prestbury dec-jan12

YOUR INDEPENDENTCOMMUNITY MAGAZINE

DEC/JAN 12

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Health & Lifestyle COMPETITIONS

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Glos DirectoriesPrestbury, Southam & Cleeve HillPittville & Charlton Kings

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GLOS DIRECTORIES | GENERAL & COMMUNITY

inside this issue

Now taking bookings for Dec/Jan issues

Deadline is 11 January 2011

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Glos Directories does not officially endorse any advertising/editorial material included within the publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systen or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise - without the prior consent of the publisher. The use of this magazine for canvassing or direct marketing is strictly prohibited.

Editor: Vicky MullerAdvertising: 01242 500 028 / 07912 575741Email: [email protected]: www.glosdirectories.co.uk

Glos Directories now publishes three directories:1. Tewkesbury & other surrounding villages2. Bishop’s Cleeve, Woodmancote, Winchcombe & surrounding villages3. Prestbury, Southam, Cleeve Hill, Charlton Kings, PittvilleEach directory has a huge print run of 13,000 copies, which are distributed to alternate areas over a two month period. Choose to advertise to reach 13,000, 26,000 or 39,000 prospective customers when advertising in one, two or three of the directories. Discounts available when booking space in more than one publication. TO REQUEST INFO ON ADVERTISING: Complete request form atwww.glosdirectories.co.uk or email [email protected].

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Gloucester Rugby tickets - Colin PenmanEveryman Theatre Panto Family ticket - Debi Newman

Shutter Inn, Gotherington, Meal for two - Caroline Marshall

contentsChristmas Feasting... Medieval Style 6Christmas Traditions 10‘Tis the Season to be glamorous 12Spotlight on Kettle Girls 17Meals in Minutes 20Motoring: How I bought a Porsche 911 22Spotlight on Johnston Scotia 24Gardening with Pippa Greenwood 26Sudoku 28Flower - Poinsettia 29Christmas Crossword 29Spotlight on SL Services 31Working from home... smoking 32Decorating: A Cool Yule 34Codeword puzzle 35Veterinary advice 38Pictograms 39Competitions 39New Year, New You! Book reviews 40Children’s Activity Page 42Puzzle Solutions 43Cartoon 43Quick Quiz: Review of The Year 43Useful Local Information 44Pubs, Restaurants & Cafés 45Taxis & Takeaways 45Clubs & Classes 61Index of Advertisers 62

Congratulations to

our competion winners

from Oct/Nov issue:


GLOS DIRECTORIES | LOCAL HISTORY

Christmas Feasting - Medieval StyleAs Christmas approaches I thought it would be interesting to bring to life the festivities enjoyed by a medieval Bishop of Hereford at his manor house in Prestbury. It was here in 1289 that Bishop Richard Swinfield spent his Christmas.

Prestbury was probably Richard’s favourite manor house, which he used on his journeys from Hereford to London, where he sat in the House of Lords. It had belonged to the Bishops of Hereford since long before 1066. Adjacent to the manor house they laid out a park for hunting – hence Prestbury Park. In 1249 Bishop Peter of Savoy even gained a royal charter to create a market town to compete with nearby Cheltenham, but it failed, leaving only the name The Burgage to remind us of an ill-fated venture. So it was in Prestbury at Christmas time that Bishop Swinfield decided to break yet another journey to London.

We know so much about his stay because his chaplain, John of Kempsey, kept a meticulous record of the expenditure. Preparations had begun in early November when one of the servants, Robert of Callow, was sent to prepare charcoal for the fires and brew the beer, which in those days lacked hops and soon went off. We also know from excavations carried out in 1951 that it’s likely new chimneys were built in the kitchen and an oven repaired. Also a covered walkway was constructed from the kitchen to the hall to keep the food warm. Richard and his entourage arrived on 22 December, having taken five days for the journey from his manor house at Bosbury, near Ledbury, such was the state of the roads in what was a very wet December.

Only part of the dried-up moat still survives of the Prestbury Manor house


GLOS DIRECTORIES | LOCAL HISTORY

Christmas Eve was a time of abstinence and so the bishop dined only on fish – herrings, codling, conger eels and salmon! On Christmas Day the feasting probably began about noon. For this John of Kempsey recorded the purchase of a boar, which was then roasted, two and a half carcasses of beef, two calves, four does, four pigs, sixty fowl, eight partridges, two geese and 900 eggs, accompanied by bread and butter and cheese, all washed down with over seventy pints of wine and untold quantities of beer prepared by Robert of Callow. To modern minds there was clearly an overload of protein, but whether this was because fruit and vegetables had been grown on the bishop’s estate and so not recorded, or whether they were regarded as food only for the poor, we don’t know. This food was probably shared by about fifty men (no ladies then!) and we can imagine a crowded hall, with the hustle and bustle of the servants, the noise, the mingled smells of food, candles and humans, with the dogs rooting in the rushes for scraps from the tables.

Such a meal must have competed with the main event of the day; a mass to celebrate Christ’s birth. We know this took place, as 4s 1d (20p) was collected for the poor – rather less than the 5s 8d (27p) spent on the salmon for Christmas Eve! The festivities continued for another two days and Richard managed to fit in some deer hunting in the park, before setting out for London, where he arrived on 7 January. He never liked staying in London and so it is no surprise he was back in Prestbury for a month’s stay by 25 January. Richard remained bishop until 1316 and continued to visit Prestbury, but never again do the records provide such details of a medieval Christmas feast. - written by David Aldred

(This is an abbreviated and updated version of the original account in A Cotswold Christmas, 1998)

Bishop Richard Swinfield from

his tombA light-hearted modern interpretation of the feast



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Christmas Traditions

As with many traditions, there is usually a sto-ry of how a custom came about. Some sound plausible and some less so. But they almost always have a nostalgic tale behind them and never more so than at Christmas time.

Hanging a stocking by the fireA long time ago there lived a man who had three daughters. His wife had died some years earlier and now his daughters were of an age to be married. However, at that time in history, the prospective husband’s family would expect to receive a dowry – gifts and money – when their son married. The man was very poor and simply could not afford to do this.

Each night his girls would wash and mend their clothes. To enable their stockings to dry they would hang them near the fire.

A wealthy man called Nicholas, who lived in the village, had heard of the girls’ plight and one night called by the house after dark. Seeing an open window he sneaked in and put a bag of gold coins in each of the stockings. When the villagers heard of the widower’s good fortune, they too started hanging stockings by their fireplaces.

Because the stockings were by the fire this lead to the belief that Santa came down the chimney in order to deliver his gifts.

Nicholas did many more secret good deeds – he really was the original benevolent St Nicholas.

Christmas PuddingsChristmas Pudding’s history is not as a des-sert at all, but as a savoury meat based dish. In Medieval times all surplus livestock were slaughtered in the autumn so that they did not have to be fed over the winter. The meat had to be preserved however and a pot-tage was prepared in a large cauldron, the ingredients being slow cooked, with dried fruits, sugar and spices added. It is more likely that the dish was called plum pottage or plum porridge, the dried version of plums being prunes.

As meat preserving techniques improved, the savoury element of the dish decreased,

although of course if suet is used a small element of meat may still be included. It was not until the 1830s however that the cannon-ball of flour, fruits, suet, sugar and spices, all topped with holly, made a definite appearance, becoming more and more associated with Christmas.

It is said that the pudding should be made with thirteen ingredients to represent Jesus and His Disciples and that every member of the family should take turns to stir the pudding with a wooden spoon from east to west, in honour of the Wise Men.

Christmas CrackersNo Christmas dinner table would be complete without Christmas crackers, and the hats, small gifts and bad jokes are very much part of the tradition. The crackers were believed to have been invented in around 1850 in London, by a sweet maker called Tom Smith. He was often trying to think of new ways to market his sweets and sitting by his fire one night, he thought it would be a good idea if they could make a similar crackle to a burning log as the sweet wrapper was pulled in half. The idea caught on although rather too well as rival manufacturers soon sprang up. Tom Smith’s son, Wal-ter, came up with the idea of including other items and offering different designs as a way of differentiating his product from those of his competitors.

The best tradition of all of course is to spend time with your family, and that needs no explanation.



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GLOS DIRECTORIES | HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

It’s that time of year again. The annual office get-together and accepting more invites to nights out with the girls than you could ever possibly attend.

Christmas is great, but all that socialising can become stressful and a packed diary means less time to prepare for those all important dates. So, what you really need is an easy, effective and well-planned beauty routine that’s going to save you hours getting ready, guarantee you’ll look gorgeous and ensure that you’re the centre of attention - for all the right reasons.

Being transformed from dingy to dazzling doesn’t have to take long, but preparation is certainly essential.

Book hair appointments well in advance; it’s the busiest time of year for stylists and a marvelous mane is a must-have accessory. As great as it is to try out a new look, be cautious around the holiday season - hair disasters are sure to kill party spirit! Instead stick to a look that you know suits you and that’s easy to manage - leave the re-styles until the new year.

Cold winter days, centrally heated rooms and

the usual bouts of seasonal flu can play havoc with your skin, leaving it dull, dry and lifeless. So it’s a good time to take notice of your skin type and invest in a routine that will leave it glowing.

Dry, sensitive types suffer more in the winter and need to be regularly moisturised. Apply a day cream in the morning and a ‘heavier’ night cream in the evening to keep moisture levels topped up.

Oily skin shouldn’t be neglected. It too needs moisturising - a ‘light’ product works best, and should be used twice daily.

Combination skin must be managed using a specially formulated range, in order to balance the dry and oily sections of the face.

Don’t forget the delicate eye area too - use an eye cream daily to avoid wrinkles.

With hair styled and skin prepped, its time to find your perfect party make-up look.

It’s a good idea to take advantage of the free makeovers offered by most of the top beauty brands at your local department store. Having a specialist consultant offer their expertise when it comes to the way you apply your

Tis the

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make-up can result in a great new look for you. After all, it’s so easy to become stuck in a make-up rut. And you get to try out the products before you buy.

Take notice of professional application tips and invest in the right tools - quality make-up brushes leave a great finish. Establishing what you want from your cosmetics means that you can find the right ones for you. Long lasting foundations, lengthening mascaras and vibrant lipsticks work wonders for evening, and will help keep you looking great into the small hours.

And finally, get your nails looking as polished as you are. Repair breakage and reinforce damage to the nail surface with a strengthening treatment. File and shape before applying lashings of colour. Or, for a really fashion-forward look, try the latest trend - nail wraps. They’re cute, creative, fun and perfect for a party.

With everything now in place to make you look fabulous, all that’s left to do is enjoy every minute of the best time of year and make this Christmas one to remember.

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GLOS DIRECTORIES | FOOD & DRINK

THE

SHUTTER INNin Gotherington | Tel: 01242 673122

Laura & Ryan Goodson wish to welcome you to The Shutter Inn, a place to relax, unwind, and enjoy great food and real ales!

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COTSWOLD CHELTENHAMTewkesbury Road,Cheltenham GL51 9SG01242 587029 www.cotswoldgroup.com

COTSWOLD GLOUCESTERCole Avenue, Gloucester GL2 5ER01452 872626

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Countryman Range: Urban 27.4-60.1 mpg (10.3-4.7 l/100km). ExtraUrban 45.6-67.3 mpg (6.2-4.2 l/100km). Combined 36.7-64.2 mpg (7.7-4.4 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 180-115 g/km.The dealer deposit contribution offer is available on all MINI One petrol models ordered by retail customers between 1 October and 31 December 2011 and registered by 29 February 2012 whenfinanced through MINI Select, subject to availability. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Finance example shown is based on a 42 month MINI Select agreement with a contract mileageof 35,000 and an excess mileage charge of 4.5p per mile for a MINI One Convertible at £17,035 specified with optional Pepper Pack at £1,230 and free MINI tlc (normally valued at £249) – servicecover for up to 5 years or 50,000 miles. *MINI tlc does not cover maintenance items (e.g. tyres, brake pads and 2nd brake fluid change). **On the road cash price is based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 year MINI Dealer Warranty, MINI Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates, tlc and VAT. Totaldeposit = customer deposit plus dealer deposit contribution. All finance is subject to status and available to over 18s in the UK only (excluding Channel Islands). Guarantees and indemnities may berequired. Vehicle conditions and excess mileage charges may apply at the end of your agreement. Prices are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Subject toavailability and withdrawal at any time without notice. †Option to purchase fee and optional final payment payable at the end of the agreement if you decide to purchase the vehicle. Advertisedfinance is provided by MINI Financial Services (MINI FS). Whilst we have close links with MINI FS and commonly introduce customers to MINI FS, we do not work exclusively with MINI FS. Offer

available to retail customers only.

WINTER IS ON THE WAY.

DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE FREEZE,CHECK-OUT OUR SIZZLING OFFERSON THE BEEFY MINI COUNTRYMAN.

New MINI One Countryman for £249 a month including PEPPER Pack andMINI tlc* 5yrs/50k miles service pack.

And £659 dealer deposit contribution.

Term of agreement 48 months Optional to purchase fee† £1047 monthly payments £249 Optional final payment £6,749On the road cash price** £17,930 Total amount payable £21,016Customer deposit £1,894 Total amount of credit £15,376Dealer deposit contribution £659 Rate of interest 7.1% FixedTotal deposit £2,553 Representative 7.1% APR

MINI ONE COUNTRYMAN REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE INCLUDING MINI tlc* 5YR/50K SERVICE PACK AND PEPPER PACK.

Call our MINI Specialists for more information on the MINI Countryman and details on otherMINI models with dealer contribution.


GLOS DIRECTORIES | MOTORING

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IT’S something every petrol head dreams of: Trading up from nothing to a super car by buying and selling a few motors in their spare time.

But instead of dreaming, one day last year I decided it was time to start doing it. The plan was a simple one – reinvest the cash from each sale into the next vehicle until I bought a 911.

And to give people a reason to help, once the Porsche was finally purchased it would be sold and all the money handed to charity.

Now it’s worth declaring early that as well as writing for this esteemed publication, I run trade publication Car Dealer Magazine, so have a few contacts in the motor trade that others who’ve tried this before didn’t have.

That assistance helped find the first cars to kick my challenge off. Both donated by dealers, I was handed the keys to a VW Golf MkIII by Motorpoint and M25 Audi gave us an S-reg A3.

Sadly the A3 wasn’t in the best of health and we were forced to sell it on eBay for a little less than we’d originally planned. It was bought by two motor traders for £790. The Golf didn’t hang around either – selling to a local man for £250 on eBay.

The second step involved spending £985.25 (including tax) on an 02-reg Ford Fiesta. This one hung around a little longer than we’d hoped and we were forced to reduce the price from an ambitious £2,500. That got the buyers

How I bought a

from nothinginterested and it was sold to a little old lady for £2,150.

Then came our masterstroke – the one that everyone remem-bers – the Hyundai i10 football car. Made by a renowned car artist to celebrate the car manu-facturer’s support of the World Cup, the i10 had artificial grass covering every panel and plastic grass seats, not to mention a giant football and goal posts grafted on to the exterior.

After a whirl of publicity, which saw it feature in The Daily Telegraph, countless local newspapers, websites around the world and even on the BBC news, we put it up for sale on eBay. It clocked up nearly 100 ‘watchers’ and eventually sold for £5,005 to a Hyundai dealer who planned to use it for publicity.

Buoyed by our success we contacted another manufacturer and scored another cracking deal. This time it was three Mazda MX-5s, one of which had been reversed into a lamppost at quite some speed.

The cars had been sourced by TV’s Mr Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer for Mazda’s 20 years of the MX-5 celebrations. All origi-nal MK1s, the two ‘good’ cars of our trio both needed MOTs and some parts before they were ready to sell.

A mechanic mate – who’d prove pivotal in our attempts to reach our target – took up the challenge and soon had the two good cars roadworthy.

We let him keep the broken one as payment and sold the other two for a £2,220 profit.

Next up was a Mercedes CLK, which was bought for £6,000. The 03-model was a lovely spec and drove beautifully, but after

four weeks sitting on my drive, when I tried to start it again the hood failed.

A trip back to mechanic Matt proved more than fruitful - not only did he have it fixed in a week, he also sold it … to his receptionist’s mum! A further £2,250 profit was banked.

Citroen then stepped into the fray with a C4 Grand Picasso. The 58-plater was on their fleet and we snapped it up for just £8,110 (including tax). Unfortunately it proved a bit sticky and we couldn’t find a buyer no matter how hard we tried.

Eventually a dealer offered to take it off our hands for £8,000, but instead of handing over cash we could simply take part exes off his site for the same value.

Knowing cheaper cars were easier to sell we picked a Volvo 940, a Skoda Fabia and a Re-nault Scenic. Not our smartest move, as one dealer pointed out ‘we’d now swapped one head-ache for three.’ He was right. We shifted them within a month but for a paltry combined profit of just £775.

That left £900 in the dealer’s bank account which we spent on a gold Ford Ka, which was sold in a week for £1,700.

Finally we’d reached the magic £10,000 mark and had enough to buy an early 996-shape 911. Eventually the right one popped up on Auto Trader and after negotiations I bought R97 RRK for £9,900.

We now plan to get our new baby fettled by Porsche and polished up ready for sale – and then eventually, after 13 trades and 15 months, we can hand over a fat cheque to BEN, the automotive industry charity we’ve been working so hard for.

by James Baggott, editor of Car Dealer Magazine (CarDealerMag.co.uk)


GLOS DIRECTORIES | MOTORING

Please call our service department today for details.

Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham and Gloucester Ashville Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, Staverton, Gloucester GL2 9QJ 01452 690 435 www.mercedes-benzofgloucester.co.uk

Only at our Mercedes-Benz Official Workshop can you be sure of…• Servicing from just £153* - contact us for a quote• Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts• Free Mercedes-Benz courtesy cars**• Free collection and delivery^• Monthly service care plans from just £23^^• We will beat any like for like service quotations• Body shop and full accident management services

Models featured are for illustration purposes only. *The prices quoted cover the basic service procedure only. To keep your vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines there may be some additional items required due to age or mileage stipulations which must be carried out to maintain your complete service history. Prices for AMG, V8 and Diesel particulate may vary to the prices quoted. All prices shown include VAT. **Subject to availability. ^Collection and delivery within 25 mile radius. ^^£23.00 relates to a Service Care Plan based on an A-Class Manual, over a 24 month period, excludes AMG products and V8 engine models. Prices correct at time of going to print (Nov 2011)

£25 off£25 MOTany service or cosmetic repairs at

Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucesterat Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester

* Voucher must be presented on arrival. Redeemable only at Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester. This voucher is not transferable or to be used in conjunction with any other

offers. Terms and conditions apply. Valid until 31st May 2012.

Voucher must be presented on arrival. Redeemable only at Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester. This voucher is not transferable or to be used in conjunction with any other

offers. Terms and conditions apply. Valid until 31st May 2012.

To advertise call 01242 500 028 or 07912 575741 or visit www.glosdirectories.co.uk To advertise call 01242 500 028 or 07912 575741 or visit www.glosdirectories.co.ukPage 30

ScotiaCare HomePlanExcellent value - only £7.99* p/mthOver the last 32 years local company Johnston Scotia has been insuring boiler and heating systems; Maintaining, servicing, repairing and protecting them all year round. This year they have launched ScotialCare HomePlan exclusively for local customers to deliver an excellent value for money product.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOHNSTON SCOTIA

Based in the village of Bredon, local company Johnston Scotia is a long established plumbing & heating company with over three decades of experience within the trade. They benefit from longstanding relationships with many of Europe’s leading boiler manufacturers such as Intergas, Vaillant, Glow-Worm, Viessmann, Worcester-Bosch, Grant and Vokera. They are accredited installers and repair agents for most of those companies and also supply their spare parts to merchants and other heating companies.

Their team of highly trained Gas Safe Registered professional plumbing and heating engineers have experience in working with most makes and types of heating system, old and new and are industry qualified to work on gas, LPG, oil and electric central heating and hot water systems.

WHY TAKE OUT A SERVICE CONTRACT SUCH AS SCOTIACARE HOMEPLAN?

We all rely on our heating and hot water to work on demand all year round; we tend to take it for granted. It always seems that problems occur just when you need your heating the most!

The ScotiaCare HomePlan is designed to give you peace of mind and make sure your household, hot water, heating and electrics are maintained to give you that peace of mind.Without a contract like this you can soon see the cost of even a simple fault leading to an expensive bill for parts and labour and there is never a good time for one of those. Some people see the annual service of a boiler as an unnecessary expense, but by skipping this important preventative maintenance the efficiency and life expectancy of your boiler can be greatly reduced and your fuel bills can rise.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCOTIACARE HOMEPLAN

The ScotiaCare HomePlan package has been designed with local customers in mind, it covers the boiler, heating & hot water system, radiators, external controls, pipe work, internal plumbing and home electrics all for only £7.99* per month for the first 12 months. The cost does rise to £16.99 for the next 2 years, but this is stillexcellent value for money when compared to other offers.

Looking after your Home Heating System, Hot Water and Electrics

The plan covers you for: y Callout Charges y Labour Charges y Charges for parts y The Annual boiler service

HOW CAN I HAVE THE PEACE OF MIND THAT MY HEATINGAND HOT WATER WILL ALWAYS WORK WHEN NEEDED?

By only offering this new product to local residents we are able to keep our overheads low and offer excellent value for money for our customers.There are no hidden extras, full terms and conditions for the plan are available on the company website together with details of how to apply. You can also request an application pack by calling their office on:

0800 111 4475 www.scotiacare.co.uk

* The monthly cost is £7.99 for the first 12 months, then rising to only £16.99, which is frozen for 2 years.

TAKE CONTROL...

0800 111 4475

we keep you warm

Your Local Plumbing & Heating Company

YOUR HEATING, HOT WATER, PLUMBING & ELECTRICS TAKEN CARE OF

with ScotiaCare from £7.99 per month for the first 12 months

www.johnstonscotia.com

Face this winter with complete peace of mind with a ScotiaCare HomePlan We have been offering boiler maintenance contracts locally for 32 years. New for 2011 our HomePlan represents great value for money. Available only to local customers it covers your boiler, heating systems and controls, hot water systems, radiators, internal plumbing and household electrical system with no hidden extras. Taking out a policy is easy. Simply visit www.scotiacare.co.uk and complete the application form.

© iS

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TAKE CONTROL...

0800 111 4475

we keep you warm

Your Local Plumbing & Heating Company

YOUR HEATING, HOT WATER, PLUMBING & ELECTRICS TAKEN CARE OF

with ScotiaCare from £7.99 per month for the first 12 months

www.johnstonscotia.com

Face this winter with complete peace of mind with a ScotiaCare HomePlan We have been offering boiler maintenance contracts locally for 32 years. New for 2011 our HomePlan represents great value for money. Available only to local customers it covers your boiler, heating systems and controls, hot water systems, radiators, internal plumbing and household electrical system with no hidden extras. Taking out a policy is easy. Simply visit www.scotiacare.co.uk and complete the application form.

© iS

tock

phot

o/bl

yjak


GLOS DIRECTORIES | HOMES & GARDENS

Here are my top tips for keeping festive flowers simply stunning:

Cyclamen with their showy pink, white or red flowers and exotically silver and green patterned leaves make a great indoor plant, but they are very easy to kill. The secret of success is to keep the plants in as cool a room as possible. If you want them in a warm room, put them there at the last possible minute and return quickly. Cyclamen easily succumb to grey mould which attacks the stem base just above the corm and makes the leaves yellow rapidly and die off, often within days. To prevent this happening, always water from the base (by standing the pot in a saucer of tepid water for 20 minutes, then letting the excess drain away), and pulling off deteriorating leaves promptly. Do this and your cyclamen could well be with you next Christmas too.

Indoor azaleas also prefer a cooler room, and plenty

of moisture is essential. Azaleas have an extensive fibrous root system and are often tightly packed into their pots so they dry out very easily and it’s worth soaking the pot in tepid water at least once a day. If the compost does dry out, stand the pot in water for several hours in order to allow it to re-hydrate thoroughly. Watering with cooled black tea will help to supply the acidic conditions they prefer.

Poinsettia with their screaming bright red (or occasionally pink or white) flower-like bracts are the classic Christmas houseplant and they’re not difficult to look after. Keep the compost just moist and choose a draught-free spot in a warmish room. The sap of this plant is a milky-white latex which can cause unpleasant rashes, especially in the presence of sunlight, so ensure they’re kept away from kids and pets.

Poinsettias can produce their red bracts again the following year, but it’s an immensely complicated process involving carefully managed periods of light and dark. Buy yourself another one or enjoy the old one in its pure green state.

Christmas cacti, usually with rich red, orangey, pink, cream or white flowers are easy to look after but they need totally different care to desert cacti. The Christmas cactus originates from forested areas, so prefers to be kept just moist and hates being baked in hot, dry conditions. Try not to move them about too much once the buds have formed as they may well drop off, losing the gorgeous display.

Orchids really are a law unto themselves and it’s essential that you follow the care instructions carefully. The most popular

You may well have received a lovely houseplant for Christmas or perhaps bought some as a way of decorating your house for the Festive Season, without relying on too much tinsel.

Festive Flower Stunning

Tips for keeping the

by Pippa Greenwood

type is the moth orchid (also known as Phalaenopsis) which you need to be careful not to overwater. Yours will have arrived in a pot with little if any compost and soon the aerial roots will grow out of the top of it. There’s no need to re-pot when this happens initially, as this is how the plant is naturally. Water once a week, ideally with rain water, or failing that with cooled boiled water. Most of it will run straight out of the bottom of the pot but it’s meant to - whatever you do, don’t let your moth orchid sit in water.

The Christmas Cherry is actually a type of Solanum, related to tomato and potato plants. Covered with its marble-like bright orange or sometimes yellow or reddish shiny fruits it can look stunning. It’s not fussy but doesn’t respond well to over-watering or being left to stand in soggy compost, so only re-water as the compost becomes dry. Find a well-lit spot and it’s very tolerant of cooler temperatures, even surviving in window boxes in warmer UK cities.

The Hippeastrum, also sometimes sold as the amaryllis, is a stunning houseplant

bulb with the potential to produce one of the biggest, brightest indoor flowers you’ll ever have. Red, pink or white are the classic colours. The pot may need to be stood in a larger, heavier one as they are often sold in ones that soon over balance once the flower spike is out, with disastrous consequences. Keep the compost just moist and supply a warm, well lit spot for best results.

Make 2012 the year you start Growing Your Own Vegetables! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com select the vegetables you’d like to grow and you’ll receive garden ready vege plants PLUS every week Pippa emails you hints, tips and advice about your chosen veg. From just £39 for up to 66 garden-ready plants, 6 packets of seed and the weekly emails. For a limited time you can also order onion sets, garlic and seed potatoes, again with Pippa’s advice.



Here are my top tips for keeping festive flowers simply stunning:

Cyclamen with their showy pink, white or red flowers and exotically silver and green patterned leaves make a great indoor plant, but they are very easy to kill. The secret of success is to keep the plants in as cool a room as possible. If you want them in a warm room, put them there at the last possible minute and return quickly. Cyclamen easily succumb to grey mould which attacks the stem base just above the corm and makes the leaves yellow rapidly and die off, often within days. To prevent this happening, always water from the base (by standing the pot in a saucer of tepid water for 20 minutes, then letting the excess drain away), and pulling off deteriorating leaves promptly. Do this and your cyclamen could well be with you next Christmas too.

Indoor azaleas also prefer a cooler room, and plenty

of moisture is essential. Azaleas have an extensive fibrous root system and are often tightly packed into their pots so they dry out very easily and it’s worth soaking the pot in tepid water at least once a day. If the compost does dry out, stand the pot in water for several hours in order to allow it to re-hydrate thoroughly. Watering with cooled black tea will help to supply the acidic conditions they prefer.

Poinsettia with their screaming bright red (or occasionally pink or white) flower-like bracts are the classic Christmas houseplant and they’re not difficult to look after. Keep the compost just moist and choose a draught-free spot in a warmish room. The sap of this plant is a milky-white latex which can cause unpleasant rashes, especially in the presence of sunlight, so ensure they’re kept away from kids and pets.

Poinsettias can produce their red bracts again the following year, but it’s an immensely complicated process involving carefully managed periods of light and dark. Buy yourself another one or enjoy the old one in its pure green state.

Christmas cacti, usually with rich red, orangey, pink, cream or white flowers are easy to look after but they need totally different care to desert cacti. The Christmas cactus originates from forested areas, so prefers to be kept just moist and hates being baked in hot, dry conditions. Try not to move them about too much once the buds have formed as they may well drop off, losing the gorgeous display.

Orchids really are a law unto themselves and it’s essential that you follow the care instructions carefully. The most popular

You may well have received a lovely houseplant for Christmas or perhaps bought some as a way of decorating your house for the Festive Season, without relying on too much tinsel.

Festive Flower Stunning

Tips for keeping the

by Pippa Greenwood

type is the moth orchid (also known as Phalaenopsis) which you need to be careful not to overwater. Yours will have arrived in a pot with little if any compost and soon the aerial roots will grow out of the top of it. There’s no need to re-pot when this happens initially, as this is how the plant is naturally. Water once a week, ideally with rain water, or failing that with cooled boiled water. Most of it will run straight out of the bottom of the pot but it’s meant to - whatever you do, don’t let your moth orchid sit in water.

The Christmas Cherry is actually a type of Solanum, related to tomato and potato plants. Covered with its marble-like bright orange or sometimes yellow or reddish shiny fruits it can look stunning. It’s not fussy but doesn’t respond well to over-watering or being left to stand in soggy compost, so only re-water as the compost becomes dry. Find a well-lit spot and it’s very tolerant of cooler temperatures, even surviving in window boxes in warmer UK cities.

The Hippeastrum, also sometimes sold as the amaryllis, is a stunning houseplant

bulb with the potential to produce one of the biggest, brightest indoor flowers you’ll ever have. Red, pink or white are the classic colours. The pot may need to be stood in a larger, heavier one as they are often sold in ones that soon over balance once the flower spike is out, with disastrous consequences. Keep the compost just moist and supply a warm, well lit spot for best results.

Make 2012 the year you start Growing Your Own Vegetables! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com select the vegetables you’d like to grow and you’ll receive garden ready vege plants PLUS every week Pippa emails you hints, tips and advice about your chosen veg. From just £39 for up to 66 garden-ready plants, 6 packets of seed and the weekly emails. For a limited time you can also order onion sets, garlic and seed potatoes, again with Pippa’s advice.



Sudoku

Solution on page 43

How to solve: Each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 through 9 only once. This can be done by applying logic - you do not have to guess!

Constantly repairingyour leaky flat roof?

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PoinsettiaThe bright red bracts of the poinsettia make the plant a popular Christmas purchase. In their indigenous Mexico they flower naturally in December and grow up to 16ft but they have been cultivated to produce compact and showy plants which are kept indoors. Although available in several colours, the red version is the most popular because of the colour’s association with Christmas.

When selecting your plant, ensure the foliage underneath the red bracts is dense and dark green. In the centre of the plant the buds should be in a tight cluster and the even smallest leaves surrounding the buds should be fully coloured.

Poinsettias have a reputation for being difficult to look after. Although they do a little more attention than some houseplants, that extra care will ensure you are rewarded with bright colour well past Christmas. These tips should help:

• Whilst the plant might brighten up a dark corner, your poinsettia won’t thank you for it. They need a minimum of six hours of indirect sunlight every day.

• Room temperature of around 18 – 20 degrees during the day is ideal. If you put the plant in a cool (but not cold or drafty) spot at night it will help to keep the bright colour.

• It is important not to overwater. Poinsettias like moist soil, but not wet or left with the base in water. Wait until the top of the soil becomes dry, add lukewarm water and let it drain through the pot ensuring that you throw away any liquid left in the saucer.

Christmas CrosswordAcross2. The celebration of the Eucharist (4)4. The wise men (4)6. Evergreen climbing plant (3)8. Public house (3)9. Colour of trees (5)10. One of the gifts brought by the Three Wise

Men (4)11. Term referring to God (4)14. Great happiness (3)15. Toys particularly for girls (5)16. Transport used on snow (4)17. Often filled with mincemeat (3)19. Santa’s helpers (5)Down1. Noisy celebrations (10)2. Amazing or wonderful occurrence (7)3. 26th December (6,3)5. Heavenly creature (5)7. The season around Christmas (8)12. Cooking method for turkey and chestnuts

(5)13. Popular Christmas colour (3)14. Special anniversary (7)17. Coniferous tree (4)18. Gifts given to children (4)

Solution on page 43



Gloucester Rugby are delighted to offer supporters the opportunity of becoming a season ticket holder for the remaining half of the season - kicking off with the match against London Wasps on Boxing Day.

2011-12 half season ticket now available

The half season ticket package allows supporters the chance to watch live Aviva Premiership, Heineken Cup and LV= Cup rugby at Kingsholm at the fantastic season ticket discount rate, as well as benefitting from the association of being a member.

The half price season ticket package will include the following remaining home matches of the 2011/12 season:

London Wasps - Monday, 26th December 3pm Aviva Premiership

Toulouse - 20/21/22 January 2012 TBC Heineken Cup

Cardiff Blues - 27/28/29 January 2012 TBC LV= Cup

Northampton Saints - Saturday, 11th February 2012 3pm Aviva Premiership

Harlequins - Saturday, 25th February 2012 3pm Aviva Premiership

Exeter Chiefs - Saturday, 24th March 2012 3pm Aviva Premiership

Newcastle Falcons - Saturday, 14th April 2012 3pm Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks - Saturday 21st April 2012 3pm Aviva Premiership

Purchasing a season ticket is the only way to make great savings on every game with Junior memberships from £3.75 per match and Adult memberships from as little as £11.87 per match.

The season ticket package also enables members to benefit from priority booking for all away games and knock out matches as well as discounted tickets for selected secondary matches played at Kingsholm. Season ticket holders will also receive the 2011-12 Gloucester Rugby pin badge!

For more information or to guarantee your ticket to watch live top flight rugby at Kingsholm call the ticket hotline on 0871 871 8781 option 2 or visit the Kingsholm ticket office.

½ Season Ticket packages are priced as follows:

Gold: £238 - limited availability

Silver: Adult £203, Concession £165 and Juniors £54.

Bronze/JS Stand: Adult £170, Concession £165 and Juniors £54

Shed: Adult £125, Concession £83 and Junior £30

West Terrace: Adult £95, Concession £78 and Juniors £30



TAKE THE STRESS OUTOF DECORATING

SL SERVICESInterior & exteriorpainting, decorating &property maintenance

“We offer a high quality, friendly andcompetitive service in Tewkesbury and the surrounding areas.”

For a free quote please contact ust: 07814 741758e: [email protected]

Home Improvements with SL ServicesWell thought out, quality home improvements can boost the value of your property, but botched work and bad judgment can do more harm than good. When taking on a home improvements project it's always worth bringing in a professional to ensure quality of finish.

Even without dramatic structural changes, good presentation can have a real impact on the amount buyers are prepared to pay for a home. Painting and decorating was ranked an equal second (alongside a new kitchen) in the ‘Halifax valuers list of improvements likely to add value’.

Of course home improvements aren't just for those selling their home, you may want to just freshen up your existing décor or completely redesign your colour scheme, but either way a fresh coat of paint or some new wallpaper can always breathe new life into old walls.

If you decide to take on a home improvements project then SL Services, the Tewkesbury-based painting and decorating firm can offer you a high quality, friendly and competitively priced service.

Simon, the owner of SL Services, tells us the importance of quality workmanship; “Spending a lot of money is not always required but having work done to a professional and high standard is a prerequisite when maintaining your home. Often the work required is relatively straight forward but good prep work, good quality tools and a keen eye for detail will make all the difference to the finish achieved. Here at SL Services we pride ourselves on quality and value for money and I think this is reflected in the amount of customers that come back to us time and again and who happily recommend us to family and friends.”

Whether you are looking to decorate one room or your whole house, SL Services can offer a free no obligation quote. Simon explains “We can quote by the hour, by the day or by the job, what ever works best for that particular customer.”

Glos Directories readers can benefit from an exclusive reader discount:SL Services are offering a 10% discount off the total cost of any job undertaken before January 31st 2012. Just quote ‘Glos Directories offer’ when enquiring.

To contact Simon at SL Services call 07814 741758 or email [email protected].

Richard HollandPLUMBING&HEATING

✓ Gas and Oil boilers ✓ Gas fires ✓ Solar ✓ Underfloor ✓ Service and repair

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I know, as do we all, that smoking in the workplace is banned. And rightly so. It’s a vile habit, and whether passive smoking is as dangerous as they say it’s still selfish and unpleasant to inflict the smell of cigarette smoke on others. And I say this as a smoker.

I remember the first time I walked into the newsroom at the Worksop Guardian, where I trained as a reporter: it was almost impossible to see the far end of the room (and it wasn’t a large room) thanks to the coils of lazy blue smoke that hung in the air. But the non-smokers, who were in fact the majority, never complained. I don’t remember the window being opened – in fact I’m not even sure that it did open. That was then, “then” in this case referring to 1977; and it seemed to all concerned to be a perfectly natural state of affairs.

I remember just as clearly the outrage more than a decade later (by which time I had moved on from the Worksop Guardian) when a workplace smoking ban was proposed. We smokers felt indignantly that it was our rights that were being violated, and some of the non-smokers even agreed; it took the asthmatic non-smoker who had first made the proposal quite some time to gather enough support to persuade management to back him.

There were some furious rows and long-term damage to friendships, but when I stepped back inside after my first ever fag on the fire-escape, I immediately realised that the antis were right. It was nice to be able to breathe! Not long after that (it was January) I got fed up with the fire-escape and quit the weed.

(A thought: does cigarette smoke smell worse than it used to? In the old days, I don’t remember my clothes being absolutely rancid after an evening in the pub, but now I notice the lingering pong if anyone has had a fag anywhere near me. Have the health lobby secretly had a “vile stench” chemical added to tobacco – or do we just notice it more now that we do it less?)

Anyway, I started smoking again a few years ago, but by this time I was self-employed and working from home. The smoking ban hadn’t come in, but with a non-smoking wife and two non-smoking kids (only one now, alas, the boy has taken to it as eagerly as I did at his age) it somehow felt

wrong to infect their air with my poison.

In fact, I did my best to conceal from the kids the fact that I smoked at all. They tell me now that I was pretty successful, and that it was a very long time before they realised why daddy sometimes smelt funny. The boy started smoking because his friends did, not because I did, thank God; in fact it was only when he started smoking that he identified the funny smell.

Anyway, I’m back on the metaphorical fire-escape now, although these days it comes equipped with garden furniture so at least I can pollute my lungs in comfort. And even though it’s a miserable business in bad weather, I wouldn’t go back to smoking indoors (although I still, with my rather old-fashioned sense of hospitality, dig the sole surviving ashtray out when an addicted guest comes round). But in general, it’s a workplace; and workplaces should be smoke-free.

by Ted Bruning

Working from home



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When I was little my grandparents always had a fake Christmas tree that groaned with the weight of about a thousand sputnik-shaped fairy lights. Candy-coloured and frosted with artificial ice, they flashed on and off in a way that, to a five-year-old, was nothing if not glorious. Yup, my grandparents really went for it – and if that’s your style, I’m not going to knock it.

There is another Christmas-decorating school of thought, however. One that allows you to celebrate without going over the top. Here are five guidelines to help you create a stylish seasonal look for your home:

1. The wreath Your front door is the handshake to your house, and a pretty Christmas wreath is a welcoming addition. Buy or make one that suits the size and colour of your door. Natural materials such as holly, ivy, bay and twisted willow are lovely, and you can finish it off with berries and ribbon for a traditional effect; alternatively, wire and pale-coloured beads are subtle and sophisticated. Just avoid the pine-cone-sprayed-with-gold-paint-look.

2. The treeNo Christmas is complete without a tree, and this is where ideas of pared-back décor tend to go astray amid a chaotic surge of baubles and assorted hanging things that you’ve accumulated over the years. Less is more, so stick to a colour theme: you could use plain silver balls with white or coloured lights, for example. Or go for a natural look, perhaps using ribbons, green twine and cinnamon sticks. For those leftover decorations that you’re desperate to display, why not pile them onto a small tree in a pot, or create a separate mantelpiece or fireplace arrangement?

3. The cardsEven with the rise of e-greetings, the demise of the traditional Christmas card seems far away. But what to do with them all? Organise them, is the answer. Propping them up randomly around the house might make for a jolly, ad hoc look, but

Do you love gaudy baubles? Or are you more of a minimalist Christmas decorator? Katherine Sorrell outlines how to avoid Yuletide decorating excess while still enjoying a stylish festive season…

if you arrange them en masse it’s far more effective. if you’re short of time, the best solution is simply to clear a side table or shelf and arrange the cards carefully with the largest at the back. But if you want to go for effect, try using painted mini wooden pegs to attach cards to a string, or punching a hole in each card and tying it on with bright ribbon, raffia or yarn.

4. The tableAbandon any thoughts of paper napkins printed with holly berries or tartan – simple colour co-ordination is key here, from table cloth (or runner) to serviettes, plates, glassware and any extras. And the colour doesn’t just have to be red or green – with some lateral thinking a gorgeous display can be created around an unusual colour theme: pastels, icy whites and silvers, dark and moody or contemporary brights, perhaps. Start by picking one colour, and accessorise with touches of co-ordinating tones. If your crockery is coloured, it makes sense to work everything around that; if it’s white, you can do pretty much whatever you like. No need to spend a great deal of money – much can be achieved by choosing accessories such as candles, crackers and flowers with care.

A CoolYule

Gather together an eclectic mix of lovely items and festoon your mantelpiece or windowsill

with festive goodies.



Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

CODEWORD 17 8 16 11 24 16 19 5 16 13 22 4

16 6 20 21 16 9 25

17 14 23 20 22 21 4 24 13 19 13 24

24 26 23 22 24 24

14 22 7 8 24 1 23 21 12 24 2 13

23 21 7 3 24

14 24 8 16 11 22 23 21 13 25 22 17 13

24 8R

14 24 21

17 14 23 18 24 4 11 14 22 6 25 11

8 15 13A

16 20 14

22 4 24 13 19 5 1 16 14 22 21 24

24 14 16L

8 21 21 24

26 19 13 11 2 24 10 11 24 21 26 13Solution on page 43

by Katherine Sorrell

5. General displaysThere was a time when chains of coloured paper hung from corner to corner of the room were the height of Christmas chic. This may no longer be the case – but home-made decorations can still be a wonderful thing. It could be as simple as a row of chunky candles, wound round with ivy, a wooden bowl filled with clove-studded oranges, or a string of white fairy lights clustered in a glass vase. And last but by no means least, involve the children in making paper chains, bunting or felt cut-outs for that charmingly wonky, home-made look.

Mix colours, textures and patterns to suit your taste and style.

Left top picture: Set of 12 glitter mini bauble decorations in a tube, £5.99. Left bottom picture: Gold wire card wreath, £14.99; pair of gold wire topiary heart mini trees, £24.99; ornate silver glass candlesticks, £11.99 each; silver-effect three kings ornaments, £29.99; gold bauble with paisley glitter design, £3.99; silver-plated vanilla scented candle pots and bowls, £8.99 and £7.99. Right picture: Satin silver ribbon, £4.99; bright jewelled bauble place card holders, £11.99 (set of 6); yellow and orange vases, £9.99 each; purple tea light jam jar, £12.99 (set of four assorted colours); bright green crystal jewel star, £2.99; gingham eclectic table mat, £7.99; eclectic cutlery, £29.99 per set; large red kitchen pendant light, £54.99; gingerbread advent house calendar, £39.99; Merry Christmas unframed print, £9.99; glitter snowflake, £7.99 for pack of 12; glitter mini baubles, £5.99 for tube of twelve. All The Contemporary Home, 02392 469400; www.tch.net



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Unit R1 Kingsville Road Cheltenham GL51 9NZ

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[email protected]

Wide range of work surfaces available:

LAMINATE

ACRYLIC

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Our services also include:

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Telephone Email01242 519966 [email protected]

Nicholas Joiner Kitchens is an independent, family run kitchen company, established in 1997.

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GLOS DIRECTORIES | FUN STUFF

Hello! Everyone at Folly Gardens would like to wish you, your family and of course your pets a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We have lots planned at Folly Gardens this winter to help banish the winter blues, and would like to start by inviting our clients, friends and families to our Practice walk, Sunday 8th January. We will meet at the Yew Tree Pub, Conderton at 10.30am. Approx. 4 miles, across beautiful countryside, with hot drinks and nibbles provided. We will be raising money for County Air Ambulance. Please phone the practice or check out our Facebook page for more information.

PET HEALTH - Banish the winter blues!Winter brings with it special considerations for our pets, both the change in weather and darker nights mean a change in routine for us all!

Christmas considerationsThe onset of festivities can bring with it a few pet related problems. Watch out for scavenging! Christmas decorations – in particular ribbons and tinsel, are very attractive to pets, and if swallowed, may lead to intestinal obstructions and the need for life saving surgery. With Christmas – comes chocolate, don’t forget all chocolate; especially the higher cocoa content versions are extremely toxic to our pets. In fact it really is best to avoid sharing the Christmas Fayre with your pets – the rich food and often high fat content plays havoc with their digestion and can lead to painful, serious conditions such as pancreatitis. Take them for a Christmas walk instead – it might get you out of the washing up!!

Older PetsThe cold & damp weather, combined with less exercise in the winter months can exacerbate arthritis and age related aches and pains. Consider moving older kennelled dogs in for the winter, try to maintain gentle regular exercise and talk to your Vet about joint & muscle supplements, diets and pain relief management. Look out for our range of in practice offers this winter on joint supplements, diets and pain management medicines.

Veterinary advice With Vet Brad Cooper of Folly Gardens Clinic

It’s Christmasss!Outdoor petsRabbits and especially guinea pigs are often better in a shed/garage hutch through the worst of the winter, with regular access to an outdoor run on better days. Damp is the biggest problem – often contributing to respiratory disease. Ensure hutches and chicken coops remain dry, add plenty of extra bedding and be sure water is always available despite the frost! Hutch covers are great at night and in driving rain, but take off in the day for vital ventilation.

Winter WalkingIf you are unable to exercise your pet as much through the winter, watch out for them gaining extra unhealthy pounds! When walking it is well worth investing in reflective/Hi - Vis collars or leads especially if you are on unlit country walks. If your cat wears a collar, swop it for a reflective version to minimise the risk of traffic accident, but do ensure it is of the quick release/safety variety. Keep an eye out for sore paws, ice balling & grit/salt can really irritate. Keep excess fur trimmed and rinse paws and dry thoroughly. Boots and special cleansing wipes are available for those particularly sensitive hounds!!

Toxins Watch out and be extremely careful with any antifreeze or de-icing products, many contain Ethylene Glycol. Contact or ingestion can cause fatal Kidney damage. If you are at all concerned your pet has come into contact, ring us straight away! Wishing you and your pet well - Brad



Your Pet -Our Priority

Providers of quality veterinary service and care

24hr Emergency Service

01242 679880

Folly Gardens Veterinary ClinicNo. 5 Church RoadBishops CleeveGlos GL52 8LR

T 01242 679880 E [email protected] W www.follygardens.com

Veterinary Surgeons

Brad Cooper BVSc MRCVS

Megan Archer BVet Med (Hons) MRCVS

Dev Rao BVSc MRCVS

TO ENTER COMPETITIONS ONLINE GO TOwww.glosdirectories.co.uk AND CLICK

ON THE COMPETITIONS TAB OR EMAIL [email protected] ENTER BY TEXT SEND YOUR

CONTACT DETAILS INCL YOUR ADDRESS (SO WE CAN POST YOUR TICKETS IF YOU WIN)

TO: 07912 5757 41. TEXTS CHARGED AT STANDARD RATE.Start your text with RUGBY or PANTO or SHUTTER.

Closing Date for all competitions is 6 Jan 2011 unless otherwise stated..

COMPETITIONS

Solutions on page 43

GLOUCESTER RUGBY vs CARDIFF BLUES

Win 2 x tickets to this game Sat 28 Jan

THE EVERYMAN THEATREWin PANTO Family Tickets

(This comp closes 19th December)

THE BACON THEATREWin PANTO Family Tickets

(This comp closes 19th December)

2 words

4 words

Pictograms3 words

SYMPHON

UP UP HA HA

JOE BLOGGSBORN: 11th FEBRUARY 1955 DIED: 23rd NOVEMBER 2011

REST IN PIECE



Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway. Susan Jeffers

They say a life lived in fear is a life half-lived and Feel the Fear is based on the principle that doing something that scares us, is a good thing. It promises to show you how to ‘turn fear and indecision into confidence and action’. Packed with real-life examples of people who have let fear dominate them, this is a very grounded and level-headed book. There are lots of practical tips and activities to help you start to face your fear, and end it.

This Book Will Save Your Life. A.M. Homes

Ok so it’s a fictional satire rather than self-help novel, but it most certainly IS life-affirming. Written with wonderfully quirky Los Angeles as a backdrop, it’s been hailed as an antidote to modern life. When reclusive stockbroker Richard Novak ends up in the emergency

room, he’s forced to open his eyes to the world around him. It’s the perfect accompaniment for welcoming in the New Year and seizing 2012 with gusto.

How to Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie

One of the most successful self-help books of all time and not to be confused with the film ‘How to Lose Friends and Alienate People’, which could get you fired. Although the original was published in the 1930s, this master class in how to handle other people

continues to be relevant. With the exception of Willy Loman, there has never been a greater advocate for being ‘well-liked’ than Dale Carnegie.

Why Men Don’t Listen and Women

Can’t Read Maps. Allan and Barbara Pease

I was going to go for the obvious ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus’ here but decided instead to go for the comical pairing of husband

and wife team Allan and Barbara Pease. With chapters entitled ‘Women are Touchy-Feely’ and ‘Why Men Are So Thick-skinned’ you know you’re going to get an amusing and enlightening read. If this is ‘pop psychology’ then call me Frasier Crane. Let me point out here that my Dad mumbles so much we can’t hear HIM and Mum’s an excellent map-reader.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

The brainchild of motivational speakers, Canfield and Hansen, the premise is simple: heart-warming stories will make us feel better, just as chicken soup warms the cockles in the winter. The original book sold millions of copies and spawned a series that’s been translated into 54 languages. We must all be suckers for a happy ending. Enjoy it curled up with a bowl of soup and you will be joy personified come February.

My boss gave me a self-help book for my 29th birthday. I was so appalled that someone had deemed me in need of ‘help’ that I quit and went to Australia. So you can say what you like about them, but they really do work…one way or another! Whether it’s a new diet, relationship or job, there’s a book that claims it’ll help you achieve it. What better way to kick-start 2012 than turning over a new page, and a new leaf?

New Year, New You!

The Italian Diet. Gino D’Acampo

The Dukan diet claims ‘three million French women can’t be wrong’ but I say, one gorgeous Italian man who encourages us to eat cheese and pasta…is definitely right! The diet book that looks like a recipe book, this is all about eating healthily without depriving yourself of the things you love the most.

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GLOS DIRECTORIES | LISTINGS

3

915

21 27

33

39

45

51

5763

6975

Can you work

out the

missing

numbers?

Q: What do you call a

cat on the beach

at Christmas?A: Sandy Claws!

S

IN A

Can you work out

the missing letters, and

then arrange them into

a festive anagram?

NorthPole

Christmas

Crackers!Mega Maze!

Can you get through the maze to the pudding?



P17

L8

A16

T11

E24

A16

U19

B5

A16

S13

I22

C4

A16

G6

V20

N21

A16

Q9

H25

P17

R14

O23

V20

I22

N21

C4

E24

S13

U19

S13

E24

E24

D26

O23

I22

E24

E24

R14

I22

F7

L8

E24

M1

O23

N21

K12

E24

Y2

S13

O23

N21

F7

Z3

E24

R14

E24

L8

A16

T11

I22

O23

N21

S13

H25

I22

P17

S13

E24

L8

R14

E24

N21

P17

R14

O23

J18

E24

C4

T11

R14

I22

G6

H25

T11

L8

W15

S13

A16

V20

R14

I22

C4

E24

S13

U19

B5

M1

A16

R14

I22

N21

E24

E24

R14

A16

L8

N21

N21

E24

D26

U19

S13

T11

Y2

E24

X10

T11

E24

N21

D26

S13

M1

Y2

Z3

C4

B5

G6

F7

L8

Q9

X10

T11

K12

S13

R14

W15

A16

P17

J18

U19

V20

N21

I22

O23

E24

H25

D26

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU CODEWORD

PICTOGRAMS1. A Grave Error2.Unfinished symphony3.Double Up With Laughter

CHILDRENS PAGE ANSWERS

CROSSWORD

Across: 2 Mass, 4 Magi, 6 Ivy, 8 Inn, 9 Green, 10 Gold, 11 Lord, 14 Joy, 15 Dolls, 16 Sled, 17 Pie, 19 Elves. Down: 1 Wassailing, 2 Miracle, 3 Boxing Day, 5 Angel, 7 Yuletide, 12 Roast, 13 Red, 14 Jubilee, 17 Pine, 18 Toys.

Missing numbers: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78Anagram: Rudolph

Review Of The Year1. Paul McCartney2. Burqas3. James Caan4. The England riots5. The Archers6. The MPs expenses scandal7. To avoid potential disruption from the ash cloud8. Blue9. Chris Moyles10. Princess Beatrice's hat (that she wore to wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton)

Review Of The Year1. Which famous person did Nancy Shevell marry in 2011?2. A ban on what items of clothing came into force in France on April 11th?3. Which dragon did Hilary Devey replace on the 2011 series of Dragon’s Den?4. On August 18th, a special edition of Crimewatch was aired that concentrated

solely on what? 5. Which soap opera celebrated its 60th anniversary on January 2nd?6. In 2011, David Chaytor, Eric Illsey, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine were all

sentenced to at least one year in prison due to the parts they played in which scandal that was uncovered in 2009?

7. When visiting the UK in May, why did Barack Obama arrive one day ahead of schedule?

8. Which boy band �nished 11th when representing the UK at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest?

9. Which radio presenter broke a world record for presenting the longest radio show, after hosting a 52-hour live broadcast in aid of Comic Relief?

10. What was described as a “unique sculptural celebratory headpiece in delicate tea rose silk” when it was sold on eBay for £81,000 in May?



Emergency NumbersAmbulance 999 EMERGENCY ONLYFire 999 EMERGENCY ONLYPolice 999 EMERGENCY ONLYPolice non emergency 0845 090 1234Crimestoppers 0800 555 111National Missing Persons 0500 700700RSPCA 01242 521 958NSPCC 0800 500 500Electricity 0800 3281111Gas Emergency 0800 111 999Water Severn Trent 0800 783 4444NHS Direct 08 45 46 47Cheltenham General Hospital 08454 222 222

Chemist NumbersRowlands Pharmacy5 High Street, PrestburyCheltenham GL52 3AR Tel: 01242 244318Open Monday-Friday 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 6pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

Badham Chemists256 London Road, Charlton KingsCheltenham GL52 6HS Tel: 01242 515143Open Monday-Friday 9am - 6.30pm Saturday 9am - 5.30pm

Badham Pharmacy62 Hewlett RoadCheltenham GL52 6AH Tel: 01242 260165Open Monday-Friday 9am - 1pm & 1.30pm - 6pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

Boots The ChemistHigh Street, Cheltenham Tel: 01242 527084Open Monday-Saturday 8am - 6pmWednesday 9am - 6pmSunday 11am - 5pm

Lloyds PharmacySt. Pauls Medical Centre, Swindon Rd,Cheltenham, GL50 4DPTel: 01242 571 590Open Monday-Saturday 8am - 10.30pmSundays 9am - 10pm

Badham Pharmacy Emergency prescriptionsIf you have a prescription marked “URGENT” by your doctor outside normal opening hours, please call 01242 516779 for assistance.

In the event of an Emergency when no pharmacy is open, please contact Cheltenham or Bishop’s Cleeve Police on 0845 090 1234 who will contact a Pharmacist to dispense your prescription.

GP Out of Hours Service08454 220220 covers all patients registered with a doctor’s surgery in Gloucestershire. Run by dedicated out of hours staff including doctors, specialist nurses and other health and social care workers.

RecyclingSwindon Road recycling centreOpening hoursMonday to Friday - 7.30am-7.30pm (summer time) and 7.30am-6.30pm (winter time)Saturdays - 7.30am-4.00pmSundays and bank holidays - 9.00am-1.00pmWingmoor Farm, Nr Bishops CleeveHalf mile west of Bishop’s Cleeve on the road to Stoke Orchard.

Open 7 days a week(except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)Opening hours: 9am – 6:15pm all year round

Household Recycling Centre Helpline on01242 680 010

Useful NumbersCheltenham Borough Council 01242 262626Citizens Advice Bureau 01242 522491Gloucestershire County Council 01452 425000Local M.P. Martin Horwood 01242 224889National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950Bacon Theatre 01242 258002Everyman Theatre Cheltenham 01242 572573Town Hall & Pump Rooms Box Office 0844 5762210Cineworld Cinemas 0871 200 2000Cheltenham Borough Community Transport01242 515388

USEFUL LOCAL INFORMATION



Please email [email protected] if you find any information in the directory to be out of date or would like to add new establishments.

PUBS & RESTAURANTS

Malvern View Restaurant & HotelCleeve Hill, Cheltenham GL52 3PRTel: 01242 672017 The Apple Tree InnStockwell LaneWoodmancote GL52 9QGTel: 01242 673277Bottelino’sSt James StreetCheltenham GL52 2SHTel: 01242 224761Charlton Kings HotelLondon RoadCheltenham GL52 6UUTel: 01242 231061

Everest Balti House3 Portland StreetCheltenham GL52 2NZTel: 01242 221334The FarmersEvesham RoadBishop’s Cleeve GL52 8SATel: 01242 679277Golden Mountain63 Winchcombe StreetCheltenham GL52 2NETel: 01242 672664The Langton191 London RoadCheltenham GL52 6HTTel: 01242 233022Taj Mahal Balti11 Church RoadBishop’s Cleeve GL52 8LRTel: 01242 676006

TAKE-AWAYSAirport PlusTel: 01242 808090Airport Priority CarsTel: 01242 572224A2B Private HireTel: 01242 580580Bishop’s Cleeve Private HireTel: 01242 696676Prestbury Independent TaxiTel: 01242 07860 434421The 727 Car CompanyTel: 01242 523523

CLUBS & CLASSES

TAXIS

The Shutter InnShutter Lane, GotheringtonCheltenham GL52 9EZTel: 01242 673122

Masala Bites22-24 Albion StreetCheltenham GL52 2LPTel: 01242 530531Rising SunCleeve HillCheltenham GL52 3PXTel: 01242 676281The Curry Corner133 Fairview RoadCheltenham GL52 2EXTel: 01242 528449

All The Raj27 Prestbury RoadCheltenham GL52 2PPTel: 01242 242474Chicken Inn1 Portland StreetCheltenham GL52 2NZTel: 01242 527971China House176 London RoadCheltenham GL52 6HJTel: 01242 523687Everest Balti House3 Portland StreetCheltenham GL52 2NZTel: 01242 221334Golden Mountain63 Winchcombe StreetCheltenham GL52 2NETel: 01242 672664

Perfect Pizza32 - 34 St James StreetCheltenham GL52 2SHTel: 01242 235440Pitville Fish & Chips27 Prestbury RoadCheltenham GL52 2PPTel: 01242 242474Simpsons Fish & Chips73 - 75 Priors RoadCheltenham GL52 5ALTel: 01242 521964Turkish Delight6 Portland StreetCheltenham GL52 2PBTel: 01242 282111Wokswagon77 Priors RoadCheltenham GL52 5ALTel: 01242 575995

Please email [email protected] if you would like to have your club or class listed here. Listing is free of charge if non profit, otherwise only £7.50 + VAT per month. Minimum booking for listings is 6 months.



Index of Advertisers

Beauty, Health, Fitness & Skincare Absolute Beauty 15 A.T.A Fitness 17 Beauty Beyond 13 KettleGirls 16 The Cosmetic Studio 15 Building Services CPLC Associates 33

Building Maintenance, Repair, Carpentry & Handyman Services LCM Flat Roofing 28 SL Services 31

Children, Classes & Tuition Kumon Maths and English 41 Tick Tocks drop off childcare 41

Cleaning Services Oven Cleaning D.G. 20

Computer Services & Repairs Call Rich 11

Counselling and Therapies Advance Practice 14 Julie Wales Counselling 14 Positive Exchange Hypnotherapy 17

Chiropodist / Podiatrist L C Monck 14

Chiropractor McTimoney Chiropractic 15

Electrician Pro Electrical 33

Entertainment & Shopping Bacon Theatre 11 Everyman Theatre 47 Gloucester Rugby 30 LakeFest 19 Showcase 11

Fitness Classes KettleGirls 16

Funeral Directors Alexander Burn Ltd 11

Garden Services & Maintenance Bredon Hill Landscaping 27 C&M Tree Solutions 28 Edward Price Tree & Garden 28 Hypnotherapist Advance Practice 14 Positive Exchange 17

Kitchens & Bathrooms Nicholas Joiner Kitchens 37 Worktops Cheltenham 36

Locksmith BeSecure Locksmiths 33

Meals / Fruit & Veg Deliveries Wiltshire Farm Foods 19

Motoring, MOT’s & Vehicle Sales Cotswold Cheltenham Mini 21 Mercedes Benz 23

Oven Cleaning Oven Cleaning D.G. 20

Permanent Makeup The Cosmetic Studio 15

Personal Trainer A.T.A Fitness 17

Photography & Weddings Fez Photography 9 Wow Weddings 13

Plumbing, Heating, Boilers & Electrical Services Johnston Scotia 24&25 Pro Electrical 33 Richard Holland 31

Restaurants, Pubs, Shops & Cafe’s The Shutter Inn 18 Zebra’s Den SA shop 20

Roof repairs LCM Flat Roofing 35

Security Bulldog Security Systems 48 back cover

Solicitors, Mortgages & Will Writing Copperfields 9

Television & Satellite Digital TV & Sat Systems 3

Veterinary Clinic Folly Gardens Veterinary Clinic 53

Web Design & Business Services Call Rich 11 Economummy 8 Glos Websites 33

Weddings & Photography Fez Photography 9 Wow Weddings 13

Bulldog Security SystemsIntruder Alarm Installations & MaintenanceCall for Details on:- 01242 222558 Email:- [email protected]

When was your alarmlast Serviced?

Most existing systems serviced from £45Central Station Monitoring with Police Response

from £240 per year

Do You need a face lift?Is your system old or would you like it to telephone you if it goes off?

Upgrade today with a new control pane & Bellfrom £240New Systems Available from £400 to £4000

prestbury dec-jan12

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