Trade Locally Issue 80

This month we celebrate our 10th anniversary of our popular Trade Locally Magazine, my how quickly the years have passed. In our summer 2022 edition we have lots of local events and activities in our Whats On and Community Pages along with articles and puzzles. Together with local Historical Pages. Hope you like reading our latest magazine. If you have any upcoming events to put in our Community Pages, or if you wish to place an advert then please give us a call on 01782 392355. TRADE LOCALLY BUSINESS PARTNERS ARE ALL LOCAL INDEPENDENT

Local Business Classified

Alarms, Aerials, Sat,CCTV& Security

Cam-Tec Blythe Bridge 01782 396619 51

Deks Aerials Blythe Bridge 01782 396511 48

Homeguard Intruder Alarms SOT 01782 397589 13

Attractions & Events

Trentham Gardens Trentham 01782 646646

World of Wedgwood Barlaston 01782 282986

Blythe Bridge Historical Society Blythe Bridge 26 & 27

Building Trades & Allied Services

Allsop Construction Ltd Tean 01538 724773 48

Bliss Bathrooms SOT 01782 626108 47

DJZ - Drives, Fencing,Building Blythe Bridge 01782 393848 19

Dan Heat - Plumbing & Heating SOT 01782 398833 44

Hartley Skip Hire Cheadle 01538 753640 8

Jones & Shuffs Longton 01782 599567 23

LF Home Improvements SOT 01782 692370 41

Magg Group Home Services Penkridge 01785 711088 21

Meir Heath Digger Hire Meir Heath 07368282063 9

PM Driveways Ltd SOT 01782 478354 14

Pegasus Property Meir Park 07970790747 8

Prime Groundworks Ltd Tean 07867277811 10

Russells

Derbyshire 01335 330399 15

Car Sales & Servicing

DC Vehicle Repairs Weston Coyney 01782 476785 57

Smart Auto Fix SOT 07973313057 58

Caravan & Camping Sites

Sunny Side Touring Park Cheshire 10270 812520 34

Care Services Honorable Care SOT 01782 599313 54

Carpets & Soft Furnishings

Ian Sunderland Carpets & Flooring SOT 07932 668745 24

Cemetery`s & Memorial Gardens

Garden of Remembrance Longton 01782 326083 55

Charities

Katherine House Hospice

Donna Louise 01782 654440

Douglas Macmillan Hospice Blurton 01782 344300 32

Cleaning Services

Stainbusters Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 07961 488893 25

Curtains & Blinds

Chantelle Blinds Longton 01782 599529 39

Hillarys - Stoke SOT 07949024406 42

Dog Grooming Wagtastic Meir 07713 010417 37

Domestic Appliances/ Repairs

Merv Bennett - Domestic Appliance Service Blythe Bridge: 01782 394887 13

Paul Morton Forsbrook 07970541642 49

Digger Hire

Meir Heath Digger Hire Meir Heath: 07368282063 9

Drives/Patios/Paving

PM driveways Ltd SOT 01782 478354 14

Prime Groundworks Ltd Tean 07867277811 10

DRIVEWAY CLEANING

Staybrite Driveway Cleaning SOT 01782 321672 6

Electrical Goods & Services

Hylands Stone, 01785 812019 HylandsLongton, 01782 342609 60

Estate Agents

Keys Estate Agents Blythe Bridge 01782 399911 38

Fishery

Coole Acres Fishery & Leisure Park Nantwich 07899735052 35

Food & Drink

Denstone Hall

Denstone 01889 590050

Funeral Directors

Harry Dawson Longton 01782 313428 54

Garage Doors

Garolla Roller Shutter Doors SOT 01782 365221 58

Press & Pass - Garage Doors Stone 08000219719 56

Gardening

Ashwood Timber Products Longton 01782 599180 11

C & D Tree Services SOT 07970241085 10

Clee Brothers & Son SOT 01782 970805 14

DB Garden Services SOT 07597589469 13

Draycott Nurseries Draycott 01782 405355 3

Greenthumb

Lawn Treatment Services SOT 01782 824549 7

Lee`s Tree Service SOT 07578182660 6

Straightline Fencing

SOT 01782 312679 9

Gas Appliances & Services

Dan Heat SOT 01782 398833 44

Milward Heating SOT 07799046839 48

Local Business Classified

S.Gas Services

Blythe Bridge 01782 396297 43

Health and fitness

Total Footcare Blythe Bridge 01782 398910 50

Lawnmower Services

Shingler Mowers SOT 01782 393412 19

Leaflet Distribution

Leaflets Ltd - Blythe Bridge 01782 392355 59

Martial Arts

Wing Chun Kung Fu, Blythe Bridge, 07801097269 33

Nursing Home Westcroft Nursing Home Hanley 01782 287121 53

Painters & Decorators

Paul Woolridge SOT 01782 331733 39

Total Decorating SOT 07767732242 47

Pest Control

David Johnson Pest Control SOT 07831458266 13

EPS Pest Control SOT 07368231054 8

Pets & Accessories

Pawsome Holidays Blythe Bridge 07970 712682 37

Plumbing & Heating

Dan Heat SOT 01782 398833 44

Milward Heating SOT 07799046839 48

Plumbing Plus SOT 07749883998 49

S. Gas Plumbing

Blythe Bridge 01782 396297 43

W.T Hagan & Son Hilderstone 07513 975664 39

Pubs and Resturants

Little Seeds Stone 01785 818925 36

Raddle Inn Hollington 01889 507278 37

Roofing

Advanced Roofing Services SOT 01782 624603 51

Homeseal Roofing SOT 01782 692860 44

LF Home Improvements SOT 01782 692370 41

Sales And Marketing

Leaflets Ltd Blythe Bridge 01782 392355 59

Solicitors

Bowcock &Pursaill SOT 01782 200000 52

Windows & Conservatories Bespoke UPVC SOT 07496183393 17

City Window Services Ltd SOT 01782 256255 20

Cloudy2Clear Windows SOT 07494549507 42

Window Wizard Window & Door Repairs SOT 01782 768982 45

WASPS BY DAVE JOHNSON

BORDER PEST SOLUTIONS

The arrival of the summer months will also herald the appearance of a number of seasonal pests.

One such pest is the common wasp (Vespula Vulgaris)and the German wasp(Vespula Germanica).Both species are yellow with black stripes and can give a painful sting.This can lead to an allergic reaction in some cases.Queen wasps will emerge in spring and start to construct a nest which by mid -summer can be producing 300 eggs per day,supported by 5,000 or more adults.We ,at Border Pest Solutions,can safely and efficiently resolve your difficulties with wasps.Only professional products and equipment not

available to the public will be used to treat should this be required.Please contact Dave at Border Pest Solutions should you require any further information. Phone 07831 458266.Your Local Pest Controller.

GARDENING

PASTURES NEW

It comes to us all at some stage – I went through it this time last year and my long-suffering editor is currently going through the process. Moving house and home is part and parcel of modern day life and can be one of the most stressful, hectic, hazard strewn and exciting processes – doubly so if you have already created your dream garden at the property you are leaving! It’s never easy to say au revoir to a garden you’ve become emotionally and often financially attached to - so what can you do to move on (in all senses of the word) and make the most out of your new plot?

Anyone who is selling their property with a lovingly sorted garden and hoping to relocate it to the new one should think again. Anything that is physically planted in the garden is considered to be part of the fixtures and fittings and so can’t be legally dug up once the sale has gone through. If you want to salvage a few things from your precious plot, it is best to do it before the marketing pictures are taken or stick them in pots and keep them off-site. Apart from a few really special bits and pieces, I always take the view that plants are a bit like lightbulbs – they are replaceable and only last a finite time anyway, so try not to get too emotional about starting again; this is actually where all the fun starts!

The first step with your new garden is to take your time to assess and discover what it is that you’ve already got. In my case, it was effectively a large car park which had been paved over to create a safe area for an adult in a wheelchair. Having not been ‘gardened’ for over two years, it was largely wilderness, but it had great ‘bones,’ including being surrounded by 3 metre high stone walls with no immediate neighbours – creating a perfect private suntrap.

Against all professional sensibilities, I never followed the standard protocols that I do with all my customers, namely drawing up a scaled plan of the garden so I could evolve a new design. Instead, I toiled away, lifting a huge amount of boulders and reusing them to create raised beds. I also shifted lots of massive old Yorkstone slabs (moved using methods only known to me and the builders of Stonehenge) to create a framework of pathways. It was only through grafting and getting

a feel for the garden (which now resembled the Somme on a bad day) that gradually a very distinct design started to rise phoenix-like from the ground and in my head.

My new plot is now virtually finished, and we are really happy with the result – but without having a plan to work to it could all have gone disastrously wrong. In my defence, I do this for a living, so I knew how we could effectively dismantle the existing garden, save and reuse as much of the recovered materials as possible and then rebuild according to a plan which had slowly blossomed in my mind. I admire anyone who can sit and watch their new plot for a period to see what comes up, but I’m afraid that’s not for me.

If you are in the same position, my best advice is to get some advice and unlock the potential in your new garden – seize the day!

OPINION

RETURN TO THE LAND OF WHAT IF

It is often said that moving home is one of the most stressful things in life and I can confirm that this is absolutely true. By the time you read this I will (hopefully) be residing in our lovely new home, but getting there will have been an anxiety inducing, time consuming, horrendously uncertain experience. This is what happened.

The first problem was the state of the property market. After the inspired decision to bring in a year-long stamp duty holiday (because, let’s face it, the first thing you need to do in the middle of a pandemic is move house) the market went into a frenzy, then promptly tanked. As a result, hardly any properties were coming up for sale and any that were sold within a few weeks. By some miracle, we managed to find a house that we loved that was also within budget, but we then faced the stark reality that by the time we sold our existing home, the one we found would have been snapped up by someone else and we would have nowhere to buy. So, we hatched a cunning plan –we would rent out our existing home, raise a let to buy mortgage against it and then use the money as a deposit on our new house.

Very cunning indeed, but there were just two problems; firstly, the money raised through the LTB mortgage would be a lot less than that raised by simply selling our home and secondly, the already colossal amount of stamp duty payable on the new house would effectively double. This meant that we would need a whopping mortgage on the new home, and this is where the trouble really started.

Mortgage lenders don’t like people like us – we’re too old, we’re not rich enough and, most damningly of all, we’re self-employed. Consequently, we were transported to the land of what if: what if we can’t prove that our income is sufficient; what if we can’t provide all the hundreds of documents the lender demands; what if the valuation comes back too low; what if there is a problem with the searches? This is far and away the most stressful part of moving home, getting the mortgage… and we had to get two of the damn things! Despite all this, we got our mortgages, the searches were fine, and our new home isn’t falling down – we’re moving house! But I can’t help

thinking that it doesn’t have to be this way. The housing market simply isn’t functioning properly, largely due to ill-conceived government policy, particularly when it comes to stamp duty. Stamp duty rates and thresholds were last changed in 2014… apart from forcing people who happen to own a share in another property to pay a 3% surcharge, of course. In between times, the average house price has risen by 54%, which means that this time we will pay almost as much in stamp duty as I paid to buy my first home 30 years ago. The stamp duty system is sucking the life out of the property market and needs to be urgently reviewed.

There is also a huge gulf between the way employed and self-employed people are treated when applying for a mortgage. As a salaried employee, it is pretty straightforward – provide your last three payslips and maybe a letter from your employer and that’s job done. If you’re self-employed, we’re talking SA302s, company accounts and tax year overviews for the last two years and, even then, there will be numerous queries to be answered. The whole thing is so complicated that you need a mortgage adviser to guide you through the process, which leads me to the next problem – a good mortgage adviser is worth their weight in gold; a bad one will give you a nervous breakdown. How do you tell the difference between them?

An Englishman’s home may still be his castle, but only if he’s rich enough to be a cash buyer.

THE PAPER READ… ‘THE PEASANTS WERE REVOLTING!’1797-1815 (PART 29)

Thomas Broster sat in his usual place by the fire of the Cock Inn to sip his pint of Bents Ale, and to read his newspaper after a hard day’s work at his mill in the lane leading to Stallington Hall. Pulling a single candle closer to illuminate the small typeface, the news that adorned the broadsheet was the usual mixture of local sales of land, news about the exploits of the rising star of the navy Lord Nelson in the war against the French. But what interested him most was the London market price of wheat. As he put his paper down his attention was drawn to a small article being discussed in Parliament relating to the second reading of a Bill with respect to something called Income Tax.

He paid it little heed. The Staffordshire Advertiser was first published in 1795 by Joshua Drewry. The newspaper had been a godsend for businessmen like him, for the price of milled flour increased by the week and it enabled him to control how much stock he could release for sale to maximise his profit margin. With fine flour selling for 95 shillings and his seconds at 90 shillings per sack, his decision to produce two sacks from almost the same amount of grain made absolute sense. He justified his logical thoughts, by modification, suggesting, ‘Maybe just a single sack tomorrow of ‘fine’, for the gentle folk, who demanded only the best white for their refined palate.

The inclement weather that had prevailed since that autumn had abated just as the new year turned, although a morning frost still lingered in the air. He read further of floods along the River Severn and the ever-increasing price of potatoes and turnips being sold in Stafford market. Finishing his last sip of beer, he ventured into the gathering dusk and walked slowly along the Uttoxeter turnpike towards the crossways. As always, he saw bedraggled individuals heading towards the Potteries. Usually from the east Midlands and drawn to the ever labour demanding industry, these dishevelled and forlorn creatures were the flotsam leftovers from the agricultural field enclosures of the previous century.

Often turned off the land by their landlords to raise sheep instead, there appeared to be a steady stream of migrants hoping for a better life in the growing towns. Thomas shook his head by the naivety of their belief and wrapped his coat even further around him as a cold wind blew down the road.

As he reached the junction with the Cheadle turnpike, a familiar face greeted him with a smile. ‘Good day, Jud!’ Thomas said….’Sorry to hear and read about your trouble!’ he continued.

‘That damn woman will be the death of me!’ came the reply. ‘Done everything I can I as ter make ‘er appy, but she’s never satisfied. Spends money

quicker than the weeds grow in me field…so I jus’ had to do it. I willna pay another penny fo’ er as long as her lives that fo’ sure!’

George Hammersley was a tenant farmer from Dilhorne whose land he worked for himself and Squire Holliday, old master who lived in the Big House. His wife Jane appears to have been free spending and he placed an advert into the Staffordshire Advertiser (26th April 1800) disclaiming any responsibility for her debts.

‘When is ee off to market again Thomas?’, said George.

‘This coming Monday at the crack of dawn, for I’m takin’ it to Newcastle instead of Stafford and I wish to catch the market in the early afternoon, because I’ll get a better price when everything else has been snapped up…shortage of flour sees! I’ll leave me boy to carry on at mill.

Any chance I can bring me wagon of last year’s spuds and norfolks (turnips). Oi’ve been holdin’ onto them as long as I can, but can’t much longer in case, they goo’s off! We can goo together.’

So, the arrangement was made and the two men bade their farewells and departed in opposite directions.

*****

Thomas was already loaded before the sun crept over the fields in the east, with just a few yards to go to meet George he decided to wait until

he saw his friend arrive over the rise locals in Forsbrook called the Mount.

And so, he waited and waited! Finally, after at least an hour having passed and with the distant chime of the bell from Dilhorne Church marking the seven-o clock, he heard the distinctive growing rumble of a wagon lurching down the lane. ‘Tis terribly late George, what ‘as appened?’

‘Hoss throo a shoe on that bloody road at top of Sarver Lane it did. Lucky that owd man Loton was at is forge. You know, one day they will turnpike and mend them ruts made by Bamford’s coal carts from dine pit at Foxfield. Makes may damn mad they knows’t with oles in’t road.’

Late but without further ado, the wagon convoy crept along the turnpike towards Lane End. The going was easy, but very quiet with little or no traffic heading in the opposite direction.

‘Still’. Thomas thought ‘…. makes life comfortable and it isn’t raining at least!’

As they ventured further along the lane that led to the Meir, the few scattered cottages that straddled the road appeared uninhabited with closed doors and shuttered windows and only the occasional barking dog that announced their passing. ‘Something was clearly wrong!’

‘Whow!’ shouted Thomas, who pulled hard on the reins. Both carts came to an abrupt halt for nothing was moving in any direction, no people at all, for it was if they were the only

people in the world. They could see only another distant cart that followed, way behind back down the turnpike.

As if by magic a face appeared from the hedgerow that surrounded the brick clad church to their right, then another and another until they were surrounded by ten, then twenty, dirty, grubby faces. Most were men but some were women. In moments the two men were dragged by a multitude of hands from the wagon seats and cast onto the road. Trying to regain his footing one man carrying a wooden club struck George sending him senseless against the side of his carriage, whilst two others pounded Thomas with their fists. They could do nothing to withstand the onslaught whilst the mob filled their bags with their valuable produce. Most of the flour spilt to the ground in the melee that followed and was scooped up into all sorts of baskets that appeared as if the attack was planned.

Within a few short minutes the crowd being satisfied, disappeared as quickly as a

cloud of smoke on a windy day.

Staggering to their feet the men retreated away back down the turnpike bleeding and bruised, just two more victims of the food riots that occurred across Britain during the spring and summer of 1800.

A poor winter harvest, followed by massive inflation of basic commodities left the masses who lived in towns living literally living way below the ‘breadline’. Their wages being just a few shillings per week at the best of times to feed a family, the ‘potters’ and colliers of Longton and Lane End achieved national notoriety following this outburst of local revolution.

Both the Yeomanry and militia were called out to quell the gathered crowd, estimated to exceed over 5000 during the day that threatened the Kings Peace on the 28th April.

Seven of the supposed ringleaders were arrested and subsequently sent to Stafford Gaol for trail, three being women.

LOCAL DANCE FITNESS CLASSES.

New members welcome at our local dance and fitness classes.

Monday 7pm to 8pm Dance Fitness – St Frances Church, Meir Heath

Tuesday 10.30am to 11.30am Zumba – Blythe Bridge Village Hall

Tuesday 6.30pm to 7.30pm Zumba – St Frances Church, Meir Heath

Thursday 10.30am to 11.30am Zumba – Blythe Bridge Methodist Church

For further details of any classes call Jo on 07713308667

COWORKING OFFICE SPACE

& b u s i n e s s m a i l b o x e s

CRIMESTOPPERS

Telephone: 0800-555-111

This telephone number can be used to pass specific information about crime or criminals without fear of reprisals or direct contact with the police. Calls are FREE from land lines and most mobile phones. The service is anonymous and rewards of up to £1000 are available for information which leads to an arrest and charge.

A fusion of different dance styles, Ceroc is easy to learn, with different classes aimed towards a range of different ability levels – from nervous first timers to dance floor masters. There is no complicated footwork to worry about, and by the end of your first class you will be able to dance a routine of three moves.

Whether you turn up alone, with a partner or in a group, you will get the opportunity to dance with lots of other dancers on the night.

Ceroc teachers are not only friendly, approachable and passionately dedicated to helping you to learn to dance, they also specialise in people with two left feet! Alongside them, you’ll also meet Taxi Dancers, accomplished volunteers who provide friendly help and assistance to beginners.

Ceroc DJs play a range of music to suit all tastes, from 50’s Swing, 60’s Motown, 70’s Disco and 80’s Rock through to current chart favourites, so there will always be music you enjoy. They are also open to requests so let them know your favourite track.

So, if you fancy having a go, there’s no need to book, just turn up at one of Ceroc Addiction’s venues across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands, where you will receive a very warm welcome.

For more information, call 07983 703166, email dance@cerocaddiction.com, find Ceroc Addiction on facebook or visit the national Ceroc website www.ceroc.com.

WHAT’S ON

Trentham Live 2022 at Trentham Gardens

September 1st 2022 – 4th September 2022

Trentham Live returns in 2022 for four nights of incredible live music!

Join Secret Symphony, Steps, Craig David and McFly in our historic Trentham Gardens on Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 September 2022 for a live music experience you’ll never forget. Tickets sell fast, don’t miss out.

Trentham Live 2022 is set to be bigger and better with: Secret Symphony – Thursday 1st September 2022. Steps supported by Louise Redknapp – Friday 2nd September 2022. Craig David supported by Nathan Dawe – Saturday 3rd September 2022. McFly supported by Scouting for Girls – Sunday 4th September 2022. For further information go to: Trentham.co.uk

Gin Tasting Steam Train Experience

Churnet Valley Railway

Staffordshire

27th August 2022 to 29th August.

Gin & Trains - Gin Tasting Steam Train Experience in Staffordshire

Gin has always been a favourite summertime drink, with more and more varieties and flavours appearing in the recent years. Returning this summer for the first time since 2019, we are excited to present our Gin & Trains festival. A perfect day out for the botanical connoisseur, this three-day event has a full timetable of passenger trains for you to travel on while you sample gins from the UK and beyond.

Celebrate this August Bank Holiday weekend in style aboard our authentically-restored train carriages, pulled by nostalgic locomotives. Our Gin tasting experience will be accompanied by the gorgeous Churnet Valley countryside passing by outside of your window. Soak up some of the most stunning countryside in Staffordshire.

It’s an 11 mile round-trip on the train, starting at Froghall Station and with opportunities to disembark at Consall, Cheddleton, and Leekbrook. Trains will be running frequently throughout the weekend. For prices and more information about this event go to: churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

PENKRIDGE MARKET

Every Wednesday and Saturday 8am till 3pm. Up to 100 Stalls selling a vast range of products. For more information visit: www.penkridgemarket.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

UTTOXETER RACECOURSE – COMEDY EVENING

Saturday 24th September 2022

An uproarious evening of entertainment where you can laugh the night away with colleagues, friends & family.

Witness 4 top national circuit acts as they work their magic on stage:

ROB ROUSE "Clearly immensely talented... demands to be seen..." - THE SUNDAY TIMES

GARRETT MILLERICK "Brutally funny" - Chortle "Intelligent stand up" - Time Out

HELEN BAUER " A personality that will fill a stadium. " - SUNDAY EXPRESS Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Nominee 2019

JAMES DOWDESWELL "A real master of the comedian's craft” - Chortle

A full bar service will be available along with hot snacks so come along and enjoy an evening of hilarity that'll leave you buzzing long after its finished!

Tickets available to book online Uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk or alternatively call us on 01889 598919 to find out more.

Shugborough Estate

6th August 2022

Outdoor Theatre: Wind and the Willows with The Pantaloons

Join Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger on a wild adventure filled with motorcar madness, wicked weasels, exciting escapes and plenty of messing about in boats.

Further Information: nationaltrust.org.uk

Foxfield Wizard Academy

Foxfield Railway

Join us for some wizarding fun for the school holidays! It’s time to sign up to our spellbinding school of sorcery as you take a wacky and wonderful whistle-stop tour of the Wizard Academy and learn to become a master of mystery and magic.

August 10 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Details on foxfieldrailway.co.uk

Head out of Stoke on Trent through Baldwins Gate and Woore to Whitchurch, con�nue west via Ellesmere before crossing the border into Wales and arriving in Llangollen. Return to the Po�eries through Nantwich taking in the beau�ful countryside of Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire.

SEARED TUNA LOIN WITH TOMATO AND VANILLA DRESSING

to cool. Bring a saucepanful of salted water to the boil, score the skin of the tomatoes, place them in the boiling water until the skins start to split, then plunge them in some iced water. Remove them, peel off the skins and place on a paper towel. Use a sharp knife to quarter and de-seed them, then dice the flesh and toss it in with the shallots. Cut the vanilla pod in half lengthways, scrape out the seeds and add to the other ingredients. Chop The tarragon, stir into the tomatoes and season with the vinegar and a little sea salt. Pop the dressing into the fridge until needed.

Start with the dressing. Finely chop the shallot and gently heat in the

Now for the tuna. Heat a non-stick frying pan so that it’s

good and hot and pour in a little olive oil. Cook the steaks for 1 minute on each side; tuna is best served rare or medium rare. Once cooked, add a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of sea salt to each steak, place them on a serving plate and add plenty of the vanilla dressing. Serve with green vegetables such as asparagus or sprouting broccoli.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

MODIFYING YOUR HOME FOR MOBILITY PROBLEMS

It is a sad fact of life that, as we get older, many of us will suffer from mobility problems. With a lack of suitable housing in many areas and the cost of moving spiralling ever higher, making your home mobility friendly is becoming increasingly popular.

Whether you can get around with the help of a walking frame or have to use a wheelchair for much of the time, climbing the stairs can become an insurmountable problem. Fitting a stairlift is an inexpensive solution, although you will need a “spare” wheelchair or walking frame on the first floor. A better solution is to live as much of your life as possible on the ground floor of your home. To do this you will need a downstairs bedroom and a bathroom.

The bedroom is easy, simply repurpose a reception room, but creating a bathroom can be more difficult. The easiest solution is to turn the downstairs toilet into a wet room. Failing that, hiving off a portion of the kitchen makes a lot of

sense because the drainage and water supply are already in situ - utility rooms make excellent bathrooms. Obviously, if you are creating a new bathroom, make sure it is mobility friendly.

Since the 1990s, all new build homes have had to have wider doorways suitable for wheelchairs on the ground floor. However, if you live in an older property, this will not be the case. Luckily, any competent builder can widen a doorway and it is not particularly expensive or intrusive. It makes a lot of sense to get all the doorways done at the same time. Similarly, any steps between floors will need to have access ramps fitted. A joiner can do this quickly and at minimal cost. Also, hard flooring is more mobility friendly than carpet.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to have a ground floor granny annexe or even an integral garage, this can easily be refitted as a perfect mobility friendly space.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Widely seen on TV programmes like Grand Designs, underfloor heating is often dismissed as an expensive gimmick only suitable for new build homes. In fact, it has many advantages and can be retrofitted to most properties. There are two types of system, water based and electrical.

All types of underfloor heating have some key advantages. The room is warmed evenly so there are no hot spots or chilly areas. Installing underfloor heating also insulates the floor, removing one of the main sources of heat loss, and hard flooring such as ceramic or marble tiles feels toasty warm underfoot, lovely on a cold winter’s day. You no longer need radiators either, so it frees up wall space and makes rooms look less cluttered.

Beyond this, different systems each have their own pros and cons. Water based systems pump water heated either by the boiler or a heat pump through a matrix of pipes that are usually buried in a concrete screed. Your choice of flooring is then

laid on the concrete, although carpet prevents the heat from rising into the room and so shouldn’t be used. The big advantage of this type of heating is that the water only needs to be heated to around 40ºC, compared to 80ºC for a radiator. This results in significant energy savings, around 25% for a boiler. The main disadvantage is the cost of installation, in the region of £150 per square meter, so a typical living room would cost about £2400. It is also only really suitable for downstairs rooms.

Electric underfloor heating uses insulated plastic matting with the heating elements embedded in it and is connected to the mains electrical supply. The matting is stuck to the existing flooring and then tiles or wooden flooring can be laid straight into it. It is much cheaper and easier to install, but the running costs are higher than conventional central heating.

Underfloor heating makes most sense in a new build, but if you are fitting a new kitchen or building an extension it is well worth considering.

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

MAKE TIME FOR YOUR BUSINESS

A common challenge for small business owners is making time to develop their business, yet this is a key element of any business strategy. With all the day-to-day responsibilities of running a home and family, it can be hard to focus on growing your own business. We’re all guilty of not getting around to things or making plans that never get executed. It’s much easier to prioritise someone else’s deadlines over our own!

Unfortunately, if you don’t take time out to prioritise your own business development, your business will plateaux. That can be demotivating and when you’re not feeling inspired, it’s hard to feel excited about your ‘passion.’ So, what can you do?

Prioritise: Don’t try to do everything at once, or nothing gets finished. Choose one idea and go all in. Store the other ideas safely so they’re there when you need them.

Map it out: Draw out the steps you need to take. When climbing the stairs, we don’t leap straight to the top of the staircase! We take it one step at a time, making steady progress until we reach the top.

Feeling overwhelmed: Decide what you’re going to do over the next two weeks only. This makes things more manageable.

Time: How much time are you willing to give this project? Two hours a day? Four hours

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

a week? Spend your allotted hours focusing on the business development project and you’ll keep moving towards achieving your goal. If something unexpected arises and you have to sacrifice your allotted time, make it up asap. Short on time? Watch an hour less of Netflix or ask for help with children. Use that time to make up your missed hours. You’ll feel so good that you did!

Don’t put your own goals on the back burner; your business doesn’t deserve to come last. Even with a couple of hours a week, you’ll make steady progress. If your business is important to you, make time for business development!

HOW TO STAY CYBER SECURE WHILE WORKING FROM HOME

Government statistics suggest that since the pandemic began, 49% of adults are spending more time working from home. Remote working since the pandemic has been shown to give staff a better work/life balance and there are more and more small businesses owners opting to run their business from home.

Effective, secure IT systems are absolutely crucial to remote working though. Without things such as laptops, PCs, email and the internet it would be impossible. Another very important factor for home working is IT security. This will not only keep personal devices safe but also protect any key systems and data stored centrally. But what are the major things to think about?

Here are our top 3 tips for keeping your systems and data safe when working from home: 1.Valid anti-virus software on devices Whether staff use their own PC or a company laptop, the device must have up-to-date, robust anti-virus software installed. In addition, it is essential to make sure it is active on the device too. This software will protect the computer from dangerous viruses and malware when online. Without it, the device is exposed to being infected by some very nasty IT viruses.

2.Complex Passwords Make sure you are using complex passwords. Passwords should always be different for individual apps and logins. They should consist of numbers, case

sensitive letters and at least 1 symbol, 8 Characters long at least and not relate to any personal information.

3. Updates If your laptop or device needs an update, then do it! Breaches in security can occur through outdated software. So, the next time you see that Windows needs to run updates, let them run! Check that your applications are still supported. If they no longer receive updates, then your device could be left vulnerable. It’s always best to check that your software is current.

If you need any further advice on internet security, consult your friendly neighbourhood IT consultant.

Westcroft is a 28 bedded Nursing Home and is registered with the Care Quality Commission. It stands in a convenient location in Hanley, close to Hanley Park. Our Philosophy is to promote a homely atmosphere, encompassing a safe, relaxed environment in which a high standard of care can be achieved. To treat residents with dignity and respect, appreciating their individual, physical, emotional, social and cultural needs.

Garden of Remembrance Limited

Garden of Remembrance

Spring Garden Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. ST3 2QN

Spring Garden Road, Longton,

E: gardenofremembrance@hotmail.co.uk Telephone Number: 01782 326083 www.gardenofremembranceltd

The Garden of Remembrance Limited is a Unique Independently owned cemetery, established in 2005.

We pride ourselves in delivering the best possible service, and our core policies are of paramount importance to us.

The cemetery sits on the edge of the potteries in Staffordshire and is set in a very quiet and tranquil location, enabling you to visit your loved ones in peace.

The cemetery is monitored 24/7 and open 365 days a year.