< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMES - MR THERM Q&AWhat does Mr Therm offer andhow can they help consumers? When your boiler breaks down, couldyou afford to £3,000 to replace it? At MrTherm Boilers for life, we will supply, fitand service a brand-new grade A+Viessmann Boiler with a ten-yearguarantee. All from £40 a month. Whatyou pay each month for ten years isfixed and no deposits or balloonpayments are required. There’s no interest payments and noextras, so don’t worry if you’re stuck forcash, don’t have any credit or are afraidof being rejected for finance. For MrTherm, it really is as simple as that. Tell us a bit more about theprocess.After receiving your application form,we complete land registry checks andwill call you to conduct a survey. Thistakes up to a week. Once the survey iscompleted, we will send you ourrecommendations for the boiler and anyadditional costs involved to remove andfit your new boiler. These costs can beincluded in your monthly paymentspread over ten years. Fitting usually only takes a day thanks toour qualified and highly skilled engineers.After installation, your boiler will beserviced every year. We call you for anQ&AMr ThermWith summer slowly giving way to autumn, we satdown with Scunthorpe’s Mr Therm to talk abouteverything boilers. © Viessmann Direct Q&AMr ThermWith summer slowly giving way to autumn, we satdown with Scunthorpe’s Mr Therm to talk abouteverything boilers. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:14 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21HOMES - MR THERM Q&A© Shutterstock/Valentyn Volkovappointment. If you have any issues, ourcall out is usually within twenty-four hours. Okay, but what about landlords,or if homeowners decide to sell?There’s no problem in either case. Ourcontract must be signed by the propertyowner, so your landlord will need toapprove this. If you do decide to sellyour property, you will need to pay thebalance of the contract off with yourhouse sale proceedings. There really isn’tany kind of catch to what we do. Talk us through the pricing.Initially, it’s £40 per month standingorder from the bank on the 28th of eachmonth. If there are additional instillationcosts that you wish to add to themonthly, then these will be spread overthe ten-year repayment period, so yourmonthly payment may be £45 or more. We will advise you of the contractmonthly costs after the survey iscompleted and offer you options to payfor any additional costs of differentViessmann Boilers. Are there any perks forrecommending a friend?Absolutely! As soon as your boiler isfitted, you will be enrolled into MrTherm’s exclusive friendship club. Now,every time you recommend a friend tous and they sign up for a new boiler, youwill earn £100 in love-to-shop vouchers.What’s more, you can do this as manytimes as you want. The more the merrier,we say. For more information, visit www.mrthermboilers.co.uk,email info@mrthermboilers.co.uk,or call 0800 612 7113.20-21.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:14 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWolds Retreat is your latestluxury residential park homeestate nestled in forty acresof landscaped grounds in theLincolnshire Wolds. Can youtell us a bit more about theestate? Wolds Retreat is an exclusive fullyresidential site for over 50’s. We have anextensive fully-stocked fishing lake thatnot only appeals to the avid fisherman orwoman, but also is a perfect spot forenjoying the natural wildlife that itattracts all year round. We offer peaceand tranquillity as well as security andpeace of mind. Located in Caistor in theheart of the Lincolnshire Wolds, a shortdrive will take you to the market placewith a selection of shops, restaurants andbars, or if you prefer to walk, we have afootpath that leads to Caistor town. Thepark has been designed to ensure thateach home is set on a generous plot sothat a sense of space can be enjoyed byall of our home owners. We also haveshow-homes at the park so that you canbook a viewing and not only appreciatewhat the setting has to offer but alsotake a look around a selection of homesavailable and appreciate the comfort,style, luxury and workmanship that hasgone into these homes.Security and privacy areobviously big concerns forpeople; as well as offering gatedcommunities, how else doesGreen’s Park Homes offer peaceof mind?With so many properties on themarket now being bought by investorsand the demand for rental properties atits highest it can be difficult todetermine who your next neighbour maybe. With this in mind, you can restassured that at Wolds Retreat we areexclusive for the over 50’s and appeal topeople with a higher disposable income,the homes at the park cannot be subletQ&AGreen’s Park Homes We sat down with Green’s Park Homes to talk about their latestpicturesque residential park home.22-23.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:24 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23or rented out for any period of time, thisensures peace of mind in knowing thatyour neighbours will be of a similar ageand mindset. As well as this youmentioned the park is gated and as aWolds Retreat homeowner you will beissued with a security fob for access tothe park when the gates are closed, wealso have a closed-circuit televisionsystem for extra security and peace ofmind.Can your homes be built bespoke,to a person’s own specificationand designed for maximumcomfort and luxury? Yes, the choice is huge… light fittings,switches, door finishes, wallpaper colourschemes, bathroom fittings, and muchmore. Do you want a utility room? ormaybe a study? Will you have an openplan kitchen with integrated appliances?All of our homes have fitted wardrobesbut how about a walk-in closet? There areso many combinations and optionsavailable, the choice really is yours.There can often bemisconceptions about residentialpark home estates. So, as well asyour homes keeping up withinflation, what else would youlike people to know about thesehomes?Each home has three service meters:water, natural gas & electric. Each homeowner pays direct to the utilities.Keeping cost to a minimum. There aremany plots available to accommodatenew homes of your choice. Ranging from36ft x 20ft to 65ft x 22ft. The annual ground rent is £2,300 perannum and is comfortably spread over 12months at £191.66 pcm which covers theelectric gates, street lighting, sewage,CCTV, fishing lake, maintenance of thesurrounding boundaries of the park, leaseof the land where your home is situated,the plots are twice the size of normalplots they’re extra-large. We also offer apart exchange scheme to enable yourmove to be as stress free as possible,with a cash adjustment either way.To book your very own exclusive viewing of the park and show homes, visit www.greensparkhomes.co.uk, or call 01977 782190 or 07760886368. 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:24 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE This month we explore the works of Jeff Rowland whosecompositions capture all the drama, romance and beauty ofrain and the lovers caught out in it. Like tearsin rainA Kiss GoodnightJeff Rowland can still recall an earlymemory that sparked the touch paper ofhis fascination with art. It was of hisgrandfather using oil colours in a paint bynumbers set. From here, Jeff foundhimself studying art at North TynesideCollege before graduating and becominga self-employed professional artist in1984. This was a period of experimentation, atime of untamed creativity that saw Jeffutilising everything from glass engravingto printing and painting. On reflection, hehas described this time as having a“scatter gun approach to art”where he moved in multiplemediums without havingany one focus to learn hiscraft. But he did find hisfocus in his first love – oilpaints. However, it wasn’t allsmooth sailing, with Jefffalling prey to difficult times andneeding to re-train. This he did with aHigher National Diploma inadvertising/illustration as a visualizer.While studying in Newcastle, he workedon multiple live briefs, even winning aNorth East Print Association award,legitimising this new direction his careerhad taken. But Jeff just couldn’t keephimself away from art. After graduating, he set about lookingfor work, though art was never far fromhis thoughts. He made a deal withhimself – one last attempt at beingsuccessful in art. His success began afteran exhibition in aNorthumberland gallery whenhis works were taken to theLondon Affordable. Here heachieved a sell-out in justone day. From there, thingsbegan to snowball, andthey’ve scarcely sloweddown since with successfulexhibitions in Edinburgh and inDublin. Jeff admits that, over the last fewyears, he has really witnessed a changein his work. Having experimented and honed hisskills, his compositions express andconvey a certain atmosphere or moment,as if they were intimate moments frozenin time and preserved forever on canvas.Each piece is an invitation, allowing theviewer to watch for a moment the magicworld unfolding around them. If it’spossible to sum up Jeff’s works in just aphrase, it would probably be “lookcloser”. For Jeff, there’s always been two areasthat have long fascinated him – theimplicit meaning and the inspiration. Asan example, Jeff points to The Bridges ofMadison County, which inspired him topaint a moody rain-soaked street. Thefilm is shot in beautiful sunshine until theend where the relationship has endedand the rain falls, giving an implicitmeaning that what the lovers shared isA Winter’s StrollLast Train HomeYou cansee some of Jeff’s works firsthand at theLittle RedGallery inLincoln 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 10:39 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE being washed away. Though there is much to analyse andexplore in Jeff’s works, he’s keen to letthe viewer make up their own mindsabout what is happening with thecharacters in the composition. We areeach of us storytellers, after all, and willascribe meaning and motivations to theimages we see. While one person mightsee a relationship at an end in the rain,another might see an old flame rekindled. Much like gonzo journalists living whatthey write, Jeff says that if you are goingto do something creative, you need toget to the very heart of it first. A timeago, Jeff painted a series about trawlermen and researched the project by goingout into the North Sea with them. Therehe was, sat on a trawler sketching themen while they worked. Of course, theyall thought he was some mad artist,getting soaking wet, freezing cold andstinking of fish, but he admits he loved it.This is the same approach he now takesto all his rain paintings. After all, how canone possibly describe or convey theTHE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat.The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas.8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE01522 5891348 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DPart@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.ukfeeling of being soaked in the rainwithout experiencing it first? Living on the North East Coast, Jeffsays there’s plenty of rain to be seen sowhen the heavens tear asunder, and therain pours down, he gets out there,sketch book in hand. He’s looking at howthe rain bounces off the ground and carroofs, and the magical way in which itreflects car lights and street lamps. It’sthis approach that sets Jeff apart from somany of his contemporaries and gives hiscompositions a poetic realism. Meet Me On The BridgeOur Meeting PlaceAt The End Of The AvenueMarket TownI Can Hear Your Heart Beat24-25.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 10:39 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ GARDENSGoing big on Begonias This month’s readers’garden in Moulton,Spalding has everythingyou’d want in a design –plants, trees, lawn, copiousborders, two ponds, ariver nearby and no lessthan three greenhousesfor propagating andgrowing their ownvegetables, salads andherbs. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY27READERS’ GARDENSOur visit takes us to the home of Vivand Paul Dyble who have restored thiswonderful garden to its former glory andadded their own stamp in the process. Paul explains, “The previous ownerwas obviously very knowledgeable aboutgardening, and although it had got awayfrom her in her later years, the structurewas still there. “Apart from the taming that thegarden needed, which took us a goodcouple of seasons, we inherited aLeylandii hedge that had got a little outof hand and a few trees that neededthinning out. There was also agreenhouse in the centre of the gardenthat we felt would be better placed toone of the corners. Once moved thatmade way for the stone feature we built,which we’re very pleased with.”Paul and Viv have worked tirelessly toget the garden back into shape and addtheir own features, such as the pond atthe top of the garden, complete with itsown waterfalls, and while the watercascading down now appeals to thesenses, Paul laughs over how he’dinadvertently ordered a rather powerfulpump and then realised, he’d need apool at the top to catch the contentsbefore it cascaded back down. Nonetheless, the couple are nowjustifiably pleased with the results hereand in the rest of the garden, which hasreceived plaudits from visitors far andwide. “It’s funny,” says Paul, “you plan agarden makeover, but of course nothingis ever plain sailing and the plan deviatesa little here and there. You get there inthe end of course.”The soil is a light, free draining soil andthe couple tend to experiment a fair bitwith plants and position them, with “norhyme or reason,” says Paul.“Most of the time that seems to work28 Á26-29.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:26 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ GARDENSwell enough, but there’s the odd failureof course, where we get to the nextspring or summer and wonder whathappened to that plant we squeezed in.”The borders are crammed withherbaceous perennials and annuals and,in addition, there are some 14 hangingbaskets and 30 tubs around the garden,which are perfect for the couples’favourite varieties of Begonias and a fewpetunias to add even more variety andcolour. As Viv says, “It’s a lovely colourfulgarden, and we have some fairly rareplants like the Japanese Plum tree whichforms a lovely white blossom beforebearing its fruit. There’s also an appletree that bears golden delicious on one26-29.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:26 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29READERS’ GARDENSside and red delicious on the other.” But the pride of the garden, in terms of plants, mustsurely be their Eucryphia - an imposing sight, particularlywhen their pure-white flowers stand out against dark,glossy-green leaves. In fact, they hadn’t realised quite how rare this plant wasuntil MP John Hayes pointed it out, during a visit to thegarden, and made the couple vow never to remove it:“Not that we ever would,” says Paul, “as it does so welldown there and is our favourite part of the garden.” Asked how long the couple spend tending the garden,the answer seems a unanimous, “as long as we can!”“Paul goes straight out after breakfast, seeing what hecan spot that needs doing that day,” explains Viv, “and I’mout there shortly after weeding or tidying up the borders.” Most recently, the couple have added a raised vegetablearea, by recycling old railway sleepers and the number ofgreenhouses has now swelled to three – although Vivmodestly argues this is more like two and a half! Theseallow the couple to also pursue their passion overbegonias, and their efforts have been rewarded with 1st,2nd and 3rd place prizes at local horticultural shows. This is a garden that will surely bloom and blossomthrough the seasons and, given the couples’ greenfingered touch, is sure to continue to delight both friendsand family for many years to come; not to mention itsowners. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2018 11:26 Page 4Next >