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May 2015 | Issue 5 | Priceless

May MOJO Things to do with your little people

COME ON GFRFC! FINAL MATCH ON 25.4.15

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Thousands of family cats go missing each year in the UK by simply wandering off and getting lost.

It’s FREE to use our lost and found service.

Between 1st January and 27th March, 23 cats have been reported missing. 13 are now reunited with their owners.

If you have cats that roam in your garden, don’t encourage them by feeding—they may have a special

diet due to medical conditions.

It is very important to ensure that your pet cat is microchipped because if your pet becomes lost you are far more likely to be reunited.

If you think you have a stray cat, contact Carole:

023 9258 3637 / 07946 678264 sam.tractor@virginmedia.com

www.gosport.cats.org.uk www.facebook.com/CatsProtectionGosport

Gosport Town Cats Protection

For LOST & FOUND CATS

Please call Carole on 023 9258 3637

or email sam.tractor@virginmedia.com

Advice for a Missing or Lost Cat

THIS MONTH..

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may issue 2015

FOOD AND DRINK

14 Home made apple crisps

Cook at home with Lucy and make a tasty snack in no time!

HOUSE AND GARDENS

21 Planning Matters Check out this months round up of planning applications in and around Gosport.

22 Plant of the month Ahhh the lovely Azalea. Enjoy a splash of colour in any garden, large or small with this versatile shrub.

MOTORING

18 Porsche Panemera Diesel

It looks like a bloated beast and occasionally handles like one. Read on to find out more about this rating of the new Porsche by Tim Barnes-Clay.

CHILDREN, PETS & EDUCATION

6 Brilliant! A lovely book review of Roddy Doyle's title for kids from the Gosport Discovery Centre.

HEALTH, BEAUTY & LIFESTYLE

14 Absolute Running Check out this months instalment from the boys at the Shoe - and get involved!

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL

20 Debt A subject many of us try to avoid but have a look at these important tips from Martin this month.

COMMUNITY

15 Gosport & Fareham Rugby Club It’s not just for muddy, hairy blokes you know. Get your kids involved and if it’s not for you enjoy a fab bacon sarnie from the club house!

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THIS MONTH..

may issue 2015

Smal ltalk

Pearl Publications

01329 630630

Joint Editors

Coralie Todd & Sean Middleton editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Advertising Sales

sales@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Regular Contributors

Martin Lewis, Rob Wood, Tim

Barnes-Clay, Anne Wilson

Distribution

This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in

Gosport, Elson and surrounding areas. For distribution enquiries

please give us a call and speak to Sean.

Four other editions are also published in Alverstoke,

Stubbington & Hill Head, Lee on Solent and Whiteley, Titchfield

Park and Burridge.

Whilst Big Voice Directories aim to provide a quality publication for local reference, it cannot be held responsible for the services, reputation or cost of any of the advertisers, and content of adverts or editorial herein. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Publishers. The magazines are produced on paper sourced from FSC approved paper mills and printed using vegetable based inks. They love being recycled but please pass to a friend first! Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content © Copyright Pearl Publications Ltd

Follow us on Twitter @BVDirectories

Visit our Facebook page Big Voice Directories

Visit our website www.bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

“Y our time is limited...

… so don’t waste it living someone else’s life”

said Steve Jobs. I wonder how long it took him to realise this before his life came to an end? And I wonder how many of us are actually guilty of this in one way or another? It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the needs of day to day life that you don’t stop to look around you and see what you are blessed with, or indeed how you actually got to where you are. You may not be living in a way that is true to yourself and whilst it might not matter right now, eventually your very self will erode away so that you, at worse, forget who you really are, and at best live a life that doesn’t fulfil you. Without casting responsibility and sense totally adrift, why not spend some time with a pen and a pad and just doodle. Draw or write whatever comes to mind about your life. Let it all flow—nothing is right or wrong—feelings, facts and figures. You’ll end up with a picture that might surprise you. One inarguable fact is that we can only be sure of the very moment so grab yours with both hands and jolly well live it in the way that YOU want to live it!

Much love until next month

Coralie and Sean x

Advertise with us!

Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 25000 homes each issue, five editions of Big Voice provide exceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month. Call our friendly team now on 01329 630630, jump on our website and have a chat or link up with us on Facebook.

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Brilliant Book Review by Roddy Doyle

When Uncle Ben’s Dublin business fails, it's clear to

Gloria and Raymond that something is wrong. He

just isn’t his usual cheerful self. So when the

children overhear their granny saying that the Black

Dog has settled on Ben’s back and he won’t be OK

until it’s gone, they decide they're going to get rid

of it. This sounds like a dark tail and quite heavy

for children but the story is told with a light touch

and plenty of humour.

The children set out on a midnight quest to hunt

down the Black Dog and chase it away. But as they

set off they realise that it’s not only their family

affected by the Black Dog. Loads of other children

are searching for it too, because the Black Dog is

hounding lots of Dublin's adults. Together – and

with the help of magical animals, birds and rodents

– the children manage to corner the Black Dog.

The conclusion is edgy and tense but reaches a

satisfying conclusion.

A sensitive and well written portrayal of

depression, there is plenty to discuss here about

the effect it has on not only the individual but also

the family and those around them. The illustrations

add to complete package to make this a great book.

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It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to be Chairman of “Churches Together in Gosport” (CTiG) which has 27 member churches spread across Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent, and representing over 2,000 frequent church-goers and many other people with a range of contacts with churches and the social and community facilities that they provide. The Christian church in Gosport is a significant presence, and, as Archbishop William Temple memorably said, “the church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of non-members”. It is the calling of Christians to work together to show God’s love and the service of Christ to those who live and work in our local communities. Jesus himself had a clear approach: show people love, service and acceptance. That may be all that you do for them, or, in doing that, they themselves may come into a living relationship with God. Or, as J. John puts it, in a speech to Christians, “people will not love what we know, until they know that we love”. So, although “Churches Together” (CTiG) do worship and pray together (as the foundation of all that they do) the emphasis is firmly on showing the love of God in our community in practical,

supportive and loving ways. As St Francis of Assisi said “Preach the Gospel: use words if you have to”. CTiG supports projects and initiatives that reflect this: Street Pastors (helping keep people safe late at night in Gosport town centre); School Pastors (engaging with, and providing care for young people at school); CentrePeace Hub (a Christian “shop-front” in Gosport High Street, near Wetherspoons); C.A.P. (“Christians against Poverty”) debt support courses and counseling; The “Heart for the Homeless” project, which supplies active support for those with accommodation issues, in tandem with other agencies; “Healing on the Streets” (which offers supportive prayer for those in need, out in the open); and the proposed development of a new building for Waterside Community Church (which as well as providing a new worship

centre will also provide a home for support services for those in various kinds of need.) Information about all these projects, and other things that CTiG get up to can be found on our website: www.churchestogetheringosport.org.uk so do take a look!

The Revd Andy Davis, Vicar of Christ Church and Holy Trinity, Gosport and Area Dean

of the Church of England’s “Deanery of Gosport”

Nave Contemplation

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It’s al l child 's play If the suggestion of a trip to the seaside, a farm or swimming is greeted with exclamations of ‘Oh no!’ in your house this May Bank Holiday, then you, like me, might find yourself thinking back to the good old days when things like that were considered fun. Instead of beating yourself up as a parent, wondering where it all went wrong, the answer may lie in screen-based research. It seems that frequent screen changes in children’s TV programmes are used as a tool to maintain young children’s interest. A consequence of this is almost speeding up life itself so that a trip to the seaside or a farm on the TV is so fast actioned that the reality appears slow and boring by comparison. TV and screen time are limited in our house,

although my 9 year old has cleverly found ways to circumvent this with an array of Minecraft homework, from designing a fairground ride, to making an Egyptian tomb or toy! We live in a computer and screen-based world where computers undeniably make our life easier and enhance it in many ways, but are a poor substitute for children learning in a hands-on way. They provide little, if any, enrichment for the senses, the gateway to all learning, and no food for the soul. Technology is such a huge part of our lives that we positively need to embrace it, but setting limits is clearly important as carefree time spent exploring outdoors, running vigorously and playing are key to the development of well-rounded children and fighting

the obesity battle. With life itself so fast paced now, and the immediacy provided by social networking and other media priming children, and adults, to expect everything immediately, you can’t beat the feeling of release provided by exploring how a worm moves, discovering a new shoot, mixing up a witches potion, rolling down a grassy bank, playing hide and seek or building dens. Being outdoors and vigorous play are not only good for the body and soul but also free. May is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors together as a family so be sure to get outdoors this half term, wallow in the weather and find some May mojo!

Sue Gascoyne is a published author and educational consultant and therapeutic play practitioner. She is the founder and Creative Director of Play to Z Ltd, specialist providers of award winning Sensory Play resources.

To find out more about Sue’s latest research and resources go to; sue@playtoz.co.uk |www.playtoz.co.uk|01206 796722

May Mojo

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It looks like a bloated beast and occasionally it handles like one. The Porsche Panamera’s swollen exterior is more obvious at the back of the car; it’s too bulbous to look athletic. But there is no disguising the ability of the vehicle. Two enormous tail pipes jut from the car’s stern like horizontal steel chimneys; these more than hint at the clout that the corpulent car is capable of serving up. The front of the Panamera is far more Porsche-like, with its sweeping curved bonnet and ever-so-slightly ‘hang-dog-eyed’ headlights. Approaching it from

the front, or when peering down its long, wide, snout, its form starts to draw you in. Through its proportions alone, the Porsche Panamera stands out clearly in its market segment. It measures 1931mm (76.0in) in width and 1418mm (55.8in) in height, while its overall length is 4970mm (195.7in). And this particular oil-burner model can be recognised by the lettering ‘diesel’ on the front doors. Step inside, and the plush cabin reeks of cowhide. The sumptuous seating-for-four and lengthy legroom, both front and rear, provide the comfort you would expect from a car costing over £60,000. Indeed, every Panamera, has a high level of standard specification. This includes Porsche Active Suspension Management, which adapts handling to suit your preferred driving style. In ‘Normal’ mode the car delivers a blend of performance and comfort, and

then there’s a ‘Sport’ setting where the setup is much firmer. The Porsche also comes with vivid Bi-Xenon headlights; parking sensors; tyre pressure monitoring; automatic dimming rear view mirrors; touch-screen satellite navigation and audio controls, as well as cruise control. In addition, the car is available with rear-wheel drive and uses a highly efficient eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. For the majority of time spent behind the portly Porsche’s wheel, it pleases when its hefty haunches launch the car forward with as much effort as it takes to throw a dart. The formidable engine chucks the monster from 0 to

62 mph in 6.0 seconds, and carries it to a top speed of 161 mph. The 3.0 litre six cylinder turbo diesel car is made for touring - that much is obvious. The 100 litre fuel tank and claimed 44.1 mpg will take you across a generous slice of the European continent without the need to stop for fuel. To give you an idea of its range in the UK, the German goliath is capable of taking four passengers from Lands End to Loch Ness without refuelling. Performance and low consumption are accompanied by smooth running and low emissions. An additional contributing factor is the auto start/stop function, which is de rigueur. Porsche has never suffered from a poor image. Sure, like most automakers, there have been tiny blips in its history, but nothing detrimental. The arrival of the Panamera Diesel has definitely polarised the opinion of the petrol-headed purists though. Many don’t see it as a 'proper' Porsche, and its styling certainly doesn’t achieve universal acclaim. That said; it’s an awesome car to go long distance travelling in with three other’s to accompany you. You’re also bound to get lots of looks – but not always for the right reason.

Auto biographies

FAST FACTS

Max speed: 161mph

0-62 mph: 6.0 secs

Combined mpg: 44.1

Engine: 2967cc 6 cylinder 24 valve

turbo diesel

Max. power (bhp): 296 at 4000 rpm

Max. torque (Ib/ft): 479 at 1750

rpm

CO2: 169g/km

Price: £62,922 on the road

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Touring range √

Power √

Space √

Economy √

Comfort √

Divisive looks X

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Porsche Panemera Diesel

By Tim Barnes-Clay www.carwriteups.co.uk @carwriteups

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Puzzle Answers May 2015

KID’S PAGE

WORDSEARCH

STEP ON IT

HONEYCOMB

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ABSOLUTE RUNNING

There was a time - when I was a lad in fact - when youngsters were seen and not heard and pretty much were left to their own devices whilst Mum and Dad did whatever it was Mums & Dads did with their social lives. More recently with fears for child safety and the impact of Internet and social media, our children have become less active...until it would seem now. As I drive around our locale, I see more and more young people with their parents doing 'stuff' together. Stokes Bay for example is rammed most weekends with families either enjoying the open spaces, the water or cycling & running together. We see proof in Absolute Running in the increased numbers of youngsters wanting running shoes...yes, actually wanting them as opposed to being told that they must have them. It's a fact that if sport is fun, our kids will take part and having recently

opened our satellite shop within Alverstoke Tennis, Squash & Badminton Club, we've been amazed at the sheer numbers of kids getting involved in junior tennis. It's wonderful to see the courts full of all ages and hear the absolute enjoyment in their voices. As I watched the two tennis coaches Josh & Ed go through their well oiled routines on a beautiful sunny April morning, I couldn't help but wonder how far these little guys and girls were running in one session. If we were to ask them to wear one of the fitness gadgets that records activity, I think we'd be amazed at just how many miles they covered. They enjoyed themselves. No-one judged them. They weren't self conscious or afraid of 'failure'. They just had fun and that's why sport is enjoying a welcome Renaissance. Sport is fun again and better still, whole families can take part. Check out the Big Voice Directory for

clubs and events near you and certainly have a look at Alverstoke Tennis Club's website for details of summer coaching courses. It wouldn't be right for me not to mention the forthcoming Gosport's Golden Mile incorporating the Junior Golden Mile and inaugural Wheelchair Golden Mile. It will be our third year and promises to be a great family day out by the seaside. Info on the Gosport Golden Mile website or Facebook page facebook.com/2015Gosport Golden Mile. We hope you and the family can make it.

Get involved and keep it local.

Nick Carter. Founder/Director / Marketing

& Outside events manager. Nick Carter. Founder/Director / Marketing

& Outside events manager. Absolute Running Ltd

www.absolute-running.co.uk

Whatever you do...Follow the shoe. Because we love running 2 #FTS

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P lanning Matters A monthly round up of planning applications submitted since 1 March 2015

GOSPORT COUNCIL

REF LOCATION PROPOSAL STATUS

15/00135/FULL

61 Fisgard Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 4HG

Retention of and further works for the erection of a single storey outbuilding

Pending Consideration

15/00106/FULL

87 Priory Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 4LF

Erection of part single storey part two storey rear extension, single storey front extension, single storey side extension, roof windows to side elevation and provision of balcony (conservation area)

Pending Consideration

15/00150/HHGDO

50 Priory Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 4LG

Gpdo part 1 notification - erection of single storey rear extension depth of 4.6 metres maximum height of 2.7 metres height of eaves 2.5 metres

Pending Consideration

15/00099/HHGDO

1 Ewer Common Gosport Hampshire PO12 2HR

Gpdo part 1 notification - erection of single storey rear extension depth of 3.55 metres maximum height of 2.93 metres height of eaves 2.3 metres

Pending Consideration

15/00080/FULL

28 - 29 High Street Gosport Hampshire PO12 1DG

Proposed extension to existing beer garden (conservation area)

Pending Consideration

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As a member of the Rhododendron family, the Azalea is a beautiful addition to many gardens, preferring a spot of shade in which to offer up colourful blooms in the summer. These shrubs are slow growing and hold onto their flowers for several weeks which makes for a delightful splash of colour and adds interest and depth to many a drab area.

They’re also pretty easy to look after too. Best planted in spring they thrive in a well drained, acidic soil. If your soil is poorly drained then they work well in containers too. Add some compost, organic matter and mulch to prevent some of the common problems with these plants.

Azalea

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Have a great time on beautiful Stokes Bay. Solent Springs Adventure Golf is open and fully refurbished! Weather permitting we

are open every weekend from 10:30 until 18:00ish. We are open throughout the school holidays. Tennis courts are also available.

Child (up to 15) = £3, Students/OAP = £4, Adults = £5 Family (2 adults/ 2 kids) = £14

Please call 07973 309770 to check we are open. Stokes Bay Road, PO12 2QT

Solent Springs Adventure Golf

OPEN FOR SPRING!

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Lucy’s recipe corner

INGREDIENTS

40g caster sugar 11 tsp lemon juice (to taste) 4 Apples

Homemade apple crisps

Preheat the oven to 110°c. Put non-stick baking paper onto 2 large baking trays. Pop the sugar, lemon juice and 90ml water in a pan over a low heat. Keep stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bring it to the boil and cook it for 3-4 minutes until it is just turning syrupy then put to one side. Slice the apple finely and throw the ends in the bin. Dip each slice into the syrup and lay on the baking paper side by side. Bake for 2-3 hours until dried and turn halfway. Check on the slices if some are thinner than the others as these will cook more quickly. Lay out on a rack until they are cool and crisp.

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Debt @MoneySavingExpert

Martin Lewis For those with existing debts there are record deals available right now to let you cut the cost and save £100s or £1,000s. Yet as the old adage goes, banks are companies that’d lend you an umbrella when the sun shines and ask for it back when it rains. So getting cheaper credit when in debt is tricky – however I have developed credit card eligibility checkers which can help you check what debt cutting cards you’re able to get before you apply. If you can lower the interest cost, then more of your repayment clears the actual debt, not just services the interest – meaning you’ll be debt-free far quicker. So here are the key debt cost cutting need to knows… I make no apology for saying…. stop borrowing. If you're struggling, borrowing to make ends meet just elongates the problem - making it even costlier and more difficult. The tips below will help, but if you keep adding to the debt nothing will fix it. So take a deep breath, do a budget and examine all your spending to see if you can cut back. Best buys are only best if you can get them. While there are many great rates on offer, you need to pass a credit score to get them, and many fail at that hurdle. Worse still when you apply it leaves a footprint on your file and lots of those in a short space of time can hit your future credit worthiness. I've given evidence to Parliament on this 'anti-shopping around' system - little's been done. So to fight back on my site we’ve built a free eligibility calculator – which tells you which cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. Just as importantly it does this without leaving a footprint on your file that lenders can see – so you can home in on the right one, minimising applications. To try it go to www.MoneySavingExpert.com/eligibility. Shift credit or store card debt to 35mth 0%. A balance transfer’s where you get a new credit card that repays debts on the old credit or store card(s) for you, so you owe it instead at a lower rate. The longest 0% deals for those new to the card company now last nearly three years (a year ago they were 30 months), but as

with many things in life longest isn't always best. Aim for the lowest fee card, ensuring you've enough time to clear it. Top picks and golden rules at www.mse.me/balancetransfers. Shift your overdraft to 0% too. Debit cards can be debt cards too - if you're in your overdraft it's often more costly than credit cards, especially if you bust your limit. So there are two ways to get out of this. a) Switch to a 0% overdraft: Top bank for customer service www.firstdirect.com offers a £250 0% overdraft (you must pay-in £1,000/month) and for accepted new switchers a free £100 - which should help reduce the overdraft straight away. For some www.nationwide.co.uk 0% overdraft may be bigger, but it's only for a year and is 50p/day after. b) Shift it to a 0% 'money transfer' credit card. A few balance transfer cards also let newbies 'money transfer'. This is where it pays a lump sum into your bank account, which can then clear your overdraft so you owe it instead. Top pick is www.mbna.co.uk which gives 24 months 0% money transfers for a one off 2.2% fee (though it's 22.9% rep APR after the 0% ends). Yet be careful, follow the balance transfer rules above and for more picks and full step-by-step help see www.mse.me/moneytransfers.

Can you cut the cost of existing loans? It's complex, as you need to factor in that most loans charge up to two months' interest to repay them early. - Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Full options in www.mse.me/cheaploans. - How much can I save? Someone who is 2 years through a 5 year 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off with a 4.9% loan, could save around £1,000. Don't pay all debts equally - attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that's clear, move to the

next highest.

I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable - don't give up hope. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. Yet for some, it's much worse than that. Do any of these apply to you... - You can't meet even just the minimum monthly payments. - You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary. - You have sleepless nights or serious depression/anxiety over your debts. If so then you're likely in a debt crisis and that means the solution you need is totally different. The most important thing I can tell you is I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable. It may not always be quick or easy, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is to go for free, one-on-one debt counselling help from www.adviceguide.org.uk, www.stepchange.org, www.nationaldebtline.org or, if you're struggling emotionally too www.capuk.org.

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