LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
PROPERTY NEWS
MAY 2020
HOME-WORKING?
TURN YOUR SPARE ROOM INTO AN OFFICE SPACE ARE YOU READY? GET YOUR PROPERTY MARKET-READY – NOW!
GET CRAFTY IDEAS TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
HEALTH FOCUS UTILISE ONLINE SUPPORT TO KEEP FIT
BOOK RELEASES THE HOTTEST NEW RELEASES TO CATCH UP ON
CONTENTS COVER STORY
4
Working from home? Turn your spare room into an office!
PROPERTY
2 16 20
Want to make a move? There’s still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market About us Get to know us a little better and see why we are your agent of choice
FOOD
9
Flour-less brownies No flour? No problem! Try these yummy brownies for all the family to enjoy
LIFESTYLE
6
8 12 15
The dark side of life Social media has turned to the meme to spread a little light relief Thank you Frontline workers have given their all during the pandemic. Here we say, thank you Destination home Crafts to keep the kids entertained at home Our kind of happy Humour has been much welcomed, here are some of our favourite memes
HEALTH
10
Fitness online Home workouts: we look at what’s available online?
BOOKS
14
Recent & upcoming releases Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
WELCOME TO THE MAY ISSUE!
A
ll of us here hope that you are keeping well and safe.
With many of us spending more time at home, there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions. In this issue we detail the range of DIY jobs that you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. And although our office is currently closed due to government advice, we are still operational from home, so please continue to call or email, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
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PROPERTY NEWS
There is also plenty more inside to keep you reading, such as how to utilise the internet for keeping fit at home, as well as fun things to do wo keep the kids entertained too! All of us would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you, our clients, for your patience and understanding during this time. We are also in awe of the incredible work and support of all front-line workers who are working hard to ensure a better future for us all. Until next time, take care and stay safe. #StayHomeSaveLives Linda McKeown Editor
GET YOUR PROPERTY It may feel like the UK’s property market is at a standstill, but there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions
With many of us spending more time at home, there are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. By starting your home moving prep now, you will be fully prepared to get the ball moving, when it comes to making your move. Not only will doing these jobs potentially add value to your property, but they will make you feel better after spending so much time at home. Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep active and busy. DIY and cleaning are great as both are a mental and physical workout which will also give you a sense of achievement during this time.
TIDY THE GARDEN
The garden is a huge selling point for most properties on the market. With the warmer weather arriving, now is the perfect time to get into your garden to complete quick and simple jobs to make your property more sellable and aesthetically pleasing in photos. Simply mowing your lawn and trimming your hedges makes a huge difference for when our valuer pops round to take photos. Also, why not plant some spring flowers in your borders to make these easier on the eye too? A lot of garden nurseries are delivering flowers and plants, and tools are available for delivery online.
MARKET-READY If you have any damaged fencing, leftover bricks from previous projects or a rickety, old, shed, try to remove or fix these to get them out of the way for both viewings and your photos. A lick of fresh paint on fence panels can instantly transform your garden – and you can still order paint online to carry out the work.
DIY JOBS INDOORS
On the occasional rainy day, you can get inside and finish jobs that you
your property look better straight away; just remember to use the same paint as the walls already are!
DEEP CLEANING
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean. Work through each room to get the property as sparkling as possible. In the bathroom, don’t forget to go round the edges of the taps and the bath to remove any gunk, and buff and shine the taps to make them look really impressive. In the kitchen, clean and buff any metallic or windowed appliances, especially the front window of the oven. If you have any carpet in the living room, use carpet shampoo before hoovering, to get them back to looking their best.
There are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs haven’t gotten around to just yet. Maybe you have those leftover tiles for the kitchen, or that roll of carpet waiting to be laid. This could be the perfect time to tackle these jobs yourself. YouTube has thousands of videos to offer you guidance and advice from everything from tiling a kitchen, to fitting a dado rail. And, with a lot of DIY companies still offering delivery, you can get everything you need, and fast. Holes in your walls? These are a simple fix with some ready mixed multi-purpose filler and will make
Upstairs, put away all clothes into wardrobes and make sure these close fully. Make the bed with fresh sheets, and remove excess pillows, pet toys and toiletries. Throughout the house, be sure to clean and polish all windows, inside and
out, to make them shine as bright as possible. Don’t forget to clean all doors and window ledges too!
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean Lockdown is a tough time for everyone, but it will end, and we will come out the other side. And when we do, life will return to the ‘new normal’. We have been given a chance to spend more time in our homes which has made us all stop and take stock of the things we once took for granted. It gives many of us the chance to do those odd jobs we’ve never gotten around to doing or put off for too long. As your local estate agent, we are here for you whenever you need us. Visit us online today, for more information about marketing your property.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
3
Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy
CREATING
IN-HOME OFFICE SPACE
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH In these times, mental health has never been so important, so ensure you keep your mental health healthy. Keep the room you are working in well ventilated During the times you’re not on a call or in a meeting, play some background music to help you focus and ‘disappear’ into your work Ensure natural light flows into your workspace; it can make a surprising amount of difference If you’re facing a wall, hang a nice painting or backdrop of landscape or nature which keeps you in that happy, peaceful place
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PROPERTY NEWS
T
hat journey you take every day to and from work, those lunchtimes socialising with your colleagues, and that constant, fundamental feeling of being a part of your team with everyone around you striving to achieve a shared goal. For the time being, those aspects of your working life are on hold due to the current pandemic and consequent lockdown taking place throughout Britain.
filing crate, printer or scanner, you’re good to go. Creating a workspace using a dividing wall in a living area, the space underneath your stairs, or even a well-positioned storage cupboard, are all viable options. Note: if your workstation ends up being in an area laid with carpet, then investing in a chair pad might be a good idea if you don’t want your carpet getting worn down and damaged by a rolling office chair.
But fear not! Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy. If you have a spare room, this can easily be transformed into an office or workspace. And if you’re going to do it, you should do it right.
YOU HAVE THE POWER, SO STAY CONNECTED
DESK? WHAT DESK?
Many desks on the market can be expensive but, touch wood, you should be able to find an affordable and suitable desk.
Try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus
Fortunately, a full-on, ready-made desk isn’t the only option. A piece of wood, large enough to accommodate your work, will suffice. It could be the desk surface part which someone has gifted to you, but if it’s wood in its rawest form, you could spend a little time sanding it down, smoothing off the edges, and making sure the surface is level and neat. All you need now are two small chest of drawers for the wood to sit upon, such as those plastic stackable drawers. Because they’re stackable, you can freely determine how high or low the desk will ultimately be for you, allowing you that creative freedom to create your perfect workstation.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A SPARE ROOM
As long as you ensure there’s enough room for all the essentials you need, such as a
With many currently working from home, Wi-Fi understandably might become a little congested at times. So, wherever you end up working, it’s important Working from home boasts to ensure you are close many advantages, and enough to your Wi-Fi there are many fantastic router for a consistent ways to keep your working and reliable internet life productive, satisfying connection. However, and healthy if you are struggling with connection, a wired connection using an Ethernet cable should do the trick. You should also make sure there are enough power sockets nearby to keep all your electrical equipment plugged in. If there aren’t enough plug sockets on the walls, use a multiple socket extension lead to increase the number of sockets available.
AVOID CABIN FEVER
Cabin fever is a common problem when working from home. It can become isolating, lonely and boring if you’re by yourself for long periods of time. Similarly, if you have family around you for much of the time while you’re trying to be productive at work, that can also create a distraction. Taking regular breaks is a must. If you have a garden, great! If not, make use of your daily exercise allowance and take a stroll around the neighbourhood to breathe in that all-important, revitalising fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine. It’s also important to try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
5
THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE As medical science battled to prevent Coronavirus enveloping the world in a shroud of fear and gloom, social media turned to the meme to spread a little light relief
Y
ou know the bit. That f inal
of World War I or the prisoner of war
sequence in Monty Python’s Life
camps in World War II – helped to bolster
of Brian, where all the prisoners
spirits among the working classes, the
have been tethered to their crosses for
blending of farce and low comedy did
crucif ixion, the People’s Front of Judea
not earn a label until the 1960s when
have congratulated Brian of Nazareth
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 was published
on his forthcoming martyrdom, and the
and Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove hit
Judean People’s Front have made their
the cinemas.
f inal act of def iance. Since then, lampooning taboo subjects And then, just as he is about to
has been seen for what it is: an injection
succumb to the inevitable, a fellow
of much-needed humour to lighten
prisoner urges our tragic, wrongly
desperate situations and ease mental
identif ied hero to, “always look on the
stress, proving once and for all that
bright side of life”.
laughter is the best medicine.
It is a classic example of what is often
So, when Coronavirus unleashed
termed gallows humour, the ability to
unprecedented chaos across the world,
look for a laugh in the bleakest, the
social media stuck up its collective hand
most hopeless of situations.
and said: hold our beer, we’ve got this…
Lampooning taboo subjects has been seen for what it is: an injection of much-needed humour to lighten desperate situations and ease mental stress
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PROPERTY NEWS
Along with its cousins, black comedy and
At first the memes were straightforward
dark humour, this strain of comedy has
and came largely f rom the ‘get a grip’
become entwined into the very fabric of
camp. For example, when lockdown was
Britishness, and goes some way to
announced, overlaid on a solemn picture
explaining why the Bright Side of Life and
of a soldier, standing head bowed, was
Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb are
the message: “Your grandparents were
among the most requested music at
asked to go to war. You are being asked
funerals.
to sit on a couch. You can do this.”
Although prevalent in times of war, when
However, the initial indication the stiff
the mix of morbid and ghastly themes to
upper lip was starting to break into a
underscore the futility and senselessness
smirk came with the American church
of a situation – think life in the trenches
style billboard: “Whoever said one
person can’t change the world never ate
times. Then I got tired, so I picked up
since COVID-19’s relentless advance,
an undercooked bat.”
the block and put it back in the toy box.”
anything to do with masks invariably
And then the big guns came out,
And the f railties of families cooped up in
illustrates mankind’s stupidity,
reacting to every development with a
quarantine was ably coupled with the
particularly regarding the Government’s
pun and a quip. “Day 4 of social
salute to our f rontline health heroes:
‘stay at home’ warning, than a photo of
distancing. Struck up a conversation
“Quarantine survival tip #463: Empty
our ‘dumb’ animals.
with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a
your glass bottles into the recycling bin
web designer.”
at 8pm on a Thursday so the NHS
However, nothing sums up social
clapping drowns out the sound of your
media’s attempt to lift the fear and
household’s descent into alcoholism.”
gloom over the pandemic better than
involves Darth Vader – while nothing
“Got to that stage of lockdown where
this riposte to criticism f rom Word
Jolene can come and take my man.” Similarly, there was a boozy response to
Porn, the internet’s purveyor of the
“Why haven’t the Government classed
the news that craft distilleries were
pithy and prophetic: “Friendly reminder
seagulls as quay workers?”
stepping in to f ill the gaps as hand
that in times of adversity and stress,
sanitizers became as rare as unicorns on
people use humour as a coping
No-one was safe. In response to the Joe
a night out. Across a picture of a
mechanism for the sake of their mental
Wicks home workout phenomenon,
relaxing Victorian maid was the speech
health. It doesn’t mean that the current
came the Facebook post: “Got up this
bubble: “I’ve been trying to make hand
events are not being taken seriously.”
morning and ran round the block 5
sanitizer but it’s come out as rum and coke again…”
“The blending of farce and low comedy did not earn a label until the 1960s”
Amen to that.
Of course, the images that really work are stills f rom blockbuster movies –
*All images featured here were sourced f rom Facebook
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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THANK YOU Frontline workers have given their all during the coronavirus pandemic – helping those dealing with the virus, as well as those self-isolating at home. Here we say, thank you On Tuesday 28th April, a minute’s silence was held across the UK to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had only just returned to work at Number 10 after recovering from coronavirus himself, joined the tribute which was held at 11am BST. In a show of continuing support, every Thursday at 8pm the nation also continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS. And special thanks and appreciation for all frontline staff was also paid by the Queen last month, when she made a televised speech paying tribute to the tremendous work being carried out: “I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the
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PROPERTY NEWS
home in support of us all. “I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.” Indeed, better times will come. But until then, we must remain unified in our approach to ensure that, together, we beat this virus. Government advice is to continue to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds and to only go out as and when needed for essentials such as groceries, medicinal needs or your daily exercise. But most of all, please stay home and stay safe.
Every Thursday at 8pm the nation continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS
LIFE ASSURANCE SCHEME FOR NHS AND SOCIAL CARE FRONT LINE Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that families of health and care workers on the frontline in England will benefit from a new life assurance scheme during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential front line work will receive a £60,000 payment,” he said: “Of course nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything that we can to support families that are dealing with this grief.” The scheme will cover frontline staff in England, but the devolved administrations will receive funding through the Barnett formula. Wales is implementing the same scheme and arrangements are being considered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NO-FLOUR BROWNIES
Chocolate Gingerbread Brownie READY IN: 55 Mins Nutrition: 553 kcal per bar
INGREDIENTS 400g dark chocolate, broken into chunks 25g cocoa powder 250g golden caster sugar 250g butter 1 tbsp ground ginger 140g ground almond 6 large eggs (separate yolks from egg whites)
FOR THE ICING 100g butter, cubed 50g dark chocolate broken into pieces, or use chips 50g cocoa 200g icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp ground ginger few chunks crystallised ginger, chopped into small pieces
No flour? No problem! Get baking these flourless yummy chocolate gingerbread brownies‌ heavenly!
METHOD 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 30cm cake tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate, cocoa, sugar and butter together in a
saucepan over a very low heat. Once the chocolate and
butter have melted and sugar dissolved, remove from the
heat and stir in the ginger and almonds, followed by the egg yolks, one at a time. 2. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a metal spoon, stir a couple of spoonfuls of the egg whites into the chocolate
mixture to loosen before very gently folding in the rest. 3. Gently scrape the mixture into the tin. Bake for 30-35 mins until the top looks set and the centre doesn’t wobble
too much. Sit the cake tin on a wire rack and leave to cool completely. 4. Once cool, make the icing. Put the butter, chocolate, cocoa, icing sugar, ground ginger and 4 tbsp water in a pan. Gently heat, stirring, until you have a smooth icing. Pour over the
cake (still in its tin), leave for 1-2 mins to cool slightly, then
scatter over the ginger. Cool completely (you can also store in the fridge if you bring out to room temperature about 20 mins before serving) before cutting into bars. You can find this recipe and more at https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-gingerbread-brownie-bars-fudgy-icing
Image for illustrative purposes only
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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How we exercise has changed and going to the gym or exercise class is no longer routine. This, instead, has been replaced with home workouts. But just what is available to you?
MAKE THE MOST OF
FITNESS ONLINE
F
or obvious reasons, exercising at home has become the norm; whether you are working out with the kids or partaking in a yoga class to help rebalance your inner self, there is literally something for everyone online.
Iepure to create free online classes for both adults and kids during the coronavirus pandemic. The professional dancers have focused on creating a positive virtual experience for everyone self-isolating. “We’re so grateful, it’s gone exceptionally well,” said Oti when she spoke to the Metro.co.uk. “It’s actually exceeded what we actually thought it would do.”
One of the most recognisable names is that of body coach, Joe Wicks. He is still offering free daily workout sessions for kids – and adults alike – on his You may not be YouTube channel youtube. able to get out to com/thebodycoach.
your local gym
Frozen, Trolls and The Greatest Showman are just some of the hit routines uploaded, providing a half an hour dance lesson in viewers’ homes.
but for many, you With over 500,000 people regularly tuning in live don’t have to! daily, Joe’s workouts remain one of the most popular online. Simply tune in to PE with Joe at 9am each YOGA weekday to join in live for his Doing yoga on a regular basis can aid 30-minute sessions. flexibility, helping to boost your strength
KEEP DANCING
If dancing is more your thing and you want to learn some dance routines along the way, then Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse’s YouTube channel could be for you youtube.com/otimabuseofficial. She has teamed up with her husband Marius
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PROPERTY NEWS
and improve overall fitness. London studio Fly Ldn is offering everything from Friday night yin yoga to candlelit hip hop yoga as live streams on their Instagram channel www.instagram. com/fly_ldn/, while they also save the videos on YouTube afterwards.
Exercising at home has become the norm
The free sessions last for 45 minutes and are ran daily with the yoga studio posting a class timetable on Instagram for the following day.
HIIT
Famed for pushing its participants to the physical limit, fitness studio Barry’s UK has brought their intense workouts to Instagram live. On the studio’s Instagram account www. instagram.com/barrys/, it’s sharing details of the classes it is offering online, which include sessions that use your entire bodyweight as well as other workouts that focus on different areas of the body.
BOOTCAMPS AND MORE!
STAY LOCAL
You may not be able to get out to your local gym but for many, you don’t have to! Several fitness providers have launched ‘at home’ classes via Facebook live or on their own YouTube channel. A simple website search should show you what’s available in your area; so, you can go potty over pilates or hyper over a HIIT workout!
GET INSPIRED Here we list just some of the fitness classes/channels available so you can get your fitness fix in the comfort of your own home!
Transform any home space into your own fitness studio with a single-user membership for your phone, tablet, TV or web browser from Peloton.
PE with Joe Wicks youtube.com/thebodycoach
For £12.99 a month, it boasts a variety of different options, including classes that focus on strength, putting you through your paces on bootcamps and much more.
Fly Ldn https://www.instagram.com/fly_ldn/
In addition to offering strength classes, also on offer are cardio classes that focus on running and cycling.
Peloton www.onepeloton.co.uk/membership
Dancing with Oti Mabuse youtube.com/otimabuseofficial
Barry’s UK www.instagram.com/barrys/
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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DESTINATION
One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out!
HOME You may not be able to enjoy days out with the kids right now, but there’s still plenty of fun that can be had at home!
BAKING
Cooking and baking are great activities for children of all ages. Of course, depending on the age of the child, they will be able to undertake different cooking activities. You know your children best, so use your own judgement as to what tasks they can undertake or help you with. The key thing to ensure is safety. Ensure all hazards are away from little hands such as hot food and liquids. For very young children, they will enjoy a range of activities such as washing and cleaning vegetables, mashing food, spooning ingredients into mixing bowls and most certainly, decorating cupcakes. Most of all, stay safe and have fun!
BOARD GAMES
OK, so you may be thinking of just what you can do to relieve the lockdown boredom. One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out! It’s the perfect way to unite the family for a fun afternoon. And not only are they good for spending quality time together, they also help to get your competitive juices flowing! Whether it’s a game of luck or one that involves real logic, there literally is something out there for every family.
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PROPERTY NEWS
Here is Amazon’s Top 10 best selling* board games 1. TOMY Pop Up Pirate £9.99 2. M.Y Traditional Bingo Game £11.99 3. Cheatwell Games Tension: The Top 10 Naming Game £17.49 4. Z-Man Games Pandemic Board Game £29.99 5. The Yes! No! Game £8.80 6. Orchard Toys Little Bus Lotto Mini Game £4.99 7. OK Play: Multi-Award Winning Board Game For Kids And Adults £19.99 8. Cluedo Junior The Case of The Broken Toy Board Game £16.99 9. Winning Moves Friends Trivial Pursuit Quiz Game – Bitesize Edition £10.23 10. Goliath Games Sequence the addictive card game £20
DRAWING
Now, when we say drawing, it’s not about creating masterpieces or beating yourself up that you can’t quite capture what you want on paper; the main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through. So, whether you are a novice or accomplished at drawing, get out your paper and pencils and let your creativity free. To encourage creativity with the little ones, why not play a game of drawing inspiration. Basically, you draw a random scribble or marking on the paper and the other person has to change this into an object of some kind – whether that be a person, animal or household object. It’s a perfect way to get creativity flowing and can create lots of laughs too!
ORIGAMI
Another task involving paper is the art of origami. The name origami means the art of paper-folding and derives from Japanese words ori (folding) and kami (paper). Traditional origami consists of folding a single sheet of square paper into a sculpture – but without cutting, gluing, taping, or even marking it!
It can sometime seem a bit fiddly but, with a little time and patience, it’s amazing the masterpieces that can be created! Take a look here for some easy inspiration www.easypeasyandfun.com/easyorigami-for-kids/
The main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through
CREATE A MASTERPIECE
Now, you don’t need fancy crafting materials to make a masterpiece. With more of us at home, recycling waste has increased so why not check out the dry recycling and let the kids create their own special projects. It’s the perfect way to pass the time.
* Top ten listing and prices correct at time of going to print
Use toilet rolls and cereal boxes to make robots, or utilise the likes of YouTube to find a host of how-to videos on crafting projects using recyclable materials. The possibilities are endless!
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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RECENT AND UPCOMING
BOOK RELEASES
W
hether you are looking for romance, fantasy, crime or horror, we have compiled a list of the hottest new releases by some great authors, available online from bookstores and as eBooks.
IF IT BLEEDS – STEPHEN KING RELEASED: 28TH APRIL 2020
Stephen King, the best-selling author of IT, The Shawshank Redemption and Carrie, releases a brand-new collection of four stories including a stand-alone sequel to The Outsider which has recently been adapted into a TV series on Sky. ‘If it Bleeds,’ contains three other stories showboating the unique story-telling ability of one of the world’s most-loved writers.
THE PRIORY – JONATHAN WHEATLEY RELEASED: 6TH APRIL 2020
British debut novelist, Jonathan Wheatley, released his much-anticipated novel, ‘The Priory,’ on the 6th of April. Having already broken into the Top 100 of British Horror on Amazon, we can’t wait to read part one of ‘The Westford Chronicles.’ Wheatley has created a twisted tale set in a richly detailed rural English town featuring a group of teenagers following a cryptic message; a man searching for his own body and a mother with special powers.
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PROPERTY NEWS
MEMOIRS AND MISINFORMATION – JIM CARREY & DANA VACHON RELEASE DATE: 5TH MAY 2020
Beloved Hollywood star, Jim Carrey, and Dana Vachon bring us a fearless semi-autobiographical novel. Carrey and Vachon have creates a story about acting, agents, privilege, celebrity, addiction, romance and a cataclysmic ending of the world. For those of you who love the zany world of Jim Carrey, this book is a must read.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN – GENE LUEN YANG RELEASE DATE: 12TH MAY 2020 In this graphic novel set in 1946, the Lee family has moved from Chinatown to Metropolis. Excited to be close to Superman, Roberta and Tommy are adapting to life in the big city befriending Jimmy Olsen. While the Lee family tries to adjust to their new lives, a new evil stirs in Metropolis: The
With us all spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases… Ku KLUX Klan. With Tommy kidnapped, Roberta teams up with Superman to fight the Klan and expose those who support them.
THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES – SUZANNE COLLINS RELEASE DAY: 19TH MAY 2020
In this prequel to the original Hunger Games novels, we follow Coriolanus Snow, last seen in the movies as the tyrannical dictator of Panem, as he prepares for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the tenth annual Hunger Games. Having been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, their fates are now intertwined, with his every choice leading to favour or failure. This promises to be one of the biggest young adult novels of the year as we get to know the previous books’ most-hated characters.
LAUGHTER PROVIDING LIGHT RELIEF In her televised speech to the nation, the Queen said that “the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.” And she wasn’t wrong. In a world of uncertainty, humour has been much welcomed, with social media providing some ingenious memes!
DAY 6 IN QUARANTINE, FOUND A DEAD FLY
HAVE YOU MIS-SOLD BEEN PPE? ED’S NOTE: All memes featured here were sourced from Facebook
BOSS: DURING THIS TIME WE ASK ALL EMPOLYEES TO WEAR A MASK TO WORK. ME:
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN’T WORK OUT SOCIAL DISTANCING... THIS IS TWO METERS APART!!!
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Cranberry Court, Hampton, PE7 8QH £219,950
This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a McCarthy & Stone, over 60’s retirement 3rd floor two-bedroom apartment located in the popular area of Hampton. Cranberry Court is made up of 45 luxury apartments with homeowner’s communal lounge and gardens. The property is finished to a high standard and comprises of entrance hallway, deluxe shower room, open plan lounge/diner, kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances, double bedroom with walk in wardrobe and ensuite, double second bedroom, utility cupboard with hot water tank and washer/dryer. All bills with the exception of electricity are included in the service charge (Monthly £273.45). Under the terms of the service charge the following are included; staff and manager costs, building systems and maintenance contacts, contract cleaning to communal areas, gardening, water rates, electricity to communal areas, comprehensive insurance of building; including contents of the communal area, lift inspections and manager sickness insurance, 24 monitor services, repairs to interior/exterior windows, contingency fund to cover future repairs and redecoration. This development also has the availability for guests of the residents to utilise a guest suite for a fee of £25 per night. Car parking purchase scheme available with a one-off payment. Lease details 198 years remaining.
Lawson Avenue, Stanground, PE2 8PN Offers in excess of £210,000
No forward chain with this fabulous detached family home which has been fully refurbished to included new windows, soffits and fascia’s, new bathroom, new gas boiler, landscaped gardens, full redecoration and new fitted carpets. The property is in Lawson Avenue close to shops, schools, bus stops and all amenities. The property comprises of entrance hallway, kitchen/diner, lounge, landing leading to three good size bedrooms, bathroom and WC. Outside the gardens have been fully landscaped back and front and provides off road parking. An early viewing is recommended to appreciate the accommodation on offer.
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01733 552 366 call us today for a free no obligation valuation Littlemere, Orton Waterville, PE2 5HL ÂŁ450,000
Situated in a small cul-de-sac in the desirable area of Orton Waterville this immaculate individual detached bungalow is must view. The current owners bought the bungalow in 2018 and have fully refurbished from front to back adding the rear extension/orangery to offer spacious open plan outdoor living. The property has been refurbished to a high standard to include a brand new gas central heating system (Baxi combi boiler), with anthracite (grey) radiators, replacement solid oak internal doors, Comalink framed windows with heat and solar reflective easy clean glass in blue (A rated) and replacement wood effect and Kamro flooring, the electrical wiring has been tested and upgraded with the addition of up to date modern lightening. The stunning open plan kitchen boasts integral fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, two double ovens, five ring hob and generous centre island with sink and mixer taps. Inner hallway leads on to three good size bedrooms and reception room/bedroom four, the master bedroom benefits from having an en-suite shower room. The lounge/orangery has eight bi-fold (blue solar and reflective glass self-cleaning) doors opening on to the outside entertainment area which has the latest composite decking. The south facing garden is mainly laid to lawn with low maintenance borders, trees and shrubs. There is a tandem length garage/workshop with ample off-road parking.
Park Drive, Market Deeping, PE6 8BG ÂŁ285,000
Wow Factor! An internal viewing is highly recommended for this immaculate detached bungalow located in a quiet cul-de-sac in Market Deeping with views over St Guthlac’s Church. The accommodation briefly comprises of entrance hallway, living room, re-fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, re-fitted shower room, and three good size bedrooms all with built-in wardrobes. Outside there is plenty of off-road parking leading to a single garage, the garden is low easy maintenance and fully enclosed. The property benefits from gas central heating and uPVC double glazing.
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Mayors Walk, West Town, PE3 6EU £190,000
** Commuters Delight ** This three-bedroom Victorian mid terrace home has been completely refurbished to a high standard and is within a very short walking distance of Peterborough City Centre and Railway Station which provides a 45 minute service to London Kings Cross. This delightful Victorian home comprises; entrance hall, lounge/diner, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms. Outside there is an enclosed south facing easy maintenance garden with outside lighting and brick-built storage sheds. The property benefits from gas central heating (the boiler has been serviced annually), uPVC double glazed windows and doors that were fitted in May 2019, fully decorated throughout with new carpets and wood effect flooring, there are stainless steel sockets with USB charger points in each room. The property is offered for sale with no forward chain and an early viewing is highly recommended.
South View, Woodston, PE2 9DA Offers in Excess £240,000
Located in a cul-de-sac within walking distance to the City Centre and Railway Station, this individual detached house was built by the current owners in the early 1980’s and is offered for sale with no forward chain. This spacious three-bedroom home briefly comprises of; entrance hallway, cloakroom, lounge, kitchen with archway through to dining room with French UPVC doors to the garden, first floor landing with feature window, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, bedroom two and bedroom three with built in wardrobes. Outside, to the front of the property there are gardens laid to lawn with a brick wall boundary, to the side of the property is a block paved driveway with ample parking leading to the brick built double garage and workshop, patio seating area and raised lawn area. Council Tax Band C The property has potential to be extended or to convert the double garage/workshop to annex accommodation, subject to planning.
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01733 552 366 call us today for a free no obligation valuation Tattershall Drive, Market Deeping, PE6 8BS
ÂŁ285,000
Situated on a sought-after development this four-bedroom detached family home is set within easy walking distance of Market Deeping Town Centre and viewing is highly advised. The property briefly comprises of porch, entrance hallway with stairs to the first floor landing, lounge with opening to the dining room, sliding doors to a lean-to, the kitchen and utility room was refitted in 2017 with a new Ideal boiler fitted in 2018, re-fitted cloakroom, the integral garage has been converted into a laundry room and office space, upstairs there are four good size bedrooms, three having built in wardrobes, re-fitted en-suite 2019 and family bathroom. The rear garden is fully enclosed by fencing with a side access gate to the front, which is block paved to provide off road parking for two-three vehicles. The property benefits from gas central heating and UPVC double glazing.
Glebe Road, Stilton, PE7 3RQ ÂŁ275,000
Ideally situated, offering great access to Peterborough and Huntingdon, this four-bedroom detached home is located in a cul-de-sac and really must be seen. Benefiting from double glazing and gas central heating, the property briefly comprises; entrance hall, living room, downstairs cloakroom, conservatory, dining room, kitchen, utility, bathroom and four-bedrooms. Outside there is an enclosed rear garden and to the front there is a driveway and single garage. Viewing is recommended. The Village of Stilton boasts pubs, shops, schools, restaurants and all local amenities.
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KARL FRENCH
LISA MCNAMEE
VALUATIONS MANAGER
SALES MANAGER
Karl started his Estate Agency career in 2009. He joined the Bee Residential Team in October 2019 and has a vast knowledge of the Peterborough Property Market. His friendly personality makes clients feel at ease and he also takes pride in great customer service.
Lisa has been an estate agent in Peterborough since 1991 and opened our Sales Office in August 2018 she always goes above and beyond for her clients and her attention to detail is second to none. Having helped thousands of people move during her 25 year career, many come back to her for her personal approach and experience.
GRANT BIDDLE DIRECTOR
MANDY WYER
Grant has over 35 years’ experience in property, finance and the letting industry, specialising in HMO’s. And for 20 years he has been involved with the local property market as an investor and agent. With a long-standing interest in sport, Grant has played cricket for the county and, for the last two seasons, has been involved as Chairman of Peterborough Sports F.C., who are the premier non-league team in the area.
SHIRLEY BARTLETT
SENIOR SALES NEGOTIATOR
SALES SUPPORT
Mandy has been with the company since May 2019 and previously worked for corporate and independent estate agents during her sales career she enjoys working closely with her clients giving good customer service. She is extremely enthusiastic, and we often find her showing properties on her day off.
Shirley started her estate agency career in the late 1980’s and then spend 22 years working for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) in a customer service role. She is very down to earth and makes people feel at ease, clients have commented that they feel like they have known her for years. Her support to the sales team is essential.
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MEET OUR TEAM call us today for a free no obligation valuation
ANGE JOWETT
STEPH
LETTINGS MANAGER
PROPERTY MANAGER
Ange has vast knowledge and experience in both the private sector and social housing market and has worked for Grant Biddle for 13 years. Ange is focused on providing an excellent seamless service and has built up good relations with our stakeholders.
Steph has over 14 years of property and tenancy management experience, previously working for a Housing Association she has built up positive relationships with professional partner agencies. Now utilising her transferrable skills in the private housing sector.
MEGAN LETTINGS ADMINISTRATOR Megan joined the company in 2015 as a lettings administrator and looks after day to day running of the lettings department. She has excellent communication and organisational skills and is calm under pressure.
MARISA
KAREN
PROPERTY MANAGER
REFERENCING MANAGER
Marisa joined the company in 2015 and deals with customers face to face on a daily basis showing and letting out Bee Properties. She has excellent customer and communication skills.
Karen has been with the company since 2003 carrying out internal referencing dealing with applications first-hand. Her great organisational skills and nononsense approach means she gets the job done swiftly.
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MEET OUR TEAM
SHARON
FIONA
PROPERTY MANAGER
PROPERTY MANAGER
Sharon has over 17 years in private sector housing from lettings to local government housing enforcement. A wealth of knowledge & experience brought to the BEE team.
Fiona joined the company in January 2016 and has excellent people skills dealing with our tenants on a day to day basis. She has excellent organisational and people skills.
MICK PROPERTY MANAGER Mick has over 40 years’ experience in housing management with Councils and a Housing Association. He now works part-time for Bee Residential Property Manager, carrying out all aspects of lettings and housing management. He is also closely involved in ensuring that properties are licensed where necessary and that they comply with the standards required by the Council. organisational and people skills.
ANNE
MARIE
MAINTENANCE MANAGER
PROPERTY MANAGER
Anne joined the team in 2017 having come from a commercial maintenance background, she deals with ‘day to day’ repairs and maintenance of properties under our vast portfolio. Anne is driven by ensuring this service runs smoothly and is compliant.The contractors we use are all locally sourced as we endeavour to support small local businesses.
Marie has been working with various Housing Associations nationwide since 2006. Providing a wide range of services to support tenants to acquire suitable properties.
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COMMUNITY NEWS contact us today for a free no obligation valuation
COMMUNITY DRIVEN BEE RESIDENTIAL Peterborough Sports Football Club are a local team who currently play in the Southern League Premier Central which is at level seven of the complete English football pyramid (with the Premiership being Level 1). Bee Residential are a main sponsor of the Football Club and our ground at Lincoln Road, Peterborough has recently been renamed as the Bee Arena in recognition of that. Grant Biddle, owner of Bee Residential is one of the two main shareholders of the Football Club and Chairman. The football club play at 651 Lincoln Road on leased grounds and as we progress through the leagues (five promotions in a decade) we are continually enhancing the ground to the required grading standards as we develop.
The Parkway Sports and Leisure Club (PSL) is privately owned and they have a commercial offer from the adjacent Medical Centre to buy the property which may well then be demolished. As part of our lease arrangements on the pitch areas, the football club have a right to use one of the rooms in the PSL for hospitality, match officials and feeding of the players – all three of these elements are requirements for our standard of league football. We therefore now need (with the impending sale of the PSL) to consider our options and one of those is to fund raise for our own clubhouse, where we can benefit from bar sales and external hiring, but to also cover the league requirements. On the current specification and allowing for various
football grants we may be £36k short of the full build costs, hence the fund raising. The club has a first team, under 18’s and associated teams at adult level and Under 13’s and below.
FUNDRAISING FOR FACILITIES We’re raising £36,000 to help part fund the new Peterborough Sports Football Club clubhouse. We are proposing a 14.6m x 12.2m build. This is the next phase of work. With the recent closure of the privately owned Parkway PSL club, Peterborough Sports Football Club need to build a permanent club house for use both on match days and non-playing days. We are currently completing another phase of
our build that costs £61k and have spent £311k in the past seven years on ground development. We are looking to raise £36k for a proposed 14.6m x 12.2m development. The cost will be significantly more but the football club is in the process of reviewing football grants but this has an upper available limit. If we are able to raise more than £36k plus the grants this will allow that proposed size to
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increase proportionally. There will be social events from which any raised funds will be placed into this account. This clubhouse will help all aspects of the football club from the 1st team down. It will allow a more permanent bar facility than our current cosy offering following the closure of the PSL facility. https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/pbsportsclubhouse
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