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Maidenhead - Windsor - Marlow Ascot - Slough - Egham
ETON TUTORS
"an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" ~ Benjamin Franklin Services include: 11+ Preparation, 1 to 1 Tutoring, KS1,KS2 and KS3, checking homework, beginners Arabic, learning English as a foreign language, common entrance exams, verbal/non-verbal reasoning practice and IELTS. Work with children with learning difficulties Ages 5-14
Tel: 07535522755 Web: www.etontutors.com Email: info@etontutors.com
YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL! Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside & without compromising family commitments or current career. If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle, please call Diana Page 01235 533 362
Tel: 01628 828258 Email: montessorischool@aol.com School Lane, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 3QY We are a very well-established Montessori Nursery set in a once Victorian primary school at the heart of the picturesque village of Littlewick Green.
Ages 12 months - 5 years After School & Holiday Club for children 1 to 8 years. Operating a 43 and 48 week year Open 8am-6pm Full days or morning and afternoon sessions Covering the EYFS & Montessori curriculum Quality day care in a warm and friendly environment Football & Multi Sport coaching available for ages 3-5 Mouse Wizards (I.C.T.) for the 3-5 year olds Drama, Music & Movement Classes Free funded sessions for 3-5 year olds
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
The very useful local magazine for families with children aged 0-12
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Where your little ones blossom into independent confident learners
• Poppies is owned by two qualified childcare practitioners with over 30 years’ experience. • We carefully select our dedicated childcare team who provide an outstanding level of care to children aged birth to five years. • Children are cared for in beautiful settings, a home away from home. • Excellent Parent Carer Partnerships • Freshly cooked organic food. • Large safe and secure nursery garden. “I will always be most grateful for the most wonderful settings you have created and for meeting my children’s appropriate needs. Thank you and well done. Poppies will always hold a special place for me and as I watch my children progress I know where it all began.” K.H. (parent) Poppies Marlow Crown Road Marlow Bucks SL7 2QG Tel: 01628 487772
Poppies Beaconsfield Harrias Barn Hedgerley Lane Beaconsfield Bucks HP9 2SD Tel. 01494 677116
Poppies Bourne End Furlong Road Bourne End Bucks SL8 5AE Tel: 01628 521522
www.poppiesdaynursery.com
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FAMILIES Thames Valley East
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk
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News & Info
in this
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issue
News & Info Education News Clubs & Classes News Local Gift Guide Do’s & Don’ts of a Family Christmas Olympics: Sir Steve Redgrave First Aid Health: Help! Where’s my ‘off’ switch? Time Out Christmas Time Out Meet Father Christmas Reader competitions Parenting: Empowering your children Money: Children’s ISAs Ed’s Reading Room Bumps & Babes: Acupuncture Mums Who Mean Business 32 £1,000 competition
Cover designed by Magic Mo
PO Box 3902, Maidenhead, SL60 1AD web: FamiliesTVEast.co.uk tel: 01628 627586 fax: 08717 146 305 (calls cost 10p/min) e-mail: Editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk editor: Claire Winter circulation: 19,000 next issue: January/February 2012 featuring: Parties & Health due out: January 3 copy/advertising deadline: December 1
Telephone: 01628 627 586
We’ve got a ‘Christmas Cracker” of an issue, full of lots of really useful features on health, parenting, Children’s ISAs and First Aid. Find a superb local gift guide on pages 8 to 9 and an interview with Sir Steve Redgrave on page 12, a guide to all the Christmas events in the areas, starting on page 21, and a fantastic competition to win a weekend in London worth £1000 on page 32, which includes tickets to Shrek and a London pass, giving you access to over 50 different attractions in the capital. Plus you can also win tickets to Ascot Racecourse, Odds Farm, Miki, Norden Farm’s Christmas show, and the Stick Man in London on page 25. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
SUPPORT THE NSPCC’S LETTER FROM SANTA CAMPAIGN The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s (NSPCC) popular Letter from Santa fundraising campaign is back! The Letter from Santa initiative, supported by Heart FM, gives family and friends the chance to send someone special a magical letter from Santa for a suggested donation of £5. The letter is personalised with the child’s name and age and confirms that Santa and his sleigh will be stopping off in their home town to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Last year Letter from Santa raised £1.3m towards continuing the vital services the NSPCC offers children, young people and families, and they hope to reach £1.6m this year. To find out more or to register your details, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/santa or call 0845 839 9304.
MAIDENHEAD CHILDREN IN NEED FUNDRAISER Little Kickers, Little Rugby and Little Dance Flavourz Maidenhead are hosting a family fundraiser for Children in Need this November. This fun filled event will take place on Saturday November 12 at St Piran’s school, Maidenhead, from 2 to 3.45pm. There will be penalty shoot-outs, try scoring, lots of dancing games, a bouncy castle, face painting, a cake stall and much more! Try your luck in the lucky dip and you could win a free six-week course at one of their dance, rugby or football classes, plus many other exciting prizes. Pudsey will also be making a guest appearance. Tickets are only £1 per family on the door, plus a small charge for some stalls. Call Ben or Emily on 01628 526584 for more details.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
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News & Info LOCAL CHILDREN STAR IN LONDON SHOW Children who attend the Jam Theatre School in Marlow will be joining Ben Hanson, who played Bouncer in the hugely successful CBBC-show Tracey Beaker, along with Santa and Mrs Claus in THE LAZY ELF, a spectacular Christmas show playing at the Arts Theatre between December 10 and 22. Ben will play Larry, an extremely lazy elf, who would rather have a nap than make toys for all the boys and girls. Perfect for children and families, The Lazy Elf is an interactive 55-minute musical written by renowned musician and vocal coach Jo Noel-Hartley. With a large cast of Santa’s Elves that includes Jelly Bean, Fizzy, Smarty, Sweet Pea, Cupcake, Tinker, Fudge, Bluebell and Percy, the audience must help Larry to realise the value of hard work and the true meaning of Christmas. Jo Noel-Hartley is also the Artistic Director of Jam Theatre Company. She has worked professionally in the music and entertainment industry for the past 19 years, and her songwriting success has led her to write for Faber Music with the Government’s Sing Up campaign. Tickets cost £14 each, Family tickets available at £48 (2 adults, 2 kids). To book tickets call 0207 907 7092; TheLazyElf.co.uk
GET FIT FOR MATHS Getting your child (or mathlete) to do their times tables could soon be a whole lot easier, thanks to a new activity club called NumberFit. NumberFit sessions feature an innovative and fun blend of maths, team games and sport, combining academic and physical exercises in line with the national curriculum and are suitable for all children. It has been designed to stimulate both children’s minds and bodies, and is based on the proven link between physical exercise and academic performance in children. The aim is to make mathematics enjoyable and allows the mathletes to associate the positive attitudes and emotions they have for the team games and sports with mathematics. This, combined with practice and repetition, leads to the natural consequence of improved attainment, which in turn feeds their confidence, resulting in the development of an essential skill set for mathletes living in an ever increasingly technical world, as well as keeping them active and healthy. “It’s like a keep-fit class meets a maths lesson, meets a school sports day,” said one parent. NumberFit is available for all children aged three to 11, with groups for pre-school and Key Stages 1 and 2. Classes are currently running in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. For more info for your child or school, visit www.numberfit.com or call 0208 123 3996.
Slough Gymnastics Club A British Gymnastics club providing: Opportunities to achieve in a happy, safe environment. British Gymnastics badge scheme and development programs. Classes for all ... ages 2-102!! See our moves online and come and visit our dedicated facility ... email: info@sloughgymnastics.co.uk Tel 01753 532 176 Tel 0788 44 77 013
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk
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News & Info CHANGE YOUR LOOK FOR LESS Award-winning stylist Lisa Talbot (as seen on This Morning and The Vanessa Show) will be giving a demonstration of ‘Style on a budget’ at White Waltham Primary School on Monday November 21 at 7.30pm. Following her session, it’s time to get beautiful and take advantage of their skilled therapists, who will be offering facials, reflexology, manicures, hair styling, Indian head massage and much more at bargain prices. For a special treat how about booking a pedicure with The Fish Doctor and letting your cares float away as the dead skin is nibbled from your feet by Garra Rufa fish? You can finish off the evening by kicking off your Christmas shopping at an exciting range of independent craft, cosmetic, jewellery and gift stalls. Tickets are £5 (and include a glass of wine). Available on the door or ring White Waltham Primary School, Waltham Road, White Waltham, Maidenhead SL6 3SG on 01628 822533.
10%unt discofees on
SHREK HELPS STAGECOACH REWARD INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE
NEW NAME AND BUILDING FOR ETON PRE-SCHOOL Jacks Eton College Pre-School has a new name and location. Sue Clifford, the school’s Manager, says: “ We now operate under the new name of Eton Pre-School and we are situated at St John’s Church hall, just off Eton High Street. The new building offers a huge, light and airy space, which feels like a home from home, with open access to a new decked area and large garden.” Victoria Maxwell, a parent at the school, says: "Eton pre-school has given my three children a brilliant start in life. The caring and experienced staff create a calm, cosy and stimulating environment. My youngest loves the new building - he has been telling all his friends. There is a very good sense of consistency with staff who have been there for my oldest and my youngest child." For more information please call 01753 850842 or email etonpreschool@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 627 586
Stars from the top West End show, Shrek The Musical, are helping Stagecoach Theatre School’s search for this year's young heroes who have faced adversity, demonstrated bravery, shown courage, and those who have cared for others. The Stagecoach Theatre Arts Awards will be presented at a special awards ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on November 28. Nominations for this year's Awards will be accepted for any child aged between four and eighteen, regardless of whether or not they attend a Stagecoach School. To find out more about the categories you can nominate children for and the awards, please visit: www.stagecoachawards.co.uk or visit the Stagecoach website: www.stagecoach.co.uk
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
G NIN O P E U A RY N A J 2012
A brand new nursery school for 3-5 year olds Large safe car park, playground, playing fields. Open for approximately 45 weeks a year. Daily sessions 9am-3pm. Half-days available too (mornings and afternoons) Early bird 8-9am and Night Owls 3-5pm, also available Curriculum covers: Early Years Foundation Stage The Little Blues Nursery School @ Burnham Football Club The Gore, Wymers Wood Road Burnham, Bucks. E: emma568@btinternet.com T: 01628 668654 www.little-blues-nursery-school-burnham.co.u k
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Education News SENSATIONAL REPORT FOR LOCAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL UPTON HOUSE, a preparatory school in Windsor has received a brilliant ISI inspection report. The school achieved the top rating for each category in every area – either excellent or outstanding. The school, which takes girls from age 2 to 11 and boys aged 2 to 7, received their report last month. The inspection took place in the summer term over a month’s period and included an Ofsted inspection team for the Early Years. Highlights of the report include: “pupil’s achievement is excellent”, “teaching is excellent overall”, “pupils’ pastoral care, health, safety and welfare are excellent” and “outstanding facilities, designed with flair for specific purposes, make the best use of space”. Mrs Madeleine Collins, the school’s Headmistress is delighted. “Everyone here is to be heartily congratulated on achieving such a fantastic result”. For information about the school call 01753 862610. www.uptonhouse.org.uk CHECKS FOR TWO YEAR-OLDS Under new Government plans to spot children who are failing to develop properly, all two-year-olds, attending nursery, will be given a compulsory “progress check”. Two-year-olds in England will be assessed to discover whether they can use certain basic words, respond to familiar sounds, communicate their wants and socialise with others, as part of an Early Years Foundation Stage framework setting out to identify struggling children. All parents will be given a written report of their child’s abilities in these key areas, with
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FAMILIES Thames Valley East
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPEN DAYS
t Day Schools Claires Court Schools, Maidenhead. Independen Thicket; nhead Maide ears, 4-11y boys way Ridge girls. and for boys e, Colleg The East; Road Mill Claires Court boys 11-16 years, Ray form: sixth co-ed and years, 4-16 girls: (co-ed nursery: 3-5 years, all sites 16-18 years) 1 College Avenue. Open mornings at from ry (nurse on Wednesday 9 November, 9.30am-12no on -12no 9.30am ber, Decem 1 day 9.30am-11.30am).Thurs g at Evenin Open Boys’ Senior am. -11.30 9.30am from (nursery . 8.30pm to 6.30pm Claires Court,Wednesday 9 November. .com. court 01628 411472; www.claires Herries School, Dean Lane, Cookham Dean. Co-ed Morning preparatory school and nursery, 3-11 years. Open 483350; 01628 m. 11.00a to 9.30am at mber Wednesday 30 Nove k s.org.u herrie www. endent Highfield School, West Road, Maidenhead. Indep Day Open rs. 3-11y aged girls, for l schoo Preparatory day 624918; 01628 m. 11.30a to 9.30am mber, Nove 23 esday Wedn www.highfieldprep.org. Day or Please ring the school concerned to check that the Open Evening is still going ahead.
Ministers claiming that this will help to identify any early developmental problems. They are concerned that too many children are starting school without the necessary basic social and language skills, and Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat Minister for Children, said "the importance of the early years – as a foundation for life and for future attainment and success – cannot be overestimated. That’s why it’s vital we have the right framework to support high quality early years education.” However, Richard House, senior lecturer in psychotherapy at Roehampton University, says "Children are so diverse that to even begin constructing some generalised view of how they should be developing at a certain age is fraught with danger.” He goes on to state that the move risked defining children as "failures" at a young age.
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FOOTBALL FUN IN CIPPENHAM Soccer TOTS is running football classes for children aged six and under on Saturday Mornings at Cippenham Scouts Hall, from 9.30 to 10.15 am and 10.30 to 11.15 am. The company is part of Soccer Elite Football Academy, a multi-sports coaching company with a wealth of experience providing services to education. Run by Tony Milstead a EUEA qualified coach, who has over 20 years professional experience. He has covered the Early Years Foundation Stage for many years, teaching at Nursery Schools and Sure Start Children’s Centres, delivering daily football sessions and holiday clubs. The fun football sessions are for children age 2½ years up to 6 years, and help to develop agility, balance and coordination and fitness through ball play. Children get to grow in confidence working individually as well as in groups. Call 07850 852527 for more information or visit soccerelite.org.uk GET YOUR DANCING SHOES ON The Susan Handy School of Dancing is based in Eton, Datchet and Windsor and offers classes in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre. Classes are available for children aged 2½ years and up. Boys only classes and classes for adults are also available. Children are able to take examinations and dance on stage at the bi-annual school performance held at Eton College Theatre. Dance Birthday Parties featuring street dance or musicals can also be booked through the school, giving children a birthday to remember. Contact the school office on 07515 270432 or at office@susanhandydance.co.uk www.susanhandydance.co.uk TWINKLE TAPPERS COMES TO WINDSOR Twinkle Tots Dance is piloting a brand new tap class for 3 to 4 year olds – “Twinkle Tappers”. Let your toddler discover the magical world of rhythm and dance. Making noise with their feet is just too good to resist! Classes start on Saturday January 14 at Clewer Youth and Community Centre,
Clubs & Classes News Windsor.There’s also a new Pre-Primary Tap class for 4 to 6 year olds and Twinkle Tots Ballet and Budding Ballerina’s classes, which are already running at the centre. Phone Maggie on 07828 857061 or email info@twinkletotsdance.com to book a two week no obligation taster session. For more information check out their website: www.twinkletotsdance.com NEW RUGBY CLASSES FOR KIDS A new company, Scrumys, is offering organised play sessions with a rugby theme for children six and under, in locations across Windsor.The classes are focused on developing key areas of basic motor skills, spatial awareness, co-ordination and control. Pupils are also encouraged to develop personal, social, emotional, linguistic and reactive skills too. As well as the serious stuff their sessions offer structured activity, which focuses on fun and builds confidence. They offer sessions for three age groups, 18months to 2½ years, 2½ to 3 years and 4 to 5 years. Each age group will progress towards the RFU pathway, which starts at age 6 at rugby clubs, across the country. All of their coaches are RFU qualified, CRB checked and have Pediatric first aid training, so you can rest easy knowing your children will be well looked after whilst playing and training at their sessions. For more information and to book a FREE trial session call 01753 248 548. www.scrumys.co.uk NEW MAIDENHEAD DANCE CLASS Little Dance Flavourz is a new class that aims to provide the perfect ‘express yourself’ environment for 2 to 5 year old girls and boys looking for a genuinely fun and energetic first introduction to dance. The company is a fun-packed collaboration between the internationally acclaimed Dance Flavourz troupe and Little Kickers, who are renowned for their pre-school activities. The classes are 45 minutes long and cover a ten-week period and not only offer children their first introduction to different dance styles, but also provide the perfect setting where life skills, such as confidence, co-ordination, rhythm and imagination can blossom. For further details, introductory offers and how to sign up contact Emily on 01628 526584.
Play sessions for under-5s at the Phoenix Gymnastics Club Have fun in this fully equipped gym with your kids. Sessions Monday: 10.30-11.30 Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 -10.30 & 11.00–12.00 Tuesday & Thursday: 1.00-2.00pm Cost just £3.50 per child (must be accompanied by adult)
Refreshments available Phoenix Gymnastics Club Unit 1, Water Oakley Farm, Maidenhead Road, Windsor Tel:01628 778881 www.phoenixgym.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 627 586
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Christmas LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Make Christmas special by buying gifts from local companies that offer unique goods High Street stores can’t provide. Presents that are chosen with careful consideration are always more cherished.
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is for Candles. Candle by Night, located in Marlow, make elegant natural candles (using soy wax). All their candles are hand-poured and beautifully packaged and are available with or without fragrance. This year’s Christmas collection has just been produced and candles are available in the following fragrances: Festivities – sweet fruit spices with cinnamon; Winter Berries – fragrant berries encapsulating the feeling of a cold and crisp festive morning; Christmas Tree – pine trees in your home with a hint of mountain air; plus the popular Frankincense and Myrrh – the fragrance of the Three Kings. Besides their Christmas range they also sell year-round favourites including Rose, Lavender and Vanilla. They make a perfect Christmas gift for your girlfriend, wife, mother, daughter, friends or children’s class teacher. Another option is to treat yourself and friends to a candle-making workshop, where you learn how to make your own candles, over a glass of wine or two. Prices range from £3.50 to £25. Please visit their website for more information on the candles and workshops: www.candlebynight.co.uk or call Sarah on 0777 1851435. They deliver free of charge to addresses within five miles of Marlow for sales over £25.
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Real homemade cakes, baked with organic & fairtrade ingredients Gift boxed and delivered FREE locally Perfect as a present or as part of your Christmas feast Christmas cakes, mince pies, gingerbread, traditional sponges Gluten, egg and dairy free available www.happycakes.biz
BOOK NOW FOR THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE FEATURING HEALTH AND CHILDREN’S PARTIES
is for Happy Cakes. Local mum of four Maria Evans, who runs Happy Cakes, is already busy making mincemeat and cakes in preparation for her busiest Christmas ever. This year, they will be offering homemade mince pies, Christmas cakes and a full range of delicious treats including gingerbread, festive fairy cakes and the gorgeously kitsch Christmas coconut cake. They can all be delivered beautifully boxed to make wonderful gifts or a welcome addition to a festive feast. Delivery is free of charge within five miles of Maidenhead. All of the Happy Cakes range is made at home using local, organic and fairtrade ingredients and all of their eggs are local and free range. They also bake gluten, egg and dairy free versions to order, so that everyone can join in the festivities. For the opportunity to try their wares visit the Happy Cakes vintage cafes which will be ‘popping up’ around the borough in the run up to Christmas. For details of events go to www.happycakes.biz or call Maria to talk about cakes on 07949 449216 or email info@happycakes.biz.
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is for Really good organic meat and poultry, from Maceys in Cookham. Get a succellent turkey from this local butcher’s who go the extra mile for their customers. Ged Cowdery, the current butcher, is carrying on the preservation of the old traditions that his predecessors made, and in addition to supplying additive-free organic meats he has introduced gluten-free and low-sodium products to cater for the contemporary market. But there’s more to Macey’s than fine organic meat and poultry. Ged presents meat in new and different ways, matching marinades and subtle sauces to introduce a wide range of gourmet foods. His recipes have appeared in magazines and he loves to give his customers cooking advice. 01628 521128. www.maceysorganicfood.co.uk
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is for Independent toy shops. Wallys is located on Market Street in Maidenhead and has a great range of toys for children of all ages. Plus you can now buy online from their new website www.wallystoys.co.uk. Or why not visit a Marlow favourite, Marlow Toys, on the High Street, who stock a great range of toys and gifts to suit all budgets.
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is for Stunning floral arrangements. Welcome your guests this Christmas with a luxury Richard Elder Floral Design wreath on your door. Traditionally made using fragrant blue pine, rosemary, box and holly and dressed with fine ribbons, nuts, seasonal fruits, cinnamon and berries it will really create festive cheer. Choose a fabulous matching table centre with candles or a thick pine Christmas garland for your mantelpiece. Consider sending one of their beautiful Christmas hand-tied bouquets anywhere
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LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Christmas in the UK to say Happy Christmas to your friends and relatives. Visit their design studio at Stubbings nursery in Maidenhead in person or visit www.floraldesign.co.uk. To deliver flowers further afield click, on www.elderflowers.co.uk for a nationwide service.
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is for treasure hunting at the Windsor Emporium. Find a treasure trove of gifts at the arts, crafts and antiques fair which is moving to the Guildhall in Windsor High Street on Sunday November 6. It will be officially re-opened by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Colin Rayner. The fair will exhibit on the first Sunday of every month (from March to December). It is an emporium of the unexpected, where you can find local purveyors of art, quality handmade gifts and objects of the extraordinary. Discover a unique Christmas shopping experience all under one historic roof, coupled with their charming Vintage Tea Room, courtesy of Happy Cakes. Go to www.windsoremporium.co.uk for more information. For some more great homemade gifts, visit the Craft Coop Christmas Fair at the Cookham Parish Centre on Tuesday 6 December from 6-9pm. www.craftcoop.co.uk.
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Organic and free range meat and poultry
Macey s Butchers Lower Road, Cookham, SL6 9EH Food you and your family can eat with confidence Web: www.maceysorganicfood.co.uk Telephone: 01628 521128 Mobile: 07971448794 Email: gedcowdery@yahoo.co.uk
is for Magical edible creations.You can find beautiful cakes and cupcakes at the newly opened FlourPower in Cookham. Nina, the new owner, can make cakes for every occasion, weddings, parties and of course Christmas. To sample her delicious offerings go to the shop in the Arcade on Cookham High Street. Not only are they are really delicious but they look amazing too. Studio: 01628 520117. Mobile: 07873 298783. www.flourpower.co
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is for Art.Visit Hands On Art Adventures in Old Windsor to make a beautiful homemade gift out of pottery or buy art or pottery classes for a Christmas surprise. Call 01753 206265 or go to www.hands-onartadventures.co.uk for information about classes, parties and family nights. Candyfloss Ceramics in Ascot also provide a great studio for adults and children to create original ceramic artwork as gifts for friends and family members.You can glaze hand and footprints of your children on a tile for an extra special gift. To book call 01344 893 819 or go to www.candyflossceramics.com. Want a fun gift to keep the kids occupied? Check out Hope & Gloria’s cool craft kits for children at www.hopeandgloria.com.
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is for Silver Jewellery. The Dinky Fingerprint Company now makes gorgeous Hand and Foot print and Doodle Artwork jewellery, as well Cutout Cufflinks – Hands or Feet as their extensive range of silver £110.00 fingerprint jewellery. They can create personalised items with names, dates or words of special meaning or you can even capture your loved ones hands, feet, kiss or a special drawing in pure silver. Using a clever, easy and quick inkless print kit, they can take an accurate and detailed print of a hand, foot or paw or a copy of a special drawing. Words can also be used to create that special piece of jewellery to treasure forever. All their products come beautifully gift-wrapped. For more information call 01628 623386, sales@dinkyfingerprint.co.uk, www.dinkyfingerprint.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 627 586
Visit Richard Elder Floral Design to buy your Christmas wreaths and table decorations
Richard Elder Floral Design Ltd The Glasshouse, Stubbings Nursery, Henley Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. SL6 6QL
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
Tel 01628 821122 www.floraldesign.co.uk
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Christmas
The DOs and DON’Ts of a H Sarah Butters takes a comical look at combating festive ‘stress’ DON’T expect it to be perfect Like it or not, your Christmas will not be perfect.You will over-cook the turkey, under-cook the pudding and end up sobbing into a huge glass of Sauvignon Blanc because your mother-in-law has criticized your gravy. But because you’ve put so much time and effort into hosting the perfect Christmas, the disappointment at the odd hiccup is overwhelming. Start the festive period accepting you’re not Nigella and it won’t be perfect and you’ll enjoy the parts that go well.
DO try and relax By the time Christmas Day arrives, most of us are exhausted. You’ve probably spent the weeks prior to the big day panic shopping, baking everything that Jamie suggested in his Christmas special and ferrying the family from one festive event to the next. Earmark some time for you. It’s supposed to be a holiday!
DO make your own traditions Every family has its own way of celebrating. Now you have your own children it’s time for you to make your own traditions.Whether it’s a trip to the local crib service on Christmas Eve, or a day of Christmas baking on the Sunday before the festivities begin.Why not ask your kids to come up with some new ideas?
DO get out and about You are not under house arrest over the festive period. We shouldn’t be surprised that if you fill your home with relatives you rarely see and then lock the door, there will be arguments. Add some wine and the results are anything but festive. Get everyone wrapped up and head out for a bracing walk. It will clear the house and let the little ones run off some steam.
DON’T expect your children to be angels They’ve broken up from school about to burst with excitement about the arrival of Santa. You’ve been using the ‘if you’re not good, Santa won’t come’ since Easter and then the presents are opened and your little angels turn into little devils. Rules and routine are thrown out of the window so relatives can be entertained and trips can be taken. Combine that with too many treats and lots of attention from
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a HAPPY FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Christmas
well-meaning visitors and the magic of Christmas can disappear pretty quickly. Try not to let all discipline go out of the window and if you sense that there’s a tantrum on the way, remove your child from the mayhem. During your time out, remind them that Santa can take gifts back from children who don’t behave!
DO give out jobs A resentful host is not a happy host, so when you do your pre-Christmas shopping list, make sure you also write a list of jobs you’ll need doing on the big day. If you know your Mother-in-Law has a view about your Yorkshire Puddings, set her to work making them!
DON”T waste money Let’s face it, this is going to be a tough year for all of us.We want to give our children everything on their list, but won’t be able to. Most of us will be celebrating making it to the 25th of December with a job and a roof over our heads. However, you can still enjoy the festivities while being frugal. Swap traditional cards for an email including a festive photo, organise a secret Santa for adult family members with a spending limit, or simply suggest that you only buy for the family’s children. Keep reminding yourself that it’s not about the money you spend on each other, it’s about the time you spend with each other.
CANDYFLOSS CERAMICS
DO laugh! Forget the stress of present buying and preparing a feast fit for a royalty and take a minute to laugh. Remember, when you strip away all the tinsel and tat this is about preparing one meal, on one day with decorations and a gift or two. And if you’re finding smiling hard, try using our favourite Christmas Cracker joke to cheer you up. What’s Santa’s favourite pizza? One that’s deep, and crisp and even.
DON’T stress about the presents So you haven’t been able to find the latest ‘in’ toy. Before you beat yourself up, ask yourself this: do you remember the presents you didn’t get when you were a child? Or do you remember the experiences you had? My Christmas memories are of preparing lunch with my wonderful Nana and attempting to wake my dog, a King Charles Cavalier, after he’d drunk the best part of a bottle of Blue Nun.Your kids will remember the laughter and the love and – when you wake up in January – so will you. Happy Christmas!
Telephone: 01628 627 586
PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY JUST DROP IN AND PAINT Birthday Parties, Hen Nights, Group Bookings For Schools, Nurseries, Brownies, Guides, Scouts Adult Evenings and Corporate Events, hand and footprints on pottery or in clay COMMISSION WORK FOR WEDDINGS OR SPECIAL OCCASIONS JUST GIVE US A CALL OR COME IN AND SEE US, WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP. 196 Fernbank Road, North Ascot, Berkshire SL5 8LA Tel: 01344 893819 Email: tracy@candyflossceramics.com www.candyflossceramics.com
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SIR STEVE REDGRAVE
Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A 12
The head of the English department at my small comprehensive in Marlow asked me if I would like to try the sport. Going out of school during school time always appealed to me! Being this country’s and one of the world’s most successful Olympians is quite an accolade - how have you managed to achieve so much? A lot of fun but hard work, dedication, focus and desire. What do you think is your greatest achievement? A combination of all the Olympics I competed at, being a consistent winner for nearly 20 years, which stands me out from almost every other Olympian. It is possible to balance family life with being a competitive athlete? Yes, I managed to balance it but it helped having a very supportive family. You took part in the cycling race, Race Across America in the summer. Are you fully recovered from the accident you had and how much money did you raise? Yes, I am fully recovered after my accident. We managed to raise about £35,000 for Sport Relief and my fund. Do you think you are born with the desire to succeed or can you cultivate it? There are so many different factors in achieving something. I am sure it is a combination of both. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events are being held at Dorney Lake next year; do you think that more young people will take up rowing and canoeing because of this? Yes definitely. After every Olympic games the intake of people taking up the sport increases. I am sure after the home games this will be even greater. What is your advice to young sports men and women who want to take up sport competitively? I think the main factor is enjoyment. The more you enjoy something, the more effort you will put in and the more you will achieve. Many schools don’t hold competitive sport days, do you think we need to encourage more competitiveness in our schools? We live in a very competitive world and I feel sport helps you deal with the success and failure of life.
FAMILIES Thames Valley East
“We live in a very competitive world ... this is something we shouldn’t hide away from”
Q A Q A Q A
Ha yto
Q A
How did you get into rowing?
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Sir Steve Redgrave is one of the world’s most famous Olympians and he also lives in Marlow. Claire Winter interviewed him about the London 2012 Olympics and his life as an athelete and a dad.
om o:T t o Ph
This is something we shouldn’t be hiding away from until after you leave school and enter the big wide world. How can parents encourage their children to do more sport? Most people find sport through education. Parents should play a big part in encouraging them to get involved outside school, but this is a very big sacrifice for them as well. Marlow rowing club (where you used to train) has suffered a terrible blow because of the fire in August, do you think it can recover? Yes, the club is going through a difficult time at the moment but it is amazing how much support the club has had from the local community and I am sure it will be stronger in the long term. You have just released a new book ‘Great Olympic Moments’. Apart from your own, what is your favourite? It is difficult for me to pick out one because all the images mean something to me. Mark Spitz was my first awareness of the Olympic games as a 10-year-old, which had a big impact on me, but I love the image of Cathy Freeman sitting on the track straight after her success at the Sydney Games. She looks like she has just lost, not won, and I can empathise with that feeling. So much focus, dedication and sacrifice has gone into that moment, but no thought has been given to what happens once you cross the line.
Sir Steve has just published an Olympic themed book, ‘Great Olympic Moments’, which would make a great Christmas present for a sports enthusiast. Complete with stunning, specially selected photographs, he recounts his favourite Olympic stories and reveals what it is that makes these moments truly great. All the stars of past and present are in the book. Also included are some of the more infamous moments of Olympic history, including Black Power 1968, the Munich hostage crisis of 1972, Mary Decker Slaney's clash with Zola Budd in LA 1984 and Ben Johnson's disqualification at Seoul 1988, to name but a few.
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Do you know how to save your child’s life?
+ First Aid
Most schools won’t have given you lessons in childcare – the best ways of keeping your child healthy and safe are often learned ‘on the job’! And even if you did receive basic first aid training at school, can you actually remember what to do if a child is choking? Or recall how best to manage a situation if someone becomes unconscious? aturally you want to protect your child as much as possible, and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep them safe and out of harm's way. Formal first aid training teaches you what to do in a variety of different emergencies. Simply assuming that it will be good enough to dial 999 or 112 if something disastrous happens is risky. It is important to know how to handle the situation without assistance in case help is not available quickly enough. Most parents worry about their child’s safety, yet many of them have never learnt the basics of first aid. The typical first aid response is panic, which can lead to feelings of helplessness, lack of control and hesitation – not ideal if your child has suffered a sudden injury and needs your help. Simply by learning a few basic first aid skills, you will gain the confidence to act decisively and confidently to potentially save your child's life One of the most important skills to learn is how and when to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Many different emergencies may call for it, including accidents, near-drowning, suffocation, poisoning, smoke inhalation, electrocution injuries, choking and suspected sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). CPR can save a life by restoring breathing and circulation whilst waiting for advanced life support from health care providers. Reading about CPR and learning will give you a basic understanding, but it's strongly recommended that you learn the details by taking a course. Knowing and using the correct technique will give someone the best chance of recovery. A.B.C. (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) is a simple acronym for the three principles of CPR. Lack of experience or development means that young children take physical risks that adults would never consider, which can often result in accidents. Children are often absorbed in their own world, oblivious to their surroundings, which can sometimes put them in danger. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of
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THE GOALS OF FIRST AID Preserve Life Prevent Deterioration Promote recovery Instant response: what you need to know BURNS + Cool the affected area. If possible, hold it under cold water for at least 10 minutes. + Do not remove anything that is stuck to the affected area + If exposed cover over with clean, non-fluffy material such as a clingfilm, clean plastic bag. + Seek professional medical advice and in serious burns call the emergency services. + Do not Use lotions, creams or adhesive dressings or break blisters. Layer the dressing do not wrap SIGNS & TREATMENT OF CHOKING + Is the child actively crying, talking or coughing? Let them cough spontaneously. + If they cannot cough, talk or cry effectively, administer 5 Back Slaps and 5 Chest Thrusts. Repeat until the obstruction has cleared. + Should the child start to become unresponsive call the Emergency Services. Assess for breathing and Start CPR You should always seek a medical professional’s advice even if the obstruction is cleared.
Telephone: 01628 627 586
Accidents (RoSPA), accidental injuries are the most common cause of death in children over one year. Every year many thousands are left permanently disabled or disfigured, as a result of accidental injury. More than one million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, with 37,000 children under 15 taken to hospital for burns or scalds alone. Acting quickly and appropriately when someone suffers a burn can improve the cosmetic outcome dramatically (Child Accident Statistics (2011) www.rospa.com. There’s no need to be nervous about what a First Aid course will entail – 99% of First Aid is common sense. Most of the skills you learn will be practised on manikins, rather than real people – enacting back slaps to clear obstructions out of a mouth or watching a chest inflate when giving rescue breaths, will really make you feel a great deal more confident about dealing with real life incidents, should they arise. Basic first aid knowledge can be learnt in as little as three hours, and training classes can be run in your home with your friends or family. You could arrange a coffee morning or an evening at home or attend a pre-arranged public course with a focus on first aid for babies and children. Often courses are run in post-natal groups, where you can learn whilst your baby is with you. Parents entrust their children to various forms of childcare professionals, who also need to keep up to date with their skills - child-minders, nannies and nursery workers can now get paediatric first aid certification through a new blended course run by Child Matters. The first part is completed online, over several days, after which you will attend a local, 6-hour, classroom course to receive the 12 hour Paediatric First Aid certificate meeting the requirements of OFSTED, NCMA and EYFS. First aid courses, run by qualified trainers, can give you the confidence to deal with many different situations through the teaching of simple, potentially life-saving procedures. Hands-on interactions give the feeling of a real-life scenario, and can be more memorable than simply reading about first aid. We hope that the skills you learn don’t ever have to be used, but if they can help to save just one life, then it has all been worthwhile. Claire Street, founder of Child Matters Ltd. For more information call Child Matters on 07788 720 612 or email contact@childmatters.info and find out how you can host or attend a course. www.child-matters.co.uk Would you like to learn what to do for a child in an emergency? In one session Child Matters could teach you: Basic Life Support: Resuscitation, Choking, Drowning, Recovery Position. First Aid & Illnesses: Burns, Fractures, Wounds, Anaphylaxis, Head Injuries, Febrile Convulsions, Croup and much more CHILD MATTERS – paediatric health professionals giving Parents, Carers & Child Care professionals the knowledge to act confidently and decisively. Host a session at home with great discounts for the host and parties of 8+. Evenings & Weekends available Public Courses or Work Venue to meet the requirements of OFSTED, EYFS, & NCMA
Tel: 07788 720612 / E: contact@childmatters.info
“Acting decisively and knowledgably could save a child’s life”
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Help! Where’s my ‘
Health
Helena Foss explains how taking out time for yourself is crucial for a happy home life. ’m not sure mothers ever really switch off. Being a mother is, as they say, a life sentence; our care provider services can be called on at any time of the day or night and interrupt every single activity (like important phone conversations) and bodily function. But being busy mothering our children does not mean we should forget to mother ourselves too. All very well, but where, I hear you ask, do I find the time? Life is so busy; there are emails to reply to, piles of laundry, tax forms, scraped knees, runny noses and dirty floors screaming for attention – and that urgent report to submit yesterday.
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Prioritise Soul Food If, like me, you regularly find yourself arriving breathlessly at Overwhelm Central, running like fury to escape the clutches of the Things To Do monster (the one that gnaws away at you during occasional idle moments or jolts you anxiously awake at 3am), then it is time to prioritise your Soul Food.Your rational mind will not think that Soul Food is necessarily ‘important’ nor ‘productive’, but your body and heart will recognise it immediately; by feeling warm and relaxed. It could be half an hour alone under a favourite tree, lunch with a close friend, singing, painting or writing just one paragraph of that novel inside you. These things nurture us – and nurturers need nurturing. Simple as that. When I need to get my priorities straight, I use the ‘rocks and sand’ analogy. The really important things are a mix of pressing Things To Do and Soul Food – meeting an article deadline, a spot of tree hugging, my boy’s urgent dental appointment, a dance around the living room, dinner, regular exercise – are the rocks, the rest is gravelly stones or grains of sand. Pour sand in a metaphorical jar first and only a few rocks fit on top. But pop the rocks in first and all the itty bitty stuff will fit in around it. My sandy items sit on a list and will easily get done once my rocks are in place. One of my rocks is regular meditation. I actually cannot function properly without it.
Escape your mind In the West we have become so identified with our minds, that we believe our rabid collection of thoughts is who we actually are. According to Zen Buddhism, the mind is a great servant but a terrible master. A frightened or stressed mind will hassle you
endlessly with judgements, opinions, ‘what if’s’, ‘if only’s’ and ‘coulda, shoulda, wouldas’. It was the controversial mystic and meditation master Osho who once held up his hand and said: ‘You see my five fingers? Ordinarily you will not see the gaps [between them], you will see five fingers. But the gaps are more real. Fingers come and go. Gaps will remain.’ Woah. My whole being reeled on the spot and my mind momentarily shuddered to a halt when I first heard this statement. The gaps are more real – more real even than my thoughts? Who would have thought it?
Mind the Gap There is plenty of scientific evidence today to prove that meditation and mindfulness are effective antidotes for our epidemic levels of anxiety-fuelled binge-thinking, not to mention compulsive perfectionism, beating the clock and triumphing over the panting Things To Do beast. ‘Yes,’ my epitaph might read, ‘she got things done, but did she enjoy any of it?’ It is like using every ounce of energy to scale the world’s highest peak and then keeling over at the top, too exhausted to enjoy the view. What, then, really is the point? The point of meditation is to become mindful; to simply be
FitBuzz Pilates PREGNANT PILATES Six week courses in Maidenhead Small friendly classes near you. FitBuzz Pregnant Pilates will ensure that the Pilates programme is safe, targeted and effective during the course of your pregnancy. A relaxed and happy mummy equals a happy baby! So if you’re expecting, whether or not it’s your first, give me a call. I also run non-pregnant Pilates courses, can offer post natal return to fitness through Pilates and one-to-one Pilates training tailored to the individual. Please contact me for more information about the courses and my qualifications. Call Claire Brooks 07966 209785 or email claire.brooks@hotmail.co.uk www.fitbuzz.biz
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y ‘Off’ switch?
Health
aware of your thoughts, to notice them coming and going, moving through like clouds in the sky. This means you can actually choose whether to believe them or not (I’m too fat, my neighbour hates me, I’ll never be a good enough mother, you know the kind of thing). Like the British weather, some days the inner landscape of the mind is overcast, but with regular practice (it is called meditation practice for a reason), you will get moments of dropping out of the mind into the vast, expansive blue sky of nothingness, which, paradoxically, is teeming with life, creativity and potential. Inspiration is something that arrives out of nowhere, like those light bulb moments that go ‘ping!’ above our heads. The trick is being empty and receptive enough to allow them in. So, doing nothing can actually be incredibly productive. It is during meditation
HEALTH NEWS
that much of the ‘sand’ of my life quietly settles down and sorts itself out.
Switch yourself back on In fact, once you can switch compulsive thought patterns off – or at least be aware of them enough so that they calm down – you get switched on to the present moment, which is, so the sages tell us, the only thing that actually exists. When I am really present, time itself slows right down; I am able to respond rather than knee-jerk react to situations. The lights are on. There is someone home.You are able to truly ‘be there’.You become, in the best sense of the word, a rock – both for yourself and your family. Mummy downtime, therefore, is good for everybody. Scheduling it onto your calendar is no longer a luxury. It is a duty. Just like that darned tax form. www.helenafoss.co.uk
HEALTH CLINIC COMES TO WINDSOR The Arch Clinic, located under Windsor Central train station, is a new multi-disciplinary clinic for the treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of muscular and skeletal pain. From back conditions and chronic pain to sports injuries,The Arch Clinic’s highly-qualified and motivated team of Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Massage Therapists and Acupuncturists can help. With a range of healthcare professionals under one roof the Arch Clinic is able to offer comprehensive care for your problem; from an accurate diagnosis through to return to sport or daily activity free from pain.The clinic also offers on-site ultrasound scanning to help improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment outcome. Matthew Stevens, the Clinic’s Director says, “Here at the Arch Clinic we believe it is important for you to understand your condition and enable you to be pain-free and in-control as quickly as possible.There are no gimmicks, no up-front payments, just accurate diagnosis, good treatment and sound advice”. For more information call 01753 850677; www.thearchclinic.com
NEW PRE-NATAL PILATES CLASSES FitBizz Pilates is holding new Pregnant Pilates classes in Maidenhead for expectant mothers.The classes taught by Claire Brooks, focus on safe, specialised instruction throughout all the stages of pregnancy. She also runs non-pregnant Pilates courses suitable for post-natal mums and one-to-one Pilates training tailored to the individual. Exercise during and after pregnancy is known to be beneficial to women. Pilates is a gentle low impact form of exercise that is suitable to do throughout pregnancy. Midwivesonline.com, one of the UK's leading midwifery-led websites, states that Pilates is one of the best forms of exercise you could choose during pregnancy for total body strengthening and toning. It is also great for mind, body and baby. Pilates helps maintain and improve the condition of the spine and the core muscles, which are made up of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening these muscles can help during labour and aid faster recovery post-delivery. Having strong core muscles also helps to counteract the postural changes that occur during pregnancy. Pilates can help you maintain a healthy toned body and it is often easier to get your figure back after the birth, if the exercises are continued. Fitbuzz classes are small and friendly and great way to meet other Mums, whether you are expecting your first or fourth baby, give Claire Brooks a call on 07966 209785 or go to www.fitbuzz.biz for more information.
Telephone: 01628 627 586
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Time Out
Compiled by Trynke Casale
Vampirates, South Hill Park; November 13
Great Gran’s Great Games, Norden Farm; November 19
Christmas Stocking Workshop, Norden Farm; November 26
NOVEMBER
Saturday November 12. NCT NEARLY NEARLY NEW ‘MEGA’ SALE at Windsor Leisure Centre, Stovell Road,Windsor. 11.30am-1pm (11.15 for NCT Members). Quality under 8s clothes, toys, books, equipment, maternity clothes and school uniform. Entry £1. 0844 243 6264. Saturday November 12. ELITE CHILDCARE AGENCY INFORMATION MORNING at Winnersh Country Gardens, The Garden Cafe, RG41 5HG, 0118 901 8747,www.elitechildcareagency.co.uk. Free parent information. Find out more about what Elite Childcare Agency can offer you. 9.30am-12noon. Saturday November 12. WINTER MIGRANTS WALK at Spade Oak Lake Nature Reserve, Coldmoorholme Lane, Bourne End. Look for winter visitors with the Wycombe Rangers. Booking essential. Tickets: adults £4, children £2, family £10. 01494 421825; wycombe.gov.uk. Saturday November 12 and Sunday November 13. WINDSOR CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR at Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor. 10am-5pm. Art, photography, prints and sculpture. Creative workshops for adults and children. Tickets: £4-£6; under 12s free. 01753 591892; windsorcontemporaryartfair.co.uk. Sunday November 13. VAMPIRATES at South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell. 11am and 3pm. Theatre, based on the award-winning novels by Justin Somper. Tickets: adults £10, children £6. 01344 484123; southhillpark.org.uk. Tuesday November 15 and Wednesday November 16. PEPPA PIG’S TREASURE HUNT at the Hexagon, Queen’s Walk, Reading. 10am, 1pm, 4pm. Another chance to help Peppa Pig and her friends with a treasure hunt. Tickets: £15.50, under 16s £2.50 off, family £52. 0118 9606060; readingarts.com. Tuesday November 15 to Saturday November 19. CARMEN THE MUSICAL by the Maidenhead Operatic Society at the Desborough Suite, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead. 7.30pm Tuesday to Friday, 6pm Saturday. A slightly adapted version of Bizet’s opera. Tickets: £15/£14. 01628 671589; mos-uk.org. Thursday November 17 to Saturday November 19. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVOURITES at the Wycombe Swan, St Mary Street, High Wycombe. 10am and 12.30pm. All seats £11. 01494 512000; wycombeswan.co.uk. Friday November 18. LADIES’ PAMPERING AND SHOPPING EVENING at St Nicolas School, Rectory Road, Taplow. 7-10pm. Treatments include live fish pedicure, manicures, facials, reflexology, plus gift stalls. Entry: £2.50. Email janette.a.mackay@googlemail for bookings/info. Daily from Saturday November 19. CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT in Windsor town centre. Pick up the special maps from the Windsor Information Centre in the Old Booking Hall, Royal Station Shopping Centre, and follow the clues. Some great prizes to be won. Deadline for entries: Tuesday December 20. 01753 743900; windsor.gov.uk. Saturday November 19. COMMEMORATING THE THOMAS LAWRENCE BRICKWORKS. Meet at the Chimney Stack, Goddard Way, off Priory Lane, Warfield. 2–3.30pm. Uncover the fascinating heritage of Warfield’s brick-making industry, from Westminster Cathedral to 10 Downing Street. Unveiling of a memorial plaque. 01344 457777; bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parkevents. Saturday November 19. GREAT GRAN’S GREAT GAMES at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 2.30pm. Ollie’s Great Gran has hurt her hip and comes to stay for a while. He thinks she is boring, but then he discovers she swam at the Olympic Games in 1948. All tickets: £7, family (4 people) £25. For ages 4+. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org. Saturday November 19. AUTUMN RAMBLE starting and finishing in Herschel Park, Upton Close, Slough. 10am-1pm. Meet at the car park off Datchet Road. Gentle walk on public footpaths, taking in Datchet golf course, Romney Lock and Eton High Street. 01753 875209; slough.gov.uk. Saturday November 19. BABY AND CHILDREN’S MARKET at Woodlands Park Village Centre, Manifold
Way, Waltham Road, Maidenhead. 2-4pm. Quality nearly new and new baby and children's items from birth to 6 yrs all under one roof. Entry: £1, children free. 07862 214 908; babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk. Sunday November 20.THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor. 2-5.30pm.Variety show featuring the best of young people from Windsor. Music, Dance, Drama and Song. Tickets: £8-£14. 01753 853888; theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk. Tuesday November 21. LADIES’ PAMPER EVENING at White Waltham Primary School, White Waltham, Maidenhead. Tickets £5. 01628 822533 Friday November 25. LADIES’ INDULGENCE EVENING at Fulmer Village Hall, Fulmer Road, Fulmer, Slough. 6.30-10.30pm. 07595 151851; sophia_dobbins@hotmail.co.uk. Saturday November 26. VICTORIAN STYLE CHRISTMAS STOCKING. Workshop for adults at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 10am-4pm. Hand sew a traditional Christmas stocking. Cost: £35. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org. Sunday November 27. SANTA DASH around Swinley Forest, Bracknell. Run or walk 5km around the forest in a free Santa suit. Open for anyone aged 12 and above. Entry fee: £15, includes Santa Suit, a medal and a goody bag. Children aged 5-11 yrs can run along for £2, as Santa’s Little Helpers. Register online at thameshospicecare.org.uk. Saturdays November 26 and December 3. LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOPS at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, and Maidenhead Library, St Ives Road, Maidenhead. Prepare for the lantern parade on Saturday December 10. Watch out for flyer and posters for more information! 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org. Sunday November 27.TREES ARE TREE-MENDOUS WALK at Lily Hill Park, Lily Hill Road, Bracknell. 2-3.30pm. Part of National Tree Week. Guided walk around the park explaining the many benefits of urban trees and help ‘Dress a tree’. 01344 354441; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Sunday November 27. KINGS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA TEDDY CONCERT at St John's Egham, Manor Farm Lane, Egham. 3pm. Concert suitable for all under 10s. “Strictly Teddy” kids’ classics: with music by Debussy, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and James Brown. Adult concert at 7.30pm. 01784 430964; stjohnsegham.com. Sunday November 27. NCT CHILDREN’S MEGA NEARLY NEW SALE at Sir William Ramsay School, Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, High Wycombe. Sale opens at 11.30 (NCT members at 11am) till 12.45pm. Good quality toys, maternity and children’s clothes, buggies, cots and high chairs. Entry: £1. 07005 802033; nct.org.uk.
During weekends and school holidays throughout November and December. PLANETS AND STARS SHOW at the Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. Show times: 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3.15pm. Cost: £1.85 per person. 01344 354400; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Tuesday November 1 to Sunday November 13. MEET THE HOUSEHOLD at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe. 12-2.15pm. Meet Hannah the Housekeeper and John Clark the Butler, and find out about Victorian food and drink. 15-Minute talks at 12, 12.45, 1.30 and 2.15pm. Free, but normal admission applies. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk. Friday November 4 to Sunday November 6.THE HIFF 2011 – HENLEY’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Theme this year: Food in Film. Watch films like Delicatessen, Festen, Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Julie & Julia in an innovative theatre filled with beanbags surrounded by food stalls. Fireworks on Saturday night. DJ and live music every day from 2pm. Tickets: £10 for a single day, £15 for Friday and Saturday, £25 for a 3 day pass. For more details, visit the-hiff.co.uk. Saturday November 5. FAMILY SATURDAY at Windsor Castle. Self-directed art activities in the Moat Education Room: create your own coat of arms, colour in a Castle or create an outfit for Henry VIII. 020 77667304; royalcollection.org.uk. Also on Saturday December 3. Saturday November 5. COMBINED CHARITIES FAIR organised by the Maidenhead Lions Club, at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead. 10.30am-3.30pm. Refreshments. Admission £1, accompanied children free. 07867 900589. Saturday November 5. DIWALI – A TRIUMPH OF LIGHT at South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell. 6pm. A unique cultural experience for everyone, with fireworks, drama, Indian food, music and entertainment for the children, workshops, crafts and dance. Tickets: £20, children (6-14yrs) £5, under 5s free. 01344 484123; southhillpark.org.uk. Saturday November 5 and Sunday November 6. LIVE TUDOR COOKERY at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey. Watch the chefs cook an authentic Tudor meal fit for a king in the kitchens. 0844 4827795; hrp.org.uk. Also on Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4. Sunday November 6. NATURE DETECTIVES: AUTUMN TREES at Runnymede, between Egham and Old Windsor. Guided walk into the woods to see the trees as they prepare themselves for winter. Booking essential. Tickets: adults £5, children £2. 01784 432891; nationaltrust.org.uk. Monday November 7. AN AUTUMN STROLL at the Burnham Beeches, Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common. Guided morning walk through the Beeches, with the trees in full autumn display (hopefully). Booking required. 01753 647358. Tuesday November 8 to Saturday November 12. THE NUTCRACKER at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor. 2.30pm and 7.30pm (no matinee on Tuesday). One of Tchaikovski’s most famous ballets, with the Vienna Festival Ballet Company. Tickets: £11-£33. 01753 853888; theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk. Thursday November 10 to Sunday November 13. HORRIBLE HISTORIES at the Hexagon, Queen’s Walk, Reading. Thursday at 7pm, Friday at 10.30am and 1.30pm, Saturday at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 7pm, Sunday at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm. The Must See Show at the moment, meeting the Awful Egyptians and the Rotten Romans. Tickets: £15.50, under16s £4 off, family of four £48. 0118 9606060; readingarts.com. Saturday November 12. St John the Baptist AUTUMN FAYRE at Cookham Dean Village Hall, Cookham Dean. Doors open at 10am. Activities for the all the family, stalls, raffle, tombola, cakes, refreshments and much more. All proceeds to charity. Saturday November 12. CHILDREN IN NEED FUNDRAISER, St Piran’s School, Maidenhead, 2-3.45pm. The Little Kickers crew have organised a fun event, penalty shoot-outs, competitions, bouncy castle, and more. £1 per family on the door. Call Ben or Emily on 01628 526 584 for more details.
Telephone: 01628 627 586
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
FULMER INFANT SCHOOL
OPEN MORNING Thursday 1st December 9:30-11:30 am
All Welcome Please call to register: 01753 662654 FAMILIES Thames Valley East
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Time Out
Free entry into Savill Garden; daily throughout December
Christmas Tree Robins, Natural History Museum,Tring; December 19 and 20
Windlesham Pram Race; December 26
Monday November 28 to Wednesday November 30. DRESSING HUGHENDEN at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe. 11am-2.30pm. Come and see Hughenden Manor being decorated for Christmas. Daily in December. CHRISTMAS AT HUGHENDEN, High Wycombe. 11am-3pm. Manor decorated especially for Christmas, family activities and gift shop. A FESTIVE TREAT when you visit on December 24, 26 and 27: a glass of mulled cider and a mince pie. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk.
gardens and woodlands in winter dress, concluding with a demonstration of a country craft. Booking essential. Tickets: adults £7, children £3.50 (5-16 years). Meet at the Ormandy Centre. 01628 825517; walthamplace.com. Daily from Saturday December 10 to Monday January 2. WINDSOR ON ICE, ice rink in Alexandra Gardens, Windsor. 9.30am-10pm. Tickets: adults £9.50, children (u16s)£7, families £28; off-peak discounts apply. 01753 743915; windsor.gov.uk. Tuesday December 13. MINCE PIE TRAIL, a ‘Discover the Countryside’ walk with the Bracknell Forest Rangers. Meet at Frost Folly Car Park, Wellers Lane, Warfield. Start at 10.30am. Up to 4 miles (1 ¾ hours) long. For more details, visit bracknell-forest.gov.uk/walking. Friday December 16, Saturday December 17 and Friday December 23. EVENING TOURS OF WINDSOR CASTLE. 6-8.30pm. ‘Behind-the-ropes’ experience in the company of an expert guide. Cost: £55 per person; includes guidebook, glass of champagne and 20% discount in the Royal Collection shop. Booking essential. 020 77667322; royalcollection.org.uk. Saturday December 17. GUIDED NATURE WALKS in Braywick Nature Reserve, Hibbert Road, Maidenhead. 11am-1pm. Wildlife explorations in Braywick Local Nature Reserve. Bring binoculars if you have them. Donations welcome. 01628 777440; rbwm.gov.uk. Friday December 16. SIMA’S CHRISTMAS PARTY at the Magnet Leisure Centre, Maidenhead. 4.30 to 6pm. Loads of fun for under-11s. 90 minutes of structured activity, Karaoke competition, plus a visit from Santa. Also includes a goody bag and prizes. No unaccompanied children. Tickets £7 for first child, £6 for second, £5 for third. To book call the Magnet on 01628 685333. You can contact Sima for more information on 07956993439. Saturday December 17. MAKE A GIANT SNOWMAN SCULPTURE at The Savill Garden, Wick Lane, Englefield Green. Workshop with local artist, Kerry Lemon. 10am-12pm and 2-4pm. Cost: £15 per place (includes parking, one adult and up to 2 children). Limited spaces. Booking essential! 01784 435544; theroyallandscape.co.uk. Saturday December 17. FIR CONE FESTIVE CRAFTS at Hasker House, Woolley Firs, entrance three along Cherry Garden Lane, Maidenhead. 10am-12noon. Make some fir cone Christmas decorations to hang up in your tree. Accompanied children only. Booking essential. 01628 829574; rhiannonharrington@bbowt.org.uk. Sunday December 18 and Wednesday December 21. CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT at Lightwater Country Park, Heathland Visitor Centre, Lightwater. 11am-3pm. Festive fun treasure hunt in the park, plus craft activities. Cost: £3 per child. 01276 707100; surreyheath.gov.uk. Monday December 19 and Tuesday December 20. CHRISTMAS TREE ROBINS at the Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring. 30 Minute workshops making pinecone robins from 10.15am to 2.30pm. Tickets: £1.50, on the day. From Wednesday December 21 to Monday January 2. PICK UP A FINGER PUPPET. Make a cold-weather creature finger puppet. Drop-in between 10am-5pm; from 1pm on New Year’s Day. Free. Whilst there, why not visit the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition? 020 7942 6171; nhm.ac.uk/tring. Monday December 19 to Wednesday December 21. CHRISTMAS FASHION SCHOOL at the The Beaconsfield School, Beaconsfield. Learn how to fashion design and create clothes and accessories. 9am-3.30pm. 6-14 years. £27 per day or £75 for the week. 07980 706574; Ifashiondesign.co.uk Tuesday December 20. SCROOGE-IN-A-DAY at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor. 9am onwards, 4pm presentation in the Circle Bar. For ages 5-16 years. One-day course based on the classic Christmas story ‘Scrooge’. A mini-performance at 4pm for family and friends. Cost: £40. 01753 863444; theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk.
Tuesday December 20 and Wednesday December 21. CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM, River and Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley. Tuesday: Ding Dong and Jingle! Christmas Bells, workshops at 10.30am-12.30pm (ages 4-7) and 2-4pm (ages 7-11). The history of bell making in Henley plus crafts. £8.50. Booking essential. Christmas with Mr Toad and Friends, family day. 10.30am-3.30pm. With crafts, activities, song, dance and presents. Find out what happens to wildlife in the winter. Most suitable for under 10s. Cost: museum admission + £3 per child. 01491 415600. Wednesday December 21. WILD ONES: WINTER WONDERS at Westmorland Park, Westmorland Drive, Warfield. 2-4pm. Craft activities celebrating the winter solstice. Make a lantern and miniature Chinese sampan (canoe). Plus a short walk to the lake to try out the boats with a cargo of candles. For ages 5+. Cost: £3.50 for materials. Booking required. 01344 354441; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Thursday December 22. CHILDREN’S WOLF WALK at the UK Wolf Centre, Butlers Farm, Beenham, near Reading. 11am-1pm. Cost: £13 per person, ages 6+. CHRISTMAS CRACKER WOLF WALK at 1-3pm. Help wrap the wolves’ Christmas treats. See how long it takes them to unwrap and eat their special presents. Cost: £15 per person, ages 6+. Booking essential. 0118 9713 330; ukwct.org.uk. Thursday December 22 and Friday December 23. VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS at Windsor Castle. 11am-3pm. Follow a special trail to discover how Queen Victoria and her family celebrated Christmas at Windsor Castle. With crafts in the Moat Room: design your own Victorian Christmas decorations and Christmas crackers. 0207 766 7304; royalcollection.org. Thursday December 22. WINTER HOLIDAY – SNOWMAN HUNT AND HAT MAKING in Herschel Park (formerly Upton Park), Upton Close, off Albert Street, Slough. 11am-3pm. Snowman ‘treasure’ hunt round the park, starting at the Bentley Education Centre. Arts and crafts available in the Centre. 01753 875209; slough.gov.uk. Boxing Day Monday December 26. WINDLESHAM PRAM RACE in Windlesham town centre. Teams in fancy dress start at noon in Chertsey Road at the Linde Group and finish at the Windlesham Theatre, Kennel Lane, visiting lots of pubs along the way. Enter a team or watch from the sidelines. 01276 21908; pramrace.com. Tuesday December 27 to Monday January 2. HENRY VIII’S CHRISTMAS at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey. Witness the preparations for Christmas at the time of Henry VIII and his new wife Catherine Howard. With songs, stories, music and dance - and the king’s fool. 0844 4827795; hrp.org.uk. Monday December 27 and Tuesday December 28. MINCE PIE SPECIALS at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury. 10am-5.30pm. No need to book. With children's magic show, steam train rides, Punch & Judy, seasonal refreshments, shop & museum. 01296 655720; bucksrailcentre.org. Tuesday December 27, Saturday December 31 and Monday January 2. MINCE PIE SPECIALS at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor. No need to book. Trains at 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm and 3pm. Tickets: adults £9, children £4.50, under 3s free. 01844 353535; chinnorrailway.co.uk. Monday January 2. SUNNINGHILL WHEELBARROW RACE in Sunninghill, organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot. Start at noon from School Road car park. Teams in fancy dress compete to complete a course through the village centre. 01344 627197; rotaryascot.org. Wednesday January 4 and Thursday January 5. TODDLER DAYS: DINOSAURS at the Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. For parents and their toddlers. Tickets: £6.20 per parent and toddler, £1.40 for each additional toddler (up to 3). 01344 354400; bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk
DECEMBER
Daily throughout December. FREE ENTRY to the SAVILL GARDEN, Wick Lane, Englefield Green. 10am-4.30pm. Car parking charges still apply. The Garden will be closed on 24 and 25 December, but open again on Boxing Day (shop will be closed). 01784 435544. theroyallandscape.co.uk Every weekend in December. CHRISTMAS PUPPET WORLD at Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Common. Visit Santa and then watch the puppet shows with giant puppets, merry sing-alongs and yuletide stories at no extra cost. 01628 520188; oddsfarm.co.uk. Thursday December 1 to Friday December 23. CHRISTMAS COIN HUNT at the REME Museum of Technology, Isaac Newton Road, Arborfield. 11am-3.30pm. Hunt for coins and tinsel around the REME Museum. Quiz sheet (30p) and prize draw. Also from Sunday December 11 to Friday December 23. CHRISTMAS CRAFTS: Make a lantern, design and make a Christmas card to send to a Soldier and make a rosette. 01189 763254; rememuseum.org.uk. Saturday December 3. FAMILY SATURDAY at Windsor Castle. Self-directed art activities in the Moat Education Room. 020 77667304; royalcollection.org.uk. Thursday December 1. OPEN DAY at Fulmer Infant's School. 9.30 to 11.30am, please call the school to register: 01753 662 654. Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4. LIVE TUDOR COOKERY at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey. Live Tudor cooking in the kitchens. Don’t forget the popular Hampton Court Ice Rink which opened on Saturday November 26 and will be open till Sunday January 8. 0844 4827795; hrp.org.uk. Also on Tuesday December 27 to Monday January 2. Sunday December 4. SANTA’S FUN RUN in Higginson Park, Marlow. Park opens at 9am, 10am start. 5km (3 mile) course starts and finishes in Higginson Park, Marlow. Entry: £13 per adult, £10 per teenager (age 12 to 17), £5 per child (age 5 to 11). Fancy dress for children encouraged! Register online on santasfunrun.org. Sunday December 4. THE MAGIC OF HEATHLAND at Wildmoor Heath, Crowthorne Road, Crowthorne. 11am–2pm. Try your hand at harvesting birch trees, enjoy a bonfire and possibly take home your own Christmas tree. Suitable for all. Booking required. 01344 354441; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Sunday December 4. FAMILY FESTIVE FUN at the Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe. 2-4pm. Fun puzzles to solve, seasonal crafts to try and a few suprises too. Free, drop-in events. 01494 421895; wycombe.gov.uk/museum. Wednesday December 7 and Thursday December 8. TODDLER DAYS: FAIRY TALES, (PLUS A VISIT FROM SANTA) at the Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. For parents and their toddlers. Tickets: £6.20 per parent and toddler, £1.40 for each additional toddler (up to 3). To see Santa in his grotto: £4 extra per child). 01344 354400; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Saturday December 10. WINTER BIRD WALK in Herschel Park, Upton Close, Slough. 10am-12noon. Join a local naturalist looking for overwintering birds in the park. Also: CHRISTMAS FLORAL DECORATIONS workshop in the Bentley Education Centre, 11am-1pm. Booking essential. 01753 875209; slough.gov.uk. Saturday December 10. FESTIVE WALK at Waltham Place Farm, Church Hill, White Waltham. Walks start at 2pm and include refreshments. Enjoy the farm,
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All about fun! The ultimate experience in children’s entertainment for 2-13 years Interactive party games Hi-energy action rhymes Multi-coloured parachute Assault course Mini indoor football Limbo dancing Fairies and pirates dressing-up adventure Sweets, stickers and prizes galore! Disco parties Going Home Presents
For further information contact Maxine Tel: 020 8573 6288 Mob: 07814 605175 www.chuckleparties.co.uk
Blossom Ballet
For a FREE taster class or for further information please contact Lucy: 07813084283 lucy@blossomballet.com www.blossomballet.com
Blossom Ballet Pre-school dance school for boys and girls aged 18 months - 5 years
Blossom Ballet and its syllabi were created specifically for babies, toddlers and young children.
Blossom Ballet offers a new way to learn through exciting movement classes derived from imaginative play. Inspirational pictures, props and instruments are used but most importantly, Blossom Ballet is about having lots of fun and making new friends. Classes throughout the week, including weekends, in Windsor, Birch Hill and Maidenhead. Mini Street Dance (4-6 years) NEW in WIndsor
Telephone: 01628 627 586
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
FAMILIES Thames Valley East
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★★★★★★★★★★★★ Bouncy Castle Hire A Family Business based in Wooburn Green, Bucks.
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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk
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Compiled by Trynke Casale
Miki, Norden Farm; November 29-31
Christmas Time Out
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Novello Theatre, Sunninghill; December 9 – January 14
Cinderella, Wycombe Swan; December 10 – January 8
PANTOMIMES & CHRISTMAS SHOWS MIKI at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, from Tuesday November 29 to Saturday December 31. Miki, Polar Bear and Penguin embark on a magical adventure in search of a star. Suitable for ages 3+. Tickets: adults £11, under 16s £9, family (4 people) £35. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org. THE LION,THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE at the Novello Theatre, High Street, Sunninghill, Ascot, from Friday December 9 to Saturday January 14. Journey to the magical land of Narnia, a child-friendly musical show ideal for all the family. Tickets: children £15.50, adults £17.50; group discounts available. 01344 620881. THE LAZY ELF at the Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB, from Saturday December 10 to Thursday December 22. Ben Hanson from Tracey Beaker’ plays the Lazy Elf in this spectacular production from the locally based Jam Theatre Company. Tickets: £14, Family £48 (2 adults, 2 kids). Tickets include a free small gift for kids. 0207 907 7092. TheLazyElf.co.uk TREASURE ISLAND, The Maidenhead Pantomime, from Wednesday December 14 to Sunday December 18 at the Desborough Suite, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead. Performances at 7.30pm (weekdays), Saturday at 1.30am and 2.30pm, Sunday at 12pm and 4pm. Tickets: adults £9, children £7. Box office: 07900 863699; maidenhead-drama.co.uk. CINDERELLA at South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, from Tuesday November 29 to Sunday January 1. Tickets: adults £15/£14, concessions £12/£11, family (2+2) £52/£48. 01344 484123; southhillpark.org.uk. THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK by the Stoke Poges Players at the Village Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, from Thursday December 1 to Saturday December 3. 7.30pm, matinee on Saturday at 2pm. Traditional panto with a bad-tempered fairy, a good witch, a wicked Baron, his two henchmen and lots of others. Tickets: adults £8, children £6, family £18. 01753 677032. SCROOGE, by the Riverside Players, at the Memorial Hall, Straight Road, Old Windsor, from Thursday December 1 to Saturday December 3 and from Thursday December 8 to Saturday December 10. 8pm, 2.30pm matinee on Saturdays. Traditional pantomime. Tickets: adults £9, children £5. 07717 671765; riversideplayers.com. CINDERELLA at the Camberley Theatre, Knoll Road, Camberley, from Wednesday December 7 to Sunday January 2. With Louisa Lytton, star of
Telephone: 01628 627 586
Eastenders and The Bill, as Cinderella. Tickets: adults £17.95, concessions £15.95, family of six £94.50. 01276 707600; camberleytheatre.biz. SLEEPING BEAUTY at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor, from Wednesday December 7 to Sunday January 8. Traditional family panto with Tony Christie and Britt Ekland. Matinee and evening performances. Tickets: £11-£33. 01753 853888; theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk. CAST CHRISTMAS SHOW by the Colnbrook Amateur Stage Theatre at Colnbrook Village Hall, Vicarage Way, Colnbrook, on Friday December 9 and Saturday December 10. An evening of seasonal songs and sketches to get you into the Christmas mood. 07894 579177; cast-online.org.uk. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ON ICE at the Bracknell Ice Rink, John Nike Way, Bracknell, from Friday December 9 to Sunday December 11. Traditional family panto, set in a winter wonderland. Tickets: adults £10.99/£12.99, children £8.15/£8.95, family £31/£36. 01344 789000; jnlbracknell.co.uk. CINDERELLA at the Wycombe Swan, St Mary Street, High Wycombe, from Saturday December 10 to Sunday January 8. With Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather) as the Fairy Godmother and Matt Slack as Buttons. Tickets: £16-£27. 01494 512000; wycombeswan.co.uk. ALADDIN at the Hexagon, Queen’s Walk, Reading, from Saturday December 10 to Sunday January 8. With Justin Fletcher (Mister Tumble) as Wishee Washee. Tickets: £17, opening weekend £13, discounts for groups. 0118 9606060; readingarts.com. THE SNOW QUEEN, by Ballet Theatre UK, at the Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley, on Sunday December 11, at 2.30pm and 6pm. Beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. Tickets: £15-£16. 01491 575698; kentontheatre.co.uk. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, Slough Ice Arena’s annual Christmas Show on Tuesday December 13 to Thursday December 15. At Absolutely Ice, Montem Road, Slough. 7.30pm. Tickets: adults £10, children £8, official programme in advance £1, £2 on the day. 01753 894810; sloughleisure.com. DICK WHITTINGTON at the Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, Hillingdon, from Wednesday December 14 to Thursday December 29. With Josh Barry (Britain’s Got Talent 2010). Tickets: adults £13.50, children £9.50, family £40. 01895 673200; compasstheatre.co.uk. THE VERY SNOWY CHRISTMAS at the Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley, on Wednesday
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December 14 at 11am and 2pm. Based on the book by Diana Hendry.With live music, beautiful puppets and a snowy set. Suitable for ages 3–7.Tickets: all seats £8. 01491 575698; kentontheatre.co.uk. PINOCCHIO at the Firestation Arts Centre, St Leonards Road, Windsor, on Thursday December 15, at 4.30pm. A special Christmas show for kids, inventive theatre, with a sense of humour and a modern edge. For ages 5-12. Tickets: adults £8, children £5. 01753 866865; firestationartscentre.com. ALADDIN at the Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, from Saturday December 17 to Sunday January 8. Starring Mark Jones as Wishee Washee. Tickets: £17.50-£21, children £2 off, group discounts apply. Family tickets: £65. 020 8561 8371; becktheatre.org.uk. JUNGLE BOOK at the Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley, from Wednesday December 21 to Saturday December 24. Rudyard Kipling’s classic story brought to life with songs, puppetry and movement. For ages 5+. Tickets: all seats £12. 01491 575698; kentontheatre.co.uk. CINDERELLA by the Quince Players at the Cordes Hall, High Street, Sunninghill, from January 12-15 and 18-21. Book tickets online, via Sapphire Estate Agents, High Street, Sunninghill, or by phone, one month prior to opening night. 01344 874200; quinceplayers.co.uk. DICK WHITTINGTON by the Richings Players at Iver Village Hall from Wednesday January 25 to Saturday January 28. Box office (opens in November) 01753 651876; richingsplayers.com
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South Hill Park Craft & Design Fair; November 19 & 20
Burnham Arts & Crafts Fair; November 19 & 20
Windsor Emporium; December 4
CHRISTMAS MARKETS, BAZAARS AND FAIRS Throughout November and December. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING at The Savill Garden, Wick Lane, Englefield Green. New Christmas range available, lots of gifts, decorations and stocking fillers for all the family. 01784 435544; theroyallandscape.co.uk. Friday November 4. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CRAFT AND GIFT FAYRE in the Pavilion at Ascot Racecourse. 9.30am-3pm. Organised by the American Women of Berkshire and Surrey. Entry: £2, children free. For more details, visit awbs.org.uk. Sunday November 6. WINDSOR EMPORIUM, on the first floor of the Guildhall in Windsor High Street. Arts, crafts and antiques fair, perfect for Christmas shopping, 10am to 4pm. Free Entry. Windsoremporium.co.uk Thursday November 10. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING at Winkfield St Mary’s Primary School, Winkfield Row, Bracknell. 7-10pm. Gifts for all ages, crafts, Christmas decorations. Entry: £5 (includes a glass of wine and a goody bag). 07795 184922. Tickets available on the door. Thursday November 17. CHRISTMAS FAIR at Sir William Borlase Grammar School, West Street, Marlow. 4-8pm. Christmas market with individual, independent stallholders selling unusual crafts and gifts, and rollerskating for the children. swbgs.com. Friday November 18 and Saturday November 19. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING VILLAGE at Ascot Racecourse. Gates open at 10.45am. Tickets: £12 or £22, under 18s free. 0870 727 1234; ascot.co.uk. Saturday November 19. CHRISTMAS FAYRE at the Institute of Marketing, Moor Hall, Cookham village. 11am-4pm. Gifts galore, Father Christmas, Children’s games, refreshments, free entrance and free parking. 01628 427500; cookhamfayre.co.uk. Saturday November 19. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR at the Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green. 10.30am. 01628 636715; coxgreencommunitycentre.org.uk. Saturday November 19. ST MARK’S CHRISTMAS BAZAAR at St Mark’s Crescent Methodist Church, Maidenhead. 10am-12noon. Traditional bazaar. 01628 623263; stmarksmaidenhead.org.uk. Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20. SOUTH HILL PARK CRAFT AND DESIGN FAIR in the Wilde Theatre at South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell. Handmade crafts, and taster sessions. Tickets on the day: adults £5, under 10s free, family £10. 01344 484123; southhillpark.org.uk. Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20. BURNHAM ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR at Burnham Grammar School, Hogfair Lane,Burnham. 10am-4pm. Local artists, lots of craft stalls, refreshments. 01628 604812; burnhamartsandcraftsfair.weebly.com. Sunday November 20. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BAZAAR by the Chilterns American Women’s Club at the Bellhouse Hotel, Oxford Road, Beaconsfield. 10am-3pm. www.cawc.co.uk. Thursday November 24. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING at Farnham Common Infant School, Beaconsfield Road, Farnham Common. 8–10pm. Gifts for all the family, arts and crafts, food and drink. Entry: £2 on the door (includes a drink). For further details email: friendsoffcis@gmail.com.
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Thursday November 24 to Sunday November 27.THE CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS FAIR on Obelisk Lawn, next to The Savill Garden, Wick Lane, Englefield Green. 9am-5pm, till 4pm on Sunday. Tickets in advance: adults £3, children free. On the day: £4. Each ticket gives two days entrance. 01428 684494; ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk. Saturday November 26. CHRISTMAS MARKET at Farnham Common Junior School, Sherbourne Walk, Farnham Common. 1.30-4.30pm. Craft stalls, kids face painting and nail painting, books, home-made food, Christmas wreaths, and gifts for all the family. Entry: £2 (includes mulled wine). For further details email: fcjs-pta@hotmail.com. Saturday November 26. CHRISTMAS POP UP SHOP with the Craft Coop, in the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead. 10am-4pm. On the day of Maidenhead’s Christmas lights switch-on, pick up a few stocking fillers or very special gifts. Craftcoop.co.uk. Saturday November 26. CHRISTMAS FAIR at the Alwyn and Courthouse School, Blenheim Road, Maidenhead. 12-3pm. 01628 626958; courthousejunior.co.uk. Sunday November 27. PRE-CHRISTMAS SALE FAIR in Fulmer Village Hall, Fulmer Road, Fulmer, Slough. 1.30-4.30pm. 07595 151851; sophia_dobbins@hotmail.co.uk. Saturday December 3. ART ON THE STREET in the High Street, Maidenhead. 10am-4pm. Outdoor fine-art market, with live music, creative workshops and a dedicated room of ceramics. Artonthestreet.com. Saturday December 3. CHRISTMAS FAIR and SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA, Cranbourne Primary School, Lovel Road, winkfield. 11am-2pm. Tombolas, Raffle, children’s rides and games, gift stalls, Santa’s Grotto and Workshop, Christmas trees, refreshments. Saturday December 3. CHRISTMAS ARTISAN FAIR at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 11am-4pm. Arts and crafts stalls and seasonal refreshments. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org. Saturday December 3.WINDSOR CHRISTMAS FARMERS MARKET in St Leonard’s Road, Windsor. 9am-1pm. Sunday December 4. WINDSOR EMPORIUM, on the first floor of the Guildhall in Windsor High Street. Arts, crafts and antiques fair, perfect for Christmas shopping, 10am to 4pm. Free Entry. Windsoremporium.co.uk Tuesday December 6. CRAFT COOP AND HAPPY CAKES CHRISTMAS FAIR at the Parish Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Churchgate, Cookham. 6-9pm. Bigger location, more stallholders. Lots of one-of-a-kind gifts, treats and clothes. Free entry. Craftcoop.co.uk. Saturday December 10. Friends of Iver Schools Association CHRISTMAS FAIR at Iver Village Infant School, Grange Way, Iver, Bucks. 1-4pm. Refreshments, handicrafts, FISA Christmas gifts, Santa’s Grotto, bric-a-brac, toys, books, plus lots more. Entry: adults 50p, under 12s free, over 12s 20p. Thursday December 22. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MARKET in the High Street, Maidenhead. 9am-4pm. With traders from the Maidenhead Farmers’ Market and Produce Market. 01628 670272.
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Victorian Street Fair, Sunninghill; November 20
Burnham Christmas Parade; December 8
Festivo, St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle; December 15
CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERTS, VILLAGE AND TOWN CENTRE LIGHTS SWITCH-ONS Thursday November 17. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON Celebrations in High Wycombe town centre. Saturday November 19. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON AND LANTERN PROCESSION on Castle Hill, Windsor, from 3.30pm. Sunday November 20. SUNNINGHILL VICTORIAN STREET FAYRE in the High Street, Sunninghill. The High Street will be closed from about 12noon till 5pm. Everything you need for Christmas: lots of stalls, entertainment, children’s activities, Santa’s grotto, food and drink, and an ice rink. Thursday November 24. ETON TOWN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON, in Eton Town Square, from 6pm. Saturday November 26. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS CEREMONY in Iver High Street. Saturday November 26. LIGHTS SWITCH-ON EVENTS at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, and the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead. Music, fireworks and fun in the town centre. From 6pm at the Town Hall with fireworks finale. Market on the High Street and Christmas Pop-Up shop during the day. For more details, visit enjoymaidenhead.com. Saturday November 26 and Sunday November 27. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON in Bracknell Town Centre. Santa Arrives In Bracknell on Saturday and will be in his grotto for the weekend. Entertainment throughout the weekend, with the lights switch-on on Sunday by a celebrity guest. Check www.bracknell.com for more details. Friday December 2. SUNNINGDALE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION in Sunningdale village centre. Singing, dancing, lights switch-on by a celebrity and shops open. From 6pm. 01344 874268; sunningdale-pc.org.uk. Saturday December 3. REINDEER PARADE in Windsor Town Centre from 2pm. Saturday December 3. CHRISTMAS CONCERT at St Mary’s Church, Winkfield. 7.30pm. A concert of Voices, Bells and Instruments at Christmas, with the Cameo Singers. Thursday December 8. CHRISTMAS ORATORIO at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. With the Choir of
WINDSOR MONTESSORI SCHOOL “Staff ensure they have an exceptional knowledge and understanding of each child’s individual needs. This is achieved through the superior partnership with parents.” 8.30am to 4pm – 6 months to 8 years Pre Parent Infant and toddler sessions 01753 868399 / menik@windsor-montessori.com www.windsormontessori.co.uk HOME PARK, WINDSOR, SL4 6HX
Telephone: 01628 627 586
tree lights, mulled wine and mince pies. Accompanied by Salvation Army and local School Choir. 01628 667311. Sunday December 11. CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERTS with the Cantorum Choir at St John the Baptist Church, Cookham Dean. 3pm and 8pm. 01628 525371; cantorumchoir.org.uk. Friday December 16. CAROLS ON THE HILL on Castle Hill, Windsor. An evening of carols in front of the castle. With the Band of the Blues and Royals. From 6pm Saturday December 17. CAROL EVENING at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor Station, Chinnor. Evening of traditional Christmas carols. Train departs at 7pm. Tickets: adults £9, children £4.50, under 3s free. 01844 353535; chinnorrailway.co.uk. Saturday December 17. CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT with the Marlow Choral Society at the Shelley Theatre, Court Gardens, Marlow. 7.30pm. Saturday December 17. CAROLS AND MORE, a concert with Egham Choral at St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Road, Egham Hythe. 7.30-9.30pm.Vivaldi’s Gloria, carols from around England, and favourite audience carols. 01784 454491; eghamchoral.org. Sunday December 18. WINTERLIGHT, celebrating the coming of Christmas and the winter solstice, at the Burnham Beeches, Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common. Carols at 2pm and 3pm, mince pies, a nativity play and evening lantern procession to the Iron Age Hill fort. 01753 647358; cityoflondon.gov.uk. Sunday December 18. FAMILY CAROLS with the Windsor and Eton Choral Society at Eton College School Hall. 2.45pm. Tickets on sale from November. 01628 528041; w-ecs.org.uk. Monday December 19. CAROLS ON THE CAUSEWAY in Marlow. Communal carol singing in the evening around the town Christmas tree, with choir, Father Christmas in his grotto, warm drinks and food. Thursday December 15. FESTIVO at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. 7.30-9.20pm (doors open at 6.30pm). Conducted by Timothy Byram Wigfield and introduced by Sky News’ Martin Stanford, with the St George’s Choir and Staines Brass. For tickets, please contact 01753 848869; stgeorges-windsor.org
St George’s Chapel and Charivari Agréable Simfonie. 7.30-10.30pm (doors open at 6.30pm). For tickets, please contact 01753 848869; stgeorges-windsor.org Thursday December 8. CHRISTMAS FAYRE AND CHILDREN’S PARADE in Burnham High Street. High Street closed closed from 5pm – 9pm, Fayre open from 5.30pm. Parade at 7pm from St Peters Church, with about 120 children and artists. Thursday December 8. MARLOW LATE NIGHT SHOPPING EVENING in the High Street, Marlow. High Street closed off from 4-9pm, with events starting at 6pm. Shops open, stalls on the street, lights switch-on, carol singing, fun and music. Friday December 9. BOURNE END FUN NIGHT at the Parade, Bourne End. Shops open, Christmas lights, Father Christmas, stalls and entertainment. From 5pm. 01628 522604. Saturday December 10. CAROLS ON THE GREEN in Farnham Common. Open air concert, starting at 5pm. With Pop Goes the Choir. Saturday December 10. NORDEN FARM’S NOISY LANTERN PARADE in Maidenhead Town Centre. Workshops in the Nicholson Centre to make lanterns using hazel and willow with artist Kate Hadley during the day; Parade starts at 5pm from the Nicholson Centre with music and dancing. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org Also REINDEER AND LANTERN PARADE in Maidenhead Town Centre. For more details, visit www.enjoymaidenhead.com. Saturday December 10. CAROLS ON THE GREEN in Stoke Poges. 6-10pm. With carols, switching-on of the lights on the tree, Santa’s grotto (receiving visits 6.15-7pm), Father Christmas parade around the village (7-8pm), brass band (8-9pm), mince pies and mulled wine. Plus a Christmas craft market from 6-10pm. Stokepogesparishcouncil.gov.uk. Saturday December 10.TAPLOW YOUTH CHOIR sings at Windsor Methodist Church, Alma Road, Windsor. 7.30pm. Raising funds for the Thames Valley Adventure Playground. Tickets: £10, under 16s £8. 01628 628051; tvap.co.uk. Saturday December 10. CAROLS ON THE GREEN, the village green, Taplow. 5-7.30pm. Christmas
GYMTOTS! PRE-SCHOOL GYMNASTICS
FUN + SAFE + CHALLENGING Classes for Children walking to 3 years plus. Enjoy participating with your child in our safe indoor environment with its exciting up-to-date play equpment, based within the Altwood School, Maidenhead. Every day at 10am from Wednesday to Saturday. Our programme has been developed through more than 26 years’ experience with young children and their parents. Gymtots will enable your child to gain confidence by expanding their physical ability, coordination and social skills, with your involvement and under the guidance of our experienced staff. Our advanced class for 3 to 4 years plus, without parent participation, on Wednesdays at 3pm, is more structured and builds upon the earlier classes. Telephone
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
07 957 223 124 for details FAMILIES Thames Valley East
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Reindeer parades in Windsor and Maidenhead; December
Santa at Ascot; December 11 Photo courtesy Ascot Racecourse
Meet Santa and Thomas as Didcott Railway Centre; weekends in December
MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS Around and about … At the Dorney Court Kitchen Garden, Dorney, on Saturday December 3 when he arrives in style. He will then be in his grotto on Sunday December 4, and every weekend till December 18. Book a special BREAKFAST WITH SANTA on Saturday December 24. 01628 669999; dckg.co.uk. ... In his grotto at ODDS FARM PARK, Wooburn Common Road,Wooburn Common, during every weekend in December and daily from Monday December 19 to Saturday December 24. Free visit to Santa for every full paying child, including a toy and chocolate treat, otherwise £2. 01628 520188; oddsfarm.co.uk. …In his grotto at ASCOT RACECOURSE, on their Family Race Day on Sunday December 17. Gates open for the raceday at 10.45am with the last race starting at 3.40pm. Gifts on a first come first served basis. Other attractions include: fairground rides, ice rink and Santa’s reindeer. Storytelling in the Bandstand; Christmas carols after the last race.Tickets: under 18s free, adults: from £17 on the day. 0870 727 1234; ascot.co.uk. ... At THE SAVILL GARDEN, Wick Lane, Englefield Green, during weekends in December (3/4, 10/11 and 17/18). Booking essential. For more details, contact The Royal Landscape on 01753 860222; theroyallandscape.co.uk. ... At CLIVEDEN on Sundays December 4, 11 and 18 from 10am to 3.30pm.With a family fun trail, and carol singing on the Piazza. Free activities but visit to Father Christmas £4 per child (includes a gift). Carol singing on the Piazza next to the Gift Shop, with warm mulled wine and other seasonal refreshments from 2.30-3.30pm. 01628 605069; nationaltrust.org.uk. ... During breakfast at Cafe Rouge or the HA HA Bar & Grill in WINDSOR ROYAL SHOPPING CENTRE in weekends in December (3/4, 10/11, 17/18) as well as Thursday December 22 to Saturday December 24. Santa’s visit is free of charge, but £5 deposit required which will be deducted from the food bill on the day. Booking essential, visit windsorroyalshopping.co.uk for more details. … In his WINTER WONDERLAND at the Rainbow Pre-School, Duffield Lane, Stoke Poges, on Wednesday December 14. 10.45am-2pm. Activities and treasure hunt finding Father Christmas, gifts for all children and a photograph with Santa himself. Entry fee to be confirmed. Other activities with small charge (tombola, raffle, decorate a biscuit, refreshments etc.). Tickets: only in advance via 01753 647572; stokepogesrainbow@hotmail.co.uk.
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... At HUGHENDEN MANOR, High Wycombe, where Father Christmas will be in his grotto every weekend in December before Christmas. 11am-3pm. No need to book but arrive early to avoid disappointment. Cost: £6 per child. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk. ... In his crystal grotto at PAINSHILL PARK, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, from Saturday December 3 to Saturday December 24. Visit the Wishing Tent, with craft activities and helpful elves. Booking essential. 01932 868113; painshill.co.uk. ... In his grotto during the special Toddler Days at the LOOK OUT DISCOVERY CENTRE, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, on Wednesday December 7 and Thursday December 8. For parents and their toddlers.Tickets: £6.20 per parent and toddler, £1.40 for each additional toddler (up to 3).To see Santa in his grotto: £4 extra per child. 01344 354400; bracknell-forest.gov.uk. ... In his natural woodland wildlife grotto in CALIFORNIA COUNTRY PARK, Nine Mile Ride,Wokingham, from Monday December 12 to Sunday December 18. Santa will be there between 1-3pm. All ages welcome, cost: £4 per child. No need to book. 0118 9735519; wokingham.gov.uk. ... In his Winter Wonderland Grotto at BIRDWORLD, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey, from Saturday December 3 to Christmas Eve. 10.30am-4.30pm. Meet the farm animals and Santa’s elves. Booking essential. 01420 22140; birdworld.co.uk.
In garden centres ...In his grotto at Toad Hall Garden Centre, Marlow Road, Henley, during weekends from the end of November through to Christmas Eve. Small charge to see Father Christmas, gifts for the children. Run by the Henley Lions Club. 01491 574615; toadhallgardencentre.co.uk. ...For Breakfast and Tea with Santa, at Marlow’s Wyevale Garden Centre, Pump Lane South, Marlow. Booking required. Every weekend in December, from Saturday November 26, when Santa arrives. (Outdoor event with shire horses on the day). 01628 482716; wyevale.co.uk/marlow. ...on his arrival at Squires Garden Centre, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, on board a fire engine on Saturday November 26, and then every weekend in December till Sunday December 18. Father Christmas will be in his grotto from 10am-1pm and from 2-4pm. Book a TEA WITH SANTA in
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
the restaurant, on Saturdays only. Late night shopping evening on Thursday December 1. 01753 865076. … At Stubbings Nursery and (new) Cafe, Henley Road, Maidenhead. Father Christmas will arrive by helicopter on Saturday December 3. Free gifts for all children present! Display of this year’s Christmas trees starting in the weekend of November 26/27. Free mulled wine for customers on Saturday and Sunday. 01628 825 454; stubbingsnursery.co.uk.
On the railways ... At the BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury. DAYS OUT WITH THOMAS on the weekends of December 3/4 and 10/11. Tickets: adults £14, children £13, babe in arms (no present) £2. SANTA’S MAGICAL ADVENTURE on Saturday December 17, Sunday December 18 and Saturday December 24. Santa’s Train rides between 10.25am-4pm.Tickets: adults £13, children £12, babe in arms £2 (no present).Tickets include train ride and live magic show. 01296 655720; bucksrailcentre.org. ... At the CHINNOR AND PRINCES RISBOROUGH RAILWAY, Chinnor Station, during weekends in December (3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 & 24). All children receive a present from Father Christmas and adults receive seasonal refreshments. Seats bookable in advance.Tickets: adults £10, children £9. 01844 353535; chinnorrailway.co.uk. ... At the CHOLSEY AND WALLINGFORD RAILWAY, Wallingford Station, Hithercroft Road,Wallingford, during weekends in December (3/ 4, 10/11, 17/18). Presents for each child up to 8. No need to bookjust turn up on the day. 01491 835067; cholsey-wallingford-railway.com. ... At the DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE, Didcot Parkway Station, Didcot, every weekend in December before Christmas, as well as Wednesday and Thursday December 21 and 22. Rides with THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE and his friends, children’s entertainment, visit Father Christmas in his grotto and presents for the children. All tickets £10. Booking line: 08444 771000; didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.
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Great Competitions from WIN tickets to ODDS FARM this Christmas
Santa is coming to Odds Farm Park and to celebrate we have two sets of Entry Tickets for two Adults and two Children to give away! For just £3 extra, every weekend from December 3 and daily from December 19-24, children can visit Santa in his Magical Grotto and receive a Fantastic Gift! Plus, every day from December 3-24, children can also choose a free chocolate treat from the Christmas Tree in the Gift Shop! There are Christmas themed Puppet Shows every weekend from December 3-18, featuring giant puppets called Robby the Reindeer, Mrs Christmas and even Santa himself. Plus, a Giant New Playbarn opens December 17. Say hello to all the Furry Friends and enjoy the Christmas fun at Odds Farm Park! For more information visit www.oddsfarm.co.uk or call 01628 520188. TO ENTER just visit www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions. Closing date December 5.
WIN a Family Day out at ASCOT RACECOURSE
WIN a family ticket to NORDEN FARM’s Christmas Show We have one family ticket to give away for this year’s Christmas show at Norden Farm, Miki is based on the book by Stephen Mackey. Miki, Polar Bear and Penguin live in a very far away place. It’s an icy world where nothing ever grows. One midwinter eve, they make a wish, and Miki embarks on a magical adventure…in search of a star. Miki is an inspiring story about friendship, courage and adventure. It features amazing underwater creatures, songs to sing along to and extraordinary puppetry. Miki is created by Slot Machine, the company that brought you last year’s smash hit Christmas show, One Snowy Night. The family show will run from November 29 to December 31 and is suitable for 3+ years. Tickets are £11, £9 under-16s, £9 Groups and £35 Family (4 people). To book call 01628 788997. www.nordenfarm.org TO ENTER go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions. Closing Date November 20.
WIN tickets to see STICK MAN in London
Start your Christmas celebrations at Ascot’s Christmas Meeting, a family raceday on Saturday December 17. The whole family can join in the free festive entertainment. Skate on the Ascot ice rink, ride fairground attractions, experience Christmas tales and even meet Santa’s reindeer! Plus, Father Christmas will be on hand to greet every child with a gift (subject to availability). Then end the day with a Christmas carol concert. Under 18’s go free and adult tickets cost from £17 for a Grandstand ticket. We have 3 Family tickets worth £34 to win in this great competition. If you are not one of our lucky winners, visit www.ascot.co.uk or call 0870 727 1234 and quote FAMILIESTV to receive a discount on your tickets. TO ENTER just visit www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions. Closing date December 5.
We have two sets of family tickets (two adults, two children) for Stick Man, at Leicester Square Theatre in London, during the first week of December. The show is from the book by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and stick children three, but when he leaves the family tree a dog wants to play with him, a bird tries to build a nest with him and he even gets set on fire! Will he ever make it back to the family tree? Using puppetry, songs and live music. The production is a collaboration between Watford Palace Theatre and Scamp Productions, who are well known for their children’s shows. The family show will run from November 22 to January 7 and is suitable for 3+ years. Tickets are £12.50 and £40 Family (4 people). To book call 08448 733433 Go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions TO ENTER now. Closing Date November 20.
Don't forget to turn to page 32 for your chance to win a prize worth £1,000! Little Red Hen Day Nurseries Ltd Grove Park White Waltham
Nurturing, homely, calm yet stimulating and structured environment for children aged 3 months – 5 years. Good quality healthy meals Dedicated sleep room Large garden Free sessions for 3-5 year olds All Childcare Vouchers accepted
To book a visit or find out more call 07948 073118 www.littleredhendn.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 627 586
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Parenting
Why empowering your kids makes for a happier home life Often if we step back, take a breath and calm down, we can see other options which avoid confrontation. They have an opportunity to learn to be more capable and to make better choices the next time. Time and encouragement at these moments requires astonishing levels of self-control by parents, but can make interactions so much more constructive. Children learn to be more co-operative as they feel respected. Trusting your child involves taking a risk as a parent. I remember being allowed to sit on the counter as a child of five and paint the kitchen wall. I can still remember how much effort I put in when painting around the white light switch in a dark petrol green colour. I felt competant and trusted. No doubt my parents had to tidy up the edges, but I didn’t see that part. I was not being over managed, I was shown what to do and allowed to get on with it. So I did my best.
Dr Clare Bailey explains why giving choices builds trust and competence.
o and brush your teeth! Now! Why haven’t you done it yet??’ ‘I’m going to ask you twice only, then the naughty step… OK… no bike, no TV!’ Sound familiar? And as you walk out of the room, do you wonder why it has to be such a battle? Put yourself in your children’s shoes – imagine being told to do the same simple thing every day of your life, wouldn’t you prefer just to be trusted to get on with it? It’s so easy to get caught in a cycle where everything feels as if it becomes a power battle – asking them to do a simple everyday task such as brushing their teeth, they don’t do it when asked, followed by escalating threats and confrontation; without even meaning it, the morning’s off to a bad start. And unfortunately this can also start a cycle – you expect confrontation next time and so on, “The hardest part of raising a it’s exhausting and upsetting for everyone.
‘G
For recurring situations of confrontation, think about what’s behind their behaviour: • Is your response stronger or more punitive than perhaps the situation deserves? • Are they upset, confused or fearful and so unable to take on board the message or to learn? • Are they really doing it to annoy you? Or are they looking for respect and an opportunity to be trusted to make some of their own choices? • Do you really need to be involved in every small detail? Might a ‘you are trusted’ message be more effective in moving towards getting things done?
child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom; the realisation that this is what the child will always need can hit hard.” – Sloan Wilson
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before next time • Is this important? Whose problem is it, mine or theirs? • Does it have to be done now? • Have I made it clear what I want them to do and why? • With an older child, talking through the problem and what might help, develops their problem-solving skills and independence. • Can I offer limited choice instead? ‘WHEN you have done…, THEN you can have/do…’, ‘Would you like THIS ONE or THAT…?’ • Am I too wound up to notice when they are responding or behaving well, and do I remember to praise these small improvements?
ORCHARD Academy of Dance & Theatre Arts Est. 1981 – Principal: Jean Orchard L.I.S.T.D.
L RO EN W! NO
Of course you need to have some non-negotiables about areas such as safety, sleep, eating, Family Rules etc which are backed up with constructive consequences, but keep these to a minimum where possible. Then you can move into more expansive areas; imagine your older children organizing a birthday celebration for you (give them a budget, and prepare to be surprised!), or making dinner one evening, or the young ones packing their own luggage for a trip to Granny’s, or perhaps gathering nice things for an afternoon picnic. They’re likely to put heart and soul into the job and OK things can get quirky, but maybe that is part of the fun. Giving your child choices, even limited ‘This-one-or-that-one’ choices makes your child feel trusted and capable. Feeling valued, they don’t need the power battles to say ‘Get off my back, I can do it!’ And when they make mistakes, or things don’t quite work out we can only admire them for having tried and encourage them to try another approach. You can contact Dr Clare Bailey from Parenting Matters about individual consultations held by phone or face-to-face, by calling 01494 677575 or by going to www.parentingmatters.co.uk. Parenting Matters also run courses you can do from home (or work) in small groups using an interactive web-based, coach-led presentation.
2 NEW CLASSES for BOYS & GIRLS
Street Dance & Musical Theatre Ballet ~ Tap ~ Modern Theatre Dance ~ Adult Tap Classes Outstanding Exam Results and Spectacular Shows
01753 663484 26
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Are the New Junior ISAs a good idea?
Money
To celebrate UK Financial Planning Week this November Martin Bamford, a Certified Financial Planner CM professional at Informed Choice, takes a look at how your family could make use of the new Junior ISAs launched this month. ollowing the recent closure of the Child Trust Fund (CTF), the Junior Individual Savings Account (ISA) was launched at the beginning of November. The CTF was available to children born between September 1st 2002 and January 2nd 2011. It was a tax-efficient savings or investment account, with a generous contribution from government to get the ball rolling. Children originally received a £250 voucher (or £500 for lower income families) and this was used to open a CTF account, with the money staying invested until the child’s 18th birthday. A further government contribution was made after seven years. Junior ISAs are less generous; with no government contributions it will be the responsibility of parents or other relatives to find the money to invest. With University tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year, it is important to save for young children if you want to avoid them getting into a lot of debt before they start their careers. Whereas parents and relatives could contribute up to £1,200 a year to a CTF, the annual contribution allowance for a Junior ISA will start at £3,600 a year. The money must stay invested until the child reaches 18, at which point they can withdraw and spend the cash however they please. On their 16th birthday, the child gains control over how the Junior ISA is invested. It is for these reasons that paying additional money into a CTF was sometimes unpopular. We often had parents saying to us that they would worry about their 18 year old child spending the money inappropriately in the future, perhaps on a motorbike or car rather than on their education. There will be two types of Junior ISA when they are launched. Much like the ISAs available to adults, Junior ISAs will be either cash or investment. Children will be able to hold a cash Junior ISA and an investment Junior ISA, with different providers if they like, as long as the total contributions made to both accounts does not exceed the £3,600 limit in any single year.
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Telephone: 01628 627 586
The choice between holding money in cash and actively investing it for the future can be tough. With a time horizon of up to 18 years, stock market investments might seem the obvious choice, as these tend to outperform cash over the longer term. However, parents will need to consider taking less risk with the money as their child gets closer to their 18th birthday. Leaving money invested in company shares when you are close to needing it is often a bad strategy, as short-term market crashes can cause real disappointment. In terms of eligibility, Junior ISAs will be available to any child born on or after 3rd January 2011, as well as children who are under 18 years old and born before September 2002. This means that every child under 18 who was not eligible for a Child Trust Fund will be able to open a Junior ISA instead. www.icl-ifa.co.uk www.financialplanningweek.org.uk www.taxfreejuniorisa.co.uk
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Ed’s Reading Room Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Winter book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online from Ed’s Reading Room at www.edontheweb.com. Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools. Each month, recently published books are selected as Ed’s Books of the Month for Owlets (age 5-7) and Owls (over 7s). On the website, there are fun literacy activities to accompany each book, including wordsearches, quizzes, poetry and reviews, and there are new original stories in Edtime Stories. There are also lots of other fun online activities, complementary to the curriculum. Check out Ed’s Archive for Ed’s Books of the Month from previous months.
For Ages 5 to 7 years Bluebell Woods: Natalie’s Winter Wonderland
Bad Cat, Good Cat
ED SAYS: ‘Come into the secret world of Bluebell Woods and meet Natalie the hedgehog and friends. Each winter Natalie hibernates but this year she tries to stay awake for a little longer to enjoy the fun in the snow – sledging, skating, snowballing and seeing the snowflakes dancing down. When Florence’s sledge is broken, can she get it fixed? And who will win the snow animal competition? ‘This is a delightful story for young readers to read on their own or for reading together. If you like this, there are more charming books in the Bluebell Woods series to enjoy.’
The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell
by Lynne Reid Banks (HarperCollins £4.99)
by Liss Norton (Stripes Publishing £4.99)
For Ages 7 years plus
by Brian Keaney
ED SAYS: ‘David and Paloma, his friend next door, absolutely love cats and everything to do with them. When David is given Turk for his birthday he thinks his snow-white cat is the most beautiful thing ever. However things are not always as they seem. Paloma soon has her own cat and when the humans go away the two very different cats have to fend for themselves – and each other. ‘Here is a fantastic tale of two animals and two children written with great insight into the lives of each one of them. It is an exciting adventure that will delight both boys and girls.’
(Orchard Books £5.99)
ED SAYS: ‘Otto Spinoza, his friend Juliet and her cat Cornelius are now a real part of the Magical Detective Agency with its founder Maximillian Hawksmoor. Their latest mission is to locate a priceless clay tablet that has been stolen from a major exhibition. They soon find themselves on a risky journey needing all their impressive skills of detection. ‘This exciting adventure draws the reader into the heart of magic and mystery. It is a gripping tale that will leave you hoping for another book in this series.’
My Name is Rose by Sally Grindley (Bloomsbury Publishing £5.99)
ED SAYS: ‘Rose is a Romani gypsy who lives a happy life in the security of her loving family – until one day her whole life is turned upside-down. She finds herself in a completely new world where, very much against her wishes, she has to conform to the lifestyle of a family who could never replace her own. Will Rose be able, through the power of music and her own determination, to re-discover some of her former life? ‘This is a wonderfully written book with an amazing portrayal of its main character – a real page-turner.’
Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI award-winning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher for more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating. You are very welcome to contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at mgh@edontheweb.com about the website or about Ed on the Web Spelling Bees in schools.
Little Samurai for children aged 4 to 6 Young Samurai for 7 to 12 year olds Martial arts classes that focus on the individual Classes with a maximum of 15 students Developing soft attributes such as confidence, concentration, leadership and the ability to socially integrate with self-protection and
anti-bullying skills
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Combat pregnancy related nausea and vomiting with Acupuncture
Bumps ‘n Babes
Pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting can often make the early stages of pregnancy difficult for expectant mothers. Toni Tucker explains how Oriental Medicine Acupuncture can help ease the symptoms. The Acupuncture Treatment and Planning
regnancy related nausea and vomiting is a common phenomenon, particularly in the first and second trimesters. Although there are a number of medications available on the market today that are designed to combat nausea and vomiting, pharmacological solutions can be problematic when treating pregnant women. Avoiding exposure of the fetus to any unnecessary medication while pregnant is preferable. Nausea and vomiting is a common ‘minor’ disorder of pregnancy, affecting up to 70% of the pregnant population (Weigel and Weigel, 1989). Indeed it is often regarded as a normal occurrence and is taken to be a presumptive sign of pregnancy. For an alternative medicine approach to the treatment of pregnancy related nausea, acupuncture has become a popular method, explored by many women looking for a non-pharmacological solution to their distress. Having also worked as a midwife for 35 years, I know nausea and vomiting can affect many women during pregnancy and can be very debilitating, it is definitely worth considering alternative treatments for it. Acupuncture treatment is aimed at strengthening the energetic function of the stomach and correcting any underlying disharmonies, such as anxiety. I also give dietary advice for reducing the energetic workload of the digestive system. When looking at the problem using traditional Chinese medicine, I believe although the nausea associated with pregnancy can arise from a variety of conditions, these all involve the stomach’s energy. Pregnancy can interfere not only with the process of digestion, but also the stomach’s energetic nature of aiding downward movement of food through the digestive tract. Strong upward rebellious energy or a weakness in this down bearing function results in the nausea and vomiting.
P
The main aim of my treatment is to subdue any rebellious Qi, to harmonise the stomach and to stop nausea and vomiting. At the same time, any other patterns of disharmony that the mother may be having will be treated such as IBS, fatigue, headaches and stress. The severity of the sickness may depend on any pre-existing patterns of physiological and emotional imbalance. I would normally recommend four to six treatments to help with the symptoms. I endeavour to gain a very clear concept of the improvement I want to achieve in my treatments and to guide the process accordingly. It is of paramount importance that the practitioner has sound knowledge of midwifery practice and is also highly experienced in treating expectant mothers with acupuncture. If this is the case, the outcome of the treatment should be successful. However, if during the course of the treatment any serious underlying factors are found, medical referral will be highly recommended.
Toni is the clinic director of the Berkshire Health Clinic, based in Maidenhead and is a practitioner of Oriental Medicine Acupuncture. She also treats at 10 Harley Street in London. Her background has been totally concentrated within the medical field and she has 35 years of midwifery experience. Toni’s medical knowledge therefore inevitably assists her to help to treat minor ailments of pregnancy and childbirth through Oriental Medicine Acupuncture. For more information call 01628 525299 or 07958 730157 or email tonitucker@btinternet.com. www.tonituckeracupuncture.co.uk
Oriental Medicine Acupuncture for:
The causes of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
Maximising natural conception, Acupuncture-assisted IVF, For minor disorders of pregnancy/ child birth/enhancing natural labour
Pregnancy related nausea and vomiting has several explanations. The rising levels of pregnancy hormones are widely accepted as a causative factor, as both the Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG) and Oestrogen stimulate the chemo-receptor in the brain. Other explanations include the following (Thorp et al., 1991, Boyce, 1992;Tucker-Blackburn and Loper, 1992): Physiological changes of pregnancy, such as reduced ability to digest food. Metabolic changes, such as carbohydrate deficiency, vitamin B deficiency. Genetic incompatibility Psychological factors, such as fear and anxiety caused by physiological changes in the body.
Telephone: 01628 627 586
Pain relief for Musculo- Skeletal/ Arthritis/sports injury Urology/bladder & prostatic disorders/Interstitial Cystitis Queens Gate House, 18 Cookham Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8AJ and 10 Harley Street, London, WIN 1AA Telephone: 01628 525299/07958 730157 Email: tonitucker@btinternet.com Website: www.tonituckeracupuncture.co.uk
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Mums Who Mean Business HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE INSPIRES BUSINESS IDEA fter giving up corporate life (as Head of Events at Barclays), mum-of-three Andi Coope, who lives in Marlow Bottom, has set up her childcare and yoga business to fit around her family. Her business is aptly called Andi and she currently offers breakfast and after school childcare, holiday club and yoga classes for children and teens. Andi, who has twin boys aged 16 and a 5 year old son, was inspired by her interests from outside work and her desire to spend more time with her children. “As a single mum my goal for setting up the business was twofold - to move away from the corporate commute and create a life which gives me more balance and time with my children and my passions. Alongside my corporate career and professional qualifications I have learnt yoga, martial arts, and self-development. I wanted to share my experience and knowledge in a holistic way.” Not only does Andi have professional qualifications in child minding and Paedriatic First Aid, she is also a black belt in Zen Bo-Jitsu (a martial art where there is no competition or free sparring) and recently climbed the three peaks with her teenage sons. She also plans to expand her business in 2012. “I am delighted with how my business is growing. My childcare and holiday clubs are busy and the children and their parents are very happy. I have two evening yoga classes for 8 to 12 and 13 to 17 year olds starting in January at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School.” Next year she will also be offering yoga camps for children and adult classes in Kundalini Yoga and Zen Bo-Jitsu. For more information go www.andi.uk.com or call 07917 829476.
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WRAPAROUND CHILDCARE
ANOTHER AWARD FOR LABELS4KIDS he cream of the retail industry gathered at the Savoy for the Specsavers Everywoman in Retail Awards this September. The awards were to recognise and celebrate the achievements of retail’s highest flyers and to announce: Entrepreneur of the Year Winner: Ann-Maree Morrison, Director of Labels4Kids Ltd. Like many great business ideas, Labels4Kids was born from personal need when Ann-Maree, the mother of three young boys, grew tired of her boys coming home from school with other children’s clothes. Labels4Kids produces vinyl waterproof labels, iron on, stick on and sew on labels for children’s school clothing and general items. The judges were impressed with how Ann Maree has created a dedicated following of supporters from across the globe through an active social-media strategy and online forum for parents and families on her award winning website www.labels4kids.com/fam.
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Childcare Wrapped Around Your Needs Open From 5am-11pm
We are open seven days a week, offer fixed and flexible childcare and pick-up/drop-offs from designated areas
17 William Street, Windsor, SL4 1BB For more information call:
01753 853155 Email us at: wraparoundchildcare@hotmail.co.uk www.wrap-aroundchildcare.co.uk
CHILDREN’S DAY NURSERY in Maidenhead (St. Josephs Centre) Under New Management Excellent quality Children’s Day Nursery combining traditional loving care with stimulating educational programme to provide a well-balanced environment for your child.
Inspected by OFSTED in MAY 2011 as GOOD ʻChildren develop good levels of self esteem and confidenceʼ ʻLots of positive praise and encouragementʼ • Children from 6 weeks to 5 years old • Open 7.30 a.m. - 6.15 p.m. Monday to Friday • Full-time or part-time (51 weeks) • Pre-School educational curriculum • French, swimming and music classes
To reserve your show-around Telephone 01628 623777 www.positivestepsnurseries.co.uk
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Classified A STITCH IN TIME
Mary Poppins Entertainments NOW WITH AMAZING ANIMAL PUPPETS
As seen on Paul O’Grady Show.
For ages 3-103 Tel: 01753 663374 or 0781 1084 325 www.jeanpurdy.co.uK
Pregnancy Yoga & Mummy and Baby Yoga Relax, boost energy, ease aches & pains, prepare for birth, connect with your baby, rebuild core strength safely
www.phenixyoga.com Call Jennie on 07954 578 439 or email jen@phenixyoga.com
um Keeley Richardson, based in Sunningdale, was so inspired by her family’s love of sewing and crafts that she set up her own craft-based business, Hope & Gloria Craft Clubs. She comes from a long line of women who taught her the skills that she is now passing on to other children. “I was lucky enough to have a number of creative women in my family. My Grandmother, Mum and Auntie all taught me how to sew, embroider, cross-stitch, knit and crochet from the age of five and I have continued to love these pastimes ever since. These days many of these skills are lost and today’s busy lifestyles mean there is not enough time to teach them in the home and children rarely have the opportunity to try these things in schools.” She also wanted to fit her job around her three boys. “Like a lot of mums I wanted something that would fit in around my children, so that I could combine being a mum with a satisfying career. I have always had a passion for fabric, sewing, and all things lovely for the home. Over the years I have completed a number of needlecraft and interior design courses. I came to realise that I also wanted the challenge of growing my own business, so setting up Hope & Gloria allowed me to do both.” Her classes, started with a lunchtime craft club in a school in Englefield Green just over one year ago. There was a huge demand and she immediately had to add an extra lunchtime to the schedule. Over the past year the business has grown at a rapid rate and she is now in five schools in the North Surrey and East Berkshire area. The projects they work on are all inspired by current trends. It is really important to her that children take home something they can be proud of that also looks lovely. Before having her three children, she worked in sales and marketing for BBC book publishing and when her children were younger she also worked as a part-time teaching assistant. Keeley plans to grow the business by running workshops in the school holidays and launching craft kits on line. “This summer I ran a series of holiday workshops. These were very popular and will run again during holidays over the next year. I am launching “Hope & Gloria Craft Kits” which will be available to buy online from 1st November. The kits are all “road tested” on Hope & Gloria club members meaning that they are all age appropriate, have clear instructions, and look fabulous when finished.” She is also looking to expand the Hope & Gloria team and is looking to recruit people who would be interested in running school clubs in the Thames Valley Area. Basic sewing skills are all that are required and a love of working with children is a must. Full details of vacancies, craft clubs, workshops, and craft kits can be found at www.hopeandgloria.com
M
Telephone: 01628 627 586
11+ TUITION (Female) Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths, English 1 to 1 Tuition Free 30min Assessment Paper & Interactive Practice
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Treat yourself or make your child’s day extra special. Qualified Teacher. Book your party now! Call Jane on 01753 530483 or 07536 001149
Covering: South Bucks, East Berks TEL: 01753 571225/07958 717582 elevenplus999@btinternet.com Do you want to shape up for the summer but hate the Gym?
Why not try Zumba Mix? This is a fusion of Latin American and modern music set to easy but high energy moves.
Creative Hair Stylist Cut and Finish, Blowdry and Colour Call Julie: 07809 636 659
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY MORNINGS; TUESDAY & FRIDAY EVENINGS at the High Street Methodist Church in Maidenhead (opposite the White Horse Pub) £5 PER SESSION OR £25 FOR SIX
Contact Niki Kitt Fitness on 07775653051 or niki_kitt@yahoo.co.uk
Professional Tuition:
Candle-making parties for children and grown-ups! www.candlebynight.co.uk
Tel: 07771 851435
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
Provided by a qualified and dedicated tutor. Choose from: 11 plus Verbal/ Non-Verbal Reasoning, Common Entrance Exam, GCSE, Sciences and much more. Tel: 01628 637008 or 07887 936484
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wishes you a very Happy Christmas! Go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions for your chance to win more great prizes!
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