90th birthday.

“He’s a life member,” said Ross. “He was reminiscing about the old days at his birthday party, the club are in his blood.”

And they’re a club who have come through the lockdowns of recent times in pretty good shape.

“Covid was clearly a challenge but we’ve come out of it well,” said Ross, who runs his own construction business. “We’ve restructured financially and we’re in quite a strong, stable position.”

That healthy state of affairs at the club owes much to the various coaches of course, of which there are about 30 across all the disciplines.

“We are very grateful to all the volunteers,” said Ross.

“From timekeeping to bookkeeping there are over 50 volunteers who regularly put time into the club to keep it running smoothly and successfully.”

So how long does Ross envisage staying on as chairman?

“I’d like to maybe do it for another couple of years,” he said. “It would be nice to hand over to someone with the club in a strong position.”

with Roger Jackson

James Ross, left, with coach David Taylor at the British Water Polo Championships at the Sandford Lido

WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

Bacon Theatre 28

Cambray Baptist Church 29

Gloucester Cathedral 29

CLUBS & SPORTS Patesians Sports & Social Club 28

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Atlantic Home Eyecare 8

Encompass Health 10

Leckhampton Chiropractic 10 Michael Reilly Foot Care 8 NHS Gloucestershire 12 & 30-31

NHS Let’s Talk 6

Sophie Lane Mobile Footcare 8 The Haven 8

INFORMATION

Charlton Kings Parish Council 29 Gloucestershire County Council 4

PROPERTY

McCarthy Stone 18 The Property Centre 60

RETAIL

County Kitchens & Bathrooms 43

HOMES & GARDENS

ARCHITECTS

PSK Architect 34

BATHROOMS

AHM Installations 45

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BUILDING SERVICES

Abard Property Maintenance 36

All About Build 37

BE Rudman 32

C&G Paving 32 Chelt & Gloucester Roofing 34

Index of Advertisers

Craftsmen Builders 37

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Home Care Roofing 33

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JHD Roofing & Building 33

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Marshalls Driveways 35

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R Richards & Son Ltd 2

RS Cladding & Roofing 33

S.J. Lewis & Sons 35

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The Roofing Company 37

CARPENTRY

Nick Burton 46

Three Piece Joinery 50

CLEANING SERVICES

Cotswold & County Window Cleaning 35 Ovenbusters 50 Ovenclean 50

Regency Cleaners 50

WeClean All Roofs 32

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Beacon Electrical 48 Itectric 48

TJE Electrical Services 48

FURNISHING & APPLIANCES

AW Fireplaces 46

Bella’s Interiors 44

Dream Doors 49 Hatherley Worktops 42 Hillarys 46

The Fireplace Gallery 45

GARDEN SERVICES

Blooming Planters Design 38

Cheltenham Town Landscaping 40

Darren & Jamie’s Services 38 DBS Fencing 38

Jameson Tree Surgery 38

Joe & Jamie 40

Julia Smith Gardening 40

Lawn Doc 38

Mark Clifford Landscapes 40 Master Sheds 40

MPL Wrought Iron 52-53 Rob Cockburn Tree Services 38

Southwest Landscapes 38 Woodlands Landscapes 38

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Clifford Services 36

John Wilson Maintenance 37 Your Way Home Help 48

HEATING & PLUMBING

Flametree Installations 48 M.J. Harris Domestic Repairs 51

SP Plumbing & Maintenance 46 Trades 4 You 35

LOCKSMITHS

Fletcher Locksmiths 54

PAINTING & DECORATING

AJ Decorating 45

Flairline Decorating 45

Floods 42

G.S.C Ltd Decorators 42

Leading Edge Decorators 42 TCD Decorators Ltd 45

Trevor Rogers 45

TV & AERIAL

1st Choice Aerials 46

WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES

Albany Windows 20 & 59

BM Services 54

C&L Windows 55

Clearway Windows 56 Garolla 54

Misty to Clear 54

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ANIMAL & PET SERVICES

Dragon Vets Charlton Kings 21

AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

Mallams 27

CARE SERVICES

Care Handle 36 Samaritans 29

Wentworth Court 16

CHARITIES

Cobalt Health 10

HOUSE CLEARANCE

Yes to Mess 37

LEGAL & FINANCE

Andorran 25

Diana Cooper Financial Planning 25

Louise Newman Accountant 25

MOTORING SERVICES

Approved Car Buying Centre 22 Cotswold Electric Vehicles Ltd 22

PUBLISHING

Lois Kingscott 14-15

REMOVAL SERVICES

Little White Van Man 54

SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING

Stevens Recycling 34

SOLICITORS

Sherbornes Solicitors Ltd 24

party. 11 One entry per household.