June 2018 - My Solihull Central

40,000

HOW TO PACK

June / July 2018

Over local readers

MY

SOLIHULL CENTRAL

For summer travels

5 step

livingroom workout siness Local Bu side! y in Director e See pag

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1

JOE LYCETT

Birmingham-born, bred and based comic goes large with his show this year

Food & Drink | Entertainment | Fashion | Home & Garden | Legal & Financial | Health

Introduce yourself?

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

In celebration of our local home-grown talent we bring to you a fabulous interview with the Brummie comic currently shooting to stardom Joe Lycett. This hilarious comedian is taking his fresh unique style of comedy to larger audiences across the country and your chance to see him locally is this November.

But let’s not dwell on November for more than a ticket-buying moment... for those jetting off soon on their summer hols we have our top tips for packing heaven. And in the meantime, as long as it doesn’t ruin your bikini diet, we have a Wimbledon inspired recipe to die for.

Keeping it local, if you’ve not yet been to the Solihull Jazz Festival then you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Put it in the calendar right now! And bringing it right back to your own front door we have some tips for you on how to improve the curb appeal of your home.

We hope you enjoy it!

Ruby & Amy

www.swanpublishing.org @MYSolihull @SwanPub

If you have an idea for a future article please let us know by emailing

info@swanpublishing.org

EDITOR’S WELCOME

Hello Neighbours,

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

Amy Watson Managing Director amywatson@swanpublishing.org

0121 689 0432

Ruby Prosser Designer & Editor rubywatson@swanpublishing.org

0121 689 0432

Julie Wilkins Advertising juliewilkins@swanpublishing.org

07914 145 638

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CONTENTS

JUNE / JULY 2018

ss usine e!

B l a Loc ory insid ct Dire e page Se

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COVER STORY I’m about to lose control and I think Joe Lycett 8/9

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY Word on the street 23

LEISURE & RETAIL How to pack for your summer vacation 13 What’s on guide 14/15 Arrive in Style 12

HOME & GARDEN Curb appeal 21

LEGAL & FINANCIAL When medical decisions become critical 25

EDUCATION Local private tutors 11

HEALTH 5 step living room workout 6

FOOD & DRINK

Get our FREE e-mag PLUS

‘Hello Weekend’ mailer, helping you

stay in the loop

with

local events!

Where to eat 16 Wimbledon Pavlova 17

Garden Party Prep 19

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5 step living room

workout

There are plenty of excuses not to make it to the gym as often as you’d like to, but there are no excuses to avoid a quick livingroom workout.

Push the furniture aside - you don’t need masses of space - and get to it! Using your own body weight to excersize with is a safe way to push yourself to within your body’s limits, here are some simple yet effective bodyweight exercises. Try to push yourself to do the workout several times all the way through once your body builds up the indurance.

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1. Mountain Climbers (20)

Get down into plank position and alternate bringing each knee in toward your chest.

2. Squats (20)

Stand with your feet hip width apart and squat down as low as you can (with knees above toes) then straighten back to standing.

3. Plank (30 sec) 4. Lunges (20) 5. Jumping Jacks (20)

Hold yourself parallel to the floor on flat arms, start off by trying to hold for 30 seconds.

Start from standing position, step forward with one foot and lower yourself towards the floor, and push yourself back to standing position.

Stand up and jump your arms and legs to the sides, then jump them back in towards your body.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

7

I’m About To Lose Control And I Think

Joe Lycett T

he phrase ‘bigger and better’ might have been coined specifically for Joe Lycett’s new touring show.

Hitting the road with I’m About To Lose Control And I Think Joe Lycett (more on that punning title in a minute), the Birmingham-born, bred and based-comic is taking a brand new set of observations, setpieces and gags to larger venues than he’s appeared in previously on his solo tours. Not that he’s especially fazed by any of it.

“I certainly have some big nights planned on this tour. I said to Sarah Millican that I felt I had to write a show that was big enough for those venues and, in her infinite wisdom, she said ‘no, the show should be good enough for 100 people’. So, it’s intimidating in terms of the scale of it and the sense that there’ll be a lot of eyes on me, but I always try and do the best possible show I can. There’s no point otherwise.”

Joe Lycett’s comedy career started off at Manchester University (he won the Chortle Student Award in 2009) before taking several acclaimed shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and supporting the likes of the aforementioned Millican and Jack Whitehall in some of the nation’s enormo-domes.

Given that he’s played in rooms of all shapes and sizes, he’s in a strong position to know exactly what works for him.

“The beauty of stand-up is that generally it does scale up and it’s about your ability to connect with an

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audience. I think arenas might be too big for the type of shows I want to do, but the theatres are great. I’ll be using PowerPoint again which gives the crowd something to focus on and that can scale up as big as you like.”

ing confident to this music?’ And yes I probably can, so let’s name the whole tour after that.”

The reality is, of course, that he may well be running out of ready-made titles to maintain life in the ‘Like It/ Lycett’ theme. “Any time I meet a musician I request that they write a song with ‘I Like It’ in the title. The thing I love about all this is that there are now proper discussions about the title.

I’ll be sitting down with my agent who also represents Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr, and the main question is: ‘which Lycett-based pun shall we go for this time?’”

And so to those Joe Lycett pun-based show titles. Having brought us Some Lycett Hot in 2012 (the show with which he was nominated as Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe), he’s since come up with If Joe Lycett Then You Should Have Put A Ring On It and That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett. Somewhat trapped in a pun-based maze of his own creation, I’m About To Lose Control And I Think Joe Lycett is the latest in that vein.

In terms of the actual content of his show, Joe once more rejects the notion of a fixed theme and instead is riffing on bizarre and funny stuff that’s happened to him in the last couple of years. “I’m not that sort of writer where I can restrict myself to a theme just in case nothing good comes of it. I prefer to get annoyed about stuff and then maybe you can spot loose themes that you can tie together.

This one won’t necessarily be about losing control. Or if it is, it’ll be by pure chance.”

“You can’t go too far wrong with the Pointer Sisters,” Joe insists. “James Acaster suggested that I went the whole hog and went for I’m So Joe Lycett, And I Just Joe Lycett, I’m About To Lose Control And I Think Joe Lycett. There was another long one that was a strong contender but then I listened to the Pointer Sisters song and thought ‘can I walk on feel

Famed for online spats which often become huge viral hits before making their way into his stage act (a local council and an email spammer have previously been put through the Lycett wringer), he has a new set of targets to air his ire towards when he hits the road, including a curious pickle he got himself into involving the head office of a financial establishment which

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

took exception to a slice of on-thespot Joe japes featuring a friend who worked in a bank’s building, a security pass and a ridiculous made-up name. “It’s fascinating, because this bank went back through all my tweets and Instagram posts to check if I had done something similar in the past.

Who knew that a massive bank would have a sense of humour failure? So, I want to make a point about banks and power and the way they mould us into what they want us to be.”

Taking a broader view on the world, Joe may even be having his say on the divisive man in the White House.

“I have been writing about him and trolling him a little bit, but haven’t we all: it’s like shouting into the void. I haven’t really done much political stuff in my stand-up but I feel that at this point, as many of us as possible have to say ‘we’re not cool with this’. Even if he’s impeached and leaves, he’s opened so many doors that we’ll never be able to close on how we expect politicians to behave; people saying appalling things might not seem that appalling because it’s already normalised.”

Still, in moments of crisis (and the US going head to head with North Korea over nuclear weapons certainly has a 1960s Cuban Missile-style vibe to it), the world of comedy is always able to thrive. “It’s a good time to be an artist because there’s lots to talk about, so weirdly all that stuff helps. Unless things go to a complete state of emergency there’s always scope for people to hear someone talk about the state of things in an intelligent way. Actually, I don’t know whether I’m the person to do that. I can sit here and talk about it at length, but

to actually construct a thing that can change people’s minds is quite another thing.”

Instead, Joe will be yomping up and down the highways and byways of the UK taking his brand of storytelling comedy to a loyal fanbase that he knows will be well up for his stand-up (he’s already had to extend the tour twice due to such demand seeing shows sell out within hours of going on sale). He may also be appearing in front of newer crowds who will have been attracted to him from more recent TV work such as hosting duties for Live at the Apollo and Sunday Brunch, and appearances on Taskmaster and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, while he’s also published an acclaimed humour book, Parsnips, Buttered. When it comes to putting together a show, he will always have a half a mind on those people rolling up in their thousands.

Joe Lycett’s tour comes to Birmingham in November, book tickets now at: joelycettcomedy.co.uk

“You should trust that if you find something funny then other people will. The whole thing about building up an audience is about taking people with you who will be on the same page, but some things that I think are hilarious might die a death so you then try to reconstruct it. There’s one routine in the new show that I really care about and really want to work, but it’s not quite there yet in terms of working for an audience, but I believe in that routine so I will work on it to make it work. And there are others that I like but don’t quite believe in enough to fight for. You have to pick your battles in writing stand-up comedy: do you want to make that point or not? And if you do then you always find a way of doing it.”

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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EDUCATION

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

EDUCATION

Solihull Olton • 0121 389 9760 165a Warwick Rd, Olton Solihull, B92 7AR kipmcgrath.co.uk/solihull-olton

Local Private Tutors

Sharon Wall

Clarinet Teacher GBSM (Hons) ARCM ABSM PGCE Highly experienced teacher with excellent success rates from beginner to diploma level.

Contact Sharon on 0121 449 4423 sharonmcwall@gmail.com sharonwall.com

Hazel Buller BSc

Guitar tutor All ages, abilities and levels taught.

Lessons provided in your own home or Solihull.

Special rates for JLR employees.

DBS certified. hazelbuller.co.uk Tel: 07847 557765

ting

Helen Mills

Flute & Intensive Grade 5 Theory BMus; GBSM Hons; ABSM Over 30 years flute teaching experience. All abilities, ages and levels taught. Excellent results record.

ALSO Aural Training Member of ISM Blenheim Road, Moseley Tel: 0121 449 2135

Kerry Spencer

English, History and 11+ (Maths & English) Tutor All abilities, ages and levels taught.

Lessons provided in your own home during the week and weekends.

Brilliant results.

Call or text: 07891 055 220

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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Arrive in

style

D

o you appreciate the finer things in life... like taking a stress free journey and arriving unruffled, on time, without having to worry about a thing?

If so then Kingsmarque, the newly launched luxury chauffeur service, is the answer to your prayers.

Kingsmarque provides personalised executive travel for the discerning customer. From the moment you are collected you can relax and begin to enjoy your special day out without the worry of taxis, trains, driving, navigation or parking.

If you would like to treat your loved one to a special day out then the journey is truly the icing on the cake and can add that extra bit of indulgence to your day. Whether you are planning a day at the races, shopping in Bicester, theatre and a meal in Stratford, or wherever your heart desires, Kingsmarque offers the flexibility to fit in with your plans.

Kingsmarque’s professional drivers will put you at your ease and ensure that your journey is a pleasurable experience in itself. Your personalised itinerary is fully flexible - this is a chauffeur service with a difference.

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This exclusive service is not limited to leisure experiences. It will enable you to travel to an important meeting if you need to make use of your journey time to work and don’t want the hassle of travelling by train and waiting around for taxis.

Equally, if you are planning a golf day or a day out at the races with your friends then this is perfect for you.

If you would like more information about how Kingsmarque can make your journey an indulgent part of your big day then call 0121 744 9949.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

LEISURE & RETAIL

HOW TO PACK FOR YOUR

Summer Vacation Whether you’re the seasoned packer or the hopeless novice we could all do with some help cutting the time it takes to pack a good suitcase. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best tips and hacks to keep things simple, and prevent that dreaded moment when your possessions have become a huge anonymous heap of tangled mess on the hotel room floor!

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Laundry bag Find a pretty, kooky laundry bag and it’ll help your suitcase still look smart when it’s half full of dirty clothes.

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Double bag toiletries Don’t take any chances with the plane’s loading crew, double bagging helps to ensure your clothes are safe from rough handling.

3 4 5

Zip jewllery box / Makeup box / Wires storage Zip boxes are the best way not only to transport your smaller goods safely but also to make them far easier to view when you’re at your destination.

Shoes, trainers, sandals, boots We’re used to fickle British weather, so packing one of each footwear style will keep your options wide open, just in case.

IP a TOsuPre yT ou pick age,

Make d lugg for han g a b ry-day le our eve versati y e b n a then it c ndbag too. ha

6 7 8

Day outfits At least one ‘warm’ outfit and five fun options will keep your day-time wardrobe looking fresh. Remember to roll not fold, it saves precious inches of suitcase space.

Additional accesories - sunglasses & hats Keeping safe in the sun should be a top priority when we’re abroad, so to avoid returning as a lobster these accessories should be a must.

Underwear / swimming costumes If you’re spending whole days at the beach or by the pool bikinis and underwear become interchangeable, but always pack one more than you need - nobody likes to get caught without enough pants!

Evening outfits Around five evening looks allows you enough variety to only wear what you really want to and not just what you have to.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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LEISURE & RETAIL

What’s on June / July 2018

Classes

Markets & Fairs

Vicki Gorman Weekly Art Classes for all abilities.

Where: The Core Courtyard Gallery When: Thursdays Info: vicki_kilgour@yahoo.co.uk

Solihull Farmers’ Market Fresh locally grown produce Where: Solihull High Street When: First Friday every month Info: solihullfarmersmarket.org

Seasonal Events

Fine & Local Food Fayre Locally sourced food and produce from top quality suppliers.

Where: Solihull High Street When: Third Saturday every month Info: solihull.gov.uk/events Bentley Heath Country Market A cross between a farmers’ market and a craft fair all under one roof.

Where: Bentley Heath Hall When: Every Fri 9.30am - 11.30am Info: facebook.com

Solihull Jazz Festival Solihull hosts the Solihull Jazz Festival for the 3rd year as part of the Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell Jazz & Blues Festival.

Where: Mell Square When: 20 Jul, 4pm - 12pm Info: solihull.gov.uk

Early Summer Craft Fair Crafts from home and abroad Where: Solihull High Street When: 30 Jun Info: solihull.gov.uk/events Continental Market Enjoy a range of continental treats, street food stalls galore and craft items.

Where: Mell Square When: 19 Jul Info: Solihull.gov.uk/events

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Pride & Prejudice Heartbreak Productions returns to Brueton Park with their unique outdoor theatre adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel.

Where: Brueton Park When: 17 Jul Info: Solihull.gov.uk/events

Fathers’ Day Lunch There’s something for every dad on Father’s Day at Hogarths, whether it be a scrumptious family lunch in The Brasserie or their Gentleman’s take on Afternoon Tea. Where: Hogarths Hotel When: 17 Jun Info: hogarths.co.uk

Music in the Park: A Touch of Brass!

Join the Shirley Band as they perform a concert of brass favourites and stirring renditions of more modern classics. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic, relax and enjoy the perfect Sunday in the park.

Where: Knowle Park When: 22 Jul, 2pm - 4pm Info: hogarths.co.uk David Walliams’s The Midnight Gang Heartbreak Productions returns with another funny and ingenious adaptation of a David Walliams classic, performed outdoors in the atmospheric lakeside setting of Brueton Park.

Where: Brueton Park When: 31 Jul Info: thecoresolihull.co.uk

Carnivals & Fun Fairs

Funtopia A fun time is guaranteed for young children and their families at this event, taking place for the first time in Solihull! The event features rides, inflatables and games galore.

Entrance costs £7.00 per child or £2.00 per adult - this entitles you to unlimited use of all games & rides.

Where: Tudor Grange When: 28 Jul Info: solihull.gov.uk Shirley Carnival Offering a variety of stalls to attract all ages and a full programme of arena entertainment.

Where: Shirley Park When: 7 Jul, 12pm - 4.30pm Info: Solihull.gov.uk/events

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

o ings to d h t f o t o h LL A snaps SOLIHU d n u o r ly in and a e and Ju n u J h g u thro

LEISURE & RETAIL

For The Kids

Discover Dens Discover how to make your very own outdoor shelter. Will you be able to make it waterproof using just what you find in the woods?. Suitable for children aged 6+. Entrance costs £3.50 per child.

Where: The Parkridge Centre When: 24 Jul Info: solihull.gov.uk

Olton Parklife Raise funds for charity whilst enjoying... a dog show; ‘Real Wild’ animal experience; a swing band; DJ; fairground rides, free activities and entertainment; catering, stalls and much more!

Where: Langley Hall Park When: 7 Jul, 12pm Info: Solihull.gov.uk/events

Nature Babies & Tots Drop in session for babies and toddlers with messy and sensory play.

Suitable for children aged 0-2. Entrance costs £3.50 per child.

Where: Brueton Park When: 23 Jul, 10am & 11:30am Info: warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Charity Events

Armed Forces Day Join forces with Shirley Royal British Legion and Troop Aid at this event, which is being held to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War and celebrate the role and achievements of the cadets.

Where: Shirley Park When: 30 Jun 12.30pm - 5pm Info: solihull.gov.uk

Donkey Derby Help Shirley Round Table to raise money for charity by supporting the ever-popular Donkey Derby event.

Where: Shirley Park When: 16 Jun, 12pm - 4pm Info: solihull.gov.uk

Stay in the loop!

New events will keep popping up throughout the next couple of months and details may change, that’s why we send out our weekly ‘Hello Weekend’ email to let you know the very latest info.

• Live music • Live theatre • Charity events • Conservation • Cinema screenings • Art exhibitions • Craft workshops • Courses • Festivals • Special offers • Markets & street food ...All straight to your inbox every week, with links to websites where you can buy tickets / reserve places.

Race For Life This fundraising event for women of all ages has returned to Solihull Support Cancer Research UK in their bid to beat cancer!

Where: Malvern & Brueton Parks When: 17 Jun, 11am - 1pm Info: solihull.gov.uk

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

Sign up via our Facebook page

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Where to eat

A guide to the best places to eat in and around Solihull

The Agrabad

Balti 884 Old Lode Lane Solihull, B92 8LW Tel: 0121 743 7883

Aroma

The Forest

Pub Food 2 Cranbrook Way, Shirley, B90 4GT Tel: 0121 733 8810

Hotel Restaurant 25 Station Approach Dorridge, B93 8JA Tel: 01564 772 120

Indian 100a Widney Rd Solhull, B93 9BN Tel: 01564 777 613

Hotel Restaurant Four Ashes Rd Dorridge, B93 8QE Tel: 01564 779 988

Hogarths

The Punchbowl

The Beech House

The Malt Shovel

The Red House

Steakhouse 727 Warwick Rd Solihull, B91 3DA Tel: 0121 242 7730

The Farm Inn

Gastro Pub Barston Lane Solihull, B91 3DX Tel: 01675 443 223

Pub Food Mill Lane Lapworth, B94 6HR Tel: 01564 784 564

Pub Food & Carvery Hermitage Rd Solihull, B91 2LP Tel: 0121 711 8856

Met Bar & Kitchen Waters Restaurant

Gastro Pub Farmhouse Way Solihull, B90 4EH Tel: 0121 711 7273

Modern European 680-684 Warwick Rd Solihull, B91 3DX Tel: 0121 659 8062

Fine Dining Floor 1, Resorts World B40 1PU Tel: 0121 273 1238

Fukuoka

Japanese 373 Stratford Rd Shirley, B90 3BW Tel: 0121 439 6262

Orange Tree

Gastro Pub Warwick Rd Solihull, B93 0BN Tel: 01564 785 364

The White Lion

Happy Heart Cafe

Pavarotti

Little Italy

Organic 26 Richmond Rd, Olton, B92 7RP Tel: 0121 706 8674

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Hillfield Farm Pub

Italian 2 Hobs Moat Rd Solihull, B92 8JN Tel: 0121 743 3222

French & British Hampton-in-Arden Solihull, B92 0AA Tel: 01564 442 833

Italian 156-158 Stratford Rd Solihull, B90 3BD Tel: 0121 293 1987

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

WIMBLEDON STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA

Celebrate Wimbledon in luxury with this exceptionally delicious summer treat incorporating the classic strawberries and cream associated with the Wimbledon tournaments.

Ingredients:

M M M M M M M M M

4 egg whites 250g caster sugar 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1tsp cornflour 1 tsp vanilla extract 500g strawberries 200g redcurrants 3tsp icing sugar 350g double cream

Method: 1. Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Using a pencil, mark out the circumference of a dinner plate on baking parchment. Whisk the egg whites with a hand mixer until they form stiff peaks, then whisk in the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until the meringue looks glossy. Whisk in the vinegar, cornflour and vanilla.

3. Spread the meringue inside the 3. circle, creating a crater by making the sides a little higher than the middle. Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the heat and let the Pavlova cool completely inside the oven.

4. When the meringue is cool, chop 100g of the strawberries. Mix them with half the redcurrants and 2 tbsp icing sugar. Place in a food processor, blitz until smooth, then push the fruit mixture through a sieve. Whip the cream with the remaining icing sugar and spread it over the meringue. Put the remaining fruit on the cream and finally pour the sauce over the whole lot.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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FOOD & DRINK Nothing beats a

836 Yardley Wood Rd

delicious

Kings Heath, B13 0JE

Open 5.30-11.00 Every day

warming curry

www.sweetchillies.com

Ample FREE parking

Call or book a table NOW on 443 2737 “You will be tempted by an unrivalled fusion of authentic and imaginative dishes, each freshly prepared and presented by our Chef, using only the highest quality ingredients. Our approach to healthy eating demands that no artificial colours, stocks or additives are used in our dishes. Indeed, most of our cooking uses olive oil, and the spices we use are freshly ground in our kitchen.� Iqbal Hussain, proprietor

Introduce yourself?

Want your business to meet the neighbourhood?

Your ad should be here.

Visit swanpublishing.org or call 0121 689 0432

18

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

HOME & GARDEN

Y

ou don’t need a special reason to throw a garden party, but it can feel silly going to huge lengths to throw a sunny afternoon get-together, so here are the bare essentials that will turn your garden into a summer destination without taking too much time or effort.

Party punch A quick google search is enough to discover a world of exciting punch ideas, and if you are a cocktail enthusiast you may already have many of the ingredients in your cupboards.

Dig out your biggest bowl or jug and try out your alchemist skills to brew the perfect party concoction, and remember to throw in plenty of sliced fruit to make it look extra enticing.

GARDEN PARTY;

Bare Essentials

The

Fairy lights / Bunting

BBQ

Speaker

Having become such a common household item, fairy lights are very cheap to buy and ensure your garden party can continue well into the night without losing any of its magic.

White lights will give your garden a classy beauty but colourful lights are so much fun, and they continue the bright, vivid summery theme as darkness falls on your garden.

It doesn’t matter if you burn every item you put on the Barbeque, you want those delightful smokey smells wafting over the garden fence and making the neighbours jealous! Besides, the blackened charcoal taste is half the reason to get the BBQ out. Just send out a memo to your guests to bring a bit of a contribution and lift some of the responsibility from your shoulders.

If you don’t own a bluetooth speaker then somebody you’re inviting is bound to, it’s 2018 after all. Here is the easiest way to turn every guest into the party’s DJ, everyone will want to put forward their best party anthems.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

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HOME & GARDEN

MY THE

Do YOU want to be on the mat?

welcome

MAGAZINES

...Then come in with us!

Get your leaflets delivered cosy inside our next issue Only £35 +VAT per 1000. Contact us on 0121 689 0432 visit swanpublishing.org or email us at info@swanpublishing.org

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Dimension

Landscape & Driveways • Clay & Block Paving • Tarmacing • Patios • Brickwork • Slabbing • Gravel • Landscaping • Fencing • Property Repairs • Roofing Repairs • Driveway Maintenance

Introduce yourself?

Want your business to meet the neighbourhood?

Your ad should be here!

Visit swanpublishing.org or call 0121 689 0432

T: 0121 733 1463 (Solihull) T: 01926 827 645 (Kenilworth, Warwick, Leamington) T: 01789 270 869 (Stratford) M: 07799 428 557 E: info@dimensiondriveways.co.uk W: www.dimensiondriveways.co.uk

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, DECEMBER / JANUARY 2018

HOME & GARDEN

&

First Impressions ow does a neighbourhood go from unloved to up-and-coming? It’s all about the curb appeal. It has long been observed in social psychology that taking pride in one’s surroundings encourages camaraderie and lifts community spirit. The same works effectively in reverse, a lack of care taken is infectious and can land a neighbourhood in a sorry state of disenfranchisement.

Luckily each individual who takes it upon themselves to invest in their house’s curb appeal is taking a huge stride in improving their whole neighbourhood.

Here are some great ways to improve your house’s curb appeal and get the ball rolling for others to do the same!

Just picking a couple of these can make a huge difference...

1. A fresh lick of paint If you already have a quality front door but it’s getting a bit too shabby to be considered shabby-chic, a fresh coat of paint in a lively colour can do a lot. The same goes for cracked and peeling exterior walls, although best off sticking with white for those.

2. Faux potted trees These start at a very modest price and add instant elegance to your home with absolute zero effort.

3. (Solar) Lights Lighting up the path to your door at night has practical usefulness as well as being aesthetically pleasing.

Setting lights to activate by motion detection can also act as an effective deterrent for opportunistic thieves.

4. Fresh fancy paving Whether you favour the simple and classic or the kooky and bizarre, these are personality traits that your house ought to communicate via your paving choices, right?

5. Climber plants and trellis Wisteria grows very successfully in the damp British climate with little to no upkeep, it’s also a stunning plant to have draped over the front of your house. Search ‘climber plants’ to find more ideas.

6. Attractive front door Many homes are devalued by cheap front door alternatives. For better security, fire safety and curb appeal a wooden front door beats a plastic patio door hands down.

7. Flower beds Require some level of upkeep but with the benefit of bees, birds and butterflies milling about creating an idyllic picture.

Curb Appeal

H

8. New garden wall & gate Your bit of street deserves some attention if it’s looking worse for wear.

9. A pretty porch extension These look gorgeous in thick timber and provide a little refuge from the elements on your way in and out of the house, especially great for families with forgetful ‘individuals’ who lose their keys.

10. having paint removed from gorgeous brickwork Sometimes previous owners have made questionable decisions that it’s not too late to undo.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

21

HOME & GARDEN

& TREEWORKS 01564 820 170

Garden Maintenance

Pressure Washing

Soft Landscaping

Lawn Mowing

Hedge Cutting

Jungles Cleared

Fencing

Planting

Turfing

DRIVEWAYS • LANDSCAPING PROPERTY REPAIRS

jamescoote@changesgardening.org.uk www.changesgardening.org.uk www.facebook.com/changesgardening 0121 796 4080 “Professional and very tidy” “WOW, So So pleased” “Absolutely delighted” “Awesome Team”

Why not invest in a new driveway or patio to enhance the appearance and add value to your property?

Approved Drives and Landscapes offer a range of services to help improve all areas of your home, including;

Clay & Block Paving • Tarmacing (red or black) • Patios • Brickwork Slabbing • Gravel • Landscaping • Fencing Property Repairs • Roofing Repairs • Driveway Maintenance (Pressure cleaning & sealing - weed free) Contact Us

T. 0121 702 1456 or 0121 371 0105 M. 07748 577687 michael.central@icloud.com Trinity Park, Concorde House, Solihull, B37 7UQ

Get in touch today for your FREE quotation!

22

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

WORD ON THE STREET Here we bring you the low down of local happenings, all the stuff you need to know. To contribute to next issue’s WORD ON THE STREET page please email info@swanpublishing.org or call us on 0121 689 0432

Local children perform at the Royal Albert Hall School pupils from 17 choirs in Solihull and Birmingham raised the roof of London’s spectacular Royal Albert Hall in March at a gala concert in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent KG. Over 2000 youngsters from around the country came together to form a massed choir for the ‘AC Academy Does the Royal Albert Hall’ event. They were accompanied by professional musicians and joined on stage by special guests, Strictly Come Dancing stars Gorka and Dianne and actor Mark Williams, known to millions as Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films.

Boris style Bikeshare comes to Birmingham & Solihull 5,000 bikes will be hitting the streets this summer funded by Nextbike. Their arrival is expected to be in September, and they will be available from a range of public places such as train stations, public squares and popular destinations.

Late night flights changing due to restrictions In the interests of local residents Birmingham airport are restricting some late night flights and banning older aeroplanes with louder engines from making late night trips.

Membership to the scheme is extremely good value at only £30 for the year and is a part of the cities efforts to reduce pollution and encourage healthy lifestyles.

The concert included choral music and songs as diverse as Handel’s Zadok the Priest to Pharrell’s Happy and extracts from Bizet’s opera Carmen to music from around the world. An undoubted highlight was The Trip, a piece created by children with moderate and profound learning difficulties as part of AC Academy’s ground-breaking work with children with special educational needs (SEN) which featured backing vocals from the entire choir and some 3500 audience members.

AC Academy reaches 15,000 children a year in partnership with music services nationwide, including Solihull Music Service, and through collaborations with venues such as the Royal Albert Hall. AC Academy’s Choir Creation scheme is now in its tenth year and has an ambitious target to create 300 choirs and train 300 new choir leaders by 2020.

The effects of sound pollution on the surrounding community is something Solihull Council’s planning committee have worked hard to address. Planning officer Lawrence Osborne said there had been “a significant amount of community engagement” in devising the new policy.

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

23

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Introduce yourself?

Want your business to meet the neighbourhood?

Your ad should be here.

Visit swanpublishing.org or call 0121 689 0432

Credit control is one of the most important features of a well run business...

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

for a free quotation

COMMUNITY BUSINESS & ACTIVITY FINANCE

When medical decisions

become critical

W

hen former Russian Spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned, becoming critically ill and incapable of making decisions for themselves, lawyers had to step in and approach the Court of Protection to allow doctors to take tissue samples to confirm the substance they had been exposed to and to assist in their treatment and to have access to their medical records.

You’d be right to assume it’s highly unlikely that you or a loved one will become incapacitated in this way but there are numerous ways that are far more common. The most obvious is dementia, but you could also lose mental capacity through becoming unconscious in a car accident, or having a stroke or heart attack. Severe depression or other mental illness could also cause you to be incapable of making appropriate decisions for yourself.

Involving the Court of Protection to step in when medical decisions are needed is costly and can be avoided with a health & welfare Lasting Power of Attorney. The Wilkes Partnership’s Ann-Marie Aston explains further.

“In the case of the Skripals, and where medical decisions are needed urgently, The Court of Protection can hear a case very quickly, but at a cost. If you have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place the cost is in the hundreds - if you need to go through the court the cost will be in the thousands,” said Ann-Marie.

“Furthermore, the process of putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place enables you to make your views on different types of treatment clear, so that if the worst happens you can rest assured that your attorney or attorneys can ensure that your best interests will be served.

“If you have not put a power of attorney in place and your next of kin cannot agree on the decisions that need to be made, this in turn can lead to a delay in treatment and potential court costs.

“The document provides for up to four people as your attorney in health matters, to cover different eventualities, and in cases where there is noone appropriate, you can name your solicitor as your power of attorney,” she said.

Ann-Marie

Partner at The Wilkes Partnership

If you would like more information on Lasting Powers of Attorney please contact Ann-Marie Aston at The Wilkes Partnership aaston@wilkes.co.uk.

The Wilkes Partnership LLP Stanton House, 54 Stratford Road Shirley, Solihull, B90 3LS

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

0121 733 8000 www.wilkes.co.uk

25

Local Business Directory

Support your local community = Supporting your local economy + Watching our neighbourhood thrive!

Beauty Therapy

Restaurant

Sk:n

Sweet Chillies

7

Building & Construction Weatherseal Roofing Solutions Ltd

20

School Edgbaston High School

Buy & Sell Website

Smart Alarm Systems

ebuygum

SmartInstall Limited

3

Chauffeur Services Kingsmarque

12

Children’s Activities Mad Science

11

Credit Control

UK Central Credit Management Ltd

Gardening & Landscaping

24

22 Central Driveways 22 Changes UK 22 Dimension Driveways & Landscapes 20 Betel UK Garden Treeworks

Solicitor

The Wilkes Partnership

Stairlift Specialists

Stairlift Express Ltd

Tuition

Kip McGrath Solihull Olton Centre

Windows & Doors

Cloudy2Clear

18 10 28 25 6 11 27

Disclaimer - All advertisements delivered by the MY Magazines are published in good faith. We do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of such advertisements, nor is any kind of warrenty endorsment expressed or implied by such publication. We specifically disclaim all and any liability to advertisers, readers and users of any kind, for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error, omission or any other cause and whether on the part of the MY Magazines, our agents or any other person.

26

MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

HOME & GARDEN advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement.

Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing?

If you act now you can avoid these problems.

Now, you may think you need to replace

the whole window including the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solution‌ Just replace the glass!!

If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you

how we can fix it. With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee.

Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors.

Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Corbyn Wells and he services Solihull and the surrounding areas.

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Corbyn a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

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MY SOLIHULL CENTRAL, JUNE / JULY 2018

27

‘Burglars target homes where there is no visible sign of protection’ Crime Reduction Manager, West Midlands Police.

Burglar Alarms We offer a standard wireless system or choose the ‘smart’ option that can send alerts directly to your mobile.

CCTV systems For added security our CCTV system, which also links to your mobile device, protects your property day and night.

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and I have already ago. Very happy with the process Had alarm fitted by them a while A Leem ily. fam and nds frie my to d recommende customer e. The service was excellent and the hom my to ed fitt v cct and rm ala I had an Colin T mend SmartInstall to anyone. care was unbeatable. I would recom ing. ation to installation and commission Brilliant service from initial consult Terry M y. nt and credit to himself and compan elle exc s wa er ine eng tion alla inst Our

Call your local installer now on 0121 634 8081 or visit SmartInstall.com

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