Gazette & Diary Magazine
ABERGAVENNY ABERG GA AV VENN NY
Absurdity
GARDEN CENTRE LTD LTD C O M B I N I N G N AT AT U R E A N D N U R T U R E
by Dorothy Baylis
7 Since 195
Oh how odd if like a bird the animals could fly And oh how if like a cod we lived in the sea you and I If the grass was pink and the sky was green And hedges scarlet red If all the seas were indigo and cows laid eggs instead If kangaroos had curly beaks and elephants climbed trees If parallel lines begun to meet and boiling meant to freeze If this was so it seems to me how crazy life would be For nothing would make sense at all in a world of absurdity.
At Abergavenny Garden Centre, we pride ourselves on being a traditional market garden centre nursery, with over 50 years of experience. Combined with our knowledge and expertise, our customer service is five star rated and our advice hints aand tips we
END E ND OF OF SEASON SEA ASO ON SALE SA ALLE NOW NO OW ON: ON: O Fan Fantastic nta ta ast sttic c savings sa av v ving gs on on hundreds hund dre eds ds of o products pro p roduc uctts Selected Se le ect e cte ted lines line es of e o shrubs shrrubs b ass much muc ch as 50% 50% off off Ot the er selected se ele ect e cte ted plant pla p an nt material ma ate at terria al up up to 25% 25% % off off Other Se le ect e ctte ed llines ine es o e of ttre re ee es u p to HA ALLF P RIC CE Selected trees up HALF PRICE S pring bulbs p bulb b bs now no ow available ava av vaila ab ble e Spring Wi W ntter p la antting go on io on se set ets ts jjust usst iin n Winter planting onion sets O rde rd derrs now no ow being being taken b take en for for winter wint nte ter flowering flo owe ow weri r ng g baskets bas b aske ket etts Orders D iisc countts available c ava av vaila ab ble e for for bulk bulk order b ord rde er on on cut cut flowers flow flo owe werrs Discounts
DATES TO REMEMBER
January
22 - Abergavenny Farmers Market, Market Hall, Abergavenny. Fresh local produce. 22 – Abergavenny Local History Society , Toby Jones will talk about the latest Discoveries at the Newport Ship. Borough Theatre, 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome to join on the night.
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Welcome ...
A
S the shutters go up on 2014 and we open the curtains on 2015, it’s business as usual for all the team at the Gazette and Diary. As always, over the course of the next 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days, you’ll find us all perpetually striving to provide you with the sort of quality read you’ve come to know, expect, and love. As Oprah Winfrey once said inbetween interviewing celebrities: “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” So with that in mind, we’ll trust you’ll now join us in raising our glasses as we toast the new year and set sail on a brand new adventure together. Bon voyage and chin chin dear readers. We trust 2015 will be a memorable one for us all. Until the next time, take care and God bless.
Nick Ramsay AM
Assembly Member for Monmouth Hospitals - Schools - Transport Environment - Housing Write to: Nick Ramsay AM, Constituency Office, 16 Maryport Street, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1AB E-mail: nicholas.ramsay@wales.gov.uk
For further information call: 01291 674 898 or 029 2089 8735
MERYL Streep - Into the Woods
... look out for ... NEVER TOO T OO LA LATE ATE TE TO T O PLA PLAY AY Y THE PIANO!
Dorothy D orrothy h B Baylis aylis C.T., C.T., A.B A.B.R.S.M., .R.S.M., has a few few vacancies vacancies for for childr children ren (aged 7y years ears an and d up upwards) warrds) an and d adults wishing to play the Piano, either for pleasure or to take the A.B.R.S.M. or Trinity Grade Practical Piano examinations. All aspects of these exams are covered. Specialises in the formative years of children 7 years and upwards. I also specialise in teaching the Aural section of either the A.B.R.S.M. or Trinity for students already learning; strings, woodwind, brass, percussion or organ, who wish to have extra coaching in this section of the exam as valuable marks can be gained towards a pass or higher mark for a successful result. Transport can be arranged to collect children from Cross Ash Primary school at 3.30pm, children have refreshments and are collected by parents after the lesson at a pre-arranged time from New Inn Farm, Cross Ash.
INTO THE WOODS - Disney’s new film, due for release on January 9, features a stellar cast in an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s 1987 award-winning musical. The story has its roots in four of Grimm’s fairy tales and will bring a touch of magic to the new year. Meryl Streep, pictured below, plays the witch who tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree. Other cast members include James Corden, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt and Chris Pine. JOHNNY Depp -Into the Woods
Freelance Church organist available for weddings, funerals ((£50 p per service) and Christenings charge). servic e) an dC hristenings (n o char ((no h ge). German pianos 2G erman pian p os ffor or sale. often stock often have have German German pianos pianos in st ock
P Please lease ring D Dorothy orothy on 01873 821264
January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 3
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BEST OF THE BUNCH - Ivy So many people ignore the stunning black berries produced by certain ivies at this time of year, but they make a dramatic addition to door wreaths and table decorations - and they are pretty easy to grow in the garden. Hedera helix, the common English ivy, is a rampant climber but very useful for hiding eyesores in the garden. Nectar-rich flowers are produced from late summer until late autumn, an important food source for bees and other insects, while the black fruits which ripen in winter will sustain desperately hungry birds. Ivy is easy to grow and very hardy but prefers limy soil. Add a sprinkling of lime when you plant - to the base of the planting hole - and be patient because it takes a while to get going but once established will be long lived.
W
INTER gardens can be places of pure fairytale. Dusted with snow or dense frost, the stems and skeletons of many plants look magical in the ice cold light. We think of our front gardens as places to hang lights and decorate the house for the festive season, but there are many plants that are jewel-like in their own right and are happy in both front and rear gardens which will add to the winter scene, even when not strewn with fairy lights, says garden designer Kate Gould, three times Chelsea Gold Medal winner. "Cornus alba 'Sibirica' looks at its absolute best in the winter after it has shed its leaves," she notes. "From late November through to the spring, this particular cornus shows off its fiery red stems and is a real show stealer in the winter garden.
Combined with an under-planting of Helleborus niger, the white flowered Christmas rose and some snowdrops or Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary) and you will have something to look at all winter long." Ilex aquifolium 'Nellie Stevens' is a particularly good fruiting holly and will berry in the right climatic conditions from November through to the spring, she continues. "Although this particular holly will produce some berries on its own if you can provide its favoured pollinating partner, Ilex 'Edward J. Stevens' you will have a far more prolific crop. Usually left to grow into a medium-sized tree, it can be kept small by regular pruning which means that you will be able to reach and cut some branches to bring inside to decorate your home at Christmas."
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Viburnum opulus and Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' are both festooned with berries, red in the case of the viburnum and metallic mauve for the callicarpa which is possibly one of the most unusual winter plants you will see. "If you prefer flowers to berries, then another great viburnum (of which there are many), Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn', has very pretty pink flowers that have a wonderful sweet scent and will flower, if the temperatures are relatively mild, all through the winter. Although the flowers do not last very long once cut, they do make a pretty if transient winter table decoration." All these plants add to your winter scene and contribute to the summer borders as backdrop planting, but for a showier and more temporary glow in the winter garden, there is no better effect than fairy lights draped through
planting or on the house as they really do create a sense of the holidays, says Gould. "Decorating deciduous trees (where possible) also looks good and birch trees in particular look lovely with oversize decorations hung through their branches. Use simple decorations here and perhaps stick to a single colour. Red decorations are not only festive but look wonderful against the bright white birch branches. "Winter gardens and homes in the truest sense of the pagan traditions of early England were about creating brightness and hope in the darkest of months with evergreen foliage and brightly coloured berries used as a reminder of sunnier times past and a herald of brighter times to come the following year. Fairy lights and decorations are a modern version of this tradition and they do brighten up the shortest and dullest of days."
January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 5
Gazette & Diary Magazine
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LING away the paint charts, ditch dithering over bafflingly-named colours and embrace the future - it's red wine and copper-coloured. Clever chaps at leading paint companies Pantone and Dulux predict Marsala, "a naturally robust and earthy wine red" shade, and Copper Blush, "an orangey coppery tone", will rule in 2015. While fashionable way-out colours, which star on the catwalk, can struggle to easily translate into the real world, these two easy-on-the-eye concoctions could not only suit most settings, but also pair well together. Even better, plumping for one or both might put an end to the curse of colour craziness. In-your-face colour, it's true, may not be for the faint-hearted, but there's no better time to play with a warmer palette, a trend which experts say is a reaction to a more positive general global outlook, and replaces those cool blues and greens. Embracing rich but subtle hues could not only give a much-needed glow to rooms, vital throughout the remaining chilly months, but also conjure a seductive setting whose style will endure far beyond the season. Pantone's Colour Institute, which has nominated a 'colour of the year' since 1990, last year opted for Radiant Orchid, a bright blend of
Join the blush rush
Oslo towels - Kingsley Home fuschia, purple and pink, which claimed to "encourage creativity and innovation". This time around, berry-rich Marsala promises, according to its creators, so much more than a different look to your walls. It's a shade to "enrich our mind, body and soul, exuding
6 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
with real depth, which creates an easy to live with atmosphere but with a touch of elegance", according to Rebecca Williamson, senior colour and content manager for Dulux. So if your taste is for Marsala - it took its name from an Italian fortified wine - or you want to bang the drum for copper (blushing or otherwise), check out these ways to colour up at home in 2015.
Faux fur cushion - Dunelm Copper Hanging Pendant, Luma confidence and stability... its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness", notes Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute. Dulux is also proud to lyrically boast of Copper Blush's powers. It's "a heart-warming shade
Kartell Componibili, Design 55 Interiors
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
New Year Resolution – Home Improvements!
A
S we begin a new year why not think about one or two upgrades within your home. Improvements to your furniture, homeware and kitchenware are easily done and don’t need to break the bank; especially in the new year when offers are available for the taking! Why not add some character and style to your home with some handcrafted oak or pine furniture? Or add some interest with framed pictures,
wallart and artificial flower arrangements. The Old Railway Line Garden Centre is promoting home improvements this month with a range of oak and pine furniture from their furniture showroom, kitchenware showcased in their farm shop and plenty of homeware products within their extensive gift and homeware department. To mark the company’s 25th anniver- Garden Centre are launching a New sary in business The Old Railway Line Year Sale offering savings of up to 50 per cent until Sunday 11th December. The family run, independent garden centre, located between Brecon and Hay-On-Wye, was established by Mark & Christina Cleary in 1990 on the site of the old Brecon to Hereford Branch of the Midland Railway. The garden centre has grown into one of the UK’s premier, destination garden centres being awarded ‘Best Garden Centre in Wales & West’ by the Garden Centre Association in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Christina explained the businesses growth over the past 25 years: “In 1990 my husband, Mark and I started selling home grown bedding plants from a small 8x6ft greenhouse next to the entrance. As demand for quality
plants increased we made the decision to open a small plant area and build a couple of poly tunnels. “In 2001 we added a Coffee Shop and in 2009 we added our first permanent, insulated retail building which today houses our garden care, pet and wild bird care departments. In 2011 the diggers moved in to build the biggest and most exciting project to date, housing a new gift area, floristry counter, farm shop and a new 150 cover restaurant.” For more information about the Old Railway Line Garden Centre, upcoming events and this month’s sale please contact the Old Railway Line directly by calling 01497 847055 or visiting their website www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.
January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 7
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Best possible opportunities for every pupil A
T King Henry VIII School we provide a great variety of opportunities: academic, social and cultural in order to challenge our young people to succeed. We also believe that effective partnership between the school and parents should underpin all that we do. We are committed that every pupil should get the best possible opportunities and education allowing them to succeed and flourish. Learning is at the heart of all we do. Through high quality teaching we ensure every pupil’s talents and abilities are catered for allowing them to excel academically but also develop skills that allow
them to become more independent in their learning and prepare them for life beyond school. School days must be a period of enrichment and enjoyment and pupils are encouraged to enjoy and participate in a healthy balance of extra-curricular activities. The school offers many activities in Performing Arts, Sports, Curriculum enrichment, external competitions and charity work. We are delighted to have recently joined forces with Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff City Football Club to be the Monmouthshire hub in a High Level Sport and
8 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
Education Partnership. As from September 2015 students will have the opportunity to access a programme combining elite coaching and triple BTEC Sport. This is an exciting venture for the school and students will be able to find out more about this scheme at our Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 22nd January 2015 from 6.30pm. Mrs Elspeth Lewis Headteacher
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Being a brilliant teenager
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VERYONE is familiar with the cliche of the typical teenager who stays in their bedroom, communicates in grunts and monosyllables, and appears to hate just about everyone. They don't appear to be happy, and their parents, family and teachers are definitely not happy. But things don't have to be like that, and a new book, aimed at teens themselves rather than their parents, is here to explain why, and to, basically, tell them how to cheer up. The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager is no weighty self-help tome with long chapters of turtuous advice about being a decent young person. Instead, it's packed with cartoons and scrawled writing, under chapter headings including Bouncebackability, Phone a Friend, You are You, and Being Real. The book, written by three experts on happiness, psychology and being brilliant, claims to be "for ambitious teens who are ready to become proactive, determined, successful and most importantly: happy! And for parents and teachers desperate to turn a down-beat teenager into a ray of positivity and delight." So how do you turn a teenager into this ray of positivity and delight? It sounds like an impossible transformation for most adolescents, and the truth is, says the book, that for it to be "Saturday morning every day in your head" teens need to be awesome, which apparently takes "a tad more effort". That extra effort involves standing out from the crowd by 'doing stuff' - even though it's easier to do very little, choosing friends carefully, and making the most of your family because it's the only one you've got. In a nutshell, the idea is for teens to strive to be the best they can, rather than taking the easy way out and fitting in with everyone else. One of the authors, teacher Andy Cope, highlights a quote by the happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, who said : "Any family is only as happy as the least happy child." "That's so true," Cope says. "It only takes one miserable teenager to ruin the whole balance of the household." So to get the balance right, teenagers need to raise their game - now. The book points out that people often say someone simply 'hasn't found themselves yet,' but it then stresses: "The 'self' isn't something you find, it's something you create. Create your best self and be it consistently." One of the many ways of doing this is by simply smiling, rather than spending a fortune on clothes, and makeup and walking round scowling. People are much more likely to remember a smiley teenager than the one with the most expensive trainers. "You can order them to smile till you're blue in the face," says Cope, "but if parents smile first it's the best way of getting teenagers to do it." And as well as smiling, teenagers would do well to adopt the 'four minute rule', as the authors, who also include Darrell Woodman, who spearheads Art of Brilliance workshops in schools, and
Information Evening in
Abergavenny
Are you in year 11? Thinking of your next step? Join us at our Information Evening for parents and students on: trainer Andy Whittaker, say the first four minutes of any interaction are the most important. So, being the best, positive and enthusiastic version of themselves for the first four minutes after meeting someone will have a significant positive impact. Then there's also negative thoughts and behaviours. The authors point out that ingrained, negative thoughts like 'I'm rubbish at that', or 'I'm not confident enough or pretty enough' etc, and negative behaviours like watching too much TV, or eating too much junk food, stop teenagers being brilliant. The way to get rid of negative thoughts and behaviours is firstly to identify them, and realise they're holding you back, says the book. Then instead of dwelling on such negativity, teens should list 10 things they already have and really appreciate, but take for granted. Cope, who has just completed a doctorate thesis on the science of happiness and positivity, says: "There's hardly anything out there for teenagers in terms of self-help and development. Choosing to be your best self means "getting off your backside and being bothered about yourself," as this creates opportunities. It can help teenagers find their passion, which the authors say is a key element to a happy and successful life. "The biggest challenge," admits Cope, "is engaging them to read the thing in the first place - reading is not in the top 10 for most teenagers to do in the modern world. "We try to tell it as it is and not be patronising. We're not claiming it's the best book in the world, but I think it might be the most needed book in the world." Cope and his co-authors, who have five teenage children between them, and run Art of Being Brilliant workshops for adults and in schools, advise teenagers: "Don't look at glossy mags and wish you were that person. Only compare yourself to yourself. Being yourself brilliantly is the key to happiness and success." ● The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager is published by Capstone, priced £10.99. Available now.
Tuesday, 27th January 2015 6.00pm - 8.00pm The Priory Centre St Mary’s Priory Monk Street Abergavenny NP7 5ND
sowing the seeds for your future
Hereford Sixth Form College Folly Lane Hereford HR1 1LU Tel: 01432 355166 E-mail: sixth-form@hereford.ac.uk www.hereford.ac.uk
COLLEGE CAMPUS OPEN EVENTS: Saturday, 7th February 2015 9.30am - 12.30pm Tuesday, 28th April 2015 5.30pm - 7.30pm January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 9
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L
ONG gone are the days when exercising meant going for a jog or heading to the local aerobics class. These things still exist of course, but not quite in the same way - aerobics now means a long list of pump-it/danceit/blast-it/shake-it-to-the-beat variations, there are all sorts of fancy gizmos and disciplines for strengthening up and, while jogging might still essentially be the same, look at how many people are now 'training' for an event, monitoring progress on smartphones and investing in the latest gravity-defying trainers. Certainly, we're spoilt for choice these days when it comes to how we exercise. 2014 saw high-intensity interval training [HIIT] become mainstream, 'personal bests' are something everybody - not just pro athletes - think about, and getting-mysweat-on overtook pouting-on-a-nightout as the social media selfie of choice. According to the trend forecasters, there's more to come in 2015. "We've all become more serious about sports and recognised that we might actually improve our performance if we trained specifically for the event," says leading personal trainer Matt Roberts. "It's taken a while, but following advice experts have given for years is now on-trend and set to continue. Blame/thank the rise of triathlon and cycling, and their physical and technical demands..." Indeed, 'fit not thin' was the mantra for 2014, with toned, healthy and strong overtaking catwalk-skinny as the most bandied body ideal (hurrah!). But how we look isn't the only fitness reward we cherish; how it makes us feel is important too. "Working out now isn't just for the sake
LET’S GET FIT! of it, and it's not just for aesthetics," adds Roberts. "A trek, mountain climb, triathlon, duathlon or any of the other events available are becoming the norm. Find a new goal, make it big, the world is your oyster and nothing is going to stop you in 2015!" Personal fulfilment, improved mental and physical health, camaraderie and supporting charity campaigns all feature on our list of motivations for pursuing challenges too. On a day-to-day scale, against a backdrop
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of obesity epidemic headlines and rising rates of stress and depression, each and every one of us can benefit from being active. Here's a snapshot of the fitness vibe predicted for the year ahead...
time to work out can be increasingly difficult." So as time is at a premium, the industry's catering to our needs by increasing short yet effective workouts. "A huge trend for 2015 will be convenience and time efficiency," adds Kyle. TIME AND CONVENIENCE TOP THE LIST "Whereas previous years we've heard “We're increasingly time poor," says Dave about extreme and tough workouts, 2015 Kyle, head trainer for Les Mills UK. "We're will see more classes and workouts being working longer hours than ever, so finding offered that fit in and complement our
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10 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
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New Year New You "HIIT isn't brand-new but it's certainly a trend that will continue and grow in 2015. HIIT classes like Les Mills GRIT are typically 30 minutes and the feedback we've had is phenomenal. Participants love the fast and furious approach, and the fact it delivers results and fits into their schedule." ANY TIME, ANY PLACE Fancy pumping iron at 2am? Hitting that treadmill at midnight? No problem - it's getting easier to work out around the clock, and PureGym, the UK's leading 24/7 gym, now sees 20% of its members training at night, so those working shifts, for instance, can still benefit. Despite the common advise not to exercise too closely to bedtime, PureGym general manager Lee Greenall says some people might find nocturnal workouts helpful: "A lot of people complain about not being able to sleep at night; this is because people store too much energy at the end of a normal working day. Their eyes might feel heavy, but their body is ready to release more energy. "If you listen to your body, it will make you feel a lot happier and replenished, helping you to close down and sleep better." Les Mills are also predicting their VIRTUAL workouts - where classes are played on screens - will be big in 2015. Eliminating the need to turn up at a prescribed time, virtual classes can be accessed any time.
movement-based exercise might sound like child's play but it sure does burn up those quads! In 2015, the trend's set to develop further, with functional training putting a big emphasis on widening our range of movement and offsetting the damage of sedentary lifestyles. "Functional training is a term that describes training the body in the way it was designed to move, and also to make exercise support an individual's goals," says Gillian Reeves, national group exercise manager at Virgin Active. "A lot of our movement these days is in the sagittal
LET'S GET FUNCTIONAL In 2014, you might well have found yourself scuttling across the floor like a lobster or leaping around like an ape - primal
plane, movement that goes forwards and back, like walking, cycling, sitting at a desk. Our joints are designed to move three-dimensionally, but we typically put our bodies into positions that are sitting down with flexed hips and internally-rotated and rounded shoulders. Doing this without including any functional exercise into your week can give you movement dysfunctions and injuries over time, and will reduce your range as you age." In 2015, Virgin Active will focus not only on getting us moving more, but 'working up a sweat with a purpose'. The Grid, their exciting new addition, will see us "being more mindful of our movement and recovery", says Andy Birch, the brand's head of exercise and wellbeing. In four formats - Lean, Fit, Strong and Active - the classes are an evolution of the HIIT/crossfit/circuits philosophy, incorporating numerous apparatus and engaging the whole body. "Grid classes are the ultimate in 30-minute tough workouts," adds Birch. STRONGER THAN YESTERDAY More women than ever have started including weight training into their fitness regime; could our 'I'll look like a bodybuilder' fears finally be gone for good? A beautifully honed bicep and sculpted quads are now the most envied curves in town, it seems, and industry insiders certainly think more and more of us will be muscling in on this trend in 2015, with oldschool equipment like gymnast rings, for pull-ups and dips, and monkey bars a key feature for Fitness First. They're also predicting their Freestyle Strength Training class and FGT (freestyle group training) HIIT class to be popular.
GET THE BUZZ ● Outdoor training - getting outdoors to exercise means vitamin D top-ups, fresh air in your lungs and an extra sharp endorphin rush if it's cool, plus best of all, it's entirely free. ● Make a splash - swimming's the UK's most popular sport, in terms of participation, with around 2.9 million of us taking a dip at least once a week. It's a fantastic, low-impact, whole-body workout. ● Tech me as I am - apps, gizmos and gadgets galore now play a key role in our fitness habits, and in 2015, it looks likely that tech will continue to help us monitor progress and smash those goals. ● Regeneration - a growing buzzword, that token 60-second warmdown won't cut it in 2015; anybody worth their moisture-wicking threads knows that helping those muscles heal is just as vital as how many reps you managed.
Zumba Join Maggie In: Llanfoist Primary School Tuesday 6.00 - 6.50pm Wednesday 6.00 - 6.50pm Saturday 10.00 - 11.00am Deri View Primary School Thursday 5.30 - 6.30pm
£3.50 Per Session Tel: 07815143202 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 11
Gazette & Diary Magazine ● ANNA MAGEE, women's health expert - I'll be sprinkling cinnamon on my porridge in 2015. Research published in Diabetes Care found as little as a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon a day could help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
● DR UCHENNA OKOYE, celebrity cosmetic dentist - My resolution would be to vamp up your toothbrush or have an amnesty of throwing away your manual toothbrush and upgrading to an electric one. Brands like Oral B have a huge range. There are so many on the market today and they don't have to be hugely expensive. Plaque is the new 21st century plague, so we need to tackle it for health reasons. Brushing your really can have an impact on your health.
What resolutions would the experts prescribe? ● DR JOHN CHISHOLM, chair of trustees at the Men's Health Forum Lots of men could look after themselves more. Good health is not just about physical health, but mental health too, so men should do more to look after their relationships and mental wellbeing. Also, we know men don't always get help when things might be wrong. Get advice as soon as you think there might be a problem; you're not wasting the health professional's time. If you're offered a free NHS Health Check this year, take it."
● DR CHIDI NGWABA, director of the European Society of Lifestyle Medicine - As a resolution, nothing can beat learning to forgive. Stress is at the heart of so many chronic illnesses, such as cancer, hypertension, depression and obesity; one of best ways to permanently overcome stress is to practise forgiveness. It has also been shown that even thinking about forgiving someone can lower our blood pressure.
Louise Price BA (Hons) Dip Hyp. THA
Integrative Therapy & Coaching 07790 166943 louprice@outlook.com
STOP SMOKING FOR LIFE! With the ISIS Stop Smoking for Life Programme
The ISIS Stop Smoking for Life Programme has enabled hundreds of people to kick the habit –and kick it for good. With a 95% success rate, this tried and tested, step by step process, simply and painlessly turns you into a non-smoker. Here’s how it works... Your initial free 30 minute Consultation: Even from this initial session, you might find that you’re already thinking about the habit in a very different way. Your Coaching Session: To help you prepare for becoming a non-smoker, by supporting and encouraging you through the process. Research has shown that if you prepare properly, you have a much better probability for success Your 2 Hour Hypnotherapy Session: A pleasant and relaxing experience similar to daydreaming. Much more importantly, this dissolves those strong subconscious chains that have tied you to the habit for so long. Your Follow Up Session: To help you iron out any problems (and there mostly isn’t) and give you some more hypnotherapy to reinforce your new habit of being a healthy and happy non smoker I will be available to offer telephone or email support throughout the programme. To help you make 2015 the year that you became a non-smoker, I am offering a £30 discount throughout January and February. To book your initial consultation, either contact me directly or Abergavenny Natural Therapy Centre on 01873 858391 Email aberhealing@gmail.com “You will be pleased to know that nearly a year on I am still a non-smoker and am very proud of myself! I can’t thank you enough for your help with this and will be eternally grateful” ‘Stop Smoking for Life Programme’ ©ISIS Training Centre
12 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
● DR MIKE KNAPTON, British Heart Foundation associate medical director - Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to protect your heart. Research shows that a smoker who gives up on January 1 will see their risk of coronary heart disease cut in half by the end of the year. ● DR FIONA PIENAAR, director of clinical services at school-based mental health charity Place2Be - Stress in our daily lives can have an impact on our emotions, thoughts and behaviours. How we cope is critical to our mental health and to the mental health of children and young people. As adults, we all have our own coping strategies, but frequently we do this unconsciously. Think about your range of coping strategies, including who you turn to for support when you're struggling on your own. Secondly, sit down with your family for dinner. Turn off all electronic devices, pass the food around and ask them all to tell you about how they cope when they're finding life tough and, critically, who the people are that they can talk to when they're struggling. Discussing what we find stressful, how we cope and who we can turn to for support (including beyond the family) increases trust and connection in families. It makes it normal [but doesn't minimise] that everyone experiences stress. Everyone needs a range of conscious coping strategies and a support structure." ● SIONED QUIRKE, dietician and professional manager of adult weight management service, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - Become a healthy weight. Obesity is nearly at epi-
demic level in the UK, and we need to do something about it. I want to see people taking responsibility over their own health and future health by becoming a healthy weight - it's one of the only modifiable things we can do to actively become more healthy. The most common mistakes I see are people trying to lose weight too fast. Set yourself a realistic goal of 1-2lbs a week and no 'diets'; you need to make a lifestyle change in order to lose weight and, more importantly, maintain that weight loss. Portion control is key, so half fill your plate with veg/salad and divide the other half between protein [meat, fish, beans...] and carbohydrates [rice, pasta, potatoes or bread]." ● SIMON CABOT, Nuffield Health clinical lead physiotherapist - I see so many people, especially those who spend hours sitting down, suffering with postural pain as a result of inactivity. Various studies have highlighted the health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles, many of which show direct links to chronic diseases. To help prevent this, I would encourage everybody to move more in 2015! ● JOHN NEWLANDS, Macmillan Cancer Support nurse - Get to know your rights as a patient. Going to hospital can be intimidating, but I hear from too many cancer patients that they didn't know exactly what was going to happen to them in hospital, or that hospital staff left them feeling confused or vulnerable. This shouldn't happen. Everyone has the right to be fully informed about their care and treated with respect. Next year, get to know the rights you're entitled to by reading Macmillan's tips, and then make sure you ask questions, speak up and get the care you deserve."
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1. If you want something less fussy than net curtains - and these days most of us do - how about frosted window film? This film is sticky on one side and gives a smart, contemporary finish both inside and out. The effect is the same in daylight and at night when the light's on in the room, giving you total privacy. The only real disadvantage is that you can't see through the film, so while people outside can't see in, you can't look out either.
FIVE TIPS FOR WINDOW PRIVACY
2. Frosted film works well on sash windows when confined to the lower window, but if you don't have sashes, you can just frost the lower part of the glass, leaving some unobscured. Another option is having a design, such as rows of cut-out circles or squares, incorporated into the film, which makes it more interesting and allows you to see out (and people outside to see in) just a little. However, patterned film is more expensive and harder to fit.
3. Blinds are another popular and obvious solution to privacy problems. Although quite costly, bottom-up blinds are the best ones to use. These are roller blinds that go up from the window sill, rather than down from the top of the window, so you can cover as much of the glass as you want. Go for a sheer fabric and you'll be able to see out, but not the other way
round (unless the light's on). 4. Some people like Venetian blinds because they give privacy during the day (providing the slats are angled the right way) and at night (providing the slats are closed). That said, plantation shutters, which are similar but look more elegant and up-todate, have become more popular than Venetian blinds in recent years.
5. Plantation picshutters, tured, are fitted to the window and this means they block out more light than blinds when the slats are closed (providing the shutters cover the whole window). However, they let in less light when the slats are open because they have frames around them. These shutters come in panels, so you can fold them back out of the way, and are made of wood or faux wood in different designs. Although not cheap, plantation shutters will enhance the room and can even add value.
IF you haven't already done them, exterior repairs should be prioritised before winter really sets in. U-Can products are perfect for smallish repairs because they're designed to be mixed in the bag or tub supplied - simply add water to the U-Can powder and stir or knead the two together. There's a product for just about every exterior repair (and some interior ones), including Brick & Wall Repair Mortar (£7.38, B&Q), High Strength Concrete Repair (£7.38, B&Q) and Pothole & Drive Repair (£12.08, B&Q). This really is DIY made easy!
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The
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Gazette & Diary Magazine
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14 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
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Golden Years
NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN! DIAMOND Home Support opened an office in Abergavenny in 2014 and we’re bringing back the Home Help! Due to Local Authority budget cuts many elderly and disabled people now have to find their own domestic support. Our Home Assist Service provides vital support for the elderly and less able in a friendly, caring and professional manner. We aim to challenge the preconceptions of domestic care by providing a client-led rather than a company-led service. All of our workers are thoroughly vetted and are chosen more for their personality, ethos and attitude than anything else. They are given plenty of time between appointments, so there is never the need for visits to be cut short in order for the worker to be on time for their next appointment. The same worker visits each week, month or fortnight, allowing the client and the worker to build trust and develop a relationship. Loss of independence can be humiliating and frustrating, and we therefore aim
to make the experience as friendly and personal as possible. We visit all potential clients in their own homes so that we can talk them through the service, explain exactly how things work and answer any questions which they may have. Relatives need not be concerned that their family members will be pushed into signing up for our services if they are unsure as to whether or not it is right for them. We respect the fact that each individual, however old, frail or disabled, has the right to consider the pros and cons of our services before signing on the dotted line and, to this end, we are happy to visit more than once should that be necessary. We guarantee ongoing support; we are always available to discuss any problems, issues or concerns which may arise and will do our utmost to resolve these in the best way possible. So, out with the old, and in with the new! Let Diamond Home Support sweep your house clean!
Home Assist Service
The Home Help is Back! Helping you to remain independent We offer the following services: Escorting to appointments and social activities Cleaning, gardening, ironing and laundry Light meal preparation Bed making/changing Respite sitting service Medication reminders Companionship Shopping Please note we do not offer personal care
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January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 15
16 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
MOTORING
UK car production falls
T
HE number of cars produced in the UK fell fractionally in November but the motor industry expects manufacturing to pick up in 2015. A total of 137,347 cars were made in the UK in November - a 0.2 per cent reduction on the figure for the same month in 2013, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Production totalled just under 1.42 million in the first 11 months of this year - a 0.3 per cent fall on the January - November 2013 figure. Commenting on the figures, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said:
"Model changes and economic uncertainty in export markets have flattened UK car production, but the industry remains in a strong position, with growth expected to return next year. "Global demand for UK automotive engineering continues to be at a high level, and manufacturing plants are seeing the benefits of significant recent investments. "UK-built cars offer a vast range of technologies to lower carbon emissions and improve air quality, underlining the country's important role in the continuing drive to reduce all emissions."
All around vision
J
WHEELS & DEALS
AGUAR Land Rover has launched a research project to develop clever new tech that will offer drivers a 360-degree view out of their vehicle, uninterrupted by windscreen pillars. According to the firm, a screen would be embedded in the surface of each pillar inside the car and would take a live video feed from cameras covering the angles outside the car usually obscured in the blind spots. Pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles would be visible all around the car. And by combining the transparent pillars with a heads-up display, the movement of other road users could be highlighted to the driver with an on-screen 'halo' moving across the car's virtual windscreen. When the driver indicates to change direction, when they move their head to
look over their shoulder during an overtake manoeuvre, or as the vehicle approaches a junction, the system would automatically make the left or right-hand side pillars transparent. Commenting on the technology, Dr Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Our ultimate aim is to reduce road accidents and enhance the urban driving experience. The Jaguar Land Rover research team is developing this technology to improve visibility and to give the driver the right information at the right time. "If we can keep the driver's eyes on the road ahead and present information in a non-distracting way, we can help drivers make better decisions in the most demanding and congested driving environments."
Teasers from Lexus THE revolution at Lexus is set to gain even more momentum. Forget the comfy old barges of yesteryear - Lexus will reveal a successor to what one Jeremy Clarkson called: "the best car I've ever driven." The Japanese firm, which used to focus on comfortable, reliable luxury cars like the famously sturdy LS400 of the 1990s, is lining up a 'track-ready' performance car to follow in the footsteps of the incredible LFA supercar. In a short statement, the firm said: "Lexus has announced it is to add a second vehicle to its growing stable of high performance models. "The new F-designated car will be given its world première at the Detroit motor show on January 13 and will join the recently launched RC F high performance coupe in the Lexus range." Two teaser photos, right, have been revealed so far.
January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 17
Gazette & Diary Magazine
Owning some of Britain’s fittest best friends “A caring, friendly, professional vets”
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’d like to pass on my New Year congratulations to the pet owners in Monmouthshire and Powys. Do you know I think your pets are the fittest I have come across on my veterinary travels across Britain in my (cough*ahem) many years of work? As I may have mentioned before, my career has followed a long trajectory before happily landing me in Wales. With my first job I endured isolation in the Arctic-like tundra of Thetford, Norfolk (please don’t make me go back), then on to the twee, middle-England beauty of Stroud in the Cotswolds to the wonderful, welcoming Scots (second only in hospitality to yourselves, of course). However, in each of these places I have faced sadly year upon year of an increasing pet obesity epidemic. Well, credit where credit is due to the Welsh, your pets are actually pretty fit. Perhaps this oasis of fitness is unsurprising when you live in an area where cats have the freedom to explore, hunt and roam and dogs have only to step outside to visit not just a park but a National Park! Each New Year and with advancing age,
I reset my own personal fitness goals and have a chat with Freddie, our Spaniel about his. Dogs are natural athletes and it is one of the greatest joys of dog ownership to watch your pet demonstrate their energetic prowess. If I happen to remark on your pets body condition in a consultation then I promise it is only to help them get even fitter, faster and live longer lives; perhaps even avoiding conditions like arthritis that obesity can make many times worse. So Happy New Year and enjoy this winter wonderland, and congratulations once again on your achievement of owning (in my opinion, at least) Britain’s fittest best friends!
FARMING
Great enthusiasm among Gwent’s younger farmers
M
ORE than 80 younger Gwent farmers turned up to a packed meeting organised by the county branch of the FUW recently to help explain the various schemes and grants available to assist farmers under 40. During the meeting at the King of Prussia public house in Abergavenny farm liaison officers Steve Meredith and Jane Walters gave a presentation on the Young Entrant Support Scheme and the young farmer top-up under the new Basic Payment Scheme. They also explained the requirements for applying to the National Reserve under the New Entrant, Young Farmer and Proof of Production criteria. Following the presentation, FUW county chairman Chris Lewis conducted a question and answer session with the union’s voice for younger farmers committee chairman Darren Williams and deputy agricultural policy director Rhian NowellPhillips.
FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies said a brief questionnaire completed by the attendees highlighted the need for such meetings, with the comments proving the enthusiasm that exists amongst the younger farmers of Gwent. The intention is to hold a further meeting specifically for this group of members in February, he added. “It was extremely pleasing to see such a fantastic turn-out for this meeting which highlights the need to involve the future farmers of the county in the work of the union,” said Mr Davies. “These young farmers will be the custodians of our industry for many years to come and it is vital that they are involved in shaping the industry in order to meet the huge challenge of feeding a growing population whilst complying with the myriad of rules and regulations which exist.”
Helping wildlife with 5p on your carrier bag WELSH Wildlife Heroes is a national campaign run by Wildlife Trusts Wales and funded entirely by the money collected from the single-use carrier bag charge in The Co-operative food stores in Wales. The focus of the campaign is supporting native species and improving habitats for some of Wales’ rarest and most endangered wildlife, and empowering the people of Wales to become wildlife heroes themselves by taking small steps in their gardens or local communities.
18 January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue
The Co-operative Membership Manager for Wales, Ashley Drake, said: “The Welsh Wildlife Heroes project is a fantastic opportunity to engage our members and local communities with the wonderful wildlife that exists across Wales. By encouraging local people to get involved with a host of exciting projects and volunteer to help the work of Wildlife Trusts Wales, The Co-operative shows how the 5p levy can benefit Welsh communities and their natural environment.”
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January/February 2015 - The New Year Issue 19