Eye Magazines - October 2021 by Village Eye Magazines

VILLAGE

eye vourite The area’s fagazine. monthly ma

WINNER

Issue 105 Octoberr 2021 reaching 11,500 households

Priceless!

october is: breast cancer awareness month

LEWIS HAMILTON

Celebrate the t a n o s a e S e v i t s Fe n a M g n i n n u C e Th Page 6

MORTIMER Win: SAYS BYE BYE Sunday lunch for four a wine tasting experience for four BUDGENS A term of drama classes

This Month’s Cover Sponsor

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WINNER

Win a Wine Tasting Experience for 4 (With Fizz)!

The Halloween trails are back! Check out our free local guide. 14

Win 20

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What’s inside... 4. Community News Who do you know in our Community News round-up? We’ve been finding out all the news from around the villages to make sure we keep you up to date! 9. Winning Wine! Know your Chardonnay from your Sauvignon? Local wine experts, Tasting House Online can help you tell the difference. 10. Boob Art! We look at the incredible work one local woman is doing to help breast cancer survivors. 14. The Need For Speed World Champion Lewis Hamilton on staying, and feeling, young and motivated for success 17. Super Scary Pension Mistakes Resident BlueSky Columnist gives us some Halloween hints to avoid potential pension pitfalls.

22. On the Move with David Cliff Are you curious to know how much your property is worth? Want to know what properties are available locally? They are all here. Also, check out some brand new homes available for sale to the over 45s on page 25.

Hello October!

24-31 Pink Pages Find your local trusted trades within our Pink Pages. If you’re an electrician, a roofer, a windows installer or providing any other trade to our local community, get listed! Give our friendly team a call on 0118 933 33 11. 32. Puzzle Page Grab yourself a cuppa and check out our selection of ghoulish games & puzzles. Mwa ha ha. 38. Treats & Trails The Mortimer, Tadley, Spencers Wood and Silchester Trails are back! Find out all you need to know to take part this year.

18. Chip & Skin Face recognition is one thing - but how far would you go to make an easier, secure payment?

40. Win Sunday Lunch at The Cunning Man & A Wine Tasting Experience with Fizz for 4 people courtesy of The Tasting House Online.

20: Homestyling with Holly Autumn homeware trends that will make you want to cosy up ...

42. No Quick Fix Resident columnist, Steve Shreeve explains why fitness is the one exam you can’t cram for.

Eye Magazines 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

keep it local!

eye

Gold Member

How we got to the autumn so quickly spooks me. But here we are, ditching the flip-flops for slippers, ready to embrace the season of marshmallow-laden hot chocolates and cosying up around the fire just in time for the new season of Strictly to start. This month, we say a HUGE thank you and goodbye to Phil & Kay Bushnell who are retiring from running the Budgens store in Mortimer after 50 years and let you know what will be happening to the store in the coming weeks. Also in this issue, we deliver an important message to men and women during Breast Cancer Awareness month: Check your boobies, please! And with boobies in mind, we shine the spotlight on a local lady who has helped give confidence and self-esteem back to 1000s of breast cancer survivors. Read her inspring story on page 11. Our cover sponsor this month is The Cunning Man, Burghfield, who are busy gearing up to offer the ‘Best Christmas Ever’ (without you having to do the washing up!) With seasonal bookings now being taken, why not check out what festive favourites they will have on offer (page 6) and reserve your places now. They also have a Sunday lunch for four people to give away in one of our exciting October competitions. Other prizes up for grabs this month include a Wine Tasting Experience for 4 people (with fizz) and a term of Drama Classes for your child. And without sounding like GMB’s Andi Peters, “Get entering - remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it!“ As always, please do ask the reputable local advertisers who adorn our pages for quotes for products and services - keeping it local is super important, especially now. Have an amazing October!

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Hellen & the Team x

Editor: Hellen Shaw Sub Editor: Jackie Stuart Social/Design: Holly Chrisp Beauty: Amelia Baird

Film Buff: Gardening: Finance: Travel: Fitness:

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news - please call the team 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk

Rob Barnes Jordan Curtis Mark Penston Michelle Goulding Steve Shreeve

SQUIRRELS

IN UFTON

NERVET!

Local parents can now enrol their four and five-year-old children at the 1st Ufton Nervet Scout Group, one of 200 new ‘Squirrels’ locations across the country. For the first time in 35 years, The Scout Association has launched a new brand to support early years children as communities rebuild from the Covid pandemic. Adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls has been helping to publicise the new Squirrels, which aims to take four and five-year-olds on outdoor adventures, help them make friends and learn essential life skills. Bear Grylls, chief scout, said: “All of us at the Scouts believe that by offering opportunities at this early age, inspiring a sense of wonder, fun and curiosity, we can have a longlasting, positive impact on young people’s lives.”

New Squirrels will learn how to pitch a blanket tent, plant seeds or how to spend 50p in a local shop, earning them brand new badges like Feel Good, Be Active or Explore Outdoors. Matt Hyde, CEO, Scouts said: “Our mission at Scouts is to equip young people with skills for life, and what we learn up to 5 years old lays the building blocks for everything that follows.

“If you’re four, you’ve spent a third of your life in lockdowns. We know this has especially impacted children in communities hardest hit by the pandemic.” To roll-out the programme UK-wide, the Scouts Association is calling on adults to volunteer. To find out more, email: cathryn@uftonscouts.com

ALL RISE FOR THE

GOURMET QUEENS The Gourmet Queens have been going from strength to strength over the last 18 months, creating delicious food and delivering it to your door (in lock down), serving from their catering van (at events) and most recently at their delightful cafe in Pamber Heath. Now they are expanding further and opening another cafe - Gourmet Queens Coffee Shop - at The Six Bells in Burghfield.

The team behind Gourmet Queens are best friends and local residents June Keepax and Chantelle Beales who have grown this business from just a seed of an idea. That idea was to take their catering van to festivals and events but, of course, the pandemic put paid to that idea. Did it stop them? We know it didn’t! The new venue at The Six Bells will have its own entrance and, at time of 4

writing, they plan to be open from 8am until 2pm Monday to Friday serving barista coffee, cakes, panini, fresh sandwiches and wraps. We can’t wait! They are expected to open their doors this month but, of course, this is subject to timely delivery of their equipment which is out of their hands right now! No doubt you will see further details of the grand opening outside The Six Bells and on social media so make sure you ‘Like’ Eye Magazines on Facebook to hear it first!

Get together with family and friends to remember someone special, raise funds and help Sue Ryder fill someone’s last days with love this October! All you need to do is register and then choose how far you Walk to Remember - 5k, 10k, or pick your own distance. Decide your start and finish line and make it your Walk to Remember with a route that means something to you. You can take part on any day this October. The funds raised will help Sue Ryder to support people through the most difficult times of their lives. Whether that’s a terminal illness or a bereavement. With your support we can be there when it matters. Your donations and fundraising will make all the difference to patients and families needing specialist care from a Sue Ryder nurse. Sign up now at www.sueryder.org/walkwithus or email dokh.fundraising@sueryder.org or call 0118 9550433

MORTIMER SAYS

eye

hen local residents learned that Budgens in Mortimer was going to be changed to a Co-op, inevitably a debate began on social media as to the pros and cons of the changes, despite few being aware of the financials or footfall statistics that have led to the decision. In a nutshell, the store closed on 19th September and will remain so for 6 to 8 weeks, reopening sometime in November. The in-store butchers will be closing, but the valued Post Office will stay (except during the building works). A smaller store (below 3000 sq ft) will allow the Co-op to open from 7am until 10pm, 7 days a week.

Community News

They have worked together tirelessly serving the community ensuring that the shelves are full through floods, snow storms and, most recently, the pandemic. And it doesn’t go unnoticed by the villagers who have often commented and speculated on how they achieve this. It has been dedication and hard work, averaging over 65 hours a week to keep the shop operating during the worst of the pandemic.

The Co-op is a good-value and ethically good business which offers customer and community rewards. When you become a Coop Member, you can choose a local cause to support through your membership. This might be a park, community space or a local charity, so as you spend in this new store, you can also be contributing to your chosen local cause. In 2020 Co-op delivered £15m to over 4,500 local causes, thanks to members.

We’re sure you will join us in thanking Phil and Kay for their dedicated service in keeping this store running for the local community over the last fifty years! But you will still see them both around the village because they will be managing the flats and the car park on site, retiring from the store, but not retiring altogether!

But there will be one very important thing missing from the new store. Two, in fact - Philip and Kay Bushnell. Phil and Kay will be retiring from Budgens after an awe-inspiring number of years running the store - 50 years for Phil and 48 for Kay.

Thank you for everything Phil & Kay!

JURRASIC COAST MARCH FOR PAUL When ex-Willink student and Burghfield Common resident Paul Donnachie was shot down and killed during the Iraq War back in 2007, the local community was devastated, none moreso than Phil Challis. Paul was one of Phil’s Army Cadets who longed to join the army but as soon as he had joined up, after completing the training and being posted out to Iraq as Rifleman of 2nd Battalion

the Rifles, his dream was short lived when he was shot down. Phil Challis and Danielle Ball have been raising money in Paul’s memory for The Rifles Regimental Trust by joining 200 veterans to walk the length of two marathons in three days during September along the Dorset Jurassic Coast.

and casualties. The funds raised from this appeal are dedicated to support the immediate, medium and long term care of Rifles’ Casualties. To make a donation to this worthy cause, just scan the QR code here.

The Rifles Regiment Trust provides support for families

HUMBLE HOLLYWOOD The Wellington Arms in Baughurst had a lovely surprise recently when Hollywood actor, Paul Rudd, popped in for lunch, much to the delight of the landlord and staff.

Teasing their followers, the landlord shared the photos on the Facebook page of the Wellington Arms and asked: “He popped in for lunch anyone know who he is?”

Paul Rudd is currently shooting AntMan and the Wasp: Quantumania in London, but took some time out for lunch and spent time taking pictures with the landlord and staff.

Of course, this created an excited reaction with Paul known well for his roles in Friends, Ant-Man and Avengers: Endgame. A little bit of Hollywood in Baughurst!

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Celebrate the Festive Season

AT THE CUNNING MAN, BURGHFIELD READ ER O Mentio FFER

book a n Eye w h ta Man o ble at The Cen you n Octob any Sundaunning FREEer and enjoyy in a DE on us!SSERT *

“Take a look at our Festive, Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve menus for a flavour of what we’ve got in store for you at The Cunning Man this year.” Since Hayley Goodrick joined The Cunning Man, it has been her mission to build on the feeling of ‘belonging’ at this well-loved country pub and restaurant. Hayley has worked around the UK for the parent company, Mitchells and Butlers, and is particularly delighted to be managing the business 6

and team at the riverside Cunning Man in the heart of our community. Nothing is too much trouble when it comes to their customers and The Cunning Man team often receives special requests, such as reserving a favourite table in the restaurant or adding some candles for a date night, so if you are looking for something a bit more personal, just ask.

There is lots going on all year round including live music on the ﬁrst Friday of the month and a weekly quiz on Thursdays. They offer a wide range of drinks including numerous gins, cocktails and 3-4 alternating ales. If you have a CAMRA card, you’ll enjoy a discount on your ales, too! As a dog-friendly establishment, you can bring the dog inside, but if you would prefer to sit outside for a little longer,

you’ll ﬁnd a comfortable (heated and lit) covered shelter where you can enjoy your meal. Of course, Christmas is coming and there are some special festive events lined up including a Christmas Fair on 11th December and a Christmas Quiz on 23rd December.

Our Festive Menu

The festive menu is launched on 22nd November. With two courses from this delicious menu on offer for just £22.95 which include dishes like Roast Turkey, Smoked Pancetta & Cranberry Pie, Curried Vegetable Wellington and Slow Cooked Pork Belly, it won’t take much to tempt you in the door.

Your Annual Christmas ‘Do�

Hayley is keen to build connections with local business and organisations so that she and the team can offer them just what they need. The Cunning Man is so much more than a local pub and offers quality food in a beautiful riverside setting with roaring open ﬁres, providing the perfect setting for Christmas celebrations. The team can organise a buffet-style festive meal or full table service and if you need to change things up a bit, just ask.

Your Festive Family Get-Togethers

Christmas Day is always very special at The Cunning Man and this year will be no different. You can expect a delightful atmosphere, a mouth-watering three course festive meal, a visit from Santa and gifts for the children... Perfect at just £69.95pp. But it’s not all about Christmas Day...What about your Boxing Day get-together or New Year celebrations? Ditch the apron this year and let The Cunning Man make it a day to remember. You can relax and enjoy your sumptuous meal without the clearing up!

Eye Readers:Free Desserts

Hayley would love to welcome more Village Eye readers to The Cunning Man and has arranged a fantastic reader offer to give away. Dine at The Cunning Man on any Sunday in October and enjoy a dessert absolutely free of charge. Delicious! What are you waiting for? Book your table today!

Give the gift of a memory this year

And if you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas, why not order some Vintage Inn gift vouchers? They can be redeemed at any time until March 2022, giving the recipient the freedom to choose when to book their table. Give the gift of a memory this Christmas!

Win Sunday Lunch!

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ENTER OUR FABULOUS COMPETITION TO WIN A FAMILY SUNDAY LUNCH & A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR 4! SEE PAGE 40 FOR ENTRY DETAILS!

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Know your Sauvignon from your Chardonnay? Local company, Tasting House Online can help - and deliver direct to your door.

Win

Win a Wine Tasting Experience, for 4 people including a bottle of fizz! Turn to page 40 for details

Enjoy Responsibly. For more information, please go to responsibledrinking.eu and responsibility.org

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OCTOBER

breast Cancer Awareness month

Ladies & Gentlemen (yes, we said menfolk too)... With Around 55,000 women and 370 men being diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, please aquaint yourself with the signs & always, always get yourself checked if you notice any changes. Your friends & family will thank you.

Wear it pink 10

22.10.21

Check your Boobies!

Health

Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month raises awareness and money for the fight against breast cancer with the support of charities, brands and celebrities. In the UK, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, with the NHS stating that one in eight women are diagnosed with it in their life. Almost one million women in the UK have missed vital breast screenings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with charity Breast Cancer Now saying that it’s important to raise awareness “now more than ever.” The good news is, survival rates are high in the UK. Three Mile Cross resident, Vicky Martin has, for the last 8 years, been on a one-woman mission to help as many cancer survivors as possible. Dubbed ‘Unstoppable Vicky’ by her peers, her globally-renowned expertise in medical nipple tattooing gives breast cancer survivors back their confidence following a mastectomy. “What I do makes a huge difference to their confidence and self-esteem.” she told us. “It’s like finding a diamond in the dirt - I can help empower these women to feel like women again.” Patients are often able to have the work completed for free via cancer charities or with Bupa - and when they visit her Wokingham-based clinic directly, she provides an at-cost rate for cancer survivors.

HOW SHOULD I CHECK MY BREASTS? Breasts come in different shapes and sizes and your breasts can change with age and vary at different times of the month. Knowing your breasts and what is normal for you is important as it will make it easier to spot any unusual changes. Knowing about breast cancer signs and symptoms Any lumps or a lumpy area can help you to understand what changes A change in skin texture such as which may not be visible but Any changes in size orif shape. dimpling or puckering. which can be felt. to look for and you do spot anything unusual, you should get checked out by your doctor. Check all parts of your breasts and armpits up to your collarbone. Here are the changes to look out for: Any change to the nipple in appearance or direction.

A discharge from one or both nipples or any rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area.

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Any pain or swelling in the breast area, armpit or collarbone.

(Reg. Charity No. 1080839)

Vicky’s artistry is incredible. And it’s not just us that think so. She often speaks at conferences as a ‘Master’ across the globe and runs regular training courses in an increasing number of countries including USA, Russia, Brazil, Australia and Iceland to give permanent make up artists, nurses and tattoo specialists the expertise to recreate her realistic 3D nipples (known internationally as the Vicky Martin Method) on as many survivors as possible. So far, Vicky and her students have helped 1000s of women the world over to regain confidence and reinstate their self-esteem. But there is a problem. Her work is so realistic that images of her nipple art have been flagged for nudity on Facebook on many occasions which has lead to Vicky and her extended team being occasionally barred from the platform. Vicky has, for a number of years, been campaigning for Facebook to implement their verification system on her account (a system already in place and not that hard to implement) to ensure that her ‘genuine’ areola work (and the work of those she trains) is able to make it onto their pages without any sexual connotations and subsequent banning. “This is art,” she told us. Thus far, although Facebook has met with Vicky several times over the last few years and repeatedly pledged to tick the right box to verify her medical posts are ok, they have so far failed to stand by their promises. Frustrated with their tardiness, Vicky has recently taken a stand with a small army of campaigners who inflated giant breasts outside Facebook’s London headquarters for the second time. The protest, as you’d expect, raised some eyebrows and even caught the attention of the BBC, Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, the Daily Mail and the New York Times! As for Facebook, they refused to send anyone out for comment. Perhaps they thought it was a booby trap. To find out more, visit www.vickymartinmethod.com

Any changes in size or shape.

A change in skin texture such as dimpling or puckering.

Any lumps or a lumpy area which may not be visible but which can be felt.

Any change to the nipple in appearance or direction.

A discharge from one or both nipples or any rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area.

Any pain or swelling in the breast area, armpit or collarbone.

www.pinkribbonfoundation.org.uk

(Reg. Charity No. 1080839)

A change in skin texture such as

Any lumps or a lumpy area which may not be visible but

Harvest Tim e

SICK OF BEING A SLAVE TO THE

SHAVE?

magine the joy of not having to think about shaving your legs every other day or having to cover up because you’ve just not had the time. There may not be much cause to shave legs now that autumn is here, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting our bodies ready for next summer so you don’t have to think about shaving your legs ever again! Research reveals that on average, a woman will spend £6,500 and eight weeks of her life shaving unwanted hair. Whilst women who wax twice a month will spend around £23,000 on this during their lifetime. This is why the popularity of laser hair removal is increasing as it saves both time and money and is a permanent solution. Laser hair removal is an ideal and effective treatment to get rid of unwanted hair on any part of the face or

Need Dentures? we can help!

H A V om va is e ila its bl e

Paul Moorcroft, a clinical dental technologist. Paul has over 39 years of experience in providing new dentures and denture repairs.

• Professional Advice • Dentures • Partial Dentures • Denture Repairs • Suction Dentures

Beauty

body, and is revered by both women and men and all skin types.

How does it work? Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle using brief pulses of light energy. The laser light is absorbed by melanin (pigmentation) in the hair follicle and creates heat which travels down the hair shaft and destroys the hair follicle, this giving you a permanent hair removal result. The process is completely safe and leaves the surrounding tissue unharmed. How long does it take? The actual treatment itself is very quick, and a course of eight treatments is arranged to achieve permanent reduction. These are usually spaced at four-to-six week intervals, depending on which area is being treated. After treatment, the active hairs will start to fall out within two weeks.

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ESTABLISHED FOR 20 YEARS, YOUR LOCAL PRIVATE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC.

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Cold weather brings low humidity levels and dry air, which can suck the moisture from your skin, and without proper care, skin can become dry, cracked and irritated... As the weather changes, we need to change our skincare routine. Cooler temperatures outside and the drying effects of central heating indoors can wreak havoc with our skin. And with just a few weeks until the Christmas party season, now is the time to lavish some autumn love on your skin. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise is the mantra for the colder months. Over the summer you can get away with light formulas but as the weather cools down, you need thicker formulas that create a barrier between your skin and the cold, wind and rain. Dry, flaky skin is a common concern at this time of year. It can be painful and is difficult to hide with foundation - trust me, I have tried. Even if you struggle with oily skin, you need a moisturiser. There are plenty on the market that won’t break you out or make you look like an oil slick by lunch time. I think of exfoliators as the ‘Holy Grail’ of skincare and if you don’t use one, that needs to change. I guarantee your skin will thank you for it. If you like a more intense scrub-like feeling there are hundreds on the market but if you prefer something gentler, and with more penetrative

Non comedogenic and with a mattifying eﬀect this will keep you shine free but moisturised for hours. £17, Boots

ingredients, I recommend trying a chemical exfoliant. Not scary, I promise. But remember, your skin isn’t as naturally oily in the winter months as it is in the summer so avoid over-exfoliating, 2-3 times a week is plenty. SPF. Yes, we may not be enjoying our coﬀee Continental-style outside anymore but that doesn’t mean we can forget about SPF altogether. Sun protection is built into many foundations and moisturisers and should be worn all year round to protect ourselves from age spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. Remember, sun damage can be deadly.

The perfect multi-purpose moisture balm. £10.99, Boots

A slightly pricier option but works well evening out skin tone and helping to minimise the appearance of pores.

Just because summer is over it doesn’t mean we need to give up on looking sun-kissed. Try mixing some radiance drops into your moisturiser or foundation to keep that glowy look all year round.

£9.00 Paula’s Choice

Of course, we can’t forget about lip balm. A handbag staple and not just for your lips pop it on any dry patches for instant relief. Try not to let the winter blues get you down, it will be Christmas before you know it…

Add this into your current moisturiser, foundation or put directly on the face to give an instant hydrating boost. £3.49,

Love This!

Drop these into your moisturiser to keep you glowing. £9.00

Lookfantastic.com

This one’s for those that like a proper scrub and contains Glycolic acid gently helps to resurface the skin. £12.95

Sainsburys

Amazon

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The Need For Speed World champ Lewis Hamilton on staying, and feeling, young and motivated for success.

Celebrity 14

It’s fair to speculate that Lewis Hamilton polarises opinion, even in the midst of being unveiled as the greatest ever Formula One racer.

track often gathers as many headlines for Hamilton, the racer is confident in his commitment to the sport.

His victory at the Turkish Grand Prix in the middle of November last year ensured the Stevenage-born speedster equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Drivers’ Championships, having already surpassed the German’s race victory total the month before, in another season of unparalleled dominance.

“There are no racing drivers who finish a day’s racing on the track, head home get to bed then wake up the next morning and do the same thing again and again and again. We all have lives outside the circuit, and of course it’s one of those sports where there is a lot of other stuff going on, and with all the money in the sport means you get these big showbiz events.”

And while not everything has gone his way so far this season, the bookies are still firm in their backing of the 36-year-old Brit as, categorically, the man to beat. The champ said: “To all the kids out there, dream the impossible! Seven is just unimaginable but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what you can do together. “I feel like I’m only just getting started, it’s really weird.” He may just be correct in that statement. The Mercedes driver has time on his side – the great Luigi Fagioli was 53 when he scored his final race win at the 1951 French Grand Prix.

“I know people like to brand me as this celebrity who cares more about image, money and photoshoots than he does his profession, but I can assure you that’s not true nor has it ever been true.

As far as being the sport’s ‘Marmite man’, his 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award proves that public swell remains with him. And anyway, not only does Hamilton give short shrift to the detractors, he has the ability to stay calm and collected at all times. “Racing has been a part of my DNA from the start,” he says. “I’m just not one of those drivers who’s going to go around losing my rag. “I do remember back in the day watching Michael Schumacher square up to other drivers and go after them in the pit lane at the end of races, and don’t me wrong it was great entertainment to watch that kind of thing. And

actually, it was exciting for the sport to think that you had these really passionate guys driving cars who could possibly flip at any moment; but that’s just not me, and for the most part it’s not the way others would behave. “We are in a different era and a lot of us have been trained as racing drivers to keep our cool, because when you start to lose your mind in a car you start to lose control.” As for what comes next, Hamilton remains as confident and motivated as ever. “In thinking about the future I always look to the past and I’ve been with Mercedes a long, long time. “It’s been a privilege to see Mercedes evolve, see the success over those years, and now to be a part of that success and to see them constantly evolving, innovating, moving forward.”

Lewis ton x Hamil

Certainly, it’s becoming difficult to remember a time when Hamilton’s grit, speed and desire wasn’t present in the sport. Many believe he truly announced himself at the British Grand Prix in 2008, driving for McLaren. Although he’d already clocked up six victories, dating back to Canada a year previously, his mastery of brutally wet driving conditions to win by over a minute after starting fourth on the grid, set a precedent where he was regarded as the driver to beat. What he has done since has lived up to the potential he showed that incredible day. While life away from the

Wher e the there re’s a ’s a w way ill

Make provision for the things you love (with a little help from us)

No one likes to talk about death, but you can leave problems for your family if you don’t make plans. It can feel daunting, but making a will can be straightforward and won’t cost the earth. Tips for arranging your will: Choose who draws up your will wisely Will drafting is full of pitfalls for the unwary and badly drafted wills can cost much more to sort out. Choose executors and trustees carefully The roles can be demanding and involve handling large sums of money. Talk to them to ensure they are happy to act. Appoint substitute executors If you are married, you may want to appoint your spouse, but if you died together in a car accident, consider a substitute. Appoint guardians If you have children under 18 a guardian will be appointed by the court if you have not specified who this should be in your will. Make specific legacies If you have family treasures or items of special sentimental value, you can leave them to a named beneficiary. Make sure you deal with the residue ‘Residue’ is what is left in your estate after funeral costs, any inheritance tax, administration costs and legacies are paid out. You must specify who this goes to, otherwise you risk creating an intestacy where the law decides who inherits. Also consider what should happen if this person dies before you. 16

Consider Inheritance Tax This is becoming a burden for many families, and certain circumstances such as cohabitees are treated harshly for tax. Professional advice can help you maximise tax exemptions. Sign your will It must be signed in front of two independent witnesses and there are strict rules on who can be a witness. Store your will in a safe place and let your executors know where it is. It’s no good to anyone if it can’t be found after your death. Please contact our friendly Private Client team who will be happy to assist.

Tadley Office

Sherfield House, Mulfords Hill, Tadley RG26 3XJ 0118 981 2992 info-tadley@ rowberrymorris.co.uk FREE car park at rear of office

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17 Castle Street, Reading, RG1 7SB 0118 958 5611 info-reading@ rowberrymorris.co.uk Offices also at Richmond and Staines www.rowberrymorris. co.uk

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0118 987 6655 info@blueskyifas.co.uk www.blueskyifas.co.uk

BLUESKY Chartered Financial Planners is a trading style of BLUESKY Independent Financial Advisers LLP which is authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.’

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5 SCARY PENSION MISTAKES TO AVOID THIS HALLOWEEN tax or limiting the scope for future pension contributions. 2. Taking all your pension pot in one go While the current rules allow you to take your pension savings as cash, anything you withdraw above the 25% tax-free allowance is added to your income for that year and taxed accordingly – potentially 40% if you are pushed into the higher rate tax bracket. Paying high rate tax rarely makes sense and you may be better withdrawing your pension savings in stages to avoid being pushed into a higher tax bracket.

without pension pot Taking your lead to you making advice could ecisions. the wrong d nd the ber just arouension to c O 31 ith p So, w are five scary corner, hereu should avoid making mistakes yo en. this Hallowe 1. Drawing your pension too early Since the changes to pension rules in 2015, you can now access your pension pot from age 55. This has meant that some people choose to take an income from it while they are still working. This can potentially be a great way to ‘phase’ into full retirement but there are potential drawbacks - less time for the fund to accumulate, paying unnecessary

3. Investing your pension savings in cash Cash should rarely form a large part of your portfolio. It is essential that the underlying investment strategy reflects the time period over which you may be drawing down – potentially 30 years. While the value of stocks and shares can fluctuate, experts suggest a globally diversified investment strategy will be suitable for most people. In the current ultra-low interest rate world with rising inflation, cash is unlikely to be a long term answer. 4. Using your pension pot when you have other options Naturally, we think of our pensions as being there to provide us with an income when we retire. However, if you do have access to other income sources when you retire (e.g. savings accounts or ISAs), it can be better to start drawing on these assets first. This is because your pension fund grows

free of Income and Capital Gains Tax. Additionally, pension funds are free of Inheritance Tax and are a great way to pass on assets to the next generation. 5. Withdrawing money if you don’t need it Do you really need to take money from your pension savings? As we saw above, the money that you have invested is growing free of both Income and Capital Gains Tax, so if you don’t immediately need it then it can pay to leave it alone. Pension funds are also free of Inheritance Tax so there is little point in taking money out of the pension and potentially placing it into an environment where Inheritance Tax could apply. Withdrawing money can lead to losing tax breaks and losing potential investment returns. Get in touch Taking advice on retirement can help you to keep control of your income and your lifestyle. So, if you’re approaching retirement or need to get a better understanding of how pensions can help you, please get in touch.

Jeremy Jeremy Jackson is a chartered Financial Planner with Bluesky Chartered Financial Planners

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READY FOR TECHNOLOGY TO GET UNDER YOUR SKIN?

orget chip and pin... We bring you - chip & skin! Did you know around a quarter of British consumers expect to be able to pay for items in shops using a chip embedded in their hand by 2037? Research from Nationwide Payments revealed that 23% of respondents believe this will be the main method of biometric payment, while 58% think it will be thumbprints. Lots of people are moving to store these sorts of things in their smartphones, of course, using services like Apple Pay and smart locks. But phones can be lost and hackeds, so a growing number of people, including - for whatever reason - about 3,000 Swedes, are opting for something even more invasive, and arguably practical: a surgically inserted microchip, according to the Associated French Press. The chip itself essentially acts as a digital keychain. NFC (near-field communication) is a way of sending information wirelessly from a passive chip to a reader,

but only when they are about 4 cm apart. (You might have heard of radio frequency identification, or RFID. NFC is a more sophisticated form of it). A chip in the hand can help people do things like sign into the gym, unlock doors to cars and offices and, in the future, make credit card payments. Over time, as the technology progresses, the implants will be able to do even more. Take Steve Northam for example. A British inventor who is believed to be the first in the country to be fitted with a microchip so he can open his front door, access his office and even start his car with just a wave of his hand... Steven, from Hampshire, who had the grain of rice sized chip implanted between his thumb and finger last year is now offering the service to businesses and individuals who want to simplify their life with technology through his company BioTeq.

Z4, which starts when his hand is on the wheel. Although Mr Northam’s wife has refused to be chipped, he his hoping his baby daughter will embrace the new technology when she is older. But if you’re now excited at the imminent prospect of waving your hand at the checkout in Budgens, don’t hold your breath. Currently, the chips don’t have the necessary permission to make contactless payments as they are not privy to the complex technology coupling from the likes of Visa & MasterCard et al. Are the large financial companies looking into this as a future payment method? Of course they are. Scary stuff!

So far, Steve has had the technology fitted to both his home and his BMW

TECH

eye Community News

LOCAL LEADERS MARCH FOR MIND

What did you do last weekend? Two of Burghﬁeld’s Cub Scout leaders and a Young Leader took on the Thames Path Ultra Challenge - a 100km hike - in memory of one of their leader team who recently passed away. In ‘old school’ that’s over 62 miles in a day! Their efforts have raised an incredible £10,000 for Mind - the mental health charity. Becky Hutchinson(40), Rowan Pulford(51) and Asha Alder(17) took on the challenge in memory of Mortimer resident Rich(ard) Boud. Rich was one of the team, a keen adventurer, a true ‘Scout’ if ever there was one. Right to the end he inspired the Burghﬁeld Cub Scouts with his ‘Where’s Rich?’ interlude during Covid Zoom sessions, and over the years he supported those with special needs, due to his own family experiences. Rich was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and after many procedures and chemotherapy, he sadly passed away in May. During his life, Rich had battled mental health challenges as well as cancer. Speaking from his hospital bed shortly before his death, Rich

commented “I can say, having lived through both, the worst bits of mental health disorders are as bad as the worst bits of cancer, and yet the treatment available for cancer is world-beating but mental health almost entirely lacking.” As a result a plan was formed – Becky, Rowan and Asha would take the Thames Path Ultra Challenge to raise funds for Mind; if they couldn’t do anything for Rich, they would try to improve the lives of other sufferers who are still with us. The charity, Mind, provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Because of Mind, millions more people have access to advice and support thanks to their information and services. Perhaps you know someone who could beneﬁt from their support?

Rowan. “It was a marathon and then some, getting 4 hours sleep in a tent, and then doing it all again.” Sadly, Becky had to retire at 68km, having fought through the pain for quite some time. Rowan and Asha made it to the end where Rich’s wife (Karen) and daughter (Chloe), all pictured above, cheered them over the line and thanked them for supporting Mind in Rich’s memory. Rich and the team have given a lot to the local community through their Cubs activities. Although Rich is no longer with us, hopefully this fundraising will help Mind’s essential work with those who still are. To donate, you can use this link (https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/panthersteamrich) or go to JustGiving and search for PanthersTeamRich.

“I’ve done a lot of walking over the years, but this has been the most gruelling thing I’ve done. We had to push through pain, exhaustion and the mental challenge of keeping going right into the night” said

StageAbility runs weekly drama classes across four centres in Berkshire: Tilehurst, Burghﬁeld Common, Wokingham and Earley. They also run musical theatre classes (Mortimer and Earley), afterschool drama clubs, drama teaching in primary schools, youth theatre shows and holiday drama camps for children aged 5-18. Priding themselves on their students’ development, with each child following an individual path. Conﬁdence, self-belief, teamwork and increased self-esteem are at the centre of everything they do.

Win

WIN A TERM OF DRAMA CLASSES FOR YOUR CHILD!

ENTER OUR FABULOUS COMPETITION TO WIN A TERM OF DRAMA CLASSES FOR YOUR CHILD! To enter, hover your device over the QR code or visit www.eyemagazines.co.uk and answer the following question: To start at StageAbility, how old do you need to be? A: Three B: Four C: Five

Ts & Cs at eyemagazines.co.uk

If you’d like to ﬁnd out more, visit berkshire.stageability.co.uk

in October

Organisation Hello October Happy Halloween month! October is here and we’re asking what are the best styling tips and tricks can we give you for October. It’s a perfect time to enjoy the warmer colours as it starts to get colder outside. So here is what we’ve come up with for you.

Lets talk pantries The benefits of a kitchen pantry can be greatly underrated and you don’t have to have a whole separate walk in room to create your perfect pantry. A pantry serves as a food storage system, which can be organised and filled with things from jars of pasta to kitchen appliances (depending on sizing.) Your pantry can be a style statement or can be a hidden wonder, and there are many ways of fitting this fixture into your home. A couple of space effective ways you can consider are; Repurposing a bookshelf, using the studs between your walls or even reconsider that coat closet.

Chair resurrection Have you got an old battered chair sitting in the corner that needs a bit of love? Instead of taking a trip to the tip why not try your hand at upholstering? If your chair’s structural integrity is still solid, then why not give it a little upgrade and get crafty. The best part is that you can have total control over the new material and decorate with the rest of your home in mind. Step by step guides for this project can be found easily online! Happy upholstering!

Home

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Pumpkins galore It’s not all about the carving this year, but the painting of your pumpkins. There are certainly pros and cons of both ways of decorating, but painting means you can maybe get a little more creative with colour, patterns and so on. By painting you’re also avoiding the sticky icky part of the process of pulling the inner seeds out (which, admittedly, some may like.) If you’re planning a spooky evening with guests, beautifully decorated pumpkins can be a statement piece on your table set-up. Fun designs for painting or carving are easy to find online and whatever way you choose to decorate, we hope you have a spook-tastic time doing it!

Autumn patterns Need to update your cushions? You can’t go wrong with a warm palette, These pillows are designed perfectly to add that pop of colour without dominating your living space too much. Autumn time doesn’t have to just be about reds and oranges, a cool blue tone mixed in with the autumnal colours can add a great contrast.

Devil is in the detail If you’re not a fan of going full force on the deco, you can play around with the smaller details. These tiny little bats are easy to make, are quite effective and a nice stylish addition to your home for the spooky season. Get creative! eyemagazines.co.uk

hello@eyemagazines.co.uk 21

Shinfield A truly beautiful family home The current owners bought this magnificent 5 bedroom home from plan due to it sitting in a fabulous tucked away position in the heart of Shinfield Village. Since then, the property has been extended and updated to create a truly individual home of great quality and character with a fantastic sense of light and space and incredible versatility with 5 reception rooms creating room for all the family. • • • • • • •

Extended and improved 5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 5 reception rooms His and Hers dressing rooms Refitted bespoke kitchen + utility EPC Rating C

Guide: £1,000,000 Mortimer Stunning views A beautifully presented 3 double bedroom house offered for sale with no onward chain. Situated at the end of a long private drive in a most stunning location with views to the front and rear over well-tended grounds and farmland beyond. • • • • • • •

Home of great charm 3 double bedrooms 2 bathrooms Kitchen/dining room Living room + conservatory Private garden + communal grounds EPC rating D

£650,000 Contact our Mortimer office: Phone: 0118 467 7999 Email: mortimer@davidcliff.com Visit: davidcliff.com 22

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 Pamber Heath

Detached bungalow in enviable location This delightful 3 bedroom home is situated in a quiet tucked away location with a mature plot of circa 0.3 of an acre. The accommodation is well presented and there is the scope to expand either up into the roof space or indeed out into the garden subject to the usual planning permissions.

Guide: £650,000

Spencers Wood – SOLD Handsome Victorian Home

• • • • • • •

3 bedrooms Kitchen/dining room Dual aspect living room Refitted shower room Beautiful SW facing gardens Lovely non estate location EPC rating D

Beenham Detached bungalow with planning

Guide: £1,000,000

Three Mile Cross – SOLD No onward chain

O.I.E.O £650,000 •3 bedrooms •2 garages plus workshop •EPC rating D

•4 bedrooms •Utility and cloakroom •Dressing room to main bedroom•Double garage •Attractive conservatory •EPC Rating D

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Mortimer Common Retire to the village

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landlords & tenants O.I.E.O £190,000

£195,000

•Gated Development •Two bedroom apartment •55s and over •In the heart of the village •Overlooks Mortimer common •Second Floor Apartment •Living/Dining Room •EPC rating C •Fitted stair lift

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Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors Serving Tadley and surrounding areas Class IV Testing Station

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Pink Pages: Trades & Services

NEED A NEW BOILER?

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. Boiler Servicing Using state of the art combustion analysers we can service your boiler and help you comply with all necessary gas safety regulations.

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Pink Pages: Trades & Services

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Call us today!

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ADVERTISE IN, OR SEND FLYERS OUT WITH US TODAY.

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Hidden M essage W ord E

Once you find all the words, write down the unused letters starting in the top left corner to reveal the hidden message... Broomstick Cackle Cursed Eerie Enchanted Ghost Goblin Hag Haunting

Hex Incarntation Levitation Magic Medium Orbs Owl Phantom Seance

Spell Spirit Tomb Treat Trick Wand Wrait

I U W

I R G

A O L

Make your way from ‘SPOOK’ to ‘WHACK’ by changing one letter on each line to make a new word!

Spot the Differencese!below.

There are 10 differences between the two imag How many can you spot?

Spot the DSpooky ifferespot ncthe e! There are 10 diffe rences between th

difference

e two images belo w. How many can yo u spot?

Answers and solutions can be found on our film review page 32

Hallow

Once you fin unused lette corner into th hidden mes s

broomstick cackle cursed eerie enchanted ghost goblin hag haunting s Write the hi dd

YUMMY YUMMY

MUMMIES MUMMIES

Recipes

Method to the Madness... 1. Preheat oven to 190°C (170ºC fan) and line a large baking tray with baking paper. roll out and cut the pastry dough into 4 rectangles. Cut each rectangle lengthwise into thin strips. 2. Cut each slice of cheese into 4 strips. 3. Place a hot dog on top of a piece of cheese, then carefully wrap the sausages with your dough strips to look like bandages. (You’ll want roughly 4 strips per hot dog.) Repeat the process. 4. Put 2 teaspoons of butter in a small bowl and microwave until watery. 4. Place your mummy hot dogs on to a prepared baking tray and brush with melted butter.

Ingredients •Puff pastry •Cheese slices •Tin of hot dogs •Butter •Edible googly eyes

5.Bake until golden and cooked through, This can take between 12 to 15 minutes. 6. Using a toothpick, dot on a sauce of your choice as a glue for your googly eyes!

BDD VILLAGE EYE MAGAZINE A4.pdf

CMY

10/09/2021

10:29

Refreshments

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PROTECTING YOUR LEGACY

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk Follow us to keep updated, locally

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Fun is an essential ingredient at Green Park Day Nursery and Preschool where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them.

FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM

Please call 0118 931 3115 or email greenpark.nursery@childbase.com Green Park Day Nursery and Preschool, Green Park Business Park, 200 South Oak Way, Lime Square, Green Park, Reading, RG2 6UQ

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU www.childbasepartnership.com

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk Follow us to keep updated, locally

eye о

Jubilee l ves

Educa

The leaves on the trees are changing colour, the weather is getting cooler, and it’s time to celebrate autumn at Jubilee! It’s one of the nurseries favourite times of the year, watching our beautiful outdoor space change with the season. The best being that our mud kitchen gets extra muddy! At Jubilee, we believe in children ‘learning by doing’ - both inside and out - every day. It’s what makes Jubilee children conﬁdent and independent young learners. The children love to jump in all the puddles, leap over logs and crunch through the sea of technicoloured leaves down at our 60 acres of woodland! Keeping their eyes peeled for fairies, woodland animals and the resident Gruﬀalo along the way… Inside, we get creative with muddy mark making, collecting natural objects for our autumn displays, making dens and hibernating like bears at naptime.

@jubileedaynursery @jubileegems

At this time of the year, our garden is bursting with delicious fruit and vegetables which the children have helped to plant. On our autumn nursery menu we often try to make a delicious blackberry and apple pie from fruit the children have foraged from our woodland, and a tasty pumpkin soup made from the pumpkin patch in our garden.

Jubilee Day Nursery and its termtime sister nursery, Jubilee Gems, are set in over 60 acres of private gardens and woodland, with a working farm. Situated in Padworth, Berkshire, the nurseries are central between Newbury, Reading and Basingstoke. Jubilee Day Nursery and Jubilee Gems are open to all children from three months to ﬁve years of age. We also have a Harvest Festival so that we can continue to support the West Berks Food Bank. All the food harvested from our garden goes straight to the charity along with additional food items. At Jubilee we truly believe in teaching the children about giving thanks for all that we have and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

To contact Jubilee Gems, please telephone: 0118 983 4018 Email: info@jubileegems.co.uk or visit www.jubileegems.co.uk

To contact Jubilee Day Nursery, please telephone: 0118 970 1600 Email: info@jubileedaynursery.co.uk or visit www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk 37

Here’s what’s coming your area this half t up in erm!

October half te rm is just around the corner and our local towns and villages are host ing some fantas tic events for the ch ildren. Best of all, these comm unity activities ar e low cost and m any of them ca n accommodate the whole family and keep them ente rtained for a fu ll da y! Of course, Hallo ween celebrat ions play a big part in this, but we al so have the ever-p opular scarecro w trails taking plac e too. Take a lo ok at what’s on of fer, check out ho w to take part an d get the kids – and grandparents out and about this half term…it’s going to be spook-tast ic!

Tadley Spooky House Trail Tadley has an amazing Spooky House Hunt for all locals this year! With over 100 houses predicted to participate, what could be more fun than this adventure for the whole family? The hunt will start 23rd of October to 31st and maps will be available to purchase from Gourmet Queens for £2. For more details and updates, check out Tadley’s Halloween Trail Facebook page.

On Fun Mortimer Scarecrow Trail 2021 This year, the MVP Scarecrow Trail will be taking place from Sunday 24th October to Sunday 31st. The scarecrows will be on show daily throughout half term. Trail maps are £1 and will be on sale from Spratley’s in the open air - or you can download your map from www. mortimervillage.org.uk. Enjoy!

Silchester Scarecrow Trail Silchester are once again holding a fabulous Halloween Scarecrow Trail. The trail will take place from Sunday 24th to Sunday 31st and this year’s theme is superheroes! Get your Batman capes at the ready! Maps are available for £1 from The Calleva Arms and from Suzi and Jane’s pop up café (Open every Friday in October.)

RG Spooky House Hunt We are delighted to announce that the RG Spooky Trail is taking place for a second year. The aim of the game is to acquire a map from the Facebook page (RG Halloween Hunt 2021) and head off on a family adventure to find the spooky–ooky decorated houses. This is a fun and socially distanced way to enjoy your Halloween. The hunt starts Wednesday 27th October until 31st October! Happy hunting!

Spencers Wood Trail The Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross Halloween Trail is entering its 2nd year in 2021 having been a massive success last year following its creation to give a COVID-19 safe alternative to trick or treating. There will be a family fun trail of scarecrows and Halloween decorated houses - with questions to be answered at each stop. Maps will be available from Budgens, Three Mile Cross just before and during trail week for £1 each. All completed trail sheets should be returned to Budgens with a prize for everyone who completes the quiz and correctly identifies the code word. There are loads of other competitions being run during the week too - all details will be on the Facebook page - with lots of amazing prizes donated by local companies who are supporting the event.

Win Sunday Lunch for 4 at

The Cunning Man, Burghﬁeld!

Win

Are you looking for a family-friendly pub & restaurant? The team at The Cunning Man, Burghfield have gone all-out to cater for families - so why not pop over and try it out? You’ll find a pretty, canal-side garden, mouthwatering dishes and a selection of great drinks too! Situated next to the Kennet & Avon Canal at Burghfield Bridge, The Cunning Man lends itself beautifully to a leisurely post-lunch Sunday stroll in one of Berkshire’s best beauty spots!

ENTER OUR FABULOUS COMPETITION TO WIN SUNDAY LUNCH & A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR 4! To enter, hover your device over the QR code or visit www.eyemagazines.co.uk and answer the following question: The Cunning Man is situated by which bridge... A: Reading Bridge B: London Bridge C: Burghﬁeld Bridge

Reader Oﬀer!

Enjoy Responsibly. For more information, please go to responsibledrinking.eu and responsibility.org

Mention Eye Magazine when you book a table at The Cunning Man on any Sunday in October and everyone in your party can enjoy a free dessert on us!*

Hands up if you like wine? We’ve teamed up with local wine experts, Tasting House Online, to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a wine tasting experience for four people either online or in person or at one of their monthly pop-up events. The winner and their party will get the opportunity to sample some delicious wines from their selection of over 150 labels and walk away with a complimentary bottle of fizz too! Yum. For more details about Tasting House Online, their selection and Wine Club, turn to page 9.

ENTER OUR FABULOUS COMPETITION TO WIN A WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE FOR 4 PEOPLE INCLUDING A BOTTLE OF FIZZ, hover your device over the QR code or visit www.eyemagazines.co.uk and answer the following question: Tasting House Online supply over how many wine labels? A: 50 B: 100 C:150

www.tastinghouse.co.uk *Ts& Cs Apply. Full Terms & Conditions can be found on our website at eyemagazines.co.uk

Know your Sauvignon from your Chardonnay? Local company, Tasting House Online can help and deliver direct to your door.

At the

Flicks

with ROB BARNES

Shang -Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

With a refreshing US-Chinese culture clash the latest Marvel offering features its first Asian kung-fu fighting superhero, but it’s the buddy movie at its heart that lands the biggest punch. Seduced by the power of the ancient ten rings, morally wayward father Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) drives away his family, but on reuniting years later is forced to confront his past. Whilst the martial arts provides some truly stunning action sequences, notably the opening fight sequence on a speeding bus, it’s the wise-cracking chemistry between our two joyriding dropout friends Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) that provide the highlights. Evoking tones of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon it’s also a beautiful looking movie. The balletic kung-fu choreography set against a backdrop of mountain landscapes, enchanted bamboo forests and mystical dragons helps set it apart from the usual Marvel fare. It didn’t quite deliver on its promise, but an entertaining ride.

Annette The brainchild of director Leos Carax and alternative rock band Sparks Annette is a film like no other. This romantic musical drama tells the story of a comedian Henry (Adam Driver) and operatic singer Anne (Marion Cotillard) who under the gaze of the media enjoy a whirlwind romance. But things turn sour after the birth of their child reveals a special talent that will change their lives forever. To say this movie is certainly not for the mainstream is an understatement, blending gothic fairytale fantasy with comic absurdity all set to a melodramatic pop-opera soundtrack. What’s even stranger is the depiction of their child as a wooden puppet. However the presence of two Hollywood stars in Driver and Cotillard give it just enough weight to keep you intrigued and if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and leave all cinematic conventions at the door it’s surprisingly enjoyable. A totally bonkers guilty pleasure if ever there was one!

Respect Jennifer Hudson shines in this biopic of the great late Queen of Soul and the woman Rolling Stone magazine named the greatest singer of all time, Aretha Franklin. The movie chronicles her churchgoing childhood under the strict tutelage of her Baptist pastor father (Forest Whittaker) through to her performance just six years ago at the Kennedy Center Honours watched by president Obama at the age of 73. While very conventional in its narrative structure Hudson’s powerhouse portrayal gives it a depth and resonance that’s hard to resist. Her ability to convey a raw vulnerability with a ferocious spirit along with jaw-dropping vocals will surely see her in contention for a second Academy award come Oscar season. Worth a watch for Hudson alone.

Hidden Message Wordsearch E

E G

E V

Halloween Once you find all the words. Copy the unused letters starting in the top left corner into the blanks to reveal the hidden message.

broomstick cackle cursed eerie enchanted ghost goblin hag haunting

Write the hidden message here:

‘Double, double, toil and trouble’

“Double, double, toil and trouble”

hex incantation levitation magic medium orbs owl phantom seance

spell spirit tomb treat trick wand wraith

Spot the difference solutions

Fitness is the one

exam you can ‘t cram for!

emember back in school when your friend would tell you they’d spent too much time partying and not enough time studying, so they needed cram like crazy to get that last minute revision in for their exam? Have you ever noticed that people often try a similar approach with their fitness? Suddenly someone decides they need to get in shape, so they start “cramming for their fitness exam” because they want super-fast change! They may train twice a day, or go from doing no exercise to super intense workouts daily. They may feel good in the short term, and post about their workouts on social media to bask in the adulation of all the “likes” of their dedication. But over time something changes, all those squat jumps and burpees start to get laborious. They don’t feel energetic like they wanted, they just feel sore, and angry at the world! A few months in, they’ve given up. They resign themselves to a life of low energy and tiredness because exercise obviously doesn’t work for them. What’s happened here? They’ve tried to cram for an exam that can’t be crammed for. You see, exercise is a form of stress. You don’t get fitter and stronger by exercising; you get fitter and stronger by recovering from exercise.

When you exercise, or put another way, when you train (many people exercise, but don’t train - another source of missed results), you stress your body’s energy systems and create microtears in your muscles. It can take up to 48 hours to recover the energy used by an intense exercise session, and at least that long for your muscles to repair themselves. So you see, putting yourself through punishing workouts every day, just adds stress upon stress, putting your body in a state of constant inflammation, reducing your immune function, and hampering your long-term success.

My own training routine is this: Strength training-twice per week. Cardio training-twice per week. Stretching-daily before bed. That’s it. I feel as fit and athletic at 38 as I did when I was 25. I train well, keep moving in between workouts, and give my body time to recover. If you find yourself wanting instant results from exercise, remember; that’s one exam you can’t cram for. I help people by creating training plans that they can sustain for the long term. Do too much, too soon, and you’ll burn out and miss out.

Steve x

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contact our mortimer office: phone: 0118 467 7999 email: mortimer@davidcliff.com visit: davidcliff.com Offices also at Wokingham, Binfield and Park Lane, London