Word Gets Around Magazines: Taunton - Issue 37

01823 259753

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.1 ISSUE 37

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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: info@wordgetsaround.co.uk Follow us: _wordgetsaround thewordgetsaround wordgetsaround thewordgetsaround

www.wordgetsaround.co.uk

‘Word Gets Around’ launched in January 2011 as a graphic design and print business. Later that year we launched our own business networking group to support the local business community. We celebrated eight years in October.

We are busy planning our events for 2020.

We are fast approaching Christmas and this December marks our fifth birthday for this magazine. When we started it had a circulation of just 5,000 copies. A year later we increased this to 12,000 copies and we extended our delivery area. In August 2018 we increased our circulation further to 30,000 magazines. We now have the highest circulation of any local magazine per issue.

We are also celebrating the launch of our sister magazine in November, which will cover West Somerset. With a circulation of 12,000 it will be delivered to homes in Minehead, Williton and Watchet with many pick-up points in local villages within a 10 mile radius of Minehead. We also have pick-up points in the local supermarkets, shops and cafés too.

We are solely supported by our advertisers so please mention to them that you saw them in our magazine when using their services. We would like to thank all who have supported us over the past five years and let’s hope we can go from strength to strength over the next five.

Thank you again for the comments and letters of support. We wish you a wonderful time over the festive period with your family and friends.

Clive

Front cover: By Craig Stone www.craigstone.me.uk

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Electricity in Taunton With Nick Chipchase The history of electricity in Taunton is a long and complicated story so we shall just look at the era around 1900. The image shows the St. James Street generating works around that date. Seen are the switchboard and a Ferranti rectifier. Sadly I cannot identify the people. Taunton came to understand the properties of electricity at a lecture given in 1809.

Individuals in the town like Henry Massingham (public street lighting) and Francis Newton (built his own generators and established electrical engineering works at Rowbarton) contributed much to the use of electricity in Taunton. In fact, to use a pun we were streets ahead of most other towns in the UK particularly with the lighting. In 1893 Walter Easton demonstrated electric light in Vivary Park in 1893 using a Gramme dynamo, an arc lamp and his own steam engine. Developments continued quickly in the late 1800s. The Thomson-Houston arc light system, pioneered in America, was set up on The Parade in 1885.The generator was housed under one of the Market House arcades. Taunton’s first public supply of electricity was installed at his own boot and shoe store off Fore Street by Massingham in 1886.

In 1889 things had progressed to the point where a new company had been set up and land acquired at St James Street for a new generating station on the

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site of Priory Collar Works lately destroyed by fire.

Massingham promoted an electrical exhibition at Taunton in 1891 at the St James Street works with 40 exhibitors. The Taunton Electric Lighting Company ran into financial trouble partly due to under investment and was taken over by the town council.

The Taunton Corporation Electricity Department was the result. The St James Street works were enlarged and four 30 light Thomson-Houston generators driven by two Ruston Proctor steam engines installed. At the time street lighting took precedent over a public supply. Meters made an appearance in 1894 but at that time electricity was fifty times more expensive than it is now. Costs only came reduced when steam turbines replaced the ship type expansion engines used to power the dynamos.

By 1900 there were 510 consumers connected in Taunton together with 68 arc lights ( themselves requiring a lot of maintenance ) and 340 incandescent bulbs. The works also supplied the tramway system which opened in 1901. The development of power production continued at Taunton until the council’s works were absorbed into the South Western Electricity Board ( SWEB ) in 1948.

The St James Street Power Station became redundant and was demolished in 1980. However, the town had a key role in electricity production in the southwest dating back to 1809.

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The football season for Taunton Town started in August, with a short trip to Gosport. After 7 pre-season friendlies and a cup final held over from last season. Including Saturday 21st September, we had played 8 league games and 3 cup games in 6 weeks.

I hear the violins already!

Now to put things in perspective. Our players are based between Plymouth and Bristol, with about one third in the Taunton area. They all have full time jobs, and some have young families. They all have to keep themselves supremely fit, around working and having some family time. When we train in Taunton or Bridgwater it will be purely for set pieces, shape and tactical.

We simply don’t have enough time between matches to work on fitness and also factor in the rest they need. In the last three seasons, excluding pre-season matches we have played 61, 60 and 53 competitive matches. Can you imagine the Premier League players being happy with that? Is it acceptable to have part time players playing that much? If you are successful in Non-League the games pile up and players have to play in all competitions as we all have small squads of 16-20.

We try to include College Students from our Education Partner Bridgwater & Taunton College, but with their own college commitments we also have to make sure they get enough rest as well as playing.

The FA had the chance to “trim” the leagues to 20 teams so 38 matches but decided to keep starting leagues in the first week of August (holiday season) instead of September when the schools have returned. Reducing the matches would mean less midweek games. The top and richest League in the world (you know the one Billionaires paying multi-millionaires) play 38 games plus they have International breaks and now a midseason break. I think the authorities sometimes forget these players are part time, not full time, with the rest and recuperation that allows. Add in massages, oxygen chambers, and continual testing of their bodies so they can perform to the optimum level and our players just about get enough sleep sometimes to be at work for 6am.

The players love playing otherwise they wouldn’t do it but I do believe the people who make the decisions are so out of touch they do not realise the incredible fitness levels these players maintain as the game is so professional today, but without the financial rewards and adulation the top stars get.

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If you have never visited the Cygnet Health Care Stadium to watch a match I think most people would be surprised at the standard of football and also the pace of the game.

We currently have two players on loan from Bristol City, Zak Smith and Bradley Webb, plus Harry Kite from Exeter City. These players will play U23 football which is great technically but doesn’t gear them up for the physicality of 1st team football. Most clubs have one or two young professionals and Zak in my humble opinion is destined to go all the way to the top, with a little bit of luck along the way. He is so grounded and humble for someone who is exceptionally talented. Harry also has a great career ahead of him.

November will also be hectic if we can progress in the FA Trophy (the Non-League equivalent of the FA Cup), the League Challenge Cup and the Somerset Premier Cup. Also there’s those midweek matches to cram in too! In addition to 42 league games we have to enter 4 cups, the FA Competitions offer great prize money and the kudos.

Partnerships are so important to us as we have built some wonderful relationships locally. Bridgwater and Taunton College are our Education Partner, Carly Press our design, print and sign services partner as well as Cotford Car Sales as our official vehicle supplier who provide a sponsored car for the club. We have recently added Taunton Chiropractic to look after all of us here.

Not forgetting all of our sponsors who support the club year in year out. Without our partners and sponsors we could not compete in the Non-League pyramid.

Off the pitch, lots of things have been happening behind the scenes, with a growing in- house media team. We have been very active on social media with lots of information and updates available, please do take a look at our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter pages plus of course our own You Tube Channel Peacocks TV. Just recently we have launched our own Podcast as well. #UpThePeacocks Kevin Sturmey Chairman & Chief Executive Photos: Ashley Harris and Colin Andrews.

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Carols Around the Bandstand Monday, 16th December 2019 from 18:30-19:30 Hosted by Visit Taunton and the Mayor of Taunton.

Join the Mayor of Taunton for Carols Around the Bandstand on Monday 16th December 2019, 6.30pm in Vivary Park, Taunton.

Supported by Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir, the New Horizons Singers and Taunton Concert Band.

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Bring your friends and family, a torch or better still a lantern! Carol sheets will be available at the park and via the Visit Taunton and Mayor of Taunton Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

Donations in aid of the Mayor’s charity for 2019/20 ‘Love Musgrove’ supporting the Somerset Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital.

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Deck the halls with Christmas pretzels With Jo Middleton On a scale of one to Rudolph, how much do you love Christmas? If it’s ‘a warm mince pie and a glass of mulled wine’ then excellent, you can stay. If you’re thinking more along the lines of ‘cold, overcooked sprout’ then this column is not for you.

I bloody love Christmas - the lights, the smells, the Christmas tat.

Take a perfectly ordinary everyday item, stick a few snowflakes on it and add the word ‘seasonal’ and I’m there. Last week I bought a bag of ‘cinnamon bun pretzels’ in Sainsbury’s (the crunchy kind, not the bakery kind), just because they’d put a little snowy scene on the packaging. When I got home and thought about it, I don’t think either pretzels or cinnamon buns are even Christmassy foods, but still.

‘Ooooh!’, I thought to myself when I spotted them on the shelf, ‘Christmas pretzels!’

I also love the gifts.

If you’ve ever done one of those ‘how you show love’ personality tests - I’m definitely the person who uses gifts. ‘Look! See how much I love you? I bought you a THING!’ I’m not sure it’s the healthiest of love showing styles, but that’s a column for another day.

It does lend itself well to Christmas though, and by the summer holidays I normally have a few presents stuffed behind the suitcases and overnight bags on the top shelves of my wardrobes already.

Increasingly though I feel uncomfortable with the sheer amount of things at Christmas, especially in terms of waste, and so this year I’m channeling my love of all things festive by MAKING THINGS.

million pounds to buy all the cinnamon sticks and mixed peel and is never as nice as the one from Lidl.

It was fun though, and I do now have 95% of a bottle of Cointreau, which is never a bad thing.

Then I had a bash at Christmas pudding flavoured vodka, which involves soaking what is basically a pile of Christmas cake ingredients in cheap vodka before decanting into rustic looking bottles. TOP TIP: make your vodka BEFORE your Christmas cake and kill two birds with one stone. I learned this lesson the hard way - picture me pouring the vodka over the dried fruit and spices, glancing at the wrapped cake, realisation dawning.

And finally I’m making mulled wine plum jam, which could be interesting as I’ve never made jam before.

I’m trying not to think about the ‘cost per jar’ on this one as I stare across the laptop at the mountain of plums and the red wine, vanilla pods and jam thermometer bought especially. And don’t even talk to me about jars.

I keep reminding myself that it’s the thought that counts and all that but honestly, I’ve spent a fortune. Next year I might just get everyone the Christmas pretzels.

Jo is the owner of the long-running and hilariously funny parenting blog, Slummy Single Mummy, She also co-hosts at Word Gets Around Networking in Taunton. Jo now boasts a new string to her bow as her debut novel, Playgroups and Prosecco, hit the bookshop shelves back in May. Follow her adventures online...

I know, I’m so Kirstie Alsopp aren’t I? I started with a Christmas cake, which is one of the most ridiculous things ever as it costs you about a 10.

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We exist to support and connect companies, bringing together local businesses and organisations to build new relationships, share best practice, foster new opportunities and provide practical support. Because we sit at the heart of the local community, we are uniquely placed to help businesses of every size and sector to thrive.

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We have an exciting programme of networking, workshop and social events enabling members to meet in an informal atmosphere, to exchange ideas, and to expand their customer base. Held at a variety of venues, these are often linked with other organisations which allows further expansion of business contacts. We also hold a number of visits to leading businesses within the area.

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Join Us Today! Call us on 01823 230898 to discuss membership or email: office@taunton-chamber.co.uk. Or, easiest of all, complete your registration and pay your membership subscription online: www.taunton-chamber.co.uk/membership

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Helping local people in crisis in our community with emergency food support.

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Educational Psychologist Assessments, Screenings, Training & Workshops PLUS complete programmes for Businesses.

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.13

The Diaries Of

Ginger

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

When you’re a cat there are certain rules about territory: your own back yard is a no go area for other cats, but you have to be realistic about access to other areas. So there are some unwritten rules about letting other cats across your patch without it breaking out in a full scale war. Other areas are deemed as communal, I mean if there wasn’t, then there wouldn’t be anymore cats, if you get my drift.

So this covers the park, the street with some caution, and rooftop areas.

I have to admit the recent sunshine is a blessing as we love the warmth of the sun. But at night it does get rather cold, so you have to find some other alternative for warmth. The top of the wheel of a recently parked car is one, the outlet of a tumble dryer is another, if you can stand the smell and Mr. Davis’s greenhouse if he’s got the heater on.

Now two streets away from where I live there is a house where half the neighbourhood have deemed to congregate, on the roof of 25, Wisdon Drive.

Now most roofs are cold places due to the mass of insulation they stuff in their loft, but this house is belching out heat through the tiles much to the delight of about twenty cats all snuggled up in a line.

We were all there one morning, about sunrise time, when suddenly two vans and about three cars come screaming up to the door. Then a load of brightly dressed people smashed the door down and reappeared with the owners and all drove off again. Do you know from that day that house was the coldest in the street, still make hay whilst the sun shines. There was always a funny smell about that house too.

n u f e v i t Fes At Ferne

Have a cracking day out with the family at Ferne.

You can see our animals, enjoy a relaxing woodland walk, blow away the cobwebs on the play areas and then warm up in our cosy Café.

Christmas Craft Fair, 7th & 8th Dec Meet Santa at the Craft Fair, 12pm – 3pm Bring your dog to see Santa & receive a canine festive treat Make treats and food, for your pets and wildlife to enjoy this festive season, 23rd Dec - 3rd Jan.

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Across 1 Affirms (6) 5 Grabbing, seizing (6) 8 British aristocrat (4) 9 Rest, break (8) 10 Defensive walls of a castle (8) 11 Part of the foot (4) 12 Athletic throwing event (6) 14 Apologise, atone (6) 16 Scrap, fight (4) 18 Members of the crow family (8) 20 Remove the riding seat from a horse (8) 21 Enclosure for chickens (4) 22 Pacify (6) 23 Arduous, irritating (6) Down 2 Giant rogue wave (7) 3 Bind, fasten securely (3,2) 4 Not at all intoxicated (5,2,1,5) 5 Large box filled with riches (8,5) 6 Thick sweet tomato sauce (7) 7 Female relation (5) 13 Small edible fruit, may be black, white or red (7) 15 Infant (7) 17 Christmas theatre show (5) 19 Atrophy (5)

16.

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Events and Activities for ALL at Somerset Libraries

In this edition of Word Gets Around, we would like to share just some of the regular clubs, events and activities in Taunton Library for adults.

Taunton Symphony Talking Café (free) Every Thursday 2.00-4.00 Come and meet new people, make friends and chat to others over a cup of tea or coffee. Find out about activities, support groups and services in your community.

Get Online Session (free) Every Tuesday 2.30-4.30 (Booking essential) Not sure where to start with the online world? Library staff and IT volunteers can help – pop in with your tablet, ipad or laptop.

Conversation Café (free) Every Weds 5.30-6.30 – Drop In Would you like to speak better English? This could help you: Make new friends & find work more easily.

Beginners Sketching Every second Weds 10.30-12.00 (Booking Essential) All you need is a sketching pad, a range of B pencils and enthusiasm – cost £2.50 (run by Friends of Taunton Library).

Creative Writing Every 4th Weds 10.30-12.00 (Booking Essential) A friendly and supportive group invites you to come and join them for interesting and enjoyable sessions. Cost: £2.50 (run by Friends of Taunton Library) Woolly Wednesdays Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday 1.30-3.00 Come and join our knit-and-natter group. Cost £1.00 (run by Friends of Taunton Library) Mahjong Tuesdays Every Tuesday 10.00-12.30 Beginners and advanced players welcome. Cost £2.00 (run by Friends of Taunton Library)

For more information on any of these, and other clubs and activities visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/libraries and follow us on Twitter...

18.

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You boost the local economy For every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business 63p stayed in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business.

You increase the value of your home High streets populated with thriving independent businesses boost the prices of nearby homes.

Discount stores and charity shops decrease home values in the area.

It is more ethical When you shop at local butchers, bakers, farm shops and green grocers, it is likely that a decent percentage of the produce has had a short field-to-fork journey. As a bonus it means the food is likely to contain more nutrients and have less packaging.

You support local entrepreneurs Head for your local artisan market.

These help foster the talents of the next generation of British designers and retailers. There is a constant turnover of new products, and sellers listen to customers’ demands. From food to fledgling clothing designers there will be something for everyone.

You help to build your local community Bookshops, cafés and craft shops often drum up custom by hosting events, from reading groups to knitting clubs and children’s events. If local businesses are not supported, these fun local groups tend to disappear too.

You might get a better deal or some good advice Local independent businesses can use their discretion to reward regular custom. Butchers will give advice on cooking times, and how large a joint you might need to feed a family get-together, with some leftovers. Get to know your local traders.

By Tom Hancock

20.

Ho! Ho! Ho!.., oh you lucky people..., we’re counting down the days to this years, Taunton’s WinterFest event and have they got an event in store for you!!

Not only can they promise some of the UK’s biggest & best fun fair rides & attractions, they have a glittering line up of locally sourced entertainment playing live on the main stage, from midday through until 8pm.

With the kind help of their friends from the Living Light Christian Church, there will be live music & entertainment on The Christmas Stage set up at the end of the High Street. The Farmers Market will be in their usual location on the day and for those with a keen eye for a festive bargain there will be a huge Christmas Market set up in North Street in support of this amazing family fun event.

If that’s not enough..., courtesy of Unique Events SW CIC, there will be a series of accessible music workshops happening throughout the afternoon on Castle Green and Father Christmas will be in attendance, in the FREE Santa’s Grotto that will be set up outside the Visitor Centre, right at the heart of the event!

The Naughty Elves and the Ice Queen will be returning again and this year they will be joined by the Nutcracker Soldier. The Christmas Tree lights will be turned on at 6.30pm by a local celebrity and the day will be brought to a close by a performance of the Garden Club on the main stage.

This is a fantastic event whereby families can soak up the festive atmosphere for free as there is no entry charge. They look forward to welcoming you all, to what is shaping up to be a truly memorable event!!

Santa’s Grotto has been supplied by Will Squires from Foresters Garden Sheds and Avery’s Garden Centre supplied Christmas Trees. THANK YOU!

< The Snow Globe experience

Have your picture taken inside a Snow Globe.

Check out their Facebook page for all the latest news and information:

The event is being put on by Ben and Charmaine Devey, with the assistance of Phil and Rachel Morgan from Pro Sound Solutions & Unique Events.

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

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Martin G Straus 0747 007 8131 I’m now retired but far busier than I’ve been for a long time with non-profit, Taunton-based organisations!

I’m now Membership Secretary of the amazing Taunton U3A, which has many interest groups -mainly for Senior Citizens. Apart from a monthly Sunday Lunch, none are currently involved in learning about food and drink - but I hope to change that!

I am also now Secretary of Taunton-Lisieux Town Twinning. You may have noticed our streets include Normandy Drive, Lisieux Way and Calvados Road, but possibly have never realised the significance. Lisieux is the provincial capital of the Pays d’Auge, the best part of the Calvados region of France. Calvados is apple brandy, and appropriate that my recommended cocktail is called simply Calvados Cocktail. Originally made without lemon, this is a beautifully balanced version from Gary Regan’s ‘The Joy of Mixology’.

English wines are getting better and better, with an increasing emphasis on sparkling wine. Mark & Jenny Thorpe have been producing Greenhill Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (still and dry) at Stocklands Vineyard, Polden Hills, Somerset (16 miles from Taunton). At the time of writing, the 2019 harvest shows great promise, and the 2018 wines are showing beautifully and are not over-expensive. Mark and Jenny recently retired, but are assisting the new owners in the meantime. To find where to buy these gems, call 01278 663 961.

One of my great passions over the past 50 years has been fine Sherry. In December 1979, I had a couple of days in the Sherry region, visiting the towns of Jerez and Sanlucar de Barrameda, and on my return achieved my dream of being taken on by Hedges & Butler, then the oldest wine merchants in the UK, established 1667 (sadly, they were closed down in 1989). I sold fabulous wines from such great producers as Sandeman, Gonzalez Byass and Williams & Humbert. Fine Sherry over the past decade had been undergoing steady resurgence, particularly in and around London, but regrettably the South West was largely unaffected. Ironic, when you consider that traditionally Bristol had been a major shipping port for wines, including Sherry.

22.

By the time you read this, I will have returned from a week in Sanlucar de Barrameda, the home of the driest of dry Sherries, with a salty tang – Manzanilla – precisely 40 years after my first visit!

I plan to taste many Sherries in Sanlucar and Jerez, and to drink them with fish - Sanlucar is one of the finest fishing ports in Spain.

On my return, and to make the most of my updated knowledge, I am establishing a not-for-profit club, hopefully based in Taunton – The Sherry Club of Somerset (see Facebook page for details). A new Spanish restaurant in Taunton has shown interest in hosting tastings and pairing dinners – at the time of writing they have not yet followed up, so watch this space!

CORNER C A LVA D O S CO C KTA I L

•

30ml Calvados

•

7.5ml Cointreau (or Triple Sec)

•

7.5ml fresh orange juice

•

7.5ml fresh lemon juice

•

Orange bitters to taste

•

Shake & strain into a chilled cocktail (“Martini”) glass

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Neil Robertson Plumbing & Heating Ltd Plumbing - Heating - Renewables

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Plumbing: We cover all issues, Big or Small Heating: From a Boiler Service to Full Installation

Call us on: 01823 413999

• Bathroom installations /repairs • Taps • Pipework • Install or Repair Toilets • Fit Washing Machines / Dishwashers

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• Wet rooms • Walk in showers and baths • Waterproof wall panelling • Slip resistant safety flooring • Grab rails, shower seats & raised toilets • Discounts for over 60s and EX Service personnel Call now to arrange a FREE survey and quote:

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*Terms and conditions apply, visit our website for more details.

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The Last Word-Book Review With John Fish

The Little Library Year: Recipes and reading to suit each season.

By Kate Young Published by Head of Zeus (Released: 3rd October 2019) 336 Pages. HB £25.

Now that the days are getting shorter and minds start turning to looking for that special Christmas gift, I have it here for that one person who loves recipes and literary classics. The Little Library Year by food writer Kate Young is beautifully illustrated and packed full of mouthwatering recipes to cover the full year. But that is not all, just look at the title of the book and you will see there is more to this as this is just not a book about food but also Kate shares her love of books and throughout you will discover some outstanding reading lists.

The Little Library Year is broken down over six parts from those cold winter months to the first signs of spring through to the long warm summer days and then through autumn’s golden days as the leaves turn and fall. Through each part Kate shares her months with you and also some of her favourite recipes to go with the season. Kate’s love of literature shines through her writing as this is no ordinary book about food it is a love of the seasons and with each season comes a chance cook with some delicious recipes to try and also deserts to enjoy. Throughout there are reading recommendations to curl up with during the winter or to read on the beach. A book combining two of my favourite things. Recipes and great books to read.

The Testaments

By Margaret Atwood Published by Chatto & Windus (Released: 10th September 2019) 432 Pages. HB £20.

It was 1985 when Margaret Atwood released The Handmaid’s Tale which then was turned into a Channel 4 award winning TV series in 2017. Now just a matter of 34 years later the sequel we have all be waiting for has arrived.

The Testaments was the most anticipated book launch of the year and immediately went straight to the top of the bestsellers chart.

“Only dead people are allowed to have statues, but I have been given one while still alive.

Already I am petrified.” These are the opening words of The Testaments. The story picks up some 15 years later and it is Offred has disappeared but to what fate? The Testaments is narrated by three voices Agnes and Daisy are the younger voices and overall there is Aunt Lydia and she really is terrifying. It is Lydia that rules the roost through the book but I found the two young women have a voice but the spectre of Lydia is always there she is dark and sinister.

In Gilead it is the Aunts who are in charge of all the other women and if you have read The Handmaid’s Tale you will know that it is the Handmaids who are the only ones who are allowed to be educated and you will not be shocked at the lengths those who are in control in Gilead will go to keep control. There are the stories of the shocking treatment to break those and readily accept a life of slavery.

The Testaments is a real gripping read and a perfectly formed sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale.

Read more of John’s book reviews at: www.thelastwordbookreview.wordpress.com 24.

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Roofing & Property Maintenace • Roofing • Property Maintenance • Cladding • Fascias, Guttering & Soffits

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Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir is looking to recruit new members who love to sing.

With mixed ability and experience, we aim to positively impact our community and raise funds for charities and events.

The county town of Somerset is as different as it gets from the traditional mining or industrial base from which many of our male voice choirs hail, but there has been a flourishing male voice choir in Taunton since 1946.

We have three main objectives: ● to preserve the traditions and standards of male voice singing. ● to create a warm, sociable atmosphere for our choir members. ● to assist organisations in raising money for charitable causes.

Averaging 10 concerts each year, the choir has hosted concerts in many beautiful locations around Somerset.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the choir travelled to Taunton’s twin town of Lisieux in France to sing in the magnificent Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Lisieux.

We are delighted to have two patrons, the Mayor of Taunton and the Chair of Somerset West and Taunton Council.

We are already looking forward to our 75th Anniversary next year, and we would like to see 75 choir members singing at our commemorative concerts. Why not come and join us? Tenors, Baritones and Basses all welcome!

SINGING CAN SERIOUSLY IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING! We meet every Wednesday 7:30pm - 9:30pm at The Temple Methodist Church, Upper High St, Taunton TA1 3PY.

www.tauntondeanemvc.com

Interested? Call or email our Chairman, Paull Robathan for an initial chat.

01823 781988 chairman@tauntondeanemvc.com 26.

The choir isto a Registered Charity, Registered with the you Charity Commission 284948.

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

We are a family business who pride ourselves in providing a personal service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We make a commitment to you to take care of all the necessary funeral arrangements and offer a very personal and discreet service.

We can provide all types of service and burial including Green and Woodland burials, horse-drawn funerals, military funerals and we can also arrange services in all religious denominations plus nonreligious and humanist life celebrations as well.

Our Traditional funeral service £2650.00 (all inclusive).

Our Low cost funeral service is £1350.00 * Price valid at time of publication. May be subject to change.

We would be happy to discuss this style of service with you and answer any questions you may have.

01823 277938 | 69 Staplegrove Road, Taunton, TA1 1DG. 01823 971447 | Yeomans, Eastcombe, Bishops Lydeard, TA4 3HU. info@quantockfuneralservices.co.uk www.quantockfuneralservices.co.uk

Quantock Funeral Services win Funeral Planner of the Year Award.

On 21st September writer, broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth was host as he welcomed more than 400 guests from the UK and Ireland, for Funeral Planner of the Year Awards run by Golden Charter. They came together to celebrate the achievements of independent funeral directors over the past year, in funeral planning and beyond.

It was a trip to our nation’s capital full of celebrations for local independent funeral directors Quantock Funeral Services, of Taunton and Bishops Lydeard.

They were been named as both Regional and National, Funeral Planner of the Year.

Corrinne Foster, a director of Quantock Funeral Services along with her husband Matt, said: “We are very proud to have won this title. It’s a fantastic achievement and we are so happy that our

hard work in bringing fair prices to families in Taunton, Wellington and the surrounding areas has been recognised.

Having the accolade of being the Best Funeral Planner in the country is a huge responsibility and one we will use to make us an even better family business to ensure we do what’s right for our families.

We couldn’t do what we do without the families we serve, and we dedicate this award to all of the families we have helped through their bereavements and of course the families that have placed their trust in us to perform their funerals when the time comes by taking out their funeral plans with us”.

Qualified Mindfulness & Compassion Teacher

Mindfulness and Compassion can help profoundly with your health, well-being and happiness.

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

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All reviews are marked out of 10. Anything above 5 is worth seeing, as taste is always subjective and spoilers have been avoided by concentrating on the craft, rather than simply the plot.

See bit.ly/Padreviews for the latest reviews.

By Patric Maine BA (Hons) in Film studies.

Gemini Man 4/10

Started well. It started ok, then went downhill sadly.

A kind of Face Off update that didn’t work. Not believable - a lot of wasted money but an effective marketing campaign that’s sure to get bums on seats.

Official Secrets 10/10

I have to admit I didn’t know the full story and I’m glad I didn’t. Superbly written, acted, great cast, full of suspense and emotion. Great story telling about a true event, lies deceit, love and loss - they’re all there.

Joker 7/10

There are two sides to the Joker. One side you have sympathy for and the other side is a deranged psychotic killer. This film takes you on a journey and delves into the creation of a monster and his troubled upbringing. You feel sympathy for his mental state until the monster is unleashed.

As a stand-alone movie it works well and takes away nothing from Heath Ledger’s superb performance Phoenix’s performance is superb and has rightly come in for huge accolades.

Judy 9/10

Sensitive portrayal, almost perfect. When you’re young everyone seems old. When you realise how young she died you realise how much she accomplished in such a short life span. Your heart isn’t measured by how much you love but by how much people love you.

Mental Illness is so much better understood now. Her demons were with her everyday, but she battled hard to keep them at bay. Great script, great cast, simple location this will transfer to the stage perfectly superb performance by Renée Zellweger.

The Goldfinch 9/10

This is a rare film - an intellectual film that’ll draw you in and you’ll want to see again. You feel like a detective piecing all the parts together to establish what actually happened. The acting was superb not least from the younger version of his multilingual Ukrainian mysterious friend. The story is told for the most part in retrospective and it’s a story of love and loss throughout but it’s the mystery that keeps you going.

28.

Love a log burner Out of all the purchases I have ever made for my house, the log burner has to be the best. I was a bit hesitant at first, I thought there were advantages our gas fire had that the log burner didn’t. My main concern was convenience. Those nights when you have been out in the cold and you come in and want instant heat. Then the thought of cleaning out the ash every day will be a chore. Well the truth the log burner is just as versatile.

We load the burner with logs and put a couple bits of fire lighters underneath, light them, shut the door, open the vents and you will have a roaring fire in less than two minutes. No bits of paper, no kindling and no smoky room. If you burn sustainable logs only, the amount of ash you will get after burning several logs in an evening will fit in a teacup, so really it only needs cleaning once a week at best and logs like to burn on a bed of ash.

There is a down side of course, you have to store the logs somewhere and also stacking them, plus you have to bring in enough to use that day. Apart from that, the joy of a real heat (and boy they kick out some heat) and just the look of real flames out way any hardship. There is something primeval about a real fire and you could always cut your own logs up.

There is the initial cost of course, they range from £400 - £2000. We laid out £800 for ours which come to about £1500 by the time it was installed, but did included a large chunk of slate for it to sit on. So running costs? Well you can read various savings on the internet but to give you some idea we buy a load and a half of logs which costs £180 which lasted me through the last winter lighting it most evenings and weekends. On top of that we bought about £100.00 of coal nuts. This helps it to burn slower.

The burner we have is 5Kw which is more than ample for most standard sized rooms, we leave the lounge door open so the heat hits the central heating thermostat in the hallway so turns if off most of the time but the excess heat travels upstairs too. The fire can be easily controlled via air vents, so you can adjust the amount of heat required from glowing nicely to raging inferno.

If you burn sustainable logs it is carbon neutral as for every tree cut down a new one is planted in its place.

They come in various forms, log only burner or dual fuel (logs or coal), from traditional too ultra- modern. You can have a burner only or have radiators attached and don’t worry if you haven’t got a chimney as your installer will make you one, you will be amazed at what they can do, so check with your local supplier. If the bailiffs call it’ll be the last thing they get their hands on, love my log burner.

By Clive Smith, Editor.

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Local insurance broker providing competitive quotes for Motor, Household, Let & Unoccupied properties, Listed buildings and travel.

Visit our friendly experienced team at 45 St James Street, Taunton (opposite the Ring of Bells Pub).

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

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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 Citizens Advice Bureau (Taunton): ..03444 889623 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 Jhoots, 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.

30.

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257444

Briony Points I’m not saying your perfume is too strong. I’m just saying the canary was alive before you got here.

19

Call Drew: 01823 257444

Christopher Wave TRUE FRIENDSHIP: Walking into a persons house and your wifi connects automatically.

4 Freda Livery Being an adult is just walking around wondering what you’re forgetting.

39 Helen Back Just found out I’m colour blind. The diagnosis came completely out of the purple.

16

Laurie Park Never laugh at your girlfriends choices... you’re one of them.

07503175441 | rebeccafisk66@gmail.com FiskEarlyYears.co.uk

11 Rosa Teeth She wanted a puppy. But I didn’t want a puppy. So we compromised and got a puppy.

32 Wanda Phul I just asked my husband if he remembers what today is...

Scaring men is easy.

07 Toby Hind How do you know if someone is hitch-hiking or just complimenting my driving?

14

For all your catering and cleaning supplies.

Call Chris on 07522143179

gainesdisposablesupplies16@yahoo.com www.gainesdisposablesupplies.co.uk

OUR JAN/FEB DEADLINE IS 18th DECEMBER. GET IN TOUCH! CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEST SOMERSET MAGAZINE. 12,000 COPIES!

Advertise in both our magazines to get 10% off the total price.

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.

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ARE YOU USING YOUR CONSERVATORY ALL YEAR ROUND? “It’s the best home improvement we have ever made.

Our conservatory is now our dining room in the garden.”

Mike Millis, Middleton On Sea

SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE

LATER THAT DAY

*Quote Ref WGA1119 • COOLER IN SUMMER • WARMER IN WINTER BEFORE

SUBSTANTIAL SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE ON OUR INSULATED CONSERVATORY ROOFING PANELS We’re planning to make insulation a must have addition to every conservatory across the UK. We are therefore offering a SUBSTANTIAL SUBSIDY to a limited number of suitable properties in selected areas. To find out more about the benefits that the Green Space system can offer and see if your conservatory is suitable for any potential subsidies, contact us now.

Call free on:

CONSERVATORY ROOFS

0800 65 25 157 www.greenspaceconservatories.co.uk

*Finance subject to status, T&C’s apply.

Subsidies are limited by area and not guaranteed. Putting off your enquiry could reduce the potential subsidy available to you

32.

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