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Issue 97 February/March 2021 reaching 11,500 households
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Covidating well, it is Valentine’s
WHEN WILL YOU BE OFFERED THE VACCINE?
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OUR WAY OUT
& WHY NOT TO LISTEN TO ‘KAREN’ ON FACEBOOK 12
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4. Community news Who do you know in our Community News round-up? We’ve been finding out all the news around the villages to make sure we keep you up-to-date! 6. Working From Home with ITAAS Barnaby Relf helps you to solve 5 common Working From Home tech issues. 8. Our Way Out Everything you need to know about the Covid-19 vaccine roll out and what you need to do.
Helle n & the Team xx 2021 reaching 11,500 househo lds
Those readers who are working from home or ‘WFH’ may also be finding life a little trying right now, but if it’s your ‘tech’ that is letting you
/March
34. Sports Report How has the pandemic has affected grass roots football? We find out with a special report from Ethan Green.
Our local businesses are finding new ways to operate during lockdown and we ask all of our readers to ‘Shop Local’ to support them during these trying times.
February
The Village Eye is brought to you by Pinktomato Ltd, a local, independent creative design and marketing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Village Eye. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLs and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. Registered Address: Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, RG7 2AG
33. On TV with Rob Barnes Our film and TV reviewer, Rob Barnes, reviews the latest hit from Disney+, Soul. He also introduces us to his popular movie podcast, Two Small Cokes and a Large Popcorn.
VILLAGE
15. Fire Fire Do you have what it takes to be an On-Call Firefighter?
22-28. Pink Pages Electrician? Roofer? Windows? Whatever you are looking for, check here first! All of our advertisers are following PHE guidelines and wearing PPE when necessary.
down, then maybe IT As A Service (ITAAS) can help. They are our cover sponsor this month and on page 6 you will find some top tips on solving the most common issues. We hope it helps! Whether you are alone at home, have a house full of kids or it’s just you and your partner, times can be tough and we are thinking of you. Having said that, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Check out all the info we could find on when you will be offered your vaccine (p.12), hang on in there and let’s look forward to brighter times ahead.
Issue 97
12. CovidDating Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s your guide to online dating. Which category of online dater are you?
18. On the Move with David Cliff Are you planning a home move in 2021? Perhaps your dream home is right here. Take a look at what’s on offer with David Cliff this month.
W
elcome to the February issue of Village Eye magazine. There’s no doubt that the pandemic is not over yet and there is still some way to go, but our local communities have once again come forward to offer support to those who need it - I am so proud to live and work in an area with such an amazing spirit. Let’s do this together folks. Be kind, stay strong and stay safe...
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2019
PRICELES
The area’s
favourite
S
magazine
eye TM
Local people, local business
Become a part-tim e Firefighte r!
Covidating
well, it is
Valentine’
s WHEN WILL YOU BE OFFE RED THE VACCINE ?
HOME IT
issues
SORTED
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ld Commo Ufton Nervet n | Burghfield Village | Alderm | Beech aston | Hill | Mortime Padwor r | Theale th | Pambe | Spence r Heath | Tadley rs Wood | Silchest | Baughu er | Sulham rst | Three Mile Cross stead | Bramley 1
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Editor: Sub Editor: Advertising: Design: Beauty: Motoring:
Hellen Shaw Jackie Stuart Lindsey Barker Holly Chrisp Amelia Baird Adam Tudor-Lane
To contribute, advertise or let us know your news - please call the team 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
Film Buff: Gardening: Finance:
Rob Barnes Jordan Curtis Mark Penston
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Burghfield
Buddy’s
fine indian cuisine
in 2021
Burghfield Spices
THE BEST
INDIAN
Award Winning Marketing in Theale Congratulations to Hazel Eastlake, a Theale resident, whose company Petite Digital has been rated as one of the top 3 marketing agencies in Reading by “Three Best Rated”. It wasn’t an easy win, the company was subjected to a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which included local reviews, history, business standards, ratings, satisfaction, trust, price and their trading excellence.
Set-up in 2015, Petite Digital is based in Theale and specialises in the needs of small and mediumsized businesses. They cover all areas of marketing from Social Media Marketing, PPC, Web and Email Marketing through to more traditional marketing such as Print & Display on a pay as you go basis – crucial in this crazy year we have just experienced. Petite Digital is a company with a conscience, too, with Hazel volunteering her web and social services to a local charity which supports people in hardship. Well done, Hazel. It sounds to us that this recognition is well-deserved.
FOOD IN THE AREA! also English Menu & Pizzas
FREE DELIVERY TO ALL VILLAGE EYE AREAS ORDER ONLINE OR BY PHONE CARD PAYMENTS ACCEPTED
open daily 11:30-2:30 5:30-10:00 www.burghfieldspices.co.uk
0118 983 4040 The Hatchgate, Burghfield Common *FREE DELIVERY to most loacl areas. (check website for details)
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The Artisan Tree A new business raising money
for women hit by the pandemic When local resident, Heather Miller saw images of women lining up for food parcels in Northern Kenya, she wanted to do something to help. These women, highly skilled bead-workers, were forced to find food aid as the tourism industry has dried up with the pandemic. No tourists mean no demand for beading and therefore literally no income. From this, The Artisan Tree was born. The Artisan Tree is a small e-commerce business run from Heather’s home which is donating 100% of February profits straight back to the village and wildlife conservancies where the women live. Working with a team of artisans in Kenya, they have designed, made and imported a range of beautiful hand-made beaded leather dog collars, leads and accessories. Glass beads, as opposed to plastic mean that designs are sharp, colours don’t fade and they don’t scratch or break (even if your dog rifles through dustbins, rolls in mud then goes for a swim in the river…) The women who make the collars are from traditional pastoralist communities such as the Maasai, Samburu and Rendille. Beading is done either at home, or close by in a small sociable group. There are no factories at all and wages are commensurate with the highly skilled work the craftswomen do. So, if your dog’s collar is looking a little rough around the edges, or you’d like something that will bring a bit of sparkle to a winter dog walk then do take a look at their website. www.theartisantree.co.uk
WELLa It’s Official, Elizabeth Kempson is the BEST! Despite not having her salon open at the moment, Mortimer-based hair colour expert Elizabeth Kempson has been keeping herself very busy. She’s just received a Wella Global Community Award in recognition of her talent!
Elizabeth was one of 20 chosen winners out of over 36 thousand, which is a remarkable acheivement. As a special treat, the winners were treated to an exclusive Master Class with Hair Painter #patricianikole of #paintedhair. With nearly 1 MIllion followers on Instagram, Patricia is legendary in hair circles! Elizabeth told us “ I cannot wait to put into practise all the gems Patricia shared. Thank you so much to my WellaFamily- I can’t wait to be open again soon.” Well done Libby x
To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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TADLEY BOOT CAMP RAISING MONEY FOR NHS CHARITIES
Community News
Nick and Jemma who run Tadley Boot Camp have raised an impressive amount of money across 2020, despite having to stop their training classes for the first time ever. The boot camp normally trains three times a week, fifty-one weeks of the year, come rain or shine. But as we know, 2020 was very different, so how did they do it? During the first national lockdown, Nick and Jemma posted Facebook live workouts at the time their planned session would have been. These were free of charge to keep their members fit and healthy but they asked members - and anyone else watching to donate to the “NHS Charities Page” that they set up. During this period, they raised an incredible £865 for NHS Charities. But it didn’t stop there! In November, they had just started to raise funds (as they do every year) for the Royal Legion British Legion Poppy Appeal and raised a further £650 on top! Fantastic work, team. Well done!
Photo taken pre-restrictions
ASK SARA!
THRIVING IN THE GARDEN!
Let’s be honest, we’ve been spending a lot of time in our homes recently. Have you been finding that you home isn’t working for you as well as it used to? If you are less mobile than you used to be and it’s difficult to move around safely, help is at hand. Simon Symcox of AHM Installations has made us aware of a couple of useful resources which may be of assistance to some of our readers in need of home adaptations or improvements.
One activity that kept many people sane in 2020 was gardening and it’s set to play an equally significant role this year too. If you fancy getting into gardening and need help with the basics to get started, then Beech Hill-based charity Thrive can help. Thrive specialise in therapeutic horticulture and each week provide free how-to and activity guides to make gardening easier and enjoyable, as well as explaining the mental and physical health benefits they offer. It’s free to join the Thrive Gardening Club and you can sign up at www.thrive.org.uk/gardeningclub
There is financial help available for people with a qualifying condition. It’s called the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) – a means-tested grant to make changes in the home to help less able people lead more independent lives. The maximum payment is £30,000. Search ‘DFG gov uk’ on the internet or call your local council for more details. Grants aside, if you’re not sure what you need, there’s a wonderful website that Simon is keen for Village Eye readers to know about. It’s called Ask Sara https://asksara.livingmadeeasy.org.uk You select what you have difficulty with and it gives you advice and solutions to make life easier. AHM Installations offer discounts for military veterans and, as part of their link with Alzheimer’s Society, for those with dementia, too.
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WFH 5sorted tech issues
The end of the pandemic may be in sight, but there’s still a long way to go before working life begins to resemble anything close to the old normal. Working from home. Home-Schooling. Not seeing friends, family or even your boss. For better or for worse, the Coronavirus has forced all of us to adjust to a whole new way of life. One thing many of us ‘working from home’ (WFH) have had to get used to again is technology. We may be out of the office, but our employers still expect the same efficiency you would get at of the office. Technology becomes our best friend in uniting the office and reducing the disruption caused – but IT can also be an enemy. Allow us to help you get on the good side of technology courtesy of Barnaby Relf from local IT Business & Home Computing specialists, IT As A Service with a list of WFH tech headaches with quick and inexpensive fixes.
MUM, DAD, WHY’S THE INTERNET SOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOW?
If your internet speeds would give a snail a sporting chance and you are experiencing slow internet everywhere, it may be a problem with your home internet connection. To find out if this is the case, restart your router and then plug your laptop directly into your modem using an ethernet cable and test your internet speed. You can do this by visiting www.speedtest.net. If your connection is still slow to respond chances are there is an issue with your internet connection, not your router, which becomes a problem for your internet service provider (ISP). A quick call to them can resolve issues as their “line test” can often clear faults. If you are on a residential connection you will be sharing that connection with other households (referred to as a contended network), so during busy periods you will notice a drop in speed, however, ISPs are obliged to ensure your connection doesn’t drop below a certain level, so a call to them can fix a multitude of issues. Of course, bad WiFi isn’t just limited to that. If you have a big house, or work in a room far from the router, you may need to invest in a Wifi booster/repeater solution that could help extend that range. Wifi does not like walls, windows, mirrors, or any obstruction, it loves fresh air and space, and houses are not setup for this, especially period properties with thick walls. There are a lot of devices on the market with some working better than others. Powerline adapters will work well in modern houses where electrical circuits are used to transmit the data around the house (make sure you only have 1 fuse board, multiple boards will interrupt signals), older properties will likely have to work on a mesh network where WiFi repeater signals overlap and extend the WiFi to other areas of the building. Garden offices are trickier to setup and depending on where they are physically located will often require a physical network cable running from the router to the office. Bandwidth-intensive apps, downloads or streaming services will slow down the performance of online browsing. If you can’t wait until ‘later’ to steam or download, consider using ‘Lite’ versions of internet browsers. These can help reduce the load. To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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WHY IS MY MACHINE SO SLOW - OLD EQUIPMENT VS NEW EQUIPMENT
At the moment lots of people are trying to resurrect old equipment, and if the machines have not been switched on for a while, they will have all sorts of program and operating system updates to install. These latest updates can take their toll on outdated equipment and slow them down considerably, so people are ditching the machines in favour of buying new. Now really is not the time to be buying new, since supply is low and due to demand, suppliers have inflated their prices astronomically, even the refurbished market has skyrocketed and prices for previously owned and reconditioned machines are on a par with new. For a fraction of the cost, you can upgrade existing machines with the installation of additional memory and SSD hard disks. SSD’s (Solid State Drives) are non-mechanical thus their access speeds are considerably faster and will future-proof your machines. Older disks are much like a record player with an arm that sweeps across the surface of a spinning disk, and these are susceptible to failure (e.g., stop spinning, arm falling off the disk, etc). Have you got a backup?
BLUE/BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH - SAVE IT OR LOSE IT
Fortunately, computers don’t crash as much as they used to. Years ago, there was the dreaded “BSOD” or blue/black screen of death, but that’s usually not the case anymore. Operating systems now are better at handling these errors/problems, but that doesn’t mean your computer won’t lock up on you and force you to restart it once in a while. To ensure that you don’t lose any work if this happens, it’s worth checking that any of the applications you are using, that have the ability to “autosave”, are set to enabled. There’s nothing worse than working on a project for an hour and having your computer lock up and lose everything you just did. If your computer locks up on you, do what you can to safely power it off. If you have no other choice, hold down the power button until it does and restart. Ideally, your computer will restart normally, and you can continue with what you were doing, however, in some instances updates get corrupted on install and can cause machines to get stuck into a recovery loop. The troubleshooting steps, for example, uninstall update, system restore, etc do not always work, often the quickest and cheapest way to recover is to rebuild the machine, providing nothing mechanical has happened to the machine, in which case you are potentially looking at replacing a disk.
LOSS OF DATA
Backups are imperative these days. Storing data on your PC is a single point of failure, your PC dies your data goes with it, and recovery costs can be high! Your options for backups are to set your machine to backup and save to an external hard drive or use cloud storage, or even both. Most cloud storage offerings are secure both in transit and in rest, so if you do have cloud storage it would be worth checking this. If you have subscribed to services such as Office 365, you get cloud backup included, a lot of people don’t realise this, and end up paying for a subscription to something else, such as Dropbox or Curry’s PC World’s KnowHow cloud offering. If you’re paying for it, make use of it, you could save yourself money. If you have an Office 365 Family subscription, you can share your subscription (including all desktop applications) with up to 6 family members, and every member gets 1Tb of cloud storage (OneDrive) to backup/ sync their data and photos to.
STILL GOT PROBLEMS?
If you have any questions, or would like help with any of the above, or something else not covered, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Barnaby. IT As A Service also look after small and medium sized businesses, offering managed services, ad-hoc support, cloud services, device security, and infrastructure and network services, so if you know any businesses in need of assistance please get in touch.
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Our way out eye (And why we really shouldn’t listen to ‘Karen’ on Facebook) The majority have been vaccinated As we go to with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which was approved in early December. print, the NHS has The second, developed by OxfordAstraZeneca is now also approved begun the biggest and being rolled out across the country with the Moderna vaccine following closely behind. mass vaccination campaign in its history SO WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE FIRST? to protect people As expected, the most vulnerable in society are receiving their vaccines against Covid-19. first as set out by the Government’s priority groups list. The “majority” So far, around of vulnerable people in the UK will be vaccinated throughout 3 million people January and February. (and counting) in Categorised into 9 separate groups, they are thought to represent 90-99% the UK have been of those at risk of dying from Covid-19. vaccinated with one By the end of February, it is expected that around 25 million people in the will have received at least the first of the three vaccines UK of their two doses of vaccine. This will mean that the majority of people which have now in the first 4 groups will have been It is hoped that the rest have been approved immunised. of the priority groups will then be vaccinated, possibly by May. for use in the UK. The next phase will see the focus shift to the rest of the population over the age of 18, mainly the under-50s, who are much less likely to be ill with Covid-19. These include teaching staff, people who work in transport and also the military who could be prioritised at that point too.
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Editors Special Feature
WILL EVERYONE BE OFFERED A VACCINE?
What if you’re not in the first nine groups? Will you be offered a vaccine? In short, yes. So far, the government has ordered seven different types of vaccine and expects to receive 367 million doses. That means if everyone needs two doses, that would almost certainly be enough for every adult living in the UK. It is the Government’s eventual aim to be able to offer a vaccine to everyone over the age of 18.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE THE VACCINE?
In the same way that all other vaccines are optional, this is no different and it won’t be compulsory to have it. However, there is a reason that little or no cases of polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps and other nasties make the headlines these days - and that is because the majority of people in the UK are immunised against them. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing, and we are so very lucky in this country to have some of the world’s most proficient and talented teams of dedicated, educated scientists leading the way to provide us with a safe and effective exit from what is, without doubt, the most troubling health crisis in our lifetime. We are also blessed to have one of the world’s most amazing FREE healthcare systems with our NHS. A service which is all too often taken for granted.
To book a test or for latest information
DON’T CALL THEM, THEY’LL CALL YOU.
Please be patient and wait to be contacted by your GP. Your turn will come. Local surgeries are reporting an overwhelming number of calls from patients wanting to know what they need to do. They are politely asking people not to contact them for vaccination appointments - they will contact you. Of course, it goes without saying that you should still contact your GP with any health concerns. The NHS 111 service is also available should you need advice.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL MY VACCINE TAKE PLACE? When it’s your turn, you will be invited by letter or by phone to book an appointment. Vaccinations will take place in hospital hubs for NHS staff, care staff and older patients.
In West Berkshire, along with a selection of specialist vaccination centres, all GP surgeries will be offering Covid-19 vaccinations by the end of January, health officials have said. In Hampshire, the story is very much the same. For residents in care homes, vaccines will take place on site (as you’d expect). To find out when you can expect to be offered yours, tech firm, Omni, have developed a vaccine queue calculator which will estimate for you how many people are ahead of you in the queue. The tool asks you to input your age, whether you have any underlying health conditions, if you are pregnant, a carer, or whether you were asked to shield during the first lockdown. Using the answers you supply, it predicts how long you might have to wait to get your vaccine. To find out when you are liekly to expect yours, head over to:
www.omnicalculator.com/ health/vaccine-queue-uk
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LISTENING TO DOUBTS, RUMOURS, AND KAREN ON FACEBOOK
Yes, there are the doubters, the antivaxers and the hoax believers. Sadly, there will also be those who will chose to believe all they read on social media. Just because [Karen/Steve], a friend of a friend on Facebook shared an uneducated inarticulate post which they’d stumbled across suggesting that the vaccine is unsafe or that it is just a way of secretly monitoring us for all eternity - doesn’t mean they are the experts. I’d rather bet on the real professionals and their years of experience and opinion. I have been truly concerned at some of the comments on threads I’ve read on local social media group sites too. Suddenly, there appear to be so many armchair experts. It doesn’t matter that their day job bears no hallmark of a Master Biochemist or Professor of Virology - they know best, apparently. [Maybe they heard it from Karen or Steve too.]
“It’s unsafe and is made of dead people, not a chance” she said. “Who told you that” I asked “Oh, I saw it on Insta’ was the reply. My husband, who happens to have a degree in Bioscience overheard the conversation, promptly picked his jaw up off the floor and carefully explained to her about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine and that it probably isn’t wise to listen to everything she reads from her ‘mates’. Clearly, the Government’s marketing machine will have their work cut out to convince everyone.
PEOPLE ARE DYING.
The truth of the matter is that people are dying at an alarming rate - every day. Others are losing livelihoods, businesses are closing - some for good, - and there’s also a whole generation who are being delivered a far from ideal method of education. Our teachers deserve a medal for their efforts right now, they really do. Also of mounting concern, is the disturbing numbers of people (of all ages) suffering with mental health issues…The list goes on. This time last year in this region, we were unaware of the nightmare about to unfold and cases were relatively few. It’s a sad reality that in just 12 months, we all now know someone who has had the disease, is currently suffering or has a relative who they have tragically lost to the pandemic. The only way out of lockdown, it would seem, is to follow the sensible advice to control the spread by adhering to the rules and getting vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. We all need to play our part.
Recently my teenage daughter was in the kitchen on a FaceTime call to one of her friends. They were talking about the current situation and the conversation rolled around to the vaccine. I was genuinely interested to hear her friend’s point of view so I asked whether she’d accept the vaccine if offered? I was blindsided by the response:
Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers 80-year-olds and over and frontline health and social care workers 75-year-olds and over 70-year-olds and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable 65-year-olds and over 16- to 64-year-olds with serious underlying health conditions 60-year-olds and over 55-year-olds and over 50-year-olds and over
Here’s the order of vaccination
Disclaimer: All information is as accurate as we are able to verify at the time of going to print. This is a fluid situation and things may be subject to change. Please contact your GP, 111, or 119 or visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus for official clarification.
visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus or call 119
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10
eye Wellbeing
Why GETTING OUTSIDE every day is one of the best things you can do for yourself right now Here we are in 2021 and in yet another lockdown. And this time it’s winter - dark, wet and cold. But, if there’s one ‘non-food’ thing anyone can do to improve their wellbeing it’s getting outside every day, and here I’ll explain why. Better Physical Health When we're stuck at home it can be difficult to get enough physical activity, especially when most activities are taking place on screens. We should be getting at least 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity to maintain cardiovascular health. Recent research is showing that it’s more like 300+ minutes if your goal is weight loss. Direct exposure of your skin to sunlight is one of the best ways for you to get Vitamin D. It has an important role in boosting your immune system necessary in winter, even more this year.
“Getting outside every day, even if only for a few minutes, will help us get through this phase. Happy walking!”
by Karen Hartshorn
A brisk walk outside counts as moderate exercise, so why not try to fit in a 30 minute walk outside every day to increase your activity levels? Especially if the sun is shining!
Getting outside every day, even if only for a few minutes, will help us get through this phase. Happy walking!
Better Mental Health Mental health professionals, charities and teachers are talking about the effects of repeated lockdowns and the pandemic on our mental health. It’s really important to do what we can to look after our mental wellbeing.
About Karen
Research is showing that being in nature is one of the best things you can do to improve your mental health. It helps to relieve stress and improves your mood. It can even help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Spending time in nature is a fantastic aim for each day. It can be the woods or a park if you're near them. If not, install pot plants on a balcony or driveway. Better Social Health Many health professionals talk about a third type of 'health' alongside physical and mental health, and this is social health.
Based in Burghfield Common, Karen offers confidential coaching sessions in person or via Zoom. She will help you to develop a healthy, positive relationship with food and exercise so you never have to diet again! For a free initial conversation, please contact: 0118 983 6358 07834 466090 karen@tarragonnutrition.com
Current rules in England allow individuals to meet one person from another household for outdoor exercise daily. Use this to meet a friend for a socially distanced walk outdoors. Or take your phone on your walk and chat with a friend.
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Hardballing (not messing around)
Hardballing is all about knowing what you want, going for it, and not accepting anything less than that. Over 46% of people surveyed on Bumble said they are looking for something serious after experiencing loneliness during lockdown. And 38% of users said they felt more confident in saying what is and what isn’t right for them in their dating life. That means they have absolutely no time for the ghosters and breadcrumbers of the world, and that is something we can all get on board with.
Slow Dating
Slow dating is exactly what it sounds like: people taking the time to get to know each other and build a connection before deciding if they want to pursue the relationship or meet in person. Thanks to lockdowns and quarantines, around two in five people are taking longer to get to know someone and have used this time to think critically about what they want in a relationship.
Apocalypsing as
defined by the folk over at Plenty of Fish, is when you treat every relationship like it’s your last and getting super serious with someone you’ve just started dating. Think of your pal who’s proclaiming someone’s ‘the one’ after a few dates, or the one who’s already having serious conversations about the future after a couple of weeks. This is, obviously, not a brand new behaviour. But apocalypsing has run wild over the past year, thanks to lockdown restrictions and the general world dread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Breadcrumbing is when you
lead someone on romantically through social media or texting. Think Hansel and Gretel being tempted onwards to their doom by the witch. It basically means they’re stringing you along, but with the help of modern technology. The breadcrumbs are the messages you send in order to keep someone interested in you, even if you don’t actually like them or have any romantic interest in them. Some people might breadcrumb deliberately to keep you hanging on, but most people aren’t entirely conscious of their behaviour.
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Locdating
A recent study has found that more people are now inclined to date locally (48%), and want to date in the area they live and are comfortable in. That’s because there has been a 46% increase in anxiety levels as a result of the pandemic. This can help take the pressures off big dates with someone who lives in an area too far away from you. And we all know that a walk in the local park with a hot chocolate is a great way of getting to truly know someone. Just not right now, it’s not permittted.
Love bombing
is when someone throws oodles of affection, compliments and time your way, indicating that they’re head over heels for you – but they’re not genuine. A love bomber will be doing this to try and win over your trust and to get you to commit, so that they can manipulate you. Unfortunately, these are very difficult to spot. Some ‘matches’ may just be genuinely giddy about you!
New Dawn Covidators
One in five Bumble users in the UK have said they joined after ending a committed relationship as a result of the pandemic. While many are entirely new to dating apps and understandably anxious about dating right now, joining the app is the first bold and brave step to take in getting back into dating – we say - go for it!
Are you familiar with: Apocalypsing. Breadcrumbing. Love bombing. Hardballing. FOMU (that’s ‘fear of meeting up’). Anyone who’s been navigating the world of online dating during the pandemic may already be familiar with some of these dating trends. Lockdown has changed the dating landscape for many single people. 2020 was a weird one for those playing the dating game. Meeting someone the old-fashioned way finally died a death, ‘virtual dating’ became a legit thing and with all the social distancing, casual meet-ups are off the table too. Whether you’re a ‘New Dawn’ Covidator or simply looking for love online, here are some things to look out for.
Dating eye Best sites for 2021 Eharmony
Best for: serious relationships Free membership (limited) 5 million users in the UK eharmony.co.uk
Match.com
Best for: getting back out there Free membership (limited) 3 million users in the UK match.com
EliteSingles
Best for: educated singles in their forties Free membership (limited) 13 million users worldwide elitesingles.co.uk
Silver Singles
Best for: Over 50’s - looking for love Free membership (limited) 70,000 users in the UK SilverSingles.co.uk
Bumble
Best for: empowering women Free membership 22 million users worldwide www.bumble.com
To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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@villageeyemag
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When you buy from a local small business, an actual person does a happy dance! In these times of uncertainty, please try to continue to use the services of our advertisers as much as possible. They rely on you to help put food on the table and keep the lights on. Together, we’ll get through this. Stay healthy, stay safe & be kind. Many of our advertisers have changed their practices to help keep you all safe. Please use them or lose them.
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live music & community fu e m n. Yo u c an ’ Is so what’s on the cards fo r t beat it can you? y. s ’ y e o r u this s He luck
ummer... If we’re
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www.villageeye.co.uk
Join Ben & become a new
Recruit Thanks to Firefighter Geoff Bushnell, locals in the village of Mortimer are always kept up to date with what’s going on at their on-call Fire Station. Now in his 23rd year of service with the RFBS, Geoff continues to ensure that community links are maintained and that locals are furnished with valuable safety tips and advice. Regulars to the village Facebook page will also get the occasional glimpse of some of the ‘shouts’ they attend; including a house fire on New Years Eve between Thatcham and Newbury. Two years ago, the station had only 4 on-call members of crew. This meant that the station was only covered for 3% of the time. Roll forward, and after a successful recruitment campaign, they have recently welcomed their 14th crew
member, Ben Paton to the team. Ben, who lives in Burghfield Common, has been a full-time Firefighter at Blackbushe Airport for the last 2 years, is also a keen pilot and sportsman told us that he is very much looking forward to getting stuck in and serving the community he lives in. Welcome Ben! Having 14 on-call crew members now means that the station will be able to provide locals with 90-95% cover and they’re not done yet. They currently have vacancies for a further two members of crew, and are interested in applicants who are able to offer daytime cover. Normally, it’s a part-time role, so this would suit as a second job perfectly. As an on-call firefighter, you receive the same hourly rate and benefits as those employed full-time. Naturally full training is provided and the best bit? You are really doing something that makes a difference. If you are over 18, live or work within 7 minutes of Mortimer and would like to find out more, please email: Bushnell@rbfrs.co.uk
Bobie raises £1860 to grant wishes with the Queens!
It has been really exciting to watch the community spirit in Tadley build and build over the last few months. Although there are a team of kind-spirited individuals involved in the recent community events, there is one driving force behind it all and that is Bobie Jones. Bobie, mum of three and local health and wellbeing coach, organised a Halloween Trail in Tadley which ran for a week back in the autumn. She was so blown away by its success and by the feedback that she received, she decided to do a Christmas trail. She said,“From a wellbeing point of view, it supported the community and it was lovely to have something to look forward to. Because it boosted everybody’s wellbeing, I thought I can’t not now continue that to Christmas.”
Christmas image www.tonyhackettphotography.co.uk
The trail featured 170 ‘official’ houses, plus around 100 extra houses that joined the party after the maps were produced, which meant that there were lots of surprises in store along the way. Covering all of Tadley, Pamber Heath, and Baughurst, so many families followed the trail by car, whereas others followed it in sections on foot. Bobie also organised letters from Santa for children who took part in the trail, a charity raffle to win one of 15 Christmas hampers and also a daylight Elf trail for the really little ones. Wow! Bobie was looking for a charity to support with the proceeds of the trail. June Keepax of Gourmet Queens in Baughurst – who sold raffle tickets and took in the children’s letters to Santa - recommended a charity called Bucket List Wishes who she had teamed up with before. Gourmet Queens and Bucket List Wishes (who organise once in a lifetime experiences for terminally ill people) together delivered over 300 cupcakes to nominated community heroes in the recent lockdown. The maps and the raffle tickets from the Tadley Christmas Trail raised £1860 for Bucket List Wishes who have assigned this money to fulfilling their next wish (when restrictions allow). Supporters will be able to read the full story on their Facebook page. In the meantime, residents of Tadley and surrounds are being encouraged to join the Christmas Trail Facebook group so that Bobie can keep everyone up-to-date with details of her next trail at Easter! Just search ‘Tadley’s Christmas Trail’. To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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Chartered Financial Planners
Still Open for business… And still making people feel this good about their Financial Planning!
Our thoughts go to all those businesses who have been affected by the Government restrictions to combat the COVID pandemic and also to those who have been personally affected. One hopes that the cure is not worse than the problem and that lockdown and the vaccination program will enable life to return to some kind of normality in the not too distant future.
eye
At Bluesky we are not immune from lockdown restrictions, but thankfully we are still functioning almost as normal. ‘Almost as normal’ means that, thanks to technology, most of the team are working remotely. It enables us to continue to offer a seamless service to our clients which is at the heart of what we do. We still have a skeleton team in the office to answer the phone and deal with post, so, from an external perspective it is business as normal. We continue to hold new and existing client meetings by Zoom, Teams or telephone. In our opinion it’s never quite as good as face to face meetings but it means connection is still possible and in some cases more convenient. We do look forward to a return to a full office and face to face meetings in due course, whenever that will be. In the meantime we enjoy hearing from new clients who have taken the lockdown opportunity to review their files of financial matters and perhaps realise that it doesn’t make complete sense to them and that some help would be appreciated. The top five questions we are being asked are:-
I’ve got all from previothese pensions I’ve no ide us jobs and with them a what to do mean to mor what they will e in retirem ent. I think I’ve g o t to o much money on paying me deposit that is WANT THIS GOOD a poorTO raFEEL interest. Is te of ABOUT YOUR FINANCAL PLANNING? th e re a n y better that th I can do? ing I’ve been review mymeaning to ages. Can mortgage for you help? I think I sho everything uld review sure it is all I have to make in order – ju case… st in I’ve had e want to re nough (!) and tire. Can I do it? If you hav wish to hae pondered any of th up or emave an initial chat, do e above and would be il us. We’re still ope pick the phone n delighted to hear fro for business and m you.
PERSONALISED FINANCIAL PLANNING
FOR AN INITIAL CONSULTATION CONTACT US ON:
0118 987 6655
INFO@BLUESKYIFAS.CO.UK WWW.BLUESKYIFAS.CO.UK
16 16
Zoom & Socially Distanced Face to Face appointments available
Mark
PERSONALISED FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR AN INITIAL CONSULTATION CONTACT US ON: 0118 987 6655 INFO@BLUESKYIFAS.CO.UK WWW.BLUESKYIFAS.CO.UK
Mark Penston is a Partner & Chartered Financial Planner at Bluesky BLUESKY Charted Financial Planners is a trading style of BLUESKY Financial Planners LTD which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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@villageeyemag
To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
facebook.com/villageeyemagazine
@villageeyemag
eye rights Your
I want to be named as Father on my child’s birth certificate! springwoodceremonies.co.uk
springwoodceremonies.co.uk
• If Father and Mother were married at the date of the birth, then either of them may register the birth of the child on their own and include both parents’ details.
Forever in your thoughts Say farewell with a ceremony that celebrates the special moments in your loved ones life. At Helping you say we it from thehere heart to create a Springwood Ceremonies are When you want to show the world just how much the heart. truly fitting service that comes from you love someone, you want a ceremony that tells a truly personal story.
Contact: Alison on 07766 750446 or alison@springwoodceremonies.co.uk At Springwood Ceremonies we’re here to create a service that comes from the heart. • Baby naming and welcoming ceremony • Weddings and renewal of vows • Funeral ceremony E: hello@springwoodceremonies.co.uk
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Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors Serving Tadley and surrounding areas
• If there is a dispute as to who the Father is, you will need to ask the court to make a Declaration of Parentage, which is when the court decides who the Father of the baby is. If this Order is made in your favour, the courts will notify the General Register Office and the birth will be re-registered. You will need to pay for a new birth certificate.
• If you, as the natural father, marry the child’s mother or form a civil partnership with her after the birth of your child, you will need to complete an application to re-register a child’s birth following the marriage or civil partnership of the natural parents form, which can be found on the HMCTS Court Services website:
• If Mother accepts that you are the Father, but is simply unwilling to re-register the birth, you may want to consider making an application for a Specific Issue Order and Parental Responsibility.
https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/849229/GRO_LA1.pdf
What if an unmarried Father dies before he is added as Father to the birth certificate?
• If you are not married, the mother will have to agree before you are named as Father on the birth certificate. You will both need to complete this form: https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/848912/GRO185.pdf • If Mother agrees to you being named as Father on the child’s birth certificate, a Statutory Declaration of acknowledgement of parentage form, will need to be completed. What if Mother does not agree to Father’s name being added to the birth certificate?
Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors are here to support and guide you. We offer a friendly, professional service to families.
• You may need to make an application to the court.
Tadley
0118 391 3575 5 Old Forge, Heath End Road, Baughurst, RG26 5LX
Call us for immediate support, advice or to arrange a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day.
Geoff Church, Business Principal & Funeral Director
• • • • • • • •
24-hour service Bereavement advice Transparent pricing Private chapel of rest Floral tributes Memorial masonry Home visits Prepaid funeral plans
Tadley Office Sherfield House Mulfords Hill Tadley RG26 3XJ 0118 981 2992 info-tadley@rowberrymorris.co.uk FREE car park at rear of office
• Mother would have to apply for declaration of parentage under Section 55a of the Family Law Act 1986. In the case of Re Pook the father died suddenly, just two days after the child was born. Father did not have parental responsibility and there was no time for a statutory declaration of parentage to be prepared, so mother registered the birth without Father’s details. The parentage was not in question because of matching DNA, however Mother made an application for a declaration of parentage and the Judge made an order in her favour. Please contact our family team at Rowberry Morris for expert advice.
Reading Office 17 Castle Street, Reading, RG1 7SB TEL: 0118 958 5611 E: info-reading@rowberrymorris.co.uk Offices also at Richmond and Staines www.rowberrymorris.co.uk
www.milesfunerals.com Funeral homes also in Winnersh, Reading, Twyford, Binfield, Crowthorne & Maidenhead.
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Upper Woolhampton London living in the country This substantial detached 4/5 bedroom home has a multi level layout as a London style town-house and is set within the prestigious and well maintained grounds of the former Douai Abbey School. The accommodation is set over three floors and offers huge versatility along with stunning countryside views from the first and second floors. • Approaching 3500 sq.ft • Flexible family accommodation • 4 en suites • Kitchen/breakfast room • 2/3 reception rooms • Double garage and parking • EPC rating F
£999,950
Beech Hill Grade II listed cottage with stunning views Believed to date back to 1600, this lovely 4 bedroom detached cottage is situated amongst magnificent gardens approaching 1.5 acres, and 360 degree views of surrounding countryside. • Character and charm • 4 bedrooms • en suite bathroom • 4 reception rooms • Conservatory • Garage and carport • No onward chain
£985,000 guide contact our mortimer office: phone: 0118 467 7999 email: mortimer@davidcliff.com visit: davidcliff.com
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A selected member of The Guild of Property Professionals
Offices also at Wokingham, Binfield and Park Lane, London
what’s
property of the month
new Mortimer West End Views to the front and rear This detached family home was built in the 1930`s with more recent extensions and sits on a fantastic gated plot with views to the front over the cricket grounds and to the rear over woodland. Offering spacious and versatile accommodation with a superb open plan kitchen/dining family room being the heart of the home. • Lovely detached family home • 4 double bedrooms • 2 en suites • Open plan kitchen/dining/family • Living room and study • Private gardens • EPC rating D
£880,000
Mortimer Superb village location
Spencers Wood Westbuild detached home
OIEO £785,000
Burghfield Common Open plan living space
£735,000
• 4 double bedrooms • Circa third acre • 2 receptions • No onward chain • Garage & driveway parking • EPC rating D
• Extended and improved • 4/5 bedrooms • 3 receptions
Mortimer Apartment with a view
Mortimer Village life
• Exclusive development • West facing rear garden • EPC rating C
£550,000 • No onward chain • 4 bedrooms • Double garage
• Private garden • Conservatory • EPC rating D
Got a property to let? Talk to us now
landlords & tenants £265,000
£450,000 • Country residence • First floor • 3 beds + en suite
• Circa 4 acres gardens • No onward chain • EPC rating E
£• 3 bedrooms
• Open plan living space • Enclosed garden
• Garage in block • Walk to the station • EPC rating F
• Personal • Professional • Thorough
• Attentive • Detailed • Unique
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“Lafford & Leavey, experts in bringing the outside - inside”
Windows - Doors -Conservatories UPVC or Timber
One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in Berkshire, offering free quotations and advice from a company with a formidable reputation spanning 50 years. Choose from a wide range of products in a style and finish which will suit your budget and needs, we are only a phone call away.
LAFFORD & LEAVEY LTD 20
ARROWHEAD ROAD, THEALE, READING, RG7 4AZ Tel: Reading (0118) 9303333 Fax: (0118) 9323707 Email: lafford.leavey@btconnect.com
eye
Mural wallpaper Dare to be a little braver in the bedroom and chose a wall-towall mural statement wallpaper. With a single image adorning your feature wall, there’s no repetition, your design will be completely unique and the best bit? All you need to do it measure the wall, choose the image you want from either the suppliers site, or one of your own choosing. You can even use a photo you’ve taken provided the resolution and quality of your image is good enough. www. wherethetradebuys.co.uk
Homes
L Treat feet to a cosy start Add warmth with a real or synthetic sheepskin rug laid next to the bed ready for toes to sink into each morning and evening. Or drape one over a stool for a luxury dressing table seat.
Updates for the Bedroom
Update your knobs Give bedside tables, drawers and wardrobes a new look by replacing the handles with gorgeous glass, luxury brass or smart leather options. Try Ikea or John Lewis for some great designs.
Store more under the bed With amazing pneumatic gas-lift arms to raise the mattress from the base, an ottoman bed is the perfect solution for storage issues. Winter wardrobe clothing and bulky coats can be stored safely out of site (soon, we hope)
Repeat a single motif Keep the decorative elements of a small room pared back to back by using a single motif, such as a heart, for artwork and accessories. Use it in varying styles for a cohesive look.
www.happybeds.co.uk
Layer up your cushions Create a bed or sofa that screams comfy by arranging cushions and throws in different colours, sizes and textures. A few inexpensive cushions will lift the look totally and become a space to relax in.
Save space with wall lights Choose wall lights to free up your bedside table. Go for a low wattage bulb and ask your electrician to put them on a separate circuit so that you can control them from the bed. How lovely is that? Speak to David Oke, Oke Electrical on 0118 933 2867
Mirror Mirror See yourself from all angles (if you dare). Look at swapping out old wardrobe doors for mirrored ones. Also consider a floor standing mirror as a statement piece if you have room. Your boudoir will look so much bigger. www.homesdirect365.co.uk To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk
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21
Pink Pages: Trades & Services
James W Fisher Property Maintenance
PAINTING & DECORATING With our extensive range of facilities and FREE services, can you afford to go anywhere else for your vehicle maintenance needs? SERVICING MOT TESTING SERVICE & REGAS DIAGNOSTICS MECHANICAL REPAIRS MOT TESTING TRACKING / ALIGNMENT WHILE YOU WAIT TYRES / BATTERIES / EXHAUSTS TYRES ALL MAKES FREE COLLECTION / DELIVERY
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COVID-19 UPDATE During this period of uncertainty, we will be offering a free of charge collection and delivery service for your vehicle. Each vehicle will be picked up with the minimum contact. Keys will be fully sanitised before returning. Payment can be made via the phone or BACS HYGIENE: Hand sanitiser & disinfection wipes at all stations. Reorganising and disinfection of all workspaces. All employees encouraged to follow all hygiene protocols recommended by the World Health Organisation. All vehicles sanitised upon completion before being returned. SUPPLIERS We are in daily contact with our suppliers to ensure we can supply and fit to all makes & models. We also have dedicated staff available to pick up and drop off your vehicle.
0118 970 2222 www.mendemmotors.com 4, Stacey Industrial Park, Silchester Rd, Tadley RG26 3PY
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11,500 copies, 17 local villages, estimated 32,000 readers - monthly!
eye
To advertise, call 0118 933 3311
B UNCE eye Magazine h t wi BACK ))
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the area’s favourite Lifestyle Magazin e
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Local people, local business
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A FUN WAY TO
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Is Hallow Cancelledeen in 2020?
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30/11/2020 08:02
23
Pink Pages: Trades & Services
TADLEY HEATING SERVICES EXPERIENCED SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE RATES
New Boiler Supply & Installation All new gas boiler installations performed to the manufacturers instructions.
Boiler Repair
If your boiler or central heating is not working we can assess and repair it using top quality branded parts and components.
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Using state of the art combustion analysers we can service your boiler and help you comply with all necessary gas safety regulations.
Call Phil Capel on:
07760 759318
ths.ltd@outlook.com /tadleyheatingservices 19 Hamble Drive , Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 3UN
QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVERS BY LOCAL PROFESSIONALS
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T. 0118 981 7300 Roller Garage Doors Centre (Part of Access and Security Systems Ltd)
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www.rollergaragedoorscentre.co.uk Showroom: Unit 7 Bacchus House, Calleva Park, Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 8EN
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11,500 copies, 17 local villages, estimated 32,000 readers - monthly!
To advertise, call 0118 933 3311
• • • • • • • •
eye
Professional certificated arborists. 25 years experience. Fully insured. Free quotations and advise. 25 years no claims. All types of tree work and hedge work All types of tree planting. All types of commercial and domestic in fencing.
Tel: 0118 970 0525 Mob: 07414 793015 Email: nasharbltd@gmail.com www.nasharborists.co.uk
jon@thealegas.co.uk /Thealegas @ThealeGas
Accredited Installer
07979 542998
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If you urgently need a Gas or Heating Engineer in Berkshire, look no further than Theale Gas.
www.thealegas.co.uk * for every new boiler installation booked before the end of December 2020
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25
Pink Pages: Trades & Services
ASHLEYS
ASHLEYS
REMOVALS & STORAGE 0118 983 1311
REMOVALS & STORAGE BIG ENOUGH TO COPE BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE
CALL YOUR LOCAL REMOVALS COMPANY ON
0118 983 1311
07850 738950 or 0778 7535014 PACKING - STORAGE - REMOVALS - RELOCATIONS - PIANOS
ASHLEYSREMOVALS@BTCONNECT.COM WWW.ASHLEYSREMOVALSANDSTORAGE-READING.CO.UK
OKEElectrical
All aspects of electr ical work from a light switc h to a complete rewire
Fully insured • Fully qualified • Pa rt P complia nt
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5 5 6 8 5 2 3 3 2 8 6 7
Berkshire Design Build Ltd
& telephone: 07836 751 072
email: davidling007@sky.com | 31 Longworth Avenue, Tilehurst, RG31 5JU
www.trustedtraders.which.co.uk/businesses/berkshire-design-build-ltd 26
11,500 copies, 17 local villages, estimated 32,000 readers - monthly!
To advertise, call 0118 933 3311
eye
MTJ PLASTERING We’ll get rid of unsightly ceilings & walls With more than 20 years of experience, you can expect the highest standards and an excellent finish every time.
UPVC & Aluminium: Windows - Doors Conservatories - Fascias - Soffits & Guttering
Whether you're looking for a newly plastered ceiling or external rendering, we provide a wide range of plastering services.
For a friendly, no obligation chat about your windows, please call:
0118 930 5757
Windows & Doors www.tailormadewindows.co.uk Windows & Doors
Registered in England: Tailormade Windows & Doors of Berkshire Ltd. Unit 2 James Lane, Burghfield, RG7 1NB
To request a free quote, or to discuss your requirements, contact us today. We'll be happy to help. 11 New Street | Strafield Saye | RG7 2EN
www.mtjplastering.co.uk info@mtjplastering.co.uk
07789 902 091 0118 933 2121
Windows & Doors - Berkshire
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CALL US NOW ON 0118 3801544 07972189648 info@combatpestsolutions.com
GasSafe and Oftec registered heating specialists offering a wide range of heating services including boiler installations, fault finding, servicing, repairs, maintenance and smart controls upgrades
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07939131553 /falconheatingltd Little Heath Road, Reading, RG31 5TY
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27
Pink Pages: Trades & Services REGULAR ROUTINE SERVICING! www.Arkleys.co.uk
Email: Info@arkleys.co.uk
Phone: 01189 888 400
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11,500 copies, 17 local villages, estimated 32,000 readers - monthly!
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‘Why fit in when you were born to stand out?’ Jubilee Gems is a small and friendly, term time nursery set in rural West Berkshire with a passion for outdoor learning and play. Babies and children are part of a unique experience centred around our ethos of ‘learning by doing’, inside and out, every day. Children are free to discover, imagine and - crucially - to play, which is the most important way in which a child can learn in the early years. For babies & children aged 3 months to 5 years old Set in 60 acres of farmland and woodland Experts in Forest School learning Freshly prepared food Funding available NHS & Armed forces discount
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Open Wide!
eye s
Familie
The truth about yawning
The average adult yawns 20 times per day, and once you feel one coming on, it is almost impossible to suppress. Why do we yawn? There is no scientific consensus on why we yawn. One theory argues that when humans are tired, we stop taking deep breaths, which causes a build-up of carbon dioxide in the body, and a yawn might be a special kind of respiration, to increase oxygen quickly, while expelling carbon dioxide more efficiently. During a yawn we compress the muscles of the face, and drive oxygen-enriched blood to the brain.
Mirror neurons in the brain match what we sense and feel to the way we move, so if you see someone scratch their nose, you feel what it feels like and may feel compelled to do it too. The most likely reason for mirroring is social bonding. It’s a form of communication and a sign to others that we are empathetic. Fascinating Fact: Yawning is so contagious that you will probably have yawned at least once while reading this!
Why are yawns contagious? We are six times more likely to yawn if we see someone else yawn. This may be related to a phenomenon called social mirroring, where animals imitate the actions of others. Yawning is not the only mirrored behaviour – smiling, scratching, leg crossing and laughing also fall into this category.
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Our latest ISI inspection found us to be...
Excellent! JOIN A SMALL CLASS, IN YEAR 3, IN SEPTEMBER 2021 As well as our small class sizes, your child will benefit from co-education, a breadth of opportunity, acres of space to work and play and a broad curriculum.
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HOW LOCAL DRAMA CLASSES ARE KEEPING CHILDREN HAPPY (& PARENTS SANE!) Did you know that StageAbility is running hilarious online sessions filled with fun and games? Kids might be in lock down, but having fun is not restricted! In fact, having fun is probably more important than ever. Children need to belly laugh right now and connect with other young people – even if it is through a screen! Did you know that the top drama schools invest loads of time playing ridiculously silly games to help the actors bond, get energised and lose their inhibition? A local mother, Lindsey Hayward, who recently signed her children up to the online classes said,
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“Your lady must be great. All I can hear is laughing and random shouting. I’ve been banished from the living room!” Jackie Stuart, Principal of StageAbility, knows that some children have been put off by early Zoom experiences with other groups. She told us, “I have spoken to so many parents who experienced chaotic classes – not ours! - during the first lockdown, which has really put their children off group classes. All I can say is that they need to try StageAbility. We are expert fun-makers, have had fantastic feedback and I am keen to bring that fun to as many children as possible!”
Sessions are available Mon-Thurs for children aged 5-6, 7-11 and 12-18. Just visit stageability.class4kids.co.uk and scroll to the Live Online Classes. Your child will thank you for it!
ON TV
eye
with ROB BARNES
A near masterpiece of animation and storytelling Pete Doctor’s directorial follow-up to Inside Out is a near masterpiece of animation and storytelling, with mass appeal for children, teens and adults. After losing his passion for music, teacher and pianist Joe (Jamie Foxx) gets his first gig at the local Jazz club. Before he can realise his dream a fatal accident separates his soul from his body transporting him to the Great Beyond. To escape death he flees to the Great Before where unborn souls are trained for life on earth. Masquerading as an instructor for cynical soul ‘22’ (Tina Fey), the only way back to his old self is by returning to earth to discover his true spark in life. The animation is both exquisite and experimental. We get the ever impressive lifelike renderings, most notably the truly jawdropping shots of Joe’s hands and fingers in the piano playing scenes. And we also get some delightful abstract animation in the form of low-fi colour schemes, black and white sketch drawings, and the Picassoesque looking figures.
The technical brilliance is matched by the intelligence of the story and the life lessons it poses on mortality, the meaning of life and what life without purpose truly means. Whilst arguably it takes one complex turn too many, such as the body-swap when ‘22’ enters Joe’s body and Joe ends up in the body of a therapy cat, the humour and added meaning it provides all shines through in a truly heartwarming finale. As well as the fine dramatic performances of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey providing the laughs, we also have Graham Norton voicing Moonwind, a sign twirler who enters the zone to rescue lost souls, and Richard Ayoade as Counsellor Jerry. Whilst many animated movies go for cheap gags to lure in the adults, Pixar chose to explore challenging and grown-up themes. And the reward is a bold and beautiful movie crafted by filmmakers who care deeply for their art. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry but most importantly it will make you think. Soul is a must see for all the family. 4.5/5
Two Small Cokes and a Large Popcorn For a more in depth review of Soul listen to Episode 35 of the movie podcast Two Small Cokes and a Large Popcorn. Hosted by myself and fellow movie geek Sarah Paul we give our thoughts and insights on one new streaming release and one classic film each week.
Worth Checking Out!
With cinemas currently closed the new release is typically the movie attracting the most buzz on VOD platforms and our classics are selected from our very own shortlist of favourite films from Casablanca and The Shining through to Juno and Napoleon Dynamite. We pick from a different genre each week and we
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even throw in the odd guilty pleasure like the recent Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. It’s all informal, light-hearted chat with behind the scenes trivia and some quiz questions thrown in for good measure. Whatever the selection we do our best to ensure they are available on the most popular streaming platforms for movies including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Now TV. So please give us a listen, you can find us on Acast, Apple Podcasts and Spotify and also on Facebook at 2SmallCokes.
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eye eport Sports R
HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON LOCAL FOOTBALL LEAGUES
By Ethan Green Spencers Wood FC
O
n the 23rd March 2020, the UK entered its first National Lockdown due to Covid-19. This changed the way we lived our lives; working from home and social distancing became the norm, shops and schools were closed and major sporting events were cancelled. Being an avid football fan, the biggest impact on me was the ban on football. I play for Spencers Wood under 18s and support Chelsea FC. Our local league and regular Thursday night training sessions stopped and the Premier League was postponed until further notice. I had also signed up to run the Reading halfmarathon, to improve my fitness, and that was eventually cancelled.
At the end of matches we bumped elbows with the opposition instead of shaking hands.
In September 2020 restrictions for the pandemic were reduced. The new rules allowed football leagues to begin again. Football is unavoidably a close contact sport which makes it susceptible to Covid-19 transmission. New rules for grass roots football required every player to use hand sanitizer before games and at half-time. Balls were sanitised before and during matches and everyone had to use the NHS ‘track and trace’ app.
When the second lockdown ended we got to play one more game on Saturday 19th December against Fleet which we won convincingly (3-1). This would be our last game as later that day the Government announced that Berkshire would enter tier 4 meaning that we couldn’t play football any more.
On the 12th October the tier system was introduced, and Berkshire was placed into tier 2, so football leagues could continue. For the first time since March, Reading’s Madejski Stadium reopened for two thousand fans in a game against Nottingham Forrest. Then, near the end of October, rumours spread through social media about England entering a second National Lockdown. This would again create uncertainty about whether our league would continue. The second lock down started on the 31st October and our league was again postponed.
The Premier League also experienced issues with players and staff members
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from clubs being exposed to the virus. At the beginning of December, Newcastle’s game against Aston Villa was postponed because many players and staff had tested positive for the virus. This was the first of several games to be cancelled disrupting the league and leaving doubters thinking that the league should be suspended. Going into the New Year, Berkshire was still in tier 4 with all grass roots football leagues unable to restart because they crossed tier boundaries. An alternative proposal by the Berkshire Football Alliance was to organise friendly games between teams in our tier 4 area. This would have been a great idea however on 4th January the latest full lockdown was announced. Being an under 18s team, this will be our last season playing together before people leave for University or to join adult leagues. Whilst we understand the importance and necessity of stopping the transmission of Covid, we just want to play football and hope that we can have a few last games together later this year.
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