swindon 'outer circle' town crier magazine mar/apr 2015 final small

1The Town Crier Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2015 TO ADVERTISE CALL 01249 811068 WWW. TOWNCRIERMAGAZINE.COM

TownCr er

FOOD l HEALTH & BEAUTY l MOTORING l GARDENING l PET CARE

COVERING ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT, HIGHWORTH, LIDDINGTON, WROUGHTON, CRICKLADE, WANBOROUGH, CHISELDON, SOUTH MARSTON, BLUNSDON, PURTON, MINETY, LEIGH, STANTON FITZWARREN, PURTON STOKE,

LYDIARD MILLICENT, HOOK, GREATFIELD, WICHELSTOWE, THE LAWNS & MARLBOROUGH ROAD

MARCH /APRIL2015

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agazine.com

Your Local Magazine

SpringForwardSpecial feature on the garden

Auctioneers of Antiques, Furniture & Collectables

ENTRIES WANTED

WessexAuctionRooms

Single items to Full House Clearances Deceased Estates

www.wessexauctionrooms.co.uk 01249 720888 Westbrook Farm, Draycot Cerne, Chippenham, Wilts. SN15 5LH

Local long established auctioneers with worldwide coverage

Free appraisals at our auction rooms or appointments at your home

Flowers forMother’s Day!

page 18

♥FREE

2 The Town Crier Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2015 TO ADVERTISE CALL 01249 811068 WWW. TOWNCRIERMAGAZINE.COM


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Spring is here – and in our March/April edition we look at things you can do in your garden at this time of year.Tips for your greenhouse, begonias and making your garden more eco-friendly are all featured in this issue.Flowers will come in handy for Mother’s Day which we feature on page 18, and then we will try not to overindulge in chocolate eggs at Easter!The Easter holidays are a time for getting out and about so please check ot our What’s On section and why not try our recipe for Easter Cup Cakes on page 28 and follow the tips for an Easter Egg Hunt!Many thanks to you all for sending in ideas to the magazine – please keep them coming!Until next time . . .

The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts. SN11 9HBTel: 01249 811068 www. towncriermagazine.com

Deadline for submissions for the May/June 2015 issue: 8th April 2015

Editor: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING:The Editor reserves the right to refuse any copy which she feels may not be appropriate material for print. No responsibility will be taken for any damage or loss of material caused by inaccuracy or omission of any advertisement.Artwork prepared by us remains the property of The Town Crier Magazine and reproduction in any form is expressly forbidden without prior permission from the Editor.

We provide artwork free of charge and where possible we will adhere to your request on layouts and type, but we cannot guarantee an exact copy. If you wish to produce your own artwork to a specific layout, or have any changes to an existing advert, please ensure your copy is with us by the 1st of month prior to publication at the latest.

TownCr er Your Local Magazine

MARCH/APRIL 2015

Editor’s Letter

Don’t

forget

Easter Day

Sunday 5th

April

Don’t forget

Mother’s Day

Sunday15th

March


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IN THIS ISSUE6 What’s On Local News and Events

16 Puzzle Corner Crossword/Sudoku

18 Mother’s Day Flowers for Mum

20 Greenhouse Guide Hints and Tips

22 Blowsy Begonias How to grow them

24 Green Garden Make you garden more eco-friendly

26 Recipe Lemon Almond Cake

28 Recipe Easter Cup Cakes

30 Hair Today Hair removal

32 Book Reviews by Willow Coby

34 Websites by Kevin Sanders

24

28

20

22

26

30

21-23 Faringdon Road Swindon SN1 5AR

Tel: (01793) 534095 or 526393

Everything for the Modern Musician• Amps• Drums• Guitars• Pianos• Keyboards • Flutes & Clarinets• Sheet Music

For the best range of music making equipment in the area look no further.

We not only stock a great selection of the above in all price ranges but also popular school instruments such as Student Guitar packs from ¼ to full size, School Recorders, Violins, Clarinets, Saxophones plus all accessories.

We have a Music School to help you get the most from your instrument and the Largest Printed Music Department for miles around.

18


What’s OnNEW!

send us your What’s On

via ourwebsite

To submit your What’s On go totowncriermagazine.com/submit-your-event

TownCr er Your Local Magazine

What’s OnWhat’s happening locally • News • Events • Charities • Clubs

Birdsong for Beginners

Saturday March 21st 9am South Marston

Join us for a guided walk around the lovely Nightingale Wood to listen to and learn some common birdsong. Suitable for families. Bring binoculars if possible. Booking essential. Cost: £3.00.

Contact: Robin Griffiths (01793) 751081, 07761 290725, [email protected]

Marlborough Wall HangingMembers of Marlborough & District Guild combined to produce a piece of semi-circular embroidery for an exhibition in Devizes in 1997 depicting various features of Marlborough, including the River Kennet which would form the lower part of the hanging.

Three years of planning and working from photographs and drawings, small sections of the design were given to members of the Guild to work in whatever technique they preferred. Some embroidered buildings and some took on smaller pieces depicting flowers or birds. When the exhibition was over it was offered to Marlborough Surgery who happily accepted it to hang in the waiting room.

It remained in the surgery, where it was much admired but by 2014, 17 years later, it was looking rather tired and bedraggled and it was suggested that it was time for some renovation. Audrey Peck, Rosemary Hawes, Ann Johnson and Margaret White met regularly and some new features were added.

Refurbishment has now been completed and the embroidery has been re-hung in the surgery's waiting room where it can be enjoyed by a new generation of Marlborough patients.

(l-r) Ann Johnson, Rosemary Hawes & Audrey Peck

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT CHORAL SOCIETY

EASTER CONCERT30th MARCH

at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church,Royal Wootton Bassett

Start at 7.30pmMusic by: Pergolesi-Stabat Mater

(with Wenthworth Voices),Victoria- Tenebrae Reponses, Stainer and Dupres.

Free ADMISSION Retiring Collection

Summer Concert 13th July at St. Bartholomew Church, Royal Wootton Bassett


Full Fitting Service FREE Measuring & Estimate Service FREE Sample Service

100’s of Remnants always available from only £10

VinylWood &Laminates

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESSwith advice you can trust

Carpets

Regular lawn mowing from £12 per visit

Simeon VellaniPsychotherapeutic CounsellorCounselling in Marlborough & SwindonConfidential care and support to help you explore and meet your personal challenges:

Generally dissatisfied with daily life? I believe I can help

Tel: 01672 [email protected]. marlborough-counselling.co.ukRegistered member of the BACP (MBACP) Reg No 086869

• Stress• Anger• Anxiety• Relationship Issues• Family Issues

• Loneliness• Bereavement• Depression• Abuse


What’s OnWhat’s On

Banff Mountain Film FestivalThe international Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is returning to Wiltshire and for the first time ever, the Festival will bring inspiration and big screen adventure to Swindon, with the Festival being held at the Wyvern Theatre on the 30th of April.

This year’s Tour features some of the UK’s most talented adventurers, athletes and film makers, such as the star of ‘The Ridge’ Danny MacAskill (from Scotland), and Yorkshireman Rob Jarman in ‘All my own stunts’. ‘Into the empty corner’ follows the amazing journey of British adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron, and the inspirational story of ‘Tashi and the monk’ is brought to the big screen by film makers Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke.


01793 602502 orwww.rightathomeuk.com/[email protected]


Food & DrinkWhat’s OnWhat’s On

WELSH MALE VOICE

CHOIR

CÔR Y GYRLAIS Musical Director: Huw Parkman

Accompanist: Chris Lewis

IN CONCERT WITH

COTSWOLD VOICES

AND

BRIAN HASTIE (FIDDLE)

SATURDAY 21st OF MARCH 2015 AT 7.30 PM

At ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT

TICKETS: £8.00 PER PERSON

FROM: RWB Post Office Shop, Brian Taylor Music and on the door.

PROCEEDS TO: RWB TOWN ROTARY CHARITIES

Mad March Hare The 8th Mad March Hare event will take place on Sunday 15th March 2015 with routes which will take

walkers, joggers and runners around West Swindon and the popular

Lydiard Park.For more information please go to

www.madmarchhare.org.uk, email: [email protected]

or call 0845 6808064.

Royal Wootton Bassett Orchestra

Spring Concert28 March 2015

Memorial HallRoyal Wootton Bassett

7.30pm www.rwbo.org.uk

HOME PLANPlans drawn for Extensions,Conversions & New BuildsFree Estimates NO VAT

Call Rod

01793 762368 or07798 864291

www.home-plan-design.co.uk

This poem was sent in by Town Crier reader Bruce D’cruze. He writes:I recently moved to Wootton Bassett and like many others I am feeling the New Year Blues. January is here and the weather is pretty miserable. So to cheer myself up I wrote a poem about Royal Wootton Bassett. I randomly wrote it to the tune of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.

Royal Wootton Bass by Bruce D’cruzeI met my pretty lady, one lazy sunny day,The blues had come and got me, I wanted them away,I asked ‘how can I shake them, my cute and lovely lass?’She said let’s pay a visit, to Royal Wootton Bass.

We walked on up the High Street, a steady wanderers pace,The quirky shops and townsfolk put a smile back on my face,A town of laid back living, yet with some grace and sass,I can feel my blues a’ leaving, in Royal Wootton Bass.

Bought my woman earrings, from Deacons & Sons,Went to Marshalls Bakery to buy some sticky buns,Had lunch in the Old Nick, a meal of bangers and mash,A man could really live here, in Royal Wootton Bass.

Had prawn toast in Jade Tiger, a cosy little spot,Had earl grey and a biscuit at the Crafty Coffee Pot,This place just keeps on giving, a trip no one should pass,My blues have finally left me, in Royal Wootton Bass.

She told me over whiskey, at the bar in the Five Bells,We would be staying for the night, in The Crown Hotel,I pulled her close towards me, my blues have gone at last,There never is a bad day, in Royal Wootton Bass.

Christmas Sweaters Equal Cash for Prospect!The Prospect Hospice in Swindon received a timely boost to their funds this Christmas, thanks to the generosity of Sainsbury’s colleagues in Stratton. With a gesture that also managed to enhance the festive mood in the outlet, staff offered

to pay a ‘fine’ for the privilege of abandoning their normal uniform in favour of the right to wear their finest Christmas garb. A fee of £1 per week was the going rate although many colleagues were happy to ‘round-up’ their contributions in order to further benefit their chosen cause.

The amount raised came to a grand total of £141 and our picture shows Genevieve Arney, Events Fundraiser for Prospect Hospice, receiving the cheque from Trish Carter and Barrie Matthews of Sainsbury’s.

‘We are so grateful for the kind and generous donation from colleagues at Sainsbury’s Stratton over the festive period’ she said, adding ‘Our Christmas jumper days are always popular and a great ‘fun’ way to get involved with some fundraising for Prospect Hospice.’


What’s On

Active Kids is back at Sainsbury’s Swindon stores!

Active Kids is back at Sainsbury’s in Swindon. Customers can collect vouchers in their stores at Brunel, Bridgemead, Stratton and Royal Wootton Bassett until 5th May to help registered schools, groups and clubs across the Swindon area receive active and cooking equipment, and experiences.

The scheme, celebrating its 10th birthday, is supported by double Paralympic gold medal-winner Ellie Simmonds, world record breaking sprinter Jonnie Peacock and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge. The three ambassadors are committed to encouraging children to eat well, move well and live well. New cooking equipment has been added to the collection of items available to collect in 2015, and the popular Cooking and Nutrition Toolkits, endorsed by the British Nutrition Foundation, and recipe cards will keep children excited about cooking.

Active Kids Ambassador, Ellie Simmonds, said: “I’ve been a Sainsbury’s Active Kids ambassador for five years now and seen the amazing things the scheme has achieved. I’m looking forward to inspiring even more children this year to live their lives to the full.”

There are now well over 300 organisations registered to the Active Kids scheme in the north Wilts area, including Ferndale Table Tennis Club, Purton Brownie Unit and Covingham Roundabout Playgroup thanks to Sainsbury’s customers. Since 2005, the scheme has donated almost £16 and a half million worth of equipment to organisations in the South West alone.

Since 2005 the scheme has provided over £150million worth of equipment and experiences across the UK. For T&Cs and to sign up to the scheme, organisations can visit sainsburys.co.uk/ActiveKids. This year, organisations who order online will receive an extra 50 Active Kids vouchers.

Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge, world record breaking sprinter Jonnie Peacock and Paralympic legend Ellie Simmonds

Call for Entries for Swindon Open Studios 2015Planning for our 2015 Open Studios has already begun and if you are an artist thinking of taking part, please apply now! The registration forms are available on the website www.swindonopenstudios.org.uk where you can check out participating artists and their work, follow our blog and link up to our facebook page.

Swindon Open Studios event takes place annually on the first two weekends in September with venues in and around Swindon. Last September over 30 individual artists opened their studios to visitors and many other contributors’ work was shown in several group exhibitions and co-operatives too.

Visitors are always pleased to meet the artists and enjoy discussing work and techniques and have the opportunity to buy a wide range of artworks. There’s a surprising range, including stone sculpture, mosaics, paintings, ceramics, metalwork, fine pencil drawings, textiles and mixed media works on show.

Please ring Linda Kasmaty 01793 527149 for further information. If you are taking part in Open Studios for the first time, we do have a mentor to guide you through the process.

Our closing date is April 17th 2015 to allow time for the preparing the brochure and other publicity, so apply soon so you don’t miss out!

Swindon night scene by David Robinson


Footcare:shoes and slippers

Footcare appointments

MAKE LIFE EASIER

On the move: Mobility scootersMobility scooter repairs

Large range of mobility aidsHire services

Stairlifts

Rise and recline furnitureAdjustable beds

FREE Hearing health check

The Mobility Store | Unit 9a Ellendune Shopping Centre | WROUGHTON | SN4 9LNNEXT TO TESCO - FREE LEVEL PARKING | Tel: 01793 815083

56 George Lane | MARLBOROUGH | SN8 4BY | Tel: 01672 511550Lansdowne | BOURTON ON THE WATER | GL54 2AR | Tel: 01451 810088

www.thehearingandmobilitystore.co.uk


OSTEOPATHY & PHYSIOTHERAPY

Offering professional & effective treatment for: Backache, Neck Pain & Whiplash Sciatica

Upper & lower body joint pains

Sports Injuries

Work related aches & pains

Pre & Post-Op Rehabilitation

Our clients range fromadults & children

through to international athletes & premiership

footballers

www.thecarltoddclinic.com Please call 0845 899 0230

OSTEOPATHY • PHYSIOTHERAPY • REHABILITATION PILATES • SPORTS MASSAGE • PODIATRY

At the end of January, Carl Todd and his team were at South Marston Park, Swindon to officially launch their new healthcare clinic. Manchester City footballer, Frank Lampard, was their special guest who took time out of his busy schedule to come and cut the ribbon on the new Copse Farm building. Frank was very complimentary about his working relationship with Carl since the two have worked together since 2005.

“Carl is brilliant at what he does to make you better – he is very good at relaxing you and he is very open to new ideas to try and help and I really appreciate that. Carl is a real professional, extremely knowledgeable, kind and sincere with unquestionable integrity and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone”.

The new premises will complement Carl’s two other existing clinics based in Corsham and Wroughton, which already have well-established reputations as leading professionals in the area of osteopathy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Over the past several years they have increased the range of services they offer, which now include: osteopathy, physiotherapy, Pilates, sports medicine, podiatry, acupuncture, sports massage therapy, pre and post op rehabilitation and bike setup services.

During the launch event there was the opportunity to meet the friendly and approachable team that makes The Carl Todd Clinic unique. Existing and new clients were given an exclusive tour around the brand new premises and received information on osteopathy, physiotherapy and Pilates treatments that can help to resolve any muscle, joint or ligament issues.

Carl and his wife, Melanie, founded their first clinic, based in Corsham, back in 2003 and have gradually expanded their business over the past 12 years. Alongside their practices, Carl also works with the FA and the England football team and has done for the past 10 years, providing osteopathic care to all the players. During this time he has worked on over 100 games providing treatment during the last 3 World Cups and at the Euros in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Since 2009 Carl has also been working as a consultant osteopath to Chelsea FC and visits the club twice a week providing care for the players who are struggling with any injuries. In May 2012, he had the privilege of being part of the team when they won the Champions League final.

Working alongside Carl, there is a hardworking, friendly team of health care professionals who provide a variety of services at all the clinics where they see a wide range of clients from children, babies and the elderly, right through to international athletes and Premiership footballers. The health services they provide are intended to help treat and prevent both acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues that may have resulted for various reasons such as lifestyle, age, pre and post pregnancy, and work-related or sporting injuries.

With the exciting launch of the new clinic, clients will be able to benefit from the new state of the art treatment rooms and a modern rehabilitation and Pilates studio where patients are provided with corrective exercise and Pilates based programmes designed for their individual needs.

Speaking about his new clinic, Carl says, “It has been such an exciting day for everyone here at the launch event and we are thrilled and honoured that Frank has taken time out of his busy schedule to come and help us celebrate this special occasion. We are really looking forward to welcoming both new and existing patients to the clinic in the hope that we can help them to improve their lifestyle and prevent both acute and chronic pain.”

If you would like further information about the services The Carl Todd Clinics offer or would just like some helpful advice, then please go to www.thecarltoddclinic.com or call 01793 978270.

Premiership Footballer, Frank Lampard, officially launches the new Carl Todd Clinic

Photo courtesy of Wiltshire College.

What’s On



OSTEOPATHY & PHYSIOTHERAPY

Offering professional & effective treatment for: Backache, Neck Pain & Whiplash Sciatica

Upper & lower body joint pains

Sports Injuries

Work related aches & pains

Pre & Post-Op Rehabilitation

Our clients range fromadults & children

through to international athletes & premiership

footballers

www.thecarltoddclinic.com Please call 0845 899 0230

OSTEOPATHY • PHYSIOTHERAPY • REHABILITATION PILATES • SPORTS MASSAGE • PODIATRY

A Quality Dental Practice in Malmesbury

Barley Mow is a longstanding dental practice in Malmesbury.

Our aim is to provide quality dental care for adults and children, We can provide regular dental treatment as well as the more exotic cosmetic / aesthetic treatments.We have a fully staffed hygiene department for ongoing dental maintenance treatment.

To make an appointment to see either ( or both!) a dentist or a hygienist then call us on 01666 82 2220 or click on the adjacent box to book an appointment online

If you have a dental problem we will see you as promptly as we can.


What’s On

PUZZLE CORNER

Solutions to the crossword and sudoku on page 31

Across1 Rosy-cheeked child (6)5 Sloped style of printing (6)8 As soon as possible (abbr) (4)9 Trivial, unimportant (8)10 Air turbine (8)11 Currency of Ireland (4)12 Jewish greeting (6)14 Undamaged (6)16 Heroic, majestic (4)18 Scare, intimidate (8)20 Wall art or defacement (8)21 Offer praise to God (4)22 Official order (6)23 Sycophants, toadies (3,3)

Down2 Marijuana (7)3 Swift, speedy (5)4 Difficult or unpleasant first- time experience (7,2,4)5 The quality of being totally dependable or foolproof. (13)6 Illness (7)7 Situated within (5)13 The Devil (7)15 Incinerate, burn (7)17 Clean-out, purify (5)19 Aspires, wishes (5)

The Western Players present

Shady Businessby Robin Hawdon

Wednesday 11th March to Saturday 14th March 7.30pm Nightly at Swindon Arts Centre

Mandy and Tania are sexy but struggling nightclub dancers living in the heart of London’s Soho nightlife, and they face a crisis.

Will possessive club owner Big Mack find our about Mandy’s affair with Gerry and Tania’s affair with Terry, and set his sidekicks on him? Will they discover that he is owed money that was borrowed from his club’s till, then gambled and lost on the roulette table, and then stolen back from the takings? Will Gerry be discovered hiding in Mandy’s bathroom? Will Terry be rumbled delivering the dinner? Will Terry reveal that he is really Gerry and that Gerry is Terry? Will anyone figure out what on earth in going on and will they all survive until the curtain comes down?!

The action doesn’t slow down from beginning to end in this madcap farce!

Tickets are £9 (£8 concessions) and are available from The Western Players on 07575 711522 or email [email protected] or search ‘Western Players’ on www.wegottickets.com


Peter Bromiley ACA AMS Accountancy Ltd. Swindon SN5 7XF. 01793 818400 www.ams-accountancy.co.uk

Ask AMSAsk AMSAsk AMS

Advice for small businesses

The dangers of pension lump sums

From April 2015, the new pension rules mean that people with private pension funds have far more freedom about what they can do with their “pot”.

They will be able to take their whole pension as a lump sum without having to buy an annuity or similar long-term investment. The idea is that the pension fund holder will have more freedom, and be able to choose an investment that suits them.

But, although (generally) a quarter of the pot can be taken as a tax-free lump; anything above that is taxable income – and will be added to other taxable income in the same tax year. This could then push your total taxable income well into the Higher Rate tax band. So, it is vital that sensible tax planning takes place.

There is a real danger that uninformed people will take the whole pension fund out as a lump sum, and then find that a big part of it could be taxed at the Higher Rate of income tax – 40%; whereas if they had taken the pension out over a number of years, they could find it is only taxed at 20% tax.

It would be a great shame if, after years of carefully putting aside money into a pension, one effectively gives an extra 20% of a large chunk of the pension fund straight to the Government for the want of some simple planning.

For example, if a pension pot of £100,000 is cashed in by someone with other taxable income of about £20,000, then £25,000 of the pension pot would probably be a tax-free amount and about £20,000 would be taxed at 20%, and; about £55,000 would be taxed at 40%.

With a bit of patience and some planning, much of this tax could have been avoided.


Don’t forget

Mother’s Day

Sunday15th

March

Flowers and Mother’s Day

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

MOTHER’S DAY began in 1908 after an American lady,

Ann Jarvis, asked the local church if they would set aside a day to commemorate her mother’s death. From this grew the idea to create a holiday on which all mothers – alive or dead – could be remembered, parents respected, and family bonds strengthened.

Ann started a campaign to have Mother’s Day recognised as a holiday. In 1914 she succeeded when US President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day, celebrated in May, an annual holiday. The practice has spread throughout the world!

During her campaign, Ann posted or handed out white carnations, and this flower became a symbol for the day. Mothers would wear a white carnation if their mother was dead, and a coloured one if she was still living.

In the UK, Mother’s Day is celebrated in March on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, this was a time when all family members were granted time off work and could gather together to worship. The day became known as Mothering Sunday – or Rose Sunday – because roses were handed out to all women present at church.

Flowers symbolise purity, beauty and life – all attributes possessed by mothers - and gradually the tradition of giving flowers grew. But above all, flowers are given because our mothers like them!


Mother’s Day


Would you like anEye Test at Home?

www.visionvisit.co.uk 01793 232 588

As a local family run mobile optician, VisionVisit can come to you for your eye test. Our fully qualified optometrist uses the latest eye test equipment to give you a precise prescription and thorough health assessment. Not only that, but the test is free with no call out, if you are covered by the NHS. We have a wide range of glasses, from budget to designer, delivered and fitted in your own home. So if you struggle to get to your local optician or would just prefer a test within the comfort of your own home, call us now or visit our website for more details.

Classic & ContemporaryHand Bags, Shoes& AccessoriesCasual mens and ladies clothing also available

Call 01793 976672 or 07814 648600The Arcade, Unit 8/9Apsley House, 50 High Steet,Royal Wootton Bassett

[email protected]

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People often ask me, “Is there something in your garden you couldn’t live without?” My reply is always, “My greenhouse.”

A greenhouse has many benefits, chief of which for me is that it extends the gardening year.

With a greenhouse you can potter in your garden all year round, and grow a range of plants which simply wouldn’t thrive without the extra protection.Before choosing a greenhouse you will need to check whether your local planning authority imposes any restrictions. While you don’t normally need planning permission, building regulations do have to be adhered to.

Buy the biggest greenhouse you can afford that will fit comfortably on to your plot - you will always fill it! But even if you can only afford a tiny one - my first one had a base of just 4’ by 5.5’ (1.2m by 1.7m) - it will still be a worthwhile investment.

The aluminium- framed types are very sturdy and relatively cheap. Wooden-framed constructions are more attractive though, and often better in a small garden where everything has to earn its keep. Western red cedar is good because it lasts a long time and weathers really well.

Greenhouses are even more useful if they are heated. I started out with paraffin heaters, but found they produced a lot of condensation and were messy and smelly. Electric heating is best, and very economical if you fit a system thermostat so that it only switches on when necessary.

Apart from heat the most important factor is ventilation. In high summer this is vital to prevent your plants from cooking. Automatic arms which open the vents at a pre-designated temperature are really useful. External blinds are also very good as they prevent sun scorch.

Finally, fit staging along one edge of the greenhouse for your pots, and dig a soil or gravel bed on the other side for things like tomato plants.

Now all you have to do is plant some seeds and invest in a few tender perennials.

by Rachel Leverton

The Greenhouse Guide

Gardening


GREAT GREENHOUSE TIPS

• Fit your greenhouse to level foundations.

• Orientation isn’t important , but make

sure it isn’t in the shadow of the house, or

overhanging trees.

• Ventilate well.

• Any electrical work must be carried out or

certified by a qualified electrician to comply

with part P of the building regulations.

• Don’t be tempted to use a household

electric heater. It won’t cope with the damp

conditions in a greenhouse.

• Fit a water butt to the down pipes at either

end of the greenhouse to conserve water.


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EVERY GARDENER HAS AT LEAST ONE GUILTY secret: mine is begonias. My

mother insists they are vulgar and she wouldn’t give them house room. A gardening friend turned up her nose at my begonia baskets last year, but I won’t hear a word against them. They are the cheerful, cockney barrow boys of the plant world and I love them.

They are pretty easy to grow once you know how, and you can start them off any time now if you have a warm windowsill or a propagator.

One of the reasons I find them so satisfying to grow is that they start life as a rather unprepossessing tuber, which my husband once described as looking like dried dog poo - he isn’t a gardener. The tubers should feel rock hard when you squeeze them. If they feel spongy, put them back.

There is also a right way up and a wrong way up. Take your tuber and examine it. There should be a concave surface - like a little dip - and a convex surface. The dip is the upper surface from which the shoots will grow and the convex surface sprouts the roots.

Blowsy Begoniasby Rachel Leverton

Gardening


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Fill some 12cm/5 inch pots with soil-less potting compost so that the surface of the compost is 2.5cm /1 inch below the rim of the pot. This eventually allows for watering, but at this time of year the top of the tuber should be kept dry.

Push the tubers – remember concave side up - into the compost so that the top of each tuber is still visible. Do not bury them.

Keep the pots at somewhere between 15-18C / 60-75F in the propagator, in a greenhouse, or on a bright windowsill, though not in direct sunlight.

Water with care, and when the first flowers appear make sure they are well ventilated. High humidity and erratic watering can cause the buds to drop off.

Finally, begonias have both male and female flowers. The male ones are far bigger and more showy, so pinch off the female ones, which can be spotted because they possess an embryonic seed pod behind the bud. Doing this will mean that the male flowers last much longer. You may need to stake them to support the heads.

When summer arrives, you will be able to plant up pots and baskets and bask in the flamboyant blowsy beauty of the begonia – who could resist?


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Gardening

The Green Garden!Install big water butts - Save as much rainwater as possible and deploy it with care. Water generously only where it’s needed, in the cool of the evening, to encourage deeper rooting. Mulch well.

Right plant, right place - For free-draining soil don’t plant thirsty plants which require a lot of water. If it’s clay, choose deep-rooted, strong plants, like roses and hardy fuchsias, which will withstand dry periods where the ground bakes.If an established plant can’t survive on its own, it’s probably not the right plant for your plot.

Ban peat - Peat bogs are an essential part of our eco system. Once they’re gone they’re gone forever. There is no excuse for buying peat-based products…ever. Use only peat-free composts, soil-improvers and mulches.

Recycle. Recycle. Recycle - Make a compost heap or buy a compost bin. Re-use plastic and crock pots. String old cds and bottle tops over newly planted seedlings as bird scarers.

Restrict chemical usage - Try nematodes for pest control. Encourage ladybirds for greenfly control by planting fennel, dill, white cosmos and scented geraniums.

Leave a wild patch - Build your own army of slug and bug killers. A pile of logs and fallen leaves and a patch of nettles will provide shelter for all manner of garden wildlife, including hedgehogs, ladybirds and beetles.

By Louise Addison


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Lemon Almond Cake

Food & Drink

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients200g unsalted butter200g Demerara sugar90g plain flour90g ground almondsHalf tsp baking powderZest of 1 large, unwaxed lemon4 large eggs SYRUP

2tbsps Demerara sugarJuice 1 large unwaxed lemon

Set oven to 160C / Gas Mark 3

Line a loaf tin (25cm x 11cm x 7cm) with greaseproof paper.

MethodSieve the flour with the baking powder and mix in the ground almonds. Grate the lemon zest and add this to the mix too.

Beat the eggs lightly then add to the creamed butter and sugar, a little at a time. Don’t worry if it curdles a little.

Gently fold in the flour, almonds and baking powder with a large metal spoon.

Dollop the cake mixture into the lined tin.

Bake for 45 minutes until golden. To test it, insert a metal skewer. If the skewer comes out clean, the cake is cooked. If not, the cake needs a few minutes more.

Remove from the oven.

For the syrup, stir the Demerara sugar into the lemon juice...it will only partially dissolve, but there is no need to heat it. Prick the top of the cake with the skewer or a sharp knife and spoon the syrup over the cake. Leave to cool.

Try this cake with a scoop of crème fraîche and some fruit compote.

Yummy...this one’s a family favourite.


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Food & Drink

Organise Your Own Easter Egg Hunt

Send out themed invites on card cut into egg shapes, or maybe use rabbit or chick shapes.

If offering food, decorate a trestle table with pretty pastel table cloths. It may be better to stick with tiny savoury sandwiches, sausages or cheese and pineapple on sticks etc., as there will be a lot of sugar consumed after (and probably during) the hunt!

Try using a mix of eggs for the hunt: Foiled-wrapped cream eggs; hard-boiled decorated eggs; painted wooden eggs, and little plastic eggs filled with tiny toys or treats.

It’s nice to have a table set aside for egg decorating too. Supply hard boiled eggs, or plastic or wooden eggs bought from a craft shop, with paints, tiny flowers, googly eyes, gems, ribbons and glue, and have prizes for the best decorated eggs.

A variation on this is to set out cheap straw or paper hats and have everyone create their own Easter bonnet.

Have fun! Happy Easter. by Sarah Davey

Don’t

forget

Easter Day

Sunday 5th

April


Easter Cup CakesThese cute cakes make an Easter treatMakes: 12 cupcakesPreparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 15-20 minutesCooling time: 15 minutesDecorating time: 10-15 minutes

INGREDIENTS For the cakes115g (4oz) softened butter or margarine115g (4oz) caster sugar2 eggs, lightly beaten85g (3oz) self-raising flour25g (1oz) cocoa powder (optional - for chocolate cupcakes)

For the topping85g (3oz) softened butter175g (5oz) icing sugar25g (1oz) cocoa powder1 tablespoon milk3 drops vanilla extract2 packets mini eggs

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4.

Place the butter in a mixing bowl with the sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Then gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time.

Sift the flour and cocoa powder (if using) into the mixture. Fold them in with a large spoon until combined. Use a teaspoon to dollop the mixture into silicon cases, or paper cases, lining a patty tin.

Bake in the preheated oven until well risen and firm to touch, 15 to 20 minutes. Keep checking them so they don’t burn. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

To make the buttercream topping, place the butter in a bowl. Sift in the icing sugar and cocoa, and then add the milk and vanilla essence. Beat until really light and fluffy.

When the cupcakes have cooled, ice the cakes. It looks good if the icing is piped on into a nest shape, but this is optional. Place chocolate eggs in the centre of each nest to decorate.


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The Outset programme offers a friendly informal approach that helps clients to validate their business idea, builds confidence and self-belief and supports people in overcoming potential barriers to starting a business. For many, access to finance is one of the biggest barriers to becoming self-employed. To overcome this hurdle, new start-ups and companies trading for less than two years can apply for a government-backed Start Up Loan through Outset Finance.

New for 2015, Outset is now available online and can support both existing clients in Swindon and individuals in the surrounding area. Outset Online is an interactive online learning platform designed to help people navigate the essential steps of starting a business. As users work their way through each stage of Outset Online, they can put their learning into practice with a range of activities and exercises that help them construct a ready-made business plan.

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Health & Beauty

30 The Town Crier Magazine | JAN/FEB 2015 TO ADVERTISE CALL 01249 811068 WWW. TOWNCRIERMAGAZINE.COM

THE desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in

adolescence, and many women and men remain intent upon having smooth, hairless skin. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, back, bikini line, or other body parts, there are many options available to remove unwanted hair, but few to get rid of it permanently.

The old standby shaving is the quickest but most temporary form of hair removal. Shaving cuts off hair at the surface and new growth may appear thicker and darker because the new hair shaft has a blunt tip instead of a tapered one. Before shaving, apply a moisturiser such as water, shaving cream, soap or hair conditioner to help the razor glide more easily.

Plucking pulls the hair out of its follicle and when done repeatedly may damage it, thus preventing further growth. Plucking is painful, so only suitable for small areas such as the eyebrows or odd facial hair. Variations are: threading, a traditional Indian method of plucking hair by twisting strings (good for eyebrows), and epilators, equipment which plucks out hairs en masse – good for larger areas such as legs and arms.

Depilatory creams use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to dissolve hair. Cream is applied for between 3 and15 minutes and the resulting jelly-like substance is then wiped or washed off. Depilatory creams can burn if left on for too long and may also cause an allergic reaction.

Waxing is great for treating areas both large and small. Wax is warmed and spread in the direction of the hair growth and when cool is pulled off quickly in the opposite direction, pulling the hairs out of the follicle. Waxing can be done at home or in the salon, but care should be taken not to get burnt. It can also be messy and painful.

Electrolysis is one of the permanent methods of hair removal and should be done professionally. A fine needle is inserted into each individual hair follicle and an electric current applied to burn the hair root, preventing it from producing more hair.

Each session may take only 20-30 minutes, but a full course of treatment could take 12-18 months.

Laser hair removal is not permanent but does have long-lasting results. It requires multiple treatments, and works by laser beams or light pulses destroying the hair root and retarding the re-growth of new hair. It can be expensive and painful and works best for light skinned people with dark hair. Home kits are available for purchase.

You should choose a method or combination of methods that works best for you depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hair-free area.

Hair Today . . .By Debbie Singh-Bhatti



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Book ReviewsBooks

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Rachel Joyce.........................................

Retirement is meant to be relaxing, isn’t it? You do what you love doing, and enjoy yourself. But what if you suddenly receive a letter out of the blue? A woman who worked in your office many years ago has cancer and is dying. She just wants you to know. This touches you for reasons you can’t quite explain, so you write her a note to say that you are sorry to hear that. Putting on your coat and your yacht shoes you leave with the note. Your destination? The post box. Just as far as the end of the road.

And so starts Harold Fry’s extraordinary journey: 627 miles in 87 days. With no plan, other than to reach Queenie, he sets off on a journey of faith. Scribbling on the note he tells her to wait for him. This debut novel from radio and TV writer, Rachel Joyce, will take you on a gentle journey with Harold and the various people he meets along the way. Totally unprepared for what he will encounter, his faith in positive thinking keeps him going as he learns more about his life and relationships with his wife and son.

Gargoylz: Get up to MischiefBurchett and Vogler............................................

If you thought your time at primary school was exciting, then you have nothing on nine-year-old Max and his best friend Ben. Their school is next to an old church and to their delight, they discover that the stone figures on the church come to life. In this, the second book in the series, Toby, a mischievous young gargoyle with the ability to fly, manages to create havoc at the school, much to the disgust of Mrs Hogsbottom who, after an incident with a skateboard, reminds pupils of school rule number 27: the head teacher must not be run over without permission.

Max spends most of his time trying to keep Toby and the other gargoylz under control: not easy when they can make themselves invisible and so avoid all the blame! When he suggests that Toby runs a bath to clean himself up after eating a packet of chocolate biscuits, it’s not difficult to imagine the rather wet chaos that ensues. Written for readers age 6+, with an interactive website to explore the stories and characters more, this is sure to keep both boys and girls engrossed, with the added bonus of many more books to enjoy.

Reviews by Willow Coby

‘There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.’

So said Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and in support of this philosophy, more than 100 countries worldwide will be commemorating World Book Day on Thursday 5th March. This year marks the eighteenth anniversary of the event, which is designed to encourage children to explore the pleasure of books and reading.

How exactly the occasion is celebrated is up to the individual school or library, with ideas and resources for activities available from the website www.worldbookday.com, but regardless of the outcome, every child in participating schools will receive a book token that can be exchanged for a free book. There are ten specially selected titles on

offer, with the option to use the token to receive a £1 discount on an alternative book if you prefer to choose your own.

There are many benefits to encouraging a healthy attitude towards reading from an early age. The main one is that it exercises the brain. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body,” stated Joseph Addison. It improves concentration, builds vocabulary, develops imagination, teaches about the wider world, is a great form of entertainment and helps relax and calm the body and mind.

So, enlarge not only your child’s world but your own too, by discovering the joy of books!

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

World Book Day



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where they’ll go first. They’ll open up Google and type what they want. If you don’t have a website you won’t appear and they will never even know you existed.

4. It allows you to talk to your clients directly

Maintaining a relationship with customers is important for all businesses, but for many it’s not practical or cost-effective to send frequent mail-shots or make hundreds of phone calls a month. A website can be a great way to stay in touch or pass on information on new products and services.

5. It puts you in control

With Facebook now totalling over 1 billion active monthly users people are having online conversations more and more. A lot of those conversations are about businesses they’ve interacted with (both online and offline). By establishing a presence you’ll be able to control and influence some of those conversations. Whether they’re good or bad they will be going on regardless, so being able to take part or learn from them can be invaluable.

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