Telford & Newport Scene magazine Spring edition 2022

Telford & Newport

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spring editions 2022

What’s on, Fashion, Local events, Recipes, House, Home & Garden,

Health and Well-being, Motoring & much more...

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WELCOME... TO YOUR SPRING EDITION

OF THE TELFORD SCENE MAGAZINE

Sir Frank William

Leah Holloway

Shropshire Area manager

To be included with our

next edition, covering

May & June 2022!

Contents:

Page 4

Page 7

Page 10

Page 14

Page 16

Page 22

Pages 25 - 30

Pages 35

Pages 40 & 41

Page 42

Page 44

Page 46

Pages 52 & 53

Pages 56 & 57

What’s on

NEW - Boulton’s Artisan

Butchers

Lamb Recipes

Did You Know?

Bike4Life Fest

The Most Iconic Cars

Fashion, Health, Beauty

& Well-being

Theatre on the Steps

RAF Cosford

Jubilee Air Show

Discovering Podcasts

Horoscopes

What’s in a name

Men’s Spring Fashion

Spring Recipes

SCENE Sports

Education

Paving Traders Shrewsbury

Growing Houseplants

contact Leah on

Page 58

Pages 62 - 67

01952 780058 Opt. 2.

Page 79

Or email:

Pages 90

sales@scenelocal.co.uk

All advertising is supported digitally across our sites:

@scene.telford

Scene & SYone magazines

@scenemagazines

We’ve got you covered: 16,000 copies distributed throughout Local businesses & selected

homes in St Georges, Muxton, Priorslee, The Rock. Newport, Shifnal, Horsehay, Lawley,

Wellington, Apley, Shawbirch, Horton, Madeley & Dawley.

......................................................................................................................................

Telford Scene magazine is published by:

The publisher shall not be held liable for any

Scene Local Media Ltd,

loss occasioned by failure of an

Telford, TF2 9TQ

advertisement to appear, or any damage or

Tel: 01952 780058

inconvenience caused by errors, omissions

Email: Sarah@scenelocal.co.uk

and misprints. All information correct at time

Director: Sarah Gruchala-Williams

of going to press.

......................................................................................................................................

MARCH

11th March

A Tribute to Meatloaf with No1

Tribute Band Maetlive

The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

12th March

Made In Shropshire

Fair in the Square

Shrewsbury

13th March

The Carpenters Story

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

15th March

Menopause The Musical


17th March

Gary Delaney

The Place, Telford

17th - 20th March

Gangsta Granny


18th March

Bongo's Bingo


19th March

The Beachboys Tribute Show

Ludlow Assembly Room,

Ludlow

19th March

Shrewsbury Farmers Market

Town Square

24th March

The Diana Ross Story


25th March

Northern Echoes

Albert Shed, Southwater,

Telford

26th March

Dom Joly's Holiday Snaps

Festival Drayton Centre,

Market Drayton

27th March

Wedding Fayre

Shropshire Gold Course,

Muxton

31st March

Nish Kumar


APRIL

1st April

Chris Ramsey


1st April

Shrewsbury Farmers Market

Town Square

2nd April

Hodrod 55


Telford

2nd - 3rd April

Wales Comic Con: Telford

Takeover

The International Centre,

Telford

6th April

Kate Humble


7th April

Friends The Musical


9th April

Made In Shropshire

Fair in the Square

Shrewsbury

10th April

Barbara Dickson


14th April

Fireman Sam


14th - 16th April

Joseph and the Amazing

Technicolour Dreamcoat


15th April

Queen Night Live Tribute


16th April

The Endings + others


Telford

21st April

Julian Clary


23rd April

Forever Elton


29th April

Matt Forde


Welcome to The Red Lion at Great Chatwell, just outside Newport.

A stunning country pub ran by an award winning team serving

real ales, local gins & vodka and homemade food

Dog Friendly I Beer Garden I Real Log Fires

Food served: Thursday - Saturday from 4 pm & Sunday’s from 12pm

Mother’s Day

FREE glass of Prosecco

for mum when booked.

Easter Sunday

Easter funday

kids free!

Tel: 01952 691779

Email: redliongc@hotmail.com

Bun Lane, Great Chatwell, South Staffs TF10 9BJ

DRINKS: BLUE MONKEY BREWERY

Blue Monkey Handcrafted LONDON

DRY Gin (40.5% vol) is a traditional gin

which utilises 11 botanicals, to great

advantage, that are sourced from

worldwide origins. I found this

(extremely) popular production to be

smooth and very pleasing on the

mouthfeel and palate. If flavoured gins

are to your liking, then the range

available, from Blue Monkey Brewery

(Founded 2008), will certainly not

disappoint. RHUBARB & CUSTARD

Handcrafted Gin (37.5% vol) has the

traditional Handcrafted London Dry Gin

infused with fresh, handpicked

Yorkshire rhubarb, plus rich vanilla. A

great gin, with spot-on flavour.

Several other Blue Monkey gin

productions are very popular, too. Many

people like to see the changing colour

of the BLUE to VIOLET Handcrafted Gin

(37.5% vol), as it seems to have ‘magic’

as an added ingredient. The natural

extract, from the Indian Pea flower,

creates a gin of blue colour, which

changes (before your very eyes) to a

violet colour, when tonic is added –

amazing! The bouquet has overtones of

lavender and Parma violet, that lead,

enticingly, to the mouth’s pleasures and

palate’s sensation.

Other gins, from Blue Monkey Brewery,

include SUMMER BERRIES

Handcrafted Gin (37.5% vol), which

evokes thoughts of summer – to be

enjoyed at any time of the year, plus

MANGO & PASSION FRUIT Handcrafted

Gin (37.5% vol) and SALTED CARAMEL

Handcrafted Gin (37.5% vol), which all

have ‘devotees’ amongst flavoured gin

lovers.

Other beverages, from Blue Monkey

Brewery, offer an impressive range of

beers, many of which are awardwinning.

PRIMATE BEST BITTER (4.0%

vol) is well-recognised as an excellent

session ale. This amber-coloured

production is smooth and very popular.

BG SIPS (4.0% vol) is a further, often

selected beer. I found this pale ale to be

easy-drinking and to possess a most

pleasurable (extra) hoppy aroma, with

tropical fruit notes and a great taste.

INFINITY IPA (4.6% vol) is (I found) a

golden ale of some repute. This past

Champion Golden Ale of Great Britain is

produced using an abundance of Citra

hops, to ‘encourage’ the distinctive

flavour.

For further details, including other

productions and stockists,

please contact:

Blue Monkey Brewing Ltd, 10

Pentrich Road, Giltbrook

Industrial Park, Giltbrook,

Nottinghamshire NG16 2UZ.

Tel: 0115 938 5899. E-mail:

info@bluemonkeybrewery.com

www.bluemonkeybrewery.com

As always, Enjoy!

Trevor Langley

New Artisan Butchers

NOW OPEN

in Madeley’s Anstice Square

Nikola and Martin Boulton have

brought new life to Madeley with

their new Artisan Butchers and

deli. This is there second shop

originally opening in little Dawley

in 2019. Going from strength to

strength they have been able to

expand to Anstice Square,

Madeley.

Selling the finest quality meats,

steaks, burgers, bacon, mince,

joints, chops, lamb, BBQ packs and

everything you would expect from

a quality butcher. They also have a

deli counter for cheese, pork pies,

pies, quiches, Cornish pasties and

much more, including hams and

sandwich fillers.

They stock local eggs, potatoes,

sauces and seasonings plus a large

range of freshly made ready meals

and special dishes, there really is

something for everyone. So, pop

along meat the team and see what

takes your fancy, I think I’m going

to start with the delicious pork

pies!

Friendly and traditional locally

based Butcher with a wealth

of knowledge and over 35

years experience!

Providing quality meats and farm shop products, with a modern gourmet twist.

We are proud to serve Telford and the surrounding areas.

Established in 2019 with our first shop in Little Dawley.

We have grown purely from reputation!

Anstice Square, Madeley, Telford TF7 5BD I Tel: 01952 583232

www.boultonsbutchers.co.uk

Hello!

My name is Victoria and I am the owner of ToriArts Studios. I have

spent my life singing, acting, dancing and performing for countless

productions and events. Such as, musical theatre productions,

showgirl corporate events, performing with The Birmingham Royal

Ballet, touring with a Michael Jackson tribute act, entertaining at

Alton Towers Scarefest, playing the role of various characters for

children’s parties and many more. I have a huge passion for

performing, being on stage and anything that I can sink my theatre

loving self into.

Because of my huge passion for performing arts I decided to open

a studio in Wellington offering classes from infant ballet, aerial

hoop, musical theatre, contemporary, commercial, adult heels,

flexibility, acrobatics, playgroup, over 60s dance and many more!

Our team is forever growing and our staff are just as passionate,

qualified and excited about teaching our new classes aerial silks

and pole sport.

At ToriArts Studios we pride ourselves in educating students in a

hard-working, passionate and fun environment. We cater for all

ages in various classes teaching pupils how to sing, act, dance and

perform! We take a professional approach towards practice,

confidence building and teaching of new skills and knowledge. But

most of all, we dedicate ourselves to do all of the above with a

professional, positive and fun environment.

Victoria - ToriArts Studios

BRAISED

LAMB

SHANK

Melt-in-the-mouth lamb,

these shanks flavoured

with wine and rosemary

are full of flavour and

fabulous for a family meal

or special occasion.

Ingredients

4 lamb shanks

250ml dry white wine

1 small onion, chopped

5 cloves garlic, sliced

3 tbsps olive oil

1 dessertspoon chopped fresh rosemary,

plus sprigs for garnish

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

1. Heat the oil over a medium-high heat in a

large frying pan.

2. Add shanks to the hot pan, brown all sides and

set aside.

3. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic to the

pan; cooking for 30 to 40 seconds before stirring

in the onion, and continue cooking until

translucent.

4. Return shanks to the pan, and season with

chopped fresh rosemary and salt and pepper to

taste.

5. Add the wine and bring to a low simmer.

6. Cover the pan tightly and cook for between

two and two and a half hours – turning

occasionally - until the lamb is tender and comes

off the bone easily.

7. Serve garnished with rosemary sprigs.

CARIBBEAN LAMB CURRY

This delicious curry is both spicy and mild and

works well with either coconut rice or a piece of

naan bread. Marinating the lamb overnight will

allow all the flavours to soak into the meat. Adjust

the chilli seasoning if you prefer a hotter dish.

Ingredients

1kg lamb, cut into cubes

1 large onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped

5 sprigs thyme

1 tsp ground allspice

4 tbsp curry powder

4 bay leaves

3 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp butter

875ml lamb stock

1 tsp dried chilli flakes

A handful of fresh coriander

1. In a large bowl, combine the lamb, onion, garlic,

thyme, allspice, curry powder and bay leaves. Mix

thoroughly until the lamb is well covered with the

spices and leave in the fridge to marinate

overnight.

2. Remove the marinated mixture from the fridge.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter until just

sizzling, then add the lamb mixture and fry, stirring

frequently, over a medium heat for 10 minutes.

3. Add the stock and chilli flakes, stir, and bring to

a boil.

4. Reduce the heat to a

simmer, then cover and cook

for 1.5 hours or until the

lamb is tender.

5. Serve immediately with

coconut rice or a naan bread.

Sprinkle the coriander over

to garnish.

What’s

on this Spring / Summer at The Buckatree Hall Hotel

For mor

e details of events or to book :

Friday

29th April

Call 01952 641821

Or visit our website:

www.

.buckatr

atreehallhotel.com/eel.com

vents

Treat your mom this

Mother’ M

ther’s

s day

y

with our

Special p

lSunda

ay y Lunch

March 27th, 2022

£21.95pp Child £9.95.

ED SHEER

AN-T

ribute Dinner

£25pp Includes a 3 course

dinner, tribute act and disco.

Saturda

ay

30th April

Join us for

Easter Sunday Lunch

17th April 2022

£19.99pp / £9.95 children

All Children get an Easter Egg

!

Upcoming events:

Friday May 13th

ABBA Sole Tribute Dinner

Sunday June 19th

Father’s Day

3 course lunch or

afternoon tea avaialble

A dele -Tribute Dinner

£25pp Includes a 3 course

dinner, tribute act amd disco.

/Flamingobakes

@Flamingobakes

www.flamingobakes.co.uk

e: heidi@flamingobakes.co.uk

Freshly Baked Goodies & Desserts for

Birthdays, Weddings, Christenings & Special Events.

Vegan & Gluten free products available including Vegan Fudge!

NEW to Flamingo Bakes – Treat Boxes, for collection or post!

A selection of Brownies, Rocky Roads, Flapjacks etc. made especially for your friends and loved ones!

Mother’s Day and Easter treat boxes now available or why not send one to just brighten someone’s day!

Logo cupcakes available for businesses to celebrate an event or anniversary

11

CHOCOLATE

FREE

EASTER FUN

Easter means one thing to most people across

the country – chocolate! However, chocolate isn’t

for everyone and for some of us, including mums

with young kids or anyone who simply isn’t a big

fan of stuffing themselves with the sweet stuff,

Easter can be enjoyed in a wide range of

different egg-inspired ways. Consider these fun

activities which still feel super Easter-y without

being entirely chocolate covered.

Easter Activities for all The Family

1. Easter Bonnet Parade

A staple in the English primary school, an Easter

bonnet parade is a lovely craft activity to carry out at

home. Creating Easter bonnets is easy and there are

kits online if you’re not particularly crafty. The kids will

love the chance to stick and glue and model their own

creations and there’s not a chocolate egg in sight.

2. Egg Decorating

Painting eggshells is another fun craft that the whole

family can get involved in. Make sure you boil the

eggs so they’re hard and the shells won’t crack and

then you can let your imagination run wild. Paints,

pens and a range of different materials can be used to

create fun decorative eggs – you can even stick things

to your eggs such as googly eyes and fun fur hair.

3. Easter Story Time

Everyone loves a good story and there are plenty of

books which are perfect. A cuddly Easter story could

be anything from the endlessly popular Tale of Peter

Rabbit by Beatrix Potter or the fun and quirky Green

Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss. There are hundreds of

egg-themed books out there and many with an Easter

or spring theme too.

4. Garden Treasure Hunt

The traditional easter egg hunt doesn’t have to be all

about chocolate. Traditionally hard-boiled eggs were

painted and hidden around the garden and you could

do the same but throw in some modern treats and

Easter trinkets like fluffy chicks, cuddly rabbit toys and

other sweet Easter-themed treats.

5. Classic Egg and Spoon Race

Not just for the school sports day, an egg and spoon

race is an Easter activity too. Line up in the garden

with your hard-boiled eggs and spoons at the ready.

Practice the art of getting that egg balanced just right

and you’re off! You could team the race with other fun

activities such as sack races and three-legged

competitions, making the day even more fun and keep

everyone active and engaged throughout the day. You

could make your own trophies or have little prizes for

the winners, ensuring there’s something for

participants too to avoid any upset!

6. Bake up a Storm

Just because you don’t fancy a chocolatey treat

doesn’t mean you can’t have some tasty snacks on

the big day. Bake some Easter cookies or cakes or for

a true health kick consider a fresh carrot soup or

carrot muffins, something the Easter Bunny would love

to munch on. The classic Easter roast dinner is also

something you can enjoy and spend the day lovingly

preparing.

Fun Celebrations

Easter can be a great day of family and fun

without overindulging in chocolate treats. There’s

nothing wrong with going chocolate crazy of

course, but these alternatives might be a fun way

to celebrate things too

MIDZ & SENIOR ACTING &

MUSICAL THEATRE EXAM

CLASSES WITH THE:

LONDON ACADEMY

OF DRAMATIC ARTS

THEATRE TOTS 3 TO 5 YEARS

JUNIORS 6 TO 9 YEARS

MIDZ

10 TO 12 YEARS

SENIORS 13 + YEARS

From age 4 years +

BALLET, TA

AP & MODERN

EXAM CLASSES WITH THE:

ME AND MY BABY

MASSAGE

Have

Fun - Make Friends -

Be Inspired - Build Confidenc e

TERESA PRITCHARD-JONES RGN SCPHN CIMI

Massage techniques for a happier baby and mum,

strengthen your bond with your little one while

strengthening their health

With more than 30 years of working as a registered nurse

and having an International Association of Infant massage

qualication, I provide message classes to parents and

carers that want to strengthen their bond with their babies.

Massaging not only nurtures your relationship with your

baby but it also brings many health benets and soothes

your little one’s growing pains.

Areas covered:

Telford Shropshire

South Staffordshire

Mid Wales

Tel: 07928 949452

www.menadmybabymassage.com

THE SILVER THREADS HALL

DONNINGTON, TELFORD, TF2 8AD

Community Building for Hire for-

Childrens Birthday Parties

Christening's Parties

Meeting's, Groups & Course's

The Silver Threads Hall is a clean and modern

community building which has a beauiful play room full

of toys which can be hired for your party.

We also have a fully modern fitted kitchen, disabled

toilets & access, carparking and baby changing.

We also run a huge range of groups and under 5's

groups including Sensory on a Wednesday morning

and Messy Fridays on a Friday morning

for details please check out

www.thesilverthreadshall.org.uk or email us

alan.watkins@thesilverthreadshall.org.uk

Reiki Healing for Health & Mental Wellbeing

Benefits of Reiki Healing Sessions include:

Reducing high blood pressure

Reduce Stress, Anxiety and Depression.

Deep spiritual healing and counselling

Help to reduce pain and chronic pain

Healing for chronic pain

Healing emotional traumas and blockages

Covid lock-down fatigue.

Increase wellbeing and confidence

Online counselling, and distant healing also

available and much more...

All treatments are given with great

care and confidentiality.

Take a look at my website, and

book with confidence! To book

a life changing session email:

apositivelifestyle@yahoo.com

www.apositivelifestyle.co.uk

Mobile: 07507 486532

13

Woodpeckers bang their heads into

trees at 15mph, 12,000 times a day.

(Ouch!)

During the Second World War,

fish-and-chip-shop managers were exempt

from military service.

In 2017, a Japanese rail company apologised after one of

its trains departed 20 seconds early!!

(Wouldn't happen in the UK!)

The US uses more electricity for airconditioning

than the whole of Africa

uses for everything.

??

The hands of a human foetus touching the

walls of the womb causes the fingerprints

to form.

???

In the 10 seasons of TV's Friends, the six

main characters drink 1,154 cups of coffee

The documentary Where in the World Is Osama

bin Laden? was found on Osama bin Laden's

computer.

According to her last wishes, Elizabeth Taylor

arrived late for her own funeral.

A smartphone contains

more computing

power than the whole

of NASA had in 1969.

The first advert on

Channel 5 was for

Chanel No.5.

??

George V had a dragon

tattoo on his arm.

Dogs see in blue and

yellow.

Iceland imports ice cubes.

It's Impossible to Hum While You Hold

Your Nose

Traffic lights existed before cars.

???

The London Underground has made more money

from its famous map than it has from running

trains..

Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.

In 1940s Britain,

children's TV was

shown from 5 to 6

pm, then

transmission

stopped for an hour

to encourage them

to go to bed

Tanks are exempt from London's Congestion

charge.

???

Names of Greek ocean

gods included Poseidon,

Triton, Oceanus and Doris.

The Irish get through 50

beer mats per person per

year.

?

Boyfriends Do More Housework Than

Husbands!! A survey 17,000 people across

28 countries found that after marriage, the

amount of time a man spends doing chores

on a weekly basis decreases significantly.

English women didn't wear

underpants until the 19th

century.

???

?

Olympic Gold Medals are Predominantly

Made from Sterling Silver

Get in touch

POOL SERVICES LTD

Our Services

t Regular pool servicing

t Summer startup service

t Winter shut down service

t Pool Maintenance and repair

t Swimming pool

refurbishment and build

t Hot tub servicing

t Hot tub Maintenance & Repairs

t Supply of chemicals and

equipment

t Advice on maintenance,

chemicals and

eciency cost saving

Please contact us for a free

no obligaon quote.

t:07541 351979

Tel/Whatsapp/Messenger

e: aqualatepools@gmail.com

f: Aqualate Pool Services

We are a family business based in

Newport, Shropshire. Fully qualified

& experienced pool engineer.

Commied to the highest standard of

customer service and sasfacon.

15

Rev Up and Ride Out for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

Since 2010, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s

event, Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, has

attracted the attention of thousands of supportive

bikers, including famed motorcycle enthusiasts,

such as World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty,

and Steve Parrish. And now the wait is over, as

tickets are on sale for the 2022 event, taking place

on Sunday 24th April.

After two years of virtual ride outs, due to Government

restrictions, bikers who have been patiently waiting for

the much-anticipated Bike4Life Ride Out are

encouraged to book now as there are only limited

places available. The Ride Out, which starts at Meole

Brace in Shrewsbury, takes in 23-miles of the M54 and

finishes at RAF Cosford, the home of the Bike4Life

Festival.

Tickets for the Ride Out are still just £10 for bikers,

and £10 for pillions and further tickets are available for

the Festival at RAF Cosford, where visitors of all ages

can enjoy the arrival of the Ride Out, bike shows and

demonstrations, live music, entertainment, children’s

zone and street food.

Emma Gray, chief operating officer for Midlands Air

Ambulance Charity, says: “We are so excited to start

planning our Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival event,

and thank the biking community for their continued

support through virtual ride outs and donations during

the last 18-months.

“Sadly, on average, we undertake a mission involving

a motorcyclist every four days. Our Bike4Life event is

therefore not just a great day out for the biker

community, but also carries a serious message of the

importance of biker safety.

“There is a limit to 3,500 spaces on the Ride Out and

we are expecting to attract more bikers, this year, as

it’s the first time we have revved up for this event since

before the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Thanks to the support from participants during the last

in-person Bike4Life, 2019’s Bike4Life event enabled

the service to undertake 22 air ambulance missions

and a further 112 via its two critical care cars.

Visit www.bike4lifefest.com to book your place at the

Bike4Life 2022 Ride Out and Festival and keep up to

date on social media by following Bike4LifeFest on

Facebook and Twitter.

To find out more information about Midlands Air

Ambulance Charity’s vital, lifesaving work in your local

area, visit midlandsairambulance.com and for more

information on West Mercia Police Road Safety team,

visit www.westmercia.police.uk/advice/advice-andinformation/rs/road-safety/

To find out more about event sponsor, RAC, visit:

www.rac.co.uk

Get your bike ready

for the spring!

TELFORD

MOTORCYCLE

CENTRE

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

INDEPENDENT MAIN

DEALER TECHNICIANS

We have the most up to

date equipment

needed to work on your

motorcycles giving you

peace of mind

SHROPSHIRE’S

Shropshire’s

& WEST West MIDLAND’S Midlands

INDEPENDANT SPECIALISTS

Specialist

TMC ARE NOW CERTIFIED

DGUARD TECHNICIAN FOR

FITTING THE WORLD'S FIRST

ECALL LIFE SAVER TO PROTECT

YOU AND YOUR BIKE!

• MOT’S AND FULL DIAGNOSTICS • SERVICING ALL MAKES AND MODELS • TYRES

• PARTS AND ACCESSORIES • CLOTHING, HELMETS AND MUCH MORE

Unit E5, Stafford Park 4, Stafford Park, Telford TF3 3BA (Behind Screwfix)

01952 200603 - 07809 693076

MOT’S £24.99

VALID UNTIL 1ST JUNE 2022

How to keep your Dogs happy

when you return to work!

Although for most of us the lockdown period has

been a bit of a struggle, our furry friends have

simply loved having us around! With all the extra

walks and attention lavished on them, they really

have been living in the lap of luxury!

But as we begin to return to work, what can we do

to ensure our dogs cope with the change? Dogs

often experience separation anxiety when away

from their owners and with all the time they have

spent with us, they are bound to find our absence

especially difficult.

Gradually start getting back into a routine

Giving your dog time to cope with short periods on

their own is key to building up the amount of time

you leave them. Popping to the supermarket, taking

your rubbish out, going for a 5 minute walk on your

own are all short activities you can do to help your

dog cope with the prospect that you leave, but you

always come back.

Meet the needs of your dog

‘A tired dog is a happy dog’ as the saying goes, and

well, some of that is still true. Physical exercise is

important to dogs, but make sure it’s good quality

exercise, or you can end up leaving your dog high

and dry and completely over-aroused so that

they’re unable to relax.

Dogs LOVE to sniff, so by encouraging them to have

a snoop around on their walks will help to stimulate

their brain and keep excitement levels down; so that

when they return home they can sleep.

Enrichment and mental stimulation

There are a zillion enrichment and puzzle toys on the

market available for dogs these days. It’s an easy

way to provide stimulation and get their problem

solving skills going. Try feeding them some of their

meals out of puzzle feeders, but make it easy at first

so as not to increase frustration.

Provide plenty of safe chew toys, too – chewing

releases feel good chemicals in the brain, and many

dogs don’t have enough access to things they can

chew on. If it’s safe to do so, leave chews and

puzzle toys with your dog when you leave, they can

really help to occupy them and reduce boredom!

Monitor your dog

One of the most important things to pay attention to

when trying to figure out if your dog has separation

anxiety (or at least struggles when being left alone) is

what they do when you leave.

Are they having a fun party while you’re away?

Dragging out the recycling and racing around the

house, or destructively chewing everything in sight to

make themselves feel better? Are they quiet,

howling or crying?

Without knowing what they get up to, it’s impossible

to say whether they are struggling when left alone.

Most smartphones and tablets have apps to be able

to watch your dog live on your phone, so pop up

the road and see what they do when you’re gone.

How soon does their behaviour change?

The good news is that dogs with Separation

Anxiety can be helped and the sooner you start

to help your dog the easier your return to work

will be

Counselling courses now available at www.Beaumarisgroup.co.uk

with different payment options available to spread the cost of

the courses on discussion with the centre.

‘Free and reduced cost sessions available

with our trainee counsellor Sam’

Beaumaris Health and Wellbeing Group have a mission to improve people’s lives

and mental wellbeing. Our aim is to help individuals, groups and organisations

manage mental health in a positive way.

Situated in the heart of Newport in Shropshire, Beaumaris Wellbeing Centre has a

dedicated and supportive team, offering a range of therapies both face-to-face

and remotely. With specialists to support children from age 4, adolescents and

adults as well as couples and families.

We provide many types of Psychological Services; including but not exhaustive of

Counselling, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Additionally, we hold a variety of training courses including Mental Health First Aid

and Anxiety management, available to individuals, groups and organisations.

If you or someone you know are going through a difficult time, we are here to

offer help and support.

Call us on: 0330 123 3359 or email: info@beaumarisgroup.co.uk.

0330 123 3359 I info@beaumarisgroup.co.uk

5, Abbey Court High Street, Newport, TF10 7BW

www.beaumarisgroup.co.uk

THE MOST ICONIC CARS OF ALL TIME

This list of the most iconic cars of all time proves

that they don’t have to be expensive or flashy to

be admired.

There are certain cars – not necessarily expensive

sports cars or even the best, most reliable or useful

cars – which we all admire. Here we count down a few

of the most familiar, well loved and longed for cars

around.

Mini Cooper

Ever since Michael Caine uttered the immortal line

“you’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off”,

we’ve longed for our own super-sweet, utterly cool

Mini Cooper.

No other car is so recognisable or so adored by drivers

here and all over the world.

Jaguar E-Type

Sensuous lines and the ability to go like no other, the

Jaguar E-Type is the car most men would sell their

souls for. Sports Car International magazine named it

the best car of the 1960s but many would argue it’s the

best of all time.

VW Beetle

The re-launch of the Volkswagen Beetle in the late

1990s disappointed many a fan of the original bug

which was produced from 1938 to 2003.

Uncomfortable seats, a lack of speed and roaringly

noisy engine are among the problems which has seen

the Beetle named among the worst cars of all time.

But, still, we love them.

Porsche 911

No Porsche manufactured since has lived up to the

911. But perhaps it’s simply because few cars can

better it for driveability or design. Porsche consistently

adapted the design to appeal to everyone from curveloving

60s swingers to 1980s city boys.

VW Microbus

Just packing up a bag, strapping your surfboard to the

roof, loading The Beach Boys into the tape deck and

chugging down to Cornwall with all of your mates.

It’s every kid’s dream and, judging by the prices

fetched by campers to this day, for many the dream

doesn’t fade.

Citroen 2CV

Only less recognisable than a Mini or a Beetle, the

2CV is a common sight in many a French village.

People seem to love them, if for nothing else than

because James Bond drove one in For Your Eyes

Only.

Morris Minor Traveller

Once the preserve of countryside vicars and greying

old ladies with fox terriers, the wood-framed Moggy

Minor Traveller has, somehow, never been cooler.

Whatever it is that makes us long for tweed and

spotted dick has turned the Traveller from style-death

to chic.

Ford Escort MK1

Whilst modern Ford Escorts might be frowned upon by

some, the MK1 and MK2 models of the late sixties and

seventies were everyman car perfection and remain a

triumph of car design as far as retro-lovers and rally

drivers are concerned.

VW Golf GTI MK2

If there’s one car which sums up the original boy racer

it’s the MK2 GTIs, which rolled off the production line

from 1984.

Still picked up and scouped up to this day there’s just

something about a white, convertible MK2 with rally

lights.

Green Fields Farm Shop

THE HOME OF GREAT LOCAL FOOD

AFTERNOON

TEA

£12pp

Also

available Gluten

free, vegan and

vegetarian

Delicious Afternoon tea

available to order online for collection.

A perfect mixture of sweet & savoury

www.greenfieldsonline.co.uk

Daily

Fresh Deli

Sandwiches

HEALTHY Fruit, Veg & Salad Boxes

delivered to your door. Weekly or Fortnightly

We also of fer a Kitchen Essentials Box -

Milk, Bread, butter, Sausages,

Bacon, Eggs, Milk & Cheese

Buf fets &

Buf fet

boxes

available

In-store you will find:

Hot Jacket

Potatoes

with choice

of filling

(Donnington only)

• Range of Local Meats including Chicken, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mince, Sausages,

Bacon, Burgers, Steaks, Meatballs & Faggots • Vegetables, Herbs, Salads, Fruits &

Nuts • Fresh Bread, Local Milk, Tea & Cof fee • Huge Range of Cheese and Deli

Products • Sausage Rolls, Pies, Scotch Eggs & Samosas • Home-made Cakes,

Scones & Goodies • Cheesecakes, Fruit Pies/Crumbles & Sticky Tof fee Pudding

• Curry Sauces, nan Breads, Rice, Pasta & Flour • Jams, Marmalades, Chutneys &

Sauces • Special Dietary Products • Gin, Vodka, Beers, Wines & Ciders

and much more

Pop in and see us at:

Station Road, DONNINGTON TF2 8JY T: 01952 677345

Woodhouse Lane, PRIORSLEE TF2 9UR T: 01952 200696

Order online @ www.greenfieldsonline.co.uk

Spring -Time to Declutter

& Spring Clean

Spring cleaning is a great way to

refresh not just your home but

your mind and lifestyle ahead of

the sunny summer season

appearing again in the coming

months. As homeowners

everywhere get out their feather

dusters & spring-cleaning kits to

clear away the energies of winter,

it’s time to bring in the newness of

Spring.

Rotate & Turn Your Mattress

Did you know that most

mattresses can be rotated? In

many cases, this will help to

protect the mattress from

premature damage. Rotating

helps to spread out the wearand-tear

that comes with

sleeping in the same position on

your mattress every night. It

therefore makes sense to sync

your turns & rotations with the

season changes too. We tend

to spend more time in bed in

the winter months so this is a

good practice to get into & to

mark on your calendar.

Cleaning Simply Isn't Enough

The best way to keep mattresses

clean is not necessarily by using

cleaning products, though you

can lightly sprinkle Bicarbonate of

Soda with an essential oil in & then

vacuum it off However adding a

mattress protector is by far the

best way to keep beds clean &

smelling odourless. Protect-a-bed

mattress protectors have a 12-

year guarantee & come in various

options, such as cotton, bamboo,

copper or charcoal. They are

designed to take care of your

mattress from smells & moisture.

Charcoal ones specifically helps

absorb and eliminate odours from

moisture and the air. Meaning

fresher smelling sheets &

mattresses for longer and cleaner

too!

Space creation &

De-cluttering

The next thing you need to do is

have a good declutter. Collect

up all the things that don’t belong

in your bedroom and return them

to their rightful home or even

better get rid of them altogether.

store them too, like your bedroom

furniture for instance. There are

lots of cabinets & free-standing

storage options such as chests &

blanket boxes that can be used

for the winter-summer turnaround

or you could even try creating

more purposeful space such as

beds with large drawers and

ottomans with gas lifts. These can

easily fill a space.

well plus give a great solution for

organising your storage into a

system & have the added bonus

of it being hidden away under

the bed. There are some fabulous

colours & fabrics available & put

together with some real

statement headboards, will

create an extra luxurious look.

At Newport Beds & Carpet Loom,

we are here to provide you with

the best tips & solutions for a great

clean, clear & de-cluttered

bedroom & home this season

79 High Street

Newport

Shropshire

TF10 7AU

Tel: 01952 820820

www.carpetloomnewportbeds.co.uk

Spring is not just a great time to

reassess the clothes in your

wardrobe but the places you

Special offer: Up to £1000 off!

Offer ends March 26th 2022

Dental Implants I Hygienist Service I Cosmetic Dentistry I Invisalign I

Teeth Whitening I Facial Aesthetics I Veneers I IV Sedation & more...

49 High Street, Newport, Telford TF10 7AT

01952 459459

www.wycherleysdentalpractice.co.uk

reception@wycherleysdentalpractice.co.uk

Bags for all occasions!

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COME IN AND

SEE OUR NEW

STUDIO LAYOUT

Tattooists Rob, Garth and Jayde all offer a full

range and styles of tattooing with over 40 years’

experience between them. From portraits, floral

and mandala style tattoos to your more traditional

and gothic, black and white to full colour. The team

are great at giving advice and free handing where

necessary, along with cover up ideas.

Along with the tattoo team, piercing specialist Char offers

a fantastic selection of piercings all over the body (except

mouth currently due to Covid). Having been pierced by

Char myself I can honestly say she is very professional

and quick to keep any pain or discomfort to a minimum

with great aftercare advice. Char has recently purchased

an equipment that allows jewellery to be anodised to any

colour from gold to purple so you can really personalise

items to your personality and style.

Custom pieces can be ordered, and a great range of

jewellery is always in stock.

The team at Some’ink Different are always on top of

hygiene and your safety, they opperate a very

professional Studio along with high quality tattoos and

piercings so you can rest assured you will be in a safe

environment with the best service.

Contact the team on 01952 619370 or via messanger

on Facebook to get your next tattoo or peircing booked

in, and receptionist Devon will help you get booked in

and your design ready!

Tattoos and Piercings

40 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE

Garth

Jayde

22 LIMES WALK OAKENGATES TF2 6EP

01952 619370

Rob

Char

some'ink different

official tattoo studio

some'ink piercing different

official some'ink tattoo different studio

some'ink different

charspiercings

Members of TPI - Tattoo & Piercing

Industry Union

Just because you are struggling,

doesn’t mean you are failing!

I often speak to friends and clients who are not feeling

their best, maybe their confidence is low, maybe they

are finding it hard to face people and situations, maybe

they cry everyday because they don’t want to leave

the house? Now this is not just people who are aware

of a mental illness or heightened stress levels… this is

so called ‘normal’ people.

Often what transpires is that they are exhausted, they

have been putting on this ‘Brave Face’ for so long and

cant to talk to anyone about what is going in their

head! They feel like a failure, they punish themselves

because they feel they cant cope with life… and it

seems everyone else is doing ok…. So what is wrong

with them??

In my line of work I see many clients from many

different countries and varied cultures, the one

similarity between them all is that they put on the

‘Brave Face’! Even when they may feel dreadful on the

inside they pretend to the world that they are ok!

I can also tell you without doubt that for every person

that walks through my door appearing to be on top of

the world, 8 out of 10 of them are actually struggling to

cope!!!

Life is hard! This world is brutal! and the addition of

glossy magazines, social media and reality tv has

done nothing to improve the situation! No one copes

all the time! No one’s life is as interesting or

glamourous as it appears on facebook or Instagram,

the world has become fake and in order to fit in we try

and fake our emotions and our happiness!

Everyone struggles! Mostly because we judge

ourselves against an unrealistic and imaginary

benchmark that actually EVERYONE is failing to

reach!

If I am in a tense social situation I’m usually the first to

start talking (not keen on uncomfortable silence ha ha)

The minute i start to open up about my vulnerabilities

or the fact im scared or nervous I can physically see

the relief and fear slipping away from the other people

as they realise they are not the only ones struggling to

cope, followed closely by them joining in and sharing

their feelings too, their vulnerabilities. And there is

magic in that!

So be the first to show your true self, to be brave and

vulnerable at the same time…. I promise it will not only

help yourself but others around you too!

Are you interested in exploring

Reiki further?

Join me on my Reiki Training

level 1 on 1st April

Level 2 on 2/3 April

Jessi Carrera-Maybury

Tel: 07944 501998

Charmed Healing Therapies

Reiki Master Teacher,

Theta healing Practitioner

and Spiritual Coach

KITCHINGS

TTobacconist & Printters

OVER 150 YEARS IN BUSINESS

PHOTO DEVELOPING WHILE YOU WAIT

REPRINTS AND ENLARGEMENTS

PHOTO RESTORATION SERVICES

We transfer video, cine-film etc to DVD & Blu-ray

50

PRINTS

FOR £5

PRINT YOUR OWN PICS

OFF YOUR PHONES, TABLETS

with our KODAK KIOSK!

PHOTOCOPYING ALSO AVAILABLE

TOBACCONIST

Cigarettes: Cuban & Dominican Cigars

Loose Tobacco. Shisa Tobacco and Pipes

Specialist for Flavoured Tobacco:

peach, black cherry, Menthol, vanilla and

many more

Zippo Lighters, Pipes and Cigars at

competitive prices. Snuff also available

OPEN 11am - 3pm

MONDAY to SATURDAY

Can

deliver

tobacco

anywhere

in UK

nOW SELLING

handmade

fountain &

ballpoint

pens

73-75 Market Street, Oakengates TF2 6EG

Tel: 01952 612444

Jessi Carrera-Maybury

Reiki Master-Teacher

Advanced Theta Healing Practitioner

Reiki Treatments

Reiki Training & Attunments

Chakra Balancing & Energy Healing

Theta Healing & Belief reprogramming

Spiritual Coaching & Guidance

Spiritual, Oracle and Tarot Readings

Over 10 years experience

Tel: 07944 501998

3 Salters Court, Lower Bar,

Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7BE

Wrekin

Forest

Events

Camping, Glamping, Weddings

and Events

New for 2022

Celebration field!

Tel: Judie 07888 851813

E: Info@wrekinforestevents.co.uk

Location: Crudgington Moor Lane,

Nr Kynnersley,

(nearest postcode TF6 6EE)

SHROPSHIRE CAMPING, GLAMPING, CELEBRATIONS,

WEDDINGS AND EVENTS

AT WREKIN FOREST EVENTS & CAMPING

Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend with our

semi-off grid & beautifully simple back to basics camping or

glamping or celebrate a wedding or special occasion in our

peaceful Shropshire woodland surroundings, our tranquil

forest on the outskirts of Wellington, Telford, Shropshire has

everything you need a more.

Based on the same site as Wrekin Forest School we can

combine celebrating and camping with Forest School

activities where everyone can explore, play and learn from

the wonders of the woodland.

www.wrekinforestevents.co.uk

31

Exclusively designed to make retirement life easy, enjoyable and safe,

ShireLiving’s new Springwood apartments in Shifnal will offer all the

security and comfort older people could want in their new home.

Ahead of Springwood’s opening this spring, ShireLiving are offering a

number of rewarding careers in areas such as care and support,

customer service and catering. If you are friendly, dedicated and

looking to make a real difference to people’s lives they would love

to hear from you.

Be part of a new team

Spring into a

rewarding career

Join our new team at

Springwood, Shifnal

Various flexible working patterns. Friendly and supportive

mentors. Fully funded training.

¥ Care and Support Worker

¥Catering

Spring into a

rewarding career

By joining the Springwood team, you will enhance the lives of

the people who live there. The team will offer a range of services,

including flexible, tailored care and support, organised social

activities, a vibrant café and wellbeing support to help people

live independently.

You will be given plenty of time to discover all about ShireLiving

and your new colleagues through their induction programme.

This means from the moment the first residents move in, you will

feel comfortable and confident in your new role

Whether you are looking to take your first steps in a new career, or are ready to develop your existing skills, ShireLiving

offer all of the support and training required to flourish and to build a rewarding career.

Visit wrekin.com/jobs or email HR@wrekin.com to arrange an informal chat.

Opening

soon

Springwood

Shifnal

Visit wrekin.com/jobs or email HR@wrekin.com

to arrange an informal chat

24 HOUR LOCKSMITH SERVICES

Hi, I’m Lee your

local locksmith

in Shropshire

Window & Door Lock Repairs

Domestic Locksmith

Commercial Locksmith

24/7 Superior Service

Emergency Lockout Service

No call

out charge

Available 24

hours a day

Card payments

accepted

Fixed price

quotes

Fast

response

We are NOT a

call centre

Windows / Doors

boarding

Call 01952 723 040

Spring Fashion

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SPRING 2022

t: 01746 766477

BOOK ON LINE at www.theatreonthesteps.co.uk

INTO THE SHADOWS

FRIDAY 15th APRIL 2022 8:00 pm to

SATURDAY 16th APRIL 2022 8:00 pm

Among their hits were Wonderful Land, Guitar

Tango, Frightened City, Dance On, FBI, Atlantis

and Man of Mystery, with their first number one

hit ‘Apache' still

recognised as being one

of the most iconic

instrumental records of all

time.Included in the show,

are many of the early Cliff

and The Shadows vocal

numbers

Tickets £15

THE GIGSPANNER BIG BAND

TUESDAY 26th APRIL 2022 7:30 pm

With the Gigspanner Big Band, Peter Knight has

assembled a group of musicians intent on making

some of the most important and exhilarating art

ever to sit under the

banner of folk music" FRUK

The Gigspanner Big Band

are a unique force in

British folk music...

Tickest £24

STRICTLY ABBA

FRI 29th & SAT 30th APRIL 2022 8:00 pm

Strictly Abba is one of the

most authentic and

accurate tributes to Abbaa

show enjoyed time end

time again.

This Abba Tribute

surpasses all others with

the motto “ The Winner

Takes It All”!

Tickest £14

SURF'S UP

FRI 6th & SAT 7th MAY 2022 8:00 pm

A non-stop, hit jukebox

that will blow your flipflops

off. With their

beautiful, note-perfect

harmonies, huge dynamic

sound and fun

performances, you'll be

guaranteed to dance the

night away!

Tickets: £16

DURAN DURAN EXPERIENCE

SATURDAY 21st MAY 2022 8:00 pm

Established as the premier

Duran Duran tribute band

in the UK since 2012 and

have performed at a

number of pro venues

across the country

including the prestigious

Concord Club (Eastleigh),

Tickest £11

'SHERLOCK'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE'?

SATURDAY 28th MAY 2022 7:30 pm

Our Star Theatre Company

proudly present their

critically acclaimed

comedy SHERLOCK'S

EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

Follow Sherlock Holmes and

his incomparable sidekick

Dr John Watson on this

riveting, until now,

unpublished case...

Tickest £9 / £13

TOWN HALL, HIGH STREET, BRIDGNORTH

www.theatreonthesteps.co.uk

THE WRITING GAME

An Interview with local

author Kevin Horak

Our editor at large Sarah

Gruchala-Williams caught

up with Shrewsbury based

author Kevin Horak.

The former Bodyguard and

businessman spoke about his

authorship and why he quit his

former career to become a

fulltime author.

Q: It was quite a decision to

retire from business. I

understand you are a former

Director of the Shropshire

Chamber Of Commerce

amongst other things?

A: Yes, that’s true, although it

was some time ago. Over the

years I ran companies for 17

years, varying between the

specialist security business and

the music business. There were

some other add on’s along the

way including a clothing

brand; but security and music

was the core part of my work

and where my passion lay.

Q: I could see online that you

worked at Parliament and I’ve

seen pictures of Royalty and

some famous faces. Did you

enjoy working in the

bodyguarding business?

A: It was my career for many

years, I guess I worked in 20

countries or so over the years.

But after 20 years in the

business, I decided to call it a

day, it had gone as far as it

could. I still consult for a couple

of high-end VIP protection

companies when they need

help. I closed my VIP protection

business, sold my record label,

and passed the clothing brand

on for others to run.

Q: Did you have

some close

calls along the

way in the

bodyguarding

business?

A: Quite a few, I

guess, I’ve learnt

how to duck over

the years! I’m still not

keen on returning to

Mexico.

Q: Why is that?

A: I’ve forgotten.

He obviously didn’t want to

discuss that former part of his

life; but I was intrigued why

someone would want to pursue

a writing career – a tough

vocation in anyone’s book.

Q: Why become a fulltime

author, its always struck me as

a difficult way of making a

living?

A: It certainly can be. The

process of setting off with an

idea and then finally seeing

your results in print is

exhilarating, but very time

consuming from start to finish.

At some point you must make

the decision to go for it! Having

the opportunity of writing for

just a couple of hours in the

evening just wouldn’t work for

me, so it’s a brave choice as

you are not earning as you are

writing. But I would have rather

tried than procrastinate on it for

years. From my passion for

music, I also work as a DJ,

so that keeps me out of trouble

for the most part.

Q: You’ve written 5 books to

date; can you tell me more

about them?

A: I written 2 books on the

executive protection business,

2 adult comedy books and my

latest one is a young adult to

adult fantasy fiction story. The

executive protection books

served their purpose

when released, as they

supported my former company

and my former trade. The

comedy books titles you

wouldn’t be able to print here!

However, one of them based

around gym culture did peak in

the Amazon top 500 best sellers

at one point. The comedian

Russell Kane loved the book

and gave it a plug, so I’m very

grateful to him for doing that.

Q: What is the background of

the new book?

A: Technically it’s not new; but

then it is as well! My new book

is called Mildred The Crazy Cat

Lady. It was released just

before the lockdown; as such,

and with us all being locked in

our homes, all promotions,

events and the suchlike were

cancelled. However, during this

time a lady contacted me

who is a screenwriter for the

BBC, and she read and

loved the book and

suggested we work together.

It was something that I

wasn’t going to turn down,

so over the last year the

book has been completely

rewritten, characters

removed/added and there

are some new chapter

additions. The book has been

completely rebranded as

well. Now that we have

obtained some freedom

again, it feels like a fresh start

so this year will, or should

be, a busy one.

Q: What is the new book

about?

A: The story is set in

Shrewsbury, Shropshire and

North Wales with our central

character, ‘Mildred’ living just

outside of our town centre.

The premise starts with a

strange and unusual lady

arriving at Mildred’s door

and she presents her with a

cat. The condition of her

keeping the cat is that she

must join the local ‘cat club.’

But it’s no ordinary club as it’s

a cover organisation for this

incredible league of women

who have met behind

closed doors for thousands of

years. Mildred gets dragged

into this incredible world of

mistrust culminating in a

battle scene, suffice to say,

not all the characters make

it! There are hidden

meanings and references

throughout, and I’ve taken

aspects from my fascination

of ancient Egypt and

brought it to life in modern

day times. Truth be told it

was hundreds of hours of

study and a few thousand

writing hours I would think, all

in all.

Q: Was it a very lengthy

writing process?

A: In this case yes.

Considering my comedy

books were written in a

matter of a few days with a

few bottles of wine along the

way! This has now been a

three-year process between

the first edition and

the new second edition. It’s

been very much a labour of

love. Its quite a heavyweight

title at 448 pages and

around 150,000 words, so on

this occasion it’s been quite

slow as usually I’m a quick

writer.

Q: Is it usual to have a first

edition and then a second

edition?

A: No, and for aspiring writers

I wouldn’t recommend it, it

was just a matter of

circumstance due to

the pandemic. However, I

must concede that this new

second edition is a much

better story than the first, its

far more fluid and pacy. Its

quite a dark story and

although there is humour

throughout, the reading age

is young adult upwards due

to some of the dark themes.

Q: Is Mildred The Crazy Cat

Lady readily available and

where can readers find out

more about it?

A: Yes, it can be found in the

usual places such as

Waterstones along with

independent retailers and

most online platforms,

including Amazon. It’s worth

mentioning the new book is

authored under the

name K S Horak to separate

from other books I’ve written

before. I’m quite active on

social media and there is a

great community on the

Mildred book page on

Facebook. There are a few

thousand people who follow

the page and events along

with other bits and pieces

are advertised on there.

Please join in!

www.Kshorak.com

hello@kevinhorak.com

Facebook.com/mildred

thecrazycatlady

www.Katchamber.com

The RAF Red Arrows

are always a highlight at Cosford

An RAF Chinook at the Cosford Air Show

RAF Cosford opened in July 1938

as part of the pre-war RAF

expansion plan. It was built

primarily to store, repair and

maintain large numbers of aircraft,

and then supply them to front line

squadrons all over the world

throughout WWII. Cosford is

synonymous with building the

Supermarine Spitfire - 2,700 Spitfires

came though Cosford during the

aircraft’s service – more than 10%

of all built. To get the aircraft to the

front line, the station was home to

a unit of the Air Transport Auxiliary

and one of only two all-female

Ferry Pilot Pools. These men and

women flew many thousands of

aircraft of different types to all

points in the UK and, towards the

end of the war, to mainland

Europe too. As the need for more

aircraft engineers grew, thousands

of young men were also trained to

work on aircraft at Cosford. The

station was home to a large

hospital from 1941 and it played a

role in the pioneering plastic

surgery given to aircrew who were

badly burned on missions. The

hospital and a good local

transport network were behind the

decision for Cosford to be the hub

for returning RAF POWs liberated

from camps across Europe and the

Far East as the war drew to a close.

Many thousands of POWs returned

to ‘Blighty’ through Cosford.

Following the war, Cosford’s part in

aircraft production and

maintenance eventually slowed

and then stopped; the Air

Transport Auxiliary was disbanded.

The hospital remained open until

1977. What never changed was

Cosford’s part in the training of

aircraft engineers. That continued

throughout the Cold War and the

station saw young men and

women coming through its gates

during the fifties, sixties and

seventies. Cosford became home

to the RAF School of Physical

Training and the Defence School

of Photography. In the early

nineties No 1 School of Technical

Training at RAF Halton moved to

Cosford meaning that all basic RAF

aircraft engineering training now

took place in Shropshire. Later in

the nineties, upon the closure of

RAF Locking, the training of ICT

Technicians moved to Cosford and

in 2013 the final piece of the jigsaw

was put in place when

engineering officer training moved

to the station from Cranwell.

Today, Cosford is home to No 1

School of Technical Training, No 1

Radio School, the Aerosystems

Engineering & Management

Training School, the Defence

School of Photography and the

RAF School of Physical Training. It is

also home to No 605 (County of

Warwick) Reserve Squadron, the

University of Birmingham Air

Squadron and No 8 Air Experience

Flight.

Most people will know Cosford

because the RAF Museum has one

of its two sites there and the

Cosford Air Show takes place on

the station’s airfield each June. The

station has hosted some kind of

Open Day, RAF at Home Day or

Flying Day since 1939. The Air Show

has grown into a truly international

event that is attended by 50,000

members of the public. Six hours of

flying displays and dynamic

activities on the ground ensure

that the Air Show is as relevant for

families and people who want an

exciting day out as it is for the

serious aircraft enthusiast.

Following a two-year covidenforced

break, the Air Show is

back on Sunday 12 June 2022 with

what promises to be another

breath-taking day.

The Show will celebrate HM The

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the 80th

Anniversary of the RAF Regiment,

the 70th Anniversary of the first

rescue by an RAF Search and

Rescue helicopter and the 40th

Anniversary of the Falklands

Conflict. The first aircraft display

announcement – a Hungarian Air

Force Gripen fast jet – has been

madeand more exciting display

announcements will follow in the

coming weeks.

Tickets are selling very fast and we

would advise anyone who has not

yet booked to do so soon to avoid

disappointment.

The Show is advance ticket

only; no tickets are available on

the day.

Discovering podcasts –

Happy Place by Fearne Cotton

I’ve often heard people talk

about podcasts but never

really delved into it myself,

until I recently took on the

challenge of walking 10,000

steps a day during February,

to raise money for

Birmingham’s Childrens

Hospital.

With February not being the

best months to be out

walking I knew I had to listen

to something to keep me

entertained, the first few

days I listened to music, but

as I listen to that all day at

work, it didn’t seem to

occupy my mind enough. I

considered audio books

then remembered podcasts,

so thought I would give them

a try.

Burglaries

up by

30%

With SAD kicking in as we

come to the end of winter I

searched mindfullness

podcasts and discovered

Fearne Cotton’s Happy

Place, so gave it a try. After

one walk listening to these

sessions I was hooked! It

made the 80 minute walk so

much more meaningful,

listening to others and

relating to there states of

mind and how they over

come mental health and

problems in their lives. Each

session Fearne would talk to

someone new, I was so

intrigued to know what I

would learn each day and it

really helped change my

mindset on so many things

and my approach to life and

dealing with situations.

I shared my experience with

the charity group on the

Facebook page and many

others said they would give it

a try or recommended other

podcasts, Rob Brydon being

one.

Not only did I feel so much

benefit from walking the

10,000 steps a day, I rasied

£250 for Birmingham

Children’s Hospital and

discovered podcasts, a

great way to escape the

world and get some head

space and time out for you!

By Sarah Gruchala-Williams

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TwoJays Corner

Antiques & Vintage

We stock an eclectic mix for the home and garden

Unit ANTIQUES 21 Shifnal AND Industrial VINTAGE Estate, MAKE Lamledge GREAT Lane, UNIQUE Shifnal TF11 GIFTS 8SD

Open 6 days a week:

Tuesday - Sunday 10.30am - 4pm

New

Monday’s

stock Thursday’s

always

we could

arriving

be out collecting

for home

or delivering

and

stock

garden

so it may

best to call us first if you are planning to visit us.

Tel: 01952 462340 or 07949385618

www.twojayscorner.com

email info@twojayscorner.com

f Twojays Corner Antiques & Vintage

t @twojayscorner

Moon Year Forecast - March/April 2022

Combining planetary influence, Astrology and Clairvoyance,

let these Moon Forecasts guide you in life with love and light....

45-minute readings giving guidance from the past present and future and information

from spirit are available at £20 via video. Telephone readings also available. contact

07519 584975 or Facebook page: Katie Anne Reynolds Clairvoyant and Artist

Aquarius - (21st Jan - 18th Feb)

Aquarius sees March 1st in a Waning Crescent Moon

phase allowing us to 'surrender' Then with planets

Venus and Mars both entering March 6th it seems

change is afoot. Venus means we surrender to love,

relationships we stop holding out, we let go, we give

in....and with Mars it gets rather passionate and fiery!

Last Quarter Moon phase on April 23rd sees us

reflecting more kindly upon the past and what has

been....

Pisces - (19th Feb - 20th March)

Pisces it’s all happening....seize the New Moon arriving

in your sign on 2nd march with a sense of the 'brand

new'... Then we have the Waning Crescent Moon for a

full four nights April 25th to 29th where we let lose all

our energies, no holding back! Mercury enters Pisces

March 10th, so communication and messaging is in full

flow... In pops Venus April 5th spicing up the love life

and were on fire with the influence of Mars April 15th....

Wow Pisces, its full throttle time....

Aries - (21st March - 20th April)

Aries use the Waxing Crescent Moon phase from the

4th to the of 5th March to take control and set your

intentions, It is time to make it all about you, a perfect

time for a cosmic order or two! Later on, by March 20th

your exuberance and ego is restored as the Sun enters

your sign. Also use Mercury vibes March 27th to make

any sales pitches or persuasive arguments go your

way....

Taurus - (21st April -21st May)

Taurus sees the New Moon phase on April 30th, this is

perfect for absolutely new ideas, (We may want to

quietly weigh up the pros and cons before we

announce these new plans...) With the Sun entering

your sign on March 20th all feels optimistic with lots to

look forward to. Mercury's influence arrives April 11th

where we can negotiate in the world of work and

career with passion.

Gemini - (22nd May - 21st June)

Gemini it really is 'make your mind up time' by the

Moons First Quarter stage on March 10th, especially

regarding matters of your loved ones, stability is

important right now...Mercury arrives April 29th bringing

with it news that helps to fight your corner! So carefully

check emails, letters or phone calls as the news you

have been awaiting may now well arise... especially to

do with our home, finances and feelings of security...

Cancer - (22nd June - 22nd July)

Cancer carefully use the Waxing Gibbous Moon phase

from the 11th 12th and the 13th of March to 'refine'

your circle, this may sound like 'being picky' but those

we have 'in the know' can greatly affect our opinions

and outlook. With the planet Lileth entering your sign

April 14th, 'woe betide' anyone who comes in with

stereotypical views or seeks to use prejudice to judge

or belittle, not with Lileth about! it simply will not be

tolerated....

Leo - (23rd July - 23rd August)

Leo use the influence of the Moon's Waxing Gibbous

phase March 14th and 15th to maybe 'flow and adjust'

and be a bit more giving, not digging in the heels. We

have taken someone 'in the wrong light lately' we can

make a bridge with that person if we 'tweak' our own

views.... Wonderful relationships are about to happen,

excellent for both work and in love.... Go with the flow

Leo... we don't always have to be in charge...

Virgo - (24th August - 22nd Sept.)

Virgo you may feel the Waxing Gibbous moons pull

upon April 13th and 14th as we have thoughts of

righting a situation where you feel wronged, beware of

thoughts of revenge or getting someone back for their

behaviours, their words or whatever it is that has

bothered you... If this is 'tit for tat' then let it go as it’s

not worth the bother but if this is quite a real situation

of consequence, then take the correct advise

professional advice from those in the know....

Libra - (23rd Sept - 23rd October)

Libra as much as you like to try and balance

everything and weigh everything up fairly you simply

cannot stay in situations that make you feel trapped,

no one likes to feel like a victim, and this intensifies with

the Full Moon phase on March 18th. You do have

instincts and you do have ideas, maybe getting free is

easier than you think... Yes.... change can often feel

scary, but wow it can also feel amazing to....

Scorpio - (24th Oct - 22nd November)

Scorpio may feel grateful during the Moon's Waning

gibbous phase come April 17th and 18th. It is always

good to express in terms of gratitude, a key part of

manifestation is recognizing and cherishing that what

we have got and to appreciate. It may also be a

good time to try and take a little rest and to recharge,

to look at how far you have come, and to look at the

people in your life and be glad.

Sagittarius - (23rd Nov - 21st Dec.)

Sagittarius sees us holding our loved ones close during

April 19th and 20th during the Waning Gibbous Moon

phase, feeling blessed around areas of children and

concentrating upon those matters of family. We are

also 'siding with the underdog', representing others

and fighting their corners, if we are in a caring role at

work, it is this type of characteristic that can lead to

promotion or growth in business, working from the

heart...

Capricorn - (22nd Dec - 20th January)

Capricorn we may be evaluating matters on March

25th as the Moon hits its Last Quarter phase, often

centering around forgiveness we may feel like we can

see both sides of an argument or why someone has

acted the way they have. We cannot change the

principles of others, but we can forgive to set ourselves

free, free from being tied to that issue, and the feelings

around it.... let it go. It’s all a learning process and has

strengthened your own ethics morals and sense of right

and wrong...

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What’s in a name?

In this age of choice and

diversity us humans tend to

change our names at a whim and

it is so easy now, especially doing

it by Deed Poll, Just £18 and you

can call yourself whatever you

like, however if I changed my

name from Chris Dawson to Fifi

Trixibelle I don't think the wife

would be best pleased. But a

number of "Celebrities" have

changed their names for various

reasons and here at Scene and

SY1 we highlight them. Some you

may have heard of, some you

may not.

Comedian Joe Lycett famously

changed his name to Hugo Boss

to highlight a battle that the

World famous brand was having

with a little known Welsh

Brewery, which was called Boss

Brewing. Hugo Boss objected to

the names of two of its Beers,

Boss Boss and Boss Black.

Unfortunately it cost the

Brewery £10,000 in legal fees to

defend themselves and in the

end it was forced to change there

Beer names anyway to Boss

Bossy and Boss Brewing Black

respectively (Hugo Boss was it

worth it?) and then Joe changed

his name back and released a

statement saying "Hugo Boss has

a smelly Bum Bum!!"

Joe Lycett or is it Hugo Boss

Over the years other well known

celebrities have also changed

their names for various reasons.

Film star John Wayne was

originally called Marion

Morrison! Not exactly the image

of a Rugged Western Cowboy

and his nickname was The Duke.

I think if he had stayed as Marion

his nickname would have been

the Duchess!!

Anybody who grew up in the

70's watching Dickie Davies on

World of Sport on a Saturday

afternoon would have loved their

Wrestling. Usually from exotic

places such as Halifax Town Hall,

the highlight would have been

watching Giant Haystacks

against the legend Big Daddy.

Haystacks was the baddie and

Big Daddy was the good guy, the

man we were all rooting for.

However, if he had fought under

his real name of Shirlee Crabtree,

I don't think he would have got

the support he was looking for!!

Shirley Crabtree at his finest!

Would one of the greatest Rock

Stars this country has ever

produced, Elton John, who has

had a career spanning six

decades in which he has

achieved nine No1's in the UK

and Nine No1's in the US, Five

Grammy awards, Five Brit

awards, Two Oscars ,Two Golden

Globes and a Tony award, oh and

a Knighthood! have achieved the

same success if he had gone by

his real name of Reginald

Dwight!! I don't think you would

have heard old Reg singing

Candle in the Wind at Princess

Diana's Funeral, do you??

Old Reg banging out some

tunes!!

Looking at today's modern

names, parents like to use

unusual names to distinguish

their offspring, for today's

competitive arena, however,

some of the names that are

chosen may not have the desired

effect they would have

envisaged. In 2020, maybe

because of the pandemic and

some parents having too much

time on their hands, some boys

in this country were called Yuvi,

Tyde and Gruff!! and some girls

were called Bloom, Loveday and

Pebbles!! Well I envisage in

about 20 years the deed poll

system will be used again for

them!

So what's in a name!?

By Chris Dawson

“Let me heLp

you to Regain

youR Vision”

If, like many patients, you view the possibility of never having to wear glasses again as truly liberating, then you should consider

private cataract surgery. Privately, I can provide state-of-the-art premium multifocal, extended depth of vision (EDoF), toric

astigmatism–correcting and enhanced monofocal IOLs designed to give you much more independence from glasses than the

basic single vision lenses available through the NHS.

Your eyesight is precious, and you deserve the best range of vision that modern science can offer.

So, invest in your future with premium IOLs, and enjoy being able to read and use your computer or tablet with much less

dependence on annoying spectacles – something that perhaps you have not been able to do since your early 40s.

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ARE YOU TROUBLED BY EYE FLOATERS?

Eye floaters are typically small pieces of debris that float in the eye’s vitreous humour. Often, they can also be caused by

sudden separation of the vitreous jelly from the back surface of the eye (posterior vitreous detachment), which is a natural

part of ageing). Most people find floaters minimally troublesome, but for some they can be a significant source of irritation

and may interfere with your quality of vision and life. Modern surgical techniques have made the permanent treatment of eye

floaters safer than ever. Mr Balaggan specialises in the permanent removal of symptomatic troublesome eye floaters using

the very latest micro-incision techniques, with the procedure being performed in around 25 minutes as a day case patient. If

you are over 45 years old and have suffered with eye floaters for over 6 months then get in

touch to arrange an assessment by Mr Balaggan.

Do read the reviews from his former floater patients on Trustpilot.

For more information contact his secretary on: 07950 684778

Email: secretary@kambalaggan.com I www.kambalaggan.com

Give your eyes their

youth back for 2022

Unlock your potentional with private cataract surgery

available within weeks! See clearly now not never!

For more information contact Kam Balaggan’s

secretary on: 07950 684778

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by a vascular nurse specialist, will perform a careful

examination and duplex ultrasound scan of your legs and

recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

Our approach is non-surgical, performing keyhole

treatments under local anaesthesia on a walk-in, walk-out

basis with minimal recovery time so that you can return to

work and most other activities soon afterwards.

Treatments include:

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efficient and helpfull

“

I cannot speak highly enough of the entire service from design to installation and

quality of the finished room by IGS, Ian was so helpful during the design process

with his knowledge & experience, the garden room was space planned with

office desk, bookcase, sofa & wall mounted LED. All the office furniture was made

to measure by IGS in their very own manufacturing base in Wolverhampton

which helped the space planning.

When the team came to install I was blown away by how efficient and helpful they

were; Alek and Mark talked me through every stage from the groundscrew

building supports through to installing the Data cabling, I also tweaked the design

of the decking, making it slightly bigger and adding some steps, this was no

trouble to them at all. We are so glad that we went for the Antique composite

cladding along with the Coffee Composite decking the contrast works

fantastically well with the Aluminium Anthracite bi-fold doors and with

no maintenance, superb advice again. It was a significant investment however

worth every penny! Highly recommended.”

"I have no qualms in saying that these guys are the best in the business & offer a

fantastic product that is far superior to any of its rivals"

Chris & Angela Waterhouse - Wellington Shropshire

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SALMON BAKED

WITH CHEESE

Salmon is a fabulous staple for the

family diet and when eaten

regularly it is good to serve in

different ways. This simple addition

of cheese makes a piece of plain

fish into something special.

Spring recipes

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

4 salmon fillets

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 tsp dried dill

salt and pepper to taste

120g grated Cheddar cheese

6 spring onions, chopped

Method

1. Preheat oven to 230 C.

Ingredients

2 sachets of straight-to-wok noodles

500g lean pork, finely sliced

100g cashew nuts

100g baby corn

100g mange touts

1 crushed garlic clove

1 lime

1 tbsp groundnut oil

2-3 tsps Szechuan spices

1 bunch of spring onions

2. Place the salmon on a large piece of

kitchen foil and season with garlic, dill, salt

and pepper.

3. Seal the foil around the salmon before

placing on a baking tray.

4. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated

oven.

5. Unwrap the salmon and top with

Cheddar cheese and spring onions, and

continue baking for 5 minutes, or until

cheese is melted and fish is easily flaked

with a fork.

PORK & CASHEW STIR FRY

A satisfying Chinese stirfry with

noodles, cashews, mange-touts and

baby corn that’s ready in 20

minutes.

(Serves 4)

Method

1. Toast cashews in a dry wok or large pan

over a medium-high heat, tossing regularly,

for 3 minutes, and set aside.

2. Heat groundnut oil in wok and stir-fry pork

for 3 minutes.

3. Stir in garlic clove and spices. Add spring

onions and stir-fry for 1 minute, then add

baby corn and mange tout and stirfry for 6

minutes.

VEGETABLE RISOTTO

Risotto is comfort food at its best, and

you can ring the changes by adding almost

any fresh ingredients you have to

hand. This one uses fresh asparagus,

baby carrots and young spring peas and

beans.

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

1 litre vegetable stock

100g asparagus tips

100g baby carrots, halved lengthways

200g fresh young peas, shelled

500g baby broad beans, shelled

2 tbsp olive oil

2 baby leeks, thinly sliced

300g risotto rice

1 tbsp pesto sauce

25g pine nuts, toasted

Method

1. Bring the stock to the boil in a large

saucepan, then reduce the heat, add the

asparagus tips, carrots, peas and broad

beans and simmer for 4–5 minutes until tender.

2. Remove the vegetables with a draining

spoon and set aside. Keep the stock simmering

over a gentle heat while heating oil in a

large, heavy-based frying pan and add the

leeks. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until they are bright

green, then stir in the rice.

3. Add 2–3 tbsp of the hot stock and cook

gently, stirring until the liquid is absorbed.

Continue adding the stock, a little at a time,

until the rice is tender – about 20 mins.

4. Stir in the pesto and season to taste. Gently

stir in the asparagus, carrots, peas and beans

and cook for a few more minutes until the

vegetables are heated through.

5. Serve scattered with pine nuts.

SCENE SP

RTS

The World Cup - In the winter ??

With Summer just around the corner and this

being a World Cup Year, we should have all been

looking forward to trips to beer gardens up and

down the land to cheer on Harry Kane and the

boys and there triumphant winning of The World

Cup, (No, sorry, losing on penalties to the

Germans in the final)

cool them down for the players and spectators

alike, however, when they got the award this was

not followed through, to the extent it needed to

be and now the tournament will take place

between November & December in 20-30 degree

heat instead. The "Air-conditioning" will still be

there, but not to the degree they promised.

Because the World Cup is now not being played

in the summer months this will have a major

effect on all Football leagues around the world at

what is normally their busiest time of the year for

them. It will also mean that most football seasons

will either start earlier or finish later, (or Both!)

Sepp Blatter has a lot to answer for, (Allegedly).

But this year's World Cup has been awarded to

Qatar and I must say in very dubious

circumstances, (Allegedly). Under Sepp Blatter's

Presidency, Qatar claimed the most votes from

the FIFA Delegates, but there have been various

allegations of Bribery which have officially been

unproven, however when you have FIFA

investigating.......well, FIFA what can you expect,

again allegedly!

But probably the greatest setback to our lives will

not being able to come together in Beer Gardens

Up & Down the land in June & July and throwing

pints of beer in the air when Harry Kane has

scored for England and then realising you've

wasted it because the goal has been ruled out

through VAR. It just simply is not the same in

December warming up to a Pub Heater now is it!

"Come on England......brrrr!"

Part of the argument against Qatar not being

awarded the World Cup was that it was simply

going to be too hot to play there, in the middle of

Summer, with 40-50 degree heat. But the Qatar

authorities counteracted that by saying that all

the Stadiums would be specially air conditioned

with cold air being pumped into the grounds, to

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Car Review:

Hyundai i20N

hot hatch

By Sue Cooke

I know there are a lot of car

performance enthusiasts out there. I

live on a dual carriageway, which is

often mistaken for a racetrack. I hear a

constant roar up and down the road.

I’m always disappointed when I spot

the noisy offenders as the exteriors

are usually ageing and rusty and

exhaust notes are popping

haphazardly.

This week however Hyundai’s racetrack

capable hot hatch joined the same dual

carriageway. I was road testing the high

performance i20N, inspired by the WRC rally

car. With large single exhaust and

turbocharged engine this was definitely a

performance car to be seen in.

The B segment five door has a gorgeous

performance blue exterior paintwork,

exclusive to Hyundai N models and sits

10mm lower than its better behaved brother.

It is easily identified by the front bumper with

a larger air intake for the turbo engine and

the wide radiator grill with a pattern inspired

by a chequered flag and N logos.

The 18 inch alloy wheels have a grey matte

finish and display N branded brake calipers.

Tomato red accents link side skirts to the

rear arrowhead taillights. A distinctive WRC

inspired roof spoiler enhances downforce. At

the rear, a big single exhaust emphasises the

high performance potential of the 1.6 litre

turbo GDi engine with 204PS.

The interior is spacious and sports seats

with integrated headrest, are comfortable for

long journeys but as you might expect from

a sports car the suspension is very firm.

Standard equipment includes N steering

wheel, N gear knob and sporty N metal

pedals. The digital cluster and AVN screen

has a variable LED lit red zone, which varies

according to engine oil temperature. The

shift-timing indicator, shows the driver the

best time to switch through the six speed

manual gearbox.

The 10.25” touchscreen satellite navigation

includes a traffic messaging channel, map

care and live services. As standard are the

Digital DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and

Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity with

steering wheel controls and automatic

headlamps. I put my mobile phone on the

charging pad and connection was instant.

The display even let me know who had

texted me while I was driving.

Luggage capacity is a practical 352 litres

increasing to 1165 litres with seats down, so

owners can still take the rubbish to the skip.

If you are a performance car enthusiast then

you will want to know that the all-new

Hyundai i20 N keeps maximum torque

between 1,750 and 4,500 RPM and achieves

maximum power between 5,500 and 6,000

RPM. There are five drive modes: Normal,

Eco, Sport, N and N Custom. They adjust the

parameters of the engine, Electronic Stability

Control (ESC), exhaust sound and steering.

For even sportier driving pleasure, the

Electronic Stability Control can be operated

in three stages: on, sport and fully off.

With Rev Matching and Launch Control

drivers won’t be disappointed in the ultimate

power delivery, high responsiveness and

improved acceleration for even more fun.

The thrill of racing doesn’t come from

irritating residents who live on dual

carriageways but by driving on the track. In

its home ground the Hyundai i20N

guarantees a memorable surge of adrenaline.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Hyundai i20N 5 door hot hatch

Price: From 24,995otr

Engine: 1.6 T-GDi 204PS

Performance: 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and on

to a top speed of 142 mph

CO2 emissions: 158 g/km (WLTP)

Combined fuel consumption: 40.4 mpg (WLTP

JC

Garden Services

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Wrekin Express-o – a brew for success!

A group of Shropshire sixth form students are

steaming ahead with a brew for success as they launch

their own school coffee shop - in a renovated

horsebox! The Wrekin Entrepreneurs’ Club at Wrekin

College recently launched the venture which will see

them sell hot drinks and, over time, other

refreshments. Called Express-o, the new business will

be a legacy project at the school which will give pupils

a chance to run a real business.

Current pupils have been appointed to key

management positions to help steer the coffee shop to

success.

There are also a group of younger students who will

support the running of the operation once it is open.

When the incumbent managers leave, the younger

pupils will step in to take on the reins of running it with

the school’s support.

Jonathan Longfellow, teacher of economics and

business at Wrekin College, said he was really

impressed by how well the pupils had approached the

project so far and the commitment and enthusiasm

they had shown to get it to this stage. “The team had to

pitch their idea to a Dragon’s Den style panel at the

school and were then awarded funding to help launch

the scheme,” he added. “They have carried out

extensive research to see what might work well and be

in demand here at school events and also provide

other opportunities to make it a success. Then they

have put in the extra hours and the sometimes

physically challenging work of getting it ready to

open.”

Mr Longfellow said they meet regularly working on not

only renovating the horsebox but creating menus with

must-have appeal, social media platforms for the

coffee shop, and developing other marketing

campaigns, staff rotas, and stock and supply chains.

He said there were also plans in the pipeline to look at

how they can extend their offering including theming

menus according to events. “They are all really excited

about getting out there and running the coffee shop

and getting feedback on ways in which they can

improve it still further and continue to grow the

business. My hope is that each year a new cohort of

student business leaders take the operation to a new

level.”

Wrekin College launched its new Business School in

2017 in a bid to encourage more employability and

real-life skills to be taught at school. The centre, which

boasts a board room and lecture theatre, has hosted a

number of prestigious business events and regularly

welcomes in leading speakers from various industries

and sectors to talk to pupils.

“This is a business I think this age group understands

well which is evidenced by their high levels of

enthusiasm for the project. I am really looking forward

to seeing it regularly in action.”

To find out more about Wrekin please contact the

admissions department on

admissions@wrekincollege.com or call 01952

265603. Wrekin’s next Open Day is on Saturday

26th March; anyone interested can book a place at

www.wrekincollege.com.

FIND YOUR

FUTURE AT

OPEN DAY

Saturday 26th March 2022

9.30am and 11.30am

Book your place:

www.wrekincollege.com

wrekincollege com

admissions@wrekincollege.com

01952 265603

Registered Charity

Independent co-educational day and

boarding school 11 - 18

Wellington ellington, Shrops

hire TF1 3BH

Award winning education is

closer than you think

Wolverhampton Grammar School

is an extraordinary school.

Founded in 1512, it's one of the

oldest schools in the country, within

easy access of the wider West

Midlands, Staffordshire and

Shropshire thanks to flexible school

bus links.

The independent day school has

expanded its provision to incorporate

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Wolverhampton Grammar School is a

fully all-through school, providing the

opportunity for children of all school

ages (4-18) to join a truly unique

community and experience its awardwinning

approach to education.

Means-tested bursaries and

scholarships are available for

exceptional and deserving applicants to

the Senior and Sixth Form.

If you’ve never visited the stunning 25

acre campus, you can register at any

time for an open event or personal tour.

Simply visit www.wgs.org.uk/openday

to register for events that are taking

place across the coming months.

First priority is the happiness

of your child

Children at Wolverhampton Grammar

School receive pastoral care like

nowhere else – that’s because happy

children do well, thrive, and leave the

school with excellent exam results and

the confidence to embrace whatever

opportunities come their way in their

young adult lives.

Your child will never feel alone at

Wolverhampton Grammar School.

Assistant Head in charge of Pastoral

Care, Claudine Jones, leads a team of

staff to support and work with families.

Support includes a dedicated, expert

pastoral team, school counsellor and

annual adolescent mental health

tracking using the latest digital tools.

Academic excellence

The staff are totally committed to

providing the best teaching and

learning experience for your child –

something that continued in lockdown,

thanks to high expertise in online

delivery. Wolverhampton Grammar

School offers a very wide range of

subjects, from sciences to humanities,

creative arts to languages. The

timetable is built around the academic

choices that the students make. They

grow up to be confident, curious and

independent-minded, and their

academic achievements speak for

themselves. Despite the pressures of

the pandemic, students were awarded

stellar results at GCSE and A Level.

Sixth Form students are also able to

study towards Cambridge Technical and

BTEC awards in a range of subjects.

Sixth Form students achieved the

highest number of A*- A grades for over

10 years, with 66% of entries receiving

nothing but the top two grades.

Alongside, 165 A* – B grades awarded

(85% of all students). At GCSE, 641

Grade 9, 8 or 7 awards (equivalent to

A* and A) – 79% of all grades were

awarded. Students in Years 11 and 13

enjoyed another exceptional year with

100% pass rate.

The School offers a tailored and

individual approach to UCAS and

Careers support and students can

expect the very best preparation

possible when it comes to life after

school.

Interested to learn more?

Simply visit the website to register

for an open event or to book an

individual school tour,

www.wgs.org.uk/openday,

alternatively please contact the

Admissions team at

Wolverhampton Grammar School

telephone 01902 422939 email

admissions@wgs-sch.net.

Independent Day School for

Boys and Girls

Junior School ages 4-11 Senior School ages 11 -16 Sixth Form ages 16-18

THE JUBILEE’S ORIGIN STORY

Come this summer, we will be

celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70

years on the throne – the first British

monarch to celebrate his or her

Platinum Jubilee. The first British

monarch to reach 50 years on the

throne, and celebrate his Golden

Jubilee, was King George III, followed

by Queen Victoria. But then Queen

Elizabeth overtook them both as the

longestreigning British monarch, first

with her 60th anniversary and

Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and now

with her Platinum Jubilee this June,

2022. But where did the idea of

jubilees come from?

‘And the word was …’

The word ‘jubilee’ is much older than

people may realise and much more

biblical than royal.

Its modern definition is ‘a special

anniversary or an event, especially one

celebrating twentyfive or fifty years of

a reign or marriage’. However,

originally it was the old Hebrew word

‘yobel’, meaning ‘ram’s horn’s

trumpet’. The horn used to be blown

to indicate the celebration of the

Jewish Year of Jubilee; the year that, in

the Book of Leviticus (third book of the

Torah, and of the Old Testament),

people were supposed to be freed

from slavery and debts. The year came

at the end of seven sabbath cycles –

the 49th year. Though some people

and rabbis argued that it was actually

celebrated the following year – the

50th year. And so, you get the idea of

celebrating at the 50th year mark. And

from an event that was primarily

related to trade – whether of people

or money, rather than marriage or a

royal’s reign.

In the Royal Catholic Church, jubilees

began to be celebrated formally in

1300 AD, as years of forgiveness of sins

and reconciliation, every 25 years. A

tradition added and transformed from

the Jewish faith into the Christian.

Eventually, jubilee celebrations got

attached to marriage celebrations too.

The word then transformed with time,

as words tend to do, both in spelling

and pronunciation. It became the root

for the English word jubilee, and

jubilation, and the German jubel,

meaning joyful singing.

Eventually, it transformed into a word

meaning nonreligious celebrations

too.

The royals

Royal Jubilees took on the idea of

celebrating 25 or 50 years of marriage

and changed it to celebrating a

monarch’s reign.

And it is certainly an achievement to

reach one’s Silver (25 years of reign) or

Golden Jubilee (50 years of reign). Few

British monarchs have actually done

so, with Golden Royal Jubilees being

quite rare historically.

The first British monarch to mark 50

years on the throne was George III, in

1809. Then his granddaughter, Queen

Victoria, reached hers in 1887. Queen

Elizabeth II was the third monarch to

do it in 2012.

So not only are royal jubilees a much

more recent invention than jubilees in

general, anything more than a Silver

Royal Jubilee is quite a rare event.

Which makes the upcoming long bank

holiday weekend this June, to

celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum

Jubilee and 70 years of reign,

something that should certainly be

taken note of. It will be a once in a

lifetime event for most, if not all

people.

Independence . . .

Independence by the very nature of the

word means to stand alone and be free

from convention. It results in fresh thinking,

innovation and the ability to adapt and

change to circumstance at a moment’s

notice, such as our immediate switch to

online learning during lockdown.

As visitors walk into our school, they are met

by sticky fingers in Nursery; they see

preschool children eating and playing

alongside older peers; music and

performance fill the classrooms; languages

are spoken and whether it’s swimming on a

Friday, visiting Lilleshall on a Monday, or

taking a ‘muddy risk’ in our Forest School,

opportunities abound. Daily, by 8.40am,

pupils have already settled to their ‘core’

lessons of the day in Reading, Maths, Phonics

and Spelling. These cornerstones of

traditional education are an intrinsic part of

our academic success, but not the whole of

it. Through the Student Council and Peer

Mentors, pupils of all ages are given the

opportunity to represent the views of the

school and with over 25 different clubs

running, there is a diversity of choice to

appeal to all interests. Opportunity only ever

serves to expand the children’s confidence

and passions.

Independence for the children of Castle

House School, therefore, means family,

leadership, opportunity, diversity and

tradition set in a unique place where parents

are as much a part of the journey as their

children. Independence results in a wise eye

towards tradition and an eager view

towards their future choice in secondary

education.

To find out more about Castle House, join us

this March for our Open Day.

CROSS CODE

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter

of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start

you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid,

then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters

should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number

in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of

letters as you identify them.

MAGIC SQUARE

MISTAKE NICKNAMES

Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form

four words each of four letters which will fit in the

grid to form a magic square in which the words

can be read both horizontally and vertically.

Quiz Challenge

1. Which season ends at the

vernal equinox?

2. Which boy band had No 1 hits

with What Makes You Beautiful

and Story of My Life?

3. Which politician famously said

of his father: “He didn’t riot. He

got on his bike and looked for

work.”?

4. Which of these capital cities is

not a seaport – Auckland,

Phnom Penh, Ankara?

5. Which group of islands is

situated off Galway Bay,

Ireland?

NONAGRAM

R O D

U S E

S O L

How many words of four

letters or more can you

make from this

Nonagram? Each word

must use the central letter,

and each letter may be

used only once. At least

one word using all nine

letters can be found.

Guidelines:

32 Good; 38 Very Good;

44 Excellent.

Any word found in the Concise

Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is

eligible with the following

exceptions: proper nouns; plural

nouns, pronouns and possessives;

third person singular verbs;

hyphenated words; contractions

and abbreviations; vulgar slang

words; variant spellings of the

same word (where another variant

is also eligible).

WORD PYRAMID

Spell out a 15-letter word or

phrase by moving from one

chamber to another within

the pyramid. You may

only enter each of the

chambers once and

may only proceed

through openings

in the walls. The

first letter may

appear in any

chamber.

FIVE ALIVE

6. Which English cricketer scored

a total of 456 runs in one Test

match in 1990?

7. Which Commonwealth country

has territory within the Arctic

Circle?

8. What colour was the penny

postage stamp which replaced

the original penny black?

9. The buyers of which type of

goods are protected in the US

by the Lemon Laws?

10. What is the title of model and

TV personality Jodie Marsh’s

autobiography?

CL OR EC AE LK

UO AN EI

MN AU NR SG OE

EC UE SC

T

HT AH RI NS KH

A

S

O U A

I P R T

N T N O I

Here are two

miniature fivesquare

crosswords

using the same

grid – but the

letters have

been mixed up.

You have to

work out which

letters belong

to which

crossword.

SUDOKU

Easy

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

8 2 4

7 4 3 6 1 9 8

9 4 3

2 5 8 7

5 9 3 7 2

8 7 1 2 4 9

2 8

9 2

1 6 7 2

Hard

2

2 7 3 9

4 1 8

6 2 3

7 8

3 4

9

4 6 8 7

7 4 5 2

EQUALISER

16 5

6 2 1

8 4

2 6 8

2 5

Place the four signs (add,

subtract, multiply, divide)

one in each circle so that

the total of each across

and down line is the same.

Perform the first calculation in each

line first and ignore the mathematical

law which says you should always

perform division and multiplication

before addition and subtraction.

This puzzle page is supplied by

Sirius Media Services.

To try our new puzzle,

Zygolex, go to

www.zygolex.com

© Sirius Media Services Ltd

PZ1P5176

MSD Law

is a modern and forward thinking

law firm. Since 1999, we have helped

thousands of people with an array

of legal issues.

Although we have been in operation

for over two decades under the name

of Donn & Co, we are new to Telford

and are excited to be able to assist

those in the local community and

further afield.

Looking to move home? We really do

appreciate just how stressful this can be.

That is why we do everything that we can

to smooth the process so you can focus

on ensuring that you 昀 nd the right place

to live. We do what we can to simplify some

of the more complex legal terms, and we will

communicate with your lender, estate agent

and 昀 nancial advisor to ease the burden.

With 24/7 live updates via our easy-to-use

online platform, you can check the progress

of your sale and purchase and get updates

around the clock.

Organising a Will, Probate, or Lasting Power

of Attorney? Not only can we o 昀 er you

tailored advice on moving home, but we

can also take your other various legal needs

in our stride. You can have complete

con 昀 dence in our ability to ensure that

every detail is considered with the utmost

professionalism and sensitivity.

Get in contact! With a reputation for

authenticity, honesty and competence,

we can’t wait to introduce ourselves and help

you with whatever it is that you need!

Call us today to see how we can help you.

01952 825050

Telephone: 01952 825050 | Fax: 01952 825115 | Website: www.msdlaw.co.uk

MSD Law Limited, Ground Floor, Plot D6, Hadley Park East, Telford, TF1 6QJ

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

QUICK CROSSWORD

1

2

3

4

4

5

6

7

1

2

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

9

8

9

10

11

9

10

10

10

11

11

12

13

13

11

13

14

15

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

15

16

16

19

20

17

18

19

21

19

22

23

24

17

20

23

25

26

24

25

21

22

27

28

29

21

23

24

30

31

ACROSS

1. Blood count (7)

5. Company choose to

add someone to the

committee (2-3)

8. Outburst of anger on

stage (5)

9. Sink a vessel carrying

coal (7)

10. Biblical dirges? (12)

12. Counter work by model (6)

14. Where one might look when

in a reflective mood (6)

17. Decide to co-operate and

join the queue (4,4,4)

21. Enthusiast taking food with

a flourish (7)

22. It is not right in secret to be

envious (5)

23. Lunatic only upset about

nothing (5)

24. Small child accepting friend

completely (7)

DOWN

1. Old Penny unfortunately has

to hurry (4)

2. Strangely near a sphere of

action (5)

3. Vain conservationist’s

plea (7)

4. Property like televisions (6)

5. Sum up the aristocrat (5)

6. Exit in the open air (7)

7. New rate certain to be

considered valuable (8)

11. Powerful waterfall, almost

replete (8)

13. Point me out the pepper (7)

15. 49+51=100. It is not

allowed (7)

16. Give evidence at the

match (6)

18. Youth leader turned tail first

in the country (5)

19. In the main a valley full of

warships! (5)

20. Support scout leader on the

river (4)

ACROSS

1. Tobacco stick (9)

6. Drinking vessel (3)

8. Needle (7)

9. River horse

(abbrev.) (5)

10. Pip (4)

11. Drunkard (3)

13. Wild hog (4)

14. Scour (5)

16. Straight (6)

18. Healing agent (6)

19. Addition

symbol (5)

21. Prison room (4)

22. Suppuration (3)

23. Secure (4)

27. Confiscate (5)

28. Integrity (7)

30. Utter (3)

31. Cancer check

(5,4)

DOWN

1. Type of lettuce (3)

2. Deep ravine (5)

3. Ancient

character (4)

4. Shudder (6)

5. Reverberation (4)

6. Plentiful (7)

7. Schedule (9)

10. Lung disease (9)

11. Small fragment (5)

12. Pipes (5)

14. Pouch (3)

15. Flying mammal (3)

17. Invalidate (7)

20. Wrinkle (6)

24. Endure (5)

25. Chief Greek

god (4)

26. Impoverished (4)

29. Still (3)

SOLUTIONS

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Winter; 2 One Direction; 3 Norman Tebbit; 4 Ankara; 5 The Aran Islands; 6 Graham Gooch; 7 Canada; 8 Red;

9 Second-hand or faulty cars.; 10 Keeping it Real.

CROSS CODE

EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU

6 1 3 8 5 9 7 2 4

7 2 5 4 3 6 1 9 8

9 4 8 2 7 1 6 5 3

3 6 2 9 1 4 5 8 7

5 9 4 3 8 7 2 1 6

8 7 1 6 2 5 4 3 9

2 5 9 7 6 8 3 4 1

4 3 7 1 9 2 8 6 5

1 8 6 5 4 3 9 7 2

3 9 7 2 5 1 8 4 6

6 2 5 8 7 4 3 9 1

4 1 8 9 6 3 5 2 7

1 7 6 5 9 8 2 3 4

9 5 4 3 2 7 1 6 8

2 8 3 1 4 6 9 7 5

8 6 1 7 3 2 4 5 9

5 4 2 6 8 9 7 1 3

7 3 9 4 1 5 6 8 2

MAGIC SQUARE:

cask; amen; semi;

knit.

WORD PYRAMID:

Saturation point.

EQUALISER:

Clockwise from top

left – divide; add;

subtract; multiply.

Total: 4.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

Across – 1 Dracula; 5 Co-opt; 8 Scene; 9 Scuttle; 10

Lamentations; 12 Oppose; 14 Mirror; 17 Come into line; 21

Fanfare; 22 Covet; 23 Loony; 24 Totally.

Down – 1 Dash; 2 Arena; 3 Useless; 4 Assets; 5 Count; 6

Outdoor; 7 Treasure; 11 Forceful; 13 Pimento; 15 Illicit; 16 Attest;

18 Italy; 19 Naval; 20 Stay.

QUICK CROSSWORD:

Across – 1 Cigarette; 6 Cup; 8 Syringe; 9 Hippo; 10 Seed; 11

Sot; 13 Boar; 14 Scrub; 16 Linear; 18 Balsam; 19 Caret; 21 Cell;

22 Pus; 23 Safe; 27 Seize; 28 Probity; 30 Say; 31 Smear test.

Down – 1 Cos; 2 Gorge; 3 Rune; 4 Tremor; 5 Echo; 6 Copious; 7

Programme; 10 Silicosis; 11 Scrap; 12 Tubes; 14 Sac; 15 Bat; 17

Nullify; 20 Rumple; 24 Abide; 25 Zeus; 26 Poor; 29 Yet.

FIVE ALIVE:

(1)

(2)

Across – Creek; Mango; Think.

Down – Comet; Ennui; Kiosk.

Across – Local; Nurse; Harsh.

Down – Lunch; Carer; Leech.

NONAGRAM:

dose; doss; dosser; douse; dress; dross;

druse; dulse; duress; less; lessor; loess;

loose; loosed; looser; lose; loser; loss;

louse; loused; lues; ODOURLESS;

oodles; ousel; resold; rodless; rose; rosé;

rouse; roused; ruse; serous; sled; sloe;

slue; slued; slur; sold; solder; soldo; sole;

soled; soleus; solo; soloed; solus; sool;

sooled; sore; sorel; sorus; soul; sour;

soured; souse; soused; sudser; sued;

suer; surd; sure; used; user.

Paveline

Driveways Ltd

Driveways & Patios = Block Paving

Tarmac = Slabs = Fencing = Resin

Imprinted Concrete = Indian Stone

01952 897597 - 07340 304272

info@pavelinedrivewaysltd.co.uk

www.pavelinedrivewaysltd.co.uk

Unit D,

Stafford Park 9,

Telford, TF3 3AF

It's that time of year again and on Thursday

17th March we will all be downing the

Guiness to celebrate the feast day of

Ireland's Patron saint, Saint Patrick. But who

was Saint Patrick and why do we celebrate

his feast day more then, say England's Patron

saint, Saint George.

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th

Century. He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and

taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped and went

back to his family, but returned back to Ireland

and legend has it that he converted the Irish to

Christianity and drove the snakes out of Ireland!

By the time of his death on 17th March 461 he

had established many Monasteries, Churches and

schools in Ireland and that is why his feast day is

on the 17th March.

But why do we celebrate St.Patrick's Day

probably more than any other patron saint, well I

think we have to blame the Americans for that

one, or at least the expat Irish community of the

US. Cities in the United States with large Irish

Immigrants have been celebrating St.Patrick's

Day for Hundreds of years, in fact Boston held its

first St.Patrick's Day Parade way back in 1737,

followed by New York City in 1762 and since 1962

Chicago turns its river "green" to commemorate

the day!

Like Halloween, St.Patrick's Day as a day of

celebration has come from the "other side of the

pond" and supported with clever marketing from

the Guinness company we have been drinking

the "Black Stuff" all the way back since 1759, in

fact on 17th March the world is expected to

consume 13 MILLION Pints of Guinness, just on that

day alone!

So this St.Patrick's Day when you have drunk your

fifth pint of Guinness and sung Danny Boy for the

third time, blame the americans!!

By Chris Dawson

Shropshire based business specialising in:

n Tree surgery with 15 years experience

n Groundworks with 10 years experience

n Driveways

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n Turfing

n Patios

n Driveway security bollards

Tel: 07463 750443

Email: braziers.lcd@yahoo.com

Facebook: Braziers-Landscape-Construction-Design

SIX NEW UNUSUAL HOBBIES GOING MAINSTREAM

Finding a new hobby isn’t always easy. Settling

down with a good book, heading to the gym or

joining your local five-a-side team is easy enough

but if you’re looking for something a little more

challenging, unusual or different there are plenty

of other options out there. Many interests and

hobbies which may once have seemed weird

and wonderful, are now much more mainstream

and you can find plenty of ways to get started

with them more easily than in the past. Consider

one of these less-than-usual hobbies if you’re

looking for a challenge, something a little out of

the ordinary or just the chance to relax in a new

way.

Pole Fitness

Pole dancing and fitness classes are much more

popular than they used to be - its popularity has led to

some people calling for it to be considered as an

Olympic sport. Pole fitness combines self-expression

and strength as you learn exercises and dance moves

utilising the pole. It involves the use of core muscle

strength and flexibility and can be a great way of

getting fit, building self-confidence, and enjoying

some me-time.

Ukulele Playing

The ukulele’s small size and portability makes it easy to

keep with you at all times, and when you start playing,

you’ll soon find your new hobby addictive. You can

build your talents by watching one of the many online

ukulele teachers on YouTube, finding a local teacher,

or joining one of the many groups and clubs which

welcome newcomers. It’s a social hobby that can

lead to playing live around your local community or

simply strumming for fun at home.

Rock Climbing

Climbing the peaks of the world’s highest mountains

may not be immediately on the cards, but rock

climbing is a hobby you can enjoy in even the flattest

of spaces, thanks to indoor hangars and arenas being

set up in many cities. Indoor climbing walls are a great

place to start and you can slowly build your skills until

you’re ready to take it outdoors and pit yourself

against the elements.

Home Brewing

A welcome pint of beer or cider after work is always

enjoyable and even more so when you’ve made it

yourself. Handcrafting and brewing your own beers

and ciders has become really popular in recent years,

with some home brewers even setting up their own

microbreweries and seeing their creations stocked in

local pubs and shops. If you want to get started, you

can find many brewing kits available online and in

stores, with beer, cider and wine all possible to make

from home with a little work.

Stone Skimming

Skimming stones may be something you mastered as a

child, but how are your skills now? It’s a fun thing to

teach the kids and a great day out if the sun’s out. The

satisfaction which comes from getting that sweep just

around right is something you never forget, so why not

relive it? If you want to give your skills an even bigger

push then consider competing at the World Stone

Skimming Championships that take place on Easdale

Island in Scotland.

Adult Colouring

Adult colouring has become a bit of a mindfulness

phenomenon. As our lives have become so hectic

and busy, we’ve begun craving a screen-free way to

relax. Colouring in is a great way to combat stress and

relax in your own time, without obsessing over

timelines, scrolling through feeds and spending far too

many hours online.

Your new hobby needs to be something which you

enjoy and captures your interest. These are just some

of the more quirky hobbies which have become

popular in recent years and there’s bound to be

something out there for you if you explore your options

and keep in mind what you’re looking for from your

hobby.

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Honda HR-V e:HEV

By Sue Cooke

Honda says its new sport utility

vehicle, non plug in hybrid, is the

result of listening to how drivers say

their car should support and ‘amplify’

their everyday lives. The result is the

HR-V e:HEV which I road tested this

week.

The modern looking exterior

combines coupe and SUV styling. The

most beautiful pearl white paintwork

changes colour according to how the

sun shines on it. The two-tone roof

adds useful roof rails.

For my family life, I find the interior is

spacious and in the rear foot and

knee space has increased by 35mm. A

wide view rear camera helps me to

find a parking space in a busy

shopping area. Then I’m off to the

shops. On my return, laden with

bags, I access the boot using the

remote key in my pocket, which

automatically opens the tailgate.

When I walk away from the open

tailgate with the key in my pocket,

the tailgate automatically closes.

The boot easily holds my monthly

shopping spree of goodies and

Honda’s versatile ‘Magic Seats’ fold

flat or flip up to give more cargo

space. There are useful side hooks for

securing carrier handles so that the

contents do not end up spilt over the

floor. I also like the rubberised flat

cargo floor which is ideal for placing

dirty boots. Honda says surf boards

can be carried inside this car and two

adult mountain bikes!

The cabin has contemporary design

features with light grey synthetic

leather and fabric upholstery and a

striking orange front console garnish.

The Advance Style trim adds premium

audio speakers and a subwoofer and

when my mobile is out of juice, the

wireless charging point is a good

friend.

Honda has introduced a new concept

of air conditioning, helping those

who don’t like air flowing directly

onto them. An air diffusion system

creates a curtain of fresh air beside

and above passengers which flows

from L shaped vents positioned in the

top corners of the dashboard. This

system is what drivers have asked for

says Honda. Other wants are

enhanced driver assistance, parking

sensors, a built in sat nav, good

heating, low emissions and a DAB

radio with Bluetooth connectivity,

wireless apple carplay and android

auto.

On my trip to my local farm shop

which is very popular, the car park is

full which means parking in a wet

muddy field. It is

good to have the

solid premium SUV

feel.

When motorway

driving, the high

driver’s seat gives me

a good command of

the road ahead. In

Drive mode I drive

economically and

choose Eco mode

when I’m negotiating the Saturday

traffic nightmare around town. Sport

mode is useful when I’m driving on

country lanes and need precise

steering for sharp cornering and a

firmer body. But mostly I engage

Normal.

Honda says the more rigid body

structure and extensive suspension

changes deliver a more comfortable

driving experience.

The HR-V is only available with a

petrol electric e-HEV powertrain.

There is no need to plug in and

charge. Two compact powerful

electric motors work alongside a 1.5

litre petrol engine and a lithium-ion

battery. The total power output is

131PS which means climbing hills with

ease. And when coasting or braking

down hills, I select B on the

transmission section and energy is

recovered.

The Honda HR-V e:HEV is a great

family car for commuting, shopping

trips and visiting family and friends.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance Style

Engine: 1.5i-MMD eCVT

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77

April Fools Day

The History & the Disasters!

With April Fools Day just round the corner we

look back a the history of 1st April and why we

love to celebrate the Day with a bit of fun and

games. The earliest origins of April Fools Day

seem to come from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

where a vain cock is tricked by a Fox on 1st

April.

In 1980 the BBC World service announced on April 1st

the Big Ben's Iconic Clock face was going Digital and

if people got in touch with the BBC they could win the

hands of the old clock, unfortunately people didnt see

the funny side of this story and the BBC apologised for

weeks after.

Traditionally though April fools pranks are supposed to

cease at at 12 noon on the day and any more tricks

after that time the prankster is considered to be the

fool. One of the earliest pranks to have taken place

dates back from 1857 when tickets were issued to

watch the "Washing of the Lions" at the Tower of

London on April 1st, no event took place!!

April Fools Day is not just a prank in this country

either, as countries around the world celebrate making

fun out of each other, but I think we are the best at it,

for example in 1957 the BBC Broadcast a film showing

Swiss Farmers growing spaghetti from special

spaghetti plants. The BBC was then flooded with

requests to purchase these magical Spaghetti plants.

The next day The BBC admited it was a hoax.

While there at it could they install a

snooze button!!

My favourite story was the discovery of a new animal,

the lesser known Lirpa Loof that had been discovered

on this day, only then to work out what a Lirpa Loof

was....................April Fool Backwards!!

And most years we tend to get a "New" picture of The

Loch Ness Monster and I'm sure this year will no

different even if it has a traffic cone on its head!!

So on Friday 1st April when you are either opening up

your newspaper or watching the News, don't

necessarily believe everything you are seeing, even if

it tells you that Boris is still Prime Minister!

The BBC's Spaghetti harvest fooled

hundreds of people

Happy April Fools Day!!

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OUTDOOR STORAGE

DOESN'T HAVE

TO BE BORING

Think of a garden shed, and

there's a good chance you'll

think of a wooden box filled

with tools, junk, and spiders.

You might even think of that

place at the bottom of the

garden where Dad goes for

some peace and quiet. If these

are the images that spring to

mind, you might be surprised to

learn that outdoor buildings no

longer need to be solely

functional. Instead, they can

become a stylish asset to your

garden or outdoor space.

A Quiet Retreat

With a lick of paint and some soft

furnishings, even the blandest of

sheds can be transformed into an

outdoor retreat. A beautiful

colour complete with a

comfortable chair or two can be

a costeffective way of creating

your very own summer house!

Add some shelving and hooks for

those gardening essentials and

you can enjoy a cup of tea and

some peace and quiet in your

very own stylish shed. Who says

style and practicality can't go

handinhand?

Space Savvy

If your outdoor space is at a

premium, then look no further

than a leanto storage unit.

Available in a range of colours

and designs, the narrow design

of a leanto spacesaver could be

the perfect solution.

You can keep your

tools, plant pots, and

even outdoor furniture

safe and dry as the

seasons change,

without taking up all of

your outdoor room.

Functionality doesn’t

have to be bland and

boring.

Crafting Hideaway

If you dream of a space

at home for your

hobby, but you don't have the

room to spare indoors, then why

not consider an outdoor shed or

greenhouse? Whether you have

an old build that could use a little

love, or if your budget stretches

to a brand new one, a dedicated

room outdoors could be the

perfect place for your hobby to

thrive! Perfect for storing all of

your bits and pieces, you can

spend hours relaxing in your own

private room, without the worry

of being disturbed.

Perfect Playhouse

If you have little ones in your life

that would love a garden

playhouse, but your budget

doesn't quite reach a new build,

then why not consider

transforming your old garden

shed into the home of their

dreams? With some elbow

grease, some paint, and some

clever decoration, even the

drabbest of sheds can become a

des res for your little ones. Get

them involved with the

refurbishment, and they will have

hours of fun in their very own,

unique piece of garden real

estate.

Build Your Own Bar!

If you love to entertain, why not

build (or buy) your very own

outdoors bar? From flatpack

functionality to bespoke designs,

if you enjoy an outdoors tipple,

then a bar could be the perfect

way of turning an old shed from

boring to brilliant! Be your very

own landlord and decide when

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me!

The sky really is the limit when it

comes to transforming a garden

shed or greenhouse into an

outdoor structure to be proud of.

Your shed will never look the

same again.

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PROTECTING AGAINST

DIABETES ONSLAUGHT

Increasing levels of obesity are adding to the huge

numbers of people across the UK who live with Type 2

diabetes.

Nearly four million people have been diagnosed with

the life-long condition - and there are an estimated

million who have the illness but do not know it.

Guidance to identify and treat people at high risk of

developing Type 2 diabetes is published by the

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

NICE has identified the groups who should be

encouraged to have a risk assessment so that, if

deemed at risk, they can be offered advice to delay or

prevent onset of the condition.

These groupings include people aged 40 and above,

except pregnant women; people aged between 25-39

and of South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or

Black African descent and other high risk black and

minority ethnic groups and adults with conditions that

increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

These people are encouraged to contact their GP for

two blood tests. Once confirmed as high risk, they

should be referred to a local programme for practical

and tailored help to include support and

encouragement to become more physically active and

advice on how to maintain a healthy weight.

High Levels of Glucose

Diabetes happens when the amount of glucose in your

blood is too high because the body cannot use it

properly. This results when the pancreas does not

produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose

enter the body’s cells.

Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that

allows glucose to enter the body’s cells where it is

used as fuel for energy so we can work, play, and live

our lives.

If you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper

use of this glucose, so it builds up in the blood and is

not able to be used as fuel.

“This excellent guidance document…gives

strong evidence that identifying people at high

risk of Type 2 diabetes is a vital part of

preventing the condition and can also help

diagnose those who have it earlier so that they

can be helped to avoid serious complications

developing. We are particularly pleased that it

recommends assessments for all those in high

risk groups and we welcome the fact that it

recognises the vital importance of the NHS

Health Check programme for identifying people

at high risk.”

Spokesperson for Diabetes UK

Support For All

The Diabetes UK website has a wide range of

resources to support people with diabetes and their

families, as well as professionals. This includes an

online Risk Score which can be used to assess your

chances of developing the condition. This can be

accessed at www.diabetes.org.uk/riskscor

PULL YOURSELF

TOGETHER –

START TALKING

ABOUT MENTAL

HEALTH

Around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem

this year yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the

mental health problem itself. Lots of us have felt worried

about the coronavirus pandemic, and everyone will feel

differently about the changes to lockdown restrictions.

Around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem

this year yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the

mental health problem itself. Lots of us have felt worried

about the coronavirus pandemic, and everyone will feel

differently about the changes to lockdown restrictions.

Despite vigorous campaigning and growing awareness of

mental health issues, it seems some people just aren’t

getting the message. Cliches such as “pull yourself together”

and “snap out of it” are still being dished out by the less well

informed to those who bravely try to be open about their

mental illness.

Sadly, stigma is still a big hurdle that many people with a

mental health problem must face. Sufferers of mental illness

say stigma is one of the hardest parts of the illness, and often

worse than the symptoms themselves. It can lead to loss of

friendships, feeling isolated, not seeking the help they need

and sadly, a slower recovery process. Ultimately these

common cliches can make it even harder for people to speak

out.

Due to the myths that still surrounding mental health

problems, starting a conversation about it can often feel

awkward. However, talking and being open about mental

health can help to break down the stigma and discrimination

that many people face every day.

To this end and to help show that mental health doesn't have

to be a scary subject, the latest campaign by Time to Change

includes a new film with tips on how to start a conversation

about mental health called ‘Ask Twice’. You can watch the

video at https://youtu.be/HjjMMkgMCaM

Sometimes we say we’re fine when we’re not. But, with 1 in 4

people experiencing a mental health problem this year alone,

if a friend says they are fine, they might not be. The video’s

message is that to really find out, ask twice.

If you feel unsure how best to respond to a person who is

discussing their mental health, then you might be surprised to

know that simply listening can be the best answer. People

with a mental health problem say that listening, being open

minded and non-judgemental about their experiences are the

most important factors for them.

Facing a mental health issue can be challenging and often a

lack of understanding can make some people unsure of what

to say. Time to Change have provided 5 simple steps to

opening up about mental health:

1. Take it seriously - It can feel embarrassing and exposing to

talk about your thoughts and feelings, especially if they’re

disturbing. Don’t laugh or treat it like a joke. However strange

it might seem to you, remember it’s real to them.

2. Listen and reflect - You don’t have to have all the answers

– just listening can make a big difference. Try and show that

you’re taking on board what they’re saying. You can do this

by reflecting – that is, saying something simple like “that

sounds really difficult”. You could also say something like

“thanks for telling me”, to show that you appreciate having

the conversation.

3. Ask questions - We worry about prying when it comes to

others’ mental health, but it’s better to ask questions. It can

help them to get things off their chest, and by keeping the

conversation going it shows that you care.

Some of the questions you might ask:

> “What does it feel like?”

> “What kind of thoughts are you having?”

>“How can I help?"

4. Don’t try and fix it - It’s human nature to want to fix things

but expecting things to change right away isn’t helpful. It’s not

your job to make their mental health problem go away – it’s

often more helpful just to listen, ask open questions and do

things you’d normally do together.

5. Build your knowledge - You might find it helpful to learn a

bit more about what they’re going through. If they mention a

specific diagnosis, you could learn more about it and read

personal stories by people who have experienced similar

things.

For more helpful advice, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk

To advertise within our next edition

covering

May and June

Contact Sarah or Leah on

01952 780058

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Website: www.fresh-colours.com

85

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WINE

At first glance, the subject of wine can seem

overwhelming and frankly rather

intimidating, but we explain why it’s all just a

matter of taste.

At first glance, the subject of wine can seem

overwhelming and frankly rather intimidating, what

with sniffing the bouquet and judging the finish a

novice wine taster could easily be put off. However

there really is no need, as all you need to remember

is that wine is supposed to be enjoyable, so simply

buy the wine you most like the taste of regardless of

current fashions or trends.

To help you get started there are just three simple

steps to remember when choosing a wine: look,

smell and taste. But if you have time and the

inclination, understanding the basics of wine types,

selections, storage and tasting will add new

dimensions to your wine experience. A good way to

get to know more about wine is to start by taking a

grape variety you know, then work your way

through different examples from around the world.

Lovers of Aussie Chardonnay, for instance, might

enjoy barrel-matured white Burgundy. Or if you’ve

already discovered fruit-filled Chilean Cabernet,

then you really need to try the aristocratic reds of

Bordeaux.

Find out for yourself why the wines of New Zealand

have become so popular, or experience the

everlasting appeal of Burgundy. Just a few rungs up

the price ladder, flavours become more intense,

making it far easier to stick to a single glass. When

exploring, don’t be afraid to ask questions of waiters

or shop staff; if properly trained they will be full of

useful advice. Generally speaking, a good wine

can be purchased for well under £10 these days,

but try to avoid the really cheap offers, as these are

rarely the best value for money. Excise duty, VAT,

transport and packaging are virtually the same

whether it’s a basic vin de table or from a

prestigious estate. By paying a little extra, say £5-7,

you get a big increase in wine quality.

If you find the thought of buying wine in a specialist

wine shop too daunting, then why not buy from the

comfort of your armchair? More people are

ordering their wine online thanks to the

convenience and range of wines on offer. Online

wine merchants invariably provide more information

about their wines than you will find on the label

when perusing the supermarket shelves.

When pairing wine with a specific food or meal

there are just a few things to remember. Like a good

marriage, wine and food were meant for each

other, as each enhances and strengthens the

experience of the whole. So why does it feel so

daunting to try to pair foods with wines? If you are

under the misapprehension that there is a hefty list

of rules and guidelines that state which wine can be

paired with which food then you are in for a

surprise.

The truth is there are no rules when matching your

favourite wines with your favourite recipes. Yes,

there are popular matches and well-used pairings

of wine and food but ultimately the best match is

what pleases your palate. It is truly a personal

preference, but if you don’ feel confident enough

to trust your own taste you can always ask for some

more experienced advice. With expert wine

merchants available at your fingertips, it has

become a whole lot easier to learn more about

wines and enjoy them at very competitive prices.

The only golden rule would be to avoid cheap

supermarket wine and you’ll discover a little good

wine really does go a long way.

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48 Newcomen Way, Telford, TF7 5UB

Registered OCE: 48 Newcomen Way, Telford, Shropshire TF7 5UB United Kingdom

SEE YOUR KITCHEN IN A NEW LIGHT

Does your kitchen bear more resemblance to a bomb

site than culinary heaven? No need to fork out on

new units – try this cost-effective lighting solution first.

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of

kitchen design and one of the simplest and most

affordable ways of transforming your kitchen into a

versatile living space with the all-important wow

factor.

With kitchens most often forming the heart of the

modern home, well thought out lighting can enhance

the best details and create a warm homely

atmosphere perfect for dining, entertaining and

family fun. Conversely, an otherwise impressive

kitchen can look dreary and unexciting if insufficient

attention has been paid to its lighting.

You don’t have to be a lighting expert to give your

kitchen some added pizzazz, just follow these few top

tips from the Welsh kitchen manufacturer Sigma 3 on

how to use kitchen lighting to maximum effect.

Think function

Lighting requirements vary depending on the size and

layout of the kitchen. While primarily a food

preparation area, it may also be used for dining or as

a gathering place for family and friends. Small

kitchens may require only a central ceiling fixture

while more elaborate kitchens will benefit from a

blend of general, task and accent lighting. However,

even the smallest kitchens can be transformed and

made to look much more spacious, with clever undercabinet

or plinth lighting.

Play it safe

To create a safe kitchen environment, work surfaces

and food preparation areas need to be effectively lit.

Ensure that light shines directly down onto the

worktop by using low-voltage lights recessed into the

underside of wall units or lights fitted centrally over an

island.

Don’t be harsh

The best lighting is unobtrusive, so choose low-voltage

halogen spotlights fitted into the ceiling for the most

subtle effect. This type of ambient illumination can be

combined with any other style of lighting depending

on the look of your kitchen, from chandeliers for a

traditional design to sleek modern fittings for a more

contemporary feel.

Cabinet reshuffle

Accent lighting is used to highlight certain features in

your kitchen and to create a mood. You can install

lighting inside a glass door cabinet for a dramatic

look and to showcase glassware and other prized

possessions.

Don’t ignore the floor

If you’ve just laid a lovely new floor as part of your

kitchen renovation, make a feature of it by ensuring

it’s not left in the shadows. Plinth lighting creates a

beautiful link between the furniture and the floor,

emitting a soft glow and casting light across the floor.

Blue LEDs work best for grey, slate and white tiles,

while amber LEDs are better for warmer floor colours.

Halogen lamps work well for pretty much any floor

colour, especially wood floors.

Give the green light

LEDs have revolutionised kitchen lighting. They have a

life of between 50,000 and 100,000 hours and

produce very little heat, making them much safer

than standard bulbs for little hands or wandering

paws. As well as looking great they are kind to the

environment.

Nice but dim

Consider adding dimmers to the various light sources

in your kitchen. Not only does this allow you to easily

set the mood in the kitchen but it’s also a great way

to save electricity.

For more information go to: http://www.sigma3.co.uk

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www.ronsrurnishers.co.uk

7 Marsh Lane Parade, Fordhouses, Wolverhampton

01902 783847 or 07419 986828

WE ARE

HERE

*Excludes headboard

Just off Jct 2 - M54

Greggs

Marsh Lane Parade

Ming Car Park

Moon

Stafford Road A449

A NEWBIE GUIDE TO GROWING HOUSEPLANTS

The world’s obsession with houseplants has only grown

in the last twelve months. It seems like everyone has

adopted their very own monstera or two and if you

want to join in it can be hard to know where to start.

Becoming a plant person takes effort and commitment

but once your home is full of lush green foliage it

certainly seems worth it. Houseplants offer tons of health

benefits and look beautiful in any room, making every

space feel more welcoming and warm. However, if

you’ve had struggles in the past with keeping your pot

plants alive then it’s worth taking a step back and

reading this handy guide to growing and caring for

houseplants before you take the plunge.

Start Simple With Succulents

Killing a succulent takes some serious effort. Even the

least green-fingered among us should be able to keep

a succulent or two alive without too much trouble.

They’re great value, easy to care for and there is a

huge range of different colours, sizes and types to

choose from. All they want is bright light and very

occasional watering, every 10 days to two weeks.

Popular start succulents include mini or dwarf aloes,

haworthia and jade plants.

Step It Up With A Low-Maintenance Challenge

If your succulents are getting on OK and you’re

confident you’re ready for the next step, then look at

something which requires a little more attention but

shouldn’t be too overwhelming. Remember, any plant

you add to your collection will need time to adjust and

within a few weeks it will be all settled in and enjoying

the light made available to it. Other tips to remember

include ensuring your pots have a hole to allow for

proper irrigation. Popular choices for beginners that are

moving on from succulents include elegant Rabbit’s

foot fern plants and the classic Rubber tree, which looks

great and doesn’t need too much bright sunlight.

Watch Your Water, Choose your Food

Watering errors are one of the main things which kill off

houseplants. New plant mums often drown their plants

by accident and it’s often the case that your

houseplant really won’t need all that much watering.

When you do water, keep going until it runs out of the

bottom of the pot and then test the pot’s weight. This is

the weight you’re looking for as it shows the soil is

saturated, if the pot feels lighters, it’s time for a top-up.

Plants don’t need watering to schedule and you need

to check each plant individually to cater to its needs.

You may also want to think about the plant food you

choose for your new babies. Many plant owners think

they have to provide specific plant food but this isn’t

always the case. You could try liquid fertilisers or similar if

you want to, but most plants thrive just fine with the right

amount of water and sunlight. Changing and refreshing

their soil every now and then is also recommended too.

Most plants let you know exactly how to care for them

on their labels so make sure you keep hold of them too.

Good Luck!

O.L.S Stone

Come and check us out for the biggest and best

selection of garden ornaments you’ll see...

07709

287377

O.L.S Stone

35 Barnfield

Crescent

Wellington,

Telford, TF1 2EU

Gift Vouchers

available!

In the best traditions of Victor Meldrew below are real complaints to local councils that when

written down may not have come across as the writer intended, we'll let you decide:

Only in Britain – Complaints to Councils and extracts of letters written to them:

1. It's the dog's mess that I find hard to swallow.

2. I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off.

3. I wish to complain that my father twisted his ankle very badly when he put his foot in

the hole in his back passage.

4. Their 18 year old son is continually banging his balls against my fence.

5. I wish to report that tiles are missing from the outside toilet roof. I think it was bad

wind the other day that blew them off.

6. My lavatory seat is cracked, where do I stand?

7. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is coming away from the wall.

8. Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on

it yesterday and now she is pregnant.

9. I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.

10. 50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster, and 50% are just

plain filthy.

11. I am still having problems with smoke in my new drawers.

12. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children until it is cleared.

13. Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny colour and not fit

to drink.

14. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and now is in three pieces.

15. I want to complain about the farmer across the road. Every morning at 6am his cock

wakes me up and it's now getting too much for me.

16. The man next door has a large erection in the back garden, which is unsightly

and dangerous.

17. Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two children and would like a third, so please

send someone round to do something about it.

18. I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and would you please do something

about the noise made by the man on top of me every night.

19. Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job and satisfy my wife.

20. I have had the clerk of works down on the floor six times but I still have

no satisfaction.

21. This is to let you know that our lavatory seat is broken and we can't get BBC2.

22. My bush is really overgrown round the front and my back passage has fungus growing in it.

23. He's got this huge tool that vibrates the whole house and I just can't take it anymore.

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‘Made to Measure Perfection’

FRIENDLY FAMILY RUN BUSINESS PROVIDING TOP QUALITY BLINDS WITH A TOP QUALITY SERVICE

=Blinds =Curtains =Shutters =Garden Awnings.

For a FREE quotation call: 07876 624022

E: Info@smithsdeluxeblinds.co.uk I W: www.smithsdeluxeblinds.co.uk

93

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The Telford Driveway Company have

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standards of quality workmanship.

Offering a competitive quotation,

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WHAT WE DO:

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3, 4, and 5 bedroom Linden Homes launch 12th March

Our luxury new development will

offer 3, 4, and 5 bedroom homes

situated in the stunning county of

Shropshire. Offering key links to

Telford, the M54 and beyond…

Perfect for growing families, firsttime

buyers, and those looking to

settle down we’ve got homes to suit

everyone. We’ve also included our

Hedgehog Highways on site so we

can make sure we’re taking care of

the local wildlife and the local

community.

This new community offers play

areas for children, including a

running track and playground.

There are many schools located

around the area, as well as day

nurseries for the younger children.

The local primary school St

George’s Church of England is

situated just 2 miles away and

regarded as one of the most

outstanding schools in the area. In

addition, there are multiple primary

schools in the surrounding area

including Redhill Primary Academy

and Priorslee Academy, both offer

good Ofsted reports. For senior

pupils, there is Thomas Telford

Secondary School & Sixth Form, the

Holy Trinity Academy, and the

Telford Priory School. Telford

College is just 4 miles away and the

University of Wolverhampton Telford

Campus is 2 miles.

The M54 is just a short drive away

with easy access to Shrewsbury and

Birmingham. From the M54 you can

pick up the M6 and head towards

Manchester or further afield.

Birmingham airport is around 50

minutes away by car or 1 hour by

rail. If you want to explore a Welsh

coastline such as Aberystwyth it will

take you just under two hours.

The Forge Retail Park offers a range

of shopping options including TK

Maxx, Next, Dunelm and Sainsburys

for the weekly shop. In Telford itself

there are plenty of brand names to

choose from with major high street

brands available. If you opt to go

further afield then Shrewsbury

centre offers a range of

independent shops and boutiques.

With plenty of going on in and

around the town of Telford, the

Wrekin is certainly one of the

biggest attractions in the area. The

walks are great for a rambler’s

retreat or general sunny day out.

Along with the Wrekin, the Iron

Bridge is one of Shropshire’s most

popular symbols, located in

Ironbridge town on the River

Severn. Close by is the Blists Hill

Victorian Village which is an openair

museum that recreates the sights

of the Victorian era.

On top of the unique specification

at The Quarters, you can also use

the Bovis Homes Select brochure to

add even more finishing touches to

your property, personalising your

new home just the way you want it.

From upgrading your bathrooms

with stunning ceramics, or adding

smooth sliding wardrobes to your

master bedroom, there are a wide

range of additional options and

choices available. We also have a

range of flooring for you to choose

from that includes luxurious carpets,

stylish Karndean, ceramics and

vinyl. There’s also a choice of

branded appliances for your

kitchen as well as lighting and

electrical upgrades.

Enjoy a fresh start

this Spring

at The Quarters @ Redhill

There’s no better time to put down new roots - and you

can do just that when our latest development in Redhill

is released this Spring.

For more information

please call

01156 728 139

or search

Linden Homes Mercia

Located in the county of Shropshire, this new

With support from

BOOK NOW

Sunday 24th April 2022

Raising lifesaving funds for

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

Book your tickets now at: bike4lifefest.com

Telford & Newport Scene magazine Spring edition 2022

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