Word Gets Around Magazine Taunton - Issue 32

ISSUE 32 1

Hand delivered FREE to 36,000 homes.

Keep me for 2 months.

Mind full? or Mindful?

Do you need a social detox?

Ritchie Cridge and the 5K year Memories of Taunton with Nick Chipchase

#BIGUPTAUNTON

To advertise please call Clive on #wgataunton 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk www.wordgetsaround.co.uk

.1

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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: paul@wordgetsaround.co.uk Follow us: _wordgetsaround thewordgetsaround wordgetsaround thewordgetsaround www.wordgetsaround.co.uk 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.

Well that’s another year to put in the Santa sack.

Let’s see what 2019 will bring. Brexit, Brexit and more Brexit I’m guessing.

Whilst the politicians agree to disagree over their plans for our future, we will have to plan our own future. January is always a good time to do this.

The start of a new year. Twelve monthly blank canvasses to draw on. A time to design your plan of action. The trouble is we start with good intentions, but it take until March before we actually put stuff into action. It’s that “March already” syndrome, “It only feels like Christmas was last week” I hear you say. We all make excuses, “Wait for the weather to warms up a bit first”.

Let’s take a sheet of paper and tear off ten strips. On each one put down those things you are getting around to doing, but never do, or something you have never tried before. Some ideas could be; join the ramblers, join a choir, do voluntary charity work, attempt something that frightens you that you want to overcome.

A parachute jump or abseiling? Maybe a change of career? Do find you are always moaning about work but never do anything about it? Well now’s your chance?

Right, got your ten strips? Put them into a hat and get a friend to pull one out, or even two and see what they say. Then confirm to your friend and make a promise to them, you are going to do this task, this year. Ask them to hold you accountable to it.

I remember reading Mark Wallington’s book, ‘500 Mile Walkies’ about his journey around the South West Coast path and how he says in the book he would meet up with his friends in the pub and constantly tell them how he’s going to walk that coast path one day, but never actually made any plans.

His friends, by this this time must be fed up with his unachieved quest so they challenged him to do it. “Right I will then”, he says.

500 miles later and a book he fulfilled his dream, just like you can.

We all just need a little push, right?

We need your help in keeping us informed of what events you have forthcoming and remember, if you are a local group or charity you can advertise for free. If you know of any special people who you think should be recognised for the work they do please let us know.

I wish you all the very best for 2019. Make things happen when you can and I wish you good health and fortune with the rest.

Clive

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 Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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Steam Launch and Lime Kilns at Firepool.

With Nick Chipchase I thought we would look at something topical this time. We are all probably fed up with seeing this big derelict site over the last ten years but it does have a little bit of history.

The lime kilns were connected to the canal which joins the river Tone at Firepool. The name Firepool dates back at least to the 1880’s and probably just reflects the turbulent nature of the weir there. The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal was opened as far as Huntworth in 1827 though the connection with Bridgwater was not finally achieved until 1841.

From Firepool the canal ran parallel with the railway to cross Station Road on an aqueduct ( recently refurbished ) which eventually became the railway goods avoidance loop. In 1867 the G.W.R. bought the canal whose trade in competition with the railway slowly declined until the last commercial barge ran in 1907.

Until 1929 there were open fields running right up to Canal Road. There was a pub in Canal Road around 1900 called The Sun Inn. I suppose it is a shame some of that was not left as parkland running along the river. There was also a football pitch here. In one area known as Jarvis Field the circus used to be held. Great excitement occurred when a leopard escaped from Fosset’s Circus in 1890 and the the animal got into the parlour of Prospect Villa before being shot dead. More mayhem ensued when the big top at Sanger’s Circus caught fire in July 1920.

4.

About 2,000 people including many women and children were in the tent to watch an afternoon performance when it caught fire and a stampede to escape ensued. Luckily no animals were in the ring as Pimpo the clown was making people laugh with his comic boxing antics. He quickly rushed to make an exit in the burning tent for the terrified women and children.

Sadly six people perished in the fire but it would have been much worse if the larger animals had been inside.

In 1929 the market moved to the site after being held on the Parade and at Castle Green. Priory Bridge Road was opened with the construction of a new bridge and the market had at last purpose built buildings. On the other side of the river where the new offices are now was a large allotment and further along was Priory Park Sports Ground and club.

Taunton lost it’s status as a market town after nearly 1,000 years when the market was moved to junction 24 at Bridgwater. It was a sad event for many but, in truth, to survive the market needed better facilities and to be closer to the motorway.

A vision of 1900 Taunton remains with the name ‘Priory Fields’ though now there is little grass to be seen.

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.5

Beat the January Blues

By Tom Hancock It’s hard not to feel a little deflated after all the festive fun. Here are five ways to beat the January blues.

Exercise!

I can hear your groans but one of the best ways to fight the blues and improve well-being is exercise. January is a great time to join a gym... motivation for change is high and there are lots of introductory deals and taster sessions on offer.

But if the gym doesn’t appeal then try walking. A brisk walk in the open air is guaranteed to get your endorphins racing

Eat well!

I know we’ve all eaten rather too well over Christmas but now is the time to sort out your diet.

In a post-festive slump, we are far more likely to continue the cycle of eating junk food for a quick high – only to spiral downwards into feelings of guilt and self-loathing as the sugar rush subsides.

Stock up on fruit and veg, lean meat, nuts and grains, and watch your energy levels rise.

Diary like Pepys

By Lesley Wade Even in a digital age diaries are surprisingly popular gifts.

Perhaps you found yourself sitting pen-poised on January 1st.

On January 1st, 1660 Samuel Pepys was in the same position.

That was the day he began his diary. He could have had no idea what an important document it would become. It is one of the most important documents for historians studying the English Restoration period, which coincidentally also began in 1660.

Pepys’ diaries are special because for just under a decade he recorded the minutiae of his everyday life. It helped that he was quite well-connected. His cousin, Edward Montagu, was a high-ranking naval officer who found a position for Pepys at the Navy Office in the City of London. His hard work and talent saw Pepys promoted through the ranks very quickly.

6.

Sleep more

Most of us don’t sleep enough over Christmas, and sleepdeprivation is known to contribute to feeling blue.

Over the Christmas period our sleep patterns tend to be more irregular, due to late nights, sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings at relatives’ houses, and the consumption of more than usual quantities of alcohol.

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and ensure you get at least eight-hours sleep for a couple of weeks. See how much your mood and performance increases.

His cousin’s position also meant that Pepys was present at many important events, all of which he recorded in his meticulous shorthand.

For example, Pepys was aboard one of the ships which sailed to Holland to bring Charles II back to England. He attended King Charles II’s coronation, and he was also President of the Royal Society for a while.

Pepys recorded everything. He gave vivid accounts of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. It is from him that we are able to relive the theatre of the period, as well as fashion and popular food and drink. His diary has been of invaluable assistance to historians and has given much pleasure to its many readers. We are in turbulent times right now, and about to enter an extraordinary year for our country. Who knows…the historians of the future might be reading your entries on the aftermath of Brexit!

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.7

A Good Read

By Willow Coby

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The Girl in the Blue Coat

By Heather Morris

by Monica Hesse

There are many books about the horrors of the Holocaust, some fictional, others biographical.

This 2018 book is one of the later.

Heather Morris had a chance encounter with Holocaust survivor Lale Sokolov in 2003, and over the following three years until his death, he told her the story of his life.

Adult fiction is not the only genre to venture into Holocaust literature, and age appropriate novels are available for children and young people. One such novel is The Girl in the Blue Coat, aimed at the young adult market. This remarkable novel is fictional, but rooted in an impeccably researched Amsterdam under Nazi occupation.

Lale was a Slovakian Jew and in 1942, at the age of 25, he was transported to Auschwitz in Poland.

Well presented and a bit of a chancer, he managed to get appointed to a job that would allow him to remain alive for the remainder of the war, and give him privileged accommodation and food. He became the Tatowierer whose job it was to scratch indelible numbers into the skin of prisoners.

At first glance this might appear to be a depressing story, but it is ultimately not a story of death but a story of love, survival, and determination in the most horrific place on earth. Here the inmates try to maintain some level of existence despite the fear of death every day. Lale meets Gita, a young Jewish woman assigned to work in the camps and they plan for the seemingly unthinkable: a life beyond the camps. What Morris gives us is a story that you won’t be able to put down. A story of hope that will uplift you and reveal the very best of humanity.

8.

Hanneke is 19 years old and works for an undertaker. However, she also works on the black market, obtaining items otherwise rationed or banned under Nazi occupation. She hates the new regime and the sight of soldiers in her city, but gives very little thought to the treatment of the thousands of Jews living in the Netherlands.

That is until one of her clients presents her with a rather unusual request. She wants her to find Mirjam – a 15 year old Jewish girl whose family have been killed and who was in hiding until she vanished. This request takes Hanneke into a world of resistance that she never knew existed, and the true horror of the treatment of Jews becomes apparent.

Hesse brings 1940s Amsterdam vividly to life and incorporates real stories of individual heroism (such as the resistance workers who saved up to 600 babies by smuggling them out of Amsterdam) among the fictional characters she has created.

Inspired by a trip to Holocaust-related sites in and around Amsterdam she draws on the real life accounts of resistance writers during the war and Jews in hiding, to present a story of how simple acts and unwitting betrayal can change lives.

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.9

Make the most of the New Year Sales

By Sarah Davey We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need.

So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales.

Do your research - Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs.

Goodbye post-sales regrets!

Shop your wardrobe first - Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought.

If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON’T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will co-ordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the sales-shopping mix!

Don’t forget postage costs - If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts.

Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button.

Force yourself to try things on - If it’s worth queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can’t be bothered to queue then put it back, you don’t love it that much.

Set a budget - If you don’t start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget.

10.

Because...new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target!

Beware of returns policies - Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don’t like them once you get them home but...

Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price.

Plan your route - Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding.

Take a friend - Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of you don’t want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. ‘Nuff said!

Eat something first - Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it’s scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings!

The human brain is quirky like that.

Happy shopping!

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Quick Crossword

Across 8 Angry, enraged (5) 9 Surface, layer of earth (7) 10 Hangman (7) 11 Dissertation, article (5) 12 Piece of office equipment (11) 14 Founded, set up (11) 20 Mean, horrible (5) 22 Used to dismiss a football player (3,4) 23 Contaminate, taint (7) 24 Large string instrument (5) Down 1 Snug (5) 2 Flings, pitches (8) 3 Protective hat (6) 4 Traditional, tribal (6) 5 Maintenance (6) 6 Flowerless green plant (4) 7 Andrew _____ Webber, the composer (5) 13 Peepers! (8) 15 Sanctuary, refuge (6) 16 Pantry, food-cupboard (6) 17 Entice, beguile (6) 18 Clumsy, incompetent (5) 19 Optical disc for storing computer data (2-3) 21 Huff, brood (4)

To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

.11

Do you need a Social Detox?

By Louise Addison

January is the traditional time for a detox after the excesses of the festive period, so how about a social detox?

Do I need one?

If there is someone in your life who drains your emotional energy, then that person is likely to be toxic and you are better off without them.

Fortunately, our seven-step plan will free you from social toxicity in 2019 Identify – Toxic people are manipulative and selfish. They are impossible to work with. They rarely apologise for or own their mistakes. If you dread spending time with a person, they are probably toxic and it’s time to move on. If it’s a colleague or a boss start looking for another job.

Be determined - The person might be part of your social circle, or your immediate superior, or they might recognise that you are distancing yourself and try to claw back the friendship. You need to be clear in your own mind and create a mental separation, even if you can’t create a physical one right now.

Set boundaries – Don’t respond to texts, block their number if you can. If it’s a work colleague, only respond to work-related matters and keep the relationship strictly professional. Social media is trickier. Blocking or unfriending can make life awkward if you share mutual friends or work together. I would suggest you unfollow rather than unfriend, and don’t interact with them. The algorithms of most social media sites tend to flag up people you interact with regularly, so by not commenting or responding to them they will gradually disappear from your online world. Stick to your boundaries because toxic people exploit weakness.

12.

Be less ‘nice’ - Not to everyone, just to toxic people. Toxic people take advantage of kind people. They thrive by draining your good energy.

There is no need to be nasty, simply stop being overly accommodating.

Accept you can’t save them - Toxic people show up when they need something: attention, money; a shoulder to cry on. They want a way back into your life. Be determined and maintain your boundaries.

If they are in real straits direct them to resources that specialise in the help they currently require.

Solving their problem is not your responsibility.

Family matters - Toxic family members are particularly difficult to deal with as a clean break is often impossible. But you can still establish clear boundaries, even if they are in your head. Limit interactions, perhaps only phone a toxic parent once a month for 20 minutes, or restrict visits to three times per year, whatever works for you. The point is, take control, visualise your boundaries clearly then stick to them.

Treat it like a relationship break- up - Be kind to yourself. We are primed as humans to need relationships, but we don’t need unhealthy relationships. The more time you spend away from toxic people, with positive, loving people who bring joy to your life, the more uplifted you will feel.

Make time for people who bring you happiness and let go of those who bring you anything less.

IMPORTANT - Please note that there is a difference between people who are truly toxic and people who have a negative outlook because they struggle with depression. Most of us can tell the difference between toxicity and depression. If your friend or family member suffers from clinical depression let them know that you love and support them. Don’t cut them out of your life.

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

We teamed up with @tauntonfoodie to bring you the best independent eateries in town.

For lunch: Shoreditch White

Great brunch options, doorstep sandwiches to die for and sweet treats that are second to none. This lovely cafĂŠ keeps on giving.

Corporation Street, shoreditchwhite.com Or you could try: Silvers Pantry, silverspantry.co.uk

For a romantic dinner: The Bank

A cosy, exclusive and oh-so romantic feel to this contemporary, cosy, candle-lit restaurant serving British food with international influences.

Middle Street, thebanktaunton.co.uk Or you could try: Brazz, brazz.co.uk

For a quick fix on the go: Silvan’s

Flatbreads, burgers, brunch‌ Silvan’s is the cute vintage van that sits outside the monster new NatWest. The flavours are intense – this is no ordinary burger van!

North Street, silvans.co.uk Or you could try: The Olive Tree, theolivetreetaunton.co.uk

With fishy friends: Albatross

Reasonably newly opened by the team from Augustus, this seafood speciality restaurant offers up the most sophisticated fresh and sensational fish dishes.

Riverside Place, albatrosstaunton.co.uk Or you could try: Augustus, augustustaunton.co.uk

For something different: The Tropical Hut We recommend the Boodle Fight – no cutlery, no plates, just super-yummy food cooked and served to eat with your fingers. Great for large groups and an experience like no other!

Staplegrove Road, tropicalhut.co.uk Or you could try: Anise, anisetaunton.com

For vegans: The Planet

Perfect for the fast-growing number of vegans‌ Offering a mouth-watering selection of plantbased dishes, including pasta, burgers, salads and lots of lovely sweet treats, too.

Paul Street, the-planet.business.site Or you could try: Mint and Mustard, mintandmustard.com

For the best pasta: Ciao Amore

Consistently ranked best restaurant in Taunton on Tripadvisor, this quaint restaurant offers authentic Italian food and flavours, with top-notch service and it’s very reasonably priced.

Eastgate, kshrkapoor.wixsite.com/ciaoamore Or you could try: Little Italy, facebook.com/ littleitalytaunton

For curry fans: Guddi & Gikki

Family-run, this bustling and fun Indian restaurant serves up dishes you won’t find on your bogstandard takeaway menu but you will find yourself wanting to return for, again and again.

High Street, guddiandgikki.co.uk Or you could try: Blue Mango, bluemangotaunton. co.uk

For a fun night with friends: Eat the Bird

Cocktails, craft beer and chicken! A buzzing restaurant slightly off the beaten track but well worth a visit. Fun and friendly service and good for all ages and so superior to Nando’s!

Coal Orchard, eatthebird.co.uk Or you could try: Bare Grills, baregrillssmokehouse.co.uk

For big groups: The Skewer House

Authentic Portuguese fayre – one of the best eating experiences in Taunton. Fantastic food served with a smile, great value for money and very, very popular so make sure you book.

Bridge Street, skewerhousetaunton.co.uk Or you could try: Hubbox, hubbox.co.uk @tauntonfoodie is the alternative moniker for Rachel Darke, a local businesswoman who also answers to @icanwriteforyou Out and about in Taunton, she is most often found at The Plough, The Ring of Bells or stuffing her face in The Skewer House.

To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

.13

The Diaries Of

Ginger

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

January and February, the worst time of the year, well it’s the cold. If there is one thing I hate more than the cold is….no sorry, cold is the worst thing. I have managed to stay indoors most of the time but I’m not in anyone’s good books at the moment. I got a huge tin full of treats wrapped in paper a few weeks back and since then nothing!

I cannot understand what I have done, a few hairs left on the settee maybe, nor have I brought any more dead rats into the house. I’m not flavour of the month. I need a ‘Love thy cat’ campaign, but what?. I was flush right out of ideas when suddenly a huge van pulls up next door, they are moving out! I sit in the window and watch four men carry all the furniture from the house into the van.

Time to move, out the cat flap and into the back of the van, snuggle down on the settee. “Come on cat you can lie there”, shouts one of the men. He picks me up and puts me down in the garden. Give it tens minutes and pop back inside again. “Now cat I’ve told you once before, go on, get out of it”, he shouts again. I scarper quickish like whilst the men resume loading. They have a last cup of tea before closing up and driving off.

Now about seven streets away lives an elderly spinster by the name of Miss Bingham. She has no idea where I live, so I shoot around there and scratch the back door. “Ohh it’s Larry”, she gasped,”You’ve come back to see me”.

Yes I know, why she calls me that I’ll never know!

Anyway, out comes pilchards, mackerel, sweetie treats, catnip and I make it my home for the next seven days. I’m beginning to get over pampered, not good when you have to stay in tip-top condition.

I make my way back home, but on the way roll in some muddy puddle, a run through the long wet grass and there we are, one bedraggled war weary looking cat. Well look at that, fame at last, there’s a picture of me attached to a lamp post.

Whole family is in, that’s good and ‘Crash’ through the cat flap and collapse on the kitchen floor.

Shall I limp? No, a limp could mean vets. Pull in the stomach muscles to look thin.

“Mum, Mum he’s back”, screams Harriet. “They said he wasn’t in the back of that van but I’m sure he was, that’s 130 miles away”, shouts Daddy. “Oh you poor, poor cat and you have walked all the way back too us you must be starving”.

Well no I’m not starving. In fact I have been over fed, but for appearances sake I had to scoff down a whole bowl of ASDA’s finest. It worked a treat. I’m given the full brush/stroke valet and even allowed on the bed! Well this is more like it! I do feel sorry for Miss Bingham though, I’ll have to pop by now and again, even if it’s for the pilchards.

Winner Winner!

Cat Food Dinner!

Congratualtions to Lucy & Mia who WON our cat competition, with the best pic!

Thanks to everyone that entered. Mia gets to enjoy some yummy cats treats.

14.

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Bangs Beehive Bob Braid Bunches Chignon Coiffure Comb

Crop Curly Cut Fine Flicks Flyaway Fringe Frizzy

Knotty Layers Locks Mop Perm Pigtail Pixie Plait

Ponytail Ringlets Slide Straight Style Tresses Up-do Wavy

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

You don’t need to be a genius.

These puzzles are logic alone.

To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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5K

There’s a lot to be said for Grandparents. They provide a whole different perspective on life compared with that of your parents. In September 2014 I wrote a goodbye message for my Grandad’s grave, it read “Thank you for all the love, laughs, and life lessons”.

My Grandad, Derek Cridge, was a humble, honest, hard-working and very well-respected man. He was born in Bridgwater on September 28, 1941, and remained there for the rest of his life. At age 19 he met the love of his life, Sandra Cridge, and the rest is history – a real love story.

In the summer of 2013 my Grandad developed mesothelioma, a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body’s organs (primarily, the lungs). It’s usually linked to asbestos exposure – and in my Grandad’s case, it most certainly was It’s a cruel disease that ultimately decides ones fate.

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Throughout the course of the cancer, St. Margaret’s Hospice provided endless support for both my Grandad and the family.

It would be easy to discuss all the great work that the hospice does, but instead I will provide you with an example below which summarises the type of life changing quality of service they provide.

September 10, 2014, was the 48th wedding anniversary of my Grandparents – it was also just 7 days before my Grandad left this world. He had been admitted to the hospice several days before their anniversary. One of the nurses helped him to acquire an anniversary card which he then wrote out for my Nan. Watching my Grandad give the card to my Nan was one of the happiest and most proud moments of my life. This was just the nature of the staff at the St. Margaret’s, they truly care.

In that moment I promised myself that I would one day pay back the kindness. Starting on Sunday 1st July, 2018, I decided to run 5 kilometres every day for one year (ending on Sunday 30 June, 2019) with the aim of raising £5,000 for the hospice. I was most definitely NOT a runner before this challenge (I had run only two 5k races in my life… well, I walked for half of each run). Each 5k run is tracked via Fitbit GPS and heart rate monitor, all data is available publicly.

I set myself this challenge because I’ve never been a runner and I knew it would be tough. No matter how I’m feeling, I know it’s nothing compared to what grandad went through.

Therefore, it is my obligation to get outside, regardless of the weather, and push through the pain to raise money for this fantastic charity that truly improves the lives of so many. And to answer your question, no, I really do not enjoy running!

I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read about this challenge, if you are able to support me, this will in turn ensure that St. Margaret’s are there to care and support more patients just like my Grandad.

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DONATE...

Virgin Money Giving Page:

https://goo.gl/W7K15z

SCAN ME WITH YOUR PHONE Follow Ritchie’s progress:

@The5kYear

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Mind Full or Mindful?

With Teresa Wort

When did you last feel truly ‘connected’ with your loved ones?

When did you last enjoy a walk like the dog?

Do you suffer with ongoing pain?

There is lots of talk these days about good mental health and needing to look after ourselves more.

We caught up with Teresa Wort who is a qualified mindfulness and compassion teacher in Somerset.

The practice of Mindfulness began with Buddhist traditions and was brought to the Western world over 30 years ago by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Since then the evidence-based for Mindfulness-based interventions has grown hugely, starting off with the treatment of people with re-occurring depression and is now more common place and used widely to support wellbeing, reduce stress and anxiety, manage pain and help teach people how to bring positivity and joy in to daily life.

Mindfulness means paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally.

She began practicing mindfulness back in 2012 to help ease the pain when she was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Teresa explained: “I started on a horrible journey when I was diagnosed as the various medication I took made me feel awful, so I had to find something else that helped.”

On top of this Teresa has Idiopathic anaphylaxis meaning she doesn’t know the causes of the anaphylactic shocks that she sometimes experiences.

Mindfulness can help profoundly with your health, wellbeing and happiness. From pain, anxiety, lowself esteem to blood pressure, immune system.

There was one precarious situation where Mindfulness practice would really make the difference.

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“When walking with friends and their dogs, their big Labrador unintentionally ran in to my leg at full speed, I went up in the air and as soon as I landed knew it was serious. I put myself in the recovery position and asked for something to put under my head and something to support my back. My friend rang the ambulance and I began practising mindfulness while we waited, it kept me calm and able to manage the pain.”

The ambulance got there in an hour, but there was a problem. The terrain would cause more pain and possible damage and questions were raised over medication that could be administered to Teresa being idiopathic anaphylaxis. An air ambulance was called, and while they waited Teresa did a body scan practice to help with the pain.

Teresa recalls, “I did the body scan practice, it’s like wrapping myself in a comfort blanket, it’s really grounding and understanding that not all of me is in pain, it is just that one part that hurts. I assured the air ambulance crew not to touch me, that the damage was round my knee and possibly my ankle.”

She had shattered, split and taken a chunk out of her tibial plateau. There began the road to recovery. This all happened in 2016 and Teresa needed surgery to help mend her. She has been walking for nearly a year but a knee replacement will be required in the future.

Her mindfulness practice has made all the difference and this inspired her to teach others.

Teresa graduated with MindfulnessUK Teacher Training Centre in Taunton. She completed their Integrating Mindfulness and Compassion in Professional Practice Course.

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This qualification is accredited by the CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.) She now teaches bespoke one to one course and small groups.

Teresa shares this advice:

“I say to my clients - come

with an open mind and an intention

to follow my instructions. Whether

the thoughts are of past events or

future ones, you are learning how to engage and manage the thoughts that are rushing around your mind.

Things happen that are out of our control Mindfulness teaches us to face some things you don’t like and accept them as part of life. We all crave things we like and resist what we don’t like.

That is how so many people can end up becoming dependent on things they find pleasant such as drinking alcohol, going shopping, eating chocolate.

They will do anything as a distraction from what they don’t really want to face. Mindfulness helps you to face the bad moments, see them as part of a wider picture and develop emotional resilience around them. Anyone can benefit from it.”

There are four parts to Mindfulness that Teresa believes are important.

Breath Your breath is always with you and grounds you in the here and now.

Awareness Awareness of your thoughts and feelings and sensations.

Choice It is important to realise that you have time to respond rather than react.

Compassion You must learn to give compassion to both yourself and other people.

If you would like to train to teach Mindfulness please visit www.mindfulnessuk.com To book a bespoke group course, or one to one with Teresa email tcwort@outlook.com or call 07768 447826.

JOHN HUNT

Teresa is also happy to give talks on Mindfulness and Compassion for Pain and Anxiety for a donation to Devon Air Ambulance.

To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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#BIGUPTAUNTON Like any town Taunton has its fair share of problems. The High Street is suffering with online shoppers and we have seen the historic County Stores close their doors after 186 years. Many want our town to be like it was years ago in the ‘good olde days’. Those rose tinted glasses fit snug as we reminise over our history. A time when people looked out for each other and the town was a vibrant place to live.

The truth is, we do still care, buildings evolve with a change in usage as they have always done. Times change. Get over it. There’s nothing we can do but look forward. What does the next incarnation of Taunton look like? We have more tools at our disposal and we can communicate faster than ever before.

We need to realise that this isn’t just a problem for Taunton, but nationwide.

Community is ultimately about people, not buildings. We have Company Spaces opening in 2019, a vibrant hot-desking coffee shop space - with room for meeting, based in the heart of Taunton. We seem to have gone full circle. People meeting up, sharing ideas and positive energy. We have many community centres with arts and culture breathing life into the town.

So many media headlines are negative, pointing the finger and this makes our blood boil. Social media for some is a place to rant and we can all be guilty as we succumb to negativity around some of the issues that we as a community face. Some people like to moan and do nothing to help. It’s always someone else’s problem. We need to forget them. They talk down the town. It becomes a culture of blame. Are we really all doing our bit?

So, what do we do about it? Limits on time, money, resources and attitudes all steer progress. Those with the power should have the courage to give some of the keys back to the local people, to make things happen. It has worked in other towns across the country.

There are plenty of people in this town who are passionate about Taunton’s future. People who shape our community and put smiles on faces and memories in minds.

We need to get behind them, help them, celebrate their work and use our voice as a power for good. This town for me seems a little fragmented, with some people having their own agenda. We need to work as one, towards a common goal. Let’s support the real grafters, celebrate the local characters, the people offering something different to the online world. We need more support for independents. Those that make the ‘charm’ of a county town. Go to more local events, share your experiences. Give back.

When you stop to think about it, there is a long list of reasons why Taunton is a great place to live. Too many people focus on the problems without realising what we have on our doorstep. We are very fortunate indeed.

I’m 15 minutes from the hills, 15 minutes from town. The sea is 30 minutes away. The M5 takes you to Bristol within the hour, 30 minutes to Exeter. There is an amazing community in Taunton. Where else offers that?

As I write this I’m thinking about what 2019 will bring. Let’s work together and work around the barriers. They will go in time. What can we focus on in the meantime? Support Taunton from the inside out. We will do our bit to make it happen with what we’re doing. Use this local, independent magazine as a platform to celebrate, inspire and push positive progress.

Paul Smith Send us an email at: info@wordgetsaround.co.uk Find us on Facebook at: thewordgetsaround Visit our website at: www.wordgetsaround.co.uk Write us a letter like they did in the ‘good olde days’...

Word Gets Around, Hestercombe House, Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, TA2 8LQ.

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Andy Sharman All our quirky independent retailers and businesses who work their socks off to thrive and survive and to bring something positive to the community.

12 Bee Stevenson The staff at Musgrove Park for one!

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Susie Q Edwards It’s a very beautiful place with lovely parks and walks. Friendly people.

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Rachel Southwood I love Veevray (as my mum calls it!) Park, the river running to Creech - the best dog walk - The Castle, Bath Place, the independent eateries like Albatross and The Skewer House, The Riverside, the canal to the Swingbridge, Timpsons (how many towns have a social hub like that, run by good, honest, fun, decent people?). I love that within minutes you can be in the most glorious countryside, on the beach, on a steam train... I also adore coming home on the train from London over the Somerset Levels. Talking of commuting, we are lucky to have such a short journey into the capital if we have to go there. It is exactly because of these things that we need to make Taunton great again!

Forgot to mention some brilliant, safe, friendly pubs like the Ring O Bells, Racehorse and The Plough.

19 Kathy Ford I love Taunton, especially Bath Place and Vivary Park. I still feel Taunton is a great place to shop, especially all the independent shops.

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Trish Caller Have loved our town centre all my life....let’s hope we can bring it back to life xxx Kate Cooper My favourite is the fantastic 360 degree views from the top of the multi-storey. I deliberately park right at the top so I can enjoy the views on the way back down!

Frank Hicks High street/parade sat in sunshine, cup of coffee people watching.

Amy Hardwick Great theatre and Arts scene, grown from scratch.

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Community Hero

Dan Saunders Big up to anyone who tirelessly goes around the town and picks up litter out of the goodness of their own heart.

Damian Morgan Respect to the businesses that allow homeless people to have food that would normally go in the bin.

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Charmaine Vizor Big up to the volunteers who run the Explorers and Scout groups in Taunton, you do a fantastic job. Thank you!

Jenny Eastwell-Keogh All the wonderful creatives who live here and of course the independent Arts Centre CICCIC! Craig Stone Beautiful St James Street, the earlier it’s pedestrianised the better in my personal opinion.

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Julie Hiscoke Why do I love living here? Taunton has great parks, walks, schools, the cricket ground, a well rated hospital and despite what people say a good selection of shops including independent shops in Bath Place and the Riverside. There are restaurants to suit all tastes. To feature out of town Exmoor and the Coast North or South are all within 50 minutes away. What’s not to like.

12 Katharine Chrimes The children’s play areas are amazing. The pirate ship next to staplegrove primary, the water screw in Vivary, the diggers and sand toys in French Weir, bishops hull playing fields and playpark to name only a few. We are very lucky.

Dawn Berry Moved here almost 3 years ago. People, parks, bowling, croquet, swimming and not forgetting the Frank Bond Centre in Bishops Hull. So many things to do not enough retirement to fit all in.

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Lucy Nicholls I think it’s a good place to bring up children or young adults. The schools have really impressed me: the teachers really care about a kind and inclusive school community. My teens are confident and independent because they can easily walk all over the town to visit friends or to socialise - and they can do it in a town with lovely green parks.

10 Ierrac Ylaes Big up ARC (formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless & Open Door, for working so hard to support homeless people in the town.

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Community Hero. Mr Jim Booth With Taunton Deane Mayor - Councillor Catherine Herbert & County Councillor John Hunt.

“The event organisers wanted a local community hero to switch on the Lights this year. And rather than pick someone themselves, they asked you the public to nominate people worthy of being recognised as Taunton’s Community Hero.

From your many excellent nominations, I’ve selected just a few of your more popular suggestions to highlight this evening…

Kathy Ford was nominated by many of you.

Last year Kathy won the Somerset County Council Chairman’s Award for services to her local community and continues her great voluntary work in her home village of Bishop’s Lydeard, which includes organising events such as the very popular Somerset Day. Cllr Dave Durdan was a very popular suggestion too.

For his tireless work as our Town Centre Ambassador and of course, is a former Mayor of Taunton. From my own experience, if you want something done, ask Dave Durdan.

Dionne John, again a very popular nomination with many of you Dionne is the current Mrs Somerset and spends most of her spare time volunteering at local events and raising money for charity.

The word hero, is often misused, however, this evening we have found a real hero. A hero decorated for his bravery for his part in a secret underwater mission ahead of the D-Day landings in 1944.

A man who has made a remarkable recovery from a dreadful assault that happen at his home just a year ago. An event that shocked and angered us all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m honoured to introduce you to your Community Hero…

Mr Jim Booth”

John Hunt < Photography by Roger Shattock

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Find more recipes at www.misswindsor.uk

Grandma Georgina’s Cold Winter Pudding!

• • • • • • • • • Happy New Year, darlings!

I’m thrilled to present Grandma Georgina’s Cold Winter Pudding – the perfect pud to raise one’s body temperature during those rather inclement days or evenings.

You see, many moons ago I inherited an exquisite culinary heirloom – a handwritten recipe book which my great great grandma Georgina started to write during the early 1900s – How intriguing! And so, following a jolly good scour through the slightly frayed discoloured pages, I stumbled across this gem of a recipe, which I wished to share exclusively with the readers of Word Gets Around Magazine.

• 60g raisins (to scatter over pudding before baking) Equipage •

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Preparation time: 30 mins Cooking time: 1 & 1/2 hours Serves 6 rather chilly guests!

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70g self-raising flour 70g plain flour 60g beef or vegetable suet 90g sultanas and raisins mixed (roughly chopped)

oval baking tin or similar (approx. 22 cm / 8.5 inches)

Method

Therefore, in my quest to ‘bring food history alive’ I re-created this exceedingly toothsome and frightfully British suet pudding in memory of my great great grandma Georgina - from Shepton Beauchamp, Somersetshire. But I must admit, her original recipe lacked a bit of winter flair! So, I ‘jazzed’ it up a tad with the addition of mixed spice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and lemon/orange zest – How spiffing!

Ingredients

400ml whole milk 1 egg – lightly beaten 60g dark brown sugar zest of 1 lemon zest of 1 orange 1 heaped teaspoon mixed spice 1 flat 1/2 teaspoon sweet cinnamon 1 flat 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 grated nutmeg

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Clean hands at the ready – toot sweet! I say darlings, for glorious smooth mitts, why not try Pears soap – the desired beauty product of yesteryear!

Pre-heat oven to 150*C / 130*C Fan / 300* F / gas mark 2.

First off, sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, then add the lightly beaten egg and milk. Whisk together to make a batter.

Stir in the suet, sugar, roughly chopped sultanas/ raisins, mixed spice, cinnamon, ginger, grated nutmeg, and lemon/orange zest.

Pour into a greased baking tin.

Scatter with raisins.

Bake for approximately 1 & 1/2 hours. Cover halfway through with foil to prevent your pudding from browning too quickly.

After 1 & 1/4 hours test your pudding with a skewer.

If it comes out clean, except for a few bobbly bits on the pointy end, then it’s ready! If not, then another 10/15 minutes will suffice.

Darlings, when cooked sprinkle immediately with brown sugar, and serve with a splash of custard or cream – voila!

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National Storytelling week January 26th – February 2nd

By Lesley Wade

When did you last tell a story? Probably more recently than you think because as humans we tend to think in images and narrative.

Bards were also known as minstrels and jongleurs and often enjoyed a high status within their community.

Think about your favourite anecdote; the one you’re called upon to recount at every family gathering and which gets embellished a little more each time it’s told. That’s story telling in action and it’s the oldest art form in the world.

The bardic community preserved many tales from different cultures which are still enjoyed today, including:

Since man first developed the power of speech, stories have been the traditional medium of communication between generations, used to educate and entertain.

• • • •

There is evidence of storytelling in languages as diverse as Sanskrit, Old German, Latin, Chinese, Greek, Icelandic and Old Slavonic.

Religious leaders also made use of storytelling to guide and teach their followers. This practice is still used, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism

One of the earliest surviving records is from Egyptian culture. The sons of Cheops (the pyramid builder) are pictured in hieroglyphics on ancient papyrus entertaining him with stories.

Ordinary folk also told stories, particularly at festival time and many such folk tales were collected and recorded by writers such as The Brothers Grimm.

Specialist storytellers evolved, known as bards.

They were also poets and musicians and their job was to entertain by creating and performing poetic oral narrations. These generally chronicled the events of a war or praised the daring deeds and achievements of leaders and their forebears.

The Society for Storytelling organises the National Storytelling Week each year to promote the art, value and practice of storytelling.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (English The Iliad and The Odyssey (Greek) The Tain (Irish) The Ramayana (Indian)

Storytelling events will be taking place in schools, libraries, museums, art galleries and residential homes. Check out what’s in your area.

The Society for Story Telling www.sfs.org.uk

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There is this nagging voice in the back of your head telling you that you should get more exercise, but you never do. After the excess Christmas feast it’s a good time to start. The Taunton Deane Ramblers run organised walks three or four times a week.

We are not talking route marching, but moderate paced 3 to 6 mile walk to enjoy the countryside.

There are many other benefits from joining apart from the obvious of getting fitter. Joining a group, you will make new friends and learn about the countryside. As you walk you notice the seasonal changes more. As you ramble you will want to know more about the outdoors, identifying plants and trees, seeing live wild animals you have only seen in books before. There is an air of excitement when you see your first deer, hare or stoat. Identifying birds of prey by their wing shape or colour, and the joy of seeing the rare but increasing Red Kite, as it makes its introduction into the Somerset landscape.

The Taunton Deane Ramblers and its 250 members have just celebrated their 25th birthday and you will get a mighty welcome. There is a membership fee of £30 and in return you will receive 3 programmes or walks a year and a newsletter as well as a ‘Walk’ magazine. Walks are organised right through the year and all their details can be seen on their website: www.tauntonramblers.org.uk 24.

Don’t just think about it, go out and do it.

To get you started here are a few walks from their Winter Programme: Sun 20 Jan, 13.30. An easy winter wander 3 miles mostly flat. John 01984 624477. Park at the end of Station Road, Norton Fitzwarren. Meet by footbridge.

Wed 23 Jan, 13.30. Fitzhead circular 5 miles, moderate. Martin 256687. Park /meet near village church.

Fri 25 Jan, 15.30. A walk around Cullompton 3-4 miles ,easy. Wendy 663911. Meet at The Weary Traveller PH Station Road,Cullompton.

Sun 27 Jan, 10.00am. Out from North Petherton, 10 miles, moderate Sally 339605. Meet at King’s Cliffe upper cp. North Petherton.

Sun 27 Jan, 13.30. The Old Railway & Quaking House lane. 4 ¾ miles, moderate. Gill 331474 .Meet in Creedwell Orchard cp, Milverton. : Wed 30 Jan, 13.30 .Curry Mallet & Beercrocombe 3 ½ miles. easy. Liz 490828. Meet at Curry Mallet Village Hall.

Sun 3 Feb, 13.30. Blackborough & Sheldon 6 miles mod/hilly. Philip 275348.Meet at road junction in Blackborough-limited parking.

Fri 8 Feb, 16:00 Stockmoor,Hamp & Canal.3-4 miles easy. Lynda 01278 426756. Meet at the Boat & Anchor, Huntworth.(Bring a torch !)

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Garden View This month – great gardening books

By Rachael Leverton If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend.

RHS Great British Village Show

By Matthew Biggs and Thane Prince

The village show is a quintessential British tradition, and for many gardeners it represents the pinnacle of their sowing and growing year. This charming and informative book takes you behind the scenes of this very British institution, offering insights into the worlds of judges and contestants. It’s beautifully illustrated with photographs, and offers wonderful gems of insider information, including how to stage your produce, and what the judges are really looking for. There are even recipes for prize-worthy jams and preserves. If you’ve never attended a village show this book will make you yearn for a summer of tents and teas; you might even be tempted to become a competitor.

One Magic Square

By Lolo Hubein

Following on from the previous book, have you ever wanted to have a go at growing your own vegetables and fruit but feel completely clueless? We’re always hearing that the best and cheapest food is the food you grow in your own garden, but it all seems rather complicated to a total novice. In One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein shows how you can start your

own productive food garden in ten minutes a day on a single square metre. She provides simple plot designs starting with salads, and gradually expanding to include beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and much more. She also stresses the benefits of companion planting and provides ideas. The bite-sized designs (pun totally intended!) allow you to extend by one square metre each season, or to pick your favourites. The magic of square-metre gardening is in allowing your project to grow in a manageable way, from simple to more complex.

There are even designs catering for different tastes and specific diets.

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife

By Adrian Thomas

If you long to have butterflies and bees in your flowerbeds, birds singing in your trees, and hedgehogs bustling about under your bushes then look no further than this wonderful guide to wildlife gardening.

Adrian Thomas explains the intricacies of attracting wildlife to your garden whether you have a small plot or more than an acre. His style is accessible, but rich in detail. He draws on the latest wildlife research to explain the ecological principles, and to dispel some of the myths which have traditionally prevented gardeners from pursuing a wildlife-friendly approach. There are practical projects to help you create entire habitats, and long lists of suitable plants and trees, and it’s packed to brim with helpful photographs.

If you love wildlife and want to encourage more to visit your garden, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards.

To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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Want to learn a new language in 2019? It’s not as hard as you think! I learned Spanish alongside my son to encourage him while he was studying for his GCSE. It started as a joke, but I quickly became hooked. Here’s what I learned about language learning.

New words? - You may not need to learn as many as you think! In English just 300 words make up 65% of all written material! We use some words a lot, and luckily that’s the case in every other language too.

You can buy or make decks of flash cards of these words. There is even a flash card app called Anki which presents words at precisely the right intervals to maximise memorisation.

Cognates - These are words which are spelled almost the same in English and which have the same meaning. In French, lots of ‘ion’ words are spelled the same even though they are pronounced differently: action, nation, communication etc. In Spanish the same words end in ‘ción’ and in Italian ‘zione’. Simple right? There are also words such as hélicoptère (French) or aeropuerto (Spanish) which are similar enough to the English word that you will recognise them immediately. You can google ‘Cognates’ for the language you are learning.

Interaction - You need to hear and speak the language consistently. Look up Radio stations, YouTube channels, news websites, and blogs in the language you want to learn. Advertise for someone to practice conversation with. Ask friends on Facebook or in the school playground whether they know a native speaker who would converse 26.

with you for half an hour in exchange for coffee and cake! There are groups dedicated to language exchange on Facebook too. By forcing yourself to converse you will improve very quickly.

Free Resources – I have passable Spanish thanks to the Duo Lingo app. The BBC has introductory courses to around 40 different languages.

Omniglot.com is a great open-source resource to all manner of languages, and I found fluentu.com brilliant for Spanish.

Embrace mistakes – We learn by making mistakes.

As children we speak, we’re corrected, and we adapt. Even at aged fifty I still come across new English words and phrases. You can’t ever completely learn a language. Just use everything you know with the emphasis on communication rather than perfection. Native speakers will not be offended by your slips...they will most likely be charmed and fall over themselves to help correct you.

Use SMART goals - SMART means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timed. A good example is, ‘By the end of January I will be able to hold a simple conversation with a waiter, book a table, order food, and ask for the bill. Or you might aim to complete three lessons per day on Duo Lingo for the whole of a month. You might even set yourself the task of passing an online test, a GCSE. The point is, you have a time frame, and the achievements you make are measurable, so you can see how far you’ve come.

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Anthony McPartlin

by Tim Saunders

Anthony McPartlin, the Bafta award winning TV personality, has just moved into a £4.5m London mansion to aid his recovery from addiction.

The gated property in South West London has a separate flat for staff or guests, gardens overlooked by a balcony and a games room but no swimming pool.

This comes after the troubled presenter, who stars alongside his best friend Declan Donnelly, has been in rehab since crashing his Mini last year. Charged with drink driving and slapped with an £86,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban, his presenting duties at ITV have been suspended. It’s been a tough few years for multimillionaire Ant (42) whose estimated wealth stands, it is claimed, at £62m or £79,000 a day – the same as Declan Donnelly. The pair also own £10m of property together. Ant, who has a holiday home in the Algarve, Portugal, is expected to spend more time out there.

In 2017 he had his first experience of rehab when he was admitted as the result of his addiction to prescription and non-prescription drugs following a knee injury and operation. “The doctors told me, ‘You could have killed yourself,’” he revealed in an exclusive interview in The Sun newspaper. Then in January 2018 he announced that his 11-year marriage to makeup artist Lisa Armstrong had ended in divorce. It is possible that Lisa could receive half his fortune.

Recently, Ant has been pictured taking his dog Harley (which he owns with Lisa) for a walk in London. He shares his love of dogs with Dec, who owns a dachshund called Rocky. Ant and Dec also share a passion for cars. In fact, in 2013 the pair treated themselves to a supercar each.

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Ant bought himself a £136,000 British racing green Aston Martin capable of 200mph while Dec spent £14,000 more on a slightly slower black Ferrari California. After Ant’s car crash Declan was forced to present ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway alone.

ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan says that Dec should now “carry on without Ant”.

When Ant joined the cast of BBC’s Byker Grove in 1990 he met Dec who had been on the show since 1989. After leaving the series in 1994 they launched a pop career as their Byker Grove characters PJ & Duncan. Their on-screen chemistry proved highly saleable and they moved into presenting Saturday morning children’s show SMTV Live, which launched the career of Cat Deeley, as well as CD:UK, a music chart show.

Moving away from children’s TV they have had success with Saturday Night Takeaway and are also well-known for presenting I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and Britain’s Got Talent. Dec presented I’m A Celebrity last year with Holly Willoughby while Ant takes a break from showbiz.

Born in Newcastle in 1975 he was awarded an OBE in 2017 (as was Dec) for services to entertainment

by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Ant and his personal assistant girlfriend AnneMarie Corbett went public with their relationship in June.

He is planned to be reunited with Dec for the next series of Britain’s Got Talent.

Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman. He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.

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Valentine’s Day, also called St. Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. The holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day. It came to be celebrated as a day of romance from about the 14th century.

Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness. Other accounts hold that it was St.

Taunton’s unsung heroes Look at your community and you’ll find many people who selflessly work hard to improve other people’s lives without any wish for recognition.

An example are Nicki and Mark Stanton who every year run a charity Halloween display at Haunts Corner. In 2017 I saw their display by pure chance as I was passing and shared it on my page facebook.com/welovetaunton and it got over 5000 views. Over the years they’ve spent in excess of £1000 on props for the display and do it for the community and have raised £1000s for local charities such as Stand against Violence, Think Amy and Selworthy School. Last year I got involved and helped with the hotdogs - they deserve praise for what they do and would surely welcome a bit more help in preparing for this year’s event .

We had Christmas light displays collecting for charity in Dorchester Road and Dunster Close to name two. Then there’s people like Sally Taunton who has run community facebook pages for years and Kayleigh Joyce who runs the Taunton news

Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named, though it is possible the two saints were actually one person. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.

Formal messages, or valentines, appeared in the 1500s, and by the late 1700s commercially printed cards were being used. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s. Valentines commonly depict Cupid, the Roman god of love, along with hearts, traditionally the seat of emotion. Because it was thought that the avian mating season begins in mid-February, birds also became a symbol of the day. Traditional gifts include candy and flowers, particularly red roses, a symbol of beauty and love.

and events Facebook group. Who else would you like to give a mention to? We are looking for people who give up their time on a voluntary basis to help the community.

In 2019 I will be pushing forward a campaign to help promote what is good about our lovely county town of Taunton using the hashtag #positiveTAUNTON to draw attention to what’s great about our community.

These will be featured in both #welovetaunton and facebook.com/wearetaunton and I will be working closer with Paul and Clive at Word Gets Around whose magazine you’re reading now, together with the Somerset County Gazette and #visittaunton we are looking at working closer together to help promote our town. We can’t do it without you, so please tell us about your local heroes and what you think is good about the town so we can celebrate across all our channels. facebook.com/wearetaunton facebook.com/thewordgetsaround facebook.com/CountyGazetteSomerset facebook.com/visittauntonuk

By Patric Maine ( Pad.A ) December 2018.

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Emergency & Useful numbers Emergency Services

Useful Contacts

Smell Gas? Call Transco:..................0800 111 999 Police Emergency: ........................................... 999 Police Non Emergency: ................................... 101 Police Station: ............................... 0845 456 7000 Crimestoppers: ................................ 0800 555 111 Musgrove Intensive Care: ............... 01823 342006 Musgrove Hospital: ........................ 01823 333444 Floodline: ....................................... 0345 988 1188 Environment Agency: .................... 08708 506 506 Musgrove Hospital: ........................ 01823 333444 NHS Helpline: ................................................... 111 Wessex Water Emergency: ............. 0345 6004600

Taunton Information Centre: .......... 01823 340470 Bishops Lydeard Library: ....... ....... 0300 1232224 Taunton Library: .............................. 0300 1232224 Albermarle Cent .............................. 01823 252945 Traveline: ...................................... 0871 200 2233 CAB Consumer Helpline: ................. 0345 4040506 Fire Safety Officer: .......................... 01823 273039 Neighbourhood Watch: ................. 01278 644799 National Debtline: .......................... 0808 1898300 BBC Somerset Sound: ..................... 01823 323956 Apple FM: ......................................... 01823 342591 Tone FM: .......................................... 01823 286688 Taunton County Court: .................... 01823 281110 Bristol Airport Arr/Dep: .................... 0871334 4344 Heathrow Info Desk: ......................... 0844 335 1801 Gatwick Flight Info: ........................ 0344 892 0322 Exeter Airport Flights: .................... 01392 367 433 Berry’s Coaches: .............................. 01823 331356 National Express Enq: ..................... 0871 781 8181

Medical Crown Medical Centre: ................... 01823 282151 St James Medical Centre: .............. 01823 285400 Warwick House Medical: ................ 01823 282147 Orchard Medical Centre: ................ 01823 285428 Blackbrook Surgery: ...................... 01823 259444 Creech Medical Centre: .................. 01823 442357 Adfam Helpline Drug use: .............. 0845 3000911 Somerset Care: ............................... 01823 448150 Sheltered Housing: ......................... 01823 356304

Council Departments Rebecca Pow MP Office: ................. 01823 443062 Deane Helpline: .............................. 01823 257185 Dog Warden: ................................... 01823 356550 Environment Agency: .................... 08708 506 506 Noise Nuisance etc: .................... 01823 356339 Garages – Rental: ....................... 01823 356334 Halcon Link Centre: .................... 01823 350788 Pest Control: ............................... 01823 356337 Anti-Social Behaviour: ............... 01823 356332 Recycling centre, Priorswood: ...... 01823 338615 Housing Benefit /Council Tax: ....... 01823 356321 Housing Rents: ................................ 01823 356318 Government Ombudsman: ........... 0845 602 1983 Samaritans (UK helpline): ......................... 116123 Samaritans (admin only) ............... 01823 289456 Somerset County Council: ............. 0300 1232224 Victim Support, Somerset: .............. 01460 55535

Pharmacies Co-op Eastwick Road: ..................... 01823 331564 Boots, Crown Ind. Est: ....................... 01823 337888 Boots, High Street: ............................ 01823 276061 Well, Comeytrowe: .......................... 01823 256056 Lloyds, Lisieux Way: ........................ 01823 324280 Boots, Coal Orchard: ....................... 01823 251683 Morrisons, Deller’s Wharf: .............. 01823 351914 Staplegrove Pharmacy: .................. 01823 274049 Boots, French Weir Ave: ................ 01823 284009 Bishops Lydeard Pharmacy: .............. 01823 430201 Boots, Norton Fitzwarren: ............. 01823 354861 Lloyds, North Petherton: ................ 01278 662288

Village Halls West Monkton: ................................ 01823 412068 Ruishton Village: ............................. 01823 443506 Norton Fitzwarren: .......................... 01823 252268 Cheddon Fitzpaine: ......................... 01823 413925 Trull Memorial Hall: ........................ 01823 350840 Creech St Michael: ............................ 01823 444599 Stoke St Mary: ................................. 07526 673554 Kingston Saint Mary: ....................... 01823 451584 Oake: ................................................ 01823 461144

Whilst every effort is made to print accurate information the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors, emissions or changes that might appear. Please contact us should you see any.

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Be SMART in 2019 Most resolutions fail because they are too vague.

Make your 2019 resoultions SMART.

Specific Rather than, ‘I will lose weight,’ say, ‘I will lose 7lbs by the end of January by cutting out deserts, and walking a mile a day.’

Measurable What does your success look like? Is it a 15lb weightloss by the end of March? Is it fitting into a size 12 dresss? An effective goal is easy to visualise.

Attainable By all means be ambitious; aiming to save £2500 during 2019 for your dream holiday in 2020 is fine, but make sure you can break down the goal into attainable steps which can be achieved in a shorter time frame. Can you save £200 per month from your current income? If not can you pick up some bar work or sell some possessions on eBay.

Maybe you could save £100 per month over two years and take your dream holiday in 2021. Now your target is attainable.

Realistic If your goal is to win X Factor but you couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket it’s time for a reality check. If you are 100lbs over your ideal weight, you are never going to be a size ten for your beach holiday in July.

But realistic doesn’t just mean ‘able to atttain’, it means ‘willing to attain.’ If you want to retrain as a nurse, will you put in the hours of study and take a pay cut while you’re doing that?

Time-limited Set a goal. Research shows that three months is good as it’s short enough to see the end-point, and long enough for significant change. Whether it’s passing your driving test, or shedding a stone or two before your wedding day; three months is a good time-frame.

By Tom Hancock

Puzzle answers

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CLIVE ON: 07779 653 120 / 01823 765045 EMAIL: CLIVE@WORDGETSAROUND.CO.UK WWW.WORDGETSAROUND.CO.UK To advertise please call Clive on 01823 765045 or email clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

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THEN JOIN OUR TEAM...

30A BRIDGE STREET, TAUNTON TA1 1UB Find us on Bridge Street just off of the town centre above the Coal Orchard, we have our own entrance along the side of the building.

We are a community based fitness club with a small team of staff and pride ourselves on our customer reputation and inclusive, unique atmosphere. If you're looking for a comfortable place to use free weights, cardio & resistance machines, or instructor led group exercise to music classes then pop in and see what we can do for you!

Call: 01823 322200

contact@activatefitness.co.uk www.activatefitness.co.uk