Living Along The Thames May/June 2016 by Living Along theThames

O P E N S AT U R DAY A N D S U N DAY 1 0A M U N T I L 4 P M

SIX BEDROOMS, RIVERSIDE SETTING, PRIVATE MOORING, GAMES & MEDIA ROOM, OPEN PLAN KITCHEN & LIVING AREA, GATED DRIVEWAY

WEYBRIDGE, MAYFIELD ROAD 6 BEDROOMS, GUIDE PRICE £3,750,000

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT THEA HEATON +44 (0)20 7205 4028 SALES@NEWCOURT.CO.UK WWW.NEWCOURT.CO.UK

JACKSON STOPS +44 (0)1932 821 160 SAVILLS +44 (0)1932 838 000

10 Spittal Street YOUR LOCAL Marlow SL7 1DB FAMILY OWNED www.barkerstone.co.uk ESTATE AGENCY t:01628 947 888 e:enquiries@barkerstone.co.uk

INSPIRING INNOVATIVE INDEPENDENT

n idyllic, unspoilt village of winding lanes, flanked with gorgeous Cotswold yellow stone houses is the setting for this charming period treasure. 12 miles from the theatres and riverside splendour of Stratford on Avon and only 4 miles from the bustling town of Moreton in Marsh, the wisteria covered gem boasts a rare combination of a picture perfect exterior and a characterful interior with bags of potential. There’s some modernising to do of course, the house is not listed so there is flexibility for extensions or adaptations to suit contemporary styles STPP. The inherent features of the1840’s cottage are plain to see, a heart warmingly pretty front room with ceiling beams and open fireplace, the vibrant kitchen complete with Aga, a must for a true country home. The convenience of a private driveway and large detached garage make it easier for those considering downsizing whilst the real delight of the home is the glorious mature garden. Backing onto orchards, the ‘three room’ garden has a marvellous collection of exotic and interesting trees, shrubs and plants, all immaculately maintained. The drawing room has French doors opening onto the secluded patio which, along with the rest of the garden receives uninterrupted sunshine all day... when the weather allows. Call Barker Stone to arrange a private tour on 01628 947 888. Looking to sell your character home? Barker Stone offer a personal service, bespoke marketing and attractive fees.

Buyers Demand to be in Marlow!

There is much speculation surrounding the property market and rightly so, house prices are always a hot topic in any town but this year especially. The external factor of the imminent EU Referendum will inevitably have an effect on the market one way or the other, investors from overseas will be most affected more so than us plucky Brits. Alongside the ongoing Brexit discussion the housing market itself has two factors that could be dampening buyers appetites, the recently increased SDLT (stamp duty land tax) for second homes/buy to let property and the continued rise in reported prices, 2% in March alone for the South East region (rightmove). As a result we were sitting on the fence when asked about our market prediction for the coming months before we opened our doors in Marlow. However, barely 4 days have passed since the Mayor Bob Johnson officially opened our office on Spittal Street and the market conditions have become immediately apparent. Buyers are looking to buy and are as keen as ever! Lots of active house hunters have already stopped by, trying to ensure they are at the top of our growing buyer list; the plan - snap up any property we take instructions on before the chasing pack. We have registered a hugely diverse range of buyers this week, some of them extremely quick off the mark on noticing our new window display.

The most popular criteria amongst these buyers is for property within walking distance of the High Street, understandably. ‘Parking would be nice and so would a little garden’ says one buyer, but on further discussion either would be compromised on for a well located house. Requests for more rural character property have been notable too. Our window showing examples of our previously marketed and sold property in the charming Cotswolds and wilds of Warwickshire has prompted buyers looking for less urban locations to pop in and put their name down. The buyers with the highest budgets so far are looking for character properties with modern interiors in village locations, anything from £1.2m for a 3 bedroom up to £2m for detached family houses. When asked about price ranges one buyer replied ‘I have no set budget, but I want a special property and if the house is right I’ll pay the money’. This confidence and eagerness belies the aforementioned conditions that could so easily be dissuading buyers, no such

reservations are apparent and the ever popular riverside towns in the South Bucks region are still property hot spots. So, with Spring upon us in Marlow, there only seems to be one thing on the agenda…. Keep Calm and Buy Property Simon Stone is the Director and Owner of Barker Stone Estate Agents based in Marlow covering the South Bucks region.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Welcome

a l on g t h e t h a m es

Serena Edwards Editor

Welcome to May/June, the longer days and nights and the chance to be in the great outdoors. An opportunity to get those BBQ’s out and dine al fresco and did you know that it’s National BBQ week from May 30th to June 5th. For those of you celebrating the Queens 90th Birthday the celebrations will take place at Windsor Castle on the evenings of 12th –15th May with the Queen attending on the last evening, so if you’ve managed to get tickets we hope you have a wonderful time. All around the country during these two months we will see street parties celebrating her long life and the fact that she has now been the longest reigning Monarch, an amazing feat in anybody’s book! We have our usual mixture of the latest fashion and beauty as well as gifts for Father’s Day, along with a couple of giveaways for Dad, so hop on over to page 50-51 for your chance to win. On the same vein we also have the opportunity to win a dinner for two in Humphry’s, Stoke Park, 3AA Rosette fine dining restaurant. If you have not eaten here before its a fantastic opportunity to dine in this sumptuous building which many film makers have used, one of the most famous being James Bond’s ‘Goldfinger’. With the onset of Summer there are many events in the area including the Craft in Focus, contemporary craft fair returning this year to a new venue on the weekend of 24th-26th June at Henley Meadows adjacent to Fawley Court. On Monday 20th May the Crowne Plaza, Marlow are holding a Family Fun day with a special appearance from R2D2 and the ever popular Comedy Club returns there on 17th June. With the warmer weather comes the Regatta season with the Marlow Town regatta on 11th & 12th June, Marlow regatta at Dorney on 18th June and Maidenhead Rowing Club Juniors regatta on 15th May, culminating in Henley Royal Regatta from 29th June – 2nd July.

ADVERTISING: 01628 627 488 CONTACT US: Living Along the Thames Magazine Studio 108, 5 High Street, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 1JN Tel: 01628 627 488 Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS: Dru Ross, Jenny Allen, Kasia Cole, Christine Chalklin, Karine Jackson, Tom Hyland, Jacky & Mark Bloomfield, Cassie Everett & Michael Darren ACCOUNTS: Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk DESIGNED BY: Digital Bear Design LOVE MAGAZINES?: subscribe to 6 copies for £18 a year www.VividTitles.co.uk/magazine/ View our recent editions online at: www.VIVIDTITLES.co.uk

Our front cover this month features Katie Caldesi, who has released a book on salads from around the world, just in time for Summer. There is a fantastic mix of healthy savoury and sweet salads, something for everyone! As always pop on the kettle, put your feet up and until next time, Happy Reading

12. Fashion: Summer 20. Summer Beauty 25. Win a meal at Stoke Park 32. Recipes from Around the World in Salads 41. Interiors: Designer Dining 48. Travel: Far away in Vietnam 50. Father’s day gifts and Offers 57. Ray Mears: Tales of endurance 58. Your Stars in May 62. All new Lexus RX 450h Premier 65. Whats on at the Cinema 66. Diary Dates 68. Useful Numbers

Front Cover: Katie Caldesi

To advertise within Living Along the Thames Magazine contact us at: Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk Visit us at www.vividtitles.co.uk Living Along the Thames is hand delivered free into 12,500 ABC1 homes every two months, including areas of high footfall in Marlow, Maidenhead, Henley, Cookham and Bourne End.

PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources PEFC/16-33-254

www.pefc.org

Produced by Living Along The Thames Magazines. All Rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Publisher and is protected by copyright. The views expressed in Living Along the Thames magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor/publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure quality and content, the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors in articles, advertisements and photographs.

Christopher Ward Expands C1000 Typhoon Collection With New Cockpit Edition Inspired by one of the most advanced pieces of engineering in the world (the Typhoon FGR4 multi-role fighter plane), the C1000 Typhoon timepiece collection is designed to replicate and celebrate the technical excellence of this aircraft. Launching today, the C1000 Typhoon – Cockpit Edition has been introduced to the range to pay homage to both the plane and the remarkable pilots of the RAF. The new C1000 Typhoon – Cockpit Edition combines a strong but light case of ceramic and titanium with iconic chronograph movement, the ETA Valjoux 7750, resulting in the most advanced aviation model for the Christopher Ward brand to date. Featuring a completely new-look dial and hands, including yellow ‘warning’ design elements, the C1000 Typhoon – Cockpit Edition has been created with the fast paced world of a pilot in mind. The high density webbing strap uses a signature CW motif buckle and is available in three colour options allowing the wearer to appreciate and enjoy high quality design and style along with technical brilliance. Chris Ward, co-founder of the eponymous Christopher Ward brand, has said of the launch: “The C1000 Typhoon is our most advanced aviation model so far. This remarkable piece uses hi-tech ceramic and titanium in the case construction and the iconic ETA Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement at its heart. This new edition uses the multi-role fighter’s instrument panel as its main design cue to create a watch that puts the wearer in the fast-jets cockpit.” The new C1000 Typhoon - Cockpit Edition is available on Pre-order for delivery mid- April, exclusively from http://www.christopherward.co.uk/

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

C60 Trident Pro 600

christopherward.co.uk

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Pure Magic Engage Dirk Odendaal, Diamond Expert, in conversation about his favourite subject – diamonds – and his eyes literally begin to sparkle. To say he is passionate about them is an understatement. “There is something wonderfully magical about them,” says the South-African born expert and gem smith, now based in London. “Women are hypnotised by them. They could look at them all day and watch them sparkle and shimmer,” he says with relish. It is this passion he is keen to share with discerning clients who know exactly what they want, by providing diamonds of unique quality at prices that are substantially more competitive than those available from retail jewellers. “Buying a diamond is an exciting event and choosing it is all part of my unique bespoke service. When properly cut a diamond has a unique ability to handle light and reflect it back in an explosion of sparkle and fire. But a poorly cut diamond allows light to escape and this means its beauty and brilliance is diminished.” says Dirk Dirk seeks out rough diamonds using his highly-developed skills to select the most perfect specimens directly from South African Mines, which, when cut and polished will produce stunning stones. “I can see into the future, if you like. I can tell how a finished diamond will look.” One of the reasons that diamonds are the subject of such fascination and awe, Dirk believes, is their history. “Each diamond is millions of years old, made deep in the earth’s core, with the gems being drawn to the earth’s surface by volcanic eruptions”. Diamonds, composed of pure carbon are the only gem mineral that is made of a single element, making it the purest of the earth’s gemstones. Even though they have endured so much in their long, turbulent histories, diamonds remain unscathed, ice cool and brilliant white. “They still glitter and sparkle as if they know the secret of eternal youth,” says Dirk. Dirk meets many potential purchasers in their own homes where the atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable to deliver that personal attention that is much needed and create a bespoke piece. Clients can see several diamonds displayed in small black cases containing several rows of stones encased in their own box on black foam so they can compare and contrast the shape, size and quality of the diamond. Dirk believes the service he offers is unique and enhances the excitement of selecting these unique gems. “Actually choosing a diamond yourself and discussing how it should be set is a really magical experience,” says Dirk, adding: “And it’s one that gives me great pleasure to share.” Perfect Collection specialise in the supply of diamonds to meet individual requirements by personally selecting and sourcing the diamonds that are

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

conflict free and have been certified in accordance with the Kimberly Process. All Perfect Collection diamonds come with an individual certificate from an independent diamond laboratory to confirm their authenticity and at 50% of retail price. “Diamonds are the most wonderful token of love and romance” For more information please contact 07799771379 email:dirk@len-mar.com or visit www.perfect-collection.com

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White love denim | www.swishboutique.co.uk

With Summer just around the corner we give you some ideas on looking cool and chic this season. Do it like Queen – no one wears pastels like the Queen. Take some inspiration from her Majesty and invest in a pretty pale summer dress. A great staple for any summer party that can easily be transformed into a magnificent outfit by simply adding a stunning jacket or a gorgeous printed scarf. Make a statement – wear a flower print this season. Go for a bold, bright print and wear it with pride. Whether you go for a pair of trousers, pretty blouse or a dress keep the accessories simple and let the print do the talking. Feel Blue – in a good way… Blue has been dominating summer catwalks so if you buy anything new this season let it be very, very blue. It’s a great summer colour anyway which will be a stunning complement to summer whites and your summer glow as it looks fresh and expensive. Cami Top – this seasons must have. It’s a clever garment that can be used as a basic and a top. Find the fit that suits you and stock up on several colours. Match with a pair of hot culottes and a sleek linen jackets for a smart look or denim shorts for holiday strolls. Timeless classic – A classic pair of jeans will always save your fashion meltdown no matter what country or climate you are in. So get yourself a great, well fitted pair of denim trousers and use them as an absolute basic for creating a smashing summer look. You don’t have to stick to the original denim colour, you can experiment with white or pale shades of grey and beige. These colours will go with most tops and jackets in your wardrobe. Team up with some cute summer wedges or pumps and you are ready to face the summer!

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Accessories www.swishboutique.co.uk

Betty Barclay blouse |£90 | www.bettybarclay.com Glamorous dusky pink suedette cami | £21 | www.glamorous.com

Apricot blue & white daisy print vest top | £23 | www.apricotonline.co.uk

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Joseph Ribkoff dress | www.swishboutique.co.uk

Michele outfit | www.swishboutique.co.uk

India Flower Power dress | www.swishboutique.co.uk Orange Camisole | £16 | www.topshop.com

Phase 8 Acacia floral cotton print shorts | £49 | www.phase-eight.co.uk Apricot cream & red floral bunches structured dress | £30 | www.apricotonline.co.uk

People Tree Alba trousers in blue multi | £72 | www.peopletree.co.uk

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Craft In Focus

– Focussing on the Best Of British Contemporary Craft Rob Chapman, who started his work life as a wood turner, established the company to give makers and visitors a new style of contemporary craft fair. Rob says “As a woodturner, I had exhibited at numerous craft fairs and felt that many were allowing bought in and imported work and not showing the best of what UK designer makers were able to offer. It devalued the work of the UK’s professional contemporary craftmakers and put craft fairs in a bad light for the general public. I wanted to change that and offer visitors the opportunity of seeing and purchasing work from the finest contemporary craft makers in the UK.” Craft in Focus events have now earned an enviable reputation for selecting only the very best professional designers, artists and craftsmen for their individuality and innovation in contemporary design and the company’s strict selection procedure means that all work is of the highest standard. It also now provides makers from all over the country with an opportunity to sell their work to an appreciative audience. The next event being held is The Craft & Design Experience in Henley from 24-26 June. The venue will be Henley Meadows which is adjacent to Fawley Court where the first show was held in 2004 and opened by the then Shadow Arts Minster, Boris Johnson. As well as being able to see over 150 fabulous exhibitors who will be there to show and sell their work there are a number of opportunities to be involved in a range of workshops suitable for all the family to give visitors an insight into the satisfaction of being able to create. Why not have a go at blacksmithing, on the potter’s wheel, working with leather or felting? Some of the exhibitors will also be providing interesting demonstrations to include woodturning, chair making, woodcarving, metal sculpting, weaving, …

Craft In Focus is now entering its seventeenth year of organising some of the best known contemporary craft fairs in the UK.

Chinese lion dancing, storytellers and an impressive sculpture garden featuring a mix of styles from small glass water features to large bronze figures. For the first time there will also be ‘Inspired’ a collaborative exhibition of work by some of the finest furniture makers and contemporary silversmiths in the UK. Those who appreciate fine food will enjoy the food court where, amongst other things, visitors can purchase and take away award winning gourmet condiments, tasty cheese, luxury handmade chocolates and confectionary. There’s so much going on, this is definitely an event not to be missed! Whatever your interest there is something for everyone at The Craft and Design Experience and Henley Meadows with its views towards Fawley Court and up to the Chilterns, provides the perfect location. For further information contact Craft In Focus on 01622 747 325 or visit the website: www.craftexperience.co.uk Venue address: Henley Meadows, Marlow Road, Henley on Thames, RG9 3AA.

Special features at the event this year include a varied programme of live music,

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Craft & Design Fair HENLEY ON THAMES 24 - 26 June

10am - 5pm

Henley Meadows Marlow Road, Adjacent to

Fawley Court Also featuring INSPIRED A collaborative exhibition of the UK’s very best furniture makers and silversmiths.

Purchase direct from over 170 of the UK’s leading designer makers

£10 on the day. Children £1 (5 -15 yrs)

Book tickets in advance & save £3* See website for details

Workshops . Demonstrations Sculpture Garden . Performing Arts Storytellers . Food Court . Live Music

New venue . New dates . New Experience

www.craftexperience.co.uk Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Learn to Row

Want to try your hand at Rowing? Maidenhead Rowing Club runs a series of adult (18+) Learn to Row courses aimed at those who have never rowed before and fancy giving it a go, run by experienced coaches who are British Rowing accredited. Learn to Row Courses in 2016 Evening Course Mondays and Wednesdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm (Open age group): June 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29, & 4, 6 July. Daytime Course Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30am -11.30am (Open age group): May 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and 2 June. Course Overview We will teach you the basics of sculling (an oar in each hand) to a determined level in wide and stable boats along with the option to go out in a single scull, dependent on river conditions.

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The Cost: For the Learn to Row Stage 1 course is £160.00 per person, which includes membership of the Club for the duration of the course. We have a few places remaining on some of the courses or to find out more about the best adult course for you, email Marion Holmes at learn2row@maidenheadrc.org.uk. JUNIORS – For all enquiries regarding Junior Learn to Row (12-18’s), contact junior-membership@maidenheadrc.org.uk If you would like to use the clubhouse and bar facilities or use the indoor rowing gym then there are social memberships available www.maidenheadrc.org.uk British Rowing Certified. Maidenhead Rowing Club is one of the major rowing clubs in the country to hold British Rowing accreditation as a Learn to Row Centre. Please note that rowing is a physical sport and there will be some lifting and carrying of boats at each session. In addition you must be able to swim at least 50 metres in light clothing to undertake these courses.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Jim Campbell Garden Enclosure Hosted by

Marlow Town Regatta & Festival 2016

Marlow’s Premier Summer Sporting and Social Occasion is looking forward to opening its gates on the 11th & 12th June 2016.

The two day event presents a Traditional Rowing Regatta & Garden Party in an idyllic river setting on Saturday. Enjoy picnicking within a tranquil environment, accompanied by the buzz of the competition! On Sunday, we are delighted to welcome back Dragon Boat & Canoe Sprints - along with an array of family inspired attractions and Trade & Craft stalls all planned to create a fun filled family day out.

Saturday 11th June - Traditional Rowing Races, Round

Table Riverside Bar, Jim Campbell Garden Enclosure, Varied Food Providers, Marlow FM 97.5 Live Music Stage.

Badges purchased in advance £10 Adults (18 and over), £7 Youth (14-17), £5 Child (5-13). Car parking available on the cricket/football field at £5.

Sunday 12th June - Dragon Boat & Canoe Sprints, Round Table Riverside Bar, Marlow FM 97.5 Live Music Stage, Family Fun. FREE ENTRANCE, Car parking available on the football field at £5.

For full details and badge purchase go to www.marlowtownregatta.org or Marlow Information Centre, Marlow Library, Institute Road - 01628 483597 To book your table within the Jim Campbell Garden Enclosure, please visit www.madebymark.net call/ Mark on 07930 179062 Living Along The Thames |orMAY JUNE 2016

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WHAT’S ON AT CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW MAY

‘ULTIMATE 80S’ TRIBUTE NIGHT 7pm – Friday 13th May Put on those shades, shoulder pads, lycra and leg warmers and join us for an amazing 80s show, featuring top West End stars! Includes a 2 course dinner, followed by music until 12.30am. Book a table of 10 and receive half a bottle of wine per person for your table whilst dining. £32.00 per person, including Tribute act and 2 course meal

JUNE

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY FAMILY FUN DAY From 12pm – Monday, 30th May In aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

THE OFFICIAL COMEDY CLUB — BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND 7pm Friday, 17th June Who let the Dads out? The

Always wanted to be a Fire Fighter? Come and pretend for the day! Join us for a day of family fun on the lawns with our local firemen and their fire engines. Live Music, BBQ, bouncy castles, face painting, games on the lawn and much more. What better way than to spend your Bank Holiday?

perfect Father’s Day Gift! A night of comedy, with chicken and chips in a basket, followed by disco until 12.30am. Book a table of 10 and receive half a bottle of wine per person for your table whilst dining.

FREE ADMISSION With special guest appearance from Star Wars’ R2D2.

£29.00 per adult, over 18s only £19.00 Comedy only (no food).

TRIBUTE PACKAGE: PLAY AND STAY £125.00

COMEDY NIGHT: PLAY AND STAY £119.00

Includes Tribute Night, accommodation and full English breakfast for two.*

Includes Comedy Night, accommodation and full English breakfast for two.*

Subject to availability.

PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE AT WWW.CPMARLOW.CO.UK/WHATS-ON OR CALL US ON 01628 496 800. DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR FABULOUS EVENTS AT CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW. Crowne Plaza Marlow, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1GJ | cpmarlow.co.uk | enquiries@cpmarlow.co.uk | 01628 496 800

Liposuction has met it’s match! If you’ve ever wanted to tackle those annoying problem areas on your body but have not known where to begin, Spring 2016 could be your time to do it. Whether it’s that stubborn bit of fat across the midriff, those bra rolls that ruin the line of your clothes or that fat at the top of each thigh that exercise and diet just won’t budge, The Loyal Treatment in Henley offers a number of non-invasive body contouring options. Cryolipolysis, or Fat Freezing, is the closest thing to liposuction without being invasive. With minimal discomfort and no down time, results can be seen after two weeks, with full results after twelve. This is a one-off treatment, so ideal for busy people that wish to avoid multiple visits. If you need the motivation of seeing results each week, Ultrasonic Cavitation combined with Radio Frequency toning is an amazing way to eliminate those fat cells and to start seeing those inch loss results quickly. Whatever your area of concern, you are welcome to pop in for a free no obligation consultation. For advice or to arrange a consultation, please call 07795 600080 or visit www.theloyaltreatment.co.uk

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Mua Matte liquid eyeliner | £2 | www.muastore.co.uk

Foltène Eyelash and Eyebrow Treatment | £14.95 | www.feelunique.com

Mary Kay lash intensity mascara | £16 | www.marykay.co.uk

Mary Kay dark denim eyeliner | £10.50 | www.marykay.co.uk

Tarte prismatic eye colour enhancing clay dual liner & double ended brush | £16 | www.QVCuk.com

Ciate chisel eyeliner | £16 | www.ciatelondon.com

Summer Beauty

Ciate Partner in Prime eye primer | £16 | www.ciatelondon.com

Lavera Intense volumising mascara | £12.90 | Whole Foods

Mua luxe lengthen & lighten eye primer | £5 | www.muastore.co.uk

Lavera Organic liquid eyeliner | £11.50 | Whole Foods

Beaute Mediterranea: botox like Syn-Ake eye | £34.50 | www.facethefuture.co.uk/shop

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Mink Lashes | £24.99 | www.totalminks.co.uk

Cargo Cosmetics Texas lash mascara | £14 | www.debenhams.com

All that Jazz |£9.98 | www.allthatjazzuk.com All that Jazz Cuticle Oil, Balm and Remover | from £7.99 | www.allthatjazzuk.com

Tarte lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara | £21.50 | www.QVCuk.com Nailed London with Rosie Fortescue | £7 | www.feelingunique.com Clarins double fix mascara | £20 | www.clarins.com

Jane Iredale Longest lash & lengthening mascara | £26 | www.janeiredale.com

Mua eye define volume, nourish & care mascara | £4 | www.muastore.co.uk

Ciate Triple shot mascara £19.50 | www.ciatelondon.com Benecos | £6.95 | www.benecos.co.uk

Hi Brow growth & conditioning serum for brows & lashes | £24.95 | www.lashperfect.co.uk

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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MARLOW FACE + BODY: a discrete private clinic

Marlow Face + Body is a unique concept that has all the elements necessary when choosing safe & effective treatments from qualified practitioners, but in a private luxurious spa environment in a Marlow home. We are completely results driven, and only use industry leading products and state of the art technologies, clinically proven, FDA approved or have CE Marking (European equivalent). The anonymity and privacy of our clients is a priority. Non-surgical cosmetic treatments are a private personal choice and one that has no need to be shared. We seem to have become Marlow’s little secret where men & women come to have their fat

reduced, wrinkles reduced, skin tightened and lifted, all in one very private sanctuary. You’ll never find yourself running in to someone you know in a waiting room…wondering and possibly asking what you’re having done. Our clients have access to a comprehensive list of treatments and renowned skin care products, free onsite parking, our one to one attention, and best of all, there is no reception staff or high street rent which keeps our prices affordable. Affordable prices are particularly important for treatments like Botox, Dermal Filler and Radio Frequency which require sustainable ongoing programs to maintain results. Or for CoolTech fat reduction to treat multiple areas to achieve overall contouring and not just reducing one area. Because of the personalised experience, we make sure our clients feel completely comfortable, safe and tended to from start to finish. We provide ongoing support and aftercare to make sure our clients get the best results possible.

“From the outset I was impressed - a great website that explained their products and services. I was motivated by the results shown of their actual clients. I called to make and enquiry and they talked me through the options. I decided on CoolTech fat freezing to help me eliminate a “pouch” on my abs that was stubborn and resistant to training. When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the warm and welcoming reception I got. We had a chat, talked it through and then following my initial assessment, started the treatment. The treatment itself was fairly painless, made even more comfortable by the lovely spa environment that was modern and immaculately clean. They took very good care of me - making sure I was comfortable, warm and had all I needed (pillows, blankets, cappuccino, you name it!). The treatment time flew by thanks to the large TV and on-demand program and movie choices. Once finished, they made sure I was comfortable and there was no rush, they took the time make sure I felt completely relaxed and happy to get up. They even checked up on me the next day to see how I was. If you are looking for personalised treatment, care, attention and a lovely comfortable environment, customer focused, then I really recommend Marlow Face + Body.” David From Marlow

To make an apointment please contact Marlow Face + Body on 01628 30 20 28 or 07823 348 780. Email info@marlow.clinic 24 Meadow View, Marlow Bottom SL7 3PA

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

DIODE LASER l HAIR REMOVAL it works it is

PAINLESS

it is

ON ALL AFFORDABLE SKIN T YPES

• IPL is NOT laser • Generic Laser systems are not Diode Laser, which is clinically shown to be the most effective for Hair Removal • In most cases results are permanent • Special Package includes consultation and patch test • Full back treatment in only 20 minutes

• Diode Laser is currently the most effective laser hair removal technology • It is relatively painless • Dermatologists recommend this system as it prevents folliculitis • Sessions usually last no more than 30 minutes • Safe and effective for all skin types

Special Opening Offer*

One area £40 - Free Consultation and Patch Test - Three areas £95 Special Full Body Price - Limited time only

01628 318 325 27 Nicholsons Walk, Maidenhead, SL6 1LB

* Prices quoted are per session | Terms & Conditions Apply

Keep Your Hair in Check

“Well summer is definitely on its way isn’t it? As we’re looking towards the new season, I’m embracing all things new” says Karine Jackson I’m currently writing this column in Australia, on the set of my brand new collection, which I can’t wait to share with you all later on this year. This month, I’ll be looking at the best ways to keep your hair in check whilst the weather is unpredictable, how to ask your hairdresser for exactly what you want and bringing you my hot future colour trends...

Your best hair ever.. We all suffer with it – you go out in the warm sunshine with a fresh blow-dry only for the heavens to open (typical British summertime) and then you’re left with a lank and frizzy mess when the sun comes back out. The best way to prepare for this is to keep your hair either off your neck or your forehead, styling it with a braid or ponytail. This year I’m championing a slick ponytail, it’ll keep you feeling polished: just apply a little spray gel to sleek the sides in. I also think braids are having a huge comeback this season, from a boho braided bun to Dutch braids (as seen on the Kardashians).

Stylist speak.. I’m a huge fan of Charlize Theron’s cropped hair, it gives her plenty of options for versatile red carpet and casual day looks and is a godsend for those with naturally curly hair. Ask your stylist to give you a rounded uniform layer with some slight tapering at the neck. If you have fairly thick hair, ask for a little texturising on the ends to remove a little of the weight. After cutting, ask your stylist to style your hair so that it sweeps upwards and off your face for a fresh summer look. The curls need to look effortless so your stylist should use a mousse and their fingers to just encourage your hair’s natural shape. This cut is pretty perfect for almost every face shape. However if you have a prominent chin or a longer face, I’d keep the style slightly longer and bouncier to accommodate. Another great feature of the cut is that it works great if you have an irregular hairline growth (such as a cow’s lick) as it will give you lots of root lift before you even start styling!.

Future trend - Swirl colour As I’m currently working on my new collection, I wanted to let you in on my new favourite colour technique. My inspiration for this is the cross section of a swiss roll, so I’m taking that across to the hair, where we apply the colour in a round to create that swirling effect – this can be as subtle or as bold as you want – stay tuned. www.karinejackson.co.uk

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Win a Dinner for two in Humphry’s, Stoke Parks 3 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant, prepared by their award winning Executive Chef, Chris Wheeler! Named as one of the ‘Best of Britain’ in the Tatler Restaurant Guide, Humphry’s innovative take on Modern British Cuisine and enviable wine list provides an unforgettable treat, all set within the sumptuous, romantic surroundings of Stoke Park’s Georgian mansion. Living Along the Thames and Stoke Park have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a three course dinner for two plus a bottle of house wine, with a glass of champagne each on arrival in Humphry’s restaurant. For your chance to win this fabulous prize please send your details to Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk by 8th June and include ‘win dinner for 2’ in the subject matter of your email.

T&C’s: Valid until 31st December 2016 excluding Bank holidays, Bank holiday weekends, 20-26 June 2016, 24-26 December 2016 and 30-31stDecember. Subject to availability. Your details will be passed onto Stoke Park unless you opt out in the email submission.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Top tips for having a BBQ Light the barbecue before the guests arrive so your guests will arrive to the tantalising smell of the debris burning off the barbecue grills. Prepare Marinade meats and fish the day before and it will leave you with less washing-up and more time to set up drinks and create the party atmosphere on the day. Be organised Have enough work surface. Work out how many loads of food you have to cook and what equipment you will need? Stay with your barbecue Never leave the BBQ when grilling, for the best results and for safety’s sake. You won’t get lonely. Chefs never do. There are always a handful of invariably male - guests who huddle around giving their advice. Season Only add salt to a marinade if you are marinating for no more than 2 hours. Pepper is fine overnight, but salt never.

and hinged sandwich racks. If not, shuffle your food that’s grilling around from hot patches to cooler parts of the rack, or place the food on foil to slow things down. Test to see if cooked through Using a small sharp knife, cut into the centre of the meat (down to the bone if there is one), to check that the flesh is cooked and juices are running clear. For flaky fish, such as salmon, press the flesh with your finger or a fork to check that the flakes come apart, indicating that it is ready.

Lose fridge chill Always give chilled raw barbecue dishes enough time out of the fridge to approaching room temperature to ensure the meat is cooked evenly and all the way through.

Rest the meat Resting meats after barbecuing is as essential a part of the barbecuing process as any other. Rest the meat on a warmed tray on the top rack or away from the direct heat covered with perforated foil.

Control the proximity of the food to the coals. If you can, use a rack system with three different heights and moveable grills

National BBQ week is May 30th June 5th

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

BARBE-CUE THE REDS With the May Bank Holiday on the horizon, our thoughts turn to the great outdoors... and a barbecue of course. No doubt scores of us will be firing up the grill in the hope of some summer sunshine and these food-friendly reds will enhance BBQ sauces, marinades and just about anything from the pit... or a Sunday roast if the clouds let us down.

SUNNY WINELANDS A top-value, crowd-pleasing red, Nederburg 56 Hundred Shiraz 2014, South Africa (£5.75, Morrisons) will complement all the earthy flavours of a sweet and smoky BBQ sauce with its crushed blackberry and black cherry fruit, soft and juicy mouthfeel and a touch of smoky spice on the finish.

RUSTIC CHARM Ideal for a mixed grill, you can build your meal around Saint Auriol 2014 Corbieres, France (£6.99, Waitrose) - a medium-bodied red from the Languedoc that marries dark berry fruits with notes of thyme, rosemary and herbal spice that will play nicely against sweet and smoky potatoes and veggies.

ITALIAN FLAIR Great with barbecued meat, the montepulciano grapes in Finest Montepulciano D’Abruzzo La Francese 2014, Italy (£7, Tesco) are aged in oak to produce lush and woody sweet berry fruits with a hint of vanilla and a touch of mocha on the short, smooth finish.

SPANISH GEM A delicious young Rioja, Ramon Bilbao Single Vineyard Rioja 2014, Spain (£9.49, Majestic) is an easy drinking blend of 70% tempranillo and 30% garnacha to spice up the plummy flavours and bring some richness to the Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

party. With ripe aromas of sweet cherries and savoury red fruits, it’s a perfect match with barbecue smoked pulled pork.

ACE AUSTRALIAN Barossa is a powerhouse for shiraz and this intense black beauty is ripe and generous with enough spice, succulent sweet black fruits and toasty vanilla to enjoy on its own, or pair with juicy lamb cutlets on the barbie. Try Ebenezer & Seppeltsfield Shiraz 2013, Barossa Valley, Australia (£15, Marks & Spencer) and let your taste buds do the talking.

STAR PERFORMER Michel Rolland Clos de Los Siete 2013, Mendoza, Argentina (£15.75, Sainsbury’s) is a joint venture from Rolland and a handful of winemakers to produce a blend that reflects the very best of their bodegas. Malbec based with merlot, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and petit verdot, it hits all the right notes with seductive aromas of violets and spice leading to blackberry and plum laced with peppery spice on the velvety smooth palate. A must for an Argentine themed asado.

TOP TIER If you fancy pushing the boat out this Bank Holiday, Numanthia 2011, Spain (£35.05, www.ocado.com) is a wine to swoon over. Made from old vine tinta de toro (part of the tempranillo family), this voluptuous red graces wine lists across the world and is powerful yet elegant and the perfect match with rib-eye steak. Rich and deeply perfumed, it’s a symphony of blackberry, cedar and spice with lovely complexity and a luxurious long finish. And if you’re looking for more inspiration to reach for the charcoal and get saucy, try Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Barbecue Glaze (£1.99, supermarkets nationwide), the newest addition to the Jack Daniel’s range of barbecue sauces.

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NOW OPEN...

@TheAstorGrill

Cliveden House Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 0JF Tel: 01628 668561 theastorgrill@clivedenhouse.co.uk www.clivedenhouse.co.uk

The Astor Grill the revived Stables at Cliveden Now Open, The Astor Grill, a relaxed and convivial restaurant, located in the Duke of Westminster’s former stable block, adjacent to the main house, which previously housed Lord Astor’s most prized fillies. An equestrian theme greets you as you walk through the main doors with the old stables made into comfortable booths and the original floors brought up to their previous glory. Many of the features that you see are listed and as such have been used very effectively in the themed décor.

buttermilk waffles with caramelized banana, pecan and grilled bacon or chorizo eggs en Cocotte with rye soldiers! All enjoyed with a Bloody Nancy (a concoction of Chase English smoked vodka and tomato juice).

The name – The Astor Grill - recalls the Astor family, who owned the house from the early 1900s. William Waldorf Astor, America’s richest citizen of his time, then gave the house to his son and daughterin-law, Nancy Astor, in 1906, and Cliveden became a vibrant social hub for guests as diverse as Charlie Chaplin, George Bernard Shaw and Winston Churchill.

Start lunch or dinner with a bespoke cocktail such as the Astor Fizz and choose from a selection of snacks, small plates, salads, fish or a dish from the grill. Snacks consist of delicious mini venison sausage rolls with homemade brown sauce. Feeling a little more peckish then why not choose from small plates and salads – crispy Cornish squid, grilled wye valley asparagus, a waldorf salad, grilled chicken cobb salad or a Cliveden Superfood.

The Astor Grill offers an informal approach to dining at Cliveden under Executive Chef André Garrett featuring a mix of classic American and British dishes, reminiscent of Cliveden’s previous residents. Brunch is served from 9.30-12 and includes dishes such as crushed avocado with chilli on sourdough with a poached hen’s egg,

There is a selection of fish such as baked lemon sole and a variety of meats from the grill including the shrimp & scallop burger, a veal cutlet, lobster and chips or an 8oz fillet to name a few. To finish off there are some delicious desserts including the decadent peanut butter & milk chocolate mousse, the classic English trifle or something

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

a little more savoury such as the English Cheese Plate. To go alongside the fabulous dishes on offer, Cliveden’s Head Sommelier David Kubler has devised a list of rediscovered Old World wines including 20 available by the glass or carafe along with a selection of English craft beers and artisan ciders. The Astor Grill echoes the fascinating history of the House with its romantic setting and legendary hospitality that Cliveden is famous for, it is the perfect place to escape and to enjoy a late brunch, early lunch, or a relaxed supper. The Astor Grill will be open daily from 9am until 10pm, featuring brunch, lunch and dinner menus. For reservations call 01628 607 107, or by email on theastorgrill@clivedenhouse.co.uk, or online at www.clivedenhouse.co.uk. Cliveden House, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF

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Around The World In Salads 120 ways to love your leaves Around The World In Salads launches on May 5th and is the latest book written by Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi owners of London’s Caffe Caldesi, Caldesi in Campagna in Bray and the Marylebone La Cucina Caldesi cooking school. The book looks at 120 wonderful mouthwatering ways to love your leaves Katie is passionate about healthy eating and well-being, and Giancarlo now follows a100% gluten-free and low-sugar diet. Researching this book gave them the opportunity to really look deeper into all aspects of healthy eating from around the world, from choosing the raw ingredients, how to create texture, how to present salads and how to make the perfect dressings. We know all too well the benefits to body and mind of eating, clean, healthy, fresh food but sometimes we lack a little inspiration. Salads are infinitely adaptable and this book shows you how they work well warm or cold, at any time of the day, any season or occasion. The recipes are easy to follow and fun to make. Create a rainbow of colour in your bowl or across your plate with suggestions from across the world; from the Middle East to Japan, Vietnam to Mexico and Peru as well as from shores closer to home. Out with the old, in with the new, we’ve all had enough of the tired old mixed salad, we want more! We want salad that looks good and tastes even better, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or a meat eater the choices are endless and all the recipes are adaptable for most diets. For meat-eaters there are countless ways to pimp up your leaves and let’s not forget, a salad can we sweet as well, whip up some ricotta and enjoy with a bowl of redcurrants and raspberries – heavenly and healthy. With this book in your kitchen there’ll be no excuse for a limp leaf!

Around The World in Salads - £16.99.

Out 5th May 2016

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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shaved manchego, celeriac & radish salad with white truffle oil

serves 2

This is a salad for all seasons, as any vegetable that can be cut into light, almost transparent ribbons is suitable for this assembly of flavours and textures. The Manchego (or Pecorino, as it is still a sheep’s cheese) seems to enhance the flavours of the vegetables, helping them stand up to the precious drops of truffle-scented oil and the crumbled walnuts. Try Jerusalem artichoke and pear, various types of mushroom or carrot and beetroot and experiment with other oils such as walnut, or avocado, or simply enjoy a good single estate olive oil.

50g walnut halves 12 asparagus spears 1/3 small celeriac 6 radishes 75g Manchego cheese 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil a few drops of white truffle oil salt and freshly ground black pepper

serves 6

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and toast the walnuts on a baking tray for 6 minutes or until just browned. Cut the vegetables and cheese into thin ribbons and slices using a potato peeler, mandoline or very sharp knife. Pile a single layer onto a serving platter and season with salt and pepper, splash over a little olive oil and a few drops of truffle oil. Repeat the layers until all theingredients are used up. To finish, lightly crush the walnuts using a pestle and mortar or roughly chop with a knife and scatter over the salad. Finish with a twist of black pepper and serve.

raspberries & redcurrants with whipped ricotta, lemon curd & ginger crumbs

Simple and effective, this quick-to-make dessert is ideal in summer when raspberries and redcurrants are bursting with sweetness. We love the slightly tart ricotta with the sweet lemon curd rippled through it. We make our own gluten-free ginger biscuits but do buy your favourite brand to crumble over for an instant finish.

150ml whipping cream 250g ricotta, drained 100g lemon curd 300g raspberries 50g redcurrants or other red berries, such as loganberries 2–3 ginger biscuits, to decorate GF and V If using gluten-free ginger biscuits.

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Use an electric whisk to whip the cream and ricotta into soft peaks. Spoon this onto a serving platter and swirl through the lemon curd. Scatter the berries on top and crumble over the biscuits. This will sit happily in the fridge for a couple of hours if you want to prepare it in advance. Taken from Around the World in Salads by Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi, published by Kyle Books, priced at £16.99. Photography by Helen Cathcart. Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Enjoy Your Countryside By Jacky & Mark Bloomfield

Winter is a memory. Storms Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen and Jake have long since done their worst. Their passing for most a memory for others the work of clearing up is still to be done. Days are sliding longer and longer edging towards the end of June. Summer is here, time to get out and enjoy our countryside. We look at the media to see what a devastating affect these unusual weather patterns have already had. Pictures of people’s homes and lives disrupted by flood water. The weather’s effects are not just as it happens, but it is like a flooded river the impacts are felt throughout the year. Otter and smaller mammals are affected by the high river flows. Otters especially the young cubs can get separated from the adults and are unable to fend for themselves. The quickly rising waters can easily drown smaller mammals, which live near our river habitats. These small mammals play an important role in the food chain for Owls and Foxes. Look at our gardens and parks and we can see the impact of the weather. Plants that normally should have died back were still green. Many were still flowering. Flowers and crops are blooming earlier than usual. Food chains thrown into chaos, animals’ normal patterns confused because of the lack of a traditional winter. Bees, and other pollinator species that are crucial for crop pollination, have had a tough year. Their natural foraging habits badly affected by a wet summer and then this unusual winter. If their populations can’t bounce back to normal levels, we may see higher food prices in the summer. Poor pollination results in poor harvests.

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The warmer than average weather poses another threat to wildlife, disease. Normally, during our winters, any high levels of bacteria are killed off by the cold. Without this cold cycle the levels remain high. These high levels can cause disease in bird and insect populations. The big winter storms will have influenced our bird life. Many of our seabird species spend the winter far out at sea. High swells mean that many birds such as Puffins and Guillemots find it very difficult to feed. Again we may see a reduction in the numbers of these species who return to our coasts to breed this spring. It is also very small things that can have an impact on our countryside. Queen bees overwinter in a nest; whereas most of our butterflies and insects overwinter as eggs. Eggs laid by the adults on a suitable plant, will have been washed off. With the amounts of rain we have seen this winter many Bees will have been flooded out. Caterpillars feed our young birds. Queen Bees start colonies that pollinate our crops and gardens.

True impact of this winter’s unusual weather will not be known for a while yet. Nature is so complicated that we can only speculate what effects it is going to have. But it will have an effect. If you would like to help? Why not take part in a survey, many of the wildlife organisations conduct one; help find out what has happened to our animals, plants and birds.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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5 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RENOVATION Ensure you do the basics first. With any renovation project, it pays to start with the essentials, such as rewiring, replacing the central heating system, repairing the roof and addressing any damp and structural problems. Doing things in the wrong order, or trying to cut corners, can soon cost you time and money, especially if you have to redo what you’ve already done. If you replaster the walls without solving a damp problem, for example, the damp will simply come through the new plaster. This will then have to be hacked off so a waterproof render can be applied before replastering again. Start at the top and work down, both with the house in general and each room in particular. Ideally, a loft conversion (which can greatly increase your home’s value) should be done before renovating the rooms below, as it’s much less painful to have a leak (from water getting in when the roof’s off) or a hole in a ceiling (from a builder slipping in the loft) in rooms that aren’t finished. If you’re redecorating a room, start by

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painting the ceiling because the paint can splatter the walls and floor below, and work down from there, with the floor last. Consider extending into the side return. Lots of properties, usually Victorian and Edwardian ones, have a side return - a narrow strip of garden that usually runs alongside the kitchen. This isn’t much use as garden, because it’s often too narrow to sit out in, but can make a big difference to the space indoors. By extending into the side return, you can turn a narrow kitchen into a good-sized kitchendiner, which is a valuable addition to any home. For houses without a side return, a rear extension can turn a small kitchen into a big open-plan kitchendiner/family room (see below) that’s a pleasure to use day-to-day and will be a hit with buyers when you come to sell. This is especially the case with 1920s and 1930s houses, which often have kitchens so small they’re impractical for modern family life. Create open-plan living space, as this is high on the must-have list of many buyers, particularly families and people who like to entertain. Extending into the side return, building a rear extension and/or knocking two rooms into one, typically a separate kitchen and dining room, is a good way to create the open-plan kitchen-diner/family room so many of us love.

Turn a one-bedroom property into a two bed. If you can add bedrooms, you can usually add value, although it can be a mistake to make the property top heavy, with too many bedrooms for the amount of living space downstairs, or to have too many bedrooms for the number of bathrooms. In some locations, especially expensive urban ones, turning a one-bedroom property into a two-bedroom one can propel it into a different price bracket when you come to sell. Adding a bedroom may involve extending, or converting the loft, cellar or garage, but it can also be done without spending a lot. Changing the layout may enable you to divide one room into two (some main bedrooms span the entire front of the house, for example) or if you have a large living room, you could put the kitchen in there and use the former kitchen as a bedroom.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Prunning Mature Trees The team at Calibra Tree Surgeons, looks at pruning as the most common tree maintenance procedure. Although forest trees grow quite well with only nature’s pruning, landscape trees require a higher level of care to maintain their safety and aesthetics. Pruning should be done with an understanding of how the tree responds to each cut. Improper pruning can cause damage that will last for the life of the tree, or worse, shorten the tree’s life. REASONS FOR PRUNING Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree, no branch should be removed without a reason. Common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to remove crowded or rubbing limbs, and to eliminate hazards. Trees may also be pruned to increase light and air penetration to the inside of the tree’s crown or

NATURAL GAS

to the landscape below. In most cases, mature trees are pruned as a corrective or preventive measure. Routine thinning does not necessarily improve the health of a tree. Trees produce a dense crown of leaves to manufacture the sugar used as energy for growth and development. Removal of foliage through pruning can reduce growth and stored energy reserves. Heavy pruning can be a significant health stress for the tree. Yet if people and trees are to coexist in an urban or suburban environment, then we sometimes have to modify the trees. Towns and cities do not mimic natural forest conditions. Safety is a major concern. Also, we want trees to compliment other landscape plantings and lawns. Proper pruning, with an understanding of tree biology, can maintain good tree health and structure while enhancing the aesthetic and economic values of our landscapes. WHEN TO PRUNE Most routine pruning to remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs can be accomplished at any time

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during the year with little effect on the tree. As a rule, growth is maximized and wound closure is fastest if pruning takes place before the spring growth flush. Some trees, such as maples and birches, tend to “bleed” if pruned early in the spring. It may be unsightly, but it is of little consequence to the tree. A few tree diseases, can be spread when pruning wounds allow spores access into the tree. Susceptible trees should not be pruned during active transmission periods. Heavy pruning just after the spring growth should be avoided. At that time, trees have just expended a great deal of energy to produce foliage and early shoot growth. Removal of a large percentage of foliage at that time can stress the tree.

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Designer Dining By Jenny Allan, JCA Interiors

A beautiful dining space is an asset to any home whether it is in a separate room or as part of a kitchen living area. An elegant entertaining area can be very useful and give the home a special feel. The table will always be the star of the show, so invest wisely. A high quality, stunning piece will never go out of fashion and can even be passed down through the generations. The type and style of table really depends on the style of house and dĂŠcor throughout. Many modern properties suit a glass and polished stainless option, while in other more traditional houses it would be more appropriate to use a beautiful wood veneer such as oak or sycamore in either a high gloss or matt finish, perhaps even with marquetry. The base of the table can also be a striking feature, pedestal bases will always give the most impact and there are numerous options available in all finishes. Dining tables can be designed and made bespoke to your requirements. This includes the shape of the table which is always dictated to by the shape of the room. Rectangular tables

are clearly the most common choice however round tables can suit square rooms, while oval tables can be helpful if space is restricted. A beautiful dining chair should then be selected to complement the style of the table. We usually recommend upholstered padded dining chairs for additional comfort and there are unlimited options for types of fabrics that would work. Choosing the fabric really depends on the use of the dining space. If it is a more formal entertaining space, a stunning velvet would be ideal, but if it is a place for the children to eat their lunch, a more durable fabric or an easy to wipe faux leather would be a better option. The decision of whether the dining chairs should be carver chairs or not, really depends on the size of the dining table and the size of the room. Assess the

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

space available and make sure everyone would be able to pull their chair right in without restricting the space too much. Storage space in a dining area is always helpful and should not be forgotten, usually the more storage a home has the more livable it becomes. A sideboard is a common choice for the dining area and it can be designed to complement the table. Other options are bespoke joinery for shelving which can be used for decorative accessories while cupboard space can be used to hide away items and keep the space clutter-free. Whether your dining room is a formal space or a more relaxed area, there is the opportunity to design a beautiful space which is a joy to use and experience, whether everyday or just on special occasions.

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Have you seen this plant? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the foreign invader damaging our natural environments. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stop it, before it stops your mortgage! Are you applying for a mortgage and not sure if you have Japanese Knotweed? RootsShootsLeaves can perform a site inspection and advise you as to whether Japenese Knotweed is present. It spreads easily, often by accident, and will quickly take hold in a garden and cause damage to structures, driveways and out competes all other plants. If you do have Japanese knotweed RootsShootsLeaves will produce a Management Plan (approved by most Mortgage Companies) including a Survey Report detailing the extent of the weed and what treatment is

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Make friends and build confidence at our theatre workshops RAZZLE, DAZZLE BROADWAY/ JUNGLE JIVE BEAUTY & THE BEAST Age: 6–21 year olds Date: 1st – 5th August 2016 Time: 09.15 – 16.15 Venue: The Wycombe High School, Marlow Road, High Wycombe HP11 1TB Cost: £160 per student / £130 siblings SHOW: Friday at 18.15 for friends and family

Age: 4–6 year olds Date: 1st – 5th August 2016 Time: 09.30 – 12.30 Venue: The Wycombe High School, Marlow Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1TB Cost: £90 per student / £65 siblings SHOW: Friday at 12.30 for friends and family

01494 533203 stagecoach.co.uk/highwycombe highwycombe@stagecoach.co.uk Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.

The HENLEY College

The transition from school to employment or university is a vital time for young people as they start to specialise and realise their full potential. A sixth-form college like Henley provides a challenging, motivating and supportive bridge where students can reach their academic goals, try new experiences and meet lots of likeminded people. With over 60 high-achieving A Level and vocational diploma courses, Apprenticeships and traineeships to choose from, there are many opportunities for students to find their place at The Henley College. We welcome students from more than 100 schools across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire into our diverse and exciting College community. We guide students into choosing the route that is right for them and empower each individual to achieve the highest success possible. We are proud to offer a broad and diverse choice of courses at Henley and there are many

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courses available that do not require the student to have previously studied the subject. These include Forensic Science, Business Studies, Psychology, Law and Economics. From September 2016 will be offering RSL Music Practitioner Extended Diploma for students wishing to pursue a career in the music industry. We also have many exciting extra-curricular activities available that enhance and enrich student life at Henley, as well as encourage and develop new skills and interests. These range from general interest courses like debating or public speaking, to elite sports teams in rugby union, basketball and rowing. Supporting students to strive for excellence is something all the specialist staff are firmly committed to and incredibly passionate about. Last summer, the College once again celebrated a rise in A Level pass rate results to 99%, with high grades also rising a further 1% against a reported national drop. The College also maintained its excellent record of BTEC results with a large number of students achieving the highest grades. As well as a strong academic provision, our students benefit from supportive Personal Tutors and a caring, professional Student Services team who offer guidance and help with most aspects of College life. Our Upgrade team provide a wide range of specialist support for students with identified learning support needs or a disability, as well as those who just need a helping hand with revision, essay writing or organisation. The Henley College is situated close to the centre of Henleyon-Thames, a beautiful riverside town with good transport links. Facilities are spread over two closely linked campuses and include a dedicated Library, newly refurbished refectory space, Student Learning Centres and a new state-of-the-art Sports Hall. Come and visit us to find out more. Visit www.henleycol.ac.uk for further information about our wide range of courses and for details about upcoming Information Events and College Tours.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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View from Fusion Maia Danang resort

Spa Away In VIETNAM By Sam Wylie-Harris

When I was asked to complete a wellbeing questionnaire a day before setting off on my holiday, I put a big cross over an angry-looking face, indicating the maximum five out of five for my stress levels. It was 11pm on a Saturday, and I had just finished painting my bathroom - an arduous task I’d been putting off for weeks. I had to be up at 6am to leave for the airport and I hadn’t even thought about packing yet. Fast-forward 24 hours and if I had to take the test again, I’d be circling the smiley face at the opposite end of the scale. I’m sitting, mojito in hand, watching dusk descend over Vietnam’s east coast, and I couldn’t be calmer - and not just because of the cocktail and beautiful view. Almost as soon as I arrived at the Fusion Maia Danang, I was whisked off to the spa for the two daily treatments that are included for every guest as part of the resort’s spa-inclusive holistic health approach. After the 11-hour flight from London to Hanoi (and connecting 60-minute zip south to Da Nang) a bamboo roll massage - where a warm bamboo stick is used to work lemongrass scented oil into aching muscles - was

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exactly what I needed. Next up was the best manicure I’ve ever had, a thoroughly attentive hour-long session that went way beyond the usual hurried file and polish I get back home.

Caves of Tagoda Mountain

The spacious, white-walled spa spans two floors and is run by a team of very attentive women. Open from 10am to 10pm every day, it never feels overcrowded, even though the vast majority of guests take advantage of their full allocation of spa treats, sampling everything from facials and body wraps, to Reiki healing and a selection of massages for different purposes. Early on day two, I opt for the stretch release massage and am told to put on a pair of loose cotton pyjamas, rather than the usual robe and disposable knickers. I notice that my therapist has more muscles than the rest of her colleagues and it soon becomes clear why: for the next hour I’m

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

eating healthily anything but a chore.

The pool at Fusion Maia Danang resort stretched and pummelled (delightfully) into oblivion. The treatment culminates with a spine-cracking twist which is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It feels glorious, and is the perfect preparation for my next activity. In a studio overlooking the beachfront in central Da Nang mercifully cooler than the sticky 30-degree heat outside - I take part in an aerial yoga class led by a firm-but-friendly German instructor. At first, my fellow beginners and I are a bit shy about the mantras we’re required to chant with zeal, but we soon get into the swing of things, clinging to wide lengths of stretchy silk suspended from the ceiling, using the ropes to support ever more taxing poses until we’re hanging upside down like bats. It’s exhilarating, and my aching limbs the next day prove that it wasn’t just the silk that did the stretching. Closing mantras done and dusted, that afternoon I head in the other direction along the coast, a 30 minute drive south - past miles of flooded paddy fields - to Hoi An. The town, which is a Unesco World Heritage site, was a crucial location for Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese traders in the 16th century, and the architecture reflects the melting-pot history - bright yellow and blue European-style houses sit alongside red-roofed temples from which the smell of incense wafts. I take a stroll through the centre of town, which is designated for cyclists and pedestrians only, and across the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, then try my hand at bartering for some lacquered bowls and an ornamental tea set from one of the many stalls that line the streets. Bargains struck, I make my way through the market where the hardcore haggling takes place. The smells of exotic fruits like lychee, bitter melon, rambutan and overpowering durian (so stinky it’s banned on public transport) mingle with raw meat and fish and blasts of coriander and mint, as locals stock

Street vendor in Hanoi up on provisions before precariously cramming their motorbikes onto a ferry that will take them home for the night. With the sun set and my appetite suitably piqued, I head over to Morning Glory, a busy two-floored restaurant owned by local hero and former street food seller Miss Vy. Named after an indigenous green leafy vegetable, Miss Vy’s third eatery specialises in authentic Vietnamese cuisine, so it’s no surprise when I’m served the best Goi Cuon - prawn summer rolls - I’ve ever tasted. These cold rice paper-wrapped beauties are fresh, soft, crunchy and flavoursome all at once - I could have happily devoured three platefuls myself. But instead, I tuck into a deliciously salty smoked aubergine and pork hotpot before calling it a night - I’ve got a very early start in the morning. Normally, getting up at 5am while on holiday is something I avoid at all costs, but I decide to make an exception when one of the Fusionistas (the resort’s in-house team) tells me a sunrise yoga class is not to be missed. She’s absolutely right. Standing inside the candlelit ‘energy circle’ drawn in the sand and watching the sun rise over the sea is a truly breathtaking way to start the day. And by 7am, it’s too hot to even think about exercise, so I’m delighted to find a table set with all kinds of tantalising juices, infusions and smoothies. As with every meal at Fusion Maia, my beachfront breakfast makes

At the main restaurant’s sizeable buffet, you’ll find little pots of trendy chia seed pudding, ‘sprinkles’ of antioxidant rich matcha and a tall jugs of vegetable juices - but also row upon row of cheeses, pates and pastries for when you want to indulge. After my early start, I decide Eggs Benedict is in order, because I’ve got more physical exertion ahead today - but not before I stop off at the spa for a coffee body scrub and aromatherapy massage, during which I promptly nod off. Later that afternoon, I’m ready for another nap, having climbed 90 steps - each about half a foot high - to reach the seven-tiered pagoda at the top of the nearby Marble Mountains. These five tree-topped peaks conceal cool, dark caves where water drips from stalactites and shafts of light shine through the fug of incense lit around Buddha statues. Outside, in the shade of the pagoda, my guide leads me in a session of Tai Chi, an activity I’ve only ever seen practised by pensioners in parks in China. Despite the heat and humidity, performing a series of slow, gentle movements is both relaxing and refreshing. That night, I sleep like a baby. In fact, every night I sleep incredibly well, so another 5am wake-up call, this time for sunrise meditation, doesn’t phase me. Even factoring in jet lag and the pre-dawn starts, I’ve managed to make a serious dent in the sleep deficit that urban living makes me rack up back home. And as I settle down for the flight back to Heathrow, I don’t feel the usual pangs of guilt that come at the end of a holiday, that involve too many mojitos and not enough exercise. Vietnam may be a long way to go to recharge the proverbial batteries, but when the result is total mind and body rejuvenation, it’s worth it.

Travel Facts

Katie Wright was a guest of Kuoni (01306 747008; www.kuoni.co.uk) who offers a seven-night holiday in Vietnam, from £1,746 per person, based on two sharing, including five nights with breakfast at the 5-star Fusion Maia Danang in a one bedroom pool villa and two nights on room-only at the 4.5-star Melia Hanoi, in a deluxe room, including flights with Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow, internal flights and private road transfers in resort.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Father’s Day Sunday 19 June We’ve come up with some of the more unusual gifts for Dad this Father’s Day. Wishing all Dads a fabulous day!!

WIN!

Frenzy FR145 scooter This recreational scooter is the perfect choice for anyone who wishes to make their commuting life easier! The scooter folds down for easy storage, includes a carry strap for easy transportation and feature 145mm wheels for speed and comfort | www.skates.co.uk Living Along the Thames and Skates.co.uk have teamed up to give one lucky reader the chance to win the Frenzy recreational scooter worth £69.95. Send your details to Office@AlongTheThames. co.uk by 10th June and include ‘Win Frenzy scooter’ in the subject matter of your email.

Speedlink XILU Bluetooth portable speaker Bluetooth & rechargeable speaker that plays music from your phone, tablet etc and can be used as a hands free speaker when making phone calls | £22.49 | www.amazon.co.uk Camino Bracelet Travel bracelets made in the UK – Everyone’s El Camino bracelet is unique because it’s a representation of the path they’ve travelled around the world | bracelets from £21.99 | www. elcaminobracelets.com Golf Buddy BB5 GPS Golf Band Offers distances to the front/ center/ back of the green on a LED display in six different color bands and comes preloaded with over 38,000 courses | £179 | www.golfbidder.co.uk Eyejusters for men Adjustable reading glasses using a hidden dial from +0.00 to +3.00 in seventeen colours | from £69 | www.eyejusters.com

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

WIN!

James Bond branded Poker Set Contains two superb decks of poker cards, 300 professional quality casino chips of 14 grams, a Dealer button and a booklet with the Texas Hold’em game rules. The shiny silver pips on the stylish black and white cards are adding to 007’s luxury image. Available from www.amazon.co.uk/ cartamundi Living Along the Thames and Cartamundi have teamed up to give one lucky reader the chance to win this superb Poker set worth £99.95. Send your details to Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk by 10th June and include ‘Win James Bond Poker set’ in the subject matter of your email.

Anki Overdrive Fuses the the traditional slot car racing with video games elements controlled through an app. The starter kit contains ten pieces of track, two cars plus all accessories you’ll need to get started | £149.99 | www.anki.com. Sound Asleep Original Speaker Pillow Listen to your favourite music or books etc with the pillow that has an inbuilt speaker, no headphones required | £12.99 | www.sleepypeople.com Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable High torque direct drive professional turntable with multi pitch control for ultra-precise, high grade audio playback for vinyl enthusiasts | £529 | www. pioneerdj.com

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Gift Guide Ben Sansum, a specialist at John Lewis High Wycombe shares his top Father’s day gift ideas with us. I must confess it’s always a bit tricky to find the perfect Father’s day present and although my Dad would be delighted with yet another tie or another bottle of aftershave, this year I have gone to the extreme lengths to identify a selection of gifts that are more unusual. I hope you’ll find inspirations from my gift list as there is something to suit all pockets and ages. My Dad likes a little project and this new Paper Nano craft kit takes architecture to a whole new level and taps into his lifelong love of Meccano and Lego. There are 6 designs to choose from but I have chosen the Taj Mahal which I’m certain will be proudly displayed on his desk for his colleagues to admire. This Nicolas Feuillatte Vintage Champagne is my personal favourite. It comes with a stylish sailor cool bag, and for £35, this is my absolute go-to gift when I can’t think of anything else and one that I would be just as happy to receive. Gandys flip flops are one of my favourite products at the moment. The tropical print is designed by the Gandy brothers exclusively in collaboration with John Lewis. I adore the back story of a brand that was born from the loss of Rob and Paul Gandy’s Parents in the Boxing Day Tsunami. A percentage of the profits are donated to Orphans for Orphans mission which has already funded homes in Sri Lanka and India. My whole family has loved Star wars for generations and my dad is the biggest fan. So I know that he would treasure this iconic Cross pen and Journal gift set which celebrates the original trilogy and would delight fathers of any age. One of the most used items in my kitchen is my Lavazza milk frother, so I can see why any self-respecting coffee lover would love this too. It’s really easy to use and clean, the detachable Jug goes into the dishwasher. I could see this making Dad the barista of the house. If you want to go down a more traditional route, these beautiful woven silk cufflinks from Thomas Pink start at around £25. With the Queens 90th birthday this year they are both playful and patriotic. There is a wealth of beard grooming products on the market to keep pace with the popularity of facial hair trend. I particularly like the branding of MR Natty. The packaging is playful and trendy and comes in two distinctive emergency kits, one for ‘face forest fellas’ and one for ‘sharp shaven fellas’. I would have to choose the sharp shaven version as having had a beard for as long as I can remember, Dad has gone against the trendies and shaved his all off.

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Distinctive craft with lots of history 1931 Thames Launch Tug For Sale

Kennet is a piece of Thames history, having originally worked on the River Thames as a Launch Tug from 1931. She was owned and operated by the Thames Conservancy to assist in navigation projects. After leaving the area, she was the basis for a cartoon tug, in the TUGS TV series and featured in the Gloucester Waterways Museum. As a National Historic Ship she took part in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Pageant in 2012. Ideal for short river trips, with plenty of outside seating to enjoy the views.

Lying in Private Marina

Guide price £42,500 For full details visit www.abnb.co.uk For friendly helpful advice from our experienced and knowledgeable team of boaters www.abnb.co.uk • admin@abnb.co.uk • Open 9.30 to 5.30 every day • Tel: 01788 822 115 or 01788 822 508 KennetAlong tug.inddThe 1 Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016 Living

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3/12/15 12:31:01

Natural remedies for

PMS

In my experience homeopathic treatment can be fantastic at balancing hormones so I thought I’d focus on PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) for women. I see many women who suffer with all sorts of symptoms just before their period, so I thought it would be useful to give you five remedies which are particularly indicated for different PMS symptoms, all of which you can easily buy at your local health food shop.

• Calc carb – water retention, weight gain, tender breasts, digestive upsets and headaches. Tired, anxious and overwhelmed. Periods often come too early and last too long, sometimes with a flow of bright red blood. Chilliness with clammy hands and feet, and cravings for sweets and eggs.

• Nat mur – migraines, backache that’s better from lying on something

hard or pushing a solid object against the painful place. Extremely sad and lonely, but don’t want consolation or sympathy. Depression, angry over minor things and prefer being alone to cry. Desire for salt, feeling very thirsty, and a tendency to feel worse in the sun.

• Nux vomica – impatient, pushy, and intolerant. Constipation and

constricting pains extending to the rectum or tailbone. Uncomfortable, irregular periods, often with a nagging urge for a bowel movement beforehand. Anger, mental strain, physical exertion, and overindulgence in coffee, alcohol or food make things worse. Chilliness helped by warmth and rest.

• Pulsatilla – irritable, weepy and changeable moods, with queasy

feelings, nausea, and faintness. Worse for being too warm or in a stuffy room; fresh air can help. Timing, amount and nature of the menstrual flow are also changeable. Emotional and needy, wanting a lot of attention and comfort.

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• Sepia – late periods or scanty

flow with a dragging feeling. Feel taken for granted and overworked, and get irritable or sarcastic. Want to be alone. Dampness and perspiring may aggravate symptoms. Better for warmth and exercise, especially dancing! Choose the remedy that best fits your symptoms, and take it in a 30c potency up to three times a day before or during your period when you experience your symptoms. If symptoms persist, always seek professional advice from your Homeopath or GP. Cassie Everett www.absolutehomoepathy.co.uk Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Sara Mayne Lic Ac MBAcC

Tai Chi ~ Qi Gong ~ Yoga Acupuncture A gentle yet powerful approach to fitness and well being Regular weekly daytime and evening classes Half day and weekend courses 7 Heathlands Drive, Maidenhad, Berks SL6 4NF (near Pinkneys Green)

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Mobile: 07732 705644

email: saramayne3@gmail.com Web: www.saramayne.com Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

RAY MEARS The UK’s leading bushcraft expert, TV presenter and author Ray Mears tells stories of his experiences in the wild, and it’s not for the faint-hearted... Bushcraft isn’t dead insists renowned survivalist Ray Mears. In fact, he says it is a growing interest with more and more people eager to embrace the great outdoors and get in touch with their wild side. And he should know, having founded Woodlore: the UK’s premier School of Wilderness Bushcraft. For those not quite ready to awaken their inner bushman though there is Ray Mears: Tales of Endurance in which Mears will tell thrilling, campfire-worthy yarns from the comfort of theatres around the UK. “It’s different stories of survival that have inspired me during my career. They’re the kind of stories that once you’ve heard them they live with you and you can draw on them as well in moments of difficulty in your own life...” he explains. The show will also feature a Q&A at the end, which Mears admits is a format he welcomes since in television you rarely get to meet your viewers. He may have travelled the world on his adventures, but Mears is still incredibly passionate about the protection and conservation of UK wildlife saying: “We’re too happy to put concrete over green spaces and those green spaces that surround our towns were put there to be inspirational places, to be lungs, and to remind us of bigger issues.” This is a big part of Mears’ ethos; it isn’t just about messing about in the countryside, though the courses he offers are tremendous fun, there is also a deep desire to educate people on the value of nature and tap into their fundamental human instincts. As well as the tour, Mears has a new show called Wild France which will air on ITV later this year. Much like the British version of the show, he explores the more inaccessible parts of the French countryside revealing the magnificent wildlife that lurks within. Having recently Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

completed filming of Wild Australia just before Christmas Mears is insistent that while we may expect his journey down under to be more enthralling, that’s not necessarily the case. “I think they’re both amazing but France was very special... Australia was too but if you say ‘Wild Australia’ people get it, but if you say ‘Wild France’ it’s not so obvious, but it is amazing.”

Book available for more information visit: www.raymears.com

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in May 2016 Aquarius: January 20 - February 19

May brings your attention to your home and family, three planets fill the domestic sector of your chart and the new moon on the 6th signals some changes to the place where you live. Friends and acquaintances are also high priority this month, make an extra special effort to get out and have fun.

Pisces: February 20 - March 20

May brings all forms of communication to the forefront of your life. You should be feeling assertive and you may need to review how you come across to others in your circle. Make your plans, but wait to act until after Mercury goes direct on the 24th. The new moon on the 6th is auspicious.

Aries: March 21 - April 20

Mars, your ruler, is staying in retrograde motion all month. Plans and projects may seem heavy going and far from gathering momentum, for best results stay with this pace and use this time wisely. . The new moon on the 6th brings some financial issues to the surface.

Taurus: April 21 - May 21

May is a very special month for Taurus as Venus, the love planet, moves through your sign until the 24th. The new moon in your sign on the 6th brings a new vision into your consciousness. It’s time to allow your cosmic gifts of practical creativity to come to the forefront.

Gemini: May 22 - June 22

This month could turn out to be rather introspective for normally outgoing Gemini. The Sun, Venus and Mercury encourage new dialogue with partners, talk to each other and dig deep to unearth new truths. Venus enters your sign on the 24th – relationships will flourish!

Cancer: June 23 - July 23

May promises a social whirlwind as the Sun, Venus and Mercury all light up this area of your life, with the new moon on the 6th being particularly important. Although you sense job changes are on the cards, matters may be on hold as Mars remains in retrograde motion all month.

Leo: July 24 - August 23

Goals and ambitions are your top priority this month as Venus arrives at the highest point of your chart. . Be sure to pay close attention to the small print on any contracts or legal documents, retrograde Mercury may be out to trick you! Full moon on the 21st brings a surprise encounter.

May sees the sign of Taurus the bull in the spotlight, the Sun is joined by Venus, the planet of partnerships and love. Taurus is down to earth and constructive, this practical energy can be used beneficially to keep your projects going at a steady pace. Taurus is also the sign of nature and we’ll all benefit from getting outdoors and enjoying the abundance of the natural world. Mercury is in retrograde motion in Taurus until the 23rd, as always take care with communications and travel arrangements. A rare transit of Mercury occurs on the 9th, we will be able to see the fastest inner planet reveal itself in broad daylight as it crawls across the Sun. Let’s hope for a clear sky – Please NO looking without eclipse glasses! Astrologically this event may reveal what was previously hidden, a chance to really connect with our true potential and purpose.

Virgo: August 24 - September 23

Any travel plans that have been on hold can now resume momentum as 3 planets gather in this area. The new moon in Taurus on the 6th could well turn out to be pivotal, but don’t rush things as Mercury and Mars are retrograde. Take your time and check things through.

Libra: September 24 - October 23

Visit www.VividTitles.co.uk to see how you can navigate your way to success in June

May could turn out to be a busy month as the area concerning your finances, funds and investments is in the spotlight. Cash may have been a worry recently, but as the Taurus new moon on the 6th emphasises new beginnings you can banish fears and consider new avenues.

Scorpio: October 24 - November 22

May brings relationships and partnerships to the forefront; make the most of the love planet Venus in deeply sensuous Taurus until the 24th, and dreams can come true. Once communicative Mercury has gone direct after the 23rd conversations flow smoothly and you can say what you want.

Sagittarius: November 23 - December 22

May might seem like an extremely slow month as energetic Mars is still in the retrograde phase in your sign. Try not to fight it - you can‘t win, instead contemplate on how you can build on your success – Venus will help here as she bestows an extra portion of charm!

Capricorn: December 23 - January 19

The most powerful planetary activity is taking place in the area of your chart concerned with love and creativity, be open to new possibilities. Mighty Jupiter moves direct on the 10th bringing an exciting new phase to your life, exploration and learning are in the spotlight.

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Tune into positive and productive planetary cycles and become more successful in life and in business. Christine Chalklin has an international client base and all her consultations are available in person by telephone or Skype. Christine Chalklin www.restyleyourlife.co.uk Christine@restyleyourlife.co.uk Telephone: 07813 483549

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

e: w: t:

Liana7@inspirationalcentreoflivinghope.net www.inspirationalcentreoflivinghope.net 07487 800 612

Together we will explore what these energies mean to you, and the different ways in which they influence your life every day. Now is the time to access your true lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose.

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Coffee Break ACROSS

7. Hothead stands by flag from the Emerald Isle (5) 8. She is not herself in part (7) 9. Stumbled on something when on an outing? (7) 10. Put things right by sending me back to finish (5) 12. Beauty of contours seen in sweethearts (10) 15. Not the first worker on watch? (6-4) 18. Dug out returned material (5) 19. Make progress through a loan? (7) 21. Is there, an abstainer concludes (7) 22. Split when 100 resigned (5)

DOWN 1. 2. 3. 4.

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Across: 7 Irish; 8 Actress; 9 Tripped; 10 Emend; 12 Loveliness; 15 Second-hand; 18 Denim; 19 Advance; 21 Attends; 22 Cleft.

Martin adaMs

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Down: 1 Distressed; 2 Rigid; 3 Ship; 4 Saddle; 5 Athenian; 6 Severed; 11 Dishonesty; 13 Ornament; 14 Aconite; 16 Hoarse; 17 Andes; 20 Vice.

Upset: halving diet given emphasis (10) Construction I had made firm (5) Shape of this vessel is in good order (4) In the auction, theologian got something for horse (6) 5. Greek capitalist? (8) 6. Deserve to be cut off (7) 11. So tiny she’d be upset by deceit (10) 13. Call in badly torn decoration (8) 14. Notice a poisonous plant (7) 16. Harsh animal, we hear (6) 17. Also two points in the mountains (5) 20. Immorality has a strong grip! (4)

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The MPG figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results. They are provided for comparability purposes, and may not reflect actual driving experience. RX 450h Premier fuel consumption and CO2 figures: urban 51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km), extra-urban 51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km), combined 51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km), 127 g/km CO2 (22% BIK)

Lexus RX 450h Premier

Living Along The Thames Magazine was fortunate to drive the all new Lexus RX 450h Premier, the top of the range car in the new RX 450ha range. The new Lexus RX is the fourth generation of the model that originated the concept of the luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Launched in January this year the all new Lexus RX is complete with some stunning styling, an upgraded interior and more efficient engines over the previous models. Inside the RX it is beautifully finished with high-quality leather everywhere, including the heated steering wheel which is complete with buttons controlling many of the high specification functions available on the RX. The seats are incredibly comfortable, giving lots of support and can be adjusted in many different directions offering lots of legroom both for the front and rear seat passengers. We loved the 12.3-inch high-resolution split-screen multimedia display which provides access to audio or climate controls and various systems including Navigation, the new display offers a full-screen map for added convenience. The voice-activated Navigation System can map millions of points of interest across the country and, in addition offers up-to-date traffic and weather information, 3-D city views, and simulated views of approaching highway junctions, it displays the current speed limit and can automatically identify nearby petrol stations if you begin to run low on fuel. In addition to the large multimedia display on the dash board there is also a full colour Heads-Up Display that projects key information about your audio, speed, current gear and RPM onto the windshield. It can also project an ECO indicator to help you drive in the most fuelefficient way possible. The display can also be configured to show you the road ahead and monitor if you stray into another lane by mistake. If this were to happen the car then issues the driver a warning through a slight vibration in the steering wheel. The RX also features a 17-speaker, 835-watt Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System with GreenEdge™ speaker technology that allows twice the output of conventional speakers. By significantly widening the dispersion of sound, a larger “sweet spot” is created, enveloping every passenger in three-dimensional sound that rivals the finest home-audio systems. Lexus was the first to introduce hybrid power to the premium car market and with more than a decade’s experience with this technology Lexus continue to deliver an unprecedented combination of strong performance, fuel efficiency and low emissions. The low C02 emissions are also great news for company car drivers ensuring the RX stays in the low tax bracket. The RX can also be driven in EV (Electric Vehicle) mode where it drives in near silence, using no petrol at all and emitting zero CO2 emissions. Overall this is a beautifully finished vehicle with a very high specification with the look of a premium car both inside and out. We would like to thanks Martyn Halstead of Lexus Reading for providing us with the RX 450h, it was a great experience and wonderful to drive a modern premium SUV. Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Facts at a glance

Priced from £57,995 for the RX 450h Premier Engine – 3.45 hybrid engine Performance – Maximum speed 124mph, 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds Fuel Economy – combined 51.4mpg Emissions – 127g/km

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So, you’ve decided to get a dog So you’ve decided to get a dog. You have thought long and hard about it and done your homework – hopefully. If not, do not pass Go.

So should you be considering one from a rescue charity? What kind of dog ends up in rescue? Some are strays, though hopefully with the introduction of compulsory microchipping in April this year, it will be easier to return lost dogs to their families, provided those families keep their contact details up to date on the chip register. However, a growing number have been relinquished by their owner. Many, though not all dogs that arrive in rescue centres have suffered neglect, meaning a lack of stimulation, social contact with people and other dogs, exercise and so on, which can result in behavioural issues that need careful handling. However, a dog that appears difficult while cooped up in a kennel can quickly become a loving family pet with the right introduction to a better life. There is probably no need to say that dogs in rescue are not bad dogs. It is we humans that are responsible for their outlook on life. Adoption is often a tortuous process almost designed to put you off. And perhaps it is to some extent for the reason that those who look after dogs in rescue do not want to see them returned because the matching of dog and new family hasn’t been right, or those who come to adopt a dog are not really committed and return the dog when things are more tricky than they thought.

www.bigdogbedcompany.co.uk

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You have to decide how flexible you want to be concerning the dog you will adopt in terms of age, size, breed(s), temperament, etc. Being particular may increase the length of time you wait for the ‘perfect’ dog to come along. However, the dog needs to be able to fit with your lifestyle so waiting is a good test of how committed you are. Registering your interest with several rescues can be time consuming, but will widen the net and possibly shorten the wait. Breed specific rescues are an obvious route to go if you are looking for something very specific. Even if you are not as active as you once were, you can still adopt a dog by requesting an ‘oldie’ who is looking for a quiet retirement. Many rescues will help with vet bills after adoption if a dog has a condition that needs ongoing treatment, though obviously it is better if you can take these on board as expense is part of dog ownership. Everyone with whom the dog will be living will be required to visit the dog at the rescue or foster home several times so staying local is probably a good idea for practical reasons. Many rescues, rightly or wrongly, will not rehome a dog with small children, so check their policy before identifying a dog you would like. A home check will inspect the house and garden for its ‘suitability’ which can feel very intrusive. An adoption fee will be charged and pretty much every rescue require the dog to be neutered or spayed if it has not already been done. Check the adoption conditions and contract in advance to make sure you are willing to sign it as you don’t want to commit your heart to a dog only to find you can’t live with the conditions. Overall, it is best to really research the adoption process before you start looking for a dog, hard though that might be. If it is a puppy for you, the rules are do not buy from a pet show and do not buy off the internet. Make sure you definitely see mum when you visit the pups and make sure those selling are knowledgeable about the breed, the parentage and dog care generally. They should be checking you out as a suitable family for their pup as much as you are vetting them and the pups. Dru Ross

• Waterproof • Antibacterial • Hardwearing • Comfortable Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

What’s On at the Regal

What’s On

ROH Live: Frankenstein Royal Ballet Artist in Residence Liam Scarlett has chosen Mary Shelley’s gothic classic Frankenstein as the basis for his first full-length narrative ballet for the Covent Garden Main Stage. Wed 18 May, 7.15pm

at the Cinema Captain America: Civil War (12A) A year has passed since the events of Avengers: Age Of Ultron and the US Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) insists on the introduction of legislation - The Sokovia Accords - to control the superheroes. Tony Stark, aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), reluctantly submits, telling his compatriots: “I’m doing what has to be done to stave off something worse.” Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans), who has always been a staunch patriot, refuses to sign, fearful of the consequences of the Avengers relinquishing their independence. The gulf between Stark and Rogers forces the remaining Avengers to take sides. Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), James Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle), Vision (Paul Bettany), Prince T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), and Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) all stand shoulder to shoulder with Stark. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), pledge their allegiance to Rogers. A battle royale between the two factions unfolds just as a diabolical new enemy, Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), threatens mankind.

Eye In The Sky (15) Operation Cobra has been tracking radicalised British men and women linked to the Somali group al-Shabaab. One high-profile target, Susan Danford (Lex King), is under surveillance at a house in Kenya, monitored by agents including Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi). Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman) takes control of the operation from London, while Foreign Secretary James Willett (Iain Glen), who is at an arms fair in Singapore, watches a live video feed from a US drone piloted by Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) in Nevada. At a command base in Sussex, Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) has a direct link to Watts and explains that the objective is “to capture not kill”. When covert footage reveals targets in the house are wearing suicide vests primed for an imminent attack, priorities change. The clock is ticking and policitians on both sides of the Atlantic deliberate. Meanwhile, Watts and his spotter, Airman Carrie Gershon (Phoebe Fox), notice a nine-year-old girl (Aisha Takow) selling bread near the target house, who would be killed in a missile strike. With the precision of a drone missile, Gavin Hood’s film begs uncomfortable questions about matters of life and death Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater An iconic masterpiece of American dance, Alvin Ailey”s Revelations, described by The New York Times as “one of the great works of the human spirit.” Mon 23 May, 8.30pm Discover Arts: Teatro alla Scala A trip through the main historical, musical, social and political events in La Scala’s 238-year history. Thu 28 May, 6.30pm

RSC: Hamlet Simon Godwin (The Two Gentlemen of Verona 2014) directs Paapa Essiedu as Hamlet in Shakespeare’s searing tragedy. Live: Wed 8 Jun, 7.00pm Encore: Mon 13 Jun, 1.00pm NT Encore: The Audience National Theatre Live’s smash-hit broadcast of the original West End production of The Audience with Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II returns to cinemas in celebration of the monarch’s 90th birthday. Thu 9 Jun, 7.00pm Glyndebourne: Il Barbiere di Siviglia Conducted by Enrique Mazzola, this new production heralds the welcome return of a masterpiece not seen at Glyndebourne for 33 years. Tue 21 Jun, 6.30pm ROH Live: Werther Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo stars as Werther, alongside Joyce DiDonato, who sings her first Charlotte (one of the great French mezzo roles) in this staging. Mon 27 Jun, 7.00pm Regal Picturehouse, 2 Boroma Way, Henley RG9 2BZ 0871 902 5738 | www.picturehouses.co.uk

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May

Diary Dates

23 Apr – 30 May: ‘Wycombe Arts Festival’

tickets available from the Marlow, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough Information Centre’s (where programmes are available) or by calling 01628 483597 – www.wycombeartsfestival.org

05-12: ‘Spring Wild Flower Walk’

at Cliveden, a free walk through the gardens and beyond to take a close up look at the Wild flowers that bloom here in late spring, 14:00-16:00, free event, but normal admission applies.

06: Wycombe Arts Festival

14: Marlow & District Horticultural Society

‘Fire 350’ contemporary accounts of The Great Fire of London, 1666 John Alexander at Hughenden Parish Church, 20:00, £10, tickets from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

Plant Sale at Liston Hall.

06+07: Wycombe Arts Festival

14: Wycombe Arts Festival

07: ‘Marlow May Fayre’

14: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Shakespeare in Hollywood’ by Lane End Players at Lane End Village Hall, 20:00, £10/£8/£6 from – 01494 880662. in Higginson Park, to raise money for local charities and causes, stalls, rides, games, live music, a real ale tent, 10:00-17:00, thousands of rubber ducks will be launched in to the Thames at 15:30 for the traditional ‘Family Duck Race’ www.marlowroundtable.co.uk

07: Wycombe Arts Festival

South Bucks Children’s Book Group present ‘Stories from Unusual Places’ with Author/illustrator James Mayhew at St John Ambulance Centre, High Wycombe, 14:00-16:00, £5 from 01494 446849.

08: ‘Grant and Stone Marlow 5’ at Higginson Park, Marlow 09:30 – www.handycrossrunners.co.uk

09: ‘Boutique Cinema “Bridge of Spies”

at Claytons Marlow, sit back and sip a cocktail or grab some food on a comfy leather sofa and enjoy a film on a big screen, caters for 25 people, 20:00, booking recommended – 01628 488404.

10: Marlow & District Horticultural Society

The productive cut in your own garden (garden flowers) by Chris Day at Liston Hall, 20:00-22:00 – 01628 486206.

10: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘A Private View’ intimate private after hours of this historic Manor House at Hughenden Manor, 17:00, £10 to include tea and biscuits, tickets from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

12: ‘Marlow Archaeological Society

14: The Marlow Society ‘Town Walk’

meet at Marlow Museum at 10:30, 01628 482754. ‘Historic West Wycombe Walk’ starts from the Old Garden Centre Car Park, West Wycombe, no charge, 11:00-13:00. ‘Afternoon Tea Concert’ with music by Gabriel Faure at All Saints Parish Church, Marlow, 15:00, £10 from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

14: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Weekend’ French version of ‘Hay Fever’ by Noel coward at Bourne End Community Centre, 20:00, £12/36 from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597

14: ‘Maidenhead Choral Society Concert’,

19:30, St Lukes Church, Maidenhead, performing Beethoven’s Mss in C, Pergolesi’s Manificat & Handel’s Ode to Queen Anne.

14: Teatime Concert of Music by Gabriel Fauré:

Marlow Choral Society presents Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, conducted by Chris Grant, 15:00, All Saints’ Church, The Causeway, Marlow, SL7 2AA. Tickets £10 (includes tea and cake) from Runners’ Retreat in Marlow, Marlow Information Centre in Marlow Library, www.marlowchoralsociety.org.uk/BoxOffice and on the door.

14+15: ‘National Mills Weekend’ celebrate the annual

festival of our milling heritage and visit our lovely restored smock windmill – Lacey Green Windmill, Nr Princes Risborough, £2, children £1, Saturday 14:00-17:00, Sunday 11:00-17:00.

15: ‘Antiques & Tea’

cream tea and antiques valuation event at Danesfield House Hotel, 13:00-15:00 + 15:00-17:00, raising funds for

Buildings Archaeology: New Evidence at Hampton Court Palace – Deirdre Forde (followed by AGM) at Liston Hall, SL7 1DD, 20:00, £4, members £3, students £1.50 – 01628 523895.

12:’Spring Flower Walk’

at Cliveden, 14:00-16:00, free event but normal admission applies, to book call 0844 249 1895.

13: ‘Ultimate 80’s Tribute Night’

at Crowne Plaza, Marlow, featuring top ‘West End Stars! Includes a 2 course dinner followed by disco until 00:30, £32 per person – 01628 496860.

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Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

Diary Dates Rennie Grove Hospice (formerly Iain Rennie) £20, includes a cream tea and valuation of two items by Amersham Auction Rooms (further items can be valued at £5 each – 01628 471483 / 07932 624283.

15: ‘Pann Mill Open Day’

The Rye, High Wycombe 11:00-17:00 as part of the National Mills Weekend, a chance to see the mill in operation.

15: ‘Great British Tennis Weekend

Family Open Afternoon’, Marlow tennis club from 14:00, free, www.marlowtennisclub.co.uk

15: ‘Maidenhead Rowing Club Junior Regatta’, www.maidenheadrc.org.uk for more details

15: Wycombe Arts Festival

Taplow Girls Choir’ at Christ Church, Marlow, 19:30, £10 from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

19: ‘Vegetable Garden Workshop’

at Cliveden, we’ll cover everything from seed sowing under glass and outdoors, pricking out, planting and much more, free event but normal admission applies, 11:0012:30 to book call 0844 249 1895.

19-21: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Richard III by William Shakespeare’ presented by Fourways Theatre Company, ‘British Summer Open Air Production, Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, 19:30 with a matinee performance at 14:30 on Saturday 21st, £14/£12, family £40 from 01494 522722.

20: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Festival Jazz’ five star swing big band in association with Marlow Jazz Club at Royal British Legion, Marlow, 20:00, £10, from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

20-22: ’Fawley Hill Steam and Vintage Fair’,

10:00-17:00, Fawley Hill RG9 6JA, 01491 574873 and www.fawleyhill.co.uk for more details

21: Marlow & District Horticultural Society Plant Sale at Liston Hall. 10:30-12:00

21+ 22:’Dawn Chorus with Breakfast’

at Cliveden, 5.30-8.30am, free event but normal admission applies, to book call 0844 249 1895.

21: ‘Rock the Moor’

Family friendly 80’s festival – Cookham.

21: ‘Ranger Walks’

15: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Sunday Recital’ with James Dutton, Flute, Mina Milette, Piano at All Saints Church, Marlow, 15:00, free.

16: ‘Boutique Cinema “He Named me Malala”

at Claytons Marlow, sit back and sip a cocktail or grab some food on a comfy leather sofa and enjoy a film on a big screen, caters for 25 people, 20:00, booking recommended – 01628 488404.

17-21: ‘9 to 5 The Musical’,

Maidenhead Operatic Society, from 19:30, at the Desborough suite, Maidenhead.

18: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Stanley Spencer: His Life and Paintings’ at High Wycombe Library, 14:00, £3 on the door.

18: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Spring Concert – Marlow Community Choir at Borlase’ at Sir William Borlase Grammar School Theatre, Marlow, 19:30, doors open 19:00, £13/£11 from Marlow Information Centre – 01628 483597.

18: ‘British Red Cross Spring Fair’,

at Taplow Court, Berry Hill, nr Maidenhead, SL6 0ER, 10:00-16:00, Admission including tour of Taplow Court £8, variety of stalls and house tours all day, www.redcross.org.uk/springfairtaplowcourt

18: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe, 19:30, £30.50/ £15.50 from 01494 512000.

19: ‘A Very Special Stained Glass Window’

Mike Payne for the Four Seasons at Liston Hall, 14:30, £2.

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

at Hughenden Manor, discover the beauty of spring flowers on a guided walk around the estate with our ranger, £4 per person plus normal admission, 10:00-12:00 to book call – 01494 755573.

21: ‘Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Ukelele Evening’ in conjunction with Marlow Ukelele Group at Royal British Legion, Marlow, 19:30, free admission.

21+22+28: ‘Dawn Chorus with Breakfast’

at Cliveden, 05:30-08:30, guided walk through the woods to seek out early morning birdsong, finishing in the Orangery Café for a hearty breakfast, £25 – 0844 2491895.

22: Wycombe Arts Festival’

High Wycombe Music Centre Chamber Concert’ at The Oak Room, Town Hall, High Wycombe, 19:00 – www.bucksmusic.org or on door.

23: ‘Boutique Cinema “Star Wars – the Force Awakens”

at Claytons Marlow, sit back and sip a cocktail or grab some food on a comfy leather sofa and enjoy a film on a big screen, caters for 25 people, 20:00, booking recommended – 01628 488404.

25-28: Wycombe Arts Festival

‘Richard III by William Shakespeare’ presented by Fourways Theatre Company, ‘British Summer Open Air Production, Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, 19:30, £14/£12, family £40 from 01494 522722.

26: ‘Garden Gift Experience’

at Cliveden, £100 to spend a day with the Head Gardener, 10:30-16:30, to book call 0844 249 1895.

28: ’Dawn Chorus with Breakfast’

at Cliveden, 5.30-8.30am, free event but normal admission applies, to book call 0844 249 1895.

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Diary Dates 28: Hambleden Concerts,

Archaeus Quartet & Nicholas Roberts (cello), The Parish of St Mary the Virgin, 19:30 £15.

28 May – 05 Jun: ‘Moulding Madness’

half term fun at Hughenden Manor, kids can learn about conservation in a new way, help restore Hughenden’s library ceiling, create new plaster mouldings from plaster of Paris and decorate them gothic style, £3 per child plus normal admission – 01494 755573.

30: ‘Bank Holiday Monday Family Fun Day’

at Crowne Plaza, Marlow, in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity, fire engines, firemen, live music, BBQ, bouncy castles, face painting and more with special appearance from Star Wars R2D2, from 12:00, free admission.

30+31: ‘Tree climbing with the Big Tree Climbing Company’,

at Cliveden, various times available from 10:30, £18.50, to book call 0844 249 1895.

31: ‘Bonanza Block – Printing’

at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley, create your own block-prints using a range of materials, for 4-7 year olds, £8.50, 10:30-12:30.

June

01: ‘The Wonderful World of Watercolour’

at the River and Rowing Museum, Henley, develop your landscape watercolour techniques, 13-16 years, £8.50, 14:00-16:00.

Beaconsfield, HP9 2SG. Open air theatre, tickets from £16, www.chiltern-shakespeare.co.uk / 01494 473559

11: ‘Art on the Street’,

Maidenhead High Street, www.enjoymaidenhead.com

11+12: ‘Marlow Town Regatta and Festival’

enclosure badges from the Marlow Information Centre, Marlow Library, Institute Road – 01628 483597.

11-26: ‘Bucks Open Studio’ 12: The Marlow Society

“Forgotten Marlow Walk” meet at the Marlow Museum, 14:30 – 01628 482 754.

12: ‘One Night only’

at Cliveden, 11:00-15:00, to book call 0844 249 1895.

Concert in Hall Barn, Beaconsfield, HP9 2SG. Pop Goes the Choir will support Wynne & Mark LLewelyn to produce a varied programme from modern classics to light opera, 19:00, grounds open from 16:30 for picnics, tickets £25 – www.onenightonly.org.uk / www.chiltern-shakespeare.co.uk / 01494 473559

02: ‘Circle Dance’

14: Marlow & District Horticultural Society

01: ‘Wild Wednesday – Kings and Queens’,

in Lane End Village Hall, HP14 3EY, 14:00-16:00, come and join in for some gentle dancing to beautiful music from around the world, £4 no experience or partner needed – 01235 520608.

02: ‘Fabulous Fashion’

at the River and Rowing Museum, Henley, create your own fabulous fashions, stage a catwalk show and join the paparazzi by adding your image to our selfie gallery, get dressed up in your finest and strike a pose, 10:30-16:00, free with admission.

02: ‘The Great Big Tree Climb’

at Hughenden Manor, two highly skilled and friendly instructors can help all ages reach new heights in a fantastic tree, enter a trees canopy using ropes, knots and karabiners whilst being securely attached in a harness at all times, £20 per person to book visit – www.bigtreeclimbing.co.uk

07: ‘Rebellion Brewery Open Night’,

all ales currently being brewed available on the night. Talks also given on brewing history and methods, 19.00-21.30, Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. All welcome, £12.50pp, BBQ all year round!

07: ‘Marlow & District Wine Circle

AGM followed by Ploughman’s Supper’, we are a social club who have an interest of wine and beer, at Liston Hall, 20:00-22:00 – 07882 102179.

08-11: ‘Comedy of Errors’

by the Chiltern Shakespeare Company, Hall Barn,

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David Austin Roses, their history, varieties, breeding & care by Edwin Rye at Liston Hall, 20:00-10:00 – 01628 486206.

15-18: ‘Comedy of Errors’

by the Chiltern Shakespeare Company, Hall Barn, Beaconsfield, HP9 2SG. Open air theatre, tickets from £16, www.chiltern-shakespeare.co.uk / 01494 473559

15-25: ‘ Twelfth Night’

by Reading between the Lines Theatre Company, Mill Meadows Putting Green, Henley, www.readingbetweenthelines.co.uk

16: ‘Marlow Archaeological Society

The Medieval Greyfriars Excavations at Westgate, Oxford – Ben Ford at Liston Hall, SL7 1DD, 20:00, £4, members £3, students £1.50 – 01628 523895.

17: ‘The Official Comedy Club,

at Crowne Plaza, Marlow, back by popular demand, the perfect Father’s Day Gift, chicken and chips in a basket, followed by a disco until 00:30, £29 per adult, (over 18’s only) £19 comedy only – no food, 19:00, 01628 496860. 18: Marlow Regatta – Dorney Lake. 18: ‘Scouts Cookham Village Fair’, 11:00-16:00, Cookham Moor

18: ‘Meet the Beekeepers’

at Hughenden Manor, learn all about the fascinating honey giving creatures, our volunteers even make candles from the

Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

hive produce and these will be available to purchase , there’s even a bee themed trail for the kids to follow, 11:00-16:00, free event but normal admission applies 01494 755573.

19: ‘Father’s Day Den Building’

at Hughenden Manor, kids can team up with their fathers to see who can make the best den with our ranger, £5 per person, plus normal admission, 11:00-13:00 to book call 01494 755573.

21: The Marlow Society

“Nuffield and Ewelme” visit Nuffield in the morning followed by lunch at The Shepherds Hut, visit to St Mary the Virgin, Ewelme PM, 10:00, early booking essential – 01628 476610.

23: European Referendum 24: ‘Fuhaar Indian Arts and Crafts market’, Maidenhead High Street & Nicholsons centre, www.enjoymaidenhead.com

25: ‘Marlow Transition Town Community Market’ local crafts and produces, refreshments available at Liston Hall, 09:30-13:00.

25: ’Rock Bottom’

in Marlow Bottom, live music and entertainment for the whole family, tickets from £10, children under 5 free – www.marlowrockbottom.co.uk

25: Hambleden Concerts, Camden Choir conductor Julian Williamson with organist, The Parish of St Mary the Virgin, 19:30, £15.

26: ‘Ranger Walks’

at Hughenden Manor, discover the beauty of spring flowers on a guided walk around the estate with our ranger, £4 per person plus normal admission, 10:00-12:00 to book call – 01494 755573.

29– 03 Jul: Henley Royal Regatta. 30-2 Jul: ‘Marlow Music Makers

70 years of song’, 19:30, ChristChurch United reformed Church, Oxford Rd, Marlow. Tickets £10 incl. wine & light refreshments available from Leightons Insight Opticians, Marlow High St, 01494 883392, 01628 484618

July

03: ‘Cookham Dean Tennis & Croquet Day’, www.cookhamdean.net

05: ‘Summertime garden tours’

at Cliveden, 14:00-15:00, to book call 0844 249 1895.

05: ‘Rebellion Brewery Open Night’,

05: ‘Exclusive evening garden tour and National Trust supper’

at Cliveden, 18:15-21:30, to book call 0844 249 1895.

07: ‘Garden Gift Experience’

at Cliveden, £100 to spend a day with the Head Gardener, 10:30-16:30, to book call 0844 249 1895.

08: ‘Big Camp’

at Cliveden, 16:00-23:00, to book call 0844 249 1895.

06-10: Henley Festival Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

ONGOING EVENTS - General Marlow Art & Craft Society 1st Thursday in month | 19:30 Marlow Bottom Village Hall Marlow Antique bric-a-brac fair 1st Saturday of the month at Liston Hall | 9:00 - 16:00 Marlow Museum Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays | 1pm to 5pm | www.marlowmuseum.org | Pound Lane - opposite the Leisure Club Marlow Camera Club every Tuesday | 19:45 - 20:00 | The Methodist Church Hall, Spittal Street, Marlow, SL7 3HJ Henley Photographic Club every Tuesday evening | 20:00 - 22:00 | YMCA Hall, off Waterman’s Road, Henley www.henleyphotoclub.com Stanley Spencer Gallery 2nd April - 1st November 2015 | 10:30 - 17:30 daily Speak Spanish in Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield High School Wednesdays | 19:30 | Suitable for all levels except beginners | Tony on 07947 508755 | anthony.mitchelmore@sky.com Maidenhead Camera Club every Tuesday, Cox Green Community Centre | 01628 630861 The East Berks RSPB Group monthly | 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursdays High Street Methodist Church Hall, Maidenhead www.eastberksrspb.org.uk Maidenhead Heritage Centre last Wednesday of the month | WRVS, Maidenhead | 780555 Colenorton Dragon Boat Club Sunday 10.00 - 12.30 | Bray Lake Water Sports, Maidenhead SL6 2EB | www.colenorton.co.uk South Bucks Walking Group Regular walks programme + club weekends, coach rambles, and other social walking events | Di Olden - 01494 714486 | www.southbuckshfwalkingclub.co.uk Cookham & Cookham Dean Horticultural Society last Wednesday of the month from January - May & September November | 19:30 | Cookham Dean Village Hall | clairephillpot@btinternet.com Maidenhead National Trust second Thursday every month but August | 19:45 | Altwood School, Maidenhead | 01753 516502 Jazz Every Thursday | 20:30| Hedsor Social Club, Hedsor Rod, Bourne End, SL8 5ES | £6 Maidenhead Giant Car boot set up from 10am, gates open from noon, A4, exit junction 7 of M4. Sun 13th March until Sun 8th May – 07947 121 336 – www.giantcarboot.co.uk Henley & Goring Ramblers No need to book, just turn up, we are a friendly group and new walkers and non members are always welcome | www.ramblers-oxon.org.uk

ONGOING EVENTS - Markets

Maidenhead Produce Market 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month on Maidenhead High Street The Farmers Market 2nd Sunday of the month from 10:00, Grove Street Car Park Bourne End Country Market Small Hall 10 - 12, Every Friday Henley Farmers Market every 4th Thursday in Falaise Square, Henley, 8:30-14:00 Bourne End Community Market second Saturday of every month 10:00 - 13:00 in the Jackson Room of Bourne End Library. Transition Town Marlow last Saturday of every month | 9:30 - 13:00 | Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow | 07904 369829

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Useful Numbers CLUBS: MAIDENHEAD Rotary Club of Maidenhead 632797 The Maidenhead Players 07879 476301 Maidenhead Drama Guild 635017 Maidenhead Operatic Society 671589 Maidenhead Musical Comedy Society 07813 979894 Grimm Players 820429 Maidenhead Concert Band 624514 Maidenhead Folk Club 448268 Tuesday Singers 629012 Athletics 522797 Maidenhead & Bray CC 07885 240209 North Maid enhead Cricket Club 624137 Rugby 629663 Hockey 622669 Desborough Bowls Club 629403 Rowing 622664 SportsAble 627690 Maidenhead Tennis 623785 Thames Valley Cycling Club 638984 East Berks Badminton 636283 Maidenhead Camera Club 630861 East Berkshire Ramblers 634561 Lions Club of Maidenhead 634333 Maidenhead Golf Club 624693 Five Aces Duplicate Bridge Club 625663 River Thames Society 624025 Belmont Badminton Club 638844 Scottish Dancing Club 628372 Stanley Spencer Gallery

471885

COOKHAM Tennis & Croquet 07968 173757 Line Dancing 486362 Petanque 417453 Cookham Bridge Rotary Club 07724 042708 Cookham & Bourne End Inner Wheel Club 07715 441713 Bourne End & Cookham Rotary 810967 HENLEY Rotary Club of Henley Bridge Henley Rowing Club Henley Players Henley Hawks Rugby Club Henley Cricket Club Lions Club of Henley Henley Bowling Club Henley Tennis Club Henley Hockey Club Henley Wednesday Bridge Club Henley Choral Society HADISC Badminton Club Henley Music School Henley Henley-on-Thames U3A

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01491 628284 01491 573943 01491 636253 01491 574499 01491 577743 01491 576717 01491 579271 01491 572230 01491 576988 01491 573958 01491 576929 01491 577909 07989 396210 07901 674779

MARLOW Liston Hall 472558 Archaeology in Marlow 472126 Marlow Archaeological Society 523896 Bowls 485274 Boxing 01494 532826 Crafts 473872/473539 Football 483970 Hockey 521830 Plants (Orchids) 486640 Petanque 521783 Photography 483030 Rugby 483911/477054 Marlow Striders 475548 Four Seasons Club 474095 Tennis 483638 New Marlow Tennis Academy 488438 Rifle & Pistol Club 01494 676676 ALF (Longridge) 486595 Marlow & District Wine Society 483294 Marlow Society/History 476140 MOAS 07899 867757 Rotary Club 01494 530952 LETS 01494 523978 U3A 485220/488865 Community Choir 602581/661182 Railway Society 486433 Choral Society 472998 Marlow Orators 07738 540287 COUNCIL SERVICES MARLOW Bus Services 0871 2002233 Marlow Information centre 483597/481717 Library 0845 2303232 Town Council 484024 Neighbourhood Watch - Nic Martin 01895 837220 Wycombe Council 01494 461000 RBWM Bus Services 0871 2002233 CIS 507587 Council Tax 683850 Library - Cox Green 673942 Library - Holyport Container 796555 Library - Maidenhead 796969 Library - Cookham 526147 Recycling 796474 Town Hall 683800 Youth & Community Centre 685999 Thames Valley Adventure Playground 628599 HENLEY Henley Library Henley Town Council

01491 575278 01491 576982

BOURNE END Library 524814 Community Centre 527502 Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

afte re-o C r m pen ele ajo ing bra r b of tin un the g t ker C he ref olt C urb ou ish rse me nt!

THE GREAT BRITISH ESCAPE Stoke Park is a luxury 5 Red Star Hotel, Spa and Country Club set within 300 acres of beautiful parkland and offers incredible sporting and leisure facilities. These include: 49 bedrooms & suites, award winning Spa, 27 Hole Championship Golf Course, 3 Restaurants & Bars including 3 AA Rosette winning Humphryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 13Tennis Courts (indoor, grass & artificial clay), Indoor Pool, State-of-the-Art Gym, Studios, CrĂ¨che, Games Room and Playground. Being 35 minutes from London and 7 miles from Heathrow Airport, makes Stoke Park an ideal location and perfect setting for stopovers and luxury breaks.

For enquiries please call 01753 717172 or email reservations@stokepark.com. www.stokepark.com Living Along The Thames | MAY / JUNE 2016

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