Word Gets Around Magazine - September/October 2016 2016

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016

NEW: WHAT’S ON PAGE TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL UNIVERSITY OF SOMERSET ON THE HORIZON

BREW FOOD FESTIVAL SEE PAGE 15 UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA

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EDITOR:

Clive Smith clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

HELLO AND WELCOME TO WORD GETS AROUND MAGAZINE.

MAGAZINE DESIGNED BY:

Well it has been a stop and start summer this year. Has it started or has it ended? There seems to be a lot of things in nature we can control but not so the jet stream.

It was great to see the number of local events going on this summer from small village fêtes to large organised singing spectaculars in Vivary park.

Word Gets Around

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

ARTWORK TO:

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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.

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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!

I was in the park last month on my lunch break with my son, enjoying the sunshine. We became aware of the number of people out searching for the elusive Pokémons. At first we thought they are catching up with friends on Facebook but then you notice scanning their immediate vicinity with their phones. Apparently there are quite a few in the park and before you ask, no I don’t !

Keep an eye open for Brew Food Fest (8–9 October). This is Taunton’s inaugural food & drink festival, located in the heart of the town at The Brewhouse Theatre. A veritable feast of activities with live cookery demonstrations hosted by South West Regional Chef of the Year Steve Ashworth. Confirmed Chefs include The Castle Hotels, Liam Finnegan & Olivier from Clavelshay Barn.

There will be over a 100 foodie exhibitors, live entertainment, plus a children’s cookery club & creative food/art orientated tent. A truly interactive experience for the whole family.

Tickets from Taunton Visitor Centre, Market House, Taunton.

Adult (1 day) from £6 Adult (2 days) from £10 Child (under 16) FREE Enjoy the magazine.

Clive Editor

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A county town in traction It seems that the summer is over and it`s been a pretty good one in terms of the weather. We do hope that this has created a positive boost for businesses as general footfall in Taunton was down through the early part of the year as compared against the past few years.

The council will be pursuing this with vigour as we strongly believe that Taunton - as the county town - should host the University. The excellent campus location and buildings at the former Somerset College means that this is a real possibility over the next few years.

The causes of this reduction are, we believe, down to a range of factors including the increasing popularity of online shopping while the uncertainty about the Brexit vote may have affected people`s spending.

You will no doubt recall from previous articles that I mentioned the installation of Town centre Wi -Fi into Taunton, Wellington and Wiveliscombe.

This is progressing well and should be available by late September. We will naturally make an announcement when it`s live.

On the theme of uncertainty Hinkley took another step forward but as I write this article it is waiting for a final decision from the Government. We are hoping that this decision will be made soon so that local businesses within the Hinkley supply chain can support the delivery of the development.

Clearly this is a great opportunity for business but does also have collateral impacts in terms of the sheer number of people needed to deliver the development. In order to address this we have been working for many years on equipping people with the skills to do the work.

Moving away from uncertainty I was pleased to hear over the summer that the merger of Bridgwater and Taunton (should it be Somerset College?) Colleges was completed which will enable them to continue building a strong Higher Education offer for local businesses.

This is complemented by the excellent Richard Huish College as mentioned in the Times Literary (should it be Educational?) supplement. This does indicate that as town we have really strong education sector. The merger also creates an opportunity to deliver the long discussed University of Somerset.

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We are also progressing well with the plans to redevelop Firepool, the Coal Orchard and the station. Firepool has been working its way through the planning system as has the Coal Orchard.

The Firepool plans will have been considered in late August - again as I write we are ahead of the decision.

We plan to submit an outline planning application for the Coal Orchard in mid-September so those readers who are interested should go to the online TDBC planning portal to view the plans. Finally, work on the station is due to start in late autumn - another piece in the jigsaw to develop this area of the town.

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

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A short rant about packed lunches

By Jo Middleton, Taunton.

My recent rant about taps was so popular that I have been trying desperately ever since to think of something else that annoys me. When I nearly got run over last week on a zebra crossing by a driver who wasn’t paying attention I tried to get riled up about it, I really did, but instead my brain said ‘never mind, you weren’t hurt, and sometimes you don’t always spot people on zebra crossings either’.

Damn you brain being so understanding.

Every time I see a sock or towel on the floor I try to will myself to become infuriated, but it just isn’t working, I’m just too easy going. *pause for cynical laughter from Boyfriend, mum, and anyone else who has ever lived with me* This morning though, as I made Belle a marmite sandwich*, it hit me – packed lunches. Dangerous driving and thoughtless housekeeping just don’t come close to the loathsomeness of having to make a packed lunch. You’d think that after having one child or another at school for over 17 years that it wouldn’t bother me any more, that I would at least have resigned myself to doing it, if not exactly embraced it. You might even think I would have been organised enough to get into the habit of making them the night before, but no, I leave it until the last possible minute every time.

I’ve decided that the issue with packed lunches is twofold.

Firstly, there’s the imagination required. You are basically having to do the same task every day, but with the expectation that you will do it slightly differently each time. Do you know how much effort that requires?? In my day you got a sandwich and a penguin and you were grateful, (especially after the two mile walk to school and back, in the snow, uphill both ways), but nowadays the pressure is on for ‘good’ parents to create things like the above image.

I mean, come on, who on earth has the time or the patience to do that every single day? You do know it’s not going to look like that when your child takes it out of their bag at lunch time don’t you? Seriously, if you are spending that much time thinking about packed lunches then something is deeply wrong. Get a job, volunteer at a local homeless shelter, take a lover, anything – but do something. Apart from anything else you’re making the rest of us look bad.

The second issue is what the packed lunch represents.

When your first child goes off to primary school it can feel exciting at first, packing up their teeny tiny lunch box with wholesome treats. And then it hits you – you are going to have to do this all week, all month, all year, for years and years. And it’s not just the sandwich. You are going to have to be available to make the sandwich at the same time and place every day. For years.

The packed lunch comes to symbolise everything about parenting that terrifies and frustrates you – the relentlessness, the lifelong commitment, not to mention the total lack of gratitude or acknowledgement you get for any of it.

Because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter how long you spend crafting sandwiches into the shape of dinosaurs or turning a bunch of grapes into ‘fruit kebabs’, your child is going to take one bite, leave the rest in the box, and go out to play, leaving the rest for you to discover when they get home and throw in the bin. *I wonder how many marmite sandwiches I have made in my lifetime? I really hope that when you die you get a bit of time afterwards to pull up some stats from your life – number of marmite sandwiches made, number of days in total spent going up and down in lifts, that sort of thing.

Jo Middleton is the author of the award-winning blog Slummy single mummy. Jo works with businesses of all sizes who want to improve their online presence and reach new audiences.

www.slummysinglemummy.com 6.

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Dyslexia The official definition of dyslexia is: ‘a form of learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.’ Estimates vary but up to 1 in 10 people could be affected.

Dyslexia isn’t related to a person’s general level of intelligence and can run in families. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that certain genes may be inherited which act together in a way that impacts on how the brain develops in early life.

The severity of this lifelong condition varies, and it does present daily challenges. With support to improve reading and writing skills however, most of those with dyslexia can go on to be successful in their education and work.

Early diagnosis and intervention is paramount to make sure of the best outcome. Common symptoms of dyslexia include: • Slowness in reading and writing • Confusing the order of words • Writing letters such as b and d the wrong way round • Having poor spelling • Understanding information that is given verbally but struggling with written guidance • Struggling to carry out a sequence of directions • Finding planning and organisation difficult Most of the first steps to get help for those with the condition occur following recognition of difficulties during school. Additional support will often be available via a school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). A formal assessment from a specialist dyslexia

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teacher or educational psychologist can then be organised. Other examinations are often suggested to rule out other problems such as eyesight or hearing problems. An assessment includes analysis of reading, writing, vocabulary, logical reasoning, memory and organisational skills, as well as consideration of the speed at which they process visual and auditory information, and their approach to learning.

There is much that can be done to assist those with dyslexia in school and in the workplace: specialist teaching, use of a phonic based learning, and technology such as computers and speech recognition software. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to assist employees who have dyslexia. This might include allowing them extra time to complete tasks.

There is also lots of support available to help those who are affected make good career choices, apply for jobs or start their own business.

Other specific types of assistance include: • Glasses with specialist coloured filters for those who experience Visual Stress. Symptoms of this include letters and words blurring and shaking.

• Adjustments to the format of many types of test including music examinations and the driving test. For example during their practical driving test, the examiner may use hand gestures to accompany verbal directions.

• Specialist charities such as the British Dyslexia Association and About Dyslexia who provide lots of advice and guidance.

By Susan Brookes-Morris

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We have many varied facilities, including a lovely enclosed garden, bright and airy rooms and ample parking to make dropping off and collecting members very easy. These facilities, in conjunction with the many services we offer, means that if you are dependent, or feel isolated, we are able to provide stimulating interests and experiences that will make such a positive difference to your life.

Why wait? Give us a call now on 01823 337702. www.braemarhouse.com Petals Active Living Centre This is Somerset Care’s new dementia active living service which takes place at Lavender Court in Taunton. It provides activities and support for people with dementia.

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www.somersetcare.co.uk .9

Upright Dutch Bikes I got my first bike for Christmas when I was about seven years old and my favourite ride was a circular tour through local villages. I remember pedalling breathlessly up one particular hill and then free-wheeling down the other side at great speed!

I inherited my love of cycling from my mum, who as a teenager during the Second World War thought nothing of cycling 20 miles to a nearby town and back again later in the day. She tells stories of getting lost in the countryside and of being directed home by friendly Italian Prisoners of War. Wow! I didn’t know it at the time, but my beloved first bicycle was most probably an upright Dutch Bike - the traditional, classic bike we might imagine Audrey Hepburn riding if she were still alive! Renowned for comfort, these are the bikes that 17 million Dutch people ride every day, and which are known in London as ‘Boris Bikes’!

Dutch bikes are most often used for commuting. The upright position of the rider means it is easy to both see and be seen by other road users and is more comfortable than alternative styles such as mountain or racing bikes, as it puts no strain on the back and takes weight off the wrists.

Several features come as standard on Dutch bikes. They use a hub gear, which is enclosed and therefore protected from dirt and rain, thus cutting down on maintenance. Hub

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gears can also be changed while the bike is stationary, for instance while waiting at traffic lights.

The chain also comes enclosed and this, along with full wheel fenders and skirt guards, protects trousers and skirts from getting caught or soiled from messy cogs or splashes of water and dirt. These characteristics are ideal if you want to cycle to work, for example, without having to change your clothes at the other end.

Dutch bikes come with rear wheel locks and also at the rear you’ll find a rack, perfect for carrying parcels, bags or other items you might need at work or on a visit to the shops. Front and rear lights are standard, and sometimes the front light comes powered by a hub dynamo, providing instant light at the touch of a button.

Other features to look for if you plan on cycling in all weathers are good quality tyres, stainless steel spokes, a high quality paint finish and good hand grips.

Dutch bikes are great for across town rides but they are fairly heavy and don’t have many gears, so are not great for tackling hills. But they are comfortable, stable, feel safe and can look trendy! Typical prices vary from £200-£1,000.

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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School phobia While many children run through the classroom door each day, with barely a backwards glance, others, sadly, do not find the school experience such a happy one.

The occasional grumble is rarely anything to worry about, but if your child frequently seems unhappy, you may need to intervene.

Early intervention can help to avoid longterm issues, and your child is more likely to develop a love of learning if they enjoy the whole school experience.

There are a range of reasons your child may dread going to school, from bullying, to being shy or particularly sensitive to noisy situations.

They may simply not like their teacher, or struggle with being separated from you.

Try to figure out exactly what’s bothering your child, and if there’s anything you can easily do to fix it. Would arranging some play dates help them to make friends? Could changing to packed lunches ease their dread of dinner time? Do they need more quality one-on-one time with you, to help them feel more secure when you’re not together?

It isn’t always easy to get to the bottom of a child’s reluctance to walk through the school gates. Sometimes they can’t explain what it is that makes them scared, or they don’t feel able to tell you. But do persevere. Try to pick a neutral time to discuss it, and take it gently.

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Raise the subject when they’re feeling relaxed and up for talking, ie not right after school, when they’re tired, or when they want to just go and play. If your child is older, they may find it easier to open up to another family member or family friend, who isn’t involved in making them go to the place they dread every day.

Once you have a better idea of what the problem is, book a time to speak to your child’s teacher, and, if needs be, the headteacher.

They will be well used to dealing with a wide range of issues, from bullying to a lack of confidence, and should work with you to ease any problems. Do speak to your child about this first however, as you going into school could be exactly what they’re dreading and may make them clam up next time there’s a problem.

The website www.bullying.co.uk has a wealth of advice for parents whose child is being bullied, including how to approach the school and how to discuss it with your child.

The charity Family Lives offers a free, confidential helpline for parents on all aspects of raising a child, including issues with school.

Call 0808 800 2222 or visit the website: www.familylives.org.uk for more information.

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Stretch it out Stiffness, inflexibility, aches and pains… They may seem like an inevitable part of aging, particularly if you have a desk job. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Exercises such as pilates and yoga can really help to increase strength and flexibility. Physiotherapist and pilates instructor Sue Holmes explains, “Pilates and yoga are both fabulous exercise regimes to help increase the flexibility of your muscles. Both disciplines benefit you by actively working the muscles into an end range stretch, but yoga tends to encourage you to hold the positions for longer than pilates would. A weekly workout is a great way to enhance your joint and muscle range of movement, which would not be gained by usual day-to-day activity alone.”

alert you to these types of imbalances, and help you to correct them.

Key benefits of pilates and yoga include:

Do choose your instructor wisely. It can be quite easy to hurt your back when exercising, if your instructor doesn’t guide you correctly.

Make sure your instructor is fully qualified and, if possible, ask current students for their opinions of the class, before you start.

• Improving and maintaining flexibility • Promoting better posture • Easing lower-back pain • Increasing the strength of core muscles • Improving balance and co-ordination • Reducing stress Pilates and yoga can also help to realign any imbalances. We often favour one side of our body and over time this can limit our range of movement. For example, if you injure your leg, you may adjust your walk so that you’re favouring your good leg. Before long, this can become habit and lead to one side becoming weaker than the other. Pilates and yoga can

14.

Pilates and yoga are suitable for most people, whatever their age or level of fitness. The focus is on low-impact, slow movements.

You’ll need comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily, and an exercise mat. Other equipment, such as a pilates ball, will usually be provided by the instructor, although you may want to invest in one to practice on at home.

You should be able to find a class that specifically caters for beginners, and there are also several types of yoga classes available to choose from, including ashtanga, hatha and power yoga.

Don’t be put off by the images of size 10 twenty-somethings pulling impossible looking moves. You’ll find all ages, shapes and abilities in a class, and you won’t be expected to tie yourself in knots or push yourself past the point you’re comfortable with. Most people are far too busy trying to figure their own stretches out – they’re not interested in whether you have perfected your downward dog or not.

By Kate Duggan

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Brew Food Festival at the Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton, Somerset • Award winning “Fun Kitchen” kids cookery school • Live Music • Kids Activity Tent • Live cookery demonstrations hosted by SW Regional Chef of the year 2013 Steve Ashworth :

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• Chef Ashley (from Tristans) • Brett Sutton (The White Post) • Dominic Chapman (The Beehive)

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SEPT & OCT Please email your Nov/Dec charity events to clive@wordgetsaround.co.uk

9 th Sept Evening FOREVER FREE CICCIC Free & Bad Company Tribute Rock Band.

10 th Sept Soul Music & Dance Night.

CICCIC 10 th Sept 11-3pm FUN DAY & DOG SHOW West Hatch RSPCA Centre.

Taunton.

Meet Police dogs Kos & Stella.

Wildlife talks & tours. Fun dog show categories. Agility course.

Bouncy castle. Refreshments.

10 th Sept 2 -4pm MUM 2 MUM MARKET West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton TA2 8NE Mum2mummarket.co.uk to book a stall.

10 & 11th Sept BREW FOOD FESTIVAL POP UP. Orchard Centre This is a taster to the main event at The Brewhouse. Brew Food Festival ticket give-aways, plenty of tastings from a few of the suppliers as well as companies from The Orchard shopping Centre including Bills, Thorntons, Mr Miles and Hotel Chocolat.

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Ask your children to bring Apple’s to the Ham Hill Cider stand and they can press their own apple juice.

30 th Sept SIMON & GARFUNKEL THROUGH THE YEARS. TACCI-MORRIS ARTS CENTRE

10 th Sept MAD DOG MCCREA Taunton Rugby Club Live music in support Of Taunton Homeless Assoc. Tickets Black Cat Records and Taunton Visitor Centre or online.

14th Sept ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS The Brewhouse Cinema

1st October 7.30pm RALPH McTELL The Brewhouse Theatre

Appropriate for their big screen debut, Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. But when they accidentally push Kate Moss into the river Thames at an uber fashionable launch party, Eddy and Patsy become entangled in a media storm surrounding the supermodel’s untimely demise and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi.

Folk music hero, Ralph Mctell is undeniably one of the great musical storytellers. Known for his virtuoso guitar style, he is primarily a prolific and gifted songwriter.

30 th Sept 10.30am-1pm MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Creech St Michael Village Hall

2nd October THE BUBBLE RUSH 2016 Longrun Meadow Taunton Somerset TA1 5AU October 2nd 2016 will see the beautiful Longrun Meadow, Taunton, come alive in a burst of colourful bubbles at this year’s exciting new event, Bubble Rush!

Throughout the course there will be various Bubble Stations, where high powered foam cannons blow out 30 cubic metres a minute of frothy milkshake bubbles. A trained team of Bubble Commandos man each Foam Cannon to make sure you get covered in colourful frothy foam.

www.somerset-hospice.org.uk 8-9 th October BREW FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE BREWHOUSE. The Brewhouse Theatre

Taunton’s first food and drink festival. Over 85 food and drink stalls. Cookery demos in the main auditorium from the regions top chefs.

Children’s fun kitchen providing over 200 FREE 1 hour cookery classes.

Children’s foodie arts activity tent Live music and dance Pop up full afternoon tea shop See advert for details, page 15.

12 th October SOMERSET SKILL & CAREERS FAIR Juct. 24 venue North Petherton A free exhibitions to help you acheive your full potential. You may find your dream job- so bring your CV and dress to impress.

Camp America will have a stall at this year’s Somerset Skills and Careers Fair! Come and stop by and hear all about Camp America and how to sign up for the best summer of your life!

ONESTEPFOUNDATION.CO.UK 14th October ROUND THE HORNE 50TH ANNIVERSERY The Brewhouse Theatre Taunton From 1965 to 1968 there wasn’t a bigger radio programme in Britain than the groundbreaking Round the Horne.

For half an hour every Sunday afternoon, audiences of up to 15 million people would gather around the wireless to listen to Kenneth Horne and his merry crew get up to all sorts of mischief.

18 - 20 th October HEATHFIELD DRAMA FESTIVAL - BLOOD BROTHERS TACCHI - MORRIS ARTS CENTRE The heart-warming tale of Mickey and Edward, twins separated at birth, brought together again through friendship and unaware of their family ties. Despite moving apart, they continue to cross paths, splintered along the class divide as Edward gets a golden ticket and Mickey edges into a life of crime. With a love triangle also in the mix, emotions are rendered raw in a dramatic fit of pique.

25th October PRIDE IN PRIORSWOOD COMMUNITY COOKING ACTIVITY Priorswood Com Centre 13/14 Priorswood Place Eastwick Road Tel: 01823 353643

28th October at 7.30pm KAMMERPHILHARMONIE EUROPA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. Quantock Lavender Barn, Broomfield J S Bach, Mozart, Hummel, Fauré & Holst. To book hello@musiconthequantocks.com 28 - 29 th October VIENNA FESTIVAL BELLETSNOW WHITE The Brewhouse Theatre Join Vienna Festival Ballet on a magical journey with their unmissable production of Snow White. World-premiere choreography propels this timeless fairy-tale and answers the question; who is the fairest one of all?

29 th October, 2.30pm-4.30pm HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR KIDS Rumwell Farm Youngsters are being invited to our cafe this October to attend our first ever spooky Halloween party. Face and pumkin painting, fancy dress competition. Prize for the best dressed plus loads more.

Tickets,cost £6.95 per child, available from the cafe at Rumwell Farm Shop.

30 th October SOUTHERN SINFONIA CRAIG OGDEN The Brewhouse Theatre Craig Ogden, one of Britain’s finest guitarists, joins Southern Sinfonia to bring a late Autumn ‘ray of sunshine’ to Taunton with the enigmatic ‘Fantasia para un gentilehombre’ by the Spanish composer Rodrigo.

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Toffee Apples - A Halloween treat Ghostly Goings On

Residual hauntings

A bit of fun for Halloween – an anthology of things that go bump in the night…

Residual hauntings aren’t spirits as much as they are imprints. Believed to be impressions left by emotional events, they are characterised by their repetition. The same scene is played, and witnessed, over and over again, sometimes years after it actually happened. Sometimes the scene is visual, other times it can be auditory – the sound of someone crying for example. The ‘spirit’ seems to have no awareness of the people watching it, and does not interact with them.

Boggarts Made famous by Harry Potter, boggarts are shape-shifting spirits. They are said to be placated by families leaving them offerings, but can cause plenty of mischief if they feel slighted! Boggart Hole Clough, a park in Manchester, is said to take its name from the boggart that haunts it. In Harry Potter, boggarts are able to change their shape to whatever the person looking at them fears the most, from spiders to Professor Snape.

Will o’ the wisps Ghostly lights seen at night, will o’ the wisps are believed to lure travellers into danger.

Resembling a flickering torch, the will o’ the wisps lead people into bogs, swamps and far away from the safety of the path.

Poltergeists German for ‘noisy ghost’ a poltergeist moves objects around a home, creates loud noises, and generally makes a bit of a nuisance of itself. From smashing plates to levitating beds, its main aim seems to be to get noticed, rather than to cause harm. Poltergeists are believed to haunt people, rather than houses.

Lemures Not the cute fluffy animals you might be expecting, lemures are restless or vengeful spirits. They are often found in Roman mythology, and may have lent their name to the primate lemurs.

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Intelligent hauntings Intelligent hauntings are very different to residual hauntings. In these cases, the spirit is not merely a ‘recording’. It seems to have consciousness and may try to communicate with people. This type of spirit is believed to be that of a person who has died but not ‘moved on’ either because they have unfinished business, or because they don’t realise they are dead. Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon is said to be haunted by two intelligent ghosts – known as the Blue Lady and the White Lady. The Blue Lady is believed to be a portent of death, who tries to get people lost within the castle. The While Lady is thought to be Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death in the dungeons. Visitors have reported tales of the White Lady waving to them in the dungeons.

Have a spooky Halloween!

By Kate Duggan

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The Diaries Of

Ginger

George Well, we finally got the summer sun we should have had. There’s nothing better than having a snooze outdoors on really hot day.

Last month as the sun came up I decided to find a good spot. The neighbours shed roof is always a good bet, a well angled roof. I’d been snoozing for about half an hour and suddenly the dogs are let out for their daily walk around the garden. What happened to these long walks up the park, or better still up the woods?

The trouble is it’s one of those terrier types.

Once he spots me it’s a constant,”yap yap yap” and jumping up the side of the shed.

There’s no way he can reach me but those poor stupid dogs can’t see that so they just go on and on, why can’t he just accept the fact he’s just not built to climb sheds. I let him bark away for another ten minutes, just to annoy him really, and the neighbours.

Well the sun moved round so it was time to find another spot. I ambled up the park to see if any of my mates are about. No-one was in sight, I guess they were having a snooze somewhere else.

I headed for the long grass and made my temporary bed and nestled down to catch the rays. “this is the life” I thought. I’d been there for a few hours or so and thought I’d check out the rodent population.

There was nothing going on there, shame really, I was all refreshed and up for a chase.

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As I was stalking through the long grass I spied one of favourite play things, a box! Well a carton really, looked like it had some kids toy in it once.

You know the sort, the type with a cellophane front and four flaps at the top. I switched into stealth mode and crept on, then pausing within striking distance, positioning my back legs, a little wobble for maximum grip......and I pounced. I rushed in and shoved my head straight into the carton. “Gotcha!”, it had no chance. The trouble was I couldn’t get my head out, the flaps had gone under my collar and wedged it on. The funny part was I could see out through the cellophane window with my face squashed against it. I must look a real sight.

I’m trying every way to get free, then I hear some kids coming my way. Do I hide my embarrassment or do I show myself hoping for some mercy? I went for the latter and emerged from the grass.

At first they didn’t see me as were engrossed in their phones. Next thing one of them shouts, “Pokémon !” They all turn and point their phones at me, “Which one is....“ another shouts ?. “No it’s a cat with it’s head in a carton”, another shouts, and with that they all turn away and head off in another direction, still staring into their phones and leave me to my own devices, “Yeah, thanks for the help guys and my names George, not Pokémon”.

“Life is so much easier now my paperwork and tax is handled by Ken. All I have to worry about is my clients”

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Get the study habit The kids have been back at school for a month and you may have noticed old battles over homework and study resurfacing.

likely to get the work right and won’t get frustrated. Gently ask questions about any areas they seem unsure about.

Now is a great time to introduce good study habits to your child, which will pay off throughout their educational journey.

Study station: Designate an area for home learning. Make it as uncluttered and distractionfree as possible. Ensure all equipment required is nearby, so there’s no stalling.

Routine: Get into a homework routine as soon as possible. Immediately after school is good, after they’ve had a snack and a drink, as they will still be in the right frame of mind. Find out what works best for your child though. Some may need to expend pent-up energy first, others may need to chill for twenty minutes.

‘Worst first’: When mental energy is high work on the most difficult subject. Don’t try to cram too many subjects into one session.

No TV: Switch off TVs and phones until after studying. Use it as a bribe if necessary. No games, texting or TV until homework is completed!

The earlier your child gets into a routine the easier homework will become, for the whole family.

By Louise Addison

Talk: Encourage your child to talk through the project with you first. Your child is then more

In History – The Battle of Hastings On October 14th, 1066, King Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, was defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.

According to legend, at the end of a bloody, allday battle, Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow and killed and his forces were destroyed.

Just over two weeks earlier, William, the duke of Normandy, had invaded England, claiming his right to the English throne. According to Norman historians, Edward the Confessor, the childless English king, had promised to make his cousin William his heir. On his deathbed, however, Edward changed his mind and granted the kingdom to Harold Godwine, head of the leading noble family in England.

In January 1066, King Edward died, and Harold Godwine was proclaimed King Harold II. William immediately countered his claim.

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On September 28, 1066, William landed in England with approximately 7000 troops and cavalry. He seized the town of Pevensey then marched to Hastings, where he paused to organize his forces. On October 13, Harold arrived near Hastings with his army, and the next day William led his forces out to give battle.

After his victory, William marched on London and received the city’s submission. On Christmas Day, 1066, he was crowned the first Norman king of England and the Anglo-Saxon phase of English history came to an end.

By Tom Hancock

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Crossword Across 7

Nocturnal black and white mammal (6)

9

Deceased (4)

8

Our nearest continental neighbour (6)

10 Alumnus, former student (8)

11 Entertainment with music, song and dance (7)

13 Tickly, needs a scratch (5) 15 Cheat, deceive (5)

17 Lack of belief in God (7)

20 Non-acceptance, repudiation (8)

21 Playthings (4)

22 Lowest position (6)

23 ______ Christie, mystery writer (6) Down 1

Yellow curved fruit (6)

18 Long curved agricultural blade (6)

3

Activate, generate (7)

21 Capture, ambush (4)

2 4 5 6

Fictional man-eating giant (4)

19 Means of paying for postage (5)

Edible internal organs (5) French bread (8) Whisky (6)

12 Financial records (8)

14 Language descended from Latin (7) 16 Global sportswear brand (6)

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Bats

about bats!

Bats are strongly associated with spooky castles, witches brews and all things Halloween.

But there is so much more to this mammal.

One fifth of all living mammals is a bat! They’ve been around for some 64 million years. They are the only mammals which can truly fly (other ‘flying’ mammals such as flying squirrels actually use skin flaps to glide short distances).

Most bats navigate by emitting a sound from their larynx out through their mouth and nose.

The projected sound wave is reflected off objects in their environment. A bat hears the echo and forms an acoustic image of its surroundings.

Because of this a bat can navigate in complete darkness. They are perfectly developed for this type of navigation, with huge ears, nose flaps and tiny eyes. The small subset of bats known as flying foxes navigate by sight and have large eyes and much smaller ears accordingly.

In the West bats have been demonised in the form of Dracula, most likely because they are nocturnal creatures and humans are not generally creatures of the night. In ancient history darkness was scary and potentially dangerous.

Historically demons are characteristically pictured with bat wings while angels are depicted with bird wings. Not all cultures treat bats in this way though. They are considered auspicious creatures in China, possibly because the Chinese words for ‘bat’ and ‘happiness’ are very similar.

Bats play an important role in the ecosystem.

Some pollinate plants. Others eat fruit and disperse seeds. Most eat insects. An ordinary brown bat can consume up to 100% of its bodyweight in insects in a single night. It’s

26.

hard to overestimate the importance of bats in controlling the insect population and thus protecting food crops. The U.S. bat population is currently under threat from disease and scientists estimate the number of extra insects in the environment as a result of this is around 1500 tonnes! In order to control so many more insects we will be forced to use vast quantities of insecticides> far better to take care of the bats, who do it naturally.

Scientists studying deafness and blindness have found studying the genetic code of bats incredibly useful, giving them insights into which areas of the human genome to monitor when looking to prevent disease.

One of the most interesting things about bats is that for their size they live an incredibly long time. Most small mammals tend to live fast and die young. Mice live only a year or two and voles a matter of months. Some species of bats can live nine times longer than expected, sometimes more than forty years! Of the 19 species of mammal who live extraordinarily long lives for their size, 18 are bats, so scientists how that by studying they may be able to unlock the mysteries of age-related diseases, such as cancer and dementia. Maybe they hold the key to everlasting youth!

I hope I’ve given you an insight into these amazing little creatures and shown you that there’s so much more to them than Halloween!

By Louise Addison

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