Word Gets Around Magazine - Taunton - Issue 45

Area 1: Community News - Features - Reviews and more.

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ISSUE 45 .1

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Photo: Craig Stone

Editor: Clive Smith clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk Design: Paul Smith paul@wordgetsaround.co.uk Address: Hestercombe House Hestercombe Gardens Cheddon Fitzpaine Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8LQ. Phone: 01823 765045 Artwork to: info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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I think April will be remembered for two reasons. The passing of HRH. Duke of Edinburgh after a lifetime as the Queen’s consort. Then the beginning of the end (we hope) of the Coronavirus in the UK. At last that light at the end of the tunnel is shining brighter and for the first-time things are slowly getting back to some sort of normality. We have all been tested in one way or another, financially, mentally and resourcefully.

We need to support our local traders and help them to rebuild our local economy and our way of life. For many it’s given us the chance to reflect, re-think, and maybe hange the way we do things hereon.

For us, we have changed our magazines from bi-monthly to monthly. Our Taunton magazine has been turned into 3 magazines. Instead of one magazine covering 30,000 homes, we now have 3, with 10,000 in each area. This gives our advertisers more choice in areas, size and budget.

Together with our West Somerset magazine we can offer unrivalled coverage too. Well, let’s look ahead and be optimistic, and roll on June, so we can socialise as we were meant to.

Clive

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Taunton Police Station c 1900

As we have recently waved goodbye to our police station (and other things) I thought that it would be appropriate to show our original police station which to my mind was a fine edifice worth preserving. The station was built in 1856 to house the Taunton Division. It stood next to the Shire Hall opposite the later station. There was little in the way of accommodation. The building had a few cells with living quarters for the superintendent.

George Goldsmith was the first incumbent possibly for as long as 28 years. There was also a parade room and a small office.

By 1884 the Taunton Division had 27 constables and 2 sergeants.

The Police Bill was introduced by the Government in 1856. This meant that counties were obliged to provide a police force. The idea was not universally accepted by counties as some felt that such a 4.

force would constitute a regime fit only for those despotic countries where free speech and civil liberties were curtailed.

Some wanted to retain the old scheme of paid constables funded by the local authority.

Nevertheless, the new bill was passed and the Taunton Division was established.£30,000 was lent

by The West of England Insurance Co. This on the understanding that 14 new divisional headquarters would be built in Somerset. The Bridgwater station was built in the following year at a cost of £90,000. The central government would not issue a loan for the stations so private support had to be found. The loan was repaid by the ratepayers.

The land for the Taunton station was bought from butcher Thomas Macey and the first policeman moved in December 1856. He had a uniform required by the Bill

comprising of one greatcoat, one frock coat, two pairs of trousers, stock and clasp,cape and hat, truncheon, girdle, lantern,pair of handcuffs, stick, brush and warrant card. Leggings and helmet came later.

An extension to the station was built in 1875 to house several single men. The area was retained as accommodation for officers until the late 1930s. The police station was moved to the current building across the road which had been converted from an administration block for Taunton prison. The old station was let to officers and their families until 1962.The entire building was then demolished to make way for the new extension to County Hall.

Sadly another part of Taunton’s past gone forever. The image here has been edited and coloured.

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Jo Middleton is the owner of the longrunning and hilariously funny parenting blog, Slummy Single Mummy and author of ‘Playgroups and Prosecco’.

I’m writing this, mid-April, the very day after my first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine.

I know, I know, I don’t look old enough - the official line is that we’re in the over 45s round and I’m only 42 - but who am I to argue with an official text message? I did once get invited to have a flu vaccine, now I think about it, on the grounds of an underlying health condition.

I phoned my GP surgery and asked them exactly what the condition was, as it was news to me, but they weren’t able to shed any light on it either.

Perhaps I have a box ticked somewhere deep within the NHS systems.

Anyway, whatever the reason, it’s done, another rung climbed in the ladder to freedom.

Or is it?

The further along the roadmap we travel, the more I’m beginning to wonder whether I actually want to find my way out at all. I wrote on Instagram recently about feeling a reluctance to give up my own company, and a lot of people admitted they felt the same.

Over these last couple of months in particular, I finally feel like I’ve found my rhythm. I’m enjoying early morning walks alone before settling down to work at my little desk at home.

Whereas earlier in the pandemic I was longing for the days when I could work in the noisy hubbub of a cafe or co-working space, now I find myself relishing the peace.

I feel in a lot of ways like I am on the cusp of something, a turning point in what has turned out to be a year of self-discovery. I don’t feel like the same person that I was a year ago, but this new person still feels fresh and not quite formed. I want more time with her. I want more time to solidify the thoughts and feelings that have been developing in me since the New Year.

I worry that the pressure to return to ‘normal’ is going to be overpowering, that the softness of this newly formed shape will be crushed and forgotten, and I don’t want to forget. While on the one hand I do want to venture back out into the world and reconnect with people, on the other I want to cherish

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both the stronger sense of community and the lessons I’ve learned about myself, to hold onto this easier, more peaceful version of me.

Peaceful in the sense of enjoying the quiet, but also in terms of being at peace with myself.

Without external pressures we’ve been able to peel back the layers a little haven’t we? To be a more honest and authentic version of ourselves, with less fear of judgement. Last week I turned down work because saying ‘I don’t think this will allow me to thrive’ - 2020 me would never have dared to be so real.

So yes, let’s look forward to those evenings in the pub garden, let’s follow the roadmap, but let’s do it with thoughtfulness for the journey we’ve travelled so far.

Copywriter, author, speaker, self titled ‘word whore’.

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.7

The Last Word-Book Review With John Fish

The Lamplighters

By Emma Stonex

Skylarks with Rosie - A Somerset Spring

Published by Picador (Released: 4th March 2021) 368 Pages HB £14.99

Published by Saraband Books: (18th March 2021) 208 Pages PB £12.99

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex is based on real events and the novel is a compulsive mystery and beautifully crafted. It is New Year’s Eve 1972, and a boat is approaching the Maiden Rock lighthouse off the Cornish coast.

This lighthouse is far off the coast and the three men that take turns at manning the lighthouse are isolated and when a storm starts the sea that surrounds them is a boiling sea that lashes the lighthouse.

The boat has come to take the three men back to shore to be with their families after months at the Maiden Rock, but something is not quite right. There is no sign of Bill Walker, Arthur Black, or Vincent Bourne, they have vanished mysteriously. But how is that possible, as they are miles from anywhere, just the sea for company.

Once inside the Maiden Rock lighthouse nothing seems as it should. That alone is enough to send a shiver down the spine. What has happened to the three men? Was it suicide, or murder or something more ghostly?

It is now 1992 and the mystery remains just that, there are now explanations and for Helen, Jenny, and Michelle, how can they move one when they do not know what happened to their loved ones and the mystery has only driven a wedge between them. But now a writer has come forward and wants to speak to the three women about their memories and now the three women talk their theories, and so we also get to see the days of the three men at the lighthouse.

The Lamplighters is beautifully written and an impressive mystery and atmospheric novel. One of my novels of 2021 so far.

By Stephen Moss

None of us are going to ever forget 2020 and the first lockdown.

Nature has played a noticeably big part in getting many of us through the difficult months. We are incredibly lucky to have one of the countries most leading nature writers living in Somerset and recently released is Stephen’s latest book: Skylarks with Rosie: A Somerset Spring in which Stephen Moss describes the Spring of 2020 and then the first lockdown. The countryside is alive with birdsong that heralds Spring, but this is not going to be a normal springtime and now his daily walks with Rosie his Labrador are going to be a loop close to his home on the Somerset Levels.

While out on his walks overhead there are Buzzards, and the trees and hedgerows are alive with the songs of Chiffchaffs and Robins and the first butterflies are spotted. As lockdown meant we were kept apart from family and friends we found new ways of keeping in touch and here in Stephen’s latest book, here he talks to us about the friends and his relatives that he was missing and finding ways in our modern world of keeping in contact.

As the world around us became suddenly quieter due to little or no traffic and no aircraft overhead the dawn chorus suddenly became more prominent. Can this be a sign that more people are taking note of the natural world around them.

Hope for the future perhaps?

There is something so calming about walking in the countryside in the spring and hearing the song of a skylark and then stop to look skywards in the hope of spotting one of our most beautiful of songbirds.

Read more of John’s book reviews at: www.thelastwordbookreview.com 8.

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.9

MARTIN G STRAUS - 0747 007 8131

Asparagus & Bacchus A divine wine & food pairing

TH E DYMON D GEEZER

The English asparagus season is upon us, but asparagus is notoriously hard to pair with wine.

Traditional wine pairings are Sauvignon Blanc or Alsace Muscat (dry), but I do my best to seek good English wine equivalents - many years ago I discovered the Bacchus wine grape is a perfect match. I always look for an award-winning regional wine if possible, and this year I’m recommending Sharpham Bacchus 2019 11% abv. (£17.20 + Carriage by post from Sharpham or buy from their shop at the Estate). Off dry and aromatic, this wine has consistently won top awards in national and SouthWest competitions. Not too heavy in alcohol, it makes a great lunch wine, or with a first course. Sharpham also produces excellent cheeses, and is located near Totnes.

Sharpham Estate: Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7UT 01803 732 20 www.sharpham.com/shop/wine/

Over the past year, my friend Geoff Dymond has phoned me every day to know I’m OK, a blessing in these challenging times. At Christmas he gave me a bottle of Lyme Bay Elderberry & Port Liqueur and asked me to see what cocktail I could make from it. I wanted to use local alcoholic ingredients, and I therefore opted to include the outstanding Tors Vodka, made from soft British winter wheat spirit and Dartmoor spring water (70cl £32 + Carriage from Tors, or check for local stockists – none in Somerset at time of writing).

For the asparagus, wherever I’ve lived , I’ve always looked for a nearby farm, as this guarantees maximum freshness – and we need to support local farmers more than ever! Last year I had some outstanding quality asparagus on my first order. However, Royal Mail let me down very badly on the second order, as it was delayed so long in the post (First Class), it was rotten when it finally arrived. This year you need to check whether deliveries by post are to be restarted, but I personally will collect from the farm!

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• 40ml Tors Vodka, 40% abv • 40ml Elderberry & Port Liqueur, Lyme Bay Winery, 17% abv • 20 ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice • 15 ml Sugar Syrup (to taste) • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters • Garnish – Slice of Lemon

Tors Vodka, Unit 22, Fatherford Farm Industrial Estate, Okehampton, EX20 1QQ. 01837 354 100 www.torsvodka.co.uk info@torsvodka.co.uk The Dymond Geezer (created by Martin G Straus) Dedicated to Geoff Dymond, Chairman, Taunton 41 Club

SHAKE over ice cubes and STRAIN into chilled cocktail glass (Martini or Coupe) The sweetness of the liqueur and sugar syrup are perfectly balanced by the acidity of the lemon and the body of the vodka. The liqueur also adds a fruity/ tannic note and the Angostura bitters a touch of spice.

Follow Martin’s Drinks Club on Facebook and on YouTube for a wonderful blend of recipes for you to mix, and enjoy at home.

10.

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.11

Little by little we are coming out of lockdown, which is exciting, with many of us making plans for the 17th May onwards, how we want to embrace and celebrate the coming summer. Seeing family and friends indoors and outdoors, picnics, meet up in cafés, visit your favourite local restaurant, trip to the seaside with a stay in a hotel, but in the same breath we are all aware of still needing to be cautious and for some of us there will be an overwhelming feeling, of nervousness and anxiety to step out of the safe bubble we have been in for the past fourteen months. Mindfulness and Compassion is very much about your awareness of your experience here and now in this moment, with compassion to others and self. Over the coming weeks we all need to embrace humanity with kindness and understand how we are all one, but very individual, show compassion and empathy to others you meet, as you may not be aware of their circumstances, feelings, overwhelmed having lost loved ones or suffered themselves or their families with Covid and continue with Long Covid.

Let us aim to respect, and be spatial aware, when someone looks at you nervously, passing, queuing or sat on the next table, and you cannot see quite why? Enjoy this fabulous feeling of escapism and stay safe. Do not forget there are, Psychotherapist, Counsellors, Therapists, Mindfulness and Compassion Teachers, and Helplines if you need additional support to embrace these new times.

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12.

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What is Telephobia?

Do you identify with this image?

I laughed when I first saw it. I would do almost ANYTHING to avoid speaking on the phone.

For many people, ‘telephobia’ as it’s known, is real and is particularly common among those of us with social anxiety.

Lots of people dislike speaking on the phone, but it’s a real problem if it causes us to delay important calls, affects our ability to work or causes physical symptoms such as nausea, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath.

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Humans are social creatures so speaking on the phone is daunting because we’re denied all social cues: gestures, body language, and eye contact. We rely solely on the voice and this can make us hyperaware of our own voice and choice of words.

Anxious people often rate texting as a superior form of communication. It allows time to think about responses, which takes the pressure off interactions. It also means we are not the sole focus of someone’s attention, which can feel unnerving, and pauses in the conversation can feel hostile and interminable.

Speaking on the phone though is a skill, and like any skill we improve the more we do it.

The more practice you have, the less anxious and more confident you’ll feel. Start by making a list of the people or organisations you need to call and articulate what it is about the call that provokes anxiety. Are you worried you’ll be judged, or you’ll stumble over your words and sound stupid? When you hang up, articulate what went well so you acknowledge your successes.

If telephobia is interfering with your life or threatening your job then consider seeking cognitive behavioural therapy. This is a highly effective treatment for social anxiety. Don’t suffer in silence.

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Welcome back to the libraries! @SomersetLibrariesUK

We are delighted to announce that our libraries have reopened for you to come and choose your books, talking books and DVDs and use our computers. Our shelves are crammed with some fabulous brand-new books and did you know, you can borrow up to 20 books at a time, all for free!

We’ll still have Covid secure measures in place to keep you and staff safe and you can still use the click-and-collect ‘Library Choice’ service and/or the mobile library or Home Library Service.

This may be the first time you’ve used your local library in a while, so If you want to check that your membership is still active then just use the simple ‘membership checker’ form on www.somersetlibraries.co.uk or pop into your local branch where staff will be happy to help.

To make sure you keep up-to-date, register for our newsletter via our website, or by speaking to any member of staff in the library.

We are getting ready launch an exciting series of events and activities over the coming months, including the return of some regular favourites alongside some exciting new events!

Jobseekers can borrow an internet-ready tablet for free for up to six weeks – great for job searching, developing a CV or finding out how to perform in an online interview. Library computers are also available, but you may need to pre-book a time slot in advance. The study booths in Taunton library are also once again available to book.

Come in & browse Updated collections & new books for all ages Computers available FOLLOW US

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activities, but if you do join the library you’ll get free access to 1000’s of e-Newspapers, e-Magazines, e-Audio and e-Books, as well as being able to borrow books, DVD’s and Talking Books.

Visit: www.somersetlibraries.co.uk for more information on joining and for other useful updates on opening times and our wide range of services.

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THE SHOW MUST GO ON...

REOPENING 18 TH MAY 2021

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.15

What are the benefits?

The benefits of anything, landscaping included, are often subjective; however, there are some broader benefits to landscaping that we think most people would agree on…

Landscaping creates beautiful spaces

What is landscaping, and do I need it?

By Angus Tookey To definite it literally, landscaping is “The process of making a garden or other piece of land more attractive by altering the existing design, adding ornamental features, and planting trees and shrubs”.

In practice, a professional landscaper should bring much more to the table than simply the labour of planting trees and shrubs: Planning - Before any physical work is started, everything must be planned. If the work is being carried out by an external team rather than a DIY project, this phase will include discussing your needs and desires. This would include discussions surrounding the scope of your particular project and your budget. Plans can then be created, which will outline all of the details needed in order to progress.

Ground Preparation – Frequently, the ground in the area must be prepared prior to any form of installation or build. This can be anything from simply removing grass or existing obstacles to large-scale debris removal and ground levelling. This step is crucial not only for effective installation but for hassle-free maintenance too.

Installation - Now that everything is planned, prepped, and there’s nothing left to get in the way, the installation of landscaping elements can begin.

Hardscape elements (such as patios, fences, walkways and retaining walls) are often installed first.

This provides a good, defined outline and framework that can be built upon/planted throughout the rest of the installation.

Maintenance - The installation’s done, the space looks beautiful - but that’s not the end of the process. Maintenance is required to keep your newly-landscaped area looking (and living) the way it deserves to. The amount of maintenance required will vary depending on the project. Generally, maintenance involves taking care of the plants (weeding, irrigation, fertilising etc.), as well as maintaining any wooden structures or stone paving and bricks.

16.

You wouldn’t think twice about why it is a good idea to hire an interior designer when you are redesigning a room in your house, and the same goes for a professional landscaper. A good landscaper has an eye for what works and what doesn’t, can call on their experience to make suggestions in-line with your desires, and, ultimately, help create a beautiful outdoor space.

The visual appeal of a well designed and landscaped space is good not only for property value but also for personal happiness and calm. Imagine the feeling you get from tidying up the lounge, putting everything in its correct place and neatly organised.

This calm feeling derived from the transition of messy to neat is the same feeling you experience in a neatly organised and landscaped outdoor space.

Increase the value of your property As we alluded to earlier, landscaping can improve the market value of your property. The outdoor spaces around your property are akin to the packaging of a product or the presentation of your favourite dish at a restaurant. Although it isn’t ‘the main event’, it is a major contributory factor to how ‘the main event’ is perceived.

Spending time and money on the space outside of your property can help bring in a better return on your investment should the time ever come that you decide to sell up. Professionally-landscaped outdoor spaces are a major selling point for your property, and studies have shown could see a market value increase of up to 20%. On a few hundred thousand pound house, that percentage represents a fair amount of return.

Landscaping can protect the environment Many landscaping projects help to create unique habitats and microclimates that can aid both the fauna and the flora in the surrounding area. Particularly if the natural surroundings are incorporated, and native plants are used, these outdoor spaces become beautiful, safe havens that require less long-term resources to maintain.

The bees will be particularly grateful. Plants and shrubs attract essential pollinators to the area, helping them survive and thrive whilst also ensuring the continued development and health of our planet.

And well, if that isn’t enough reason to undertake a little garden landscaping, then I don’t know what is?

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.17

Things may appear to have been quiet since the curtailment of the 2020-21 campaign, but behind the scenes planning has been well under way in readiness for what we all hope will be a full and normal Southern League season which is scheduled to begin on Saturday 14th August.

Team Captain Nick Grimes was first to commit to the Peacocks for the forthcoming season. The 23 year old centre half was appointed skipper at the start of last season, having joined the Peacocks in August 2019 from Tiverton Town.

Nick commented: “I’m over the moon to sign a new deal at this fantastic football club”.

The Cygnet Health Care Stadium’s pitch has been cut regularly, recently fertilised and verti-drained and is looking immaculate thanks to the continued hard work and commitment of Groundsman Simon Best and partners.

Vice-captain Dan Sullivan will also be wearing the claret and blue in 2021-22 for his 5th campaign as a Peacock. Dan remarked: “I’m very happy to be staying at Taunton for another season. It’s been a strange last couple of seasons with us not being able to complete them, so it was a no brainer agreeing another year. I’m raring to get the season going and get back playing in front of the best non-league fans.”

The first team squad resumed training recently and will continue until the end of April before returning for pre-season in the summer.

Head of Football Rob Dray has been hard at work preparing for next season securing the services of several key players for his squad already.

Head of Football Rob Dray said: “Securing Sully on an extension is again crucial to where we want to be. He can change a game on its head and has been a constant performer for us in the last few seasons.”

Club Captain and Goalkeeper Lloyd Irish is the third player to commit to the Peacocks for the 2021-22 season. Irish is the Peacock’s longest-serving player, having racked up an impressive 369 full and one substitute appearance during his two spells at the club. He made his debut in a home defeat to AFC Hayes in November 2008, leaving in 2010 to spend several seasons at Westonsuper-Mare before he returned in October 2014. Since then he has been virtually a permanent fixture in the side, missing only seven games during the 2018-19 campaign.

Head of Football Rob Dray added: “Lloyd first and foremost is one of the top keepers in non-league football in the south-west but also a fantastic servant to the club, and will no doubt go down as a club legend when he finishes his career.

It’s great to have him on board for another season.”

Going the other way is Owen Howe who has agreed terms with Southern League Division One South side Bristol Manor Farm.

Further squad and other Club news will be published over the coming weeks via the Club’s website www.tauntontown.com and social media channels, as below.

18.

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.19

BRAIN TRAIN

Cognitive training is a program of regular activities that help to maintain or improve one’s cognitive abilities.

Hi! I’m Petee.

My friend Charlie the Chameleon is great at hiding. He’s hidden somewhere within this magazine.

See if you can spot him and email us with where he is.

Email.... info@wordgetsaround.co.uk*

Where’s that to?

Across 1 4 8 9 10 11 13

15 17 20 21 23 24 25

Ok, get this one...

What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right?

20.

Amundsen Barbosa Bass Boone Cabot Cartier Columbus Cook Cortes Dias Drake Eriksson Fawcett Flinders Gray Hawkins Heriolfsson Hudson Kingsley Magellan Park Raleigh Scott Shackleton Sturt Tasman Tenzing Vancouver Vasco de Gama Vespucci

Rip-off, hoax (4) Twirling (8) Foetus (6) Be angry about (6) Circle (4) Striped feline (5,3) Monty Python’s, ____ __ Brian (4,2) Native American home (6) Another word for aubergine (8) Small round salty cracker (4) Cavern, den (6) Womb (6) Supply, material (8) Seize, grab (4)

Down 2 3 4 5

6 7

12 14 16 18 19 22 19 21

Mixing (9) Phenomenon (7) Crow, flaunt (5) Welsh_______, cheese on toast (7) Delicious (5) Female member of religious order (3) Dumbfounded (9) The essence of a food (7) Ardent, impassioned (7) Paved garden area (5) Accord, amnesty (5) Fish eggs (3) Dock, levee (5) Bald, Golden or Pygmy (5)

Sudoku The scientific term for brain freeze is “sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia”.

If a Polar Bear and a Grizzly Bear mate, their offspring is called a “Pizzy Bear”.

The first movie ever to put out a motion-picture soundtrack was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

At birth, a baby panda is smaller than a mouse.

Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

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.21

Ginger George Taunton’s Top Cat - The word on the street.

Well what a beautiful Bank Holiday and it’s actually sunny and warm for a change. There is nothing warmer than the sun’s rays. Time for an extended sleep in some warm spot. Next door’s shed roof is always a good spot. I curl up, get myself in a comfortable position and I’m just nodding off when the shed door opens and the lawn mower is dragged out. Not the old pull and push quiet one but the loud hover sort. I can’t put up with the noise so I make my way across the fences and spy another good spot on a shed roof.

This garden has no grass so no fear of the lawnmower coming out here. I settle down when all of a sudden something is plugged in and now it’s ‘wash the patio time’. This device is louder than the hover mover, and has a long gun thing spraying water everywhere. I’m getting wet now, so I’m off.

I escape over more fences and check out the next few gardens. Eventually I find one, grass already been cut, and no patio. I’ll find a nice spot, peaceful and warm. Ten minutes in the back doors open, out run four little girls dragging a plastic paddling pool. They are shrieking with delight. To make things worse there is already a trampoline which the girls dive on and bounce up and down. “Look at me Mummy, look at me”.

What is it with young girls they have to scream continuously? The pool is filled and every possible plastic item is thrown in there, including water pistols. I’m off at that point.

Next garden, demented Jack Russell continuously barking its head off.

Shall I try the allotments? The trouble is the old boy with the rake chases us off. He has an inherent dislike to cats; he thinks we use his garden for a toilet. Well ok, so we do but is the rake necessary? Still, worth a chance for some peace and quiet. As I approach, he’s got a nice smoky bonfire going. He’s more inconsiderate than we are, bet those with the washing out love him! Give that place a miss.

I’ll try the park. Loads of dog walkers but, I can find refuge up a tree, out of harms way. I scamper up and find a nice branch in direct sunlight. I’m just about to nod off when this thing flies past my head, buzzing as it goes. A wasp? No, some kid with a drone flying this thing up and down. I give in. I make my way back home and I think I’ll just hide under a bed.

I pass the guy tinkering with his motorbike, revving it up, the kid in his garage playing the drums, the house with a disco at full blast with the windows open, the family drinking wine next to the well smoking barbeque. The other family and their new fire pit. What is it with humans, you get a nice sunny bank holiday and they have to ruin it?

I reach home to find my food bowl is empty, they have forgotten to feed me. I walk in the lounge and my mummy carer is watching something on TV. I give a gentle “meow” reminder that I need food and she turns around and goes, “Oh George, QUIET now!, I’m watching Bridgerton”.

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.23

Kids and Uncertainty Helping young people cope in uncertain times

The COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down. As adults we’ve had too many questions and too few answers, and many of us felt overwhelmed in the face of so much uncertainty.

Now imagine what it’s like to be a child or teenager in this environment.

Young people don’t have the cognitive development, life experience, and coping skills to deal with all the uncertainties we face. So even though we may be struggling, it’s up to us as the adults to help them manage these feelings.

It’s not unusual for young people to be anxious about the future, especially as they near the end of school, or transition from one school to another. They might be stressed about the uncertainty surrounding exams, or what might happen about their university place. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created more uncertainty than usual. As a parent, it’s hard not to have answers and reassurances.

If your child or teen is anxious it can help give them the sense of some control.

Help them to develop a plan A and a Plan B

Plan A - The ideal plan they would have followed in normal times.

Plan B - An alternative if plan A isn’t viable right now.

Plan A may have involved taking a year out to travel overseas.

Plan B may be to complete some online training then volunteer for a charity, with the intention of switching to Plan A several months down the line.

24.

The idea of Plan B is NOT to give up on Plan A, but rather to postpone it, while still moving forward in other areas.

Show your child how to be okay with uncertainty Tolerating uncertainty is a skill that can be learned by practising how to respond in the best way we can to what’s happening in the present.

Try doing small things together differently, such as preparing a meal without a recipe using only what’s in the cupboard or picking a random film to watch or podcast to listen to without knowing anything about it.

Validate your child’s feelings and concerns.

Accept how they feel and resist the urge to “fix” them by minimizing their worries or making promises that are not within your control to keep.

Instead encourage them to be kind to themselves and realistic in their thinking. Listen to them and remind them that this is a very unusual situation; it would be weirder if they weren’t anxious!

Talk about the things they value

It’s usually possible to find something, even a small thing that they value or appreciate. Help them to refocus on the good things in their life.

Share some of the things you are grateful for.

It’s difficult for most of us to remain calm and focused at the moment, and we all have to accept that we can’t predict the future. It helps our kids to see us focus on the things we can control.

We can model strategies and show them that whatever happens, we can cope with it together.

By Kate McCarthy

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1 x 400ml can coconut milk 150ml double cream 1 x 160g can coconut cream 50g golden caster sugar 4 large egg yolks 25g desiccated coconut, toasted Method: Whisk the sugar and the egg yolks in a bowl until thick and creamy. Pour the coconut milk, double cream and coconut cream in a saucepan and heat until it almost reaches boiling point. Pour this coconut milk mixture in a slow stream over the egg yolks and sugar, whisking constantly.

Rinse out the saucepan (important to stop any burning and tainting of the ice cream) and return to a low heat. Pour in the custard mixture and stir in the desiccated coconut. Continue to stir constantly for 5-10 mins until the custard thickens slightly and you can trace a line through it with a wooden spoon.

Pour into a bowl and cover the surface of the custard with cling film...to prevent a skin forming), allow to cool, then chill for 30 mins.

At this point you can use your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you don’t have an ice cream maker transfer the chilled custard to a small freezer-safe container with a lid and freeze for 1 hr, then use a fork or electric whisk to really churn through the ice cream to break up the ice crystals so that the mixture is the same consistency all the way through. Pop it back into the freezer for another 2-3 hrs, whisking it about every half hour, then cover the surface with a sheet of cling film and freeze with the lid on until as firm as ice cream.

Take out of the freezer 10 mins before serving so it’s easy to scoop.

To advertise please call us on 01823 765045 or email info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

.25

​ CHol Tech are a community interest S company setup during lockdown. They turn donated old and unloved laptops into free computers for those on the wrong side of the digital divide, across Wellington, Taunton and Bridgwater. They take requests from parents & schools who cannot afford new equipment.

Carl Molyneux, one of our Windows technicians working on yet another donated laptop, upgrading it to Windows 10.

They are volunteers, including qualified technicians, drivers and administration. They take in donated older laptops, wipe the memories, refurbish them with new SSDs and then donate them to families with kids at home in desperate need of extra equipment.

They target the machines to families who don’t have the funds to go out and buy latest laptop tech but need equipment now to support their children. They are concentrating on laptops, so no iPads or desk based computers. They accept Apple Laptops and Windows Laptops.

They accept requests for laptops direct from schools, or support agencies working with families, and from the families themselves.

Here’s 9 laptops packed into the car expertly delivered by Heather.

They want to hear from you if: • • •

You can donate old laptops

You want to request a laptop

You wish to send them money to help pay for the laptop renovation

They process applications, speaking to the referring agency and also call the requesting family, and those who pass the application process, they then arrange a date to deliver the refurbished laptop. The laptop is a gift, the new family own it.

We spoke to Tim at SCHol.tech recently who said: “The team have worked very hard at SCHol.tech and, along with Simon and Brian my co-directors we would like to give a huge shout out to our amazing team of volunteers. They are incredible!

As always, we are on the hunt for laptops! If you have spare laptops buried in a cupboard somewhere, it’s time to dig it out & donate to an amazing cause. We would love to hear from you!

Especially local businesses. Thank you!”

26.

Children from Minerva School who received laptops from the team during the most recent lockdown and homeschooling session.

Get in touch!

Click on DONATE A LAPTOP on www.schol.tech www.facebook.com/scholtechsomerset www.twitter.com/scholtech

Trivia: The girl and laptop image in their logo was drawn by Tim’s 11 yr old daughter using ProCreate on iPad in 15 minutes!

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Arts Taunton get celebrity endorsement Ian McNeice becomes the latest celebrity to become a patron of local charity, Arts Taunton.

Distinguished actor, Ian, who many will know from his character as Bert Large in TV favourite, Doc Martin, tied up with the charity last year to support their youth festival, Tyca.

The arts charity approached Ian after finding out that he’d been a student at Taunton School where his love of acting began.

They were looking for someone who would be able to host the festival virtually and when asked, Ian said yes.

Scripts were drawn up and a cameraman dispatched after testing negative for Covid-19.

The filming took place in a socially distanced large hotel room with balcony doors and windows open in September of 2020.

“I look back fondly at the start of my own artistic career and I was delighted to be able to introduce and compere the charity’s Tyca festival in 2020, so much so, that when the charity asked me if I would be happy to stay connected in the form of a patron, I didn’t hesitate” said Ian.

“Having a patron on board, with Ian‘s experience and enthusiasm is amazing,” said Kit Chapman, founder and trustee of Arts Taunton. “We feel very honoured, and Ian joins a great line up of active patrons and ambassadors, to whom we are immensely grateful. “ The charity has just announced the theme for their Tyca Festival 2021 which will be Empowerment.

To advertise please call us on 01823 765045 or email info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

.27

Be Fire Safe with a Fire Safe If your house caught fire, would your important documents be safe?

We should be proactive about protecting critical information in case of a fire. Although lots of us have gone digital when it comes to storage of personal information, certain items still need to come in hard copies.

And some things, other than papers, also need to be stored in a safe place.

Ask yourself what you need easy access to when you’re in an emergency fire crisis?

Original birth certificate

Property deeds

National Insurance details

Wills

Business documents

Passports

Insurance documents

Heirlooms

Spare keys for your house/car Irreplaceable items

SERVICING | REPAIRS | MOTS

Cash

Other documents

01823 257444

We are a fully NCC Approved family-run business

01823 665474 www.applecampers.co.uk 29 Foxmoor Business Park | Wellington | Somerset | TA21 9RF

A file containing information: emergency numbers of insurance companies, bank, lawyer, family members, medical prescriptions, GP, and vet details.

A fire safe is a box designed to protect valuables from heat damage and smoke caused by fire. The level of protection is determined by the type of fire safe and its fire rating.

Not all fire safe boxes are alike. Standard fireproof safes protect valuables against intense heat and smoke damage for periods of up to 120 minutes.

But it depends on what you want to store.

Call Drew: 01823 257444

The fire test standards require that the critical maximum temperature of the following media cannot be exceeded: Digital media: 120˚C; Computer data: 52˚C because electronic media melts at a lower temperature than paper combusts. A fire safe rated suitable for paper documents is NOT suitable for digital media.

Most homes don’t have a fire safe…but can you afford to be without one?

By Tom Hancock

28.

We are a local charity who provide free FCA approved confidential debt advice.

Don’t struggle alone, check out our web site and contact us today. www.tada.org.uk

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If a loved one becomes ill - are you able to make health decisions for them?

In the past year you may have seen the story of TV presenter and journalist, Kate Garraway’s heart-breaking story of her husband Derek’s year-long battle with Covid-19 which has been made even more complicated by the lack of legal protection she and Derek had in place. Kate was unable to access funds to manage her husband’s care or refinance her mortgage. She didn’t even have the legal right to see his medical notes, owing to data protection.

Research by SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly), shows that 65% of us think our next-of-kin will make medical and care decisions for us if we are no longer able to. In reality, this isn’t the case unless a Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney is in place. Whilst there’s been a rise in the number of enquiries made about Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs) during the pandemic, only 22% of people in the UK actually have one.

To avoid this difficult kind of legal situation it’s important to use a specialist lawyer who is experienced in this area of the law, and is trained to support people making these crucial, complex and difficult decisions. According to Which?

22,000 LPAs are rejected every year so it’s essential that you get your legal documents right.

As a partner at Acorn Solicitors in Taunton and Street and a member of SFE (Solicitors for the

You may be surprised to know that without a Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney this may not be the case.

We specialise in helping families through what can be a complicated procedure, with no drama.

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Elderly), I specialise in helping families through what can be a complicated procedure, depending on circumstances, and clearly Kate’s story brings home the harsh reality of how difficult it can be. We would urge everyone, regardless of age to consider how this may impact on them in the future. What will it mean to you if a Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney is not in place and you fall ill, as did Kate’s husband at the relatively young age of 52?

J David Sinclair - Partner 01823 273010

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.29

Why guinea pigs make perfect pets

When I was twelve I begged my dad for a pet.

He vetoed a dog or a cat but one night he arrived home with a large cage which housed two chubby balls of cuteness. It was my introduction to guinea pigs.

for younger children under parental supervision.

They can be short or long-haired and come in a variety of colours. The long-haired ones are very pretty but do require frequent grooming.

Guinea pigs, or ‘cavies’, are short-tailed, roughhaired South American rodents. They are longerlived and friendlier than hamsters, and more socially acceptable than rats (disclaimer…I love rats, but many people don’t).

Guinea pigs are rodents with definite personalities so take the time to interact with a few before taking one home. Some are shy and quiet; others are bold and vocal. You need to choose one (or two) that suit your personality and expectations.

I christened them Siouxsie Sioux and Roxy (which gives away my teenage musical tastes). They became my characterful and vocal companions for the next six or so years.

Guinea pigs are pretty hardy and healthy if fed properly. They can be prone to dental issues and bladder stones, but proper nutrition and regular medical check-ups help prevent this. They originate from cool climates and don’t do well in hot, humid, or freezing conditions, so avoid positioning the cage next to a radiator or keeping them outside unless you have a very sheltered warm shed.

The warnings in the previous paragraph notwithstanding guinea pigs are actually easy to care for. They require hay, fresh water, fresh vegetables, a small quantity of specialist guinea pig pellets, and a vitamin C supplement each day. Their cage should be as large as possible and lined with paper-based bedding. It needs to be spot cleaned daily and thoroughly cleaned weekly. They are very sociable and highly fertile so don’t keep a male and female together unless you want baby guinea pigs! They are great pets 30.

The fact that they can live up to 7-8 years (average around 5-6) is both a bonus but also something to consider if your child requests a guinea pig aged fifteen but plans to move out to attend university at 18!

One of the most delightful characteristics of guinea pigs is the sounds they make. They purr like a cat when they are happy and relaxed. They make soft squeaks and squeals to communicate and chatter their teeth when disgruntled. They also exhibit a behaviour called ‘popcorning’ - they jump up and down when happy or excited). My son (who has two guinea pigs) calls it their ‘happy dance’. It’s cute to watch; and they really do like people. They bond with their owners and are as interactive and friendly as cats or dogs. The flip side of this is that if they are ignored they can become depressed.

Guinea pigs make amazing companion.

If you’re considering a pet then check out these cute little creatures.

By Louise Addison

Remember to mention ‘Word Gets Around’ when you contact one of our advertisers.

Farmer isaac I goze in chip shop t’other day, he sez,”Chips are dun, the vish won’t be long”. I Sez, “they’m better be fat then”.

Polly C. Holder I failed math so many times in school I lost count.

9 Joe King Proof that we don’t understand death is that we give dead people a pillow.

14

Amanda Lynn I have an inferiority complex, but it’s not a very good one.

6

Helen Hywater A spa hotel? It’s like a normal hotel, only in reception there’s a picture of a pebble.

12

Mona Lott Here’s a picture of me with REM. That’s me in the corner.

10 Lynn C.Doyle Two aerials meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The reception was brilliant.

6 Herbie Hind The advantages of easy origami are two-fold.

19

Ok, get this one...

Noon

Where’s that to?

The Church of St Mary in Bishops Lydeard.

Dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and has been designated as a Grade I listed building. In 1860–62 the church was extended by one bay and a vestry, by Edward Jeboult of Taunton, added.

Advertise in our June issue

• 4 magazines across Taunton and West Somerset • Delivered Monthly direct to homes • Affordable rates for ALL budgets • BIG discounts for long term bookings • Cut through the digital noise • FREE professional artwork

Call 01823 765045 email info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

Prices are PER Magazine PER month plus VAT

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of the advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Adverts are accepted under the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Word Gets Around Magazines does not endorse any advertising material included in this publication All rights reserved. Word Gets Around Magazines is registered in England and Wales No. 11422005.

Word Gets Around Magazines Ltd hold no liability for supplied artwork from advertisers and contributors and views or advice contained within.

To advertise please call us on 01823 765045 or email info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

.31

How you feel tomorrow starts with choosing the right hospital

At Nuffield Health Taunton hospital, we put your safety first in a COVID-19 secure environment. We have a dedicated team of experts you can trust, offering a range of specialties. And award-winning healthcare that gives you flexible ways to pay.

How you feel tomorrow starts today.

Search Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital or call 01823 478967 @NuffieldHealthTauntonHospital 32.

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