the image in stratford april 2011

your free local magazine

The Image...in Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding areas

A P R I L 2 0 1 1I S S U E 1 1

check out...WEDDINGS featureHEALTH & FITNESSHANDY ANDYFOOD for thought

WINa meal for four at Salford Hall

QUIZ

This month’s prize is a fabulous Sunday lunch for four at Salford Hall Hotel, Salford Priors.

Congratulations to Mrs Angela Farmer – last month’s winner of a meal for four, courtesy of

Grants, Sheep Street.

Did you know that The Shakespeare Hospice need to raise £1 ¼ million just to maintain their

services throughout the year? So in conjunction with De Montfort Country Dining we will be

holding a charity dinner and tombola on Saturday 23rd April. £10 from each ticket sold will be

donated to the Hospice, plus money from the tombola.

So if you fancy a great night out and want to help The Shakespeare Hospice then call De

Montfort Country Dining direct on 01386 41277. Don’t forget Mother’s Day on the 3rd April!

Instead of the usual flowers, why not really treat your mother and help raise funds for The

Shakespeare Hospice. For more information please see page 19.

Also, I would like to thank in advance the generosity of all the businesses who have supplied

prizes for the tombola. Check out next month’s issue for a full list of all who have donated prizes.

As you know we also support the TARRS charity which saves the lives of stray, abandoned,

abused and death row dogs. They also rescue and re-home cats. A couple of items they always

need are old blankets and towels. TARRS are raising funds for new kennels which are desperately

needed, as currently all the animals are in foster homes! If you want to donate items or money

(not food) then please call Sophie on 07734442785. Also look out for their charity Dog Show on

the 29th May at De Montfort Country Dining! Further details will follow in our next issue.

I hope you enjoy reading your local magazine, supporting local businesses and the community.

Regards

JJ

Useful Numbers page 02

Computing page 03

Health & Wellbeing page 05

Weddings feature page 10

Give a dog a home page 12

Gardener’s Corner page 15

Handy Andy page 20

Food and Drink page 26

Quiz page 28

Contents:

p.s. Join our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for up-to-date news,

deals and discounts between issues! If you know of any local events

happening in the area, please email [email protected]

All adverts in this magazine are published in good faith. The Image

in Stratford does not accept responsibility for their accuracy or for

claims made by advertisers that are false or incorrect.

Welcome to the April edition

JJ

Quiz Night In Aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Heart Appeal

Come along and join in with our ‘Knowledge & Nibbles’ for a night of fun, to raise money for a very worthwhile cause.

Teams of 4-6 people, £3/person. Thurs 14th April 2011 from 7pm at Number 1 Shakespeare Street, Stratford Upon Avon. (Adults only due to venue).

Visit www.justgiving.com/BCHquiz for more information and to book your place.

This month’s Hot Offers:

Look out for the ‘Hot Offer’ badge to see the deals you can get with these adverts:

Buckle & Hyde – page 09

Oldhams – page 25 HOT OFFER!

0 1A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Keeping Families Together for Longer

Please detach and return this form to The Shakespeare Hospice at Church Lane, Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon. CV37 9UL.

To find out more about the Hospice’s services and the ways you could support their work, please call 01789 266852 or visit www.theshakespearehospice.org.uk

✂

We are all familiar with phrases like ‘there’s no place like home’ and ‘home is where the heart is’. Home is also where the majority of seriously ill or dying people would choose to receive nursing care and support.

Sadly, this is not always the case and too many people experience unnecessary and distressing Hospital admissions or separation from their family. However, thanks to the incredible work of The Shakespeare Hospice’s Hospice at Home Service who provide the highest hospice care for patients in their own home, the experience can be much more positive. What’s more, this service also provides invaluable support for those caring for a seriously ill or dying loved one.

The Hospice at Home team work day and night, 365 days a year. During the day they provide ‘hands on nursing care’, alongside the district nurses and the primary health care teams. At night, a member of the team is always on call, ready to provide advice or reassurance over the phone. Where required, the on call nurse will also visit the patient, regardless of the date, time or weather. These late night visits are often to help with pain control or to make the patient comfortable but they also provide support for the patient’s family.

A further aspect of the team’s work is the provision of overnight care which gives carers and families the chance to rest, safe in the knowledge that their loved one is in safe hands.

This invaluable work is almost exclusively funded by the generous support we get from our local community and one of the best ways to support The Shakespeare Hospice is by setting-up a regular gift to the Hospice.

Regular gifts not only help to fund the Hospice’s work but they also help the Hospice to plan our future care with a little more confidence.

Regular gifts also enable you to make a difference in a way that fits in with your personal budget; you can increase, decrease or cancel your regular gift at any time. What’s more, if donated by a UK taxpayer, regular gifts are also eligible for Gift Aid, which means your gift could be worth up to 28% extra to the Hospice at no extra cost to you.

... reduce a patient or carer’s stress and discomfort by paying for a complementary therapy session.

... relieve several patient’s pain by covering the costs of two new mobile TENS machines which can help patients with a wide range of medical conditions and can be used in the Day Hospice or in a patient’s home.

... provide specialist nursing care and support for a seriously ill person and their family by paying for a visit from our Hospice at Home team. This invaluable service is available to patients 365 days a year.

... help a patient living and working with a serious illness like cancer by funding up to 7 physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions.

£2per month

could...

How your gift can help – Over the course of a year, a gift of...

£5per month

could...

£10per month

could...

£25per month

could...

All examples above are based on monthly gifts which includes added Gift Aid.

M111

www.theimage-stratford.co.ukstratford_imageThe Image in Stratfordsearch:

The Image ...in Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding areas

0 2 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

HospitalsNHS Direct 0845 4647

Stratford 01789 205831

Warwick 01926 495321

Alcester 01789 762470

PoliceStratford 01789 414111

Alcester 01789 762207

UtilitiesGas Emergency 0800 111 999

Electricity Power Loss 0800 3281111

Severn Trent 0800 7834444

BT Fault Line 0800 800151

Miscellaneous Citizens Advice 01789 293299

01789 261966

Stratford Library 01789 292209

Alcester Library 01789 762430

Bidford Library 01789 773239

Henley in Arden Library 01564 792965

Doctors / Health Rother House MC 01789 269386

Bridge House MC 01789 292201

Arden MC 01789 414942

Trinity Court 01789 292895

Alcester HC 01789 763060

Arrow Lodge Surgery 01789 763293

Bidford HC 01789 773372

Useful NumbersThe Image RETAIL SPA

Choosing a Marketing ToolIn last month’s Image, we focussed on the key considerations when setting up a marketing plan. But how do you get the message “out there“ to the world? There are loads of vehicles for this purpose which can seem bewildering but it’s not if you go with what is comfortable and manageable to you. Don’t bite off more than you can chew!

Some key considerations for what tool to use.1/ What is right you?

You and your team need to manage the campaign and it is therefore vital that you use a method that everyone understands and can embrace. Keep the approach as uncomplicated as possible.

2/ Budget

Don’t overspend. Set a budget – not only in money terms but also time. This is key when it comes to measuring results.

3/ The customer

Think about your target audience, where they live and what their lifestyle and interests are likely to be?

Once you have decided on a budget and a direction it’s time to choose a marketing vehicle. Here are some suggestions:1/ Think Locally

There is a world of opportunity on your doorstep. Don’t just place an advert with a local paper or magazine – think about writing an article on your area of speciality. Join a local networking group – these are often full of local businesses and a great marketing network. Have you contacts at the Local radio station? Consider a live broadcast!

2/ Social Media

The hot trend at the moment but it’s far more than just Twitter and Facebook. Social Media allows us to share and interact, step out of our immediate environment and get to communicate with a whole host of people who would normally be out of reach. The best ones to use are Twitter, Blog, Facebook, Youtube and a rising star – Four Square. Google them to find out more.

3/ Loyalty Schemes

These are incentives for customers to return to your business. Use of a point system or a discount is a fantastic way of building up your database of customers and targeting those customers who love your brand.

A host of ways and means but the key is to use the ones you are most at ease with. In the next edition, we will demonstrate how to measure the results of your campaign – one of the most challenging elements of marketing.

After spending twenty years building key brands in the High Street, retail spa is now working with independent retailers , making their life easier by solving important retail problems.

If you are or know a shop owner who would like support and a free retail spa assessment, please contact Tony Scott at retail spa on 07894 222557 or go to the website at www.retailspa.co.uk.

0 3J U N E 2 0 1 0 0 3A P R I L 2 0 1 1

RETAIL SPAChoosing a Marketing Tool

G&R Computers6 The MinoriesHenley Street

Stratford Upon AvonCV37 6NF

www.grcomputers.com

Microsoft WindoWs certified Partner

• New computer service centre open

• Qualified Technicians

• Business contracts available

[email protected]

The ImageComputersVirus Prevention Facts and FadsThe majority of computers are now connected to the Internet, and most of the time they are connected 24/7. That means that they are at the hands of the thousands of hackers that lurk the web. If you don’t want to be a victim of their activities, you need to assure yourself that the firewall of your computer is activated and protecting all of its entrances.

Among the many ways on how to prevent viruses, anti-spyware software has become the latest fad. Although viruses are quite old (they have more than 20 years of existence), spyware is relatively new. These programs became famous in the last few years, when the use of the internet became widespread throughout the world

Fortunately, several computer security companies found that it was an interesting niche market that could be exploited. That’s why they developed programs for fighting this menace. You only need to make a basic query in your favourite search engine and you will find many options. If you don’t know which is better, don’t

worry. Most of them come with trial periods. That way you will be able to test them before spending your hard-earned pounds. But don’t stick to the ones you have heard of as there are some really good ones out there and some not so good ones. But remember NOTHING is ever free, so stay clear of free internet security software as you will only have very minimal security cover.

However, there is another important question: how to avoid computer viruses? The first rule of thumb is to be wary of the attachments that you download from electronic mails. Although an email can be sent by a friend, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t virus free. Assure yourself by configuring your email software. That way, every time you receive an email, your antivirus will check it.

The same thing goes for files that are downloaded from the internet. There are thousands of websites full of free games and software utilities. If you download files from those sites, check them; even if they come from sites like Download.com. Additionally, if you use programs like Bit Torrent and Emule or LimeWire for downloading content, you must be VERY careful.

Those files could be infested with viruses and spyware as you would not have a clue what is being downloaded until it is too late.

Finally, you must educate all the users if you want to prevent spyware, viruses or any other kind of malware. It doesn’t matter if you spend one hundred pounds a year in security software if your little cousin accidentally downloads a virus through an Instant Messaging program like MSN Messenger.

So in short if you want to avoid computer viruses, you need to do your homework and keep yourself updated. That doesn’t mean that you have to transform into a computer geek navigating through dozens of forums. Remember, in order to prevent computer viruses, you must be prepared and have a purchased internet security on your computer.

Barney Meredith

G & R Computers, 6 The Minories Henley Street Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6NF

01789 299901


Helen at Strawberry Sofa

Tel: 077400309750

www.strawberrysofa.com

Hi Everyone – as promised my walkslim diary. As you can see progress is steady, Helen has assured me this is a good thing, as it is not all about weight loss, but about getting fit. – A Lifestyle Change, feeling better in myself, and having more energy! Just keep on walking. 1 hours brisk walk = 250 calories! Even the dog is impressed with all the walks that she gets now – in fact I only have to put my shoes on and she thinks she is going for a walk!

As I promised last month here are a few menu ideas:

Breakfast – aim for around 250 Calories

• 2 Weetabix and a piece of fruit• 1 Banana plus a low cal yogurt and 1 tsp muesli • 1 rasher of Bacon, 1 poached egg, grilled tomato or mushrooms

Lunch – around 350 Calories

• 2 Slices of granary bread, 100g of wafer thin ham, beef or chicken, pickle and salad• 4 crisp breads with 100g of low fat Philadelphia and salad + a piece of fruit.• Medium size jacket potato with 1 of the following; 200g baked beans, 100g cottage cheese, 100g tuna and a large mixed salad on the side.

Dinner - around 500 Calories Remember a smaller plate makes it look more!

• Spaghetti Bolognaise, lean mince dry fried, chopped onion, tinned tomato, splash of Worcester sauce, clove of garlic and tsp mixed herbs serve with 2oz of dried spaghetti• 1 grilled salmon steak, stir fry veg with ginger and soy sauce served on a bed of noodles.• Mixed bean casserole (add chicken thighs if you like), fry an onion and clove of garlic together, add a tin of tomatoes, some mixed beans along with spices and herbs to taste – if including chicken, add, pop into casserole dish and cook.

Try and keep a food diary – this way you will be able to monitor what you eat, and keep a running total of calories.

To find out how you can lose a 1lb a week, and start to feel fit and healthy - give Helen at Strawberry Sofa a call on 077400309750

with Suezy, and Helen from Strawberry Sofa

WalkslimMarch Walkslim Diary Age: 53Height: 5ft.1 ½” Starting weight: 15.10 3/4 Stone Last month’s weigh in: 15.5 StoneMarch weigh in: 15.00 StoneMarch weight loss: 5lbTotal weight loss: 10 ¾ lb

Daily Allowance: • ½ pint Skimmed Milk • 250 Calories Breakfast • 150 Calories Snack • 400 Calories Lunch • 500 Calories Dinner • 100 Calories Treat

Suezy x

0 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


0 5A P R I L 2 0 1 1


The Imagehealth & wellbeingIrritable Bowel Syndrome

The month of April is International IBS Awareness Month. If you have IBS, you are not alone – IBS is common with worldwide prevalence estimated at 9% to 23%. A large percentage of the patients I see complain of IBS.

IBS has many causes - it can be caused by food sensitivities, stress, lactose intolerance, malabsorption of nutrients, infection, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis and more.

The most common foods that trigger IBS are wheat, diary products, coffee, tea, citrus fruits and chocolate. In a study in which people were put on a food elimination diet for a year, bloating was relived by 88%, colic pain was reduced by 90%, diarrhoea was reduced 85% and constipation improved in 54%. Also, 79% of people who had other symptoms, such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and hives, saw their symptoms improve.

Jackie Tarling is a Nutritional Therapist working from the prestigious Wildmoor Spa in Stratford upon Avon. She can also offer the Metabolic Balance® programme. Learn healthy and nutritious ways to improve your metabolism and weight naturally! Tel:0845 327 9070 or email [email protected].

Health & WellbeingWith Alveston ManorFitness Instructor Alveston Manor Hotel and Spa Tel: 0844879 9138

Exercise Equipment Duration Sets Reps Weight/Resistance

WARM UP-CV BIKE 10 min. Level 3/Speed min. 60 (rmp)

RUN TREADMILL 10 min. • 1 min 5.5 km/h• 8 min 7.2 km/h• 1 min 5.5 mk/h

Fixed Resistance Weights

LAT PULL DOWN LAT MACHINE/ REVERSE GRIP 20 sec. breaks 2 10 10kg

CHEST PRESS CHEST PRESS MACHINE 20 sec. breaks 2 10 10kg

Free Weights

LATERAL RAISE - STAND DUMBELLS 20 sec. breaks 2 10 2 kg

ALTERNATE ARM CURL DUMBELLS 20 sec. breaks 2 10 3 kg

Cool Down-CV

ROWING ROWING MACHINE 5 min. Level 6

Stretches

Stretches shoulder, middle back, arms, hands, fingers, wrist Hold 10 sec Relax and repeat

Stretches triceps, top of shoulders, waist Hold 10 sec Relax and repeat

Stretches middle back Hold 10 sec Relax and repeat

Stretches front on thigh (quadriceps) Hold 10 sec Relax and repeat

Stretches calf Hold 10 sec Relax and repeat

2 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Imagine a beautiful model walking into a car DIY store and buying a litre of motor oil, then proceeding to pour it on her hair and smooth it into her face and arms. That picture might seem silly, but how many beauty products contain the same basic ingredient used in cars? Plenty. In fact, many people might be surprised to learn that crude oil is the basis of everything from plastics to carpeting.

Many people, however, might not like the idea that the same product used to make a plastic bag or run a car is also used in products like shampoo, soap, hairspray, and numerous cosmetics, from lip balm to mascara. Petroleum in beauty products goes by many names (mineral oil, paraffin wax, and petrolatum, just to name a few), and its pervasiveness is more widespread than one might think. There are many reasons to avoid petroleum in beauty products. Here are a few.

For beauty: According to Newsweek, American women spend over $400,000 in their lifetime on beauty maintenance. This figure leaves little doubt that women (particularly those in America) are obsessed with looking beautiful. So why should these women avoid petroleum-based products?

According to Kit Anderson, mineral oil (a petroleum product found in many beauty products) smothers the skin (the body’s largest organ), making it impossible for it to breathe. In fact, because of the way mineral oil works, Anderson claims that mineral oil is a poor choice for beauty products for these reasons:

• It disrupts the way the body naturally detoxifies.• It slows the rate at which cells are renewed, thereby damaging collagen, connective tissue, and elastin - all of which contribute to the way skin looks and feels.• It results in skin that ages prematurely.

She also mentions that many beauty products are made with the purpose of moisturising the skin, but petroleum products made as moisturisers ironically work against the skin by dehydrating it.

So what’s a girl (or guy) to do? Fortunately, in this day and age, there are many health and beauty products that intentionally avoid using petroleum-based ingredients. A little research and time spent reading labels will help people find out what products have petroleum ingredients so they can avoid them. A little more time spent researching will reveal numerous companies, who have pledged to make their products petroleum free.

Source material. Natural news

Why avoid petroleum in beauty products?

0 6 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


2 5A P R I L 2 0 1 1


The ImageFitnessDo you struggle finding time for exercise and the gym? Why not turn your household chores into an effective workout and get two things done at once! It’s thought that many women can spend as much as 2 hours a day cleaning around the house so what an opportunity for a great workout at the same time!

So how can you improve your cleaning workout and burn those calories? Make sure you have to go up and downstairs frequently to get a good aerobic workout, whilst bending down and stretching up helps to tone those muscles. Why not get your favourite music on to make you work that little bit harder. Remember, the more energetic your clean, the more calories you’ll burn.

To give you an idea of just how many calories you could be working off, here’s some typical household chores according to weightlossresources.co.uk

Make housework... a workout!

Activity Calories burnt in 1 hour*

*Based on a 37yr old female, 5ft 5, weighing 12 stone.Those who weigh more than this will burn more calories; those who weigh less will burn fewer calories.

Hoovering 193.7

Dusting 173.6

Painting, Inside Projects 66

Wallpapering 133.2

Gardening, Weeding 287.8

Mopping Floors 193.7

Car Washing 234

Cleaning Windows 180.3

Ironing 113.1

Walking up & down stairs 516.3

0 8 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


0 9A P R I L 2 0 1 1


Therapy of the Sole - a fishy businessAt Complete Spas• Professional Trained Staff• Hand Tank for manicured hands• Gift Vouchers for any Value• Ideal Mothers Day or Easter gift• Treatments from Only £5• Join us on Facebook

Therapy of the Sole is open 7 days a week and details can be found on Therapy of the Sole website www.therapyofthesole.co.uk or by telephoning 01386 831446.

We saw Therapy of the Sole’s advert in The Image –

Stratford magazine and immediately said, “We have

to have one of those fishy pedicures! Lets do it for

Valentine’s Day!” So we did. When we arrived

our feet were checked and cleansed before

immersion in the fish tanks.

The garra rufa were hungry and our feet were on

the menu. A little nervous, our feet went into the

tanks but garra rufa fish are the most well-mannered

eaters very gently nibbling their way through

lunch. 15 minutes later, the fish seemed replete and

our feet were baby-soft and dried on fresh white

towels. We’ll definitely be returning to see

our NBF(ish) again.

“

“

HOT OFFER!


1 0 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Hen Party: The rumours are that Kate will have her hen party at 4 different secret locations across London. This is being organised by her sister Pippa.

The Dress: It has been reported that this is to be made by British gown designer, Sarah Burton. Sarah took over from Alexander McQueen as Creative Director after his suicide in 2010.

The Shoes: Kate has commissioned 4 pairs of shoes for her wedding day of varying heights, if only we could all afford to do that? A pair of embroidered slippers will be worn to walk down the aisle in, with several other changes during the day and finishing with a high pair for the evening reception.

The Tiara: It is rumoured that the Queen asked for all the royal tiaras to be laid out so Kate could choose the one she would like to wear.

The Veil: It is customary for royal brides to wear a veil but if they are of royal birth then the veil will not cover their face. As Kate isn’t of royal birth then she will have the choice.

The Hair: All royal brides have their hair pulled off their face but Kate doesn’t like anything too harsh so something softer will be more likely.

Flowers: Apparently Kate’s favourite flowers are white lilies. These symbolise purity, modesty, virginity and majesty.

Cake: The Welsh National Culinary Team have been selected to bake the royal wedding cake

Photographer: It has been reported that Hugo Bernand, who was the official photographer at Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005 , has also been chosen as the official photographer for April 29th.

Ceremony: Will be held at Westminster Abbey.

Guest List: 1,900 guests at last count. Wow, now that’s a guest list.

Music: The Band of Welsh Guards will be performing as part of a £1 million pound contract. Welsh harpist, Clare Jones, will be performing at the reception.

Reception: Will be held at Buckingham Palace.

Honeymoon: The word is that William and Kate will honeymoon on the Isles of Scilly , which are off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula.

The Imageweddings

Expert advice from Nikki Vincent, The Stratford Wedding Co. T: 0844 357 4777 E: [email protected] W: www.stratfordweddingcompany.co.uk

With the Royal Wedding coming up at the end of April it would be rude not to give it a small mention. Here is all the latest news on what William and Kate are choosing for their special day.

Wedding WisdomAlways choose your dress first before you choose your accessories.

WMH

1 1A P R I L 2 0 1 1


providing marquees for you and your planned special occasion

Wedding Ceremonies | Corporate Events | Family Occasions

A HUGE SELECTION OF MARQUEES AND INTERIORS TO SUIT YOUR REQUIREMENTS.

FURNITURE, LIGHTING, FLOORING, STAGING AND TOILETS

ALSO AVAILABLE TO HIRE

Tel: 01789 778 574 Mob: 0788 798 3862 [email protected]

The Image in Stratford can help you

Our adverts come in a range

of sizes and all design work is

included in the price.

Your advert will also appear

on our e-magazine at www.

theimage-stratford.co.uk

and you can feature in our

mid-monthly e-newsletter.

Contact JJ on 07779 222301 or email sales@theimage- stratford.co.uk


0 6 M A R C H 2 0 1 11 2 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

The Animal Rescue& Rehabilitation Society

The people behind TARRS work tirelessly to make sure the day-to-day running of the rescue goes as smoothly as possible.

As most of the animals we take in are strays, abandonments and abuse cases, little is known about them which is why it can cost so much because we don’t know whether the animal has ever seen a vet or who it has been with. We always neuter, vaccinate, chip, worm and give flea treatment as standard before the animal goes out into a new home. Our extra time is spent on assessing the animals, training them, sometimes working on their behavioural problems and writing their profile ready for finding them a new home.

Unfortunately at the moment we do not have kennels and all of our dogs go straight into foster homes which sometimes are impractical due to not having any background on the animals we take in. We have launched a new fund raiser called the “TARRS Re-build” and we are hoping to raise enough funds to buy some kennels so we can take in and assess more dogs in a suitable environment before they go into their foster homes. Our first fund raiser for this will be a dog show held on Sunday 29th May 2011 at the De Montford Country Dining. For more information please visit our website on www.tarrs.org.uk

Sometimes we see some sadder cases arrive at the rescue like little Mack for example. At the beginning of March we took in a 10 week old cross breed puppy that was abandoned in a box with the lid shut tight in a small village just outside of Stratford-upon-Avon. He was luckily found by some passersby and is now in the care of TARRS. Mack as he is now called has recovered from his ordeal and is now looking for a home that will take care of him and love him forever. For more information about Mack please visit our website or call us on 0773 444 2785.

We also had another very under socialised kitten that came into the rescue at the beginning of February called Domino who is 10 months old. He was terrified of everything and had sustained injuries as a kitten to his jaw which made him very wary of humans. He is getting better with time and patience and now wants to be fussed but still hides and reacts to noises and new people. For more information about adopting Domino please visit our website or e-mail [email protected]

Roughly what we spend money and time on a cat when it comes into the rescue.• Vaccinations - £40.00• Worm and flea control - £23.86• Neutering a male cat - £42.39 (Females slightly higher)• Chipping £15.00• Food per month - £20.00 approx• Assessment – ½ hour• Behavioural Assessment if needed – 1 hour • Profile building onto website and finding the right home – ½ hour • Home-checking and delivery of the cat - £15.00 approx

Other expenses include phone calls, internet charges and website hosting and are all paid by the founder of the rescue and volunteers will quite often pay the petrol expenses themselves.

Roughly what we spend money and time on a dog when it comes into the rescue.• Vaccinations - £40.00• Worm and flea control - £23.86• Neutering a medium dog - £75.01 (Females will be higher and also dependant on weight)• Chipping - £15.00• Food per month - £25.00 approx• Assessment on dog – This takes roughly half an hour initially and develops over the time we have the animal.• Training of the dog – Once established what needs to be done with the dog on initial assessment, this gets carried out daily for half hour sessions.• Behavioural Assessment – If on initial assessment the dog needs help, a behaviour consultation can last up to two hours on planning and implementing solutions to help the dog.• Profile building – This is used on our website and to find the right home for the dog.• Home-checking and delivery of the dog - £15.00 approximately in petrol depending on the location of the new home.

Everyone that is involved with TARRS either works full or part-time around the rescue and we are all voluntary. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes of the rescue, it’s not just about taking in animals and looking after them, we also have to do admin work, rescue missions, vet trips, fund raising to keep the rescue going, home-checking and answering daily calls and e-mails from the public.

Mack

Domino

The Image Magazine supports TARRS by donating this page Free of Charge.

Stratford Music Centre

ROCK SCHOOL

SATURDAY4.00 – 5.15pmPlaces available after EasterDrums, guitars, keyboards and singersStudents 11-16yrsTermly Gig @ Cox’s YardIndividual lessons available

01789 [email protected]

1 3A P R I L 2 0 1 1


Easter Dance School Dance off those Easter Eggs!Would your child like to experience new styles of dance and try out lots of different dance genres? If so the Easter Dance School run by LoveBallet Dance Company would be just up their street. It takes place Wednesday 20th April and Thursday 21st April from 10.30am-1.30pm at the Grange Hall in Southam and is open to all ages from 6 years upwards. Only £35.00 for both days.

They will have the opportunity to try Body Popping, Acting Performance & Singing, Street Dance, Musical Theatre, Gymnastics, Tap, Modern, Ballet, Jazz and Latin. No specific dance experience is required just come along and join in the fun. On Thursday 21st April we will finish with a short performance to the parents at 1.15pm.

We ran a Summer Dance School last summer holidays, which was really popular; the pupils thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to try out so many different dance styles and they had so much fun together over the 2 days. We are really looking forward to running the Easter Dance School.

For more information about how to book onto the Easter Dance School, or for more information about the classes LoveBallet Dance Company offers for childrens and adults please visit www.loveballet.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 07711 010404

1 0 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


The common definition of a super food is any food (fruit, vegetable, etc.) that you can consume that has a high concentration of nutrients and anti-oxidants. Many of these are probably foods that your mother told you that you had to eat if you wanted to leave the dinner table or to grow up to be big and strong. Here is a list of super foods that you can grow in your back garden.

Broccoli is probably the best-known and most often cited super food that is commonly grown in home garden plots. Broccoli has several benefits including being a great source of antioxidants.

Carrots are likely the other most well-known of super foods that are commonly grown and eaten in the U.K. Carrots are thick with phytonutrients, antioxidants, and nearly every vitamin you can name.

Garlic is loaded with nearly everything good for you that you can imagine. It’s a known cardiovascular booster, an anti-microbial, and more.

Green Beans have to be one of the easiest things to grow and are grown both in garden plots and pots on your patio. Beans are good for kidney stones, arthritis, and are packed with minerals.

Spinach isn’t just for Popeye and Olive! It’s a very easy plant to grow, gives edible leaves throughout the season, and has some of the highest concentrations of vitamins A and C and folic acid you can get.

Squash of nearly any type is great for you. Acorn, Butternut, Pumpkins, and many others are packed with fibre, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, potassium, and much more.

Tomatoes are everyone’s favourite garden vegetable (fruit, actually) to grow. Tomatoes are also full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and light acids that aid digestion.

These are just a few of the many super foods you can grow in your own garden this year to promote better health. Gardening can not only be a fun, healthy way to spend your spare time this summer, but it can also lower your food bills, raise your health and nutritional levels, and bring your family closer together! So get Gardening and start growing your own Super Foods this spring!

Grow your own Super Foods

When most people think of the term “super food,” they think of exotic fruits or imported vegetables from places with foreign names. In reality, many of the foods you likely eat and even grow in your own garden are super foods.

Source material; Natural News.com

1 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 1



1 5A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Local garden designer, Lucy Bravington, brings you her monthly column showing you the best plants for the month and the most important jobs around the garden at this time of year...

Gardener’s Corner

Lucy BravingtonApril is perhaps the most exciting month of the year, as the garden suddenly transforms and begins to look vibrant and alive. Plants seem to show rapid growth this month with April showers and warmer soil providing perfect conditions. Taking a stroll around the garden on a warm spring day can really lift the spirits but don’t forget there’s lots to do now with all the new growth!!

★Amelanchier lamarckii

★Magnolia stellata

★Bergenia ‘Sunningdale’

★ Prunus avium ‘Plena’

★ Malus ‘Royalty’

★Convallaria majalis

★Viburnum x juddii

Star Plants for April

I will be covering a project of mine in one of the next issues...so keep an eye on Gardeners Corner to see the process of garden concept through to construction. Please contact me on 07855 940402 with any garden related query and view my newly updated website at www.lucybravington.com

• The warmth and spring rain will bring huge increases in the slug and snail population. Use slug pellets or if you’re organic, one of the oldest and most effective methods is the beer trap: a jar sunk into the ground with the lip just proud is filled with beer which attracts slugs.

• Tidy up borders by lightly forking over the soil and removing any weeds as you go. Remove or relocate any self-sown seedlings. This may only take an afternoon but will make all the difference!

• Remove any frost damaged shoots from tender evergreen shrubs such as Choisya ternata. Always cut back to a healthy leaf or to a stem junction.

• Deadhead the last of the daffodils now that the flowers are going over. Snap the flowerhead off behind the swollen part leaving the stalk intact. By removing the flowers the plants energy is diverted into the formation of the next year’s bulb rather than seed production.

Our adverts come in a range of sizes and all design work

is included in the price. Your advert will also appear on our

e-magazine at www.theimage-stratford.co.uk and you

can feature in our mid-monthly e-newsletter.

Contact JJ on 07779 222301 or email [email protected]

1 6 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

9 ways to show your Cat your Love!Kitten adoption doesn’t include instructions on how to love cats. But how do you show your cats you love them? What sort of mother love does your fur-kid want? To our cats, we are surrogate parents so every day is Mother’s Day.

Love Cats with Attention. And that can involve any one or combination of the below – plus so many other ingredients specific to your special cat companions. It may simply be lap cuddling each evening, or sharing a pillow on the bed at night. Sitting quietly with a cat’s adoring gaze from across the room says volumes. What a gift!

Love Cats with Petting. Simply stroking your cat, from nose to tail, gives an all-over feel-good massage that lowers Kitty’s blood pressure--and yours! Pay special attention to the places he likes best, such as the base of the tail and under the cheeks. Touching, petting, and massaging your cat also serves as a well-cat check to find any fur matts, lumps, bumps or sores that need medical attention.

Love Cats with Clicker Training. Cats rarely work for a living these days. Many of them are BORED out of their skull! So we end up with stir-crazy cats that swing from the drapes and play gravity experiments with fine breakables off the mantel, pick fights with the other kitties, claw and baptise furniture with pee, and more. What a waste of feline brains! Think of training as recreation, fun, a challenge, an opportunity to celebrate your pets’ natural skills and reward them (and you!) by unlocking their full potential.

Love Your Cat With Good Communication. Learn to understand what your cat’s telling you, with his meows, his tail, his ears and more. How do you feel when someone ignores your attempts to tell them something? Your kitty knows you love him and returns the purrs when you respond to his language in an appropriate way.

Love Cats with Grooming. Cats spend 50 percent of their awake-time self-grooming. A few over-do the grooming, but most need help to stay spiffy. Not only does the comb/brush feel good like an all-over massage, it keeps fur mat-free, skin clean, reduces furballs, and serves as a bonding session between you and the fur-kids.

Love Cats with Proper Introductions. Kitties are creatures of habit and a new pet entering the home can make your cat question your love! His actions seem to say, “Wasn’t I enough for you? Why do you need another pet?” With proper introductions your kitty may actually agree that the new kitten/dog/cat/rabbit was a loving gift after all.

Love Cats with Cat Treats. Cats pay exquisite attention to the details of their lives, especially those that impact them personally. The Garfield kitties race to greet you at the rattle of kibble hitting the bowl or the whirr of the can opener. Treats are a wonderful way to “love” your pets because critters don’t have a choice, they ALL must eat. And while tastes vary, generally you can find something that the kitty loves. The IDEAL TREAT is tiny (a taste only, not a meal); smelly (double the pleasure with two sensory levels); unique (different than the usual fare); and rare (makes it special).

Love Cats with Play. Every pet has favourite games. Some like to chase feather wands, or the fishing pole lure. She may bunny-kick a toy mouse into submission. Interactive games increase the bond you share, build confidence in shy pets, and take the fizz out of some overactive pet pests. Some cats enjoy puzzle toys that you hide treats inside because it lets them use their brain, their teeth, and their nose. Kitty gyms with climbing, clawing, and hiding opportunities delight active cats. Empty paper bags or a wad of paper tossed in the empty bathtub provide cheap thrills for many felines.

Love Cats by Relieving Stress. So many kitties get their tails in a twist over changes to their world. Enriching the environment with cat trees, adding a bird feeder outside a window perch, or simply playing soothing music helps enormously.

1 7A P R I L 2 0 1 1

1 5M A R C H 2 0 1 1

Do you have an embarrassing problem when you sneeze, cough, laugh, exercise at the gym, play on the trampoline with the children. If so you are not alone, thousands of women experience leaking, when they are doing everyday tasks.

IncoFree is the answer to your problem - Bladder Weakness

• It is as easy to use as a tampon• No bulky pads or odour issues • Supports the pelvic floor• Invented and designed by a gynaecologist• Can be worn all day OR just when exercising• Comes in 3 sizes and lasts for up to 30 uses

Take back your control, confidence and composure with IncoFree, the amazing, NEW alternative to pads.

Start living you life to the full with the help of IncoFreeTo find out more go to

www.incofree.co.uk

or call 0845 3035868 and Take back your Control, Confidence and Composure

For life’s unexpected moments

“I must tell you how thrilled I am with your product. I am a Personal Trainer & Fitness Instructor and I have had problems with stress incontinence since my daughter’s birth. Despite years of core training, and the use of a pelvic toner, there are still times in the month when I am badly restricted in what I teach as I cannot risk jumping up and down or anything high impact. IncoFree has literally changed my life! I have already recommended IncoFree to a few clients and fully intend to spread the message. Thank you again.”

“Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for a speedy service as I received my package on Monday after ordering it with you on Saturday! So I took the opportunity to go for my first run last night with it and it worked! It was such a relief to run in comfort without worrying about any leakage. What a marvellous product and I wished I had known about it before... I will certainly pass on the details to friends and promote the product anyway I can. It was comfortable and I didn’t even know it was there! So thank you and now I can be confident in the Great South Run this Sunday and with any other exercise I carry out!”

St George’s Day Charity Dinner and Tombola in Aid of The Shakespeare Hospice

Saturday 23rd April 7.30pm

To book your table for “The Best of English” 4 course dinner please call Chris or Celia at De Montford Country Dining on 01386 41277. Tickets cost £40 each. Lots of Great Tombola prizes, with money raised going to the Hospice.


1 9A P R I L 2 0 1 1


2 0 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

handy andyI’m here to help with any questions and to give advice on how to maintain your home and vehicle. Need a tip for your home? Or just have a funny story... email [email protected]

CARPENTRYPLUS+

Call John on07966 400095

or 01527 458987

T.L.C. for your home or office

I can look after all of your carpentry, plumbing, and decorating requirements.

No job too small over 40 years in the trade. Free

quotes and advice given.

Flying Paint

We had our house on the market and someone had just signed

up - it was all a done deal. My father (in his wisdom) decided

that since he had the paint, he would paint the lounge ceiling

for the new owners. He was painting away, then got down to

move the ladder, but he forgot that he had a full can of paint

sitting on top of the ladder! It went down the newly wallpa-

pered walls, over the furniture and all over the brand new car-

pet!! Oooops! As the new owners wouldn’t be too pleased with

the big white paint spill, it was all hands on deck in a big hurry.

The sheets got pulled off beds because we didn’t have time

to look for rags. It took us a while but believe it or not we man-

aged to get every little speck of white paint off the walls and

out of the carpet.

If that wasn’t bad enough - a week later Dad decided to touch

up the outside frame of the kitchen window. He was painting

away and then lost his footing. This time he was determined he

was not going to spill any paint. One minute Dad was visible

through the kitchen window, then he disappeared from view

very quickly. We went rushing outside to see if he was okay (and

to check the damage!). There he was lying on the ground flat

on his back holding the can of paint upright with a big smile on

his face - he managed to not spill one drop!! After that he was

banned from doing any more painting - until we shifted!


Handy Andy


2 1A P R I L 2 0 1 1


• Property Development• Extension & Renovation• Bathrooms and Kitchens• Carpentry/Joinery• Plumbing & Electrical

Using only CORGI & NIC/EIC Registered Tradesmen

www.asbuilders-midlands.com

For more information CALL 07534894603

offering the complete building solutionThe Image in Stratford can help you

Our adverts come in a range of sizes and all design work is included in the price.

Your advert will also appear on our e-magazine at www.theimage-stratford.co.uk and you can feature in our mid-monthly e-newsletter.


Unit 10, Beechtree Park,Waterloo Industrial Estate,Bidford

Call:

01789 77 28 27

CARS • VANS • AGRICULTURAL • INDUSTRIAL • 4X4

All makes supplied and fitted> Batteries> Brakes> Exhausts> Steering> Suspension> Servicing> Laser Wheel Alignment

>> NOW OPEN IN BIDFORD-ON-AVON>>

Vintage Cars to Modern CarsComputer Diagnostics

Mechanical & Electrical RepairsMOTs

Welding24 Hour Recovery

Complete Vehicle RestorationsCars, Vans & Commercials

Telephone (24 Hour)

0870 80 33 247

Warwickshire’s No. 1 for:

Service & Repairs – ANY make, ANY model

FREE Courtesy cars

Black Cat Motor Company Ltd Units 7 & 8 Avenue Fields Ind. Estate, Avenue Farm

Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0HT

OUT OF HOURS SERVICE ALWAYS ACCOMMODATED

2 2 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


2 3A P R I L 2 0 1 1





Here are some decorating tips, I hope you find them useful.

OLD PAINTIf you have ½ a tin of paint that you need to keep, turn it upside down before storing it (make sure the lid is fixed firmly!) . This will remove the need for cutting away a skin when you use it again. If you have not done this and are suffering from bits in your paint, strain it through an old pair of tights before you use it.

SMELLY PAINTIf the smell of fresh paint gets to you, cut an onion in half and leave it in the room. It will take away most of the smell. Please don’t ask how that works but we would be pleased to hear from anyone who knows !! Also a teaspoonful of vanilla essence stirred into the paint helps remove a lot of the odour without affecting the colour.


Our adverts come in a range of sizes and all design work is included in the price.

Your advert will also appear on our e-magazine at www.theimage-stratford.co.uk and you can feature in our mid-monthly e-newsletter.


VAN, CAR, MPV’s &

MINIBUS HIRE

www.eveshamselfdrive.co.uk

Telephone Alan on01386 833700

Blackminster • Evesham • WR11 7RE

[email protected]

CarsVans

Handy Andy

2 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


2 5A P R I L 2 0 1 1


April Fools’ Day...The most common belief as to why April Fools’ Day started is that when the French calendar changed, people protested. The beginning of the year changed from April to January, and some people resolutely stuck to their idea of April being New Year, and celebrated it then. They soon became the butt of jokes, and had paper fish stuck to their backs. Playing tricks on stubborn people who didn’t accept change became an excuse to play tricks on everyone.

It is no small celebration. National companies, like the BBC, created a ‘documentary’ in 2008 on flying penguins, simply to join in with the fun. People, whether they are successful businesses who take weeks to make flightless birds lift off the ground using special effects, or little girls putting green food colouring in the milk for breakfast (me, aged 8), enjoy poking fun at normally serious things. For one day in a year, it’s a well-needed source of humour and light-heartedness in a world with many rules. Long may April Fools’ Day continue.Written by Anna Snodgrass

The Image in Stratford can help youOur adverts come in a range of sizes and all design work

is included in the price. Your advert will also appear on our

e-magazine at www.theimage-stratford.co.uk and you

can feature in our mid-monthly e-newsletter.

Contact JJ on 07779 222301 or email [email protected]

YOUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL REMOVAL SPECIALIST

FREE PHONE: 0800 316 0346EMAIL: [email protected]

www.oldhamsremovals.co.uk

QUALITY

STORAGE

FROM £5

PER WEEK

+ VAT

Dine in with

Confit Duck1. Trim the duck leg and place in a deep pan, cover with oil and place in oven, at 130 degrees C, for 3 hours.

2. When the duck has been in the oven for 2 hours, peel shallots, place in small oven proof dish with butter and sugar and dash of oil. Place in oven for approx. 20 minutes until shallots are cooked.

3. Blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 1 min, plunge into iced water.

4. When shallots are cool, cover with puff pastry and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, remove from mould and keep warm.

5. Pan fry duck livers, slightly pink, in oil and butter, add pinch of salt.

6. Roll the cooked asparagus in the duck liver pan until hot.

7. Place shallot tart on serving plate, add duck livers, then asparagus and cooked duck leg on top, finished with a poached duck egg.

What you need.• 1 x duck leg• 1 x duck egg• 4 x shallots• 1 x puff pastry sheet• 20g sugar/10g butter• 2oz x duck liver• 3 spears of asparagus• 100g madeira jus

Alveston Manor

2 6 A P R I L 2 0 1 1


2 7A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Salford1 2 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


2 8 A P R I L 2 0 1 1

The Quiz

Across:

1. Easter dance school

6. New garden and

furniture range

8. Spring madness

9. This company is gas safe

10. They will get you moving

Down:

2. For wedding stationary

3. 10% off with production of

the advert

4. Special offer on windows,

conservatories and doors

with The Image

5. Ideal Mother’s day or

Easter gift

7. All sizes of bottle

gas supplied

April’s QuizIt’s so easy! All you have to do is

fill in the squares and then piece

together the shaded letters to

spell out an anagram that reveals

something topical during April.

Email your answer, along

with contact details and your

feedback on this magazine to

[email protected]

All correct entries will go into the

exciting prize draw with a chance

of winning a meal for four at

Salford Hall.

WIN!!!

...win Sunday Lunch for 4 at Salford Hall!

This month we’re giving away a meal for four at Salford Hall!

Terms and Conditions apply – Excludes Mother’s Day

Anagram (Two words – We’ve filled in two letters for you)

R O

SalfordHall

2 9A P R I L 2 0 1 1


Why not advertise with The Image? You won’t be disappointed!

We’ll also promote your business and any offers you’re featuring on Twitter and Facebook. Your advert will also be included in our e-magazine on www.theimage-stratford.co.uk

JJ

Or email: [email protected]

Call JJ on07779 222301

Target your market with The Image The Image offers a great choice of adverts available to fit the budgets of any size business starting from less than £30 per month!

the image in stratford april 2011

Documents

home page

computing page

drink page

oldhams page

quiz page

facebook page

handy andy page

gardeners corner page