Stroud District

Welcome to October

There’s been a noticeable change in the weather the past couple of weeks, and it’s starting to feel particularly autumnal. If you’re heading out on a countryside walk this month, get into the Halloween spirit and look out for ‘fiendish fungi’. Dorothy Glen tells us about some ghastly species in her Wildlife Matters article.

Gill Greenwell is getting cosy and comfortable with her autumn-inspired interior design recommendations. Once you’ve created your warm, relaxing space, why not snuggle up on the sofa with a bowl of blackberry steamed pudding? Find the recipe inside.

Will Mbanga looks at the impact smartphones can have on our health and fitness in his Looking Good, Feeling Great feature, and Al Hidden is flying high in the Alps in his Holidays & Travel article.

Delicious Dish

with Helen Kingscott

Blackberry steamed pudding

A warming autumn dessert, perfect for cosy nights on the sofa. The pudding tastes even better with freshly foraged blackberries – if you don’t have any in your freezer, plan ahead for next year and pick them when they ripen in late August to early September.

Ingredients:

125g/5oz butter

125g/5oz caster sugar

125g/5oz self-raising flour

2 eggs

75ml milk

300g/12oz blackberries

75g/3oz granulated sugar

150ml red wine

Method:

1 Grease a 1.2 litre ovenproof pudding bowl and line the bottom with a round of greaseproof paper.

2 Put 2-3cm of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the bowl with a lid on.

3 Beat the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the flour and milk and mix carefully until smooth.

4 Put approximately a third of the blackberries into the bowl. Spoon the mixture over them and level off with a spoon.

5 Cover with foil with a pleat in the middle and seal around the edge.

6 Bring the water to the boil, then lower the pudding in carefully and pop on the lid.

7 Reduce to a simmer, steaming for 1.5 to 2 hours and checking regularly that there is enough water in the bottom of the pan.

8 Whilst that is cooking, put

the granulated sugar and wine into a small pan and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat, boiling until the liquid reduces by half. Add the remaining blackberries and simmer until cooked. Press the fruit through a sieve to puree, which also removes the seeds.

9 Run a knife around the pudding and turn out onto your serving dish. Serve with the extra puree poured over the top and some lovely hot custard.

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.

Medical Health

with Kirsty Lilley

The UK’s most common cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the UK. On average, about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed over the course of their lifetime.

Although most women diagnosed are over the age of fifty, younger women can also receive a diagnosis and in rare cases men can also be affected. Early detection improves the chances of a good recovery, making it vital that women check their breasts regularly and see their GP if they notice any changes.

It’s important to detect changes early

Regular attendance at mammogram screenings, which all women are offered routinely between the ages of 50 and 70 every three years, is also an effective way of detecting early changes.

While breast cancer can have several symptoms, the first most noticeable sign is a lump or thickened area of breast tissue. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to get them checked out by your GP. It is also advisable to see your GP if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts

• Discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood

• A lump or swelling in either of your armpits

• Dimpling on the skin of your breasts

• A rash on or around your nipple

• A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as

becoming sunken into your breast

Breast pain is not usually a sign of breast cancer but if you are concerned and notice any of the above in conjunction, a visit to your GP would always be a wise step.

Although the exact causes of breast cancer are not entirely understood, the following factors have been found to play a role in the development of the disease:

• Age, with the risk increasing the older you get

• A family history of breast cancer

• Being tall, overweight or obese

• A previous diagnosis of breast cancer

• A previous non-cancerous and benign breast lump

• Drinking alcohol

The GP will examine your breasts in relation to your concerns about any changes you have noticed and may send you on for further tests at

a breast cancer specialist clinic. These tests include breast cancer screening, referred to as a mammogram, or taking a small sample of breast tissue, known as a biopsy. This will be examined under a microscope for more detailed analysis.

There are various treatment options available, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of all three.

There is help and support available

Being diagnosed with breast cancer or being concerned about changes to your breast can be an overwhelming and worrying time, but there is help and support available. As early detection is often the key to a good prognosis, ensure you discuss any concerns with your GP as soon as possible. Talking to family and friends and gaining much-needed support will also help. For further help and information visit www.breastcanceruk.org.uk

Looking Good, Feeling Great with Will Mbanga

The impact of smartphones on health and fitness

A successful professional bodybuilder was asked what the secret to his training success and results were. His answer was, “Social media. Between each set, I always make sure I take photos and videos and post to the ‘gram!’”

Despite the great service they provide, one of the reasons I will probably never go back to training in a commercial gym is to avoid people who spend more time ‘posing and posting’ than they do actually training.

While I’m the first to admit I’m not social media savvy, there is no doubt that it has made a huge impact on the health and fitness industry, from creating celebrity trainers, to promoting products and training methods.

Overall, the impact has been positive, but there are also a fair few negatives. Advances in technology have created some incredible gadgets, including smartphones and apps.

A necessity for many for work and play

Current mobile technology can be considered similar to a Leatherman multi-tool in the way they provide individuals with a variety of multi-functional benefits that have made smartphones a necessity for many people for work and play.

Technology has also become a huge asset in the health and fitness world – just look at the hundreds of apps on offer both for free and for a fee. You’ll find everything from calorie counters and heart rate trackers, to virtual personal training platforms and other income-generating features.

Smartphones also allow people to connect with each other from anywhere in the world – I took part in a virtual bootcamp with friends in South Africa during the pandemic, for example.

While excessive smartphone usage is unhealthy, they provide a variety of positive tools to support your health and fitness goals. The most important, in my opinion, is music! Many people use mobiles to listen to music or podcasts while they work out. It can motivate or help divert attention away from the ‘pain’ associated with working out, as long as the volume remains at a safe level and allows you to hear potential risks.

Other important uses for mobiles include timers for HIIT, allowing you to set work and rest intervals, making for a safer and more effective workout.

There’s also the ability to capture and track valuable statistics such as food tracking, measuring heart rate, calorie counting, sleep tracking and activity tracking.

But lack of focus through multi-tasking, including posting on social media, is not uncommon. Mobile use while exercising can be extremely dangerous – the distraction while working out not only reduces your ability to give maximal effort, but could cause an accident or injury.

Not only do mobiles prevent

you from putting all your energy into the workout, but they can also negatively impact your mental health by preventing you from detaching from your daily stressors.

They can have negative impacts on your workout

Additionally, the mentalemotional pressure of social media creates false realities and unrealistic views of what healthy body image should be. Poor sleep quality, poor posture and reduced performance due to brain fatigue are all ways in which excessive smartphone use can negatively impact your workout.

As we witnessed during the pandemic, virtual training via smartphones enables freedom to work out anywhere, through access to fitness all over the world via online platform and fitness apps. A smartphone can provide huge value to your fitness routine when used properly, but despite its many benefits, smartphone addiction may be detrimental to the social, psychological and physical health of a society.

It would be well worth conducting a self-audit to determine how smartphones can play a healthier role in your pursuit of your fitness goals.

We are an established social care provider and have been delivering support to adults with learning and associated disabilities in the Stroud area for 40 years!

Like all providers the pandemic was a difficult time for our service users and our amazing staff worked tirelessly to keep spirits up during lockdown. Our latest home Sadlers was extended and refurbished during the pandemic.

One thing that lockdown highlighted was how important our outside spaces are when you cannot get out and about and socialise as normal.

We therefore transformed the garden area to include wheelchair friendly paths, sensory planting, a water feature, activity wall, summer houses and are in the process of creating a sensory room.

We have similar plans for other houses too.

Education & Employment

with Rosie Plimmer, Careers Consultant

The benefits of ‘career fitness’

Downbeat economic forecasts are raising the spectre of redundancies again, creating understandable concern for many.

Yet, one could argue it’s pointless worrying about something that is not only unlikely, but out of your control. Government data suggests that we face less than one redundancy event for every 60-year working lifespan.

Even during the financial crash in 2008/9, ‘only’ 1 in 100 were made redundant each month and the rate of redundancy is now one-fifth of that. If it happens, it is also likely to be for reasons we probably can’t control, such as an organisation closing, outsourcing, or automating processes.

However, as with much of our career, we can’t avoid all setbacks, but we can mitigate their impact. More likely than redundancy, people change jobs because they are faced with either no opportunities for development, poor workplace culture or uninspiring leadership.

Our ability to bounce back after setbacks or take opportunities to improve our work lives could be considered a kind of ‘career fitness’.

Learning, experiencebuilding and networking

And just as we improve our general fitness with diet and exercise, we can improve our career fitness with ‘disciplines’ and ‘workouts’ – learning, experience-building and networking. It need not be costly or time-consuming either.

Learning gives tangible skills but also demonstrates commitment. To help, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) provides courses across Gloucestershire and nationwide, online or at centres. Open Learn from the Open University also offers over a thousand free courses.

Both offer business, creative and computing courses, as well as life skills such as decisionmaking and communication. There are countless online providers and local sources.

Making and taking chances to gain new valuable, transferable experiences at work demonstrates dynamism and will add strings to your bow. If opportunities are not available, explore voluntary work to get them. Reachvolunteering.org.uk placed 4,000 people in 2021. Contributions need only be for a few hours a week.

Giving you the edge in the job market

Networking starts by creating or updating a LinkedIn profile and (re)connecting with valued contacts. LinkedIn is not the preserve of senior managers, but the self-employed, traders and carers too (amongst others). Participating in some of the two million groups, with shared professional interests, can grow contacts.

These investments give you an edge in the job market and build contacts you can then call on for help if ever needed. They also fuel a virtuous cycle of confidence and capability. No bad thing to lift the gloom.

Parenting & Guardianship

with Roberta Smart

Could you write a book?

You might be wondering why I am asking you this question. Lately, with the advent of selfpublishing and print-ondemand, coupled with massive online retail websites making buying books a ‘one-click affair’, there really has never been a better time to write a book.

This is the case for any human, but in the spirit of this column I am going to suggest something radical: why not write a book with your kids?!

Your children have amazing imaginations, they see the world differently than you do and they are incredibly adept at saying what needs to be said.

Document the amazing ways your children see the world

So consider this – you collate amazing things your kids have said and done, questions they ask, amazing ways they see the world, or simply observe their nuanced approach to living within your family.

Now bring these observations together in a document of maybe 15,000 words – use lots

of white space, add in some shapes or drawings, create a snazzy title and allow yourself to go mad with a cover design. In very little time, you too can self-publish a book that anyone can buy!

The world is changing and we no longer crave the words of experts and specialists. We much prefer to understand how to navigate life from others who are just like us; who mess it up, make mistakes, can laugh at themselves and make us feel part of a team, rather than simply feeling envious that we don’t have the wonderful privileged life of a celebrity author.

Short stories can be published easily as text only PDFs, which people can then download and read for themselves. You could easily create a whole series of books based on your own children, your pets, or focusing on the idiosyncrasies within your own family.

Are you a blended family muddling along? Are you living with a personal challenge due to health issues within the family? Do you feel ‘different’ to everyone else, but in your heart know that you are not alone and there are, in fact, others out there just like you?

Create a community with your readers

This is the joy of writing and publishing your story; you create a community and build lasting relationships with your readers. You could even find yourself launching a whole new business venture before you realise it; developing colouring books, notebooks, diaries, stickers, merchandise and more!

The internet can help to introduce your ideas and products to the whole world and you simply never know what lies around the corner. So, this October, why not get the family together to come up with ideas for your first family publication and discover a wonderful way to spend time together as winter approaches.

Motoring

with Toby Aiken

Less feisty, less fun?

For the second time this year, I find myself writing about the humble yet stalwart Ford Fiesta. For those of you that missed it, the first time was when my friend’s 14-year-old version, feisty and with some interesting foibles, saved the day after a midnight puncture in my wife’s Mini.

This time, I have been behind the wheel of the bang up to date, high-spec Vignale, at a somewhat eye-watering £28k.

Initial feedback was that for passengers it wasn’t the most comfortable drive, and experiencing that myself I’d have to agree. For the driver though, it’s a much-improved, pleasant experience.

A compact, tech-savvy package

As it ever has been, the Fiesta is a compact, tech-savvy package with all the toys you’d want. Even with the 1.0 MHEV system in my test car, it still feels relatively responsive. But while it satisfies on a performance level – and even in this small capacity format, it acquits itself admirably on motorways – it’s lacking something...

It’s missing that spark; that ‘je

ne sais quoi’; the soul of its older relative.

Which leads me to another interesting question. Is the fiesta targeted at those who want a little joy with their driving? Perhaps the answer is that, for this model at least, it isn’t. But that doesn’t mean the experience has to be sterile.

Don’t get me wrong, I still like the Fiesta, and it ticks an awful lot of boxes, but I think my choice would be to opt for the marginally lower-priced STLine, or at least the Active X version to hopefully inject a little more sport, a little more excitement, a little more life

into the driving experience. The trade-off of the sportier model of course is that it will most likely detract further from the passenger experience, given sportier setups and low profile tyres.

Trying to be too much for too many

So maybe my issue is that the Fiesta is trying to be too much for too many. A Fiesta aways used to be entry level fun with a more grown-up level of power for those who were more experienced (that’s where the ST side of things comes in). But even the entry level Fiesta now starts at around £18k and I think for this model there is a lot of competition from other marques.

Does the Vignale, comfy for the driver and incredibly wellspecced, justify a further £10k investment on the entry level vehicle? This is a tricky question, and it ultimately comes down to what you value in a car. For me though, it just doesn’t quite tick the box for that elusive soul of its older sibling.

Holidays & Travel

with Al Hidden

Once upon a time in the Alps

What makes extra-memorable travel experiences? Maybe it’s a special hotel, magical scenery or attending a unique event in a faraway location? Or perhaps it’s another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Like that presented to me one late autumn day in the late 1980s…

An invitation to fly

Summer, like most of the tourists, was long gone; the days were colder and shorter as I hiked up the Albula valley in southeast Switzerland. On a whim, I decided to spend a few days at Hotel Sönnenheim in pretty little Bergün/Bravuogn.

Exploring nearby Latsch, clattering rotors and a turbine’s whine drew me to a remote car park where logs flown off the slopes of Cuolm da Latsch were being landed.

In the hotel that evening, I discovered that the helicopter crew and I were the only guests. We got chatting and before long, my new friends invited me to fly with them. Thoughts of

what my travel insurance didn’t cover lasted only nanoseconds before I agreed.

Low cloud and power lines

For several days, I rode up to Latsch in the crew’s van each morning, helped them de-ice the Aérospatiale Lama, then waited as they flew local foresters onto the mountain. That done, I occupied the lefthand seat whenever I wanted as we hovered – rotors inches from the treetops – over the precipitous slope while the woodsmen hooked logs to our longline.

Hour after hour, too thrilled to think about fiery death, I rode shotgun as we clocked cycle after cycle. Later, dodging low cloud and power lines, we flew one last load down as sunset filled the valley with velvety shadows. After supper in the Sönnenheim’s cosy pinepanelled stübli, the crew played (unfathomable to non-Swiss)

Jass, we drank Calanda Bräu and I listened to military flying tales that made our day’s helilogging seem tame.

A fascinating coda

Too soon, I had to leave. But the experience, the kind Swiss francs simply can’t buy, remains among the most memorable from decades of travel. Interestingly, 25 years later, the tale had a fascinating coda.

While watching a documentary about Zermatt’s helicopter rescuers, one Lama’s registration number looked familiar. I checked and discovered it was ‘my’ aircraft from Latsch, by then reliveried and flown by Air Zermatt. Further research revealed HB-XND’s destruction in a (non-fatal, though the pilot was injured badly) crash at the Monte Rosa Hütte one June morning in 2010.

It’s amazing what can happen when you check in to sleepy Alpine hotels and grasp travel’s surprise opportunities!

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY CHELTENHAM CHESS CLUB

What’s On

the castle grounds. Walk amongst a life-sized herd of elephants and follow the trail to discover a pair of rhino nibbling the lawn, kangaroos hiding in ancient yew hedges, and orangutans relaxing beneath trees - plus many more animals across the castle grounds. How many will you spot? Entry to see the Sculpture Safari is included with standard admission. For more details, please visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/events

1 OCTOBER

Cheltenham Chess Club meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm. Playing face to face is more fun than the online alternative, so why not come along and enjoy a social game of chess with us. All strengths are welcome, from the beginner to the more experienced player. We have a comfortable and relaxing playing room with a club library, and also a bar on site. There is also ample free car parking at the club. Venue: The Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SY. For more details contact Paul on 07568 488800.

UNTIL 30 OCTOBER

SUDELEY SCULPTURE SAFARI

The Sudeley Sculpture Safari celebrates creatures great and small and spreads both a universal and local message of peaceful coexistence with nature. Visitors will encounter a safari trail of iconic lifesize animal sculptures made from flowers, grasses and plants, from all corners of the world as they explore

TEWKESBURY BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET NEARLY NEW SALE

Lots of stalls bursting with top quality ‘like new’ and new baby and children’s items from birth to 8 years. Plus a small selection of unique businesses in the baby and children’s industry showcasing and selling their products and services all under one roof! Great brands at up to 90% off the full retail price! 2pm-4pm. Wheatpieces Community Centre, Columbine Road, Tewkesbury GL20 7SP. For more details, please visit www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

1-2 OCTOBER

TECKELS BIG SUMMER WEEKEND

Our annual summer fundraising event will take place on the 1st and 2nd October at the beautiful Fromebridge Mill Pub, GL2 7PD We will have a dog show with lots of classes, demos and talks to watch, a large craft market, food, entertainment and much more! For more details, please visit www.teckelsanimalsanctuaries.co.uk

2 OCTOBER

GLOUCESTER MUSIC SOCIETY

Gloucester Music Society’s 92nd season opens on Sunday 2nd October with music by Haydn for the rare cellolike Baryton. 23rd October: a variety of solo harp music. 13th November: renowned baritone Roderick Williams with songs by Vaughan Williams and other 20th century composers. We meet Sundays at 3pm in the Ivor Gurney Hall, Pitt Street. Tickets £20, concessions, children free. www.gloucestermusicsociety.org.uk

JB’S JAZZ CLUB

Featuring JG Swing 5. At Cheltenham Area Civil Service Club, Tewkesbury Road, Uckington, Cheltenham, GL51 9SL. Doors open 12 noon, band playing from 12.30pm-3pm. Tickets at the door, still only £5!

6 OCTOBER

JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN

After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish. Back on British soil, Jack’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own terms. A spectacularly entertaining new version of Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’. Featuring a cast including Caroline Quentin and Laurie Davidson. Broadcast live from the National Theatre stage. £16.50 (conc £14.50, students £12.50). 7pm. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

Throw on your wellies and get ready for a day of autumnal activities! Wrap up warm and head over to the field to explore our pumpkin trail. Once you’ve enjoyed our October activities, grab yourself a plump pumpkin to take home for crafts and pies. The pumpkin field will be open on October weekends and throughout half term (21st-31st October). Entry to the field (plus a free pumpkin token) is included in admission – remember to buy your tickets online in advance. Pumpkin Field Only tickets are also available. For more details, visit www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

9 OCTOBER

CREATE CHELTENHAM – SUNDAY MARKET AT THE KINGS ARMS, PRESTBURY

Join us at The Kings Arms in Prestbury for our outdoor Sunday market from 11am until 3pm. We will have a selection of handpicked sellers including local crafters, artisans and independent businesses. 11am-3pm. For more details, please visit www.createcheltenham.com

11 OCTOBER

LANDSCAPES IN LINO

Join artist Beth Jenkins to explore a number of ways of making lino prints in black and white or colour. Use a variety of inking techniques to get interesting and atmospheric effects. Learn how to design, cut and print your own original prints to take home. £70 per person. 10am-4pm. Book online: wwt.org.uk/slimbridge

13 OCTOBER

SUBVERSE PRESENTS THE STROUD POETRY SLAM

Join heavenly hosts Elvis McGonagall and Sara-Jane Arbury for an energetic evening of good verbal vibrations as worldly wordsmiths take the page onto the stage to compete for points that lead to prizes! Brave bards air their own poems in a bid to reach the hearts and hearing parts of the public. Selected judges award points for style, content and warmth of the applaudience, so who will fire

on all syllables into the final and become Stroud’s Slam Star? 7.30pm. Tickets £10-£12. For more details, visit thesubrooms.co.uk/whats-on 15-16 & 22-30 OCTOBER

SPOOKYARD HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

As well as a series of spooky shows, visitors can follow clues on an adventure around the farm and spot friendly animals; embark on the Maize Maze and, hopefully, find their way out; while sharp-eyed visitors can tackle the Corn Cannon and blast these yellow missiles at a range of targets. Also includes: Tractor Trailer Rides, Animal Trail, Adventure Play, Bouncy Pillows, Mini Golf, Quad Train Rides. Tickets will be released to our mailing list first – sign up online at www.overfarm.co.uk/events/spookyard 19-23 OCTOBER

PETER PAN: A NEW MUSICAL

A show for all the family with words written by the nation’s much-loved poet Pam Ayres, tunes that go straight to the heart by composer Louis Mander and song from the Minpins children’s choir. This World Premiere will be performed by members of The Hewletts Opera, narrated by Classic FM host and children’s author Zeb Soanes, the chorus provided by Minpin's Children's Choir and directed by Sheila Mander. 6.30pm. Tickets £5£18. For more details, please visit thesubrooms.co.uk/whats-on

22 OCTOBER

CREATE CHELTENHAM – HOLY APOSTLES MARKETS & WORKSHOPS

We are open from 1-4pm with a fabulous market showcasing a variety of skilled crafters, artists, bakers, food producers and more! This year we will also be running workshops alongside the market! Entry and parking is free. Please bring a shopping bag. For more details, please visit www.createcheltenham.com

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL – A TRIBUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON

musical legacy is brought to life in this critically acclaimed tribute show described as “mind-blowingly spot on”. With the accompaniment of a live band, backing vocalists and choreographed dancers, plus stateof-the-art sound, lighting, vision and theatrical effects, this is a beautifully crafted tribute to one of the world’s most revered singers. Not associated with the Estate of Whitney Houston. Tickets £28. 7.30pm. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 22-31 OCTOBER

EEK! WEEK

Fresh from her show-stopping Britain’s Got Talent finals appearance, Belinda Davids returns to the UK with her acclaimed stage show. Whitney’s

Are you brave enough to explore our interactive trail? Discover an eek!citing and mysterious world of wetland nature this October Half Term. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears pricked and engage all your senses as you make your way around our wetlands for a truly eek!citing experience. For more details, please visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge

23-29 OCTOBER

GHOUL SCHOOL AT BERKELEY CASTLE

An interactive, self-led audio extravaganza that will teach your young thrill seekers all they need to know to become perfect little monsters. Along the way, they will encounter a spooky array of teachers who’ll impart their delights, frights and vampire bites. Tickets cost £1 per child, in addition to the admission ticket. For more details, please visit www.berkeley-castle.com/whats-on 24 OCTOBER

X-TREME MAGIC

The world’s most dangerous thrill show – a non-stop adrenaline rush, starring Richard Cadell. A spectacular show packed with fire, illusion and death-defying stunts. Imagine making a motorcycle appear from nowhere, playing Russian Roulette with sticks of dynamite or trying to escape from a straitjacket whilst hung from a burning rope. *Suitable for children aged 12 and over. Tickets £26.50 (£25). 7.30pm. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk

29-30 OCTOBER

MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION

St. Margaret’s Hall, Coniston Road, off Windermere Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3NU. Layouts, refreshments, trade support, disabled access, children ‘drive yourself’ Thomas. 10am-5pm. Raising funds for St. Margaret’s Hall. Full details at www.cheltmodrail.org.uk

30 OCTOBER

MIND BODY SPIRIT SHOW

Organisers: Deer Spirit Events. Over thirty fantastic exhibitors: 1-1 tarot, psychic, shamanic & clairvoyant readings, holistic therapies, self-help, crystals, jewellery, books, arts and crafts, healthy living products. Talks and workshops. 11am-5pm. Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester, GL7 1JT. www.deerspirit.co.uk

THE MERSEY BEATLES

Prepare to be wowed by the world’s favourite Liverpool-born tribute to the Fab Four. The Mersey Beatles have been rocking sold-out shows around the globe since 1999 with their truly authentic and widely acclaimed celebration of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Tickets £24. 7.30pm. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk

1 NOVEMBER

STARS OF THE WEST END – KERRY ELLIS AND LOUISE DEARMAN

8-12 NOVEMBER

‘GLORIOUS’ BY PETER QUILTER

St. John’s Players present the stage version of the film ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ (that starred Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant) and her hilarious journey to perform at Carnegie Hall. She was dubbed the worst singer in the world. St. John’s Hall, Churchdown, GL3 2DB. 7.30pm. £10. Concessions: £8. Box Office opens 10th October –call 01452 713952. Bar. Car park.

We welcome two leading ladies of the West End for the Stars of the West End Symphonic Tour – a musical extravaganza of popular West End and Movie hits. The evening will be accompanied by the fabulous International Film Orchestra and will include music from Wicked, Les Misérables, We Will Rock You, Chess, James Bond, The Greatest Showman and more. 7.30pm. Tickets £32.50. For more details, visit www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

6 NOVEMBER

JB’S JAZZ CLUB

Featuring Phil Probert’s Jazz Mates. At Cheltenham Area Civil Service Club, Tewkesbury Road, Uckington, Cheltenham, GL51 9SL. Doors open 12 noon, band playing from 12.30pm-3pm. Tickets at the door, still only £5!

21-26 NOVEMBER

CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL

Send a shoebox of gifts to a Ukrainian child this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child is sending 2/3 of UK boxes to Ukrainian refugees. Donate a box and/or help out at the processing centre at St. Andrew’s Churchdown. For more details visit the website: stastb.church

24 NOVEMBER

LINOPRINTED CHRISTMAS CARDS

Amaze your friends with a hand designed and printed Christmas card this year, with artist Beth Jenkins. This easy workshop will show you everything you need to make your own original printed cards, from design to print. £40pp. 10am-1pm. Book online: wwt.org.uk/slimbridge

Autumn brings with it many exciting events and celebrations for us humans, but for some pets it can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help keep our furry friends safe and happy over the next few months.

• Make sure sweet treats are kept out of reach.

• Antifreeze is poisonous for cats, so keep it stored away and ensure spills are cleaned up.

• Fireworks can be really frightening for pets, so be sure to provide a safe place for them to hide away.

• Keep them safe when outside. Make sure dogs are visible in the dark, and check under your car for any cats seeking shelter and warmth.

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Improving the appearance and energy efficiency of local homes is what we do best. Backed by a group of friendly professionals in the office, our teams of highly skilled and motivated fitters deliver great results on every installation, transforming properties into sought-after ‘forever homes’. Therefore, we’re happy to take on any improvement project, however small, however large, however complex. We are confident that we have the skills to do a fantastic job first time, every time.

We offer practical uPVC and premium aluminium windows, doors & conservatories, as well as the very latest composite door designs that will truly transform your house into a home.

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Wildlife Matters

with Dorothy Glen

Fiendish fungi

With Halloween around the corner, you need look no further than the natural world for all the otherworldly, ghoulish spectacles you need. From the ghastly to the bizarre, British fungi provides plenty of opportunity for spook-seekers to get their fix, plus they’re just downright fascinating. Here are some grim and grisly examples.

Yellow Brain

Looking a little like its name, yellow brain is a jelly fungus. Also known as ‘witches’ butter’, legend has it that if you discover yellow brain on your door or gate it means you have been cursed by a witch. To remove the spell you must pierce the fungus with pins until it goes away.

More positively, though, it is of interest to modern medicine as it produces compounds which show anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. So who knows, maybe one day you’ll be spreading witches’ butter on your toast.

Devil’s Fingers

Related to the more common and rather infamous stinkhorn fungus (I’ll let you google that one!), devil’s fingers, also known as octopus fungus, unfurl tentacle-like arms from a slimy ‘egg’. Rich red and fleshy, they smell of rotting meat to attract flies. Truly revolting.

Jack-O-Lantern

While exploring the woods late on a dark night, as you do, you may come across a ghostly green glow. The jack-o-lantern fungus, named because it is bright pumpkin-orange, boasts slight bioluminescence at night. Don’t be too drawn to this fungus though, it’s rather poisonous.

Vampire’s Bane

If you’re looking for an addition to your evening meal, vampire’s bane would be a more sensible choice. So named because it smells and tastes of garlic, this small mushroom can be used in cooking, and has the added benefit of keeping garlicaverse vampires at bay.

Dead Man’s Fingers

Another one to look out for on your woodland stroll, and perhaps in the occasional overgrown graveyard, dead man’s fingers reach from the ground as though someone is trying to push through from the underworld. To add to the creepiness, they are grey with pale coloured tips (reminiscent of fingernails) when young, before becoming blackened and swollen. Yuck.

Jelly Ear

Also named Judas’s ear. Appearing mostly on elder, the tree that Judas is said to have hanged himself on, the ‘ears’ growing from the wood are said to represent his tortured soul.

Whether you’re into Halloween or not, do enjoy spotting monstrous mushrooms and terrible toadstools oozing into existence this October. Just remember to be careful and do your research before picking and/or consuming them, as some can be poisonous.

In the Garden

with Julia Smith

Prepare for cooler weather

October already – where has the summer gone?! The month of pumpkin heads and apple bobbing, the first fires in the house and the lovely cosying down with jumpers on and slippers!

Now is a good time to plant wallflowers, which will fill gaps through the winter with foliage and give scent and colour in the spring. They come into flower from mid-April through to mid-May and make a colourful partner for tulips.

Cyclamen will increase year on year if left alone

There will be many Cyclamen in garden centres now and it makes life easier to plant them whilst in full flower, as you can place them to look their best. Cyclamen hederifolium is a lovely autumn flowering variety – it likes a shady spot and will increase year on year if left alone.

October is a good time to do any returfing that you may need whilst the soil is moist and warm. Our lawns took a battering in the summer with

the drought, but it doesn’t take long for them to bounce back again with the right care.

Fruit storage

Store unblemished apples in waxed cardboard trays if you can obtain them from the greengrocer or supermarket. These keep the fruit apart to stop any rot spreading. Put apples in the box with the stalk downwards, which is its widest base, to stop them rolling about. Put them in a cool, ventilated

location like a garage where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate and check regularly for rot or vermin!

Any bruised fruit needs using quickly, or put into the freezer once peeled and sliced ready for pies or crumbles. Apparently, if you shake a Cox’s apple before you eat it you can hear the pips rattle if it is ripe!

Hard frosts are good for rhubarb plants

When the foliage and stalks have died back you can remove all the old leaves and expose the crown of rhubarb to the open air. Rhubarb needs a cold environment, so it is good if we have a hard frost or two.

Pot up some roots of mint to grow under glass so that you have fresh mint in the winter.

Order your bare-rooted roses now from specialist nurseries to plant in the new year. Planting the roses with bare roots whilst they are asleep for the winter gives them a really good start and they are much cheaper to purchase at this time of year.

Misty to Clear Glos cater for all types of glass replacements, including window and door repairs, composite doors, UPVC doors, patio doors, and much more! We can also change faulty locks, and repair sticky doors that keep catching.

No job is too big or small for Misty to Clear Glos. Whether you’re looking to replace all your conservatory panes or wanting a repair, our qualified and experienced double glazing engineers are here to provide friendly, helpful advice.

With over 25 years’ experience in the glass industry, we can cater for any type of misted glass unit for replacement or repair. Our services include misted double glazing, condensation and even broken window hinges. Plus, we provide FREE no obligation quotes, giving you the chance to see if we’re the right company for you.

Interior Design

with Gill Greenwell

Colours of autumn

October – the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. It’s time to hunker down and make your home cosy and comfortable for the winter months, and with fuel bills on the rise it’s more important than ever to create that feeling of warmth and relaxation. Whether you’re planning to redecorate or refresh your interior space, take inspiration from the new shades of autumn.

Seasonal style

Let nature take the lead by using new colour accents when the seasons change. Choose a warm neutral to anchor your scheme. Check out Edward Bulmer’s sustainable plant-based paint shades Clove and Clay. Then swap in accessories and lampshades in warm rich colours in textured fabrics – think velvet, corduroy and wool.

A rich colour palette

Autumn suits sumptuous hues like reds, oranges and shades of terracotta, so be inspired by the colours of autumn leaves. When I visit my daughter in America in the fall, I particularly

love the colours of the maple trees. Use these deeper colours as accents on cushions, throws and rugs to give a cosy feel to your living room.

Small rooms look particularly good painted in strong shades which can really transform a small dark space. I am planning to paint my husband’s study a beautiful terracotta shade; I know he’ll love it when it’s done.

Natural earthy tones

Create a warm cosseting feeling with warm earthy browns, tobacco and ochre shades. Farrow and Ball’s mustardy India Yellow will warm up any kitchen or dining area. Sink into Soho Home’s Ashford sofa upholstered in a gorgeous rust coloured velvet.

It’s all in the details. Look for earth toned accessories – H&M’s smoky brown wavy glass vase or wavy cushions would add a contemporary touch to any living room.

A 70s vibe

Interiors follow fashion, and orange, brown and yellow shades are perfect for the on-

trend 70s look. Pair with rattan, cane and macrame. Graham and Brown’s Bohemian Dream wallpaper in a geometric print of warm orange and burnt ochre would make a great statement wall. Search out mushroom-shaped lamps to complete the look. The key is not to go too retro – avoid the lime green, orange and purple combo of my teenage bedroom!

Perfect pairings

Add a pop of colour for interest. Red, orange and yellow are really effective as accents with the new warm neutrals. Try painting a small piece of furniture like a side table in a deep smoky aubergine such as Neptune’s Clove, and add an ochre yellow lamp from Pooky.

Annie Sloan’s bright Emperor’s Silk red paint on a console table would pop up a room painted in Lick’s Taupe. Add cushions and patterned lampshades in teal to liven up a brown scheme. Now you can settle down in front of a fire with a book and be ready for the winter months ahead.

Image: Benjamin Moore

Image: Soho House

WANT TO SHARE YOUR SPORTING STORY ON OUR

with Roger

Jim Adams running for fun as he prepares for Stroud Half

Jim Adams has been running half marathons for 40 years and to celebrate the milestone he’ll be running in this year’s Stroud Half.

And in a nice symmetry, this is also the 40th anniversary of the Stroud Half Marathon, the ever-popular race which is expected to have close on 2,000 runners on the start line on Sunday 23rd October.

Adams, the chairman of Stroud Athletic Club, reckons he has run in 25 to 30 of those races and he is counting down the days to an event that has become one of the mainstays of the sporting calendar in Gloucestershire.

So just what are the reasons for its ongoing appeal?

“I think it’s the people who come out and support it, whether they are running or watching on the sidelines,” said Adams. “It’s a really strong local event.

“It’s a nice course, relatively flat, much flatter than you’d expect. There are just a couple of rises around Whitminster but it’s as flat a half marathon as you’d find around here.”

This year’s race, which will get under way at 9am, will start and finish as usual at Marling School but there will be a small but significant change to the route, a change that Adams believes enhances the race’s appeal.

“This year the runners won’t be running on the A419 for nearly so long,” explained Adams. “The new route takes them through the new Great Oldbury estate, they’ll be on the A419 for only a short time.”

Adams is hoping that the residents on the Great Oldbury estate in Stonehouse come out in their numbers to cheer on the competitors in what should be another festival of running.

The race is organised by Stroud Athletic Club – it’s their flagship event – and the host club enjoyed a one-two in last year’s race with Lee Stopford winning in one hour, 11 minutes, 51 seconds and Nicholas Coyle just behind in 1.12.06.

Adams, now 66, has a best time around Stroud of one hour, 36, which is some 20 minutes better than his first ever race over 13.1 miles.

That was in September 1982, in Cheltenham, where he was living at the time and he estimates that over the years he has run close to 100 half marathons.

“It’s the distance that started me on my running journey,” he said.

“It was always my favourite distance, although these days I must admit I prefer to run a 10K.

“At my age I feel a bit more comfortable at 10K!”

The Stroud Half will be his first at the distance this year and he said he’d be happy to finish in one hour, 50, which is still a pretty decent time of course.

And Adams, who is one of the many good people involved in the sport, hasn’t only the running to focus on in the leadup to the event because it’s his job to organise all the race marshalls.

It’s a job he’s happy to do and he’s certainly happy that the event is in such rude health.

“We’ve held onto the same spot in October half term,” he said, “it dovetails with the annual fireworks display on Marling School sports field.“

For further information, visit www.stroudhalf.com

Stroud Athletic Club runners Andrew Arnison, left, and Steve Lee will be running in this year’s Stroud Half Marathon

Jim Adams has been running half marathons for 40 years

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