October 2020
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Established Blandford Company
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Full Packing Service Local & Long Distance Full & Part Loads Man and Van Service
01258 858564
pitmansremovals.co.uk
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Full range of rural services
Heatcare (UK) Ltd is a local family run, OFTEC and Gas Safe registered, plumbing and heating company! Heatcare are able to cater to your needs be it services, repairs or installa�ons and we are able to carry out these services in both domes�c and commercial sectors. Along with offering these services in Oil, we can also offer the same in LPG and mains Gas, again, in both domes�c and commercial fields. • Worcester Accredited Installers • Up to 8/10 year warranties on oil/gas boilers • Oil tank replacements and new installations • 10 month interest free credit on all Worcester boilers To book your service or free no obliga�on quote contact us on
01305 853970 or 07557 990715 or email us at heatcareukltd@aol.com
Visit our website:
www.heatcareukltd.com
Upton Farm, Upton, Ringstead, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NE
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Welcome...
4
The Dorchester Directory Edition 19
Published by:
Stephen & Debbie Corney at Dorset Publications
Telephone: 01929 408080
Email:
info@dorchesterdirectory.co.uk
Copy deadline for the November edition: 12th October 2020
Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Dorchester Directory does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.
Dear Dorchester residents, We certainly are living in interesting times. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area where we can take walks and ‘get away from it all’. Away from all the uncertainty and confusion. We can create our own space, look at the wildlife, the sea, the countryside and smile despite it all. For me it is vital that we can do this. Please do keep smiling. It is infectious! Our local trades and services have protocols in place to keep you and themselves safe. I do believe that it is important to keep these in place too. If we wear masks, regularly wash our hands and keep our distance to prevent the spreading of any disease, the virus will not survive, and we can all get to hugging each other again! I don’t know about you, but we have done more in the house and garden than ever. If you need help with this, then do call our wonderful local services here in The Dorchester Directory. Please say where you saw them. That makes me smile! Our advertisers are here for you. We also hope you enjoy reading the articles. If you have an idea of something you would like to read about, or anything else you would like in your magazine, do let me know. I love being creative and giving you the data you want. Are you reading the star-gazing pages? I have taken to looking out to space much more these days. It is quite therapeutic and thought provoking as well as very calming at night. It literally gives you a ‘bigger picture’. I do hope you are fit and well. Stephen, myself and Julie, with Daichi, our family friendly Campervan, that also makes me smile, all wish you a successful October. May we have that Indian Summer we have been promised!
Debbie, Stephen, Hayden & Daichi
Useful Numbers Dorchester Police 101 Scottish & Southern Energy 0345 071 9710 Transco Gas Emergency 0800 111 999 Dorchester Hospital 01305 251150
Train Enquires First Bus Company Wessex Water Dorchester Library
08457 484950 0345 646 0707 0345 600 4 600 01305 224440
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5
Lawyers Hall’s Property
Providing you with a Professional and Personal Service for RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCING.
• TRAILER SALES • TRAILER PARTS & SPARES (next day delivery) • TRAILER SERVICE & REPAIRS • TRAILER HIRE
01929 462534
t. 01305 236677 | m. 07505 854734
WADDOCK CROSS, DORCHESTER, DT2 8QY
e. philip@philip-hall.com | w. www.philip-hall.com
Please visit our eBay shop for the best prices search ‘Wessex Trailers’
Longfield Chambers, 2 Bramble Drove, Broadmayne, Dorchester, DT2 8ED
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QUIRKY BY MICA BALE
It would be hard not to appreciate Dorset in all its autumnal glory and although the current circumstance may still be creating a little uncertainty, it is without question that our county is indeed one of the most beautiful and can boast a fascinating heritage from an interesting invention to a special recommendation from Alan Titchmarsh himself. Here are five more quirky facts from around the delightful county that is Dorset. Are you aware of the Dorset Flora Group? The group endeavours to assist both regional and national charities with the aim of helping to preserve, record and research local flora and assist in studies to help the many local beauty areas. The Dorset Flora Group works along with organisations such as the RSPB, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Botany Society of the British Isles among many others and has been in operation for more than ten years. The group works hard to record all flora in the area and has discovered many different species of rare plant life including wild liquorice, white helleborine and bird’s-nest orchid.
Millennia of history revealed to us by ancient artefacts and archaeological evidence has left its marks on Dorset but perhaps one of the most significant finds was the Ridgeway Hill Viking Burial pit near Weymouth which became the final resting place for dozens of corpses. Interestingly, these skeletons were dismembered remains, the deaths believed to have been the result of a feud between Vikings and AngloSaxons. All that were found belonged to young adult males and dated back to roughly around AD 970 to 1025.
One of the world’s most loved inventions actually came from a Dorset local? The lava lamp has long been a favourite for all bedside cabinets, its unusual light and bubble display ideally tranquil for a perfect night’s sleep. In fact it was even in a Dorset inn that Edward Craven Walker, the man behind the lava lamps as they became known, first had the notion to create these soon to be national favourites. Apparently, a fellow customer had developed an unusual kind of egg timer which used a mixture of immiscible fluids, most probably oil and water. The rest, of course, is history. Walker was struck with the idea and immediately saw its large potential. Together with his wife, he set up a company in Poole to continue to create the lava lamps which would soon see scorching sales! PHOTO BY STEPHEN GRIFFITH
Have you visited the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Weymouth? The wonderful gardens that Alan Titchmarsh himself once described as, “One of the finest Gardens I have ever visited”, date back to the 18th century and include many rare plants. Interestingly, the Subtropical Gardens are the result of many years of contributions from several generations of the Earls of Ilchester.
The gardens that are seen today largely originated from the latter quarter of the 18th century where a kitchen garden was established. The coming years would see different members of the family add various other facets to these beautiful gardens. One particularly notable contributor was William Fox-Strangways, the 4th Earl who was himself not only an expert botanist but an authority on flora in Europe. Today the gardens are as beautiful as they were at their inception and certainly showcase Dorset at its finest. Did you know that America’s first president, George Washington, could actually lay claim to being a Dorset boy? In fact, George Washington’s family roots can be traced back to the pretty village of Affpuddle. The village became connected to the Lawrence family after the settlement became part of the estates and later there was a marriage into the Washington family. No doubt if family history had been as accessible as it is now, George Washington would have been proud of his Dorset roots!
8
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9 Email: sales@wessexaerials.co.uk Phone: (01305) 813010 - Weymouth (01305) 470055 - Dorchester www.wessexaerials.co.uk
Suppliers and Installers of: Aerial - Satellite - CCTV Wi-Fi points for domestic and commercial situations.
Call Paul Taylor for a free home appointment. I live in Bridport and have worked as a blinds expert for over 16 years. I will do the measuring and fitting and bring a range of samples at a time that suits you.
Bridport
Paul Taylor
07795505340
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10
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11
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nuary 21, 2020
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12
“Dealing with death is one of the hardest parts of life” This year in particular we at Dorset and Wight have been inundated with enquiries concerning the worry of potential liability for long term care fees, along with an increase in requests for guidance on Lasting Power of Attorney’s.
Surprisingly, over 70% of the adult population still do not have a Will and of the 30% that do, the majority are either out of date due to familial or legislation changes or are basic Wills that do not protect your assets in a way that you actually intended. For instance, protecting your property against care fees and other third party predators by the use of a Property Protection Trust Will provides many benefits for your family’s estate. As long as it is done in advance, and well before you are aware of a need for long term care, it forms part of any sensible estate plan. When considering a Lasting Power of Attorney many people think “I’m not ill, why do I need one?” But they are missing the point. These again are documents that have to be made well in advance of any problems and are equally as important as a Will to have in place. Your Will looks after your wishes when you are no longer with us. Your Lasting Power of Attorney looks after your
wishes while you are still with us, but struggling to deal with your own affairs. This can happen due to age, the onset of a degenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia, or suddenly due to an accident. Now more than ever people need professional help to put their affairs in order and to ensure that they themselves and their loved ones are protected if the worst was to happen.
This month’s tip No matter what age you are there are many things in our lives nowadays that require you to be able to show photo identification. So even if you have stopped driving and travelling it is worth considering renewing your passport when it expires so that you always have some form of photo ID available. This can save you time and expense in the long run. Dorset and Wight are your local trusted provider of affordable Lasting Power of Attorneys and professionally drafted Wills. You have undoubtedly heard of us Now is the time: to call us. Telephone 01202 065953 or 01983 623900 or visit:
www.dorsetandwight.co.uk
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13
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Wildlife News
14
Talking about Wildlife...
Return of the birds Migration is a form of adaptation, vital to survival, as the changing seasons vary climate. As autumn approaches, we will start to see migrant birds returning to the UK, completing a journey of thousands of miles. What may look like chaos to us as we witness flocks of birds pass above, is actually part of a planned and calculated flight, unique to a species. Some will take a direct route, whereas others may prefer to follow a costal course. In the South of the UK, we are lucky to be winter hosts to members of the thrush family such as fieldfares and redwings; two migrant birds that resemble eachother. Fieldfares are large and yellowbreasted, whereas Redwings can be identified by distinctive bursts of orangey-red under its wings. Returning to nest in Iceland and Scandinavia around the end of March, these birds take this time to indulge in our berry-laden hedgerows, parks and woodlands. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Kingcombe Meadow Nature Reserve offers an excellent opportunity to see these migrating birds with its abundance of thick hedgerows. Fieldfares are sociable birds and can be seen in flocks of over 200. Increasing numbers of migrating birds, such as the fieldfares and redwings, are being spotted in our gardens. A combination of freezing conditions and the dramatic decrease of insect populations forces
Redwing
Photo: Jon Hawkins
Fieldfare
Photo: Richard Steel
these birds to take refuge, so don’t forget to top up your bird feeders or provide mealworms, cheese and suet to help keep feathered visitors energised this autumn and winter. Also look out for geese and wading birds will arrive in September and October in their hundreds and thousands. Dark-bellied brent geese flock to southern shores in early October. The Chesil Beach Centre, over looking the Fleet Lagoon, is a great place to see these birds in action. Holes Bay, Poole Harbour is the estuary (tidal mouth) of serval rivers and is therefore another perfect place to look out for migrating birds and some fantastic flocks can be seen late in the afternoon there. Coastal areas make excellent vantage points for a keen bird watcher, or even if you’re just starting out. Tips for watching migrating birds: 1. Check tide times and take precautions with appropriate clothing. 2. Time your visits: geese are mostly likely to be seen at sunrise and sunset. 3. Keep a record of birds arriving and departing over the season. 4. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars! By Holly Toman
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15
DRAIN UNBLOCKING • Toilets • Sinks • Baths • Showers • Sewers • Soakaways • Camera Surveys • Drain Repairs & New Installations 24/7
01305 70 55 80 www.dorsetdrainunblocking.co.uk
Leaks Tree Care undertakes all tree and hedge work, this includes: crown reduction, crown thin, crown lift, dead wooding, tree felling, section felling, pollarding, hedge trimming, hedge laying and tree planting. We also offer tree inspections for peace of mind.
Contact Rob on
T: 07519 664197
E: leakstreecare@gmail.com
www.leakstreecare.com
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16
Peace of mind at Pine Martin Grange We understand that these are very worrying times for everyone, especially if you are looking for short- or long-term care for you or your loved one. Life at Pine Martin Grange care home in Wareham has continued to be full and meaningful with some increased safety measures in place. Our days are filled with a variety of activities - from a morning session in our gym to afternoons spent gardening or painting, followed by movie nights with a little drink in our fully stocked bar. We have enjoyed virtual cruises, learned new hobbies, skyped our loved ones and tasted some fabulous meals! Visitors are now being welcomed (subject to conditions) in our dedicated area in the gardens of the home. Living here is about choice. After all, this is your home and you can be as busy as you wish. We provide 24-hour care and support as well as dedicated dementia care – giving peace of mind to all that this really is a home for life. Robust measures are in place to protect our ladies and gentlemen and our highly trained team ensure we continue to be a caring and
safe environment. We are open to new admissions and would welcome the opportunity to discuss your individual requirements. We appreciate you need additional reassurance that we are a safe home and we can confirm that we are continuing to adhere to government guidelines with the highest standards of infection control in place. We continue to deliver the highest levels of service and support during this difficult period. Do give us a call and we can talk through your individual requirements and answer any concerns you may have. We can also set up a video call to show you the benefits of life at Pine Martin Grange. www.dormycare.co.uk enquiries@dormycare.co.uk Tel: 01929 551144
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17
A Taste of
Pine Martin Grange Award winning luxury care home where fantastic food is at the heart of our home Using locally sourced produce, you can enjoy a varied and seasonal menu, to suit all dietary tastes and requirements. Pine Martin Grange is a luxury care home with exceptionally high standards. We follow all Government guidelines ensuring the highest levels of infection control to keep everyone as safe and secure as possible. We appreciate these are worrying times for anyone looking for care. We provide an open, honest and supportive environment and would be happy to discuss your individual requirements and answer any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us on 01929 768203 or visit www.dormycare.co.uk
PINE MARTIN GRANGE
Pine Martin Grange - Purbeck Advert 2-0.indd 1
09/09/2020 11:43:27
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18 WRITTEN BY KATE EARL
STAR GAZING Welcome to the October Stargazing Page. Each month I’ll be describing astronomical events that are happening overhead in our beau ful night skies. The majority of events are viewable just by stepping outside on a cloudless night and looking up, but some may require a par cular vantage point e.g. a clear view to the west. Occasionally, viewings will benefit from the use of binoculars or a small telescope if available, but all can be enjoyed without either. International Space Station The best sightings for October are at the beginning of the month, occurring on the 4th and 6th just after 7.05p.m. Rising in a westerly direction and travelling towards the southeast, the ISS will be quite bright. Please note timings are subject to change, therefore it is recommended checking www.heavensabove.com for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to Dorchester. Events The Orionid Meteor Event reaches its peak on the 21st/22nd October. Caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, the meteors will be best spotted in the east after midnight. Mercury The solar system’s smallest planet is lost in the Sun’s glare this month. Venus Early morning risers are still being greeted by Venus shining brightly in the east. Research published in July has found evidence of 37 recently erupted (in astronomical terms) volcanic structures, suggesting that Venus is more geologically active than previously thought. Mars is currently closer to us than it has been for two years, and the USA, China and the United Arab Emirates have all taken this opportunity to send spacecraft to the red planet this year, all of which are due to arrive in early 2021.
MARS
A small telescope may show surface features such as the bright polar ice caps and areas of darker, rocky material. If all you see is a blanket orange colour it means a dust storm is covering the planet, obscuring surface features.
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19
Mars Mars is shining brightly in the constellation Pisces, a part of the night sky with few bright stars, so it’s hard to miss. Look towards the southeast around 10p.m. throughout October; nice pairings with the Moon occur on the 2nd and 29th (see diagram). Saturn & Jupiter Both gas giants are now sinking in our evening skies, disappearing below the horizon between 10.30 – 11.00p.m. Due to our lengthening autumn nights, we can still see them at their highest point in the south between 7-8pm. Moon October has two Full Moons. The first, known as the Harvest Moon, falls on 1st October, and is named as such because it coincided with a time when crops were also able to be gathered at night, effectively doubling the harvesting rate. (By tradition, the closest full moon in September or October to the Autumn Equinox receives the name ‘Harvest Moon’). The second full moon of the month (also known as a ‘Blue Moon’) is on 31st October, and is the Hunter’s Moon. Having cleared the fields by the light of the Harvest Moon, animals were now easier to spot. The light from this full moon provided a good opportunity to hunt easily visible prey, and stock up on food for the coming winter months.
Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another. PLATO
Mars
Mars
Moon
SE View • 11pm on 02 October
Moon
SE View • 8pm on 29 October
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Technology Tips
20
October means Halloween, a time for scares and horror – but one horror you don’t want is for something to happen to your precious hardware or your precious data. Unfortunately computers, tablets and phones are a lot easier to destroy than zombies or vampires, so it’s wise to take some precautions. One of the simplest things you can do to protect your hardware is to put it in a case. It’s not something you really need to do with a laptop, but it’s a very sensible move for smartphones and tablets because they’re mobile devices that are much more likely to be dropped. You can also get cases for smartwatches. If we’re honest they’re not exactly pretty, but neither is the £286 we were quoted to repair the smashed glass on our Apple Watch. For watches and phones, you can get good-quality screen protectors for less than £10 that will absorb most impacts and usually leave the screen undamaged. For extra peace of mind, consider gadget insurance. Your home insurance may well cover gadgets already but the excesses are usually high, so if you’re worried about regularly having to replace smashed screens it can be a worthwhile investment. Multi-device policies start at under £10 per month, rising to about £17 for policies that cover an entire household. Hardware isn’t the only thing you should consider protecting. Think about all those priceless and irreplaceable photos you’ve taken and videos you’ve shot. Unfortunately computer storage can and does break, and of course devices can be stolen. That’s why it’s really important to have multiple copies of anything important like precious family photos. For copying large libraries, such as years of family photos, an external hard disk is a relatively cheap way to do it; you might also like to try online storage services like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. The more it matters to you, the more copies you should have of it.
Western Digital My Passport external hard disk WD’s excellent external disks aren’t just fast with lots of storage space. They come in designs that are much more interesting than your average external drive. From £42 from Westerndigital.com
Native Union CLIC Leather Case for iPhone Fancy something premium that’s a bit different from Apple’s own cases? The CLIC offers stylish design in genuine leather and a range of attractive colours. £49.95 from Apple.com John Lewis and partners recycled leather tablet sleeve This simple, stylish and environmentally friendly sleeve from John Lewis is made by processing leather that would have otherwise gone to waste. £18 from John Lewis
Casetify Apple Watch Case With screen replacements costing almost as much as the entire watch, it’s wise to protect your Apple Watch with an inexpensive but effective wrap-around case. £12 from Casetify.com
Bam Bino Space Suit This rugged iPad case for kids isn’t just cute; with a shoulder strap, screen protector and rugged plastic bumpers it’s convenient, kid-friendly and extremely tough. £19.95 from Amazon
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21
Save your knees and have some fun with Novelty Kneelers! Many shapes (Cat, Rabbit, Frog, Teacup, Teapot, Car) and colours available Great idea for presents and can be personalised with a message up to 25 characters (including spaces)
Size 400mm x 320mm x 25mm approx. • Free P & P Black or White Foam: £8 Coloured (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow) or Multi-coloured (Black with any of the colours) Foam: £10 Coloured or multi-coloured foam with message: £14
Call Gary on 07788 134302 to place your order
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The Adventures of Daichi
22
The Adventures of Daichi
The Dorset Publications Camper Van We really love a good success story and last month Daichi the Dashing Dude, dashed us to a very special place in Herefordshire. Nestled in an idyllic rural setting are the fishing lakes of Docklow Pools. My Dad has been a keen freshwater fisherman all his life. Many good weekends were spent by ponds and rivers up in East Yorkshire. I loved them. Today, Dad is my Mum’s carer. Mum suffers badly with dementia and Dad managed the whole of lockdown on his own. This was his treat. Daichi was delighted to whisk us all away to one of Dad’s favourite fishing retreats, Docklow. Herefordshire is a county enveloped in rolling English countryside, so the setting of these ponds is simply stunning. The owners Mike and Josie, wonderful people, bought the 100 acres of luscious greenery, and at the time derelict farm, in 1972. We were lucky enough to speak with them and Josie smiled about having to milk cows at the age of 24 while Mike, age 27, who was a tool maker in those days, continued his work in Birmingham at the car factory. No previous experience of farming of course! It was a struggle to say the least. Hard work and determination, but they had a vision… at least Mike did! Now the grounds contain twelve different lakes, a wooded walk, a 9-hole golf course, The Fisherman’s Arms pub with café open to anyone, self-catering
The fishermen in action...
Daichi meets Mike & Josie accommodation as well as Bed and Breakfast, a well-stocked tackle shop and even a Roman Garden! Picturesque. Josie realised early on that she had to earn some money, so they opened up the house to B & B and charged £1 per night. This meant they could now have a yearly holiday… which they spent in Bournemouth with their two sons Jonathan and Simon! Mike may regret not being there more for the family when they were young, due to the necessity to pay off that mortgage, but between himself and his young bride, they have created a true haven for their sons and now their grandchildren. My sister, Sue and her husband Gary, had driven all the way to Hull to help Dad get the car packed. They arrived soon after we did. It was a full family affair and Daichi was beaming. He was stationed proudly next to our two-bedroom lodge, overlooking the Match Pool. Beautiful. I had called the receptionist at the very first hint of the Pools reopening after Lockdown and was lucky enough to get three lodges together. Perfectly located. Sue, myself and Mum could read a magazine by the accommodation whilst watching the men fishing. Hayden, our son, has been taught by his Grandad from the very early age of two and has a ‘knack’ for catching fish. From the start he was hooking good size carp, Ide and Bream. Grandad was in his element. He has fished this pond
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23 in real matches, against some very tough opponents, but today was a leisurely affair. Though Hayden was giving him a run for his money! Stephen enjoyed it too and also caught some good fish! Family meals outside overlooking the gorgeous fields, next to the Roman Garden were delightful. Keeping to the same places helps Mum and this was no sacrifice to do here! The food was delicious. Well cooked with great choices. It was sometimes difficult to decide what to have! The staff were extremely friendly. The weather was good despite all the threats of rain. We were very lucky. Dad had always wanted to fish the Tench Pool, so that was a must. Off we went. All the fishing gear and chairs in hand. This pool is covered in groups of floating, delightful lilies. Wonderfully peaceful. It did rain that day, but for only an hour and we had fun sitting under the umbrellas taking in the sweet smell of fresh grass and water. Hayden and Dad caught many tench! Mike, the owner, had always wanted a tench pool he told me, so this was a more recent addition. He was delighted to see them winning. At one point all went quiet. Hayden, used to catching almost immediately, was looking a little restless. Now not quite the excitement of a computer game and fast action, Grandad came to the rescue to show him how to calmly entice the fish back. Patience is a virtue and is a good lesson for a youngster. Hayden was as pleased as punch when he started catching again. They were all smiles. Especially Grandad. In all the men must have caught well over 60 fish. Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Skimmers, Bream, Roach, Ide, Perch, Barbel and the all-important
The peace and tranquility...
Catch of the Day! Tench! I remember at the sweet old age of 7 when we were in Ireland fishing (of course). One day on a river, I took Dad’s rather long, heavy reel rod (the pole rods these days are much easier) for just a little while. I struck… and would I let Dad help me land that fish? Of course not! It was mine. Such a delight to bring that tench in and boy was I proud! I can relive that pleasure moment again and again. I know Dad does too. It wasn’t all fishing this trip. We visited Leominster and did some antique shopping. We walked around the historic market town of Ludlow, in Shropshire not far away, with its ancient Medieval Castle. I bought some garden items (it just has to be done) at the Bringsty Vintage Café and Antiques, which Dad loves. What a glorious part of England, bordering the Welsh Marshes. You don’t have to be a fisherman to visit Docklow. The walks, the golf, the pub and the views are for everyone. Jonathan who I booked with, would be delighted to hear from you. He and my Dad, over a beer or two, have spent many a time talking about the ‘one that got away’. The whole family must be very proud of their creation. We are very glad they persisted and we intend to visit again next year! You can see their website at www.docklowpools.com Daichi was utterly over the moon with the trip. Even the massive lightning storm we witnessed in the distance one night! Where will he take us next month I wonder…? By Debbie Corney
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Gardening Tips
24
On Your Plot Benefits of Garlic
Time spent on clearing and preparing your beds now will pay dividends next year. Make the most of the autumn sunshine to get compost dug into bare beds and you’ll have saved yourself hours of work on those chilly Spring days.
Jobs for October :-
• Make sure that plenty of sun can get to your pumpkins in order to get them ripe in time for Halloween. • Plant garlic, shallots and Japanese onions. • Leaving dead seed heads etc. on your flower borders will provide valuable food and shelter for garden wildlife over winter, as will leaving an undisturbed log or two. Build a rough shelter in a quiet corner and you might get a hedgehog move in! • If you get lots of fallen leaves on your plot don’t waste them. Make a bin from chicken wire attached to 4 posts. Fill this with the leaves and they will rot down to give you sweet-smelling black leaf mould in one to two years tim.
As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler the focus on your vegetable plot starts to turn from growing and harvesting, into clearing and tidying. October is a good month for taking stock of how things have gone this year and starting to make plans for what you will grow in the future. Removing spent crops exposes slugs and other such pests to birds and other garden friendly wildlife. It also gives you the chance to look after your soil and assess how the space will be used next. Crop rotation is important so if the space is to remain bare over winter it may be wise to make notes about what grew where this season. Add matter from your compost heap to newly cleared areas, either digging it in, or leaving a layer on the top where the worms will gradually incorporate it into the deeper soil over winter. If the soil is heavy leaving it bare will enable frosts to help break it up. Our soil is lighter and benefits from being covered over - we use flattened cardboard boxes which protect from the rain (and we’ve all had enough of that lately!), and
also help keep the weeds at bay. You may think that it’s all too late in the year to be planting, but there are some crops that definitely need to be thought of now, and others that, given an early start now, will benefit next Spring. If you’ve not grown garlic before, then do try it - it’s easy to grow, can help protect other crops from pests, and with just a small amount of space you can grow enough to see you through the whole year! Now is definitely the time to order your garlic bulbs and they can be planted anytime between now and Christmas, but preferably not when the soil is too wet. Rather than planting all the garlic together it may pay to spread it around the plot as the strong smell can be an aid in keeping pests such as the carrot root fly away from other crops. Each garlic bulb should be separated into individual cloves and the cloves are planted with the pointed end uppermost, just below the surface, leaving about 4 inches between each one. They like well drained soil and you’ll be pleasantly surprised in the long winter days to see their green tips creeping upwards. Each clove matures into a whole new bulb. The traditional time for harvesting garlic is in June, on the longest day of the year and if properly dried and stored it will keep right through the winter. Would you like some fresh, tender, young, peas early in the Spring next year? Look out for hardy varieties that can be planted now. They can be overwintered and are able to withstand the frosts, though protection with a cloche will be appreciated. We will be starting ours in pots to keep in the polytunnel over winter ready for early planting next season.
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25
LOW MA
ANCE INTEN
DITED AC CR E PROFESSIONAL
INSTALLATION
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26
Is Your Website an Asset or a Liability?
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Dorchester Podiatry and Wellbeing 19 Colliton Street Dorchester DT1 1XH 01305 265850 dorchesterpodiatryreception@gmail.com
Podiatry Services - HCPC registered • Routine nail cutting • Corn and callus removal • Ingrowing nails • Insoles and orthoses • Diabetic and arthritic foot care • Verrucae treatments • Nail surgery • Steroid injections • Shockwave therapy • Fungal infections • Gait analysis • Flat / problematic feet Reflexology Treatments - AOR registered Reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, IBS, sleep disorders, back pain, poor digestion, bladder problems, sluggish circulation, infertility, hay fever, back pain, respiratory problems, period pain, menopausal problems, asthma and migraine.
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27
07516 473023
www.thegasmanservices.com
Domestic Gas • General plumbing • Boiler installations • Boiler service & breakdowns
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St Jude’s Care is an exceptional Award Winning provider of home care throughout Dorset
We specialise in Domiciliary Care by the hour in the areas of Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester. This can be for personal care, companionship and reassurance, assistance with meals and medication and help with domestic tasks or shopping. We also provide a Hot Meal Delivery Service providing freshly cooked meals delivered to your home on china plates, ready to eat. Available in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester postcode area of DT1 only. St Jude’s Care are specialist providers of 24 hour Live-in Care, throughout Dorset. This is a real alternative to a Nursing Home and enables you to remain independent, enjoying the comforts and familiarity of your own home. Please call us on 01305 779 888 or email enquiries@stjudescare.co.uk Visit our website: www.stjudescare.co.uk
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Food & Drink
28
Tastes so good...
PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
As the temperature drops, we find ourselves wanting more easy to make, comfort food. Not only is this dish simple to create is also tastes delicious. Perfect for quiet Autumn nights in.
Ingredients for 12 servings 1 medium onion (chopped) ½ cup of ketchup ¼ cup of packed brown sugar ¼ cup of tomato paste 2tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/3 cup of cider vinegar 2tbp. sweet paprika 1 ½ tsp. Salt 1 ¼ tsp. ground black pepper 4lb boneless pork shoulder 12 buns or ciabatta rolls
Equipment: Large slow-cooker, large bowl, forks Method: Mix together the onion, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, paprika, mustard and then add the salt and the pepper. Once you have done this, pour the sauce mixture into the slow cooker pot and add the pork, making sure to also coat it in sauce. Pop the lid on top of the slow cooker and cook the pork. Do this on a low setting (one which the manufacturer recommends). Cook until the pork is tender for between 8-10 hours. When it is finally cooked, move the pork from the slow cooker into a large bowl. Change the temperature setting on the cooker to ‘high’, cover the pot and then cook the sauce. Do this until boiling point is reached to make the mixture thicker. Pull the pork apart into shreds (you can use 2 forks for this). Then put the shredded pork back into the slow cooker, mixing it into the sauce. Cover once again and cook on high. Finally, once warmed through, spoon mixture into buns and serve.
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29
All Grass Landscapes
We are an independent local company that specializes in all aspects of landscaping.
Ref: 21209
LOCAL LOCKSMITH CALL: 01305 234121 Dorchester Emergency Locksmith • No Call Out Charge! • 1/2 Hour Service!* • Free Home Security Check!**
• Supply & install any size and type of artificial lawn • Any size of hard or soft landscaping, including: lawns, fencing, decking, patios, driveways, etc. • Over 15 years experience For a free, no obligation quote, please call Will on 01929 503135 or 07522 987090
uPVC Door & Windows Specialists! Fully Assessed & Accredited Locksmiths! All Locks Supplied and Fitted! *where possible **once a job has been completed
J A Construction (Dorset) Ltd
General Building, Specialists in Extensions, Purbeck Stone Renovations, Walling, Roofing, New Builds & all types of Ground Work. Site and Garden Clearance. Also available for Plumbing, Electrics & Carpentry.
Tel: 01929 554249 Mob: 07973 388 190 sales@jaconstruction.co.uk www.jaconstructiondorset.co.uk
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30
Index of advertisers
Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory... Aerials Wessex Aerials....................................................... 9
Locksmiths Keytek.................................................................... 29
Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds.......................................................... 3 Hillarys Blinds........................................................ 9
Mobility Products & Services Active Mobility....................................................... 11
Builders & Carpenters J A Construction..................................................... 29 Jim Baggley Building Services................................ 8 Purbeck Home Improvements............................... 1 Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras.............................................. 26 Care Services St Jude’s Care......................................................... 27 Community News Adventures of Daichi............................................. 22 Dorset Quirky Facts............................................... 6 Dorset Wildlife Trust: The return of the birds........14 Kids Page............................................................... 10 On Your Plot: The benefits of garlic.......................24 Stargazing in Dorset.............................................. 18 Tastes so good: Pulled Pork Sandwiches................28 Technology: Prevent tech horrors..........................20 Drainage Services Dorset Drain Unblocking....................................... 15 Driveways County Block Paving.............................................. 5 Equine Services Abby Batson - Equine Massage.............................21 Garage Doors Garolla................................................................... 15 Skandoor................................................................ 8 Garden Services All Grass Landscapes............................................. 29 ColourFence........................................................... 25 Novelty Kneelers.................................................... 21
Plumbers Heatcare................................................................ 3 No1 PHD................................................................ 31 The Gas Man......................................................... 27 Podiatrists Dorchester Podiatry & Wellbeing..........................26 Property Maintenance Jim Baggley Building Services................................ 8 Purbeck Home Improvements............................... 1 Removals & Storage Pitman Removals & Storage.................................. 2 Residential Care Homes Pine Martin Grange............................................... 17 Solicitors Hall’s Property Lawyers......................................... 5 Humphries Kirk...................................................... 32 Trailers Wessex Trailers...................................................... 5 Tree Surgeons Leaks Tree Care...................................................... 15 Waste Services Philip Trim Contractors.......................................... 2 Web Services Mike’s Online Academy......................................... 26 Will Writing Services Dorset & Wight Wills............................................. 13
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31
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