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January 2016 | Issue 13 | £1.50 where sold

AUTOBIOGRAPHIESAllnewMazdaMX-5

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january issue 2016

HOUSE AND GARDENS

14 Planning Matters......it really does. Whether you’re applying or livingin a neighbourhood, what goes on (or up or isremoved) can be important to our community.Take a look at the latest applications.

ASTROLOGY

16 Russell GrantWhat will the new year bring for you? Check outthe centre spread for your star sign and see whatthe stars have in store.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

20 Martin LewisWinter tips from Martin this month - he asks us to

dust off your long johns, grab a cup of Bovril andsnuggle up with his checklist to keep your costsdown and the heat up.

COMMUNITY

15 Crofton ParishRevd Colin Prestidge, curate - Crofton Parishencourages us to take time out in 2016 and trypraying.

MOTORING

27 AutobiographiesThe all new Mazda MX5. Smooth lines, roof off andiconic goodlooks. What did Tim make of this newroadster?

THIS MONTH..

SmSmalal ltalkltalk

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Pearl Publishing

01329 630630

Joint Editors

Coralie Todd & Sean Middletoneditor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Advertising Sales

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This Big Voice Bigazine is deliveredto residents and businesses inStubbington & Hill Head. For

distribution enquiries please giveus a call and speak to Sean.Six other editions are also

published in Alverstoke, Gosport,Lee on Solent, Locks Heath,Warsash & Sarisbury Green,Whiteley, Titchfield Park &

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Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 35000 homeseach issue, SEVEN editions of Big Voice provide exceptionalmonthly coverage of our area every single month. Call our friendlyteam now on 01329 630630, jump on our website and have a chator link up with us on Facebook.

“What’s your idea of success”?

This was a question that we asked our kids on one ofour longish jaunts in the car recently.

We were on our way up to see my Auntie Lynda in Derby who, according toour little people, “lives in a mansion and must have lots of money”.

Auntie Lynda, a successful children's author, is a literary genius and modestwith it. Her house décor is traditional yet homely and everything needs tohave history or a story to pass the gates and be kept treasured.

The 20ft or so Christmas tree in the stone floored hallway has the children ingasps every year and when they run up and down to the cellars or come hurt-ling around the sweeping staircase it’s no wonder they feel like they’re on theset of a classic film.

So knowing they were travelling to such a wonderful venue it got us onto thesubject of what they’d like to achieve or own when they were ‘grown up’.

Lucy is pretty easy to guess. Aged 9 she’s developed a passion for sign lan-guage and will no doubt be happy living out of a VW camper van, with a guitar(yet to learn), painting things and training hearing dogs for the deaf.

The boys quickly listed all the material possessions they would need (includinga ten bedroom mansion, Olympic size swimming pool and an Apache gunshipon the driveway) and Ava didn’t know, as long as cake featured somewhere.Although she’s only 7, Sean and I couldn’t help feeling this was actually a coverfor our wide-eyed youngest who is likely to become a Lara Croft/James Bondtype character with her Teflon skin and obsession with noticing when some-thing has changed.

Sean and I, on the other hand, have a different view of success. But it wasn’tone we wanted to share with the kids until we achieve it one day, in a ‘ta dah’sort of way. The New Year is agood time to re-evaluate where youare and what you might want toachieve. Have a go as you neverknow where you might end up,Apache or no Apache.

Stay healthy, safe and look aftereach otherMuch love

C oralie and Seanx

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P lanning MattersGOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL

REF LOCATION PROPOSAL STATUS

P/15/1185/fp 10 Burnt House LaneFareham PO14 2LQ

Single storey front extension, front gableadded to roof and part garage conversion

Undecided

P/15/1165/fp 46 Burnt House LaneFareham PO14 2LT

Single storey side extension (resubmissionof p/15/0903/fp)

Undecided

P/15/1150/to 41 Titchfield RoadStubbington FarehamPO14 2JH

One oak protected by tpo 527: crown lift to4 metres above ground level and reduce by1 metre, maximum diameter of live pruning

Undecided

P/15/1145/cu 54 Gosport RoadStubbington FarehamPO14 2AN

Change of use from shop (class a1) to cafe(class a3)

Undecided

P/15/1142/vc 137 Newgate LaneFareham HampshirePO14 1BA

Relief from condition 1 of p/09/1045/fp toallow permanent siting of 2 mobile homes, 2portable buildings, 2 touring caravans, ancil-

Undecided

P/13/0140/ma/a 47 St Marys RoadFareham HampshirePO14 2HN

Amendment to arrangement of windowsand doors, changes to roof over entranceporch, changes to colour of windows, doors,

Approve

A monthly round up of planning applications submitted since 1 November 2015

For more details go to:

eoc.fareham.gov.uk/ocellaweb/planningsearch

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Crofton Parish

Taking time out in 2016

January is named after theRoman god, Janus who had twofaces – one looking back and theother looking forward. LikeJanus, we look back at theexcitement of Christmas with allits excitement and festivities andforward to the New Year with itsnew beginnings and freshopportunities. Present giving atChristmas reminds us of God’sgift to us – Jesus who came so wecan know God’s presence all theyear round. So in this comingyear why not set aside some timeaside to spend with God.

In the run up to Christmas youmay have seen in the news thecontroversy over the ‘Just prayad’, a short, less one minute filmproduced by the Church ofEngland, due to be shown incinemas across the country prior

to the screening of the new StarWars film. The film showedordinary people from all walks oflife saying the Lord’s Prayer andwas designed to encouragepeople to pray.

Many people, whether theyprofess a faith or not, like to prayand in a survey conducted in2013, four out of five peopleadmitted to praying at one timeor other. The Bible teaches weare made in the image of Godand if this is true (and I believe itis) then it is only natural that wemight want to spend time in thepresence of our creator. There isno one way or right way to pray;nor do we need a particularlanguage or a special place to go.Indeed, real prayer might notinvolve words at all! Prayer canbe holding someone specialbefore God in our minds orsimply thanking him for thewonderful world he has created.I know people who pray whilstwashing up or walking the dog, aswell as those who pray in church.And if you have never prayed,then the Lord’s Prayer is a goodplace to start.

Life can get very busy. Takingtime out to pray is never wasted.Prayer can transform thesituation we face, it can alsotransform us!

Revd Colin PrestidgeCurate - Crofton Parish

Telephone 01329 661154Email: colin@croftonparish.org.uk

www.croftonparish.org.uk

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@MoneySavingExpertMartin LewisDust off your long johns, grab a cup of Bovriland snuggle up with my checklist to keepyour costs down and the heat up.

Save £250+ on energy bills.

Winter is of course the highest-use energyperiod. So the key is to ensure you’re on thecheapest possible deal – that may bechanging tariff with your existing provider, itmay be switching. The move across takes 17days, so do it now to ensure you’re on theright deal before the cold snaps.

Those who worry about this, don’t – it’s thesame pipes, gas, meter and safety, and youdon’t lose supply. The only difference is priceand customer service. But savings can behuge.

About 70% are on their provider’s standardtariff – across the big six this is an average of£1,095/year based on typical usage. Yet thecheapest open market’s deal is around £830a year – that’s £260 a year saved, much ofthat in the winter months.

However, as your exact cheapest depends onwhat you use and where you live – to findout, always do a comparison. Just make sureyou select ‘all tariffs’ on a comparison site.You can use my www.CheapEnergyClub.comwhich also gives switchers up to £30cashback and then monitors you tariff afterto check no one beats it, or anyOfgem.gov.uk approved comparison site.

Switch energy now and you could get £100sback.

If you pay by direct debit, it’s likely you’re incredit after the low-use summer. Mostproviders give it back automatically, but ifthey don’t, call and ask. If you’ve switched inthe past five years, your old supplier may stillowe you too.

Asking for it back is simple and here’s asuccess to encourage you: “The balanceowed to me from 17 months ago (which theynever got back to me about) was £1,364.22.A brilliant result but I do feel an idiot for notknowing how much I'd overpaid, so I urgeeveryone to do the same as me and check.” –Col.escargot.

Free winter car check.

Halfords.com is offering a free £15 winter carcheck, which includes checks to your battery,bulbs, wiper blades, oil and screenwashlevels. You don’t need to book in advance,

though you can online if you want, and thecheck should take about 15 minutes. There isno obligation to buy anything, but beprepared that staff might try to upsell you.The winter car check is on until spring 2016.

Are you entitled to any extra winter help?

Winter is a tough time for many as the coldsets in. But there are funds which may help…

Winter fuel payments. If you were born on orbefore 5 January 1953 (and met otherqualifying criteria throughout the weekcommencing 21 September 2015), you’reeligible for the up to £300 winter fuelpayment. If you get certain

benefits, eg, state pension, pension credit orjobseeker’s allowance, you’ll usually get itautomatically – otherwise you may have toclaim it. You do that by calling 03459 15 1515.

Cold weather payments. Anyone on certainbenefits, eg, specific income support,jobseeker’s allowance, pension credit, gets£25 for every seven days where there aresub-zero temperatures. It’s paidautomatically from 1 November 2015.

Choosing between heating and eating? Ifyou’re seriously behind, or in generalfinancial hardship, you may be eligible forspecial tariffs/help. Try theHomeHeatHelpline.org.uk on 0800 33 66 99.

Do you know where your water cock is?

Everyone should know where their mainwater off-switch is, otherwise known as astopcock. Frozen pipe bursts create anaverage of £4k of damage, worse if you can’tfind the off switch as your home floods. So ifyou don’t know, spend five minutes nowfinding out – typically it’s under the kitchensink, in the boiler cupboard, or outside.

Full service car breakdown cover £41, basicfor £16 – and if you’re renewing, haggle.

Problems are more likely in winter and theconsequences are more severe. Forbreakdown, home start and onward travelcover, AutoAidBreakdown.co.uk charges£41/year, though if it sends a truck anddriver you pay, then reclaim.

Or if you’ve got cover and are at renewal,haggle. In a recent poll I conducted, 84% ofAA and 78% of RAC customers who tried gotlower rates, like Graham did: “Thanks for the

haggling advice. Just spent five minutes onthe phone to the RAC and got my renewalslashed from £252 to £151. Just over £100for about five minutes’ work – that’ll donicely!” Full help to do this in www.mse.me/breakdown

For basic policies, buy through a cashbacksite like Topcashback.co.uk or Quidco.comand you can reduce the cost, eg, RAC basic is£27.99 a year and you get around £12cashback, AA is a little more.

Free loft/cavity wall insulation, open to all.

Energy firms face sanctions if they don’tmeet Eco quotas, so some, eg, BritishGas.co.uk, EDFEnergy.com and Npower.comgive free insulation to anyone in England,Scotland or Wales with a suitable home (youdon’t have to be their customer or on a lowincome). If you paid for this commercially, itcould cost around £700.

The savings can be huge. The Energy SavingTrust estimates you’ll see a reduction in billsof £300 a year compared with a typicaluninsulated home. On average it takes 3-4weeks to book a survey and a further twoweeks for the insulation to be fitted (thoughit can take longer).

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WE HAVE MOVED!Kim welcomes you to her new salon at

14 Stubbington Green

Monday ClosedTuesday - Friday 08:30 - 5:00Saturday 08:30 - 4:00

01329 667641

We may have moved but we’re stillTTHHEE village barber

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The all-new Mazda MX-5 rocks. It reallydoes.

And it’s not just me that thinks it - theawesome sports car has already beennamed Roadster of the Year in Britain.

But why does the MX-5 rock? And why is itawesome? Well, quite simply, the car is abrand icon. It is brilliant fun to drive – andthat has been the case in all of itsincarnations over the last 25 years.

Having made its British debut at the 2015Goodwood Festival of Speed, the all-newfourth-generation Mazda MX-5 has anexcellent power to weight ratio, rear-wheeldrive, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and

more comfort and tech than everbefore.

The MX-5 is offered with a choice oftwo petrol engines, and with ninemodels across five trim levels, themighty yet minute Mazda looksalready set to repeat the Japanesemotor manufacturer’s influence withinthe reasonably priced sports carsector.

Maintaining the driver-focused naturethat has made the MX-5 the best-selling two-seater sports car of alltime, it is obvious the engineeringphilosophy behind the up-to-the-minute model has allowed Mazda toretain the dexterity, enjoyment andengagement that has alwayscharacterised it.

The lightest MX-5 since thecelebrated original, the fresh car isshorter, lower and wider than theoutgoing one, with the smallestoverhangs and lowest centre ofgravity yet. These dynamicproportions combined with Mazda’sKODO: Soul of Motion design valuesensure that the model’s styling reflectsits emphasis on driving pleasure in anunmistakably contemporary andenergetic way.

Featuring Mazda’s award-winningSKYACTIV technology, theMX-5’s ultra-efficient lightweight petrol poweredengines deliver new heights ofperformance and economy. Across theline-up the MX-5 features alloy wheels,LED headlights, a leather steeringwheel, as well as a light and sleekfabric hood.

SE-L models add LED daytime running lights,climate control air-conditioning, DAB radio,Bluetooth and cruise control, plus Mazda’sconnectivity and infotainment system withseven-inch colour touch-screen display andMultimedia Commander. SE-L models withthe 2.0-litre 160ps engine are distinguishedby 17-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and pianoblack door mirrors, and benefit from a struttower bar and limited slip differential.

Step up to Sport trim and both the 1.5 and2.0-litre cars feature rain sensing wipers,rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry,Premium Bose Surround-Sound and heatedleather seats. With the 1.5-litre engine,Sport trim MX-5’s come with 16-inchGunmetal alloy wheels and piano black doormirrors. Sport models with the 2.0-litre160ps engine benefit from a

dynamic set-up that includes Sportssuspension featuring Bilstein dampers, alimited slip differential and strut tower bar,while visually, they are marked out by their17-inch Bright alloy wheels and bodycoloured mirrors.

But perhaps the most amazing aspect of theMX-5 is that when the original model waslaunched in 1990, it cost £14,249 (equal to£31,687 in today’s money), yet quarter of acentury later with far more standardequipment, the all-new Mazda MX-5 costsfrom £18,495. This means, more than ever,the car sets the benchmark as the one of theworld’s best and most affordable sports cars.

Indeed, it seems with its lightweight design,cool cabin, exquisitely engineeredmechanicals and balanced handling the all-new Mazda MX-5 is ready to further boostits place in the hearts of automotiveaficionados.

FAST FACTS

Max speed: 133 mph

0-62 mph: 7.3 secs

Combined mpg: 40.9

Engine layout: 1998cc, 4cylinder, 16 valve petrol

Max. power (bhp): 158

Max. torque (lb.ft): 148

CO2: 161 g/km

Price: £18,495 - £23,295

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Fun √Handling √Looks √Equipment √Limited room X

Auto biographies All New Mazda MX-5Tim Barnes-Clay @carwriteups

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