ENJOY PORTISHEAD FEBRUARY 2024 by Tracey Fowler

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I N SI D E Feb rua ry 2024

p8 I nspi r i ng Di r ecti on Mr Ba tes v the Post Offic e d irec tor a nd form er Gord a no Sc hool stud ent Ja m es Strong ta lks to Tra c ey Fowler in our reg ula r fea ture 'When I Grow up '

p16 Phoeni x Bar Her os Loc a ls lea d b y the tea m a t the Phoenix Ba r ha ve ra ised hug e a m ounts of fund ing for the Grea t Western Air Am b ula nc e c ha rity.

p34 Heal th and Beauty Meet the loc a l b usinesses here to help you b e the b est version of yourself, from weig ht loss a nd fitness g oa ls to skin c a re a nd a esthetic s, m eet the g la m sq ua d !

p51 A bi t on the si de? In a n era of sid e hustle c ulture we lift the lid on new HMRC reg ula tions a nd find out how to sta y on the rig ht sid e of the la w when selling online. Front c over c red it istoc k.c om : Lifestyle p hotog ra p hy c ourtesy of: istoc k.c om

PL US Page 7. Ra ilwa y Up d a te - Another hug e step c loser to the Portishea d to Bristol ra ilwa y line reop ening . Find out where we a re a s ENJOY exp la ins the set b a c ks a nd p rog ress now ta king p la c e. Page 10 . Follow loc a l ra d io, TV a nd p od c a st p resenter Ia n 'Downsy' Downs on a typ ic a l week b ring ing the loc a l news a nd sp orts rep orts to our hom es. Page 20 . A look a t som e of our fa vourite b oa rd g a m es inc lud ing Clued o, Trivia l Pursuit, Ac c entua te, La b yrinth a nd Monop oly. Whic h one is your fa m ily fa vourite? Page 27. Da tes for your d ia ry. Our reg ula r round up of events ha p p ening in a nd a round town. Page 30 . Va lentine's Da y - rom a ntic g estures, d inner for two, rec ip es a nd c oc kta ils - p lus, how d id it a ll sta rt? P33. Tra vel c ounsellor Ella Pric e whisks us off to the p riva te isla nd of Ma a d hoo in the Ma ld ives, a luxury holid a y a nd the p erfec t d estina tion for your honeym oon! Page 49. Prop erty of the m onth b roug ht to you b y Good m a n & Lilley. A d eta c hed fa m ily hom e of a rc hitec t d esig n with wond erful views to the Welsh c oa stline . Page 52. Wha t is c a p ita l g a ins ta x a nd when m ig ht I p a y it? Ric ha rd Powell of Powell a nd Assoc ia tes fills us in on how this ta x m ig ht effec t you. Page 56. Useful p eop le to know. Our reg ula r listing of loc a l b usinesses here to help . Whether its a lea king ta p or a b ed for your leeks, a p a ne tha t need s c lea ning or a c lea ning job tha t's a p a in. We ha ve som eone to help .

M E ET YOU R P U B L I SH E R S Enjoy Portishea d is a m onthly m a g a zine p rod uc ed for you b y Tra c ie Fry a nd Tra c ey Fowler, two loc a l m ed ia p rofessiona ls with a p a ssion for Portishea d . Our a im is to a lwa ys p rovid e a q ua lity m a g a zine with eng a g ing c ontent ? news, views a nd lifestyle fea tures while a lso p rom oting our town?s ind ep end ent b usinesses. We a re tha nkful to everyone for the sup p ort on our journey in c rea ting this p ub lic a tion for our loc a l c om m unity a nd ena b ling us to ta ke it forwa rd ; those p eop le inc lud e you - the rea d ers, our sp onsor Wrig ht- Morg a n, a ll a d vertisers, our p od c a st b ud d y Ia n ?Downsy?Downs a nd our d ed ic a ted ed itoria l c ontrib utors.

Th an k y ou al l . Plea se let us know if you ha ve a story or a n event you would like to sha re in Enjoy, or if you would like to a d vertise. Rem em b er, it?s the sp onsorship a nd a d vertising tha t m a kes a ll this p ossib le.

TO ADVERTISE Allow us to help you p rom ote your b usiness throug h p rint m ed ia ? a form of a d vertising we know p eop le trust. Rea c h your loc a l m a rket from a s little a s £35 p er m onth with ENJOY Portishea d . GET IN TOUCH Ad vertising | Tra c ie Fry a d vertising .enjoyp ortishea d @g m a il.c om Tel: 07766207731 Ed itor | Tra c ey Fowler ed itor.enjoyp ortishea d @g m a il.c om Tel: 07368250688 Desig n ? Tra c ie Fry Crea tive Solutions Plea se note our d ea d line for the Feb rua ry issue is 5th Feb rua ry 2024

This m a g a zine ha s b een p ub lished b y T & T Pub lishing ? 2023. Every effort ha s b een m a d e to ensure the a c c ura c y of inform a tion c onta ined in this p ub lic a tion, lia b ility for a ny om issions or 4 errors c a nnot b e a c c ep ted b y the p ub lisher.

WELCOME W

elc om e to our Feb rua ry issue of Enjoy Portishea d . I hop e 2024 ha s g ot off to a g rea t sta rt for you.

As I sit in m y hom e offic e writing this ea rly on a m id - Ja nua ry m orning it?s freezing outsid e, however the d a ys a re without d oub t g etting a little b it long er, a sig n tha t sp ring isn?t too fa r a wa y now! This m onth we?re exc ited to welc om e Ta m to the tea m . Ta m Weston ha s b een a g rea t sup p orter of Enjoy ever sinc e we la unc hed in Ma rc h 2023 a nd her enthusia sm b owled us over, so when she offered to lend a ha nd we just c ould n?t sa y no! Love it or ha te it, Feb rua ry b ring s with it Va lentine?s Da y. I ha ve a lwa ys b elieved Va lentine?s Da y is a g rea t exc use, not only to show our p a rtners how m uc h we love them b ut to c eleb ra te love a nd friend ship with a ll those we hold d ea r. Our c entre p a g es c over everything from the orig ins of Va lentine?s Da y a nd loving g estures to rec ip es a nd id ea s of how to sp end the d a y if you?re sing le.

Tha nks to everyone who ha s sha red stories a nd exp ertise with us this m onth, it is a lwa ys our a im to b ring you va ried c ontent with som ething for everyone. Whether you wa nt to sha re a p ersona l exp erienc e, p rom ote your b usiness, ra ise the p rofile of your c om m unity g roup or ha ve a n event tha t need s shouting a b out, we?d love to hea r from you. I hop e you enjoy this m onth?s issue, we?ll b e b a c k a g a in soon

x Tr ac e y

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GREEN L IGH T FOR PORTISH EAD RAILWAY At la st there rea lly d oes seem to b e lig ht a t the end of the tunnel By Tra c ey Fowler I ha ve b een writing stories a b out the reop ening of the Portishea d to Bristol ra ilwa y line b ec om ing a rea lity for m ore tha n 10 yea rs, b oth a s a newsp a p er rep orter a nd m a g a zine ed itor, so forg ive m e if on oc c a sions I?ve d ec id ed to g ive story up d a tes a m iss, b a sed on the fa c t we?ve ?hea rd it a ll b efore?. This m onth however, I feel we rea lly a re a hug e step c loser to work b eg inning on the reop ening of the line a nd so I ha ve d ec id ed to ta ke a d eep er look. I?ve a lwa ys ta ken m y c ue from the Portishea d Ra ilwa y Group , a tea m of knowled g ea b le, enthusia stic p eop le with the p urp ose to lob b y on b eha lf of the resid ents of Portishea d a nd the c om m unities b ord ering the A369 for the re- esta b lishm ent of a p a sseng er ra il servic e from Portishea d to Bristol. The Portishea d to Bristol line first op ened on 18th Ap ril 1867 a nd op era ted until 7th Sep tem b er 1964, when it c losed to p a sseng er tra ffic a s p a rt of c uts following The Beec hing Rep ort. Dr Ric ha rd Beec hing wa s the c ha irm a n of the British Ra ilwa ys Boa rd whose c ontroversia l rep ort d ec id ed the fa te of the 2363 sta tions a nd 5000 m iles of tra c k ea rm a rked for c losure.

whic h m ea nt m ore setb a c ks a nd a lterna tives ha d to b e found , b ut a ll the while the reop ening of the Portishea d to Bristol ra ilwa y line ed g ed forwa rd . So where a re we now? This m onth North Som erset Counc il looks set to sub m it the fina l b usiness c a se to the Dep a rtm ent for Tra nsp ort (DfT). If this is a p p roved b y the DfT, the Portishea d line will b e b roug ht b a c k to full c ounc il in sum m er 2024 to a g ree the relea se of the fund ing for the p rojec t. This c ould then see work b eg inning on the reop ening of the line b efore the end of this yea r with c om p letion exp ec ted in 2026. Colin Howells sp ea king for Portishea d Ra ilwa y Group told us: ?Portishea d Ra ilwa y Group welc om es the d ec ision ta ken b y North Som erset Counc il to sub m it the fina l b usiness c a se to the Dep a rtm ent for Tra nsp ort. We a re hop eful tha t this will b e a p p roved b y the DfT b y the end of Ma y, whic h will a llow c onstruc tion of the line a nd sta tions a t Portishea d a nd Pill to b eg in la ter this yea r. Resid ents in Portishea d a nd Pill ha ve wa ited fa r too long for this im p orta nt line to b e reop ened a nd fina lly we c a n a ll see the lig ht a t the end of the tunnel.?

Priva te freig ht tra ffic for Portishea d d oc ks c ontinued until 1981a nd a p a rt from oc c a siona l ?sp ec ia ls?, the line ha s sa t id le ever sinc e. Sinc e 2013, with the form a tion of MetroWest (a p rojec t to im p rove the ra il servic es a round Bristol) a nd with strong sup p ort from North Som erset Counc il, slow p rog ress ha s b een m a d e a nd now suc c ess seem s ta nta lising ly c lose. Over the yea rs p la ns ha ve b een a p p roved , fund ing ha s b een a p p roved , then c osts ha ve inc rea sed so m ore fund ing ha d to b e found , then la ws c ha ng ed

W H EN I GROW U P I WAN T TO BE? As a young b oy Portishea d b orn Ja m es Strong d rea m ed of b eing a p rofessiona l footb a ller, tod a y he's a m ulti- a w a rd w inning film a nd TV d irector

Growing up in Portishea d Ja m es Strong enjoyed d ra m a a t Gord a no Sc hool m ore tha n a ny of his other lessons, b ut outsid e of sc hool it wa s a ll a b out footb a ll a nd m usic . He d rea m ed of b ec om ing the next Glenn Hod d le a nd Bruc e Sp ring steen (he wa s lea d sing er in a few loc a l b a nd s) b ut when neither worked out it wa s tim e to rethink. But one thing wa s c lea r - he d id n?t wa nt to g et a ?p rop er?job .

Ed inb urg h Fring e Festiva l. These ea rly d ra m a tic exp erienc es p la nted a seed tha t wa s soon to flourish. Tod a y, Ja m es is a hig hly a c c la im ed , BAFTA a nd Em m y winning film a nd TV d irec tor with a long list of c red its inc lud ing Broa d c hurc h, Downton Ab b ey, Vig il a nd Doc tor Who. Most rec ently he d irec ted the TV d ra m a Mr Ba tes Vs The Post Offic e tha t tells the story of hund red s of sub p ostm a sters who were wrong ly a c c used of theft, fra ud a nd fa lse a c c ounting . The four- p a rt ITV series rec eived a stonishing viewing fig ures, c ritic a l a c c la im a nd ha s resulted in a new Bill b eing p a ssed in p a rlia m ent to a ttem p t to b ring m uc h d ela yed justic e a nd fina nc ia l red ress to the sub - p ostm a sters.

Ha ving sec ured a p la c e a t Sussex University Ja m es em b a rked on a BA d eg ree in g eog ra p hy. It wa s while a t uni he d evelop ed his love for a c ting in stud ent thea tre a nd then found him self d ra wn to g etting involved in c rea ting the shows ra ther tha n p erform ing in them , ta king severa l p la ys to the

I N TERV I EW

Tra c ey Fowler ta lks to Ja m es Strong a b out his c a reer journey Photos courtesy of ITV

How d id you b ecom e a TV a nd film d irector? I wa nted to b e a n a c tor, b ut I q uic kly rea lised I wa sn?t g ood enoug h. So I d id a Ma sters d eg ree in interna tiona l rela tions with the a im to g o into news a nd c urrent a ffa irs a nd b ec om e a foreig n c orresp ond ent. After university I m a na g ed to sec ure a job with HTV West a nd m y first exp erienc e wa s in front of the c a m era a s a news rep orter. I loved d oing this a nd soon ha d a job p resenting the loc a l a rts a nd wha t?s on show Sp otlig ht. This wa s a n inva lua b le exp erienc e. Lea rning how to tell a story q uic kly, c lea rly a nd effec tively in a short tim e fra m e wa s so im p orta nt. However, I knew d eep d own I wa s m ore interested in the film m a king a sp ec t of the job so the next m ove wa s towa rd s a c a reer a s a d irec tor. I wa s extrem ely fortuna te to g a in a p la c e on the

p restig ious Gra na d a TV Tra inee Prog ra m Ma ker sc hem e a nd tha t?s how it a ll sta rted . I wa s a llowed to rota te a round a num b er of shows a nd g enres a nd rea lly ob serve a ll the d ifferent a sp ec ts of the p rod uc tion p roc ess.

How d id you p rog ress to d irector? My fina l a ssig nm ent on the Prog ra m Ma ker Sc hem e wa s a stint on This Morning , b a c k when it wa s m a d e in Liverp ool with Ric ha rd a nd Jud y. I d irec ted the inserts for the show, whic h wa s m y film sc hool. I im m ed ia tely knew this wa s wha t I wa nted to d o with the rest of m y life. The show c overed a hug e ra ng e of sub jec ts; from g a rd ening , c ookery, fa shion a nd tra vel so I lea rnt to a p p ly m y d irec ting skills to ea c h g enre. This wa s m y rea l tra ining g round , lea rning how to tell a story visua lly a nd with c la rity a nd style.

How d id you b rea k in to d irecting d ra m a ? I knew I wa nted to eventua lly d irec t d ra m a - b ut it?s not ea sy to b rea k into. Dra m a is extrem ely exp ensive a nd risk a verse a nd so I ha d to p rove I wa s c a p a b le of m a king the lea p . This b eg a n on a n ITV series Rea l Crim e where I sta rted writing a nd working in sc rip ted sec tions into m y film s. Shooting rec onstruc tions for Crim ewa tc h followed , whic h a llowed m e to d em onstra te I c ould work with a c tors. I then wrote a nd d irec ted a short film SOLD whic h wa s Ba fta shortlisted a nd tha t wa s a b ig step forwa rd . It g a ve m e the exp erienc e, m a teria l a nd c onfid enc e to p ush for job s a s d ra m a d irec tor. My first b rea k in d irec ting sc rip ted fic tion wa s on BBC d ra m a Doc tors, followed b y ep isod es of series like Holb y City a nd Ca sua lty a nd eventua lly onto the likes of Doc tor Who a nd Downton Ab b ey. It then b ec a m e a b out la unc hing m y own shows a nd led to the likes of Broa d c hurc h, Lia r a nd Vig il where I c ould a uthor a nd set the visua l styles for ea c h show. Shooting severa l US p ilots in Hollywood c a m e next, the la test Fire Country - hits the UK this m onth.

exp erienc e life a nd wa tc h a nd ob serve hum a n b eha viour c losely if you wa nt to a c c ura tely rep lic a te it. It's a lso a b out b eing eng a g ed with the world a round you a nd g etting a b a la nc ed p ersp ec tive on life. So? wa tc h TV, m ovies a nd thea tre; rea d b ooks, listen to m usic , tra vel, g o to a rt g a lleries - b e c urious a nd inform ed . And yes, g et a g ood ed uc a tion, lea rning just exp a nd s the b ra in. Work ha rd a nd keep g oing . It?s a n inc red ib ly c om p etitive ind ustry to g et into, b ut if it?s som ething you rea lly feel c om p elled to d o then g o for it. But d on?t exp ec t it to fa ll into your la p . And fina lly b e kind . Film m a king is a tea m effort a nd you won?t g et fa r if you?re a p a in in the b utt. Good luc k!

You ha ve m a d e q uite a n im p a ct d irecting d ra m a s w hich ha s ea rned you a hig hly reg a rd ed rep uta tion. Why d o you think tha t is? I ha ve b een inc red ib ly fortuna te, b ut I ha ve a lwa ys worked ha rd a nd d on?t often ta ke no for a nswer. My b a c kg round in news, c urrent a ffa irs a nd d oc um enta ries led m e to b e p ra g m a tic in m y a p p roa c h a s a d irec tor a nd to lea rn to think on m y feet, b ut a lso to rec og nise rea l b eha viour a nd how to rec rea te rea l situa tions truthfully - whic h is the essenc e of d ra m a . It?s then a b out a p p lying a c inem a tic d im ension to hop efully m a ke your work interesting a nd uniq ue.

Wha t a d vice w ould you g ive to a ny stud ents setting their sig hts on b ecom ing a d irector? Get off your p hone! I jest b ut I think you m ust

DOW NSY A w e e k in t h e lif e ? At Enjoy we tend to introd uc e our friend Ia n ?Downsy?Downs a s a loc a l ra d io, TV a nd p od c a st p resenter, b ut wha t exa c tly d oes he d o? We thoug ht the b est wa y to find out wa s to a sk him to g ive us a run d own on one of his typ ic a l weeks. This is wha t he told us:

Sunday ? Bristol City Wom en v Liverp ool ? Ma tc h Da y Direc tor Quite rig htly, Bristol City Wom en wa nted a fem a le p resenter when they sta rted p la ying their g a m es a t Ashton Ga te. Alrea d y ha ving d irec ting exp erienc e from m y work a t ITV News, I m ove b ehind the c a m era for the wom en?s g a m es a nd d irec t a ll c ontent you see on the b ig sc reens in the sta d ium from the m a ster c ontrol room .

Saturday ? Bristol Bea rs v Vod a c om Bulls ? Ma tc h Da y Presenter I a m a m a tc h d a y p resenter for Bristol Bea rs (rug b y) a nd Bristol City FC (footb a ll) so a m a tc h d a y sees m e writing sc rip ts in the m orning , c hec king running ord ers a nd c olla ting a ll the m essa g es a nd a nnounc em ents, inc lud ing a ll the b irthd a y req uests! I g et to the sta d ium a round three hours b efore kic k- off a nd then p resent a ll the in- b owl sta d ium ?infota inm ent?. On this p a rtic ula r week tha t inc lud ed a Q & A session with Eng la nd Rug b y sta r Kyle Sinc kler a nd a ha lf- tim e on p itc h c ha lleng e with a c oup le of fa ns.

Monday? ITV ? La te Shift Bulletin Direc tor As a ?p rod uc tion sp ec ia list?a t ITV m y role is va ried a nd c a n involve everything from rolling the a utoc ue to sitting in the hot sea t a nd d irec ting p rog ra m m es a nd b ulletins. As a la te shift d irec tor I?ll b e vision m ixing a ll the c a m era s, c ueing the p resenters a nd m a king sure we g et the live news b ulletin out on tim e. From our Bristol stud ios we p rovid e news for the whole of the ITV West Country reg ion, from Glouc ester in the north, a ll the wa y d own to Devon a nd Cornwa ll. It?s m a d tha t m y fing ers a re c ontrolling wha t a ll those TV?s tuned to ITV a re seeing !

Tuesday ? Bristol City v West Ha m ? Ma tc h Da y Presenter For City a wa y g a m es I'm the m a in p resenter for Rob ins TV, the c lub s d ed ic a ted strea m ing c ha nnel. When the g a m e is a t hom e, like this week, not only d o I p resent a ll the ?infota inm ent?c ontent suc h a s the ha lf- tim e ?Tha tc hers Ap p le Roll?a nd the m a tc h d a y p rize d ra w, b ut I a lso d o a ll the offic ia l a nnounc em ents d uring the g a m e too - a nnounc ing the sc orers a nd when the sub stitutions a re m a d e etc .

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Wednesday? Ad m in Da y I a m freela nc e a nd a s every freela nc er knows, you need to sc hed ule tim e to d o a ll of the a d m in a ssoc ia ted with b eing self em p loyed . I try a nd keep on top of it a ll, inc lud ing the fina nc es ea c h week to keep m y a c c ounta nt ha p p y! I m a y, however a lso ha ve tim e for a trip to Coffi La b for a la tte a nd a Welsh c a ke with m y woofers!

Thursday ? ITV ? Floor Ma na g er A d a y shift a t ITV News a s floor m a na g er m ea ns looking a fter everything tha t g oes d own on the stud io floor from op era ting c a m era s to m oving g uests in a nd out of the set. On this p a rtic ula r d a y we ha d Joe Sim s a nd Ja yd e Ad a m s in for a n interview a nd I ha d to find a n old p iec e of c a rd b oa rd to ensure one of the p resenters m ic rop hones sta yed in p la c e on a very d elic a te d ress! Telly isn?t a lwa ys a s showb iz a s it seem s you know!

Friday? Pod c a st Rec ord a nd Ed it / Pre- rec ord ed Ra d io Show Links Along sid e m y two a forem entioned c ontra c ts, I run m y own a ud io p rod uc tion c om p a ny. This involves p resenting a nd p rod uc ing p od c a sts, d oing voic eovers a nd rec ord ing p re- rec ord ed links for ra d io sta tions a c ross the c ountry. I a lso p resent a nd p rod uc e the Enjoy Portishea d Pod c a st - ha ve you ha d a listen yet? Sea rc h ?Enjoy Portishea d ?wherever you g et your p od c a sts!

And tha t is a typ ic a l week in m y life!

Ba c kg round Inform a tion For a lm ost 25 yea rs Downsy p resented shows on the c om m erc ia l ra d io network. He sta rted off a g ed 18 a t FOX FM in his hom etown of Oxford , em b a rking on a c a reer tha t took him to sta tions a ll over the UK. He c a m e to Bristol in 2002 to host the b rea kfa st show on a sta tion c a lled STAR Ra d io a nd ha s b een in the a rea ever sinc e, m oving to Portishea d in 2005. From STAR he m oved to Orig ina l 106 FM, whic h reb ra nd ed a s JACK FM, where he p resented ?Tha t Morning Thing ? the fla g ship b rea kfa st show. In 2021the Bristol sta tions were sold a nd m a ny of them were networked a nd p resented from c entra l stud ios in Ma nc hester or Lond on, whic h m ea nt red und a nc y for m ost of the sta ff in the Bristol stud ios. This m ove p rom p ted Downsy to g o freela nc e a nd he ha sn?t rea lly looked b a c k. He sa id : ?When I took the p lung e a nd b ec a m e self em p loyed I a lrea d y ha d the b eg inning s of wha t is now referred to a s a ?p ortfolio c a reer?. I wa s a lrea d y d oing m a tc h d a y p resenting a nd som e voic eover work. Three yea rs on, whilst it?s b een a b it of a rollerc oa ster rid e a nd I som etim es m iss the c om fort a nd sec urity of a sta ff job , I the love va riety of job s I?m p ic king up . I d o holid a y c over for a num b er of d ifferent ra d io sta tions b ut ha ve a lso ha d the c ha lleng e of lea rning new skills, inc lud ing d irec ting reg iona l news p rog ra m m es for ITV.?

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ROTARY CLUB NEWS Swimathon 2024 Portishea d Rota ry Club form a lly la unc hed its 2024 Swim a thon a t Pa rish Wha rf on Ja nua ry 9th rem em b ering Rota ria n Mollie Young , who sa d ly d ied in July 2023. Mollie ha d b een c hief org a niser of the c lub ?s a nnua l swim a thons for m ore tha n 25 yea rs a nd so a s a trib ute to her, the swim a thon ta king p la c e a t Pa rish Wha rf on Sa turd a y 23 Ma rc h will b e known a s the Mollie Young Mem oria l Swim a thon.

a lot of fun. Ag e is no b a rrier b ut a ll entra nts m ust b e a b le to c om p lete a leng th of the p ool. Floa ts a nd a ssista nc e, however, c a n b e p rovid ed for those who a re not c onfid ent in the wa ter. It?s a ll a b out ra ising m oney for g ood c a uses a nd ha ving a g ood tim e. Of c ourse none of this would b e p ossib le without the fa nta stic sup p ort from Chris Skid m ore a nd his sta ff a t Pa rish Wha rf Leisure Centre ? we a re extrem ely g ra teful.? Entry form s m ust b e c om p leted a nd returned b y Thursd a y 29 Feb rua ry. To sig n up to ta ke p a rt or to find out m ore, visit www.p ortishea d rota ryc lub .org .uk

Remembering Mollie Mollie Young wa s the d riving forc e b ehind the Portishea d Rota ry Club ?s swim a thon, a lm ost sinc e its inc ep tion in 1995 when she wa s a la ne c ounter with her Rota ria n husb a nd Ken. After Ken d ied Mollie joined Rota ry herself, whic h wa s b a c k in Novem b er 1996, she wa s one of the first two wom en m em b ers of the Portishea d Rota ry Club .

This yea r the Portishea d a nd Cleved on Tria thlon Club (PACTri) ha s kind ly a g reed to sup p ort the Rota ry Club in running the event on the d a y. The b ig swim , whic h sees swim m ers a g ed from three- yea rs- old to 80 yea rs + ta king p a rt, ha s ra ised m ore tha n £200,000 for g ood c a uses over the yea rs a nd is a hug e event on the town?s c a lend a r. This yea r the Rota ry c ha rities tha t will b e sup p orted inc lud e Jessie Ma y Child ren?s Hosp ic e a t Hom e Cha rity a nd Motor Neurone Disea se Assoc ia tion ( MND). Loc a l sc hools, g roup s a nd c lub s tha t ta ke p a rt will a lso rec eive fund s. So, now it?s tim e to d rum up interest a nd sup p ort? Entra nts swim throug hout the d a y in rela y in tea m s of six, swim m ing for a t lea st 35 m inutes a t their own p a c e. Ind ivid ua ls a nd g roup s of less tha n six c a n sig n up a nd will b e tea m ed up with others ta king p a rt. The event reg ula rly a ttra c ts m ore tha n 600 swim m ers ? c ould you b e one of them ?

In the ea rly 2000?s Mollie took over the m a ntle of Swim a thon Com m ittee Cha irm a n a nd in 1999 she wa s elec ted p resid ent of the c lub , the first fem a le p resid ent in the history of the c lub . She wa s a lso the c lub ?s very effic ient sec reta ry for m a ny yea rs. Mollie wa s a c om m itted Rota ria n, she will b e sa d ly m issed b y the c lub a nd the wid er c om m unity. A p la q ue ha s now b een insta lled a t Pa rish Wha rf Leisure Centre in Portishea d in Mollie?s m em ory, a n a m a zing la d y.

A sp okesp erson for Portishea d Rota ry Club sa id : ?The a tm osp here is a m a zing a ll d a y long a nd we a ll ha ve

Photo: Alan Harrison

14 14

WALK IN? THE DOG Rea d ers sha re their fa vourite p la c es to wa lk their four leg g ed friend s

Ha ving exha usted the m a jority of Portishea d ?s fa vourite d og wa lks over the p a st yea r, Enjoy is now p lea sed to b ring you som e rea d ers?fa vourite wa lks tha t a re just a short journey from our lovely town. This m onth Tom Rid d el, a sp orts reha b ilita tor a nd m a ssa g e thera p ist a t Wa lnut Grove c linic , sha res one of his fa vourite d og wa lks. Sullie, our b ord er c ollie?s fa vourite thing in the world is p la ying fetc h with his Frisb ee. One of our fa vourite p la c es to p la y this is Bla ise Ca stle esta te in Henb ury, a c a r journey of just 15- 20 m inutes from Portishea d . We p a rk up in the m a in Bla ise c a r p a rk, where there a re usua lly p lenty of sp a c es a va ila b le. We then wa lk stra ig ht out into the la rg e op en sp a c e where we c a n ha p p ily let Sullie off his lea d , knowing he?s sa fe a nd he c a n run to his hea rt's c ontent a fter his frisb ee. We tend to wa lk a loop a ll the wa y a round the ed g e of the esta te, whic h is a b out two m iles, ta king us p a st the m a nsion whic h sits a t the fa r end . Two m iles, a long with a ll the running a round fetc hing the Frisb ee, is enoug h for Sullie a nd so we then hea d b a c k towa rd s the c a r.

only a few m onths old a nd isn?t yet d esp era te to g o a nd p la y there, I?m sure she will in yea rs to c om e! On hot d a ys, when ha ving Sullie running a round isn?t g oing to b e g ood for him , we still ta ke him to Bla ise a s the esta te is hom e to a la rg e wood ed a rea whic h p rovid es sha d e a nd a c ooler environm ent. There a re p lenty of p a ved footp a ths running their wa y throug h the wood s with c lea rly m a rked wa lking routes. For those interested in the history of the esta te there is a m useum within the m a nsion, g iving a n insig ht into wha t life wa s like in the 18th c entury when it wa s b uilt. There is a lso the folly c a stle whic h is op en on Sund a ys throug hout the sum m er. For those who a re in to running - there?s a p a rk run every Sa turd a y tha t ta kes in the g round s of the esta te too.

There is a c offee shop a long sid e the c a r p a rk where we often stop for a c offee a nd g ive Sullie a d rink of wa ter b efore hea d ing b a c k to the c a r. There is a lso a wond erful c hild ren's p la y a rea just to the sid e of the c a fé a nd whilst our d a ug hter Eléa is If you ha ve a fa vorite d og w a lk you w ould like to sha re p lea se em a il ed itor.enjoyp ortishea d @g m a il.com

PORTISH EAD L OCAL S?UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR GREAT W ESTERN AIR AM BUL ANCE CH ARITY The Phoenix Ba r p resents c heq ue for £10,000 to sup p orter eng a g em ent c oord ina tor Philip p a Wa lker The Phoenix Ba r in Portishea d ?s Vic toria Sq ua re ha s rea c hed a m ilestone of £10,000 in fund ra ising for Grea t Western Air Am b ula nc e Cha rity (GWAAC).

Da wn?s p a rtner of 10 yea rs, wa s sitting . GWAAC?s Critic a l Ca re Tea m a ttend ed Sea n b ut sa d ly c ould not sa ve him .

Monic a Sm ith a nd her d a ug hter Da wn who a re joint owners of the b a r a nd Da wn?s d a ug hter Ta m , sp ea rhea d ed the fund ra ising over a num b er of yea rs, org a nising ra ffles, selling jum p ers, hosting c ollec tion tins on the b a r, hold ing c om p etitions a nd hold ing m a ny fund ra ising events with hug e help from fa m ily m em b er Sa m Hug hes a nd the sup p ort of Phoenix Ba r p a trons a nd the wid er Portishea d c om m unity.

Ta m sa id : ?Fund ra ising for GWAAC rea lly help ed us c ha nnel our g rief a nd g a ve us a foc us, knowing it m a y well help sa ve the lives of others.?

The Phoenix ha s sup p orted GWAAC sinc e 2014 b ut ra m p ed up its fund ra ising a c tivities a fter a tra g ic event on Va lentine?s Da y 2019, when a lorry p loug hed in to a sta tionery vehic le in whic h Sea n Owens,

Br ist ol Rd, Por t ish ead, Br ist ol BS20 6QG 16

Ba r where hund red s of friend s ha d g a thered to c eleb ra te Sea n?s life a nd ta ke p a rt in a num b er of d ifferent a c tivities in sup p ort of GWAAC. Monic a sa id : ?The resp onse from loc a l p eop le to sup p ort events for the c ha rity in Sea n?s m em ory ha s b een a m a zing a nd we c a n?t tha nk them enoug h. The a m ount ra ised ha s exc eed ed a nything we ever thoug ht p ossib le.?

Da wn a d d ed : ?Sea n wa s a c om m unity m ind ed m a n, involved in the loc a l rug b y a nd footb a ll c lub s a nd a c ha rity sup p orter a nd fund ra iser him self. On the a nniversa ry of Sea n?s d ea th ea c h yea r, the fa m ily rem em b ers Sea n b y visiting his b enc h a t Gord a no Rug b y Club a nd la ying flowers, b ut the fund ra ising ena b les us to c ontinue to d o som ething p ositive in his m em ory.? One of the m ost m em ora b le fund ra ising events wa s the ?Sea n Owen?s Sund a y Fund a y?held a t the Phoenix in 2019. A g roup of friend s a nd fa m ily d id a sp onsored wa lk from Exeter, Sea n?s hom etown, to the Phoenix

Ap p roxim a tely five tim es a d a y, GWAAC's sp ec ia list c linic a l tea m b ring the hosp ita l to the p a tient, with their skills a nd eq uip m ent, sa ving lives a nd g iving p eop le the b est outc om es p ossib le. Its c ritic a l c a re tea m wa s c a lled to 262 inc id ents in North Som erset in 2023, of whic h 17% (44) were roa d tra ffic c ollisions. GWAAC rec eives no d a y- to- d a y fund ing from the Governm ent a nd relies on the sup p ort of the loc a l c om m unity to keep them flying . Philip p a Wa lker, sup p orter eng a g em ent c oord ina tor a t GWAAC, sa id : ?We a re so inc red ib ly p roud to ha ve the Phoenix Ba r a nd its friend s a s p a rt of the GWAAC fa m ily a nd c ong ra tula te them on rea c hing £10,000.? To find out m ore a b out GWAAC?s w ork in Portishea d a nd b eyond visitw w w .g w a a c .com

Birthday Parties

Cycling

Ballet

Thinking outside the box

Our own therapy dog

Cooking

JU ST SO M E O F T H E RE A SO N S W H Y P E O P L E C H O O SE T H E N U RSE RY

Drama

Mindfulness

Hair Cuts

Community Engagement

Our own mini 18 bus for excursions

Trips out

CHOOSING THE RIGHT NURSERY FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD The Nursery invites b a b y reg istra tions When it c om es to p a rents returning to work a fter ha ving a b a b y, feeling c onfid ent in your c hoic e of c hild c a re will help you feel m ore rela xed a b out g oing b a c k to work. At The Nursery we a lwa ys a im to g o a b ove a nd b eyond . We listen to a ny c onc erns p a rents ha ve, how they wa nt their c hild to b e c a red for a nd a c t a c c ord ing ly. We ha ve p lenty of exp erts a t The Nursery too a nd c a n help with lots of q uestions whether it?s a b out feed ing or sleep , g rowth or d evelop m ent, we a re here to help every step of the wa y throug h those first five yea rs. We a lso ha ve exp erts who c a n ta lk you

Pr om ot i on

throug h the new g overnm ent fund ing a nd how it c a n b e a p p lied to sessions a t The Nursery. We c urrently run free b a b y g roup s to g ive p a rents a nd their little ones a c ha nc e to c om e a long a nd m eet us. The g roup s a re a re op en to a ll, not just p otentia l nursery fa m ilies a nd inc lud e sensory p la y a nd a sing - a long . These istock.com : Evrymmnt inform a l sessions a re held b y q ua lified c hild c a re p rofessiona ls who c a n a nswer q uestions on a whole ra ng e of top ic s, or a re ha p p y to hold your b a b y while you ha ve a c up of tea or c offee a nd ta ke five m inutes out. Find out m ore a b out The Nursery a nd wha t we ha ve to offer b y em a iling m a na g er@thenursery.uk.com or ca ll us on 01275 402140.

B OA R D GA M E S

Heid i Loug hlin ta lks a b out exp loring the w orld und erw a ter Portishea d m um , a uthor, m otiva tiona l sp ea ker a nd insura nc e b roker, Heid i Loug hlin, ta lks a b out tra d itiona l fa m ily a c tivities tha t a re id ea l for keep ing the c hild ren oc c up ied d uring ha lf term !

Id ea l for those a g ed eig ht to a d ult a nd for two to five p la yers, this is a rea lly enjoya b le g a m e for everyb od y in the fa m ily.

BA T T L E SH I P S If you were a fa n of the rea lity version of Sq uid Ga m es a nd your kid s were a llowed to wa tc h, you?d ha ve witnessed a hug e sc a led - up version of this g a m e. You c a n g et elec tronic or non- elec tronic versions of the c la ssic ship - d estroying wa r c ra ft c ha lleng e a nd it c a n p rovid e hours of fun. I p refer the elec tronic a s it c om es with exp losive sound effec ts.

I?m a m a ssive fa n of b oa rd g a m es so this m onth I thoug ht tha t?s wha t I?d write a b out?the c lue?s in the title!

SPEA K OU T This is where you a ll p ut m outhp iec es in a nd try to sa y funny p hra ses. I ha ve to sa y I a b solutely ha te this g a m e. Not only is it unhyg ienic , d rooly a nd q uite d isg usting , it c a n a lso b e q uite p a inful for a d ult sized m ouths. It c a n b e funny, b ut the novelty wea rs off rea lly q uic kly.

My love for these fun a c tivities m ust ha ve rub b ed off on the kid s b ec a use even a fter a ll the stuff they g ot for Christm a s, they were very m uc h up for g etting out the sta c k of b oa rd g a m es we ha ve a nd sitting a round the ta b le for som e g ood old fa shioned fa m ily fun.

L A BYR I N T H Here?s m y ta ke on just a few of them . For a g es 7+ a nd for two to four p la yers, this is one of m y fa vourite g a m es to p la y with the kid s. It?s a q uest g a m e with ever m oving m a ze p iec es with the ob jec t of the g a m e b eing to g a ther a s m uc h trea sure a s p ossib le, c onsta nt sa b ota g e m a kes it so m uc h fun!

UNO A g rea t a nd ea sy c a rd g a m e to lea rn for two to 10 p la yers a g ed 7+. It?s very ea sy to p ic k up a nd c a n b e q uite c om p etitive a nd enterta ining with p la yers ta king turns to m a tc h a c a rd in their ha nd with the c a rd in p la y on the ta b le.

BA N K A T TA CK My 11- yea r- old a b solutely loves this. It?s 7+ a nd for two to four p la yers. As a tea m the ob jec tive is to b rea k the va ult, whic h you d o b y listening to c om m a nd s tha t b ec om e fa ster (think Bop it b ut a s a g roup ). You ea c h ha ve a sta ted role to p la y a nd you?re p la ying a g a inst the g a m e ra ther tha n a g a inst ea c h other whic h red uc es inter- fa m ily feud ing !

M ON OP OL Y DEA L This is not rea lly a nything like Monop oly a s it?s a c a rd g a m e b ut there is m oney, p rop erty a nd ta c t involved . It?s q uite fun a nd unlike the orig ina l b oa rd g a m e tha t c a n ta ke hours a nd hours, this c a n a c tua lly b e p la yed in a round 15 m inutes.

CL U E D O Who d oesn?t love a g a m e of Clued o? It?s a c la ssic m urd er m ystery g a m e for two to six p la yers where there a re six susp ec ts, c ountless c om b ina tions, b ut only one a nswer. Using a d ic e you m ove from room to room a nd p la y d etec tive to solve the m urd er - investig a ting , b luffing , a c c using a nd winning !

The g a m e fea tures 30 a c c ents from a round the world , inc lud ing hom e g rown British a c c ents ra ng ing from Sc ouse to Coc kney a nd you ha ve to rea d out q uotes from a c a rd in wha tever a c c ent it tells you to. The other p la yers ha ve to g uess the a c c ent.

T R I V IA L P U R SU I T FA M I L Y E DI T ION The Trivia l Pursuit fa m ily ed ition g a m e is q uic k- p la y trivia for two to four p la yers a g ed 8 a nd over. The fa m ily ed ition ha s two d ec ks of q uestion c a rd s, one d esig ned for c hild ren a nd one for a d ults, ea c h with six c a teg ories: g eog ra p hy; enterta inm ent; history; sp orts a nd leisure; a rts a nd litera ture a nd sc ienc e a nd na ture, ea c h c a teg ory ha ving a d ifferent c olour. The g oa l of the g a m e is to m ove a round the b oa rd c ollec ting a wed g e of ea c h c olour to fit in to your ?c heese?. You win when you a nswer q uestions c orrec tly.

You ca n find out m ore a bout Heidi

T H E B E ST OF K I D S?L OG O GA M E

in her blog Storm In A Tit Cup but it?s not for the fa int- hea rted

This is a g rea t a d d ition to the Log o series. All the q uestions a re very ea sy for the a d ults so it?s rea lly b est p la yed with two tea m s of young sters with a d ults sup ervising to help a long the wa y. My b oys were c onsta ntly a sking to p la y a nother g a m e of this, whic h is a lwa ys a rea lly g ood sig n. In short, it involves id entifying item s a nd b ra nd s tha t we?re a ll exp osed to every d a y. My b oys were so g ood a t it, it m a d e m e q uestion m y p a renting a t one p oint.

M ON OP OL Y T R AV E L This is a n a c tua l b oa rd g a m e a nd not one to ta ke on a p la ne or p la y in the c a r (a g a m e a b out tra vel ra ther tha n a g a m e to tra vel with). Ag a in, it?s not rea lly like the orig ina l Monop oly in the sense tha t it?s q uite q uic k for a sta rt a nd it ha s p la yers d isc overing a nd visiting exc iting d estina tions a round the world . You b uy up holid a y d estina tions a nd then c ha rg e p eop le to g o there. You a lso need to g et your p a ssp ort sta m p ed when you visit p la c es. It?s fun a nd a lso ed uc a tiona l a s in a d d ition to lea rning a b out p la c es a round the g lob e, it involves m oney a nd b ud g eting . Another p lus is there?s not a lot of sc op e for a rg uing with this g a m e b ec a use the d ic e is king .

A CCE N T UA T E This is a hila rious a nd sim p le g uess- the- a c c ent g a m e. It rea lly need s a t lea st four p eop le p la ying a nd it sa ys it?s for 12+ b ut I think 10- yea r- old s g et it so a nything from 10.

HEALTHY FEET Footwea r reta iler a nd fitting exp ert Ta nya Ma rriott exp la ins why ensuring c hild ren ha ve their feet m ea sured reg ula rly is a n essentia l a sp ec t of their overa ll hea lth a nd well- b eing

Footwea r is the only item of c lothing tha t, if fitted p oorly, c a n d a m a g e your hea lth - ill fitting shoes c a n a ffec t your entire p hysiolog y. Child ren's feet a re still g rowing a nd d evelop ing a nd not wea ring the c orrec t shoes c a n hind er their na tura l g rowth, so it?s im p orta nt you find a shoe tha t m eets the c hild 's need s a t ea c h sta g e of their d evelop m ent a nd ensure the rig ht m ix of a d justm ent, flexib ility, rep a ra b ility a nd fitness. Choose

struc ture a nd ea rly d etec tion a llows for tim ely intervention a nd a p p rop ria te footwea r c hoic es tha t c a n help a llevia te p otentia l issues.

istock.com : Kwanchaichailudom

The im p orta nc e of ha ving c hild ren?s feet m ea sured on a reg ula r b a sis g oes wa y b eyond m a king sure they c a n wa lk c om forta b ly in their footwea r.

shoes tha t sup p ort the na tura l g rowth a nd d evelop m ent of your c hild ?s feet. Certa in foot c ond itions, suc h a s fla t feet or hig h a rc hes, c a n a ffec t c hild ren's m ob ility a nd overa ll p osture. Reg ula r foot m ea surem ents c a n help id entify a ny irreg ula rities in their foot

22 22

I ha ve witnessed som e shoc king results of b a d ly fitting footwea r a nd I a m on a m ission, with m y sta ff, to ed uc a te c ustom ers to red uc e the risk of d a m a g e tha t c a n b e d one if p eop le wea r the wrong shoes for them . SoleLution is a n inc lusive store with d em entia friend ly a nd a utism a wa re sta ff, who a re fully tra ined to m ea sure feet a nd ensure shoes fit c orrec tly. Pa y us a visit, we look forwa rd to seeing you.

LOVE YOUR HIGH STREET Ma ke this a Va lentine?s d a y of love for loc a l b usinesses Whether you a re one for b ig rom a ntic g estures or a re a b ox of c hoc ola tes, b unc h of flowers a nd a c a rd typ e, Portishea d is p a c ked full of sm a ll b usinesses offering a wid e ra ng e of id ea l g ifts. Whether you wa nt to b ook a rom a ntic m ea l for two, b uy a g ift vouc her for a sp ec ia l trea t, c hoose a rom a ntic novel to rea d tog ether, or sig n up for a c oup les m a ssa g e, you d on?t need to g o fa r - you?ll find it a ll rig ht on your d oorstep , here in Portishea d .

istock.com : Jelena Stanojkovic

m a ll tra d ers in Portishea d a re urg ing resid ents to rem em b er to shop loc a lly when they b uy for loved ones this Va lentine?s Da y. Purc ha sing g ifts from your loc a l ind ep end ent b usinesses on sp ec ia l oc c a sions like this c a n g o a long wa y to sa feg ua rd ing the future of your loc a l ind ep end ent tra d ers.

If you?re p la nning on a q uiet nig ht in on 14th Feb rua ry, rem em b er there a re p lenty of ta kea wa ys willing to d eliver food to your d oor, g iving you m ore tim e to p a y a ttention to your loved one. A rec ent stud y sug g ests when p eop le shop in their loc a l c om m unities a round 70% of wha t you sp end sta ys rig ht here sup p orting the c om m unity. So lovely rea d ers ? p lea se sha re your love this Va lentine?s Da y a nd shop loc a l.

Ta kea wa y

Ta n d o o r i & Cu r r y, Fa st Fo o d & Per i Ho u se Qu a l i t y f o o d t o t a k e-away o r d el i v er ed r ig h t t o y o u r d o o r OPEN 4- 11p m 7 DAYS A WEEK - 364 d a ys a yea r ( c losed only on Christm a s Da y)

A l o c a l bu si n ess pl ea sed t o be ser v i n g t h e l o c a l c o mmu n i t y

VIEW OUR EXCITING FULL MEN U ON OUR WEBSITE

Tel : 01275 397400 Or d er o n l i n e at WWW.MASALA20.CO.UK No w a l so u si n g o r d er YOYO Ma sa la 20 - 110 Avon Wa y, Portishea d , BS20 6LT Stoc kists of ENJOY Portishea d ? p op in to sa y hello a nd p ic k up your free c op y

24Follow us on Fa c eb ook for the la test d ea ls, sp ec ia ls, c heeky d isc ounts a nd new d ishes

Posset

Bit es Take-it Away

Ma sa la

istock.com : JoeGough

Appleby?s Fish & Chips The long est sta nd ing ta kea wa y in Portishea d , Ap p leb y?s serves d elic ious fish a nd c hip s a long with a whole ra ng e of tra d itiona l c hip p ie food inc lud ing p ies a nd b a ttered sa usa g es. There

a re two Ap p leb y?s fish a nd c hip shop s, one on the Tria ng le a t West Hill a nd one in our Hig h Street. Owned a nd run b y a loc a l Portishea d fa m ily, if you?re looking for tra d itiona l fish a nd c hip sup p er, this is d efinitely worth c hec king out.

Toppinz

Masala

One of the m ost rec ently op ened ta kea wa ys is Top p inz on the form er site of the Corner Ca fé a t the end of the Hig h Street. Pizza s, b urg ers, BBQ wing s, wra p s a nd d esserts a re the ord er of the d a y, a ll of whic h c a n b e d elivered to your d oor. The c ookie d oug h is to d ie for!

Prid ing them selves on q ua lity food a nd exc ep tiona l c ustom er servic e, Ma sa la , in a d d ition to serving a uthentic Ind ia n food , offers everything from fried c hic ken, p eri p eri c hic ken a nd wra p s to g ourm et b urg ers a nd keb a b s, not to m ention sp ec ia l c hild ren?s m ea ls a nd sweet d esserts.

COM MU NI T Y NOT I CE BOA R D Sp onsored b y Wrig ht- Morg a n DANCE

PORTISHEA D PORTERS Volunteer drivers are needed to help transport people who struggle to get to and from one of our local hospitals for outpatient appointments. You can give as many or as few hours a month as you wish. All costs reimbursed

Folk Feet offers friendship, light exercise and fun with country dancing for all. North Weston Hall Tuesdays 9.30am - 11.30am Call Jill Elliot on 07515 904707 or email jillyelliot@gmail.com

To find out more call Sue on 07990624928

STROKE CLUB

TURN THE TIDE

Run by stroke survivors for stroke survivors and their carers, this is a friendly drop in coffee morning offering information and advice.

Turn The Tide Portishead is a group of volunteers dedicated to reducing the pollution of Portishead?s beaches and streets through regular litter picks and educational projects to reduce single use plastic. ?Big Cleans?happen on the last weekend of each month and anyone can join in.

Clarence House, High Street, Portishead On the first Friday of each month from 10.30am-12.30pm Contact Lori at

w w w.t u r n t h et idepor t ish ead.co.u k

lor r ain er ow sell@bt in t er n et .com or 01275 818492

TALK CLUB

BEREAVEM ENT SUPPORT GROUP

A friendly group aimed at helping men look after their mental health

Grief doesn?t stop after the funeral

Wednesdays 6.30-8.30pm

A space to talk, to just be, a space to share memories

The Beacon Hub

Portishead Methodist Church, High Street www.talkclub.org

2nd Tuesday of each month 2.30pm ? 4pm

FREE BABY GROUPS

RHYME TI ME

For t hose aged 9 mont hs+ and t heir carers Every Monday 10-11am Tea & coffee Fun, sensory play, advice, friendship Book your free place 01275 402140

Songs and stories for thoseage0-4 years. FreePortishead Library, Harbour Road Every Tuesday (termtime only) 9.30-10am& 10.30-11.30am

St Nicholas Church, Nore Road

Book via Eventbrite

If you ha ve inform a tion for the c om m unity notic eb oa rd em a il ed itor.enjoyp ortishea d @g m a il.c om

2nd Feb rua ry JOHN PRESCOTT Sing ing sensa tion John Presc ott m a kes his d eb ut a p p ea ra nc e a t The Phoenix Ba r in Vic toria Sq ua re a t a round 8.30p m . As well a s p erform ing a va riety of c la ssic fa vourites from the 60s, 70s & 80s a nd m usic a l thea tre song s, John ha s g a ined a rep uta tion a s one of the m ost exc iting versa tile ja zz sing ers to em erg e in the South West in rec ent yea rs. His sm ooth voc a ls enc om p a ss a wid e rep ertoire from the g rea t Am eric a n song b ook, with influenc es from a rtists suc h a s Fra nk Sina tra a nd m ore rec ently, Mic ha el Bub lé a nd Rob b ie Willia m s. The Phoenix Ba r is exc ited to b e welc om ing him .

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Events and activities happening in our town 14th Feb rua ry

15th Feb rua ry

TEA AND TECH

FREE FALLS PREVENTION DROP- IN EVENT

Free d ig ita l/ tec h a d vic e. Connec t with others over a c up of tea a nd slic e of c a ke. Just g o a long to the Folk Ha ll, 95 Hig h Street, Portishea d a t 11a m - 12.30p m . Monthly m eeting s like this will ta ke p la c e throug hout 2024. Find out m ore b y c a lling 01275 847078 or em a il c om m .@p ortishea d .g ov.uk

Don?t fa ll, wa lk ta ll ? this is a free d rop event from 12.30- 4p m a t the Folk Ha ll in Portishea d Hig h Street.

21st Feb rua ry

If you, or som eone you know, ha s ha d a fa ll or a nea r m iss rec ently where they've trip p ed or slip p ed ; if you?re a b it unstea d y on your feet or ha ve notic ed you've b een hold ing onto furniture to sup p ort yourself wa lking , this event c ould p rovid e som e interesting a d vic e a nd sup p ort for you. A fa ll c a n im p a c t p eop le's lives b y lim iting their m ob ility, restric ting their a c tivities, a s well a s living ind ep end ently a nd tha t's not g rea t! Just g o a long a nd c hec k out the inform a tion on offer.

PROBUS CLUB Portishea d Prob us Club (form erly Prob us73) will m eet a t Cla renc e House in Portishea d Hig h Street from noon for soc ia lising in the b a r. This will b e followed b y lunc h served a t 1p m . After lunc h there will b e a fa sc ina ting ta lk from Rod ney Gunner entitled : ?Sec rets of a Ma rket Tra d er - All Tha t Glitters?. This p rom ises to b e b oth interesting a n enterta ining a s Rod ney ha s b een involved in a m ultitud e of oc c up a tions d uring his very full life. To find out m ore a b out Portishea d Prob us Club c onta c t Ma tt Westley on 01275 269005. istock.com : Peopleimages

3rd Dec em b er

23rd Feb rua ry

LIVE JAZZ Ma rtin Da le with The Cra ig Milverton Trio p erform s a t the Sp ea kea sy Ja zz Club a t Cla renc e House in Portishea d Hig h Street from 8p m with d oors op ening a t 7p m . Ma rtin Da le is one of the finest sa xop hone p la yers in the c ountry. His versa tility, p a ssion a nd energ y show in his a b ility to p la y La tin, swing , b lues, m od ern, in fa c t a nything from Ba c h to b eb op a nd b a c k! He ha s b a c ked Neil Sed a ka , Petula Cla rk a nd Tom Jones. He is hea rd on Ra d io 2, Ra d io 3 a nd Ja zz FM, a nd p la ys a t UK ja zz festiva ls, a s well a s Ronnie Sc ott?s, Pizza Exp ress a nd the Conc ord e Club . He d elivers a m ellow, sup er- sua ve selec tion of sta nd a rd s in a d d ition to full on, stra ig ht d own the line swing , p resented with d rive a nd energ y. Sp ea kea sy is thrilled to welc om e Ma rtin for a n evening of c ool, c la ssy ja zz. Ad m ission is £20 a nd no m em b ership req uired . For a d va nc ed tic ket sa les c a ll Ka te Sherid a n 01275 848391 or em a il ka tesp ea kea sy@hotm a il.c o.uk

25th Feb rua ry

BIG CLEAN Join Turn the Tid e, Portishea d 's tea m of enthusia stic volunteers a t their m onthly Portishea d Big Clea n. Meet outsid e the Ca fe Lid o on the sea front a t the La ke Ground s a t 10.30a m . Wea r strong g loves a nd p lea se ta ke a litter- p ic ker if you ha ve one a nd a b a g in whic h to p ut a ll the rub b ish you c ollec t. Everyone is welc om e. Further inform a tion c a n b e found a t www.turnthetid ep ortishea d .c o.uk

25th Feb rua ry Portishea d Op en Air Pool, 9.30 - 11.00a m Com e a nd lea rn a ll a b out c old - wa ter swim m ing ? why it m a y b e of use to you, how to d o it sa fely, wha t ha p p ens to you when you d o it, a nd how/ why you m ig ht keep swim m ing outd oors a ll throug h the winter. Then b eg in your c old - wa ter exp erienc e in the sa fe environm ent of this stunning lifeg ua rd ed outd oor p ool! The session will b e run b y loc a l exp erts Em m a Pusill a nd Alec Ric ha rd son. After the session you c a n c ontinue to enjoy the a tm osp here of the p ool with its lively a nd enthusia stic c old wa ter swim m ing c om m unity, either p oolsid e or in the on- site c a fe, with views a c ross the Bristol Cha nnel. For full d eta ils a nd tic ket inform a tion visit http s:/ / w w w .eventb rite.c o.uk/

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7th - 9th Ma rch

SH R EK Join Portishea d Young Pla yers onc e up on a tim e, in a fa r a wa y swa m p for this hila rious fa m ily m usic a l sp ec ta c ula r, b a sed on the Osc a r- winning sm a sh hit film . It's a "b ig b rig ht b ea utiful world " a s everyone's fa vourite og re, Shrek, lea d s a c a st of fa iryta le m isfits on a n a d venture to resc ue a p rinc ess a nd find true a c c ep ta nc e. Pa rt rom a nc e a nd p a rt twisted fa iry ta le, Shrek JR is a n irreverently fun show with a p owerful m essa g e for the whole fa m ily. Perform a nc es ta ke p la c e a t Som erset Ha ll in Portishea d Hig h Street with shows sta rting a t 7.30p m on Thursd a y a nd Frid a y a nd shows a t 1p m a nd 6p m on the Sa turd a y. Doors op en 30 m inutes b efore c urta in up . The b ox offic e will b e op en from 1st Feb rua ry for Portishea d Pla yers Mem b ers a nd from 5th Feb rua ry for non- m em b ers. Tic kets c ost £12 for a d ults a nd £8 for c hild ren (und er 18). Telep hone 0333 666 3366 or b ook online via www.tic ketsourc e.c o.uk/ p ortishea d p la yers (a sm a ll c ha rg e is m a d e for online a nd telep hone b ooking s). Tic kets c a n a lso b e p urc ha sed from Nortec h Com p uters a t 10 Hig h Street. For further d eta ils a nd to keep up - to- d a te w ith the Portishea d Pla yers visit w w w .p ortishea d - p la yers.org .uk

27th Ma rc h

AN EVENING WITH JONATHAN MOSELEY Portishea d Flora l Art Soc iety p resents a n evening

CONTACT US If you ha ve a n event you would like to see p rom oted in our Da tes For Your Dia ry p a g es p lea se em a il the d eta ils to: ed itor.enjoyp ortishea d @g m a il.c om

with na tiona l d em onstra tor Jona tha n Moseley. A p rofessiona l florist for m ore tha n 27 yea rs, Jona tha n is known a s one of the lea d ing flora l d esig ners. He is g ua ra nteed to thrill his a ud ienc e with his a m a zing d isp la ys d elivered with sp eed , effic ienc y a nd enterta inm ent. This event wa s orig ina lly sc hed uled for Novem b er a nd tic kets p urc ha sed for tha t d a te will b e va lid . Further tic kets for the event whic h ta kes p la c e a t Som erset Ha ll in Portishea d Hig h Street, sta rting a t 7.15p m , a re a va ila b le p ric ed £20. Ca ll Na ncy on 07968348116 or Alison on 01275 845322, for tickets or m ore inform a tion.

H A PP Y VA L E N T I N E 'S DAY! Sha ring the love ? orig ins, rom a ntic g estures a nd d elic ious rec ip es

istock.com : Macniak

SI N G L E ? Va lentine's Da y c a n b e a c ha lleng ing tim e for those who a re sing le, b ut it d oesn't ha ve to b e a d a y of loneliness or d esp a ir. You c a n sp rea d love a nd p ositivity b y p erform ing ra nd om a c ts of kind ness ? you will feel g ood d oing it a nd it will m a ke those on the rec eiving end feel g ood too.

There a re m a ny other g rea t wa ys to enjoy Va lentine's Da y when you a re sing le - c onc entra te on self- love - ta king som e tim e out to ind ulg e in a c tivities tha t b ring you joy a nd m a ke you feel g ood a b out yourself. Or why not foc us on friend ship s a nd fa m ily? Rem em b er to tell p eop le c lose to you how Over tim e, St Va lentine b ec a m e a ssoc ia ted with love m uc h you va lue them a nd rom a nc e a nd his fea st d a y b ec a m e a d a y to a nd p erha p s d o exp ress a ffec tion to loved ones. som ething nic e for them ? c ook a m ea l or Va lentine's Da y g a ined p op ula rity in Eng la nd d uring b uy a sm a ll g ift. the 17th c entury, when it b ec a m e c om m on for Alterna tively you c ould friend s a nd lovers to exc ha ng e sm a ll tokens of p la n a sing les a ffec tion or ha nd written notes c a lled "va lentines." g a thering , These va lentines were often d ec ora ted with la c e, surround ing yourself rib b ons, a nd im a g es of Cup id , the Rom a n g od of with friend s who a re love. a lso sing le for a m ea l, Tod a y, Va lentine's Da y ha s evolved into a g lob a l m ovie nig ht or g ood 30 c eleb ra tion of love. It is a d a y when p eop le exp ress old p a rty.

There a re m a ny leg end s surround ing the orig in of St Va lentine's Da y. One p op ula r leg end is tha t St Va lentine wa s a p riest who lived in Rom e d uring the reig n of Em p eror Cla ud ius II. Cla ud ius b elieved tha t m a rried m en m a d e p oor sold iers, so he outla wed m a rria g e for young m en a nd St Va lentine, rea lising the injustic e of this d ec ree, c ontinued to p erform m a rria g es in sec ret. Another leg end sug g ests tha t St Va lentine wa s im p risoned for help ing Christia ns esc a p e ha rsh Rom a n p risons a nd while in p rison, he fell in love with the ja iler's d a ug hter a nd sent her a love letter sig ned "From your Va lentine" b efore his exec ution.

: Ro happ

Va lentine's Da y, c eleb ra ted every yea r on Feb rua ry 14th, is a d a y d ed ic a ted to love.

their love a nd a ffec tion for their p a rtners, friend s, a nd fa m ily m em b ers throug h g ifts, flowers, c hoc ola tes, a nd hea rtfelt m essa g es.

isto ck.c om

OR IG I N S

ROM A N T IC G E ST U R E S Va lentine's Da y p rovid es the p erfec t op p ortunity to show kind ness a nd m a ke som eone feel sp ec ia l. Here a re som e nic e g estures to c onsid er:

Brea kfa st In Bed Sta rt the d a y well b y d elivering b rea kfa st in b ed to your loved one.

Surp rise Delivery Whether it?s a b ouq uet of flowers, a b ox of c hoc ola tes, or a thoug htful g ift tha t reflec ts their interests or p a ssions, everyone loves a surp rise d elivery!

Send A Ca rd

istock.com : Sacura14

DI N N E R F OR T WO Quic k a nd sim p le rec ip es to im p ress your loved ones

Pra wns a nd Red Pep p ers with Sa ffron Ma yo

In these d a ys of e- c a rd s there is som ething sp ec ia l a b out a b rig ht red envelop e la nd ing on your m a t.

Ha nd written Note In this d ig ita l a g e, rec eiving a ha nd written note is a hea rtfelt a nd m ea ning ful g esture. Ta ke the tim e to write a sinc ere a nd p ersona lised m essa g e to som eone you c a re a b out.

Qua lity Tim e Som etim es the b est g ift we c a n g ive is our tim e a nd und ivid ed a ttention. Show your loved one they a re a p riority in your life b y d ed ic a ting uninterrup ted tim e to them . Rem em b er, the m ost im p orta nt a sp ec ts of a ny Va lentine?s Da y g estures a re the thoug ht a nd effort b ehind them . Ta ilor your g estures to the p referenc es a nd interests of the p erson you a re d oing them for, a nd let them know tha t they a re va lued a nd loved . Va lentine's Da y is not just a b out rom a ntic love, b ut a lso a b out sp rea d ing love a nd kind ness to a ll those a round us.

Ing red ients: 4 slic es c ia b a tta , 4 tsp olive oil, 1g a rlic c love, ha lved , 90g p a c k c ooked stir- fry king p ra wns, 100g roa sted red p ep p ers, d ra ined a nd slic ed into thin strip s, 1tb sp lem on juic e, 1tb sp finely c hop p ed p a rsley lea ves, p inc h of sa ffron (4- 5 threa d s), 40g m a yonna ise. Method : Hea t a g rid d le p a n over a hig h hea t. Brush b oth sid es of the c ia b a tta slic es with 1tsp of the olive oil a nd toa st in the p a n, turning , until g old en. Rub one sid e of ea c h slic e with the c ut sid e of the g a rlic c love. Mix the p ra wns with the p ep p ers, lem on juic e, p a rsley lea ves, the rem a ining olive oil a nd som e sea soning . Put the sa ffron in a sm a ll, hea tp roof b owl a nd p our over 1tb sp b oiling wa ter. Stir, then lea ve to infuse for 2 m ins, stirring often. Ad d the m a yo a nd m ix well. Serve the p ra wns a nd p ep p ers with a sp oonful of sa ffron m a yonna ise a nd slic es of toa sted c ia b a tta .

Choc ola te Covered Stra wb erries Ing red ients: Fresh stra wb erries, c hoc ola te c hip s (d a rk, m ilk, or white), sp rinkles (op tiona l). Method : Melt the c hoc ola te in a m ic rowa ve- sa fe b owl. Dip ea c h stra wb erry into the m elted c hoc ola te a nd p la c e on a p a rc hm ent- lined b a king sheet. If d esired , sp rinkle with top p ing s. Refrig era te until the c hoc ola te sets.

V a lent ine's D ay Co c k t ail Com b ine c ra nb erry juic e, vod ka , ra sp b erries a nd Prosec c o to m a ke this rub y- red c oc kta il. If rom a nc e is in the a ir, it's the p erfec t tip p le. Rem em b er, the key ing red ient in these rec ip es is love! Enjoy p rep a ring these d elic ious d ishes for your Va lentine's Da y c eleb ra tion. istock.com : Gpoint studio

By Liv, m a na g er a t Ma x Minerva ?s Bookshop in Portishea d Hig h Street

Who d oesn?t love a g ood rom a nc e? The nerves, the flirting , the trop es, the ha p p ily- ever- a fter tha t we a ll know is c om ing b ut look forwa rd to a nywa y. We, a t Ma x Minerva ?s, a re b esotted with the g enre a nd a re d elig hted to b e hosting the sec ond a nnua l Portishea d Rom a nc e Festiva l! Join us on Wed 7th for a Rom a nc e Writing Workshop , or on Sa turd a y 10th for a d oub le- a c t event with rom a nc e m a sterm ind s Jill Ma nsell a nd Luc y Dia m ond .

Th e Wed d i n g o f t h e Year

I Remember Par i s

Ji l l M an sel l

Lu c y Di amo n d Love, friend ship a nd sec rets a re revea led a s the sun b ea ts d own on the Cornish c oa stline. Lottie is trying to g et over Ma x; Rub y d isc overs her husb a nd ?s terrib le sec ret a nd Freya just d oesn?t love Ca m eron - whic h is a p rob lem c onsid ering she?s on her wa y to m a rry him . Cha os a nd c a la m ity unfold a s the friend s fig ht for their own ha p p y- ever- a fters.

A g lorious ta le of sec ond - c ha nc es, unlikely friend ship s a nd self- love. Jess feels like her life ha s sta lled , so when she is offered a sum m er writing job in Pa ris she jum p s a t the c ha nc e. Her sub jec t is the m ysterious Ad ela id e Fox a nd tog ether they d elve throug h their lives of intrig ue, sc a nd a l, d oom ed rom a nc e, a nd p ossib le new loves . . .

Wed n esd ay 7t h Feb - 6.30pm, M ax M i n er va?s Bo o k sh o p, Po r t i sh ead Are you a b ud d ing writer? Do you long to m a ke your rea d ers fa ll in love with your work? Dr Jo Pa rsons, c rea tive writing lec turer a t Fa lm outh University, will b e tea c hing us how to turn our c rea tive m ind s to the world of rom a nc e. Whether you write feel- g ood - rom a nc e, or som ething a little m ore Jilly Coop er, then there is a sp ot for you!

Sat u r d ay 10t h Feb - 7pm, M ax M i n er va?s Bo o k sh o p, Po r t i sh ead Jill Ma nsell a nd Luc y Dia m ond d isc uss their newest rom a nc e b ooks, The Wed d ing of the Yea r a nd I Rem em b er Pa ris. Swooning , sec ond - c ha nc es, b etra ya ls a nd b utterflies a b ound in these hea rt wa rm ing a nd thoug htful rea d s.

Tic kets a va ila b le a t www.m a xm inerva s.c o.uk or in store 32

istock.com : gadost

L OV E I S I N T H E A I R

WHICH HOLIDAY SUITS YOU? From honeym oons a nd wed d ing s to c ruises a nd fa m ily holid a ys your own p ersona l Tra vel Counsellor c a n m a ke it ha p p en! Hi, I?m Ella Pric e a nd I?m a Tra vel Counsellor. I a m p a ssiona te a b out m a king every elem ent of your tra vel exp erienc e c om p letely p ersona l to you a nd I?m here to ensure it runs sm oothly from b eg inning to end , m a king sure your holid a y is everything you d rea m ed it would b e. This m onth I thoug ht we?d ta ke a look a t the Ma ld ives. When you seek the ultim a te rela xa tion a nd ind ulg enc e, look no further tha n the exq uisite a ll- inc lusive resort, Ozen Life Ma a d hoo in the Ma ld ives. Pa rt of a hom e- g rown Ind ia n Oc ea n b ra nd tha t rem a ins c lose to its roots b y offering a uthentic loc a l exp erienc es, d esig n a nd c uisine, it sta nd s out for its fa nta stic - va lue Ind ulg enc e Pla n tha t p rom ises ?no surp rises, no shoc ks, or hid d en c osts'. Nestled on its own p riva te isla nd of Ma a d hoo in the Ba a Atoll UNESCO Biosp here Reserve, this luxurious five- sta r esc a p e red efines b a refoot luxury with its ha rm onious zen d esig n a esthetic a nd exc ep tiona l a m enities. The Ind ulg enc e Pla n em b ra c es non- m otorised wa ter sp orts, a sunset c ruise, a sunset fishing trip , unlim ited snorkelling outing s a nd even inc lusive sp a trea tm ents or d ives, d eterm ined b y your leng th of sta y ? for six to eig ht nig hts it?s two 60- m inute thera p ies or two d ives. Tha t?s in a d d ition to a ll- inc lusive d ining a nd d rinking in five resta ura nts a nd three b a rs (one a g in b a r with ra re b ra nd s), inc lud ing p rem ium c ha m p a g ne a nd fine wines a nd d a ily rep lenished m ini b a rs. But of a ll the a m a zing resta ura nts, it?s m ost fa m ous for its M6M (Minus Six Meters) und erwa ter resta ura nt serving

d elic ious sea food a nd wine p a iring s six m etres b elow the wa ter?s surfa c e surround ed b y exotic m a rine life. This is a resort for a ll a g es a nd ta stes, inc lud ing those who love to g et a c tive a nd try new thing s like ka ya king , p a d d le b oa rd ing , wind surfing , wa terskiing , wa keb oa rd ing , b a na na - b oa t rid ing a nd fly- b oa rd ing . There?s fa b ulous snorkelling rig ht from the b ea c h, a s well a s c om p lim enta ry twic e- d a ily trip s to nea rb y snorkelling sites to swim nea r nurse sha rks, sting ra ys a nd sea turtles. For d ivers, the PADI d ive sc hool a nd wa ter sp orts c entre runs trip s to inc red ib le d ive loc a tions to see m a nta ra ys, wha le sha rks, a nd ship wrec ks. Other fa c ilities here inc lud e a n overwa ter g ym a nd a flood lit tennis c ourt a nd if you ha ve c hild ren, there?s a g em of a kid s?c lub . There?s p lenty to enterta in them while you ind ulg e in the sp a with its 100% org a nic trea tm ents. And this is just the tip of the ic eb erg ! To b ook your a ll- inc lusive Ma ld ives holid a y or a ny other holid a y tha t suits you, p lea se g et in touc h, I will b e ha p p y to help . Em a il: ella .p rice@tra velcounsellors.com Tel: 07823 407620 FB Ella Price ? Tra vel Counsellor Insta thetra velg uruella

A selection of local professionals on hand to help you look and feel your very best

istock.com : Julie f514

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istock.com : sorn340

HEALTH & BEAUTY

he b ea uty a nd wellness m a rket a p p ea rs to b e evolving a s m ore a nd m ore p eop le rea lise it?s not a c tua lly self ind ulg ent to look a nd feel g ood , it?s a nec essity. Looking a nd feeling g ood is a b out find ing a b a la nc e b etween p hysic a l hea lth, ha ir a nd skinc a re, m enta l well- b eing a nd self- a c c ep ta nc e a nd you d on?t ha ve to g o it a lone. There a re so m a ny p rofessiona ls on ha nd rig ht on your d oorstep who c a n?t wa it to help you b eg in your journey to a b etter you. From fitness c la sses a nd p ersona l tra ining to

nutrition a d vic e a nd rela xa tion tec hniq ues; from skinc a re a nd new ha irstyles to a ra ng e of a esthetic s, wha tever it ta kes to m a ke you feel your very b est, Portishea d ha s p lenty of exp erts to c hoose from to help you on your wa y.

istock.com : Dmytro Buianskyi

Fe at u r e

LIVING WITH ARTHRITIS Free workshop s to help p eop le m a na g e this c ond ition istock.com : People Images

Living with a rthritis c a n b e c ha lleng ing a nd c a rrying out everyd a y ta sks c a n som etim es b e d iffic ult. However, sup p ort is a va ila b le a nd there a re m a ny thing s you c a n d o to help you to m a na g e the c ond ition. Versus Arthritis is a c om m unity tha t p rovid es sup p ort for p eop le living with a rthritis a c ross the UK a nd a s p a rt of its work it org a nises free workshop s to help sufferers. A num b er of b ite- sized self- m a na g em ent workshop s rela ted to living with a rthritis a re running a t the Folk Ha ll in Portishea d Hig h Street over the c om ing m onths. These workshop s will c over a ra ng e of issues fa c ed b y p eop le living with a rthritis inc lud ing fa tig ue, p a in, sleep issues a nd fib rom ya lg ia . The sessions will b e d elivered in sm a ll g roup s where you?ll m eet other p eop le fa c ing sim ila r issues a nd will sp end a c oup le of hours exp loring wa ys to m a na g e sym p tom s.

the web site a s sp a c es a re lim ited . BITE- SIZED WORKSHOPS Ma na g ing Sleep : Frid a y 2nd Feb rua ry Ma na g ing Fa tig ue: Frid a y 9th Feb rua ry Fib rom ya lg ia : Frid a y 16th Feb rua ry Reg ister now a t www.versusa rthritis.org / in- your- a rea /

The workshop s this m onth a ll run from 1.30- 3.30p m a nd a re free, b ut you need to b ook in a d va nc e via

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HAIR TRENDS FOR 2024 By Sim one Willia m s c o- owner of Tonic Ha ir a nd Bea uty House

s we hea d further in to the New Yea r I thoug ht we?d ta ke a look a t ha ir trend p red ic tions for 2024.

Ha ir styles c a n b e influenc ed b y everything from A- list c eleb rities to soc ia l m ed ia a nd ha ir ind ustry innova tions, they a lso tend to b e c yc lic a l, with m a ny styles c om ing a round every so m a ny yea rs, even if it is with a new twist. Som e of the trend s p red ic ted this yea r inc lud e volum ising la yers. There?s a b ig foc us on velvet ha ir - d eep , ric h, tona l a nd hea lthy shiny loc ks - from a p ric ot red to c op p ers a nd fiery red s a nd a lso m a p le b utter b lond es. The b ob m a kes a rea p p ea ra nc e this yea r too - a slic ked - b a c k b ob c rea ted with the help of a strong - hold styling p rod uc t a nd the b a roq ue b ob c ha ra c terised b y its volum inous, a sym m etric a l sha p e, a g rea t op tion for those with na tura l c urls a ll worn sleek wa vy or round ed som ething for everyone. The b ea uty with ha ir is tha t you c a n c ha ng e your style reg ula rly to suit the sea son, your m ood a nd even the oc c a sion a nd tea m Tonic is here to help you d ec id e the b est style for you. Whether you wa nt a trea t for Va lentine?s Da y, a new you for 2024 or just fa nc y a little m ore vib ra nc y, m a ke a n a p p ointm ent tod a y, we?d love help !

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REVOLUTIONIZING SMILES The d a wn of d ig ita l d entures a t Lim e Tree Denta l Pra c tic e istock.com : Jian Fan

In the hea rt of our c om m unity, b ehind the welc om ing d oors of Lim e Tree Denta l Pra c tic e, Dr La c ie Bowen is tra nsform ing sm iles a nd restoring p a tient c onfid enc e with the a id of d ig ita l d entistry. Wea ring d entures c a n m a rk a sig nific a nt life- c ha ng e for som e, whilst wea ring unc om forta b le a nd p oorly fitting d entures c a n neg a tively a ffec t a p erson?s q ua lity of life. In a ll situa tions, it c a n b e a d eep ly p ersona l a nd em otiona l journey. Dr La c ie Bowen BDS BSc Fd Sc c a n c om b ine her exp ertise a s a d entist, with the skills d evelop ed throug hout her c a reer a s a d enta l tec hnic ia n, to p rovid e p a tients with d entures tha t a re c om forta b le, func tiona l a nd b lend na tura lly to c rea te a sm ile tha t m a tc hes the ind ivid ua l.

At Lim e Tree Denta l Pra c tic e, p utting p a tients a t the c entre of their d enta l journey is p a ra m ount. For this rea son, the first step towa rd s c rea ting a new set of d entures is to ha ve a n in- d ep th c onsulta tion with Dr Bowen. This tim e is sp ent d isc ussing a ll a sp ec ts of the p a tients?need s, und ersta nd ing ind ivid ua l p referenc es a nd ta iloring trea tm ent p la ns to ensure tha t ea c h tra nsform a tion is a c olla b ora tive a nd sa tisfying exp erienc e. Ad va nc em ents in tec hnolog y, suc h a s d ig ita l sc a nning a nd 3D p rinting , ha ve ushered in a new era for d entures. Whilst tra d itiona l m ethod s see p a tients returning to the d entist for m ultip le a p p ointm ents a nd need ing m ould s to b e ta ken, d ig ita l d entures req uire a s few a s two a p p ointm ents a nd no m ould s. Instea d , a 3D sc a n of the teeth is ta ken a nd the d entures c a n b e g iven to the p a tient on the sec ond visit. Tha t?s it! This m ethod c a n c rea te d entures with a b etter fit a nd a m ore na tura l a p p ea ra nc e d ue to the a c c ura c y of the 3D sc a n. Whether it?s enjoying a fa vourite m ea l, sp ea king with c la rity, or sm iling without hesita tion, d entures tha t a re c ra fted with suc h p rec ision c a n restore not only the a p p ea ra nc e b ut a lso the p ra c tic a l a sp ec ts of life tha t m a y ha ve b een c om p rom ised b y tooth loss. Dr Bowen c a n p rovid e a ll form s of d entures to suit a ny ind ivid ua ls?need s inc lud ing d ig ita l, m eta l fra m ework, flexib le a nd tra d itiona l a c rylic . If you would like to know m ore a b out how Dr Bowen c a n help you, p lea se c a ll 01275 840234 or visit 38 www.lim etreed enta l.c o.uk

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UND ERSTAND ING AND PREVENTING BURNOUT By c og nitive hyp nothera p ist a nd c ounseller Trina Ga zza rd

In tod a y?s fa st- p a c ed world , b urnout ha s b ec om e a n inc rea sing ly p reva lent issue a ffec ting ind ivid ua ls a c ross va rious p rofessions a nd wa lks of life. Burnout is m ore tha n just feeling tired or stressed ; it?s a sta te of c hronic p hysic a l a nd em otiona l exha ustion, often a c c om p a nied b y feeling s of c ynic ism a nd d eta c hm ent. Clients I see who a re exp erienc ing b urnout often d isp la y c ha ng es in sleep p a tterns, heig htened a nxiety a nd a d im inished sense of a c c om p lishm ent.

5. Seeking Sup p ort Rem em b er the im p orta nc e of seeking sup p ort from friend s, fa m ily, thera p ists or c ollea g ues. Build ing a strong sup p ort network c a n p rovid e em otiona l relief a nd p revent the isola tion often a ssoc ia ted with b urnout.

Und ersta nd ing the root c a uses of b urnout is essentia l. Hig h work d em a nd s, la c k of c ontrol, insuffic ient rec og nition a nd a p oor work- life b a la nc e a re c om m on c ontrib utors. Thera p y c a n help you to exp lore these fa c tors, fostering self- a wa reness a nd enc oura g ing p roa c tive m ea sures. Here a re five wa ys to help p revent b urnout:

1. Self- Ca re Pra ctices Prioritise self- c a re, em p ha sising a c tivities tha t b ring joy a nd rela xa tion. Whether it?s m ed ita tion, exerc ise, or sp end ing tim e with loved ones, self- c a re is a n a ntid ote to b urnout.

2. Setting Bound a ries Esta b lish c lea r b ound a ries b etween work a nd p ersona l life. Lea rning to sa y no when nec essa ry a nd c rea ting a b a la nc e b etween resp onsib ilities is c ruc ia l in p reventing b urnout.

3. Mind fulness a nd Stress Red uction Introd uc e m ind fulness tec hniq ues to help m a na g e stress. Mind fulness exerc ises, d eep - b rea thing tec hniq ues a nd p rog ressive m usc le rela xa tion c a n b e p owerful tools in red uc ing the im p a c t of stressors.

4. Goa l Setting a nd Prioritisa tion

Ad d ressing b urnout involves a c om p rehensive a p p roa c h tha t inc lud es self- a wa reness, stress m a na g em ent a nd fostering a hea lthy work- life b a la nc e. I eq uip m y c lients with tools to help them p revent b urnout a nd c ontrib ute to their overa ll well- b eing , na vig a ting the c ha lleng es of tod a y?s d em a nd ing world . My q ua lific a tions a nd exp erienc e a llow m e to c om b ine c ounselling , hyp nothera p y a nd Neuro- ling uistic p rog ra m m ing ( NLP) to c rea te a hig hly effec tive a p p roa c h ta ilored to ea c h ind ivid ua l c lient I see. If you a re looking for help a nd sup p ort reg a rd ing b urnout or a ny other issues ra ng ing from weig ht loss a nd ha b it b rea king to overc om ing fea rs p lea se g et in touc h. Mob ile: 07872 925289 Tel: 01275 316655 Em a il: trina .g a zza rd @sky.c om w w w .trina g a zza rd .c o.uk

Set rea listic g oa ls a nd p riorities. Brea k d own la rg er ta sks into m a na g ea b le step s a nd foc us on wha t truly m a tters to a void feeling overwhelm ed .

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PA E DIA T R IC A CU P U N CT U R E How b a b ies, c hild ren a nd young p eop le c a n b enefit from this g entle a lterna tive trea tm ent ? with or without need les. By Wa lnut Grove?s Lib erty Stevenson

istock.com : Lludmila Cherne tska

t ha s b ec om e inc rea sing ly c om m on for p eop le to seek a lterna tive m ed ic ines to im p rove the hea lth a nd wellb eing of them selves a nd their loved ones.

1. It trea ts the w hole p erson, not only the sym p tom s

If you a re looking for na tura l a lterna tives to b enefit your c hild ?s hea lth, p a ed ia tric a c up unc ture is worth c onsid ering . It is a g entle, sa fe a nd effec tive wa y to trea t b a b ies, c hild ren a nd young p eop le for a wid e ra ng e of c ond itions with a m a zing results.

This is esp ec ia lly useful when trea ting c hild ren who find it m ore d iffic ult to verb a lise wha t is g oing on a nd instea d exp ress d isha rm ony in m ore p hysic a l wa ys. Dia g nosis involves ob serving m a ny sig ns tha t ha ve releva nc e to hea lth from the eyes a nd tong ue to c om p lexion, p ulse a nd sta ture.

Qua lified a nd exp erienc ed in p a ed ia tric a c up unc ture, m y toolb ox is filled with p lenty of g entle need le- free tec hniq ues inc lud ing m oxa , c up p ing , shonishin, tuina a nd a c up ressure. There is a tec hniq ue to suit every c hild ?s p referenc e, with the op tion to ha ve need les or not a nd trea tm ent is a lwa ys p rovid ed in a c a lm a nd c om forta b le sp a c e.

The m ost c om m on c om p la ints we see in c linic inc lud e d ig estive issues inc lud ing c olic , c onstip a tion, d ia rrhoea a nd na usea ; em otiona l c ha lleng es like a nxiety, d ep ression, insom nia a nd issues a ssoc ia ted with ADHD a nd ADD; p a in - from hea d a c hes a nd tum m y a c hes to m usc ula r- skeleta l issues. Other c om p la ints inc lud e a sthm a , a llerg ies, b ed wetting , ea r infec tions, ec zem a , fevers a nd freq uent c oug hs a nd c old s.

Ac up unc ture is a holistic thera p y tha t d ra ws up on 3000 yea rs of a nc ient Chinese m ed ic ine knowled g e. Stim ula tion is a p p lied to c erta in p oints to restore a nd reg ula te the b od y?s func tions, a llowing the b od y to rela x into a self- hea ling sta te where it c a n foc us on rec overy a nd g rowth.

2. Minim a l trea tm ent a nd no need le op tions Child ren tend to resp ond q uic kly therefore often a shorter c ourse of trea tm ent is need ed tha n with a d ults. Bec a use c hild ren a re very sensitive, m inim a l trea tm ent is req uired . Very fine need les c a n b e used if the c hild is in a g reem ent, however we ha ve p lenty of no- need le tec hniq ues tha t a re eq ua lly a s effec tive a s tra d itiona l a c up unc ture

Chinese m ed ic ine views c hild ren a s esp ec ia lly ?ya ng ? in na ture. They need nourishm ent a nd c a re to d evelop their m ore im m a ture ?yin?. In sim p le term s, trea tm ent help s b a la nc e out the energ ies of yin a nd ya ng in the b od y. Here a re five rea sons why a c up unc ture c a n b enefit young p eop le

3. Sa fe a nd effective Ac up unc ture is a sa fe thera p y with little sid e effec ts a nd is well tolera ted b y c hild ren. The inc id enc e of a d verse effec ts is sub sta ntia lly lower tha n tha t of m a ny d rug s or other a c c ep ted p roc ed ures for the sa m e c ond itions. Ac up unc ture c a n b e used a long sid e c onventiona l trea tm ent to sup p ort rec overy a nd p eop le often seek out trea tm ent to ea se the sid e effec ts of p ha rm a c eutic a ls.

If you a re wond ering whether a c up unc ture or other Chinese Med ic ine tec hniq ues c ould b enefit your b a b y, c hild or teen, p lea se c onta c t with us to find out m ore. Book in on a Mond a y or Thursd a y for a n initia l c onsulta tion when I will b e ha p p y to d isc uss your sp ec ific need s

4. Suita b le for a ll a g es Pa ed ia tric a c up unc ture is suita b le for a ll a g es, from newb orns rig ht up to la te teena g e yea rs. Trea tm ent ta kes p la c e wherever the p a tient is m ost c om forta b le, whether rela xing on the trea tm ent c ouc h, on the la p of a p a rent or p la ying with toys on the floor. We d o not exp ec t or need a c hild to sit still for long p eriod s of tim e!

5. Techniq ues for a t hom e All trea tm ents a re c a rried out b y a sp ec ia lised p a ed ia tric a c up unc turist, however, there a re tec hniq ues p a rents a nd c a reg ivers c a n lea rn to p erform . Pa rents c a n a lso ta ke hom e c ustom ised d ieta ry a nd lifestyle a d vic e to help sup p ort the d evelop m ent of a c hild b etween trea tm ents.

Pr om ot i on

ANGELA

SARAH

Clarence House, Portishead

RUTH

Mizzymead Recreation Centre, Nailsea Tues 7.30am & 9.30am 2nd Scout Hut, Clevedon (Behind the Christadelphian Church) Wed 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7pm St Andrews Church Hall Old Church Road, Clevedon Fri 8am & 9.30am

Clarence House, Portishead

07800 884969

Tues 10am 2nd Scout Hut, Clevedon (Behind the Christadelphian Church) Wed 10am

07907713363

Thurs 9.45, 5pm & 6.30pm Fri 9.30am

ELAINE

Sat 7am, 8.30 & 10am

The Salvation Army, Pill

07481 905120

Wed 6.30pm & 7.30pm Mizzymead Recreation Centre, Nailsea

JUDITH

Mon 6.30pm

Clarence House, Portishead

07895 608135

Tues 5.30pm & 7pm

07843056953

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WEIGHT LOSSAND DIABETES MANAGEMENT Kela yne lost 11st 2 ½ lb s a nd reversed her typ e two d ia b etes with the help of Slim m ing World Kela yne lost m ore tha n 11stone a nd reversed her typ e two d ia b etes, find ing a whole new lea se of life a long the wa y! She sa id : ?When m y d oc tor d ia g nosed m e with typ e two d ia b etes, he wa rned tha t I wa s hea d ing towa rd s b eing insulin- d ep end ent a nd if I d id n?t c ha ng e m y lifestyle it wa s likely tha t I?d d ie young . As a m um of three, tha t wa s the wa ke- up c a ll I need ed a nd I wa lked throug h the d oors of a Slim m ing World g roup the very next d a y. ?Thinking b a c k to tha t tim e, I d id n?t c a re for m yself a t a ll. I wa s ea ting so m a ny c risp s, c hoc ola tes a nd sweets tha t m y skin would ha ve b rea kouts, a nd I suffered from c rip p ling m ig ra ines. Now I feel c om p letely d ifferent. I?m m ore c onfid ent, m y skin g lows a nd I?ve g one from ha ving to ta ke four ta b lets a d a y for m y d ia b etes to b eing m ed ic a tion- free! ?I?m so p roud I?ve reversed m y d ia b etes b y losing weig ht a nd ea ting a hea lthy, b a la nc ed d iet. I ea t lots of veg eta b les a nd fruit a nd I enjoy trying d ifferent Slim m ing World rec ip es, like sa lm on teriya ki or sp a g hetti b olog nese. The sup p ort from m y Slim m ing World g roup ea c h week ha s help ed m e to und ersta nd tha t food is nutritious a nd not som ething to use in a d estruc tive wa y.

is b a sed on sc ienc e, b a c ked b y evid enc e a nd loved b y m illions. Slim m ing World g roup s a lso offer m em b ers sup p ort, c om m itm ent a nd a c c ounta b ility ? a p owerful c om b ina tion tha t help s b oost ha p p iness, self- esteem a nd slim m ing suc c ess! Slim m ing World welc om es m em b ers with d ia b etes to a ttend g roup s to ob ta in sup p ort in m a king p ositive, hea lthy lifestyle c ha ng es to m a na g e their weig ht. Ta king g uid a nc e from Dia b etes UK, DMEG (British Dietetic Assoc ia tion Dia b etes Ma na g em ent a nd Ed uc a tion Group ) a nd nutritiona l g uid elines for d ia b etes c a re, Slim m ing World ha s d evelop ed sp ec ific g uid elines to sup p ort m em b ers with d ia b etes: Mem b ers a re req uested to inform their Slim m ing World g roup Consulta nt tha t they ha ve d ia b etes on joining a nd a re rec om m end ed to a lwa ys follow the a d vic e g iven b y their d ia b etes c a re tea m . All Slim m ing World Consulta nts a re p rovid ed with inform a tion on how b est to sup p ort m em b ers who ha ve d ia b etes. Live the life you wa nt, im p rove your hea lth, ea t the food you love a nd still lose weig ht! Find a wa rm a nd friend ly g roup tod a y - join us a t Slim m ing World .

?I?d sa y to a nyone who?s c onc erned a b out weig ht loss a nd d ia b etes: Slim m ing World c a n help . Losing weig ht ha sn?t just c ha ng ed m y life, it?s sa ved m y life. I?m litera lly ha lf the p erson I wa s when I weig hed 21st ? I?m 10st 1½lb s a nd ha ve d rop p ed eig ht d ress sizes from a 26 to a 10. To c om p lete m y tra nsform a tion, la st yea r I ha d a b rea st lift a nd im p la nts, a nd this Ap ril I ha d a tum m y tuc k to rid m e of m y exc ess skin. I never thoug ht I?d feel m y m ost c onfid ent in m y 50s, yet here I a m , enjoying every m om ent.? With Slim m ing World you c a n live the life you wa nt, ea t the food you love a nd still lose weig ht using a uniq ue hea lthy ea ting p la n, - food op tim ising whic h istock.com : ebstock

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r u o y H OM E g n i t a d p U A look a t trend ing wa ll p a nels b y Tra c ie Fry

Ha s a nyb od y else g ot a ha llwa y they c ould set a jelly in? I?m sure I?m not the only one? Often overlooked , the entra nc e ha ll is a very im p orta nt sp a c e in your hom e. It's the p la c e you welc om e your friend s a nd fa m ily, m a ke sm a ll ta lk with the p ostm a n a nd when selling your hom e, it m a kes a first im p ression when p eop le a rrive. One wa y to c om b a t the b ig c hill, I thoug ht, would b e to

insta ll som e wa ll p a neling . Ap p a rently, these not only g ive som e d eg ree of insula tion b ut a lso help with the a c oustic s, m a king it sound a nd feel c osy, rig ht now they a re b a ng on trend a nd very stylish, b ut with so m uc h c hoic e now a va ila b le where d o you sta rt? I?ve c onsid ered a few op tions a nd thoug ht I?d sha re them with you...

Cla ssic tong ue a nd g rove These g ive a lovely c oa sta l effec t when used in m od ern p rop erties, or a c ountry hid ea wa y vib e, if your p rop erty is old er. The rea son tong ue a nd g roove p a nels ha ve b een so p op ula r for m a ny yea rs, I b elieve, is d own to the ea sy fitting a nd b ec a use of their d esig n, onc e sea led they offer a p ra c tic a lly wa terp roof surfa c e tha t c a n b e wip ed d own. These a re id ea l for b usy a rea s suc h a s ha llwa ys a nd utility a rea s. These a re rea d ily a va ila b le in m ost DIY stores.

istock.com : Follow the flow

Mold ed p a nels Tra d itiona l? Ma yb e... In the p a st this typ e of p a nelling wa s synonym ous with p eriod p rop erties, b ig c ountry esta tes b ut I?ve b een seeing this a ll- over soc ia l m ed ia a long with som e c lever ha c ks to rep rod uc e the look on a b ud g et using p ic ture fra m es. It?s a n eleg a nt look whic h c a n a d d interest to a n otherwise fla t wa ll. If the room c a n ta ke it, this looks g rea t p a inted in a d a rker ric h c olour.

Introd uc ing ... sla tted wood We ha ve b een seeing this look outsid e for a little while now, b ut it?s rea lly ta ken off a s a n interior fea ture; a fea ture p a nel c rea ting a foc a l p oint, slid ing p a nels to c rea te sm a ller m ore intim a te room s a fter knoc king throug h. I ha ve even seen a n entire ha llwa y c la d with this inc lud ing the d oors, m a king the whole a rea look b ig g er a nd well thoug ht out. Ma d e from ha rd wood this is a n investm ent, b ut it will la st a very long tim e a nd will keep its ha nd som e looks for yea rs to c om e.

istock.com : Suchada Tansirimas

In m y hea rt of c ourse I'm a c oa sta l g irl a nd I think the first op tion sta nd s the test of tim e. So, off I p op 44d o we wa x or p a int... to the nea rest DIY shop , the only d ec ision left to m a ke is

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ON TH E M OVE The m ortg a g e ind ustry ha s kic ked off 2024 with b a ng a s lend ers c ontinue to sla sh ra tes, sa ys Chris Collins from CC Mortg a g es 2024 p rom ises to b e a n exc iting yea r for first tim e b uyers, hom e m overs a nd c urrent hom e owners looking to m ortg a g e. Chris Collins exp la ins why: With severa l key fa c tors a t p la y, inc lud ing fa voura b le m a rket c ond itions, g overnm ent initia tives a nd tec hnolog ic a l a d va nc em ents, the m ortg a g e ind ustry is p oised for sig nific a nt g rowth a nd innova tion d uring the c om ing yea r. As we hea r rep orts of the UK ec onom y g rowing , lend ers a re b ec om ing m ore c onfid ent in red uc ing their m ortg a g e ra tes. Ultim a tely these lower ra tes a re m a king m ortg a g e rep a ym ents m ore a fford a b le for c ustom ers onc e a g a in. It seem s a ?m ortg a g e wa r?ha s now b roken out with lend ers sla shing their m ortg a g e ra tes in ord er to a ttra c t c ustom ers a nd sec ure new a p p lic a tions.As a result, the a m ount of a p p lic a tions for first tim e b uyers, hom e m overs a nd c urrent hom e owners

looking to rem ortg a g e ha s d oub led sinc e Novem b er a nd Dec em b er. Ma ny hig h street lend ers a re offering m ortg a g e ra tes a t sub 4%, som e even on a two yea r fixed ra te. With d em a nd for housing c ontinuing to outp a c e sup p ly, the housing m a rket in the UK rem a ins b uoya nt. All of these p oints a re setting the sta g e for a vib ra nt a nd p rom ising yea r a hea d for the ind ustry. In a d d ition to fa voura b le m a rket c ond itions, g overnm ent initia tives ha ve p la yed a c ruc ia l role in d riving the m ortg a g e ind ustry forwa rd . The UK g overnm ent ha s im p lem ented va rious sc hem es to sup p ort hom e ownership a nd a fford a b ility. Prog ra m s suc h a s Help to Buy a nd Sha red Ownership ha ve p rovid ed fina nc ia l a ssista nc e to first- tim e b uyers a nd those looking to g et onto the p rop erty la d d er, whic h ha s further stim ula ted d em a nd for m ortg a g es. 2024 is c erta inly looking like a n extrem ely p ositive yea r in the m ortg a g e ind ustry. So if you would like to b ook in a free stra teg y c a ll for your hom e ownership need s then g et in p lea se d o g et in touc h.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Fees may be charged for mortgage advice with the actual amount depending on your circumstances.

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G o o d man & L i l l ey

D o w n Ro ad Po r t i sh ead BS20 8H Z An a rchitect d esig ned , four/ five b ed room d eta ched fa m ily hom e situa ted a b ove the c oa sta l roa d enjoying estua ry a nd Welsh c oa stline view s. With fa m ily hom es like this ra rely a va ila b le, without a d oub t, one of the m ost striking fea tures of this fine resid enc e, a sid e from the estua ry views, ha s to b e the living a c c om m od a tion. Solely d esig ned for fa m ily life with g enerous kitc hen/ d ining whic h rea lly is the 'hub of the hom e.' The living room is a lso a g ood size, with a wood b urning stove a d d ing c ha rm a nd Frenc h d oors op ening to the exp a nsive terra c e tha t ta kes full a d va nta g e of the southerly orienta tion. The first floor fea tures four d oub le b ed room s, a n en- suite shower room , d ressing room a nd a lso a b a lc ony a c c om p a nying the m a ster b ed room . A Ja c k & Jill en- suite serves b ed room s two a nd three. A sp a c ious la nd ing p rovid es a g ood c irc ula tion sp a c e finished with a n oa k turned sta irc a se tha t lea d s d own to the entra nc e ha ll where a c loa kroom a nd utility room c om p letes the interna l a c c om m od a tion to this fine fa m ily hom e. For m ore inform a tion c a ll in to the Good m a n & Lilley office a t 36 Hig h Street, Portishea d or c a ll us on 01275 430440

Po r t i sh ead 01275 430440 Sal es@g o o d m an l i l l ey.c o .u k w w w .g o o d m an l i l l ey.c o .u k

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SELLINGITEMSONLINE HMRC to step up on sid e hustles hustle ta x? for p eop le who sell their unwa nted item s online is a setb a c k for those trying to esc a p e d eb t c yc les. This is for g ood s tha t ha ve a lrea d y b een p urc ha sed a nd a re b eing sold for a m a rkd own ra ther tha n for- p rofit p urp oses. For som e strug g ling to m eet the household b ills, this c ould b e the d ifferenc e b etween fa lling into a rrea rs a nd keep ing up to d a te.

istock.com : ArLawka Aung Tun

HMRC rec ently a nnounc ed p la ns to ta x p eop le who m a ke extra m oney on the sid e b y b uying a nd selling item s online for a p rofit. Here, a n exp ert from d eb t solution sp ec ia lists Penny Pla n revea ls wha t the new rules m ea n a nd how to sta y on the rig ht sid e of the la w when selling item s online.

?And not only p eop le selling the p rod uc ts will b e d eep ly a ffec ted . A d ec rea se in the num b er of p eop le selling sec ond - ha nd g ood s, suc h a s c lothing , will ha ve a neg a tive im p a c t on low- inc om e household s who rely on them to m eet their need s. ?With the c urrent c ost of living c risis a nd a ntic ip a ted rec ession, the tim ing c ould not b e worse.? Fea ture sup p lied b y http s:/ / p ennyp la n.c o.uk/ NB. If in d oub t you c a n a lwa ys seek the a d vic e of a p rofessiona l a c c ounta nt.

Online m a rketp la c es ha ve b ec om e a n exc ellent wa y to m a ke extra c a sh, esp ec ia lly d uring the c ost of living c risis, with m a ny of us using them to sell unwa nted g ifts a nd household item s we no long er need , b ut now, HMRC ha s a nnounc ed a c ra c kd own on sellers m a king a p rofit on sites suc h a s Vinted a nd eBa y, lea ving m a ny to wond er how this will a ffec t them a nd the a d d itiona l m oney they rely on. From 2025 the new rules will req uire online m a rketp la c es to p rovid e ea rning s m a d e b y sellers, whic h ha s sinc e b een d ub b ed the ?sid e hustle ta x?. However, this new c la m p d own won?t a ffec t sellers who a re a lrea d y following g uid elines from HMRC on a d d itiona l ea rning s. The reg ula tions sta te tha t you c a n ea rn a n a d d itiona l £1,000 p er yea r in g ross inc om e on top of your reg ula r ea rning s without ha ving to inform HMRC, b ut a nything m ore tha n this will req uire sellers to reg ister a s self- em p loyed a nd file a ta x return. This a nnounc em ent ha s left sellers worried a b out where this lea ves them for the future a nd whether they c a n c ontinue g enera ting extra inc om e throug h online m a rketp la c es. Chris Leneha n a t PennyPla n sa ys: ?Introd uc ing a ?sid e

Ad vertising Fea ture

CAPITAL GAINS TAX CHANGES By Ric h Powell of Powell & Assoc ia tes

Every yea r the Governm ent a nnounc es a series of c ha ng es tha t a ffec t our p ersona l fina nc es. More often tha n not one or two m a ke the b ig hea d lines b ut there a re a lwa ys c ha ng es tha t d on?t, for exa m p le c uts to the ind ivid ua l Ca p ita l Ga ins Ta x a llowa nc es.

£6,000 a llowa nc e. But wha t if the g a in/ p rofit is m ore tha n £6,000? This will d ep end on your p ersona l c irc um sta nc es. A b a sic ra te ta x- p a yer will p a y 18% ta x on the g a in over £6,000 on resid entia l p rop erty a nd 10% on a ll other a ssets. Hig her a nd a d d itiona l ra te ta x p a yers will p a y 28% on p rop erty a nd 18% on everything else.

So wha t is Ca p ita l Ga ins Ta x a nd when m ig ht I p a y it? It?s a ta x you p a y on the p rofit of a n a sset suc h a s sha res (tha t a re not held in a n ISA), a rt, whiskey or a sec ond p rop erty when you sell it (or d isp ose of it). ?Disp osing ?of a n a sset c ould sim p ly b e g ifting it or tra nsferring it to som eone, e.g . a c hild . But d on?t worry, the Governm ent g ives you som e a llowa nc es. Currently you d on't p a y a ny ta x on the first £6,000 of a ny p rofit or g a in. Therefore, if you b oug ht som e sha res a t £10,000 a nd sold them a t £16,000 you would n?t p a y a ny ta x a s you?d b e a b le to use your

Wha t is c ha ng ing from 6th Ap ril 2024? Cruc ia lly the ind ivid ua l a llowa nc e is ha lving from £6,000 to £3,000. Just two ta x- yea rs a g o it wa s £12,300, sud d enly it will b e £3,000. Why should I c a re a nd wha t c a n I d o? I ha ve c lients who will tell m e they ha ve som e c om p a ny sha res or ind ivid ua lly owned sha res a nd they a re keep ing them until retirem ent to then sell for a lovely wind fa ll, b ut this stra teg y is very likely to c ost a lot of ta x. A p otentia lly b etter solution is to sta g g er the sa le/ d isp osa l of a ssets over a num b er of yea rs b y utilising your a va ila b le yea rly Ca p ita l Ga ins ta x a llowa nc e. You c a n a lso look a t sa ving ta x b y tra nsferring som e a ssets to your sp ouse. This is a lso often overlooked b ut c a n sa ve thousa nd s of p ound s in som e c irc um sta nc es. To find out m ore or to g et som e help with Ca p ita l Ga ins Ta x a nd m a ny other fina nc ia l issues c a ll Powell & Assoc ia tes, we will b e p lea sed to help . Powell & Assoc ia tes Fina nc ia l Pla nning is a n Ap p ointed Rep resenta tive of a nd rep resents only St. Ja m es's Pla c e Wea lth Ma na g em ent p lc (whic h is a uthorised a nd reg ula ted b y the Fina nc ia l Cond uc t Authority) for the p urp ose of a d vising solely on the g roup 's wea lth m a na g em ent p rod uc ts a nd servic es, m ore d eta ils of whic h a re set out on the g roup 's

w eb site w w w .sjp .co.uk/ p rod ucts. The 'St. Ja m es's Pla c e Pa rtnership ' a nd the titles 'Pa rtner' a nd 'Pa rtner Pra c tic e' a re m a rketing term s used to d esc rib e St. Ja m es's Pla c e rep resenta tives.

Your hom e m a yb e rep ossessed if you d o not keep up rep a ym ents on your m ortg a g e SJP Ap p roved 20/ 01/ 2024

SPRING SHOW Portishea d Hortic ultura l Soc iety will hold the Sp ring Show a t the Folk Ha ll on 9th Ma rc h a nd sc hed ules a re now on sa le in loc a l Hig h Street shop s. These d eta il a ll the c la sses in the show a nd inc lud e a n entry form . If you a re interested in exhib iting , whether tha t?s with flowers a nd p la nts, veg eta b les, p hotog ra p hy, a rts or ha nd ic ra fts, p ic k up a sc hed ule tod a y. Rem em b er if you d on?t ha ve a g o, we won?t ha ve a show! You c a n find out m ore on the Portishea d Hortic ultura l Soc iety?s web site.

NEW PROJECT TO SUPPORT WELLNESS A new c om m unity interest c om m unity (CIC) in Portishea d ha s b een set up to help im p rove hea lth a nd wellb eing in the loc a l c om m unity. Wa lnut Grove Clinic ha s a d d ed a not for p rofit a rm to its servic es - Wa lnut Grove Wellb eing CIC ? to p rovid e m ore sup p ort for wellness a m ong resid ents in the town.

TO W N

TALK

Child ren's yog a , p ulm ona ry reha b a ka b etter b rea thing a nd senior strong c la sses a re just som e of the servic es tha t the CIC will b e a b le to offer a t sub sid ised ra tes, m a king them inc lusive a nd a c c essib le to a s m a ny p eop le a s p ossib le. Ka thryn Ha rp er, c o- owner a nd p a rt of the b ra ins b ehind the new CIC, sa id : ?We, a t Wa lnut Grove, wa nted to d o som ething m ore for the c om m unity to a id the NHS a nd other servic es a nd thoug ht a b out how c ould help . We ha ve sp a c e, instruc tors a nd knowled g e a nd the id ea s flowed from there. Ta lking to loc a l hea lthc a re p rovid ers, the feed b a c k wa s rea lly p ositive. ?The id ea wa s a lso well rec eived b y the town c ounc il a s it sup p orts the c ounc il?s Portishea d Wellness Pa rtnership a nd tha t vision for sig np osting a c ross the town, d irec ting p eop le to where they c a n g et help to m eet their wellness need s.? The tea m a t Enjoy would like to tha nk Ka thryn for sha ring this news with us a t this ea rly sta g e. Wa tc h this sp a c e a s in the Ma rc h issue we will p rovid e further d eta ils a b out Wa lnut Grove Wellb eing CIC a nd inform a tion a b out m ore new c la sses tha t will b e a va ila b le. To find out m ore em a il c onta c t@w a lnutg rovew ellb eing c ic .c om

SP RI N G I N T O W E L L B E I N G Portishead residents will have the opportunity to take part in a day dedic ated to self-c are and promoting overall health and happiness in the heart of our town. The Spring into Wellbeing Day is a free event, organised by Portishead Town Counc il, the Portishead Lions and the Beac on Hub to enc ourage residents to foc us on taking c are of their mental, emotional and physic al health. Taking plac e on Saturday 2 Marc h from 10am?4pm, the day will expand on the inaugural event whic h took plac e last year to inc orporate health MOT testing, taster sessions and workshops. The day will inc lude many ac tivities ac ross various loc ations in Portishead, inc luding: Somerset Hall, The Beac on Hub, Folk Hall and Portishead Library. Visitors on the day c an look forward to taster sessions, workshops and c raft ac tivities as well as rec eiving information and advic e on ways to improve health and wellbeing. There will be opportunities to find out more about CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and other c omplementary therapies and most loc ations will be offering refreshments, some will also have music and prize draws. A team of phlebotomists will be available on the day to perform a range of up to seven different blood health c hec ks inc luding prostate, c holesterol, kidney, liver, iron, diabetes and thyroid.

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Residents c an book online with one test per person being fully funded. Further tests are subsidised but c ost £28 eac h. More details are available by c alling 01275 847078 visiting www.portishead.gov.uk/wellbeing or you c an email wellbeing@portishead.gov.uk

SHOE DONATIONS PUT TO GOOD USE Tanya Marriott, owner of SoleLution shoe shop, has made her annual trip to Jolaurabi School in Mombasa, Kenya, along with her mum and a group of friends, taking with them hundreds of pairs of pre-worn shoes donated by local families. Since 2017 SoleLution has collected second hand school shoes donated by customers, to help Educate The Kids, a charity that helps children to a better future in Africa. Tanya travelled to Jolaurabi School in January 2018 to fit 300+ donated pairs of shoes. She fell in love with the children and their families there and vowed to continue to support them, her aim being to eventually provide shoes for all 800+ pupils at the school on an annual basis and this is now what happens. The group self fund their travel to Mombasa but fundraise to cover the cost of transporting the suitcases full of shoes. The volunteers will fit all 800 pairs of shoes, visit families and deliver food parcels sent over by locals who sponsor families in the African village, before returning home. You can find out more about educate the kids at www.educatet hekids.com 54 54

BEREAV EM EN T SU PPORT Portishead Church of England has started a new bereavement support group on the second Tuesday of each month. U nlike Cruse, the group does not offer grief counselling, it offers a space where empathy, compassion and support is given to those who are grieving, emphasising that grief is something we all experience, is often a challenging part of the human experience and one that continues long after a funeral service. The group meets 2.30-4pm at St N icholas Church with this month?s meeting taking place on 13th Februar y. I t?s a safe space to talk, to just be, a space to remember your loved one, whilst sharing a cup of tea and maybe a craft activity. Ever yone is welcome.

SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS Portishea d Town Counc il is keen to c ha m p ion susta ina b ility in our town a nd ha s org a nised a nd sup p orted events from c lothes swa p s to rec yc ling workshop s, inform a tion d a ys a nd toy sa les. The next Portishea d Susta ina b ility Event ta kes p la c e on Sa turd a y 3rd Feb rua ry a t the Poa c her in Portishea d Hig h Street from 11a m - 3p m . The event will inc lud e a toy swa p , c lothes swa p , rec yc ling a d vic e, inform a tion from Turn The Tid e a nd Portishea d Sewing Bee?s p lus lots m ore. For m ore inform a tion em a il p rojec tm a na g er@p ortishea d .g ov.uk

istock.com : vejaa

RNLI DONATION Portishead RNLI has installed a plaque on the wall at its lifeboat station in Pier Road after a donation of £10,000 was received by the RNLI. The generous donation was made by Andrew Buchanan in honour of his late wife Marjorie. Mr Buchanan said: ?My donation to the RNLI was made for several reasons. My grandfather was a chief engineer with P&O and during the First World War, my father worked in marine insurance, I have always felt a close affinity with the sea and my late wife Marjorie and I enjoyed ocean and river cruising over many years.? Mr Buchanan visited the Portishead RNLI station to see how donations are put to good use. After showing Mr Buchanan around Dave Slack, lifeboat operations manager at Portishead, said: ?It?s always sad to lose someone and with Andrew donating such a generous amount of money to the RNLI it seems appropriate to have a plaque on the wall in our boat hall to honour his late wife.? The RNLI is independent of coastguard and the government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.

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