ClickBerkshire Wokingham Summer 2012 by David Mcluckie

In this issue:

Looking for a Job? Keep your spirits up in order to succeed

Go it Alone

Start足up tips from business guru Phil Jones

Don't Skip a Meal

Five good reasons to eat regularly

No Excess Baggage Read our indispensable holiday packing tips

Plus

Community & business news, what's on around Wokingham, horoscopes and much more

clickberkshire.co.uk... ...be part of it!

Issue 2: June 足 August 2012

Contents 4 5

Your Horoscope

Click Move & Improve Home and garden ideas.

14 What's On around Wokingham 16 Don't Skip a Meal

Good nutrition for good health.

17 Click Living

All the best for all the family.

17 Holiday Packing Tips Have a smooth getaway.

19 Get back to Work

Welcome...

...to the second edition of Wokingham Click Berkshire Magazine.

Thank you for all your feedback on issue one; we received lots of good suggestions, some of which you'll see in this issue.

So, summer is here at last (come rain or shine), Click Berkshire is working on some great promotions and discounts for you to enjoy. Follow us on Facebook to see what we have to offer.

In this issue you'll find the first of our new series of hints and tips from our carefully selected local experts. We hope they're useful! Thanks for all your interest, and keep in touch.

Keeping your routine.

20 Click Business

Keeping you on top of the issues.

21 Going it Alone

Business startup advice.

22 Competitions

22 This Month's Cake Recipe 24 Click Community

News from local charities.

27 Click Weddings

Find local suppliers for your big day.

Harriet Slingo Publisher From our next edition, we'll be alternating our distribution. If you don't get a copy through your door, please drop us a line and we'll let you know where you can pick one up free.

ClickBerkshire Magazines are published by:

Click Counties Ltd 48 Martineau Lane, Hurst, Reading, RG10 0SF

All material in this publication is protected by copyright: nothing may be reprinted without permission. All material is published in good faith, and every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents but the publishers have no responsibility for any loss damage or distress resulting from the use of nformation contained herein. The publisher has no liability for any loss caused by the failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by the omission of an advert or article, or any error or misprint. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. Cover images © readingtom, annabelfarleyphotography, Mike Cattell. Helen White Photography

Click Contact Us Editorial: David Mcluckie editor@clickberkshire.co.uk 07747 364959

Advertising: Harriet Slingo wokingham@clickberkshire.co.uk 07725 740311

Or visit us online, there's lots to see!

www.clickberkshire.co.uk

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Your Stars – by Astrologer Christine Chalklin The Cosmos during June, July and August

June We can look forward to an exciting month ahead; here on planet earth we celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and in the heavens we’ll witness one of the rarest of celestial spectacles, the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun (Eye protection is essential if you are gazing upwards!) This occurs on June the 6th and will not happen again until 2117. This special alignment of the Sun, Venus and the Earth opens the door for higher wisdom, compassionate unconditional love and better communication on all levels. On June the 12th the mighty planet Jupiter moves into the sign of Gemini. Jupiter has not been in this sign since the year 2000 and he will remain there until June 2013. I expect to see a growth spurt in all forms of education and communication, and travel will also reach new heights.

July The dangerously exact cosmic faceoff between transformational Pluto and revolutionary Uranus began on the 24th June, and is now well underway. We’ll continue to see people all over the Globe renewing their fight for independence and freedom by pulling away from restrictive and corrupt regimes. Assertive Mars moves into balance and justice obsessed Libra on the 4th, bringing a universal need for a fairer society. A difficult and challenging aspect around the 18th could see sparks flying as people fight for their rights. The new moon in Cancer on the 19th will hopefully bring us all a renewed sense of caring for family and connecting to community life. August There is still ongoing tension in the sky and this pattern of challenge and change continues until May 2015. We all need to approach this dynamic energy in positive and constructive ways. Uranus in Aries wants freedom and selfexpression, whilst Pluto in Capricorn wants to maintain the power of the status quo. This energy can, if used properly propel us forward towards a new vision of the future. Venus, the planet of love and relationships, moves into the emotional sign of Cancer on the 8th, bringing opportunity to tune into what you know to be right and connect with your innate sense of knowing and wisdom. Harmony and peace will hopefully be possible, at least until the 24th when Mars leaves balanced Libra for the more emotionally turbulent Scorpio. We have two full moons this month, the first on the 2nd and the second one on the 31st – it’s a “blue moon month” so there’ll be plenty of action! Want a bit more detail? Monthly horoscopes for your star sign can be found online at www.clickberkshire.co.uk Inspirational Astrologer and Transformational Life Coach www.RestyleYourLife.co.uk Christine@restyleyourlife.co.uk Telephone: 07813 483549

ClickHoroscopes

ClickMove&Improve

A G ss ra e n d en D on es T ig V's ns

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ClickProfessionals

WHAT'S ON THIS SUMMER Around Wokingham

Go to clickberkshire.co.uk for full details of the events listed and many more events of all kinds which we don't have space to print here. Some of them even have special offers for our readers. If you're running an event, send us details and we'll put it on the website. And we'll put what we can in the print edition as well.

June

4th – 5th 4th – 8th 8th 8th – 10th 9th 9th 9th 9th 9th – 10th 9th – 10th 16th 16th 17th 21st 22nd 23rd 23rd & 24th 24th

Sonning Scarecrows www.sonningfestival.co.uk Half Term Activities www.rememuseum.co.uk Hullabaloo www.reading.gov.uk/childrensfest Beale Park Boat Show www.bealeparkboatshow.co.uk Jewellery Fair www.harehatchsheeplands.co.uk Woodley Carnival www.woodleycarnival.org.uk Family Fun Day, Dinton Pastures www.wokingham.gov.uk Charvil Parish Council Day of Celebration www.charvil.com Food Festival South Hill Park Bracknell www.southhillpark.org.uk Twyford Beer Festival www.twyfordbeerfest.co.uk Summer Fair, St Pauls School Wokingham 11am until 2pm Botanical Illustration with a Royal Design www.southhillpark.org.uk Quiz Night at The Bird in Hand www.birdinhand.co.uk Business in Berkshire Expo Bracknell – www.businessinberkshireexpo.com Elvis & BBQ www.birdinhand.co.uk Craft Market www.harehatchsheeplands.co.uk Hurst Horse Show and Country Show www.hursthorseshow.org.uk The Big Picnic, Lily Hill Park Bracknell www.bracknellforest.gov.uk

1st 2nd4th 7th 8th 10th 10th 11th

Colleton School Summer Fayre, Twyford Times to be notified Open Air Shakespeare at Reading School www.gbtheatrecompany.com Crowthorne Carnival www.crowthornecarnival.co.uk Quiz Night The Bird in Hand www.birdinhand.co.uk Olympic Torch Celebration at The Oracle www.theoracle.com Olympic Torch in Reading & Wokingham www.london2012.com/torchrelay/

July

14th Olympic Fete, Arborfield 11am – 2pm 14th Come, sing the songs of Africa! www.southchilternchoralsociety.org.uk 16th 21st Henley Fringe Festival www.henleyfringe.org

ClickListings

21st Victorian Fayre South Hill Park www.bracknellforest.gov.uk 18th Wild Ones: Creatures of the Night www.bracknellforest.gov.uk 27th 29th Summer Beer Festival www.birdinhand.co.uk 28th Step Out Event Wokingham Waterside www.stroke.org.uk/stepout

August 3rd 3rd 7th

13th 15th 18th 19th 22nd 24th – 26th 24th 24th

Blue Beatles Duo + BBQ www.birdinhand.co.uk Rue Royale at Wokingham Music Club www.wokinghammusicclub.co.uk Orienteering Open Event www.bracknellforest.gov.uk/leisureandculture

Young Artists Summer Mix maidenerleghschool.co.uk/community Berkshire Motor Show www.berkshire4x4show.co.uk Orchard Discovery Day www.bracknellforest.gov.uk/leisureandculture Wokingham Food Festival www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk Wargrave & Shiplake Regatta www.wsregatta.co.uk Tapas & Paella Evening www.birdinhand.co.uk

Find out more about all these events at www.clickberkshire.co.uk! While we make every reasonable effort to make sure the information here and on clickberkshire.co.uk is accurate, please check details with the organisers directly before travelling or buying tickets to an event.

ClickListings

5 Reasons to not skip meals

Nutrition advice from Florence Cameron It’s easy to skip meals when you are busy and you may even feel virtuous doing so, as it appears to be a way to save calories but before you give your next meal a miss, think again… the health risks and negative effects associated with skipping meals are not worth it.

Low energy One of the most important reasons that skipping meals is unhealthy is the effect it has on your blood sugar. When you eat a meal, your body breaks up the food and sugar enters your bloodstream, which provides you with energy throughout the day. When you skip meals you are not giving your body the energy it needs to function properly and your blood sugar drops dramatically, leaving you feeling sluggish and tired. Risk of Diabetes If blood sugar levels are constantly fluctuating to extremes, it can also play havoc with insulin, the hormone your body uses to maintain blood sugar balance. Your body may stop producing enough insulin or may not be responsive to insulin anymore, and you may develop type II diabetes. Low concentration The brain relies on a continuous supply of glucose as a primary energy source. When your blood sugar is too low you experience difficulties concentrating. Eating regularly helps maintain a constant glucose supply to your brain and helps you stay alert. Weight gain Skipping meals can contribute to weight gain! When you have not eaten for a while, your body puts itself into starvation mode, i.e. it saves energy. It ensures there are enough fat reserves to survive and keeping a healthy weight becomes difficult.

Inadequate nutrition You are more likely to receive inadequate nutrition and become deficient in some essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to stay healthy and prevent illnesses. Tip – While making time for a meal is always better, you can stock up on healthy snacks such as mixed nuts, apples, wholemeal rice cakes to keep in your handbag, car or office drawer for emergency supply. They will help keep your blood sugar levels constant and give you energy until your next meal.

Find out more online. Visit our website, read the NutriBlog or follow us on Facebook.

ClickHealth

www.nutriflo.co.uk www.facebook.com/NutriFlo 07943 948 511

It’s Holiday time! But is your summer wardrobe ready? By Emma Tennant, Personal Style Consultant

We invest a lot of thought, consideration and money into our wellearned holidays: the right location, flight, hotel and car. So why do so many of us taint such a lovely time by dragging out the same tired old summer shorts that we’ve had for an eternity? Don’t we deserve to look as good as our holidays make us feel? Wouldn’t you like to be organised and prepared for all the fabulous things that are ahead of you on your precious break away? Believe it or not, you don’t need to take much. It all comes down to a little bit of planning, some clever outfit combinations and you’ll look great from pool to party!

Here are some pointers to get you heading in the right direction – hope they help!

Some of Emma’s Top Travelling Tips

Make an outfit plan for a capsule wardrobe. Lay out outfits suitable for travelling, sightseeing and going out before you pack. You’ll have a better idea of how much you need to take and avoid the “everything bar the kitchen sink” approach. Take 3 tops for every “bottom” as tops need laundering sooner.

Ladies include dresses in your outfit plan. They are the easy, onepiece solution when you don’t want to think of what to wear with what. I will often pack just dresses and outerwear for a trip, as, with a few accessories, they are easily dressed up and down for a variety of occasions. Manmade fibres hold stale odours. Fabrics made of natural fibres stay fresher for longer, especially after airing. Check your airline’s website for details regarding luggage weight/size allowance and stick to the rules. You don’t want to be the mortified person deciding what stays and what goes as you rifle through your stuffed cases at the checkin desk.

Happy Holidays!

Emma Tennant is a Personal Style and Image Consultant offering a range of services for both women and men, including wardrobe editing and personal shopping. She can be contacted on 07900 623833, at emma@emmatennant.com or on Twitter @StyleMusing.

ClickLiving

Unemployed? You've got to stay positive.

Professional advice from Barbara Patrick of CompellingCVs.co.uk If you’re unemployed, it’s important to remain positive and focused. Here are some tips from Compelling CVs: Establish a routine ●

Maintain regular hours, shower and dress just as you would if you were in work. Eat well, exercise and get plenty of sleep.

● Treat your job search as a job in itself. If you were a paid researcher, you’d be working at your desk by 9am each day. It's the same with job searching; it requires total commitment.

Create an Employment Plan ● This could include daily visits to online job sites, uploading CVs, scouring newspaper ads and approaching agencies. Schedule your tasks across each day to create your plan and then stick with it. If you don’t have access to a computer, go to the library and use theirs.

● Perhaps scour job sites between 9 & 12. Then apply for jobs between 1 & 4, gearing individual applications to each vacancy. Save useful links and keep a detailed spreadsheet of job applications. Broaden your Mind ● If you can afford to take up an interesting hobby, this could provide transferable skills such as teamwork. ● Playing computer games and watching daytime TV will do nothing to improve your motivation or employability, so don’t make this your staple diet. ● Broaden your mind by reading quality publications and watching educational/current affairs programmes.

Use this time to enhance your skills ● Literacy, numeracy, IT and first aid are all useful on your CV, so sign up for courses. Many are free. ● Volunteer or do temporary work, even if it’s below your ability or expectations. This enhances your skills and employability. Active people are more employable and you might discover new opportunities. Stay focused and positive ● Ask your friends not to disturb you when you’re “working”. ● Try to mix with positive people. If you surround yourself with negative people, they will hold you back. ● Visualise yourself in your dream job and aim for it. Write a decent CV

● If you continually submit poor or generic CVs, you’re unlikely to be successful. Employment Plans work!

● One of our clients was recently made redundant. She created an Employment Plan and aimed to attend 2 interviews a week. She was highly focused and secured a great job in just a few short weeks. It works!

Compelling CVs in Reading offers: Interview Skills Training, LinkedIn Profiles, Personal Statements, Cover Letters and, of course, compelling, professionallywritten CVs. 19

www.CompellingCVs.co.uk

Tel: 0118 988 7628

Click Advice

ClickBusiness

Making it happen by awardwinning Business Educator Phil Jones

We have all had great ideas and I often hear stories from people talking about things that they could have done, but for one reason or another never got round to making happen. In this short article I want to share with you some simple pointers to help you step up to the plate and start making your ideas a reality.

Make it work on paper – The first action should always be to sit down and make your plan a reality on paper. Run the numbers and check that your great idea makes commercial sense. Understand what the numbers look like and be confident you can achieve the number of customers you require. Tell the world Once you are set on your idea then you should start telling as many people as possible. Telling people not only promotes your new idea, but also makes you accountable. The more people you tell, the more likely you are to make it happen.

Sell it first Instead of spending an age designing and perfecting your plans the first step should always be to acquire some customers. Only once you have a customer are you really in business. Perfection is over rated Just getting started is the hardest part so instead of perfecting your idea before taking it to market, get it to a point where it is fit for purpose and then continue to develop it in real time. Plan and review – Plan in regular check points to monitor progress and design your next actions.

Accept failure On the road to every great success are countless failures. Accept that to succeed you will make many mistakes. What is important is that you continue to learn from them. Keep moving forward – Momentum is an essential quality in growing any business. Set your goal at the beginning, make it clear, and then keep striving towards it. Find out more at www.philmjones.com

ClickBusiness

Is sponsored by:

ClickBusiness

Are you Feeling Lucky? It's Competition Time

At clickberkshire.co.uk we've got new competitions all the time: sometimes it's a huge discount on one of our member's services, sometimes it's a total freebie.

COMPETITIONS

The Little Print Co one prize to be won. Win a small, fingerprint necklace worth £65.00

To enter simply answer the following question: What castings do The Little Print Co offer? Answer can be found on page 23. Prize to be used by November 2012

BEnchanted one prize to be won. Win a £25.00 Voucher to be used at the salon in Woodley by Sept 2012.

To enter simply answer the following question: Which nail product range is used at BEnchanted? Answer can be found on page 18.

To enter simply go to the competition section of clickberkshire.co.uk or by post to: Competitions: Click Berkshire, Suite 5, Unit 6, 15 Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JB

ClickToWin

ClickFamily

In each issue we feature locally based charities that working at a local, national or international level.

If you'd like your favourite good cause to feature in a future edition, please email us at wokingham@clickberkshire.co.uk

DEBRA

A nationwide charity based in Crowthorne, DEBRA supports families and indviduals affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) a painful genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously. The charity focuses its work in three areas: ● Pioneering research to find effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for EB.

● An enhanced specialist Nursing Service, in partnership with the NHS, to deliver optimal healthcare to children and adults living with EB.

● Social care support to help people live with dignity. This includes advice, advocacy in the face of red tape, and emergency grants, as well as specially adapted holiday homes and social activities. Debra supports its work with a wide range of fundraising activities, including golf days, wine tastings and shooting events. Many of them withing easy reach of Wokingham and offer great fun as well as the opportunity to support a good cause. Anyone who would like to support them by participating, organising an event or simply making a donation can find out more at www.debra.org.uk.

ClickCommunity

Building for the Future

A parentled charity, Building for the Future aims to provide support and activities for disabled children and their families in Wokingham Borough and surrounding areas.

They are currently raising money to fund a much needed unique community centre providing a space for disabled children and their families. The centre will offer a warm welcome to all those who visit and also provide a place that inspires them, and entertains them; a place that provides comfort to the parents and challenges the children to explore, play, learn and socialise. To realise this dream the charity needs your help. To provide this oneof akind facility with a sensory room, a wheelchair accessible playground, a place for parents to relax and therapy rooms, they need not only hundreds of thousands of pounds but also the energy, enthusiasm and support of the community.

Disabled children deserve an equal opportunity to experience living. Building for the Future also stage events such as Time to Shine, a talent show featuring children with special needs, and Regatta for the Disabled Henley, the first ever all inclusive boating event for disabled people. You can help by getting involved with fundraising, or asking your company to find out how they can make a difference to disabled children's lives.

Get in touch now by email: jane@bftf.org.uk or call 0118 970 6704

ClickCommunity

YOUR VOLUNTEER CENTRE NEEDS YOU! Why volunteer? It is extremely rewarding, not just for the person or charity receiving help, but for the volunteer as well. It can be a chance to gain new skills especially after having a break from work, to make newfriends, to give something back to the local community, to test the waters before a career change and most importantly, to have lots of fun!

Wokingham Volunteer Centre has been serving the community for over 30 years. Last year, we referred over 450 volunteers to a wide range of voluntary and community organisations around the district and beyond. Opportunities are extremely varied and include working with children, young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, animals, gardening, sport, IT, administration and many more. We also run several community schemes; Wokingham Transport scheme, Green ‘n’ Tidy gardening scheme and Wokingham Town Mobility. All of these schemes help support the elderly and vulnerable and enable them to remain independent for longer.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to spend your spare time. Stay active, do something good for someone and gain valuable experience! To get involved, please call 0118 977 0749, or visit www.volunteercentrewokingham.org.uk

Have an Arty Summer!

The Cultural Partnership: MoreArts is Wokingham's arts development charity, providing creative opportunities of all kinds for all ages (and all abilities!). We've got an exciting programme of events for the summer:

• • •

Regular Exhibitions in our Galleries at Peach Street, Wokingham and Station Road, Twyford.

Creative fun for all the family as our HandsonArts pavillion visits community events around Wokingham.

Our website lists hundreds of events in the Borough and the wider region. Check it out!

www.morearts.org.uk

ClickCommunity

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