LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
PROPERTY NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2020
AUTUMN RECIPES FROM FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE THE TOP CARS OF 2020 WHAT ARE THE BEST SELLING CARS OF 2020 SO FAR?
BACK TO SCHOOL HELP YOUR LITTLE ONE SETTLE AGAIN
PREVIEW THE RETURN OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE
CONKER SEASON HOW TO PICK THE BEST CONKERS
CONTENTS COVER STORY
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Autumn recipes Using fresh seasonal produce to create some simply stunning dishes
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PROPERTY
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Preparing for Autumn Getting your garden and home prepared for the colder months ahead Turning the heating back on Now’s the time to make sure everything’s running smoothly with your heating system
LIFESTYLE
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Wheels of fortune The Stamp Duty holiday has given home-buyers more spending power
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Photography hints and tips Helpful tips to take Insta-ready photos with the best of them
Conker season is here It’s a centuries-old game but some people still go bonkers for conkers Settling children back at school With most having a longer time away from nursery and school, it’s a worry for some parents Top TV this Autumn A selection of must-watch shows that are returning to our screens
SPORT
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Return of the Premier League It may have only just finished, but this month the 2020/21 season starts
WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE!
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ummer is on the wane! The nights are drawing in and the temperature is starting to drop. With the arrival of September, we welcome the stunning colours and flavours of Autumn. With the property market thriving, and the Stamp Duty Holiday in place, if you’re thinking about moving but haven’t started the process, we have put safety guidelines in place to ensure your safety. And with our expert local knowledge, we have all the tools you need to get you moving – including a FREE personalised website for you to share on social media. This month’s issue boasts some great tips about how to make the most of this time of year and take some stunning insta-ready
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photos as well as savouring the freshest, seasonal ingredients to create some mouth-watering Autumnal recipes. Plus, we take a look at some of the best car deals to take advantage of your savings on stamp duty and a preview for the new Premier League season. Children returning to school, or starting for the first time? We have a great article with some advice to help them settle and tips on getting your heating in prime working order ready to watch this season’s top new TV! Till next time… Jonathan Wheatley Editor
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hen the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a Stamp Duty holiday to enable the homes property market to breathe life into the post-lockdown economy, thousands of prospective house buyers must have raised their eyebrows and applauded wildly. It meant an estimated nine out of 10 people buying their main home would not pay the tax, removing a not-inconsiderable burden until March 31 next year. And you could almost hear the sound of belts being slightly loosened as new kitchens, bathrooms and planned improvements were scratched off the wishlist and confidently transferred to the ‘to do’ schedule. But while a raft of home improvement catologues were being thumbed through, a tentative motor industry would have been hoping: ‘Don’t forget about us’. Because, although upgrading your wheels may not be high on the list of priorities when it comes to spending some of the equity, now may be the best time to buy that car you’d always promised yourself, one day, if you had the money … A combination of factors, including the new September registration plate and an industry also suffering post-lockdown blues, means there could be a lot of bargains and good deals out there.
WHEELS OF FORTUNE
The Government’s easing of Stamp Duty has given home-buyers more spending power
For example, with a new Nissan Juke available, dealers want their old stock of this very popular SUV off the forecourt which means there are some cracking offers on as-new pre-registered models. In theory, you could drive off in a new bug-eyed compact crossover for less than £12,000.
and hand it back at the end of the contract – and if you have a few extra pounds you hadn’t bargained for, now could be the time to go big.
Take the Audi A3 E-Tron… and with some of these deals you’d be hard-pressed not to. Largely because there’s a new A3 waiting in the A combination of wings, the older models factors means there are very reasonably priced. A plug-in hybrid from a could be a lot of premium manufacturer bargains and good for around £250 a month? deals out there What’s not to like?
Similarly, the Fiat Tipo, with its 440litre boot, is one of the roomiest small cars in its class and although it might not be one to make your new neighbours sit up and take notice, there are huge discounts to be found, bringing it down to around the £11,000 mark.
However, the old saying ‘Cash is King’ might not always be the case nowadays where there are more ways to make your money go further. If you like to change cars regularly, leasing is a sensible choice, albeit with a mileage allowance. Put down your initial payment
If you like the idea of a new car for an affordably monthly amount with the option of handing it back or buying at the end of the contract, then personal contract payment is for you, although you will need to do your homework to find the right deal. When you do, you can bag a great car for far less than you might expect, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan Match 2.0 TDi a jack-of-all-trades that, despite the name, is difficult to match. With a £10,000 deposit, it could cost you just £255 a month – a staggering amount for a brand with huge badge appeal. As always, the rush for the new registration means an influx of used cars to the market and while some may sneer at anything around five years old that’s got a few miles on the clock, those more astute shoppers will already be perusing websites and forecourts. So, anyone for a pre-2015 Range Rover Evoque 2.2 SD4 PureTech from £17,500? How about a BMW 118i M Sport from under £9,000? Or a Nissan Qashgai 1.2 DiG-T Acenta from £7,500? Happy hunting.
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PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT
And if you want a larger saloon, consider the Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec Hybrid. Although the Mondeo’s days as market leader are long gone, this one can make a long journey pass comfortably. And it’s a rarity – a hybrid for around the £20,000 mark.
And if your new home comes with a car charging point, think about the Renault Zoe GT Line 100kw. Although electric cars were unfeasibly expensive two years ago, they now compare favourably with petrol models and the Zoe, with its conventional
supermini looks and automatic style gearbox, can go 250 miles on a full charge, for £227 a month.
PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR AUTUMN
The colder months are approaching and this means getting your garden and home prepared accordingly. The garden particularly has been hard at work throughout the summer but getting ready for autumn and winter isn’t necessarily that diff icult, and these jobs can easily be done yourself
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utumn is the ideal time of the year to trim your garden into shape and prepare the home in general. Spring and summer are when your garden is most busy, tending to wildlife, growing wildly, and flourishing into its best version of itself. But now it’s time to unwind and tidy up for the coming months, as well as ensure your home is prepared internally, for the colder times ahead.
CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS Gutters easily gather moss, leaves and twigs, and they’ve probably been abandoned somewhat through summer, so now’s the time to clean them. Fix any broken guttering ready for the colder months because blockages and leaks can cause water to drip, and possibly run down the side of your house’s
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external masonry. Internal walls can also become damp if moisture is drawn through.
CLEAR YOUR DRAINS OF FALLEN LEAVES When it’s raining, gutters will ultimately need to dump the water they’re carrying, and that will be into the drains, so it’s important to make sure the drains are cleared of any leaves, grass cuttings, or any other garden debris that has found its way in there. This will prevent rainwater from collecting where it shouldn’t and causing damage or inconvenience.
To keeps germs away from your bird feeders, give them a good and thorough scrub with boiling hot water, which should also kill off any parasites which may be in the feeders too
Self-adhesive foam tape can easily fit around windows, and a plastic or metal strip with a brush or wiper attached is better for doors or loft hatches
CONCEAL ANY DRAFTS FROM DOORS, WINDOWS AND FIREPLACES Checking for gaps around windows and doors is easy and can save you a significant amount of money on your energy bill, so it’s a worthwhile task to carry out. Loft hatches and around pipework are also areas where cold air from outside can get through. If the pipework runs through an external wall, it can be filled with a silicone sealant or expanding polyurethane foam. Self-adhesive foam tape can easily fit around windows, and a plastic or metal strip with a brush or wiper attached is better for doors or loft hatches.
GET YOUR BOILER SERVICED Your boiler won’t have been working as hard throughout
the summer months, so if it has a serious problem you wouldn’t know about it. Don’t wait until you actually need your central heating - get the boiler checked out now because, depending on the seriousness of the potential problem, it could take a while to get it fixed or indeed to even get someone out to look at it. Best to book in a professional before they all start getting really busy.
CLEAN YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE AND BBQ Let’s be honest – your BBQ’s had a good run this summer but it’s time now to give it a deep clean and store it away or cover it up for the colder months ahead. Ashes and spent charcoal should all be disposed of. All garden furniture should be cleaned
down too, and now’s the time to spot-clean stains on cushions before storing it all in a dry place until next spring.
PRUNING While the weather’s mild, now is the best time of the year to prune your plants. Cutting your shrubs to about a quarter of their original size is the general recommendation, and don’t forget to thin out the congested stems to improve air circulation. Berries and perennials, in particular, will benefit from cutting back, as will plants such as lavender and rosemary that don’t handle pruning in the winter.
PREPARE YOUR PERENNIALS Speaking of perennials, now’s the time to tidy them up – geraniums and astrantias in particular. A great tip is to
remove any collapsed stems or dying leaves, either by cutting from their bases with some pruning clippers or by gently hand-pulling them out. After you’ve done this, make sure to get rid of any remaining weeds, then spread some compost over the soil to give your plants a boost, leaving worms to do the rest of the work over the winter.
CLEAN AND REPLENISH YOUR BIRD BOXES AND FEEDERS To keep germs away from your bird feeders, give them a good and thorough scrub with boiling hot water which should also kill off any parasites in the feeders too. Ensure they are completely dry before you restock it for the winter.
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AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY HINTS AND TIPS With smartphones having cameras better than some Digital SLRs, and with the stunning colours of autumn around the corner, we wanted to give you some hints and tips to take Insta-ready photos with the best of them
SETTING UP YOUR CAMERA’S PHONE Depending on what make of phone you have, it will be worthwhile going into the camera settings early. In the settings, you will get options to change the front and rear camera quality. For the best photos, you will want UHD (60 fps) 3840x2160 as a minimum. You will also be able to turn on HRD (rich tone) on most phones which will give your pictures extra depth.
INTELLIGENT FEATURES Samsung Galaxy phones have a range of options when it comes to intelligent features for the camera including a Scene Optimizer, Shot suggestions and a smart selfie angle. These features are super cool and easy to use to get the best pictures possible. Apple iPhones have their own smart features including artificial intelligence. Every time you go to take a photo, the three cameras (on iPhone 11 and above) will quickly take eight images before you press the shutter. The phone’s camera will then compare your image against the previous eight and merge the best pixels to create the final image.
TRIPODS AND SELFIE STICKS If you are super serious about your photography or are looking at making videos, then you will want to invest in a highquality, customisable tripod. These handy tools are perfect for panoramic photos and time-lapse photos as the phone will be set in place, reducing wobble. The same goes for videos. Over the past few years, selfie sticks have become all the rage. They’re very simple to use; simply attach your phone in the holder, hold the stick away from you and voila, suddenly you can fit more people, or background, into your selfies. As most smartphones aren’t cheap, we would recommend spending the extra bit of money to get a secure one for your phone though.
EDITING YOUR PHOTOS Both Samsung and Apple phones have built-in editing suites. Having played on both, the Samsung auto edit feature is fantastic to give your photos a professional edge. With social media apps, especially Instagram, they have their own editing features built-in for uploading your photos. Their ready-made filters are perfect whether you are looking for sepia-toned, black and white or even comic-strip style photos.
By following some of these hints and tips, hopefully, you will be ready to get out there taking high-quality photos of this beautiful world as the seasons’ change
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PROPERTY NEWS
THE CONKER LINE It’s a centuries-old game that’s been in decline, but some people still go bonkers for conkers
They can be roasted. You can pickle, bake or coat them in clear nail varnish, but that’s frowned upon. Yet they are best au naturel, teased out of their prickly green case to be skewered, threaded on to a piece of string and swung at varying velocities in the direction of another of their kind in nature’s version of a demolition derby. Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking conkers. And this month we are heading towards that season beloved of schoolboys from the age of 35 upwards. Yes, it’s conker time! Since the spring, their parent horse chestnut trees have blossomed and nurtured the fruit until the early autumn when, too heavy for their slender stalks, the chestnuts tumble to the ground. Then it’s game on…. and it has been for a few hundred years. Although the first recorded game of conkers was not until 1848, a similar pastime played with hazelnuts – also known as cobnuts – and snail’s shells has been around since the 15th Century. The fruits of the horse chestnut tree did not become involved until well after their introduction to this country from the Balkans more than 100 years later, when initially the nuts were ground and fed to cattle, deer but predominately horses – hence the name horse chestnuts. However, the origin of the name ’conkers’ is open to
debate. It may have been dialect for ‘hard nut’ but is believed to be French, from the word cogner, meaning to bang, or a conch shell – conque. Safe to say, it’s nothing to do with William The Conkerer. There are regional variations – it’s called ‘cheggers’ in Lancashire and in DH Lawrence’s ‘Sons and Lovers’ it is referred to as ‘cobblers’. But essentially it’s the same face-toface combat loved by children of all ages and loathed by school caretakers and the Health and Safety Executive. Their hostile background almost brought them into the war effort in 1917 when, in a secret initiative, children were offered money by the Ministry of Supply to collect conkers. A shipping blockade in the latter years of World War One had prevented cordite from America reaching Britain’s munitions factories, and it was discovered acetone needed for the production of the compound could be produced from starch, initially from maize but, when that ran short, from horse chestnuts. Ultimately, though, there were issues transporting the vast quantities needed and the idea was mothballed. However, it did nothing to dampen the fervour for the game and in 1965 the World Conker Championships were born, albeit in an unlikely setting and even unlikelier circumstances.
Legend has it that a group of anglers in Ashton, Northamptonshire, had to scrap their fishing trip because of bad weather and decided, because there were a lot of horse chestnut trees around the village green, to have a conker tournament instead. A prize was quickly found and donations were made to a charity for the visually-impaired because one of the competitors had a relative who was blind. It continued as an annual event, eventually outgrowing its original home and the decision was taken to move just up the road to Southwick, another village on the outskirts of Oundle, where it has been since 2013. As the championships’ popularity has grown – ironically as general participation has waned because of bruised knuckles and injuries from flying shrapnel - categories have increased. Now there are prizes for the overall champion, plus
men’s, women, team, junior and intermediate categories, but they still donate to charities for the visually impaired, raising almost £415,000 over the years. The event, traditionally held on the second weekend in October, has only once been postponed - and that because of bad weather - although there was reported to be something of a crisis a few years ago when it was feared a dry summer would leave the domestic conker crop smaller and shrivelled. Adequate replacements were tracked down in Germany although it is unclear whether they were used. This year, however, the championships on October 11 face a potential knockout blow from Covid-19 which could mean 27-year-old Jasmine Tetley from Derbyshire will not put her overall title on the line until 2021. A decision will be taken in early September. See worldconkerchampionships.com for further details
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HELPING YOUR CHILD SETTLE AT SCHOOL
Children pick up on their parent’s emotions, so on the first day of school make sure you are positive and in the right frame of mind. Save the tears till after they’ve gone into their class
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PROPERTY NEWS
With most of our children having a longer time away from nursery and school than ever before, it is a worry for some parents as to how they will settle back at school this month…
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s parents, there is nothing that makes us more nervous than your child’s first day at school. With 2020 being anything but a standard year, this is even more so for school starters this month. Children entering reception class haven’t had the usual amount of time at nursery getting them ready and most haven’t had the chance to visit their new school or meet their new teachers face to face. However, there are still ways to ensure your child feels confident and relaxed when they start their new journey this year…
ONLINE MEET AND GREETS Most schools have offered Zoom or Skype meet and greets which are perfect for your child to get to know their teachers and fellow students. Their teacher and any teaching assistants provide your child’s safety net while at school so you want them to build trust very early on. Just having a familiar face will help your child on their first day of school.
The teacher will also be responsible for keeping an eye on your child and identifying and worries or anxieties they are having. So having a good relationship with the teacher yourself is very important.
ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS AND BONDING WITH OTHER CHILDREN
The friendships your children make at school can last a lifetime. It is important to support and encourage your children to make friends with their classmates early on. When at home, play games that help them to understand the principles of sharing and taking turns as well as being kind and compassionate to others. When the school has started, set up playdates at home or picnics with their friends. By showing your child that you like their friends it encourages them to carry on with
the forming of friendships. The most important thing is not to force friendships on them with other children because of your own social standing or friendship groups. These friendships could be too forced and could, in fact, put your child off socialising.
There are ways to ensure your child feels confident and relaxed when they start their new journey this year
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
If this is your first child starting school you will soon realise that getting your child ready in the morning can be one of life’s most frustrating chores. By setting a routine before they start school, this should help with the process. Getting your child to wake up, get out of bed and get dressed independently as well as eating meals and snacks at the same time as the school will help them acclimatise to their new surroundings. By taking your child school clothes shopping will also help to build the excitement. Let them pick their own schoolbag, (if allowed) pencil case, etc, so they feel comfortable when they go in on their first day. You could also include a family picture in their pencil case or school bag as a little reminder of home and can help to ease the anxiety.
This will help them reduce their anxiety in the long run as they will have confidence in themselves in new situations such as moving classes, learning new things and changing into different uniforms.
HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Children pick up on their parent’s emotions, so on the first day of school make sure you are positive and in the right frame of mind. Save the tears till after they’ve gone into their class. Have something positive for your child to come home to on the first day – it doesn’t have to be big, just a little treat, and remember to talk about their day and their experiences. Gentle and positive coaching will help your child integrate into school life. It can also help them build self-esteem to try hard at everything and to never give up. Perseverance is a great trait to have, so make sure they get recognition for it. And finally, don’t dismiss any worries or fears they may have. Allow them to ask lots of questions and answer them honestly and openly. Remember, a lot of the anxiety your child might have is that you might find their problems silly. Reassure your child that you understand every one of their worries and that everything will be fine.
ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE
Helping your child build independence is extremely important for their future and builds their resilience. By encouraging your child to do everyday tasks themselves such as introducing themselves to new people, asking for help and packing their own school bags will help them build independence.
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SUMPTUOUS SEPTEMBER SUPPERS The start of autumn is a wonderful time especially with the fresh produce available to create some simply stunning dishes
GRILLED PEPPERS STUFFED WITH HERBY, CHEESY COUSCOUS These sweet and salty, stuffed peppers are perfect for a late summer BBQ or done under the grill, all using fresh ingredients from your garden or supermarket.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE FILLING
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4 x Red Peppers 2 tbsp Olive Oil 2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar 1 tbsp Lemon Juice 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
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200g couscous 200ml vegetable stock 2 cups of walnuts 2 cups of fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp olive oil 200g feta cheese 3 x garlic cloves Parmesan or any other Italian hard cheese Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD • • • • • • • • • •
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Pour the vegetable stock over the couscous; add salt and pepper and cover. Meanwhile, pop the walnuts, basil leaves, olive oil, parmesan cheese and garlic cloves into a mortar and pestle roughly. Season with salt and pepper. Break the Feta cheese into 1 cm cubes and fork into the couscous. Add the mix from the mortar into the couscous and give a good stir. Cut a circle around the stalk of the pepper and pop off the top. Clean out the inside removing the seeds. Stuff the peppers with the couscous and seal the lid of the pepper with cocktail sticks. Mix the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and maple syrup into a bowl to create a marinade. Put the sealed pepper directly on to the BBQ or under the grill. Marinade the pepper every few minutes while on or under the grills. Once the pepper’s skin is charred on all sides, marinade once more before serving.
PROPERTY NEWS
IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY
BOLD BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILLI & CRÈME FRAICHE Early autumn is the perfect time to harvest fresh butternut squash. Combining its earthy flavour with chilli and crème fraiche really brings this soup to life.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
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1 butternut squash 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 chopped red onions 1 roasted garlic clove 2 red chillies 850 ml vegetable stock 4 tbsp crème fraiche
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan. Place the roasting tray with 1 tbsp olive oil inside. Peel the butternut squash, deseed and then cut into 4 cm chunks. Wrap the garlic clove, with a little olive oil, in tinfoil and put into the hot roasting tray alongside the butternut squash. Roast for 30 mins, removing the garlic after 10. Meanwhile, melt the butter with the remaining olive oil in a saucepan. Add the diced red onion, the roasted garlic and the chopped, deseeded chillies. Cover and cook for 20 mins. When the butternut squash has had 30 mins, add to the saucepan with the vegetable stock and the crème fraiche. Stir before blitzing with a hand blender or liquidiser. Season to taste before serving in bowls with an extra bit of crème fraiche on top.
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HEARTY SAUSAGE CASSEROLE WITH HERBY POTATO WEDGES This is the perfect warming dish for a cooler autumn evening. Make sure you get high-quality sausages and try to use fresh herbs when possible.
INGREDIENTS •
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8 high-quality sausages (Lincolnshire or Cumberland) 1 tin chopped tomatoes 2 red onions 1 red pepper 8 large potatoes
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2 tbsp cumin ½ bottle of stout 2 tbsp paprika ½ cup fresh thyme ½ cup fresh rosemary 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
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Slice the potatoes into wedges and pop into a pan of salted, boiling water for 10 mins. Meanwhile, put a roasting tray with 2 tbsp olive oil, ¼ of the rosemary and ¼ of the thyme into a 230C/210C fan preheated oven. When the potatoes have had 10 mins, drain, season with salt and pepper, add the remaining thyme and rosemary and bash them in the pan to fluff the edges before adding them to the roasting tray alongside the sausages. In a saucepan add 1 tbsp olive oil and add the chopped onions and pepper. Cook until the onions have gone soft and then add the balsamic vinegar and leave for another minute. Check the sausages and potatoes and flip to ensure neither stick to the roasting tray. Add the stout to the saucepan and boil down. Add the chopped tomatoes, cumin and paprika, season with salt and pepper and leave to simmer. Remove the sausages from the oven and add to a glass casserole dish with the sauce and put on the bottom shelf of the oven until the potatoes are ready. When the potatoes are crispy, remove any excess oil using kitchen roll. Serve on a plate with the sausage casserole on top.
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TURNING THE HEATING BACK ON SAFELY Your boiler hasn’t been used very much over the past few summer months, if at all, so now’s the time to make sure everything’s running smoothly with your heating system
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eing safe about this is of the utmost importance because even a small error could result in the absence of a boiler until it’s replaced or fixed, and this could take months, meaning a very cold autumn indeed. Follow our guide on how best to prepare.
BLEED YOUR RADIATORS
As you haven’t been using your central heating system, you’ve probably not noticed whether your radiators have stopped working effectively over the summer. It only takes one radiator which isn’t heating fully like the others to determine it needs bleeding.
When heating systems sound like a kettle boiling when turned on, this could mean a build-up of sludge or limescale on your boiler’s heat exchanger, This is known as kittling and can result in restricting the flow of water within the heat exchanger causing it to overheat, steam and boil.
Bleed any under-performing radiators to remove trapped air. It’s also worth noting that thermostatic radiator valves can become stuck if they’ve been left closed for long periods, which means they won’t work when it comes to turning the heating on again. So it’s important to keep them open as much as you can during the summer months
SWITCH YOUR BOILER ON GRADUALLY
Again, you’ve probably had your radiator switched off for most of the summer, although it’s a good rule of thumb to fire it up once or twice a month to help prevent a build-up of things like dust and corrosion, while also helping to flag up any other potential issues before switching back on permanently when the weather gets colder. If you haven’t been doing this throughout summer, and it’s not quite cold enough yet, worry not because there’s still time for you to do it before the chill of autumn descends.
CHECK FOR FAULTS
Problems with your boiler are most likely to occur during long periods of inactivity. When heating systems sound like a kettle boiling when turned on, this could mean a build-up of sludge or limescale on your boiler’s heat exchanger, This is known as kittling and can result in restricting the flow of water within the heat exchanger causing it to overheat, steam and boil. Ensure there are no issues with your gas supply before trying to reignite the pilot light. This could be caused by a broken thermocouple that’s stopping the gas supply or maybe even a draught blowing the light out altogether.
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TOP TV
RETURNING THIS AUTUMN
As a result of the pandemic, many scheduled shows have not been able to go ahead as planned, and thus, we’ve been starved of our regular ‘new’ TV fix
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owever, as we approach the busy Autumn period, thankfully some of our returning favourites had managed to complete filming before the full force of the pandemic was felt. Therefore, we’ve picked out a handful of the must-watch shows that are still planning to return to our screens in Autumn 2020.
HIS DARK MATERIALS - BBC ONE
The fantasy drama series based on the books of the same name by Phillip Pullman will return for a second series. The show, which was renewed before the first series even aired has been received well and will boast more huge names including Andrew Scott (Sherlock), and Phoebe WallerBridge (Fleabag), who have been added to the already star-studded cast, which includes Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), and James McAvoy (Atonement).
MARCELLA - ITV
The third series of this Anna Friel led show had already finished filming when the pandemic hit. It’s been teased that in the new series Marcella has assumed an undercover identity in Northern Ireland. And after the pain-staking cliff-hanger back in 2018, it looks like fans won’t have too
much longer to wait to be gripped by this drama, once again.
DERRY GIRLS - CHANNEL 4
Channel 4’s hit comedy set in 90s Northern Ireland had to pause filming with immediate effect as a direct result of the pandemic. But as yet, there is no official statement to say that series three will not still be released this year. The most-watched show in Northern Ireland since records began, Derry Girls season 3 should have all the usual shenanigans that we’ve come to expect as it follows a group of girls who attempt to navigate their way through their teenage years.
We’ve picked out a handful of the mustwatch shows that are still planning to return to our screens in Autumn 2020.
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF CHANNEL 4
Rather than attempt to reschedule a lot of the summer shows have decided to completely postpone until 2021 and it looked like The Great British Bake-Off had followed suit. However, it has been announced that filming is currently taking place on a fourth Channel 4 series, and mammoth eleventh overall. And even if strict rules are in place to prevent the famous Paul Hollywood handshake, it’ll still be good to have a more festive version of the Bake-Off back this year.
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THE RETURN OF
THE PREMIER LEAGUE …AGAIN
It may have only just finished, but this month the Premier League returns for the 2020/21 season
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ow we know which teams have been promoted, as well as relegated, it’s time to make some predictions for the upcoming season. But with such a shortened summer hiatus, might the form shown since the restart of last season give an indication as to how next season will go?
TITLE CHALLENGERS
For the past two years, only Manchester City and Liverpool have produced consistently enough to mount title pushes, and it’s hard to see this changing anytime soon. Although Liverpool won the title at a canter last season, Manchester City can be lax in defence, having lost six more games than Liverpool throughout the 2019/20 season. However, with how Manchester City performed after the league’s restart in June – having scored 34 goals in their final 9 league matches – and already making signings to bolster their leaky defence, come May, don’t be surprised if it’s a two-horse race.
BATTLE FOR TOP FOUR
Only Manchester City and Liverpool have produced consistently enough to mount title pushes
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PROPERTY NEWS
If we assume that Liverpool and Manchester City will be jostling it out for top-spot, that leaves two more Champions League qualification places and a whole host of teams who will be looking to grab them. For the first time in years, Manchester United are favourites to gain a top-four place. And, although their defence looks suspect, they showed some serious goalscoring power since the restart, last season. And so if they continue this form into next season, it will be hard for any team to outscore them. Chelsea will also feel confident ahead of next season. Although they were hit and miss throughout 2019/20, the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will fill fans with
optimism that, along with Manchester United, they should have lots of attacking threat. Wolves are the next best if they can keep all of their top players. They’ve shown in their two-season return to the Premier League that they are a dangerous counter-attacking team, and can also keep it tight at the back. As for the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, neither have a realistic chance unless there are dramatic improvements in the defensive department.
SURPRISE PACKAGE
Leeds United are finally back at the top table. Out of the Premier League since 2004, they’ve got a couple of things going for them that may encourage their fans to believe that they’ll have a successful return. They have Marcelo Bielsa at the helm. With his managerial CV boasting the Argentinian national team and Athletic Bilbao, among others, as well as recently receiving praise from Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, he may show his ability to turn this sleeping giant into Premier League regulars. Bielsa also has a squad of players who have little experience of top-flight football. We’ve seen that in recent years, the likes of Brighton and Sheffield United have
thrived after gaining promotion. After being tipped to go straight back down, both teams did incredibly well because of their lack of top-flight experience. So will Leed’s lack of experience actually allow them to go under the radar?
RELEGATION FAVOURITES
Leed’s lack of Premier League experience could work to their advantage, but it could have the opposite effect on the other two promoted teams. Unlike Leeds, Fulham and West Brom have both enjoyed recent seasons in the Premier League, to the point where one could perhaps label them ‘yo-yo’ teams, in the sense that they go up and down divisions with relative ease. And although they both showed defensive grit in the Championship last term, they both know that the Premier League is a different prospect. Along with these two, Aston Villa could be in trouble once again, after they only narrowly escaped the drop in July. Crystal Palace could be in trouble too. After the restart, they only picked up four points from nine games and if they were to lose their star man, Wilfred Zaha, things would look nervy for the Eagles.
MANAGER SACK RACE
Here are our top three for the chop:
The start of the new season brings new challenges to every team in the division, especially their highly paid managers. Premier League clubs aren’t known for their patience if things aren’t going the team’s way, so who’s head will be on the chopping block from day one?
1. Jose Mourinho – Tottenham Hotspur. 2. Roy Hodgson – Crystal Palace. 3. Dean Smith – Aston Villa.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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