Word Gets Around Magazine - July/August 2016

JULY/AUGUST 2016

TAUNTON DEANE BUSINESS AWARDS AND THE WINNER IS...

REGENERATION PLAN TRAVELS FORWARDS WITH TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COMPETITION WIN TICKETS TO A MUSIC FESTIVAL IT’S BBQ TIME! TOP TIPS & RECIPE

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT HOW MANY THINGS HYPNOTHERAPY CAN HELP. Experience Hypnotherapy with Award Winning Harley Street Hypnotherapist Trevor Hoskisson.

All sessions recorded for you - No need to keep coming back Call: 01823 729556 (or see page 7)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR WORD GETS AROUND READERS AT HOWARDS CITROËN TAUNTON. Experience Business Class travel at Economy rates with Citroën’s amazing van range, where every model is noted for its high-flying specification and jumbo carrying capacity. It’s little wonder that the fleet has picked up so many awards. Citroën Vans, welcome on board.

There really is the perfect van for everyone:

CITROËN BERLINGO ENTERPRISE from ‍£139 Contract Hire Monthly Rental.

Business users only. Payload up to 896kg Loadspace up to 3.3m³

Citroën Vans are full of innovations and technologies that raise the bar for comfort, safety, hard working Howards Citroën taunton 01823 efficiency and style. If you would like to experience the impressive range Citroën have to offer, then call PRiORSWOOD ROAD, TAUNTON, SOMERSET, TA2 8D SIMON JONES on 01823 230616.

Howards Citroën weston super

It will be a great opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience ourBRiDGE, award-winning van range for SOMERSET, BS2 HiLDESHEiM WESTON-SUPER-MARE, NORTH yourself.

Yours sincerely, SIMON JONES Howards Citroën Taunton Priorswood Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8DN 01823 230616 www.howardstaunton.citroen.co.uk

Offers apply to qualifying new Citroën models ordered & delivered 01/10-31/12/14 for business users only, exclu per month on a 2 year agreement of 10,000 miles per annum. Contract Hire rentals shown apply to New Citroën C miles per annum. Contract Hire rental includes delivery to dealership, Citroën Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Excise D exceeded. Contract Hire rental rates have been calculated with the appropriate manufacturer’s support applied to th Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Over 18s only. Written quotations available on request from UK only. Offers & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions app

‡

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycl

Contract Hire rentals shown apply to Citroën Berlingo HDi 75 manual L1 625 Enterprise & require an advance rental of £834 followed by 23 monthly Highest:New Citroën C4 Cactus PureTech 110 S&S manual Feel rentals on a 2 year agreement of 10,000 miles per annum. For business users only excluding National Fleet customers as defined by Citroën & Touch 3.5/80.7, 2.9/97.4, 3.1/91.1, 82. exclude VAT. Howard Garages (Weston) Ltd is acting as a credit broker and is not a lender.manual To finance your purchase/lease we may introduce you to MPG figures ar a limited number of lenders. Terms and conditions apply. For general details please give purposes us a call. only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving cond

EDITOR:

Clive Smith clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

HELLO AND WELCOME TO WORD GETS AROUND MAGAZINE.

MAGAZINE DESIGNED BY:

I would like to say ‘thank you’ for the support we received in helping us to get Word Gets Around to the final of the recent Taunton Deane Business Awards. It’s been an amazing 5 years and we’ve met lots of great people along the way.

Word Gets Around

No.2 The Crescent, Taunton, TA1 4EA 01823 256119 info@wordgetsaround.co.uk

ARTWORK TO:

artwork@wordgetsaround.co.uk

DRONE IMAGE ABOVE:

welovetaunton.co.uk/pricing #welovetau Taken from a static position using Dji.com phantom vision 2+ on a non commercial basis at a distance greater than 150m.

DISTRIBUTION BY:

www.taunton.dor2dor.com

TAUNTON DEANE BUSINESS AWARDS FINALIST 2016 Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this magazine are correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Word Gets Around hold no liability for supplied artwork from advertisers and contributors and views or advice contained within. So there!

We had a wonderful night at the Somerset County Cricket Club and enjoyed chatting to Taunton born businesswoman Deborah Meaden, best known as an investor on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den. She presented the overall Commendation Award to the Claims Consortium Group based in the Blackdown Hills.

This was the inaugural year for the awards to offer an opportunity for all businesses based in Taunton Deane to showcase their achievements to their peers and celebrate the diversity of the businesses that are based here.

Thanks to those giving their time and effort to put on this great event.

Our philosophy has always been to give back something to our community.

You may have only seen our magazine but Word Gets Around is primarily a graphic design, marketing and print company. We also run a monthly business networking meeting once a month and give many inspirational talks at local schools and colleges in the area. We love supporting new startup businesses giving them advice, support and the opportunity to get them on their way.

Meanwhile enjoy the summer and the magazine.

Clive

Article contributions by: Karen Roberts, Personal Trainer Ian Timms, Taunton Deane Borough Council

.3

Regeneration plan travels forwards.

I am writing this article the day after the midsummer solstice and wondering where half a year has gone. Against this backdrop it seems there have been all sorts of projects initiated this year and, as mentioned in my last article, we have been making good progress on many.

In physical terms, a key project that I am involved with is the proposal to create “a new place on the river� at Coal Orchard. This is a vital part of the Taunton Rethink strategy which seeks to create a place that can serve the town`s cultural needs and complement this historic part of the county town.

In the past couple of months we have been working on preparing an outline planning application for developing the site. As part of the process we have been out talking to various people. We are currently absorbing the information received through the initial consultation which will allow us to put together a planning application for consideration in the autumn.

This conversation will continue through July and August to enable us to bring forward a scheme which delivers for the Coal Orchard. The planning application itself will, of course, include further full public consultation so everyone will have the opportunity to make further points about this proposal.

Recently we have been seeking approval for an investment of significant sums to upgrade seven key council owned car parks in Taunton to enable you to pay when you leave. We plan to link these up to a series of variable message signs which will guide visitors and residents to car parks.

4.

These two systems will combine to make it easier to find car parks and guide visitors to the park and ride sites. When in place it will also mean that the rush back to the car as your ticket runs out will be eliminated in those car parks that include High Street, Paul Street (Orchard centre), Canon Street, Wood Street and Tangier.

Over the summer we need to tackle buying this equipment and will follow that up with agreeing a contractor to do the work during over the next year. We are working with our partner, Somerset County Council, and expect this project to bring positive economic benefits to Taunton.

Finally in the past few days we kicked off June with Somerfest which provided a colourful and varied event across Taunton`s central spaces. There were activities for all the family which finished up with a fire procession in the evening. TDBC is working with FUSE performance over the next few years on this event so get the date in your diary for 2017.

There are all sorts of events and activities planned over the coming months so log onto www.visitsomerset.co.uk/Taunton to find out what`s happening across the area.

Ian Timms Assistant Director of Business Development, Taunton Deane Borough and West Somerset Councils 01823 356577 itimms@westsomerset.gov.uk Photo: Matt Sweeting Photography

www.mattsweeting.co.uk

Animal Habitats

Full Car Valeting Service 101 Winchester Street

•

Taunton

•

TA1 1QE

Tel: 01823 617227 Mobile: 07887 760021 www.absolutelyflawless-valeting.co.uk

P

R

U

T

P

S

T

N

T

P

R

A

I

R

I

E

J

E

O

T

H

N

I

F

I

U

N

D

C

Y

D

V

D

D

N

R

X

P

E

R

E

E

G

G

O

E

Y

C

A

R

S

E

L

C

G

O

L

R

N

E

R

E

M

A

O

F

O

E

R

L

U

S

D

M

O

U

N

T

A

I

N

I

R

R

A

U

H

K

E

K

I

R

E

E

F

H

E

A

E

K

J

S

C

Y

U

U

N

R

R

A

T

I

U

G

S

A

E

Word search

Find the hidden words in the word search grid

desert reef forest

jungle lake mountain

ocean prairie river

.5

The Diaries Of

Ginger

George What a time I’ve had over the last month, kidnapped and deported. Firstly I was tricked into getting into a small lockable basket by some clever camouflage and some tasty tit bits. You know the basket I’m talking about. The sort that transports you to the vets. It’s not funny, I detest going to the vets, poking things where they shouldn’t go and squeezing me like I’m some sort of cushion. The trouble is I feel fine, so what’s up Doc ?

So in the car I go, which I hate. Nothing should move that fast! We are closing in on the vets when to my surprise we sail straight past it. I know, I’m going to be abandoned, dumped miles away and left to fend for myself. Well let me tell you I’m like a homing pigeon, I’ll be back ! Then I’m thinking sack, brick, water... I’ve heard about these cases.

We have been travelling for about 20 minutes and suddenly we turn off and head down some farm track. That’s it, they have heard about my rat catching skills and I’m on loan to the farmer!? Well this is going to be a treat, there’s nothing better than a days rat catching, just let me at them. We arrived and a woman comes out the house and takes me around the back of the farm.

or getting stuff squirted in my eyes. Well I’m ready, just try it. I do have to say the food is tip top, in fact the best I’ve ever tasted and the sleeping quarters are very comfortable and warm.

The next day another car arrives, oh yes the fag man is it, come to do some ‘tests”?. The farmers wife has another basket and opens the door to the cage next to me and out steps Miss Pretty Kitty, well hello there. She has to be the most attractive feline sort I have ever seen. Please let it be some kind of breeding programme, yes that’s what it is.

I’m here to pass on my genes. Who wouldn’t want my genes!!!

Hey! things are looking better, great food, warm lodgings and Miss Fluffy Tail right on my doorstep.

I shoot inside my quarters and start the preening of my lifetime, got to look my best.

With all the dead hairs gone and my coat gleaming I wonder out to make my acquaintance. “Well hello beautiful, welcome to the breeding programme”. ”What breeding programme”, she spits back.

“Why Honey why do you think we are here? It’s the summer of love”, I reply.

Okay me dear let me out, let’s get to work. She takes me to this area fenced off with wire netting and opens up the front and lets me loose. At the back there is a wooden panel with a round hole in it, so quick as you like I’m in there.

“What are you on about you manky old cat, you have no chance of getting anywhere near me”, she hissed. “I’ve been to this cattery before, it’s good food, rest and recuperate”. I look at her puzzled, “ A whattery, a cattery, what is that”?

Hang on... no rats and what’s weird is my bed is in there to, what’s going on ? I hear the car disappear down the lane. Looking around I realise I’m caged, there’s no way out of here. So they think they can lock me away, they haven’t come across Ginger George before ! Three days later I’m still trapped, and there is no escape. I’ve heard about these places. Next I’ll be smoking forty cigarettes a day

She fills me in with all the details. So I’ve been abandoned whilst they go on holiday. No rats and certainly no breeding programme. Sure enough a week later I’m taken home again and leave Miss ‘Upherself’ to rest and recuperate and she had the full grooming treatment too.

6.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT HYPNOSIS With Trevor Hoskisson of the Harley Street Hypnotherapy Clinic.

Use Hypnosis and NLP to reduce your weight and easily maintain your ideal weight for the rest of your life.

“Thank you, Trevor. I am very happy to be able to report that I have not touched Diet Coke, biscuits or chocolate since our session, and have no desire to do so! Many thanks”. Emma

Hypnosis also helps... Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Pain Management, Confidence, Self Esteem, Phobias & much more.

Phone Trevor to find out how hypnosis can help you.

Tel: 01823 729556

Email: Trevor.Hoskisson@HarleyStreetHypnotherapyClinic.com No.2 The Crescent, Taunton, TA1 4EA www.HarleyStreetHypnotherapyClinic.com

Trevor Hoskisson BSc MPNLP CHt MAPHP MAC

FREE Metabolism Booster CD with first session (Value £37) All sessions recorded for you – No need to keep coming back.

QUALITY bespoke furniture handcrafted for you Call now to arrange a visit to our Somerset workshop Tel: 01823 256369 gary@harrisonsofsomerset.co.uk

www.harrisonsofsomerset.co.uk

.7

Homemade ice lollies Do you share the same childhood memories of summertime as me? When it got hot, did you take out the ice cube tray, fill it with diluted cordial and eagerly wait for it to set so that you could enjoy impromptu homemade ice lollies? And were you usually disappointed when you came face to face with crunchy, crystallised cubes of weakly flavoured water rather than the delicious, mouth-watering, thirst-quenching, temperature -cooling creations you were expecting?!

Legend has it that the ice lolly was invented in 1905 by an 11 year old American boy named Frank Epperson, who accidentally left a glass of soda with a mixing stick poking out of it on his porch overnight. The next day, he found he had made a delicious frozen treat. Regardless of their origin, homemade ice lollies offer endless possibilities.

Orange and lemon, minted milk, strawberries and cream, pineapple and coconut, grapefruit and campari or vodka and tonic are just some of the flavours you could try.

To avoid the disappointing results I experienced, here are a few tips to ensure success at the freezer.

1. Make the mixture too strong. Cold numbs the taste buds, so add extra lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or even chilli to give the lolly oomph!

2. Sugar improves the taste and softens the texture.

Too little will result in a solid block of flavoured ice; too much will result in a lolly that is partially liquid.

Healthier alternatives to sugar include date syrup, honey and coconut sugar.

8.

3. When filling the mould, leave about 5mm at the top to allow the mixture to expand.

4. To make sure the sticks stand upright, freeze for about an hour and then insert the sticks.

Alternatively, cover the top of the moulds with foil, make a slit and insert the sticks through it.

5. Freezing quickly reduces the amount of ice crystals. Turn the freezer to the coldest setting and place the moulds at the back. Lollies on average take around 4-5 hours to freeze but set faster, the higher the water to sugar ratio. Alcohol slows the process, with too much alcohol resulting in a slushy lolly!

6. To un-mould, immerse in hot water for 20-30 seconds. Dip just below the top rim and pull hard on the sticks to yank the lollies out.

7. Store frozen lollies in sealable freezer bags or waxed paper. Make sure they are airtight to prevent ice crystals from forming inside.

8. For super quick lollies, simply freeze pieces of fruit. Cover bananas in peanut butter or chocolate spread before freezing or blend fruit puree with plain yoghurt. Frozen Angel Delight tastes just like mini milks!

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

We supply and fit all types of flooring and offer excellent carpentry services from kitchen installations to full timber framed buildings.

For a free measure and quote call us today: 01823 254555

10% OFF with this advert (T&Cs apply)

Email: creationflooringandcarpentry@gmail.com Mobile: 07909 954849 .9

LIVE A LONGER, STRONGER LIFE

By Karen Roberts, Personal Trainer, Taunton.

So I have been doing a bit of research on ageing, specifically on how we can “age well”. Did you know a woman living in the UK has an average life expectancy of 80! Yes 80. So why do my kids call me old at 45! Well back in the 1900’s life expectancy for a woman was 51.

Since then modern advances in medicine and a better understanding of what ages us e.g. “Lifestyle choices” have meant we can all live a longer healthier life.

Saying that, in recent years advances in technology have led us to having a more sedate lifestyle. Jumping in a car instead of walking, hours spent watching TV, sedate jobs as manual jobs are being taken over my machines, computer games and smart phones. All these “technological advances” have made life so much easier but at the same time are having a negative impact on our lifestyles.

When I think back to my childhood I’d spend hours outside in the woods exploring, ride my bike everywhere and walk to and from school no matter what the weather…. Roll on 30 years and kids are spending hours on their phones, playing computer games or watching TV, they move about less as it is quicker and easier to jump in a car (and possibly safer too). I suspect this is going to impact on our youngsters in years to come. Will their life expectancy shorten? It’s a good question to ask.

So, I’m 45 but I feel like I’m still in my 20’s and I want to feel like this for many more years to come. From what I have been reading recently there is a lot we can do to help us live a longer and stronger life.

How can I help myself age well?

Nutrition - Ditch the junk food. Why? It is loaded with added fats, added sugar and preservatives. Eat wholesome, fresh and simple foods. Think vegetables, lean meats, fish, nuts, seeds, fruit etc. Basically, anything that hasn’t been processed. Vary your diet; don’t eat the same thing day in and day out. Our body needs vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats to work at its peak. Provide it with these things in the right balance and your body will work like a well-oiled machine.

Movement & Exercise - Get off your ass and move.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, plus 2 strength training sessions (important for women as they age to preserve muscle and keep bones strong) and older people 50+ should be doing some balance and flexibility work too. Keeping your body strong will help you as you age, I am sure you agree you would want to be able to run around with your grandchildren

10.

and be fit enough to keep up with them. I am taking my Dad on a 4-day walk in June for his 70th! Since a quadruple heart bypass at 50 my Dad changed his lifestyle and started exercising more and eating healthier - as a result he can easily keep up with me!

Stress - Stress ages us; it affects our body at a cellular level (look up Telomeres and ageing). As cells divide in the body all the time the damage to the cells caused by stress gets passed on to the next cell and the next.

So find a way to minimise or manage stress to stop this happening. Exercise and meditation are great ways to deal with this.

Sleep - During deep sleep Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is released and grows and repairs the body, adults require 7-9 hours of sleep, kids require more and the 65+ age group, require less. It makes sense – kids are growing more and the elderly are growing less.

The hormones that govern appetite are also influenced by lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep? Then the hormone, Leptin that governs satiety (feeling full) will be decreased and Ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates your appetite is increased. If you are trying to manage your weight, lack of sleep could be responsible for your lack of progress.

Relationships and Social Connections - Studies have shown being connected with people is good for our mental and physical health. Having a support system can help ward of depression and illness. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and being lonely can intensify this. Seek out meaningful, stress free relationships. Make time for your friends and enjoy their company.

It is a privilege to age, not everyone gets this privilege so be happy, be healthy and make good choices.

Laugh often, spend quality time with your friends, enjoy everything you do and be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.

Look after yourself now… not tomorrow... and not next week.

For more information on healthy living, lifestyle advice and personal training please visit my website at www.karenroberts.co.uk References: www.medscape.org/viewarticle/502825 www.sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/content/why-do-we-need-sleep.html www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/stress-aging-process_n_3047000.html www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body www.who.int/en/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921311/

01823 326623 07866 595094

LOSE INCHES GAIN BODY CONFIDENCE

Find out how Body Slender Laser Lipo can help you lose those extra stubborn inches!

Visit our website or find us on Facebook for more details.

www.laserlipotaunton.com Taunton Laser Lipo Clinic

Advice, Help & Training Help with Viruses Repairs & Upgrades Broadband & Wi-Fi Windows & Linux Expertise Fully Qualified IT Professional Tel: 01823 366067 Email: ian@summerleaze.biz

Specialist in Bio-Sculpture Gel Nails Call Julia on 01823 333988 *Quote ‘Word Gets Around’ for this offer.

KEV’S CLEANING SERVICES A family run business EST since 1986, with a friendly team of reliable and trustworthy window cleaners.

Window cleaning inside and out We also empty, unblock and clean guttering, fascias, soffits, downpipes, conservatories and roofs. We can fix leaking guttering.

Regular and one off cleans!

(01823) 272260 | 07885 451628 www.kevscleaningservices.co.uk GUARANTEED a quality & professional service

.11

West Somerset’s Biggest Music Festival th th

FRIDAY 26 – SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2016

LEVELLERS | UB40 | THE FEELING PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT | NEVILLE STAPLE BAND DREADZONE | 3 DAFT MONKEYS

GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND | THE REAL THING ANIMALS & FRIENDS (feat Mickey Gallagher) | GAZ BROOKFIELD THE LEYLINES | THE MAJESTIC | HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS SEX P*SSED DOLLS | BAR STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONICAN Plus more than 100 other performances, including festival ‘house band’...THE WURZELS LEVELLERS ANNOUNCED AS SUNDAY HEADLINER FOR WATCHET FESTIVAL’S ‘10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY’ Parsonage Farm, Watchet: WATCHET LIVE FESTIVAL

www.watchetfestival.co.uk WIN! a weekend pass for two including parking* 1. Like our Facebook page 2. Tell us why you should win on our post.

Visit: facebook.com/wordgetsaroundmagazine Winner announced on our Facebook page on 8th August.

* Camping not included

Summer saving!

12.

The long days of summer are not just lazy for us, they are also a quiet time for many tradesmen.

Think about it; as soon as the temperature drops at the end of September people will begin to think about cold snaps and central heating. They’ll probably arrange for their boiler to be serviced...along with everyone else. So get ahead of the game and book now.

Summer is traditionally a quiet time for financial advisers and companies specialising in investments. Perhaps you could benefit from a financial makeover.

While you’re at it, if you have an open fire or a solid fuel range, order fuel now, in bulk while you can take advantage of lower summer prices. Summer is also a good time to organise a chimney sweep.

There aren’t too many about and they tend to be swamped in the autumn as people think about using their fireplace again.

The summer is generally a good time to check out your local high street for great deals on electrical goods.

Bizarrely it’s a quiet time for train and coach travel so you might be able to pick up a bargain ticket or two.

Summer has always been a quiet time for politics so perhaps now is a good time to tackle your MP about any local issues which are bothering you.

By Tom Hancock

“I love being self employed but all that paperwork drives me mad! But now we have it all sorted, after we went to see Ken”

“Ken can help you too. He looks after my bookkeeping, tax and payroll.

We like Ken, he’s friendly and full of advice” You’ll find Ken here:

Welch & Co. Acountants

2 Drake House, Cook Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6BJ. Tel: 01823 321954 Email: info@welchaccountants.com www.facebook.com/welchaccountants BOOKKEEPING, VAT, PAYROLL, ACCOUNTS, COMPANY SECRETARIAL, TAXATION PLANNING AND FORECASTING.

www.welchaccountants.com

.13

Sponsors of the awards

TAUNTON FORWARD BUILDING TOMORROW

(1)

(2)

(3)

And the winner is…

Over 150 people turned out for an evening of celebration as Taunton Deane’s first Business Awards reached their climax. The black tie awards ceremony was held at Somerset County Cricket ground with guests MP for Taunton, Rebecca Pow and Taunton born business entrepreneur Deborah Meaden.

Opening the evening, Ms Pow shared her delight at being able to “celebrate all the amazing businesses we have in Taunton Deane, many of whom you never get to hear about normally”.

Deborah Meaden closed the event by announcing the Claims Consortium Group winner of the Commendation Award adding: “This company clearly met all the criteria demonstrating growth, sustainability and a clear vision; in particular they portrayed strong commitment to staff development with in-house mentoring. Customer focus is keen and the company is going from strength to strength being one of the biggest employers in Taunton Deane - and still their staff describe the company as having a family feel. They are a great example of a big business remembering their little business roots and behaving well!”

Winner of the Commendation Award, Claims Consortium Group with Deborah Meaden.

Other finalists and winners were: Micro Business Awards

Start-Up:

New Leaf Life Design Word Gets Around Granny Gothards W

Portt Payroll W Little Knox First Aid Brazier Coffee Roasters

Viridor Acorn Solicitors Claims Consortium W

Rumwell Farm shop & Café Integrated Data Needs Ministry of Cake W

CSR:

Small:

Mindfulness UK MSS Global Somerset & Westcountry Stairlifts LTD Earlam & Christopher W Commendation Award:

Medium:

Retail Shop front:

Kamyko Hair W Nicky’s Flower Studio Sassi Holford W = Category winner

Claims Consortium Group (1) Micro Finalists New Leaf Life Design and Word Gets Around with Sponsors PKF Francis Clark.

Start Up winner Portt Payroll and Bookkeeping with sponsors Action Coach and Somerset Web Services.

14.

(2) Retail Finalists Sassi Holford with sponsors Fox Brothers and Taunton Forward.

(3) Micro Business winner Granny Gothards with sponsor PKF Francis Clark.

Nutritious and delicious.

The clue is in the name.

Those clever chefs at Wiltshire Farm Foods know how to make really healthy food, really tasty – like Salmon Provençale and Mediterranean Chicken. All freshly prepared using carefully selected ingredients, then quickfrozen to lock in the goodness, delivered free to your door.

Nutritious & Delicious Menu Pack only £26.95 7 main courses: Roast Pork with Cider & Apple Gravy, Chicken & Spring Vegetable Casserole, Sliced Beef in a Red Wine Sauce, Moroccan Chicken, Diced Beef Chilli, Butternut Squash and Butterbean Stew, Salmon Provençale ORDER CODE: ND2 Call us today for your FREE brochure

01769 573135

wiltshirefarmfoods.com

Diced Beef Chilli £3.65

PLASTERING SERVICES Tony Henden

• • • •

Home improvements and repairs Trade works Rendering and skimming Dry lining and plastering over Artex

TEL: 07967 378309

EMAIL: TONY.HENDEN@AOL.CO.UK

DOMESTIC CLEANER Services in Somerset

Contact John Compton taunton@timeforyou.co.uk

Let Time For You take the strain of your house keeping. We pride ourselves on providing a personal quality cleaner service.

All makes of Boiler servicing:

Gas or Oil Power Flushing & Breakdowns Gas Safe & Oftec Registered All your plumbing needs...

Everything right down to a leaking tap!

27 Years Experience.

For a Fast & Friendly Service Call John on 07584 432108 or 01823 326018. .15

Tough Mudder The phrase ‘tough mudder’ is usually heard in relation to events which combine mud and obstacle courses.

Inspired by British Special Forces training, they are designed to take participants out of their comfort zone and test physical and mental strength. They also encourage team work as runners often need to help each other in order to complete the course.

Events take place throughout the UK all year round.

There are variations on the theme, including shorter ‘half’ courses and special events for children, but all include huge challenges.

Some of the amazing titles of events taking place in August include:- Total Warrior, Tough Mann, The Adrenaline Rush, Gauntlet Games, Mudnificent 7, Brutal 10 and The Bear Grylls Survival Race.

I was personally astounded when I watched my friend John Harrison complete the ‘Tough Guy’ course in Wolverhampton a few years ago. This takes place annually at the end of January, in some of the coldest conditions. It originates back in1986 when the name was given to a cross country run where some obstacles had been added. The event now includes a massive 250 natural and man made obstacles which are designed to test participant’s fears of heights, tight spaces, fire, water and electricity!

16.

Another provider Tough Mudder, has run over 200 events, for more than two and a half million participants, in six countries since 2010. Globally themed, their obstacles include: - Everest 2.0, The Block Ness Monster, King of the Swingers, Pyramid Scheme, and Artic Enema 2.0. Typically 500,000 litres of A Grade mud are used in their events as well as 40 tons of ice.

Many people take part in this type of event just once, to prove that they can. Some raise money for charities and wear fancy dress. Others become addicted to the toughness of the activity, love the camaraderie and participate time and again. Safety is of course paramount. Some organisers provide free downloadable training programmes, whilst others run their own courses or work in partnership with gym brands.

If all this sounds a bit too tough and you’re female then perhaps you could try one of Race for Life, Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy ® events instead. These are 5 kilometres long and offer a gentler way to get ‘down and dirty’ on obstacles such as climbing nets and a muddy slide.

Kinesiologist Karen Thrush from Wiltshire recently completed one of these. She says; ‘It was great fun and more exciting than just running 5k.’ I’ve been inspired to sign up for my own local event after looking at Karen’s photos. I’m certainly not ready to do a full ‘tough mudder ‘but who knows, maybe next year!

By Susan Brookes-Morris

TAUNTON DEANE BUSINESS AWARDS FINALIST 2016

GRAPHIC DESIGN & MARKETING LOGO & BRAND DIRECTION, COMMUNICATION & STRATEGY

PRINT

LEAFLETS / BUSINESS STATIONERY / BROCHURES ROLLER BANNERS / NEWSLETTERS / SIGNAGE POSTERS / EVENT MARKETING AND MUCH MORE We help nourish new businesses and help re-energise those that need to look at things a little differently. We believe in the true power of word of mouth.

Our business has grown through happy customers championing what we do.

CALL US ON: 01823 256119

EMAIL: INFO@WORDGETSAROUND.CO.UK WWW.WORDGETSAROUND.CO.UK .17

Barbecue time!

vegetarian so make the salads interesting with potato salads, fresh melon and pineapple. Vegetables on skewers is easy.

5) To go with all this think about breads. A Mexican wrap is great off the grill and a convenient way to hold your food whilst drinking and chatting. Japati's or even naan bread are good too.

6) Just remember to light your charcoal way in advance.

You don't want flames, you want an even heat. Hold your hand about five inches above the charcoal if you take it away after 4 seconds that's a perfect heat.

7) Drinks, there is nothing more refreshing than a good Sangria or Pimms in a jug with fresh fruit, just make sure you have plenty of ice available.

It's summer and the time to drag out that barbecue from the back of the shed. The keyword for success with most outdoor cooking is 'Planning'. The trouble with the weather is you never know whether it's going to be warm enough to sit outdoors. Most barbecues consist of a last minute panic. It's going to be a nice day, let's have a barbie. Down to the local supermarket grab the essentials, a 24 pack of beer and a few bottles of cheap vino. Then over to the frozen cabinet, grab some beef burgers and sausages. back to the house to find your barbecue has rusted and there is still last year ash in the bottom. To make a good barbecue you need to plan ahead, even if it's the day before.

1) Make sure your equipment is up to the job. There are two main types, either gas, so make sure your not going to run out of gas half way through the cooking.

With gas it's purely to cook with and you wont get those truly smokey flavours. With charcoal buy lumpwood, it's natural and will give the best flavours. Think of adding apple or cherry wood and maybe hickory flakes for added taste. Keep the lid on where you can to keep the flavours in too.

2) Most butchers will make up a mixed barbecue pack with spares ribs, pork and chicken or steak. Any good butcher will advise you on the best cuts. You can make up your own burgers with herbs and spices. The secret and a must, is to marinade the meat the day before. I could fill the page with marinades but search on-line for there is plenty to choose from. There is a wealth of information available. This is a must if you want your guests to really see your culinary talents.

3) Think about fish. Trout or salmon on a grill is fantastic.

There is nothing better than fish with lemon, dill and some seasoning. When it comes to cooking fish on charcoal the Thai's are the masters, put some oak in with the charcoal for a real nutty flavour.

4) Vegetables are often overlooked on the grill and many will have a bowl of chopped lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Why not thinly sliced courgette, whole peppers or artichokes. Cook them without oil but make up a dressing with some quality olive oil after they have cooked. Buy corn on the cob, great on the grille and served with butter. Some of your guests may be

18.

Recipe: Barbecued Lamb This recipe offers you the option to either use this for a BBQ or to cook inside and serve with your choice of vegetables.

Ingredients: 1 lemon (juice and zest) 2tbsp soft light brown sugar 125ml olive oil 8tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 garlic cloves (crushed) 4tbsp mint (chopped) 400g half boneless leg of lamb Equipment: Barbecue or griddle pan Method: To make the marinade mix together the lemon juice and zest with the sugar, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and add seasoning. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and then mix in the mint and garlic.

Lay the meat in a deep tray. Pour in half the marinade over the top of the meat and turn it over to coat it on both sides. Put the rest of the marinade to one side to use as dressing later. Then, cover with cling film and choose to leave it for 1 hour or alternatively overnight in the fridge.

After, remove the lamb from the fridge, shake off any excess marinade back into the tray before inserting a skewer that goes from one corner to the opposite.

Do this again with another skewer but in the opposite direction.

You can either cook the lamb on a barbecue or a griddle pan and cook on a medium heat. Cook for between 1520 minutes.

Make sure to turn the lamb frequently until pink or cook for longer depending on your preference. Once you have finished, let the lamb rest for 10 minutes and remove the skewers.

Serve with your choice of vegetables and pour over the rest of the marinade.

FOR YOUR PROPERTY VALUATION CALL US TODAY:

01823 332121

Email: taunton@wilkie.co.uk www.wilkie.co.uk Town & Country Residential Sales | Land & New Homes | Commercial & Development Surveyors | Independent Mortgage Advice

.19

Pension Doctor - Charlie Reading The Best Income Strategy As you approach your retirement, you can use several strategies to boost your income. Most people make their way through their working life with little strategic planning for their retirement. They collect a series of different pensions and investments, each of which seem sensible at the time but often don’t take into account where they already are or where they are going. To be able to plan your retirement from a financial perspective, you first need to understand what is important to you. Only once you know what is important to you in the future can you ensure your finances can deliver exactly that.

The Wedding Car of Your Finances Most people move companies several times during their working life. Each one of these companies will probably give you a different pension, so by the time you get closer to retirement, you will have collected a diverse array of different schemes to your name, which you will drag behind you like a wedding car does cans and streamers.

Even those of you who run your own businesses will often have the same as a result of previous jobs, previous financial advisers or encounters with your bank.

Some of the older pensions you might collect may have some quirky guarantees and features that you will want to keep. Guaranteed annuity rates, for example, are usually really valuable, so you’d want to keep most pensions that employ them. Many will offer to pay you an income of 10% or more of the capital when you get to retirement.

You don’t want to let go of this feature. Some pensions will have minimum growth guarantees which might be valuable too.

The important thing to do is to check. Ask the provider if you have these guarantees, and if not, you know you aren’t giving up valuable benefits by transferring.

Eliminate Smoke and Mirrors There are a whole variety of ways that older-style pensions can charge you. There can be initial charges, exit charges, different units where higher charges are imposed on some but not others, ongoing charges, admin charges, flat charges and switching charges, to name but a few.

As you can see, it can be complicated to compare the charges of one pension to another. That’s why you, or a Financial Adviser, need to simplify the process. First look at the effect the charges have on your money by picking a set growth rate (for example, 5%) and seeing what you end up with at age 65 from both schemes.

We look at a critical yield when comparing the two schemes. What this means is that we look at whether your money in an alternative scheme has to grow at a higher rate or a lower rate to achieve the same amount of funds.

Charges are important to assess, but only when assessed with the likely difference in growth can they be quantified.

Whilst past performance is no guide to the future, over a

20.

five-year time frame or possibly longer, it can be a useful guide. Better, however, is to anticipate what a particular portfolio is likely to deliver in the future.

When it comes to charges, some of these older pensions do not make clear how much money they take off from likely future growth. The biggest culprits are ‘With Profit’ funds, where the company does not indicate the charges and often doesn’t tell you the underlying fund performance unless you do some serious probing.

This theory would also work if you could take your money out unaffected. However, the company can impose a penalty at any level the moment you want to take your money out. This situation is known as a ‘Market Value Adjustment’; if the fund administrators want to impose a 50% penalty on your money, they can. Avoid the smoke and mirrors of the ‘With Profit’ life company funds. It is much better to select an investment level of risk that is appropriate for you than to leave it all in the hands of a company whose sole purpose is to make money for shareholders!

Paying For No Advice Another question to ask when looking at in these older schemes is, ‘Are you still paying commission to some adviser you haven’t seen for years?’

If you are not getting an ongoing service from an adviser, then you should no longer be paying them. You should only be paying for advice and a service if you are getting it, and if you were promised an ongoing service that you aren’t getting, you should put a stop to it.

Consolidate For Clarity There are some important considerations to take into account with your old trail of pensions that you drag behind you like the cans behind a wedding car. My recommendation is that you seek the advice of an Independent Financial Planner with advanced pension qualifications because there can be other aspects of pensions that would affect this advice.

Either way, assuming you don’t give up valuable benefits or increase the charges more than the likely investment improvement, it is a good financial planning exercise to consolidate your pensions into one centralised solution.

This allows you to manage your pension with much greater flexibility and clarity.

Charlie Reading was recently rated by the Sunday Telegraph as one of the UK’s top financial planners. To read more about how to positively impact your wealth, health and happiness in retirement, download your FREE copy of Charlie’s book, ‘The Dream Retirement: How to Secure Your Money and Retire Happy’ by visiting www.dream-retirement.com

Tel: 07592 178579 prideshinevaleting@hotmail.com

Mobile valeting: Work, Office or Home. Private and trade. Services from ÂŁ5.

Carpet cleaning @ ÂŁ25 per room. Covering a 30 mile radius.

Unit valeting at: Unit 19, Foxmoor Business Park, Wellington.

Just off Junction 26, M5.

.21

Garden view Garden ornaments Ornaments polarise gardeners. They’re a love ‘em or hate ‘em subject.

I fell firmly into the hate ‘em category. I thought they had a place in big country gardens but looked slightly tacky in suburbia. This antipathy may date back to my childhood and Mrs. Frost, our elderly neighbour, who had a front garden stuffed to the brim with gnomes, windmills and concrete toadstools. If our ball ever strayed into this shrine to kitsch she’d burst from her house with a bansheelike scream, brandishing a broom at us.

Somewhere along the way though I’ve mellowed.

As I’ve studied show gardens and magazines I’ve realised that ornaments have a definite place in a garden as long as two important considerations are met: Context

has a series of small bronze faeries set around her tiny plot, which are perfectly in tune with her personality.

I favour natural materials myself but several years ago I purchased beautiful and rather elegant heron created from recycled metal. I adore it because it reflects both my love of birds and my passion for recycling. It stands near a boulder fountain and I occasionally brandish a broomstick at my sons when their football strays too near...

Ornament Ideas… ...not a gnome in sight!

To set off ornamental grasses try ceramic balls in vivid blues and greens set among cobbles.

For minimalist contemporary plots, mirrored columns and pyramids look striking.

The ornaments complement the style of the garden. Classical statuary doesn’t work in contemporary spaces, while traditional gardens might need to avoid stainless steel or modern, abstract sculptures.

Classical statuary and urns look best in more formal, traditional settings. They are best made from marble or stone. Resin copies can look tacky.

Size

Sculptor Dennis Fairweather’s best seller is a stone face and hands which emerge from a tub of water as if the figure had just been for a dip!

Ornaments should be an appropriate size for the setting.

Don’t be frightened to show your sense of humour.

Quirky can look brilliant in the right setting.

Rules are there to be broken of course and whatever your garden type or size the ornament you choose should be special to you.

Natural materials can be a good starting point for garden ornament novices. Balls and sculptures made from willow are subtle and elegant additions to any garden.

My father had a grumpy gargoyle-like creature, set among ferns at the bottom of his patch. It made everyone who saw it smile in recognition of my dad’s own avuncular manner. A girly friend of mine

By Rachel Leverton

22.

Heat, hats and hydration Have you ever had a holiday ruined because of overexposure to the sun?

I have. It was 2007 and I was in Mauritius.

I’d been snorkelling, fascinated by the marine life I was observing, oblivious to the sun beating down on me. Once on dry land, my back started to blister and I developed oozing sores that needed medical treatment.

holiday happy and carefree!

Sun-starved as we are in this beautiful, verdant land of ours, it is easy to overdo it in the brilliant white sunshine of foreign holiday destinations, and sun burn is just one condition we may suffer from. Prevention is always better than cure, so here are a couple of tips to keep your

So, have fun in the sun this summer but don’t come back over cooked!

First, try and limit exposure to the sun during the hottest hours (around 12pm-3pm) and apply sun screen liberally 30 minutes before going out. Dress in T shirts instead of strappy vests and wear a cap or hat.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and be sure to carry bottles of water with you when outside.

To avoid dehydration, the body needs to take in more fluids than it expels. A fall in water and salt levels can result in nausea, faintness and heavy sweating.

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

.23

A good read The Time Traveler’s Wife

By Audrey Niffenegger Published in 2004, Niffenegger’s debut work has become an international best-seller.

In 1991 20-year-old Claire is an artist who makes paper sculptures for a living. She bumps into 28-year-old Henry, a librarian at the local library.

He has never met her before, but Claire has known him all her life; for Henry is not an ordinary man.

He was born with a genetic disorder which causes him to time travel. He has no control over it, and cannot predict how long he will stay in one time.

He jumps around his own timeline and experiences events in his own history.

So, on this day in 1991 when he and Claire meet, she becomes a part of his experiences and therefore his timeline. He begins to travel within her life and their ‘first’ encounter is when Claire is just 6 years old. Over his many ‘visits’ as she grows into adulthood they form a close relationship and eventually fall in love.

Written in the first person this novel alternates between Henry and Claire. We follow Claire’s timeline chronologically, with a note at the start of each chapter reminding us how old they each are at that point. Henry’s age does of course jump around.

Niffenegger wanted to create the perfect soulmate. If that is what Henry is then it explains why Claire spends her life waiting for him to appear in hers. It raises the question of whether a brief moment of pure happiness is worth the pain when that moment is over.

24.

The Raven Queen

By Pauline Francis The death of Edward VI at the tender age of 15 saw the throne pass to a Lady Jane Grey, just 16 years old. Jane usurped Edward’s sisters Mary and Elizabeth, but she was merely a pawn in a political game of power. A few days later it was declared that Mary was in fact the rightful queen and Jane was accused of treason. Just nine days after her accession to the throne she was beheaded at the Tower of London.

In this novel aimed at young adult readers we learn what Lady Jane Grey’s life might have been like. Published by Usborne books, Francis’ novel takes the real-life Jane and creates a semi-fictional account of her short life. Jane is a young girl in love with Ned, a Catholic woodsman: a secret and forbidden love. Trapped by her upper-class life, she sees freedom and an escape in Ned. This is just one example of the clever way that Francis weaves the historical factual (Jane) with the fictional (Ned) to provide an insight into this turbulent era of British history. It provides a nice reminder to the young reader that the British monarchy was always the mostly peaceful institution it is today.

It is of course first and foremost a fictional novel so there are historical inaccuracies. However, the Tudor period is brought to life in a clever and memorable way. And Jane becomes more than just a footnote in a history book.

By Willow Coby

Crossword Across 1 3 9 10 11 14 16 17

Splatter (4) Draft (6) Hooked up with (7) Garden area (5) X-ray treatment (12) Roll (3) Pick-me-up (5) Cheap clutter (3)

18 21 22 23 24 26 27 28

Ephemeral (12) Large blood vessel (5) Sank the Titanic (7) Munched (6) Fantasy (4) world-class (5) claw (5) nap (6)

13 15 19 20 22

Toughness (8) Mathematical (7) Muscular (5) Placid (4) Hailstone (3)

Down 1 2 4 5 6

7 8 12

Verbal onslaught (8) Starving (5) Infant (3) Cassette player (4,8) Public area with wifi connection (3,4) Let go (4) Expensive (12) Sharpened (5)

Sudoku

How to play Sudoku It’s simple!

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.

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

.25

Britain’s waterways There are more than 2,000 miles of waterways around Britain, so why not make the most of them?

Take a stroll: From a relaxing amble after Sunday lunch, to a full day’s hike, our waterways offer numerous opportunities for walking. There are many circular routes you can take and the toll-paths are carfree. The Newton Poppleford & River Otter walk in Devon, for example, is a beautiful walk along the river, stopping off in the picturesque village of Tipton St John. Find a route near you at www. ifootpath.com.

Cycle: Many of the canal paths are ideal for cycling. Pick up an Ordnance Survey map, or plan your route with www.sustrans.org.uk. The Trans Pennine Trail is a good option, with more than 60% of the route being traffic-free and fairly flat.

Enjoy a leisurely boat ride: Whether you hire a narrow boat for a day, or a week, boating is clearly one of the best ways to enjoy Britain’s waterways.

Visit www.waterways.org.uk for advice and tips.

There are more than 100 boat hire firms, with many of the larger ones offering the option to pick up and drop off at different locations. You don’t need any previous experience, as most firms will give you a short training course before you set off.

Try canoeing: Almost 2 million people go canoeing in Britain.

It’s a great way to keep fit while exploring the countryside. Check out www.canoe-england.org.

26.

uk for inspiration. Trails are colour coded from easy to challenging, so you can pick a route to suit your ability. Purton to Sharpness on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, for example, is classed as an ideal route for beginners. You’ll pass through several villages on route, so may even be able to stop off for a quick cuppa. You need a license to paddle on many of Britain’s waterways, which can be bought from the Canal and River Trust: www. canalrivertrust.org.uk Feeling adventurous?: We might think of white water rafting as something to do on holiday, but there are a few British centres.

The National White Water Centre, for example, runs sessions on the Welsh mountain river Afon Tryweryn, with prices starting from just £35 for a taster lesson.

Cast off: A leisurely day’s fishing can be a great way to unwind. You will need to purchase a rod fishing license from the Post Office before you cast off. An annual license starts at £27, though you can also buy licenses for shorter periods of time from just £3.75. Fishing rights are often owned by a local fishing club, but a Waterway Wanderers permit (£20 a year) gives you access to most stretches.

For more information about Britain’s waterways, visit canalrivertrust.org.uk.

By Kate Duggan

Taunton Rugby Club Presents

Tribute Nights 2016 Friday 5th February

Take That

£13.00

Bee Gee (Stayin’ Alive)

£13.00

Friday 1st April

Bon Jovi

£13.00

Friday 6th May

Freddie Mercury (Pure Magic)

£13.00

Friday 3rd June

Shomaddymaddy

£13.00

Friday 1st July

Michael Jackson

£13.00

Friday 5th August

Robbie Williams

£13.00

Olly Murs

£13.00

Motown (Arrindell Sisters)

£13.00

Friday 4th November

Beatles (Fab 4)

£13.00

Friday 2nd December

Elvis (Barry Paul)

£13.00

Friday 4th March

Friday 2nd September Friday 7th October

*All Nights Include A Hot Buffet

To Book

01823 336363 .27

TRAVEL- 10 cheapest holiday destinations 2016 Let’s face it, we all love jetting off to foreign climeswhether that’s for the climate itself, or to immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of another culture.

We also all love to get a good deal, and that counts for more than simply cheap flights.

But where are the best value for money destinations for 2016?

Thanks to airport transfer website Hoppa you don’t need to guess anymore. Taking into account a three kilometre taxi journey, one night in an average hotel (based on per person tariff), one meal, a beer and bottle of wine, here are the 10 cheapest places you could be heading in 2016.

10. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Total: £81.26 Taxi: £0.75 Meal: £10.75 Cup of coffee: £2

Hotel: £51.57 Pint of beer: £3.16 Bottle of wine: £10.62

9. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt Total: £78.86 Taxi: £1.37 Meal: £28.52 Cup of coffee: £0.86

Hotel: £43.75 Pint of beer: £2.14 Bottle of wine: £5.12

8. Corfu, Greece Total: £78.45 Taxi: £5.38 Meal: £20.93 Cup of coffee: £2.05

Hotel: £42.47 Pint of beer: £2.37 Bottle of wine: £8.49

7. Auckland, New Zealand Total: £73 Taxi: £7.17 Meal: £38.85 Cup of coffee: £2.19

28.

Hotel: £45.37 Pint of beer: £3.49 Bottle of wine: £7.79

6. Faro, Portugal Total: £67.58 Taxi: £1.05 Meal: £22.83 Cup of coffee: £0.85

Hotel: £38.40 Pint of beer: £2.68 Bottle of wine: £3.54

5. Cape Town, South Africa Total: £66.02 Taxi: £5.96 Meal: £17.15 Cup of coffee: £1.12

Hotel: £49.79 Pint of beer: £1.15 Bottle of wine: £3.86

4. Hanoi, Vietnam Total: £63.16 Taxi: £1.22 Meal: £10.78 Cup of coffee: £1.10

Hotel: £41.26 Pint of beer: £0.47 Glass of wine: £7.08

3. Bangkok, Thailand Total: £61.44 Hotel: £37.12 Pint of beer: £1.95 Bottle of wine: £11.32

Taxi: £1.76 Meal: £15.42 Cup of coffee: £1.87

2. Tenerife, Spain (Canary Islands) Total: £58.68 Taxi: £2.91 Meal: £24.74 Cup of coffee: £1.01

Hotel: £39.49 Pint of beer: £1.49 Bottle of wine: £3.60

1. Budapest, Hungary Total: £40.34 Taxi: £4.65 Meal: £19.57 Cup of coffee: £1.25

Hotel: £23.23 Pint of beer: £1.11 Glass of wine: £3.57

Picture: Budapest, Hungary, (C) Kamil Porembinski via Creative Commons. This article was downloaded from www.freefeatures.com.

Into the wild Get back to nature with a weekend survival course!

If you’re looking to unleash your inner Bear Grylls, or just get back to nature, a survival course may be the answer. You could throw yourself in at the deep-end by jetting off to the wilds of Zimbabwe, or the hot sands of the Sahara. Or you could ease yourself in gently, with a weekend survival course right here in the UK. Weekend activities differ depending on the course you choose, but you’ll likely end up learning to build a fire, find food and create a shelter. You could also find yourself mastering other skills, such as making traps and snares, preparing game, or wood carving.

The Survival Schools in Devon and Staffordshire offer a choice of several weekend courses. You could craft traditional weapons and tools, including bows and arrows, or find out how to track animals in the wild, for example.

If you fancy getting back to nature with the family, you could try the Family Bushcraft & Canoe Overnighter at The World of Bushcraft Centre in Bedford. Suitable for age eight and over, the experience includes learning to paddle a canoe down the gently flowing River Ouse. You’ll set up camp in the woods for the evening (using a canvas bell tent), learn how to light a fire with a bow drill, and make a fixed blade knife, amongst other activities.

Ray Mears Bushcraft also offers weekend experiences for families. From building shelters, to sharing stories round the campfire, it’s a great way

to switch off from technology and reconnect with your family. Other two day experiences include a weekend trip learning how to navigate through UK woodlands.

Wildwood Bushcraft runs survival weekends in Scotland and Surrey, with activities such as fire lighting, foraging and building shelters. If you love wandering through the woods, but don’t fancy sleeping in them, some centres also offer half day activities, which don’t involve camping out. You could learn to forage for wild food with Woodland Ways for example, learning about different types of edible plants and fungi, and how to gather and cook them.

Most survival courses don’t need you to bring any specialist equipment, but some are self-catering and you will need suitable clothing and a few essentials, such as a sleeping bag, reusable water bottle and torch. You should receive a list of any kit that’s required when you book, but if not, do ask.

Your team members may not be too happy if you forget your toothbrush…

There are several survival centres around the UK, including: Survival School: www.survivalschool.co.uk Woodland Ways: www.woodland-ways.co.uk Ray Mears Bushcraft: www.raymears.com Wildwood Bushcraft: www.wildwoodbushcraft.com

By Kate Duggan

.29

Rebecca Pow MP Constituency Office 01823 443062 Deane Helpline 01823 257185 Dog warden 01823 356550 Environment Agency 08708 506 506 Environmental Protection Team Noise nuisance, etc 01823 356339 Garages - rental 01823 356334 Halcon Link Centre 01823 350788 Pest control 01823 356337 Report 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 01823 288998 Somerset CC 03001232224 Victim Support Somerset 01460 55535

USEFULL CONTACTS PHARMACY

Crown Medical Centre 01823 282151 St James Medi Centre 01823 285400 Warwick Hse Med Ctre 01823 282147 Orchard Medical Centre 01823 285428 Blackbrook Surgery 01823 259444 Creech Medical Centre 01823 442357 Adfam Helpline Drug use0845 3000911 Somerset Care 01823 448150 Sheltered housing 01823 356304

VILLAGE HALLS

Smell Gas you should: Call Transco immediately on 0800 111 999 Police Emergency 999 Non Emergency 101 Police station 0845 456 7000 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Musgrove Intensive car 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

Vi

COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS

MEDICAL

EMERGENCY

EMERGENCY & USEFUL NUMBERS Taunton Information Centr 01823 340470 Bishops Lydeard Library 03001232224 Taunton Library 03001232224 Albermerle Centre 01823 252945 Traveline 0871 200 2233 CAB Consumer Helpline - 0345 404 0506 Fire safety officer on 01823 273039 Neighbourhood Watch 01278 644799 National Debtline 0808 189 8300 BBC Somerset Sound 01823 251641 Apple FM 01823 342591 Taunton County Court Bristol Airport arr/dep Heathrow Info Desk Gatwick Flight Info Exeter Airport Flights Berry’s Coaches National Express Enq

01823 281110 0871 334 4344 0844 335 1801 0344 892 0322 01392 367 433 01823 331356 0871 781 8181

Pharmacy Coop Eastwick Rd 01823 331564 Boots Crown Indl Est 01823 337888 Boots High St 01823 276061 Co-op 2 The 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 Pharmacy01823 430201 Boots Norton Fitzwarren 01823 354861 Lloyds N.Petherton 01278 662288 West Monkton Ruishton Village Norton Fitzwarren Cheddon Fitzpaine Trull Memorial Hall Creech St Michael Stoke St Mary Kingston Saint Mary Oake

01823 412068 01823 443506 01823 252268 01823 413925 01823 350840 01823 444599 07526 673554 01823 451584 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.

PUZZLE ANSWERS Animal Habitats P

T

P

S

T

P

R

A

I

R

I

E

J

E

O

R T

U H

N

I

F

I

N U

N

T

D

C

Y

D

V

D

D

N

R

X

P

E

R

E

E

G

G

O

C

E

Y

A

R

S

E

L

C

G

O

L

R

N

E

R

E

M

A

O

F

O

E

R

L

U

S

D

M

O

U

N

T

A

I

N

I

R

R

A

U

H

K

E

K

I

R

E

E

F

H

E

A

E

K

J

S

C

Y

U

U

N

R

R

A

T

I

U

G

S

A

E

Word search

Find the hidden words in the word search grid

desert reef forest

jungle lake mountain

ocean prairie river

TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN OUR JULY/AUGUST EDITION AND REACH 14,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES CALL...

CLIVE ON: 07779 653 120

EMAIL: CLIVE@WORDGETSAROUND.CO.UK

.31

Newton King would like to invite you to accept our offer of a FREE sales or lettings valuation of your home.

To arrange an appointment call us on 01823 259753

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 7.00, Saturday 9.00-5.00

YOUR PROPERTY DESERVES AN AGENT WHO THINKS DIFFERENTLY If you have instructed another agent on a sole agency and/or sole selling rights basis, the terms of those instructions must be considered to avoid a possible liability to pay two commissions.

53 East Street, Taunton, Somerset,TA1 3NA. 01823 259753 taunton@newtonking.co.uk www.newtonking.co.uk