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As II write write this, this, we’re we’re flying flying towards towards the the end end of of Au Au As gust and and sadly sadly leaving leaving Summer Summer behind behind us. us. Many Many gust of you you will will have have been been and and returned returned from from your your holi holi of days and and kids kids and and parents parents are are psyching psyching them them days selves up up for for the the return return to to school. school. (note (note to to self: self: selves need to to buy buy daughter’s daughter’s school school uniform uniform inin next next few few need days). days). Whilst I’m I’m yet yet to to take take aa holiday holiday this this year, year, II have have Whilst recently discovered discovered the the joys joys of of camping. camping. Now Now recently don’t get get me me wrong, wrong, I’m I’m not not sure sure II could could do do aa don’t wholeweek week(although (althoughIImay maysurprise surprisemyself), myself),but butaa whole couple of of nights nights most most definitely. definitely. Having Having recently recently couple set off off to to Gloucester Gloucester with with complete complete trepidation, trepidation, aa set newtent, tent,that thatno noone onehad hadaaclue cluehow howto toerect, erect, and and new car full full of of blankets, blankets, II had had the the calming calming back back up up aa car plan of of booking booking into into aa hotel hotel around around the the corner corner plan shouldititall allgo gowrong. wrong. Arriving Arrivingwith withabout aboutan anhour hour should of daylight daylight left, left, we we not not only only managed managed to to erect erect two two of tents, grab grab aa takeaway takeaway and and spend spend the the evening evening tents, having aa drink drink under under the the stars, stars, but but we we were were even even having up and and cooking cooking aa full full English English breakfast breakfast on on our our up newly purchased purchased stoves stoves the the following following morning. morning. ItIt newly was fun, fun, ininfact factIIhaven’t haven’tlaughed laughedso somuch muchinin ages ages was and we’re we’re all all now now eagerly eagerly planning planning our our next next es es and cape. If, If, like likeme, me, you youhaven’t haven’t been been camping campingsince since cape. youwere wereaakid, kid,I’d I’drecommend recommendgiving givingititaatry. try. Just Just you make sure sure there’s there’s at at least least aa BB && BB around around the the make corner (just (just inin case) case) and and aa pub pub within within walking walking dis dis corner tance! tance! Well, I’m I’m off off to tobuy buy school school shirts shirts and andmaybe maybe aa few few Well, morecamping campingaccessories. accessories. more
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BUCKINGHAM HOUSE LUXURY CARE HOME Gerrards Cross
MMCG welcomes you to an exclusive open day event at
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Local Parks & Events (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 19:22 Page 1
september events harlington Wi Produce & handicraft show sat 6th september from 1.30pm hayes and harlington Community Centre, albert Road, hayes UB3 4hR members will be exhibiting in the following classes: Handicrafts, Cookery, preserves, vegetables, Fruit and Flowers. Floral Art, photography and Literacy. sales table and refreshments will be available.
Local Events
Country Fayre & art exhibition/sale sat 6th september 12-4pm st marys Churchyard, Denham Village Includes an art sale by local artists, serpents & dragons raffle, tombola, vestry teas with homemade cakes and bbq. Lots of stalls; home produce, hat/bag stall, bric-a-brac, children’s stall, selection of reptiles to handle, classic cars and motorbikes and more. All welcome contact barbara 01895 237498 or Wendy 01895 832667 for details.
national macmillan Cancer Coffee morning Fri 26th september, 10am-1pm Denham Garden Village, Denham Village hall, Denham Green lane. everyone welcome to come and browse our stalls, books, cd’s, dvd’s, cake stall, white elephant & others, great tombola and raffle prizes. Come and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and cakes. please come and support this very worthy charity.
hUBB Business Breakfast thurs 11th september 8am-9am Bay lodge, 36 harefield Road, Uxbridge UB8 1Ph A free event in partnership with the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. “How to charm your bank to lend you money”. Guest speaker eddie Lavery, relationship manager at Lloyds bank will cover what information a bank looks for when assessing a lending application, and how best to present it. We would be delighted if you could join us for this networking event (Continental breakfast inc.). ‘Butterflies’ table top sale and Community Coffee morning sat 13th september neW time - 9am-1pm ickenham Village hall should anyone require to hire a table or require more information please contact vera on 01895 635224 or Chris on 676900.
september into October
macmillan Coffee morning Fri 26th september, 10am-2pm Byrons Urban Farm shop, 3 Byron Parade, Uxbridge Road, UB10 0lZ. Come and join us for coffee and cake and with your 50p entry fee get a Free cup of coffee. We will donate 50p to macmillan for every slice of cake that we sell!
michael sobell hospice Fundraiser ‘Jail & Bail’ Fri 3rd october 10.30am Get arrested and locked up in a cell at ruislip police station until you raise £1,000 for michael sobell Hospice. If you fancy taking in this challenge and being an inmate for a while please contact trish mule on 01923 844726 or see our website www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk
Ruislip Central horticultural society autumn show sat 13th september 1pm-4pm Great Barn, Bury street, Ruislip ha4 7sU. For more details visit our website www.ruisliphorticulturalsociety.org.uk
Quiz night sat 27th september, 7pm Denham Village infants school tickets sold in aid of FODvIs, priced at £10 each includes fish & chip supper. tables of up to 6 bring your own drink contact Wendy 07826 685098 for more.
OCtOber events Uxbridge Business Biscotti Wed 1st october, 8.30am-10.30am Devonshire Business Centre, Boundary house, Cricket Field Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1QG If you want to network, make contacts and forge business relationships in an informal environment then Uxbridge business biscotti is for you. no need to book, just come along and buy a cup of tea or coffee to support the venue! visit www.businessbiscotti.co.uk/greaterlondon/uxbridge.
Don't miss the DeaDline! If you would like us to publicise your event in our october issues contact us no later than Friday 12th sept.
michael sobell hospice Fundraiser ‘Brain Box Quiz night’ Wed 8th october, 7.30pm michael sobell hospice, mount Vernon hospital, northwood, ha6 2Rn Our popular quiz night is back so all you wise owls come and show us how bright you are. tickets sell out fast, so book early. tickets cost £15 and includes a fish & chip supper (veggie option available) there is also a licensed bar. Free parking. barclays bank will match funds to make your donation go further. tickets can be booked online at www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk or you call 01923 844730. apple Day sat 18th october 11am-4pm home Cottage Farm, Bangors Road south, iver heath A great family fun day out with numerous stalls for local charities, producers and traders – from toffee apples and pumpkins to bric-a-brac and crafts. Lots of children’s activities and events for all ages to watch & take part – face painting, punch & Judy show, ferret racing, archery and craft-making plus refreshment tents & a bbQ. entry will be £1 per adult & £3 parking. Children go free.
Ickenham TRAVEL (Sep14)_IN! Tipss Style Editorials (Mar13) 22/08/2014 17:45 Page 1
TRAVEL
Cape Verde - Sun, sand & more sand In my ongoing search for the perfect, budget, all inclusive beach holiday, I took my husband off to the Cape Verde Islands which, I have discovered, lie off the west coast of Africa, just north of the equator. It is warm and sunny for most of the year in Cape Verde but, for no particular reason, we went in June. There are ten islands to choose from; ours was Boa Vista. Verde means green but Boa Vista is pretty much a sand dune perched in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Boa Vista is home to the only openair airport I have ever encountered. I’m not kidding, the only part of it with a roof is the bar; even the baggage claim is out in the sunshine. However, the formalities were few and far between and we were quickly on our way to the hotel, RiuKaramboa, which is best described as spectacular. It is styled like a Moroccan palace rising out of the desert, complete with minarets and domes. The rooms were big and airy and came complete with a lounge, dressing area and a really classy bathroom. Outside there were beautifully manicured grounds with acres of sun loungers, a couple of huge swimming pools and, another first for me, a submerged bar. The tables and chairs, the bar and the barstools were all
submerged in a swimming pool and the only people not in a swimming costume were the bartenders – brilliant! I’m no great foodie but the meals were pretty good too, particularly breakfast. Also, unlike most of the Caribbean, the wine was actually drinkable. As all-inclusive resorts go, Boa Vista ticks all the boxes but what’s it like when you step outside the hotel campus? The beach is fantastic, perfect sand and rolling surf, although there are mainly sand dunes at the back of it rather than bars and boutiques which is what I would prefer. The constant breeze makes it perfect for sunbathing, but be careful; because of the cooling effect of the wind, you don’t realise just how hot it really is. I got heat stroke and spent two days lying in the hotel room wrapped in a damp towel – not nice! Two miles down the beach there is a small town with a few bars, a couple of restaurants and some shops. It’s hardly Cannes but it makes a nice enough break from the hotel. My advice is to walk down there and then get a cab back. For my money, the highlight of the holiday was a ride on some quad bikes. Actually, I say ride but it was more of a safari. The quad bikes were huge, practically the size of a
jeep, and the trip lasted half a day. We started off by blasting up and down the sand dunes by the beach, which was incredible fun. Then we negotiated a precarious track over a hill and reached a small village where we stopped for ‘lunch,’ basically some tapas and as many Grog shots (the local moonshine) as you can drink. This prepared us for the rigours of the next part of our journey, a trip down the island’s only ‘motorway,’ in reality a country lane with a few ancient pickups meandering down it. We finished off with a high speed charge down the beach dipping in and out of the surf, the perfect end to our adventure. Boa Vista probably isn’t for everyone; the scenery closely resembles the Sahara desert and there isn’t a great deal there other than the ubiquitous resort hotels. But, if you are simply looking for unbroken sunshine, a luxury hotel, reasonable food and drink and the occasional adventure, it’s hard to beat. It’s cheap too; shop around and you can get an all-inclusive fortnight for £1000. Throw in the fact that it’s only a six hour flight and you get year round good weather and what’s not to like? I’d certainly go again.
Katherine Underhill
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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 13:24 Page 1
The wildlife zone
The woRld of BlACK and white Andy Mydellton flS (pictured right) is an environmentalist journalist, the founder and leader of the British wildlife charity, the foundation for endangered Species. They are members of the United nations agency UneSCo with Andy Mydellton being Chairman and the environmental Concern Advisor to the UneSCo Schools Group.
“why does a zebra have stripes?” is a question i have asked for many years without anyone quenching my fired up imagination. it all started when i was a child peeking at the worlds’ most beautiful and wonderful animals. at home i used to dig holes in the garden to find worms, earwigs, woodlice and other ‘beauties’. i excitedly told my family that these were my friends, but got short shrift. i was taken aback and felt as though there could have been something wrong with me. despite my temporary confusion l developed my urge to see more of the worlds’ largest wild animals. in those years the family’s income was tight and our annual holidays included days out to Bristol and dudley zoos. Because holidays abroad were so expensive it was the only way less well off working class families could see exotic animals. i remember our first visit to Bristol zoo where we stopped to look at caged lions, hyenas as well as a rare and sensational white tiger, and boy did they pong! But after my dad explained to me that this was their natural odour, the penny dropped and i began to understand the importance of smell in the natural world, however rank and rancid they seemed to me. at dudley zoo i was amazed at how many animals including penguins, goats, rhinoceros and one of my favourites, the zebra were allowed to live in the open air without any interruptive and separating bars or fences between us. they were replaced with large ditches and low walls which did not seem to form imprisoning cages, but still maintained our safety. i gained a sense of the animals’ liberty with this pioneering approach to zoo keeping which also allowed me to form stronger bonds with them. i marvelled at the member of the horse family which had black and white hoops around their bodies, so that i asked everyone including my parents, teachers and schoolmates “Why do zebras have stripes?” no-one ever knew the answer, and all i got was a quizzical look. when i reached adulthood zoos were no longer sufficient and i went touring on east african safaris to observe glorious creatures in their natural habitat. i spotted ‘my zebras’ very easily because they were widespread throughout the extensive savannahs, grazing peacefully with the wildebeest (or gnu). i began to appreciate their position in the african eco-systems because they are the ‘caterpillars of the plains’, the main herbivorous prey for many wild cats, dogs and other carnivores. during one game drive, i investigated some foals with reddish stripes. initially i was surprised, but established that the bands change to brown when they become juveniles, and then turn black in adulthood. i also perceived that the foals’ long slender legs gave them greater speed across the plains than if they had shorter, stubbier legs. Zebras never lose this proportion, so that even when their bodies grow and thicken out as adults they maintain this advantage. in recent years scientists have discovered greater biological knowledge about the zebra’s amazing black and white stripes, although the debate is not always straightforward. For example, when an individual occasionally strays from the herd to graze alone, they can be easily discovered and targeted by carnivores such as lions, their main killers. it seems incredible that nature would have given a grazing herbivore such a lack of camouflage and noticeable sign of their presence, but it has. however they usually live in zeals numbering five or six individuals with one stallion; or part of a much larger cohort. the zebras’ advantage is that when the cohort flees from predators their stripes merge into one fast moving and continually changing shape. they become indistinctive and baffle charging lions which only see in black and white, making each individual zebra difficult to focus on and consequently much harder to catch. the second reason for its body markings is recognition. whilst humans primarily recognise each other by facial features, zebras tell each other apart with an individual’s unique body pattern. Some scientists maintain that these act as codes which are as distinct to them as our fingerprints are to us. the third reason why zebras have stripes is thermoregulation. this innate process acts as an internal thermometer and controlling mechanism for their biological heating system. they use their black stripes to attract and use the sun’s energy to keep warm, but when they reach their desired temperature, they can switch this off and activate the white stripes which reflect the sun’s rays. this acts to cool down the zebra and maintain a constant body temperature. i once yearned for an answer to my question “Why does a zebra have stripes?” at last i now know that these magical horses have given us not one but at least three simultaneous reasons why they do.
Andy is a fellow of the linnean Society. he writes for many publications, mounts photographic exhibitions, gives presentations and broadcasts the 'Andy Mydellton wildlife zone' radio programme.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk
Slimm
Pick A Side: Apple or Android? Is Apple where it’s at, or are Android gadgets better buys? Apple is due to launch the latest, greatest iPhone this September along with iOS 8, the latest version of its smartphone and tablet software. The phone will have a bigger screen and a better camera, but one thing won’t change: like all Apple gadgets, it won’t be cheap. Apple isn’t the only game in town, though. Google’s Android system has been updated too, and Android phones and tablets from the likes of Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony are often just as pretty and just as powerful as anything Apple makes - and in many cases they’re a good bit cheaper too. Android isn’t quite as simple or as elegant as Apple’s iOS, but there’s not much in it - and where Apple only makes a handful of devices, with Android there are dozens of phones and tablets to choose from. Unless you’re a big Apple fan then, is Android the smarter choice? Unfortunately it’s a bit more complicated than that. Apple and Google don’t just want to be your friend when you buy a phone or a tablet. They want to be part of your entire life. They want to be the
companies you from whom you buy your music, movies, TV programmes and books, the companies who provide your in-car entertainment and navigation systems, the companies who handle all your messages, voice and video calls, the companies who connect all of the appliances in your home and who track your health and fitness. By the end of this year both firms will have smart watches or wristbands that monitor your vital signs, set-top boxes that stream music and video to your TV, software that connects to cars from the likes of Volvo, Nissan, Audi and Mercedes, music and movie streaming services and home automation systems - and that’s just the stuff we know about. This means you need to consider the bigger picture. It’s not just about the particular phone or tablet you want to buy, but what techy types call the ecosystem: the various things that the phone or tablet connects to and gets content from. For example, if you fancy Apple’s clever Apple TV system, you won’t get the best from it unless you also have an Apple phone or tablet; if you
want to use an Android smart watch, it’ll work best with an Android phone; if you’re a fan of iTunes Match you can’t use it on Android, and so on. Consider what your friends, family and colleagues use. Apple’s iMessage offers free SMS and MMS messages (and soon, voice messages too), but only to other iMessage users - and iMessage isn’t available on Android. FaceTime offers free video calling, but it can’t call Android users (although Google’s alternative, Hangouts, does work on Apple devices. As a rule of thumb Google services work on Apple kit but not vice-versa. Increasingly, then, choosing a phone or tablet is more like picking a football team to support or voting for a political party: the available choices all do essentially the same thing, but they do it in very different ways - and your choice might colour your life for many years to come. Images left to right: Apple family sharing only works on Apple devices, Both Apple (pictured) and Google have TV set-top boxes, Car firms are embracing smartphone tech: this is Apple CarPlay, Fancy a smart watch? Android ones work best with Android phones.
What happened in...
... September 2001?
He was finally tracked down and killed in Pakistan by American On 11 September 2001, at 8:45 forces almost ten years later. am US time (UK – 1:45 pm) a 1st: The German national passenger jet crashed into the football team lost a World Cup North Tower of the World Trade qualifier to England (managed Centre in New York, in what by Sven-Göran Eriksson) at the most people assumed was Olympic stadium in Munich. a terrible accident. Eighteen 10th: Despite searching all his minutes later another plane pockets and looking down the crashed into the South Tower and the world realised that this back of the sofa, US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsden, was no accident. failed to find a missing 2.3 A third plane crashed into trillion dollars, giving rise to all the Pentagon and a fourth sorts of conspiracy theories into a field after passengers about burying bad news when overpowered the al-Qaeda all records were destroyed in terrorist who was piloting it. the next day’s terrorist attacks. Al-Qaeda was founded by Who wants to be a millionaire? Osama bin Laden in the late Well, Charles Ingram did, but Eighties and he was blamed for after winning £1,000,000 on master-minding the hijackings. the TV game show he was
Petrol cost about78p per litre The average price of a house was £92,000
Three of the bestselling singles this year were: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue Too Close - Blue Mambo No. 5 - Bob The Builder
accused of cheating and the payment was suspended. It was alleged that his wife, who was in the audience, gave him coded signals by coughing. They were both convicted and had to pay a total of £115,000 in fines and costs, although each protested their innocence. I can’t help thinking that a bottle of Cavonia would have been a lot cheaper. 11th: In the worst piece of timing in the history of music sales, Ben Folds released his album, Rocking the Suburbs. 15th: Part of the Queen Isabella Causeway in Texas collapsed after being struck by four loaded barges being towed by a tugboat. The missing sections were near the brow so the gap was not easily spotted by approaching traffic. Eight people were killed when their cars plunged 85 feet into the water. Five cars and three survivors were recovered. 17th: The New York Stock Exchange reopened following the terrorist attacks.
Patrick D Cousins’ Short Shorts is available on Kindle for a trifling £1.99. His double novella, Rainbows, Dreams and Angels is available from Amazon and other major outlets. You can hear the song on YouTube.
The VW Golf has long been the king of the massmarket family hatchbacks, but the Polo has never really enjoyed the same plaudits in the supermini sector, in the UK anyway. Ad mittedly, it always tops the class for build quality and re finement but it’s never been able to match the good looks of the Vauxhall Corsa or the driv ing dynamics of the Ford Fi esta. However, a freshly face lifted version of the Polo has just hit the showrooms. Can it do anything to redress the balance? The Polo is actually the second bestselling car in Volks wagen’s line up, so inevitably they are very cautious about making any major changes to a winning formula. As a result, you’d have to look very hard to spot the differences to the exterior, basically new LED headlights and slightly different bumpers. Even so, the clean styling and neat proportions are understated and classy, rather like a scaled down Golf. Inside it is the same story; apart from new instruments and a tidied up centre console, all is much as before. This is no bad thing, the quality of materials, excellent fit and finish and comfortable seats are all those of a bigger more expensive car, well ahead of the competition. The main changes are all un der the skin. There is a flashy
new infotainment system that is reminiscent of a smartphone; you swipe your finger over the screen to select from the menu. ESP now comes as standard on all cars, as does a Post Collision Braking System that applies the brakes after an impact to bring the car to a halt. An automatic cruise con trol system is available as an option, coupled with City Emer gency Braking which performs an emergency stop if it detects a likely collision below 19mph. A few years ago you’d have to buy a Mercedes S Class to enjoy this sort of technology. More importantly, the car has a new line up of engines that deliver class leading refine ment and economy, if not out right performance. At the entry level is a 1.0 litre three cylinder petrol with either 59 or 74bhp. The lower powered engine is just too weedy while the 74bhp version is equally as economi cal. Then there is a 1.2 litre turbo that offers 90 or 110bhp. I drove the 90bhp version and was very impressed. It was remarkably refined and flexible, particularly at motorway speeds, and, while hardly a hot hatch, delivers all the perform ance you need. 61mpg in mixed motoring is not to be sniffed at either. The Polo is very relaxing to drive, the controls are light and easy to use and the suspen sion soaks up the bumps with
ease. With the allround levels of refinement and that flexible engine, it is like driving a much bigger car. The handling suits the character of the car too, safe and predictable, though hardly what you would call fun. Ask most motoring journalists and they will rate the Ford Fiesta as the best car in this class, largely because of the excellent handling and lusty performance from the Zetec engines. However, they forget that not all super minis are driven by teenage boys and petrol heads; in fact they are far more likely to be driven by young mums or even grand mas. Volkswagen are fully aware of this; that is why the Polo shares many of the vir tues of its bigger sister, the Golf. It is supremely well built, refined and practical and has an understated class that Ford could never hope to emulate. Ask a used car dealer which car they prefer and they’ll plump for the Polo every time. There is only thing it is lacking; VW invented the hot hatch with the Golf GTi and after all these years it is still the car to beat. They also offer an 189bhp Polo GTi which is searingly fast but it will never enjoy the same cachet.
Your Guide to Heart Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
The British Heart Foundation estimates that around 82,000 people in England suffer a heart attack annually; one in three die before reaching hospital and around half of the survivors are under 75. So it’s vital we look after our hearts – and that we can recognise the symptoms of a heart attack.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy Diet Keep it balanced. Avoid high sugar and high fat foods, and eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and several sources of protein (meat, eggs, dairy products, fish, legumes and pulses). Choose wholegrain carbohydrates (pasta, bread, rice). Alcohol Alcohol can damage heart muscle and cause abnormal rhythms. Stick to the recommended maximum safe limits: men, 3-4 units per day (21 per week); women 2 – 3 per day (14 per week). 1 unit = 1 small bottle of (4%) alcopop; half a pint of beer/lager/cider (4%); a single measure of spirits (40%). 2 units = 1 standard 175ml glass of wine/champagne (12%); 1 pint 4% beer/lager/cider; a double measure of spirits. Smoking Smokers are twice as likely to have heart attacks, so quit or at least cut down. Ask your doctor for advice or order The British Heart Foundation’s guide, ‘Time to Quit’, for free at http://bit.
ly/1ltpgIc. Exercise Ideally we should do 150 minutes of exercise weekly that raises our heart rate keeping our cardiovascular system healthy. If you don’t exercise, start small and find an exercise you enjoy. Symptoms Of Heart Attacks Heart attacks don’t always present with sudden intense chest pain. Sometimes symptoms can be mild and build gradually, particularly in diabetics, or come and go. Although chest pain is the most common symptom, more than a third of sufferers don’t experience it. • Chest pain (often a squeezing sensation or fullness, which may linger or come and go) • Dizziness or light-headedness • Sweating (normally a cold sweat) • Shortness of breath • Nausea or vomiting • Pain elsewhere (usually jaw, neck, back, left arm or abdomen) • Heartburn • Coughing or wheezing • Severe fatigue • Overwhelming anxiety Heart Attack Symptoms In Women Women may experience all these symptoms or none, but they’re more likely to experience the less common symptoms: pain in other areas (particularly the upper back), shortness of
breath, sweating, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and unusual tiredness (sometimes for days). Without chest pain, they may not realise they’re having a heart attack.
What To Do When A Heart Attack Occurs Don’t panic, but do act swiftly. If in doubt, always call 999. If you’re an angina sufferer, the NHS recommend taking your glyceryl trinitrate (‘GTN’) tablets or spray and repeating the dose 5 minutes later, then 5 minutes later again, if there’s no improvement. Phone 999 immediately if the pain doesn’t improve. The NHS recommends that people who suspect they’re having a heart attack should chew and swallow one aspirin (300mg) tablet, providing they’re not aspirin-allergic, to thin the blood and maintain blood supply to the heart. If you’re the patient: Move as little as necessary and call an ambulance. Take an aspirin if it’s nearby – but don’t exert yourself to reach it. If you’re attending the patient: Phone the ambulance immediately. If the patient isn’t aspirin-allergic, give them an aspirin – providing it’s nearby. Keeping your heart healthy is one of the most important things you can do – but ensuring you can recognise and deal with a heart attack is vital too.
Karen Munro Careers (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 09:24 Page 1
Karen Munro - Career Coach www.munrocareers.co.uk #@munrocareers www.facebook.com/munrocareers
Karen is a professional Career Coach providing individual support in all aspects of employment including effective CV writing, interview skills training, networking and successful job searching. A member of the Career Development Institute and registered with the Careers Professional Alliance, a qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer, she works with both private and business clients around Hillingdon, South Bucks and Middlesex. Karen is currently facilitating workshops and offering individual coaching to Military Personnel leaving the Armed Forces at RAF Northolt, helping them through their transition to civilian employment. Karen writes for a number of careers focused and military resettlement magazines and regularly contributes to ‘In and Around’ sharing her practical experience with her local community. At the time of writing this article it was the night after the 'lights out' commemorations for the First World War. It was also during a month when the headlines were full of war, death and humanitarian conflict around the globe. A difficult time for all of us and a time for me personally to reflect on the things I know I take for granted. In particular, my freedom of speech and the knowledge I have the ability to make my own choices. Whilst I am not about to get on my political soap box or start debating the rights and wrongs of this world - I only have limited space - it did make me think about ‘conflict in the work place’. Last month I wrote about ‘being fearless’ and I received some really great comments and feedback from readers about this. However, there are times in our working lives when we all have to face real conflict and it can cause us real distress and we don't feel ‘fearless’ at all. When we look at some of the conflict in the news, it is clear that situations such as war - violence, aggression, revenge and retaliation only harbour and continue to allow more of the same. There has to be a point at which both sides stop and come together and mediate. Dialogue is the only way forward and compromises have to be discussed and debated until an agreement can be made. In the cases of international crisis, sometimes these can take years to achieve and moments to breakdown and be lost. From the comfort of our own homes, it can be easy for us to say what should and shouldn't be done. However, when you are locked in conflict in your own working environment, be it with another colleague, a competitor or even your own boss, how do you go about resolving it?
Suddenly it's personal and real. Not only can it affect your demeanor at work but more often than not, it will follow you home and infiltrate everything from your social life to your family life. It can start to affect your confidence and attitude outside of work and can even start to have a detrimental effect on your own health and wellbeing. Stop! Don't continue to wage war at work and don't continue to be victimised either. If you are dealing with real conflict at work you need to resolve it and if necessary seek additional help and advice. Gathering an army of supporters may feel good at the time, but will only allow the situation to continue and escalate further. Stop! Start talking, start listening, start negotiating and compromising. Identify what that the conflict really is on both sides and start to discuss how and if it can be resolved. Stop! Putting all your energy into the conflict and start to work towards a resolution. If all else fails and you are unable to resolve your workplace conflict, then you can always seek help from Human Resource professionals, your Manager(s), Union Representatives or professional workplace Mediators such as ACAS. They are there to help you. There is enough conflict in the world today, look to keep the peace at work and enjoy your job and be happy in what you do. Because YOU have choices.
Karen
“unlocking your career potential”
In and Around Reader Travel
river cruise party Breaks by rail or Air
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GN Holidays & Voyages is exclusively chartering the MPS Princess to bring you a great selection of themed river cruises. You’ll visit a host of must-see destinations with free drinks, good food, great hospitality and plenty of fun along the way. Travel is by midmorning Eurostar from St Pancras International to Brussels, continuing by coach to the ship. Flights from UK regional airports are also available - supplements may apply.
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Free Drinks - all cruises include free beer, wine by the glass, choice of 2 Dutch spirits and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner and from 6pm to midnight at the bar Princess Fan Club “Everything was 1st “Just wanted to say “We thoroughly “The break was thank you for another enjoyed our holiday excellent. The boat and class, would do it great Christmas market and the trip was over crew fantastic. A1 again.” trip.” much too soon.” service – would like to Mr & Mrs Scott
Mr & Mrs Kennedy
Mrs Church
do it again.” Mrs Sharp
Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Voyages Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. GN Holidays & Voyages www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
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Belgium, Holland & Valkenburg Christmas Party 4 days semi-all-inclusive • 21 November, 2014 Join us for a relaxing river cruise taking-in: Valkenburg, with its unique Christmas Market Caves; Hasselt, a charming Belgian town with a festive Winterland; Maastricht, home of world famous musician Andre Rieu; and Brussels, the Belgian capital. There’s also an optional visit to Aachen Christmas Market in Germany. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 3-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
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Bruges & Valkenburg Christmas Markets Plus Ghent, Brussels & Hasselt new improveD itinerAry 5 days semi-all-inclusive •24 November, 2014
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Join us for a super river cruise taking-in: Valkenburg with its unique Christmas Caves; beautiful Bruges’ with its festive markets; Hasselt, a charming Belgian town with a festive Winterland; lovely Ghent; and Brussels, the Belgian capital. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights with luggage from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 4-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
From
new improveD itinerAry
4 days semi-all-inclusive • 28 November & 1 December 2014 Join us for a fun-packed river cruise taking-in three great Christmas Markets. Lille, Northern France, with a giant Christmas tree, ferris wheel and dozens of stalls. Bruges festive markets, just a short stroll from the ship’s mooring. In the Belgian capital, Brussels, explore the Christmas Market and shops galore. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 3-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
£439pp
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Christmas Markets Spectacular
Bruges, Brussels & Lille
£479pp
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£349pp
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Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Voyages GN Holidays & Voyages, Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
ABTA No. Y029 ATOL 9362
The Myths That Just Won’t Die! You would imagine in the 21st century with the internet at our fingertips, we’d all be wise to the old wives tales and myths that are bandied around. But no, sometimes it takes it little longer for us to absorb and accept that all is not as we’ve long believed.
You shouldn’t put bananas in the fridge
There’s a small element of truth in this in that if you put unripe bananas in the fridge, the cold kills the enzymes that makes them ripen and they’ll stay green even when removed. However if you put bananas in the fridge once they are fully yellow, they’ll stay edible for up to four days longer than if left at room temperature. The skin may discolour, but the flesh inside will stay white.
You should feed a cold and starve a fever
This is an expression misquoted: it was originally “Feed a cold, stave a fever”, suggesting that by eating well you will recover from your cold more quickly. And the correct version has some truth in that giving your body the energy and vitamins to fight a virus is beneficial. But that same benefit applies even when you have a fever, although you may feel less inclined to eat.
You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day
Even if you still believe this, chances are you aren’t following the advice. In reality
you will take in a considerable amount of water in your food and in other drinks. Although you might think that tea and coffee are diuretic, they do actually count toward our overall water intake. In general if you drink enough so that you rarely feel thirsty, you’ll be fine.
The Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space Not only are there many other objects visible from space, but the Great Wall is actually really difficult to see. It is after all of a similar material and colour to the land around it, so it is not easy to pick out. There are many other man-made objects visible though, including the pyramids in Egypt and major cities, particularly at night.
Carrots will help you see at night
It’s not that carrots aren’t good for you, but eating them will not improve your day or night vision unless you are deficient in vitamin A. The myth is believed to come from the Second World War when the MOD had a technology which enabled their pilots to pinpoint enemy bombers at night. Somehow the public picked up
the idea that this success was due to their pilots eating lots of carrots. As carrots weren’t rationed, the Ministry of Food didn’t rush to debunk the myth and it still hangs around to this day. More info: www. thecarrotmuseum.co.uk.
Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis
When someone cracks their knuckles, the noise comes from bubbles of air and gas bursting inside the joint. However in all the research tests conducted, not a single knuckle-cracker studied, later developed arthritis. It could lead to other problems later in life though, like a decrease in flexibility and ligament damage.
Saturated fat is really bad for your health
We’ve been told for years that saturated fat increases our total cholesterol and chance of heart disease and a stroke. But a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that there wasn’t proof of this correlation. Heart disease and obesity are caused by inactivity, trans fats, refined carbs, and overeating — but not specifically saturated fat.
Beauty
Explained: The Science Behind Skin Care
How many times have you been completely baffled by some scientific sounding jargon when you’ve gone to buy a new antiageing cream? Unless you were top of the class in chemistry, you probably don’t know your AHAs from your Ceramides. So that’s why we’ve compiled our guide to the most common ingredients you’ll come across today. Once you’ve read our skincare glossary you’ll not only understand the terminology, but you’ll be able to find the best cream for your skin’s needs as well. Antioxidants serve to protect skin from those damaging free radicals to which our skin is exposed on a day-to-day basis. Free radicals - or oxidants - are unstable molecules which are caused by environmental factors like smoke, pollution and UV rays. Free radicals are responsible for causing those annoying visible signs of ageing like lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E, Vitamin C and green tea are some of the most common
antioxidants. Vitamin E has great moisturising properties and makes skin soft and smooth, whereas Vitamin C helps to diminish the look of brown age spots and hyper pigmentation, green tea is a strong antioxidant and a staple ingredient in most anti-ageing products. Hyaluronic acid, when applied topically, gives the skin a fresh, smooth look and helps it to maintain moisture - which is vital for youthful looking skin. It’s a naturally occurring carbohydrate in the body, but levels diminish with age, especially after you reach 40. Ceramides help in the fight for youthful looking skin thanks to their ability to prevent water loss and promote skin-cell renewal. They’re commonly used in moisturisers as they effectively re-hydrate dry skin. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring acids, commonly found in citrus fruits (citric acid), dairy products (lactic acid) and sugar (glycolic acid). They work to aid the skin’s natural exfoliation process by loosening dead surface cells. When applied in the form of cream to your face, AHAs reduce fine lines and unclog pores. Glycolics work similarly to AHAs - they speed up the process the skin goes through to shed dead outer cells, which in turn reveals new, smoother skin cells Collagen is found naturally in the skin, the protein maintains the skin’s elasticity and keeps it looking plump. Over the years though, the body’s production
By Helen Taylor
of collagen drops dramatically. Used in many anti-ageing creams, collegan is found to be a very effective water-binding ingredient. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. They have been found to help to renew the skin and stimulate collagen production, minimise the appearance of wrinkles and bolster the skin’s thickness and elasticity; which makes them a popular ingredient in anti-ageing creams. Growth factors are used to help to build collagen and diminish lines and wrinkles, whilst softening the skin. Their natural function in the body is to control cell growth in different areas. Soy isoflavones are a type of plant hormone thought to be useful in treating dark spots by blocking the pathway of melanin. They can aid in preventing collagen loss in postmenopausal women as they have an effect on skin that is similar to oestrogen. Copper makes an appearance in some anti-ageing products as it is thought to promote the production of collagen and elastin - two of the most important factors in younger looking skin. Hydroquinone is useful in suppressing pigment producing enzymes in the skin, thus fighting age spots. It’s therefore, often recommended by experts to lighten those dark spots on the skin.
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Terms and Conditions • 50% off one service with this voucher • Only valid on your first visit to Leopard Lounge • Vaild from Monday to Thursday 9am - 3pm • Not to be used in conjuction with any other offer • Not valid in December • We reserve the right to remove this offer at any time
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6 Park Parade, UB3 2NU
HP-14-01
A family-run school with a caring atmosphere. Pupils achieve excellent results in academic Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX Independent School for boys and girls aged 3 - 11
subjects, music, sport and drama.
Please telephone 01895 234371 to make an appointment
An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com
In and Around Reader Travel
river cruise party Breaks by rail or Air
Those who remember the 1980s, and the vogue for wearing towelling wristbands if you were even vaguely considering any form of exercise, will have been wondering how long it would take for this trend to come round again. Well, I’m happy to say that it has – and today’s must have fashion accessory for sporty types does a whole lot more than stop the palms of your hands from getting sweaty.
40S
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SALE £80 Save
Call 01895 83 33 33
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FREE
DRINKS do better than the Fuelband is to measure and learn your sleep patterns. This means that you can set the alarm to wake you as you move into a light sleep, therefore reducing. tiredness. On the face of it, the Fitbit represents pretty good OVER value too, a snip at just £80.
ONLY Our final contender is the Jawbone Up. This seems like the most complete product out of the group and is geared towards helping athletes manage their potential and help those who want to lose weight. There are a plethora of You can enter in a variety of sports products on the market; and the band will give you real let’s take a look at a few of time feedback on performance and them. Probably the most calories burnt; you can even enter popular is the Nike Fuelband – it’s the number of calories consumed already on its second generation. This during the day – ideal for those chunky device is intended to be worn most of seeking to lose weight. It also monitors sleep the time; it isn’t fully waterproof so you can’t go patterns in the same way that the Fitbit does. swimming in it and it needs to be recharged The sculpted nylon band, available in a range of periodically. It contains an accelerometer to colours, really looks the part too. At £124, the measure arm movements and a small LED Jawbone comes in cheaper than the Fuelband display that provides a limited amount of seems to be a superior product. information. The Fuelband can connect GN Holidays & Voyages is exclusively charteringtotheaMPSand Princess computer or amobile device via Bluetooth a You’ll visit a to bring you great selection of themed river and cruises. While I have to admire the way that these USB port. Initially, you set up your profile on a host of must-see destinations with free drinks, good food, great products make use of state of the art technology computer including your height, weight and so hospitality and fun along the way. Travel byan miduphave to. to . question PER COUPLE affordable price, I’d how on. Then you setplenty up theofsports and activities that is at fit in with the modern lifestyle of most you intend Eurostar to perform andStset yourself a series of to they morning from Pancras International Brussels, and just £50pp deposit when athletes and sportsmen (and goals, for instance 3kmFlights each from day. UK When continuing by coachrunning to the ship. regionalpeople. airports Serious you book a Princess river cruise women) will already have a training program you achieve a goal, the wristband sends you a by rail by 30 September 2014 are also available supplements may apply. worked out in conjunction with a nutritionist and message of encouragement. Real lovers of data their by coach. They don’tofneed any of these can syncFree their wristband with include the Nike Drinks - all cruises freeFuel beer, wine the glass, choice 2 Dutch spirits products. For6pm those who just at want website andand view their at performance, softgraphs drinks of served lunch and dinner and from to midnight the to barget a bit more exercise, they represent complete overkill then brag about it to their friends via the built in Princess –Fan Club they don’t need all that data and they’d social media site. The Fuelband costs around “Everything was 1st “Just wanted to say “We thoroughly “Thea break probably rather not have heftywasbracelet £129. thank you for another enjoyed to ourtheir holiday excellent. boat class, would do it attached wrist for 24 hours aThe day. Asand for great Christmas market people and thewho trip was over crew fantastic. A1these want to lose weight, all Next up is the Fitbit Flex. This has an advantage again.” much too soon. ” weakness; service – would likehow to devices have a fatal they tell you over the Fuelband in that it trip.” is a tiny module that Mrin & Mrs Scott Mr &wristband, Mrs Kennedy Mrs Church dobut it again.” Mrs many Sharp many calories you’ve burnt not how fits a replaceable rubber which you’ve consumed, something most overweight means that you don’t have to wear the band all people have a real problem in calculating. the time. The Fitbit is more geared towards GN Voyages lifestyle and wellbeing rather than sporting Never mind, wearing a sport band says all the prowess; GN it will tell you how many steps you ABTA No. Y0291 Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. Holidays & Voyages 9362sporty, body right things about you – ATOL you’re have Higher takenDenham, and calories butgnvoyages.co.uk not how • Email: www. info@gnvoyages.co.uk Uxbridgeyou UB9burned 5EL conscious and dedicated. Money well spent! quickly you finished your run. One thing it does
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Belgium, Holland & Valkenburg Christmas Party 4 days semi-all-inclusive • 21 November, 2014 Join us for a relaxing river cruise taking-in: Valkenburg, with its unique Christmas Market Caves; Hasselt, a charming Belgian town with a festive Winterland; Maastricht, home of world famous musician Andre Rieu; and Brussels, the Belgian capital. There’s also an optional visit to Aachen Christmas Market in Germany. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 3-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
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Join us for a super river cruise taking-in: Valkenburg with its unique Christmas Caves; beautiful Bruges’ with its festive markets; Hasselt, a charming Belgian town with a festive Winterland; lovely Ghent; and Brussels, the Belgian capital. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights with luggage from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 4-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
From
new improveD itinerAry
4 days semi-all-inclusive • 28 November & 1 December 2014 Join us for a fun-packed river cruise taking-in three great Christmas Markets. Lille, Northern France, with a giant Christmas tree, ferris wheel and dozens of stalls. Bruges festive markets, just a short stroll from the ship’s mooring. In the Belgian capital, Brussels, explore the Christmas Market and shops galore. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout abroad • Return rail travel from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or return flights from a choice of UK airports - supp’t may apply • 3-night semi all inclusive cruise sharing a twin bed, rear cabin on main deck - upgrades available • Entertainment • Embarkation and departure transfers
£439pp
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Christmas Markets Spectacular
Bruges, Brussels & Lille
£479pp
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Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Voyages GN Holidays & Voyages, Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
ABTA No. Y029 ATOL 9362
Start Up Tips
Check your business idea for sustainability
You may be great at what you do, or have a product that delivers excellent benefits, but if it’s not significantly different or cheaper than what is already out there, it will be hard to sustain a business.
Before you get stuck into the practicalities of trading think about the business structure and get some tax advice There is a lot of free advice and guidance available so make sure you use it. ICAEW BAS, www.GOV.com, grants export, start up loans, mentoring/ coaching.
Network
Its not a natural thing for many of us but it is the best way to obtain both assistance and custom in the long term, make time and keep the connections live, attend events, exchange business cards.
Get organised from the start
Keep a log of income and expenses as you go through the year. Don’t leave it until the end of the year to sit down with a box of papers.
Get everything in writing
Funding, shareholders agreements, employee contracts, supplier agreements, everything!
Know the market and your position within it
Many entrepreneurs are so busy doing what they do, that they don't look at figures, research or market findings which can help make vital decisions like when would be a good time to launch a new product.
Identify the skills your business requires
Work out which ones you don't have and go and get them. It's vital that you build a team covering all basic business skill sets.
Don't expect your business to take off over night
Some very fortunate people have this experience, but most work at it for years before they gain success.
Don't be afraid to fail
It happens, you can come back from it and if you don't try you will never succeed. Many very successful entrepreneurs have failure in their past. If it happens to you, learn from it and move on.
Police to seize mobiles after crashes by Caroline Dunne Consultant IBB Solicitors caroline.dunne@ibblaw.co.uk
As part of a police crackdown aimed at reducing the number of deaths caused by calling or texting while driving, drivers involved in crashes will have their mobile phone seized after crashes. Under the new guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers, officers will check the confiscated phones for evidence that the motorist broke the law by allowing themselves to be distracted by their handheld device. The phone checks will apply to any accident. Previously, such stringent checks were only made when a collision resulted in someone being killed or being seriously injured. Strong message sent out More than 500 people are thought to be killed or seriously injured every year because drivers were texting, emailing, or posting on social media websites, leading to increasing pressure on the Government to do more to stop drivers using phones at the wheel. Motoring and safety organisations welcomed the change. “More systematic checking of drivers’ phone records after a crash would... send out a message that police are taking this matter seriously and people who flout the law will be caught,” Professor Stephen Glaister, from the RAC Foundation declared. Edmund King, the president of the AA, said that drivers do not realise their mobile phone records provide an ‘incriminating track’ of what they were doing. “The current deterrent just isn’t working. Many drivers seem addicted to their phones and just can’t resist looking at a text or tweet at the wheel. We need a concerted effort to crack this addiction with harsher penalties linked to an information and enforcement campaign.”
Points for mobile use could be doubled The crackdown, which is part of the Government’s new hard-line on the use mobiles at the wheel, could also see the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving doubled, after the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin backed calls from Sir Bernard HoganHowe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, for offenders to be handed six points on their licence rather than the present three. “The number of casualties is absolutely appalling and the person who is using their phone doesn’t realise the damage or the danger,” Mr McLoughlin stated. A spokesman for the Department of Transport added: “Using a mobile phone while driving is extremely dangerous which is why we are considering a number of options to deter drivers.” Critics of the plan have expressed concerns around whether the police will always show common sense when confiscating phones, warning that drivers could use their phone after a “minor car park shunt”. It is advisable to seek immediate legal advice if you are facing charges relating to mobile phone use while driving. Using a mobile phone whilst driving decreases your awareness and response time and it is possible that you could also be charged with other, more serious offences such as careless driving or dangerous driving. Penalties for these offences, especially if an accident occurs, can be far higher.
Pull over. Then call us. If you are caught using a mobile at the wheel, you could risk your licence, or maybe your livelihood, and will certainly be facing a hefty fine. Talk to our road traffic law specialists to find out how we can help.
08456 381381 ibblaw.co.uk
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UX8 What's On... (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 21:12 Page 1
regular events...
Quiz night Every Tues & Sunday from 8.30pm at the Coach & Horses, Ickenham
events at Harefield Community Centre, Priory avenue, uB9 6aP MOn Cameo Club (3rd Mon month) 10am-12pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2pm-5pm; Harefield Wine Club (2nd Mon in the month) 7.459.30pm; Judo (Seniors not 2nd Mon in month) 8-10pm. tues Line Dancing 10.45am-1.15pm; Bingo 7.45pm - 10.30pm. WeD Fitness, Fun & Dance 10.30am-12.00pm; Singing for Fun (1st Wed in month) 1-2.30pm; Judo Club 6.30-7.45pm; Dancing Club 8.15pm-10.30pm. tHurs Happy Families Group 9.4511.45am; Tea Dances 2-4pm; Whist 7.30-10pm; Ladies Club (2nd Thur in month) 8-10pm. FrI Bridge Club 10.30am-12.30pm; Line Dancing 12.45-3pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 7.30-10pm rock ‘n’ roll Monday's in Harefield! Every Monday. Beginners Jive Dance Classes 7.45pm. Slow practise session 8.30-9pm Social Rock n Roll 9-11pm. No partner required - no experience necessary! Harefield Cricket Club, Breakspear Road North, Harefield, UB9 6NE. 7.30-11pm £5 entry. Email therockingrebels@ gmail.com or call 07947 106607 www.facebook.com/therockingrebels 1950s rock n roll with DJs the rocking rebels 1st Fri of every month 7.30-11.30pm. Retro stalls, BYO drinks. St Marys Church Hall, High St, Harefield UB9 6BX. Contact 07951 652083 therockingrebel@gmail.com www.facebook.com/therockingrebels HOBBIes... Chinese Brush Painting group Meet on Saturday mornings. Guided by an experienced tutor. Compose and develop your own style and the finer points of Chinese calligraphy. Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield. Call Phyllis 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com
Hillingdon arts & Crafts Club Meet every 2nd Friday in The Parlour at the URC Church in Swakeleys Road from 9.45-11.30am. £3pp. Call Sue Williams 07799 054444 Hillingdon natural History society Meets 1st Wed of the month at the Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@hillingdonnaturalhistorysociety.org.uk Hillingdon railway Modellers Club Meet every Thursday, 7.30pm at Yiewsley Methodist Church contact tonymoth@Hotmail.co.uk
Inland Waterways association Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk Iver Flower Club The Coppins Room, Iver Village Hall, Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9HW. Meets 4th Thursday of month, 7.30pm. Call Barbara Rhodes 01895 236531 or www.bbando.org.uk/clubs/iver.htm the language Clubs of Hillingdon From late Sept until mid-July. Speak some German, Spanish, French or Italian? Want to practise in friendly groups? Each club meets on a different Fri of the month at 7.30pm in St Giles' Church Hall, Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8BG. For details: German Club 01895 254 723 starts 26th Sept; Spanish Club starts 3rd Oct & French Club starts 10th Oct 01895 253 472; Italian Club 17th Oct 020 8863 3468. uxbridge & Ickenham Floral art society Meets in the village hall, Swakeleys Road. Call 01895 850943. keeP-FIt, DanCe & DraMa... aikido Classes Non-competitive martial art - Mon & Fri 8-10pm (Seniors). Fri 6.30pm8pm (Juniors 6yrs & over). Friendly British Aikido Registered Club meet at Yeading Community Centre. Contact Keith Holland 01895 636344 e:kuraiaikido@hotmail.com www.kuraiaikido.co.uk
Bagot stack (Fitness league) Term Time Only. Vyners School, UB10 8AB on Tuesdays 7.30 8.30pm. Also in Windsor Monday & Thursday. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 www.thefitnessleague.com Images school of Dance Dance, drama, fun and friendly dance classes for all ages including RAD Ballet & Contemporary dance. Based in Ruislip Manor. www.imagesschoolofdance.co.uk e: info@imagesschoolofdance.co.uk Dance, gymnastics and Free running Classes By Futunity UK in Uxbridge Town Centre & Hillingdon Sports & Leisure centre. Ages 2-adults - all styles of dance from RAD ballet to Zumba. Check www.futunityuk.com for full class listings. Call 01895 251224 or email admin@futunityuk.com Fitness league Tone & stretch exercises for the whole body, with fun dance routines to music for women of all fitness levels. Tuesday 7.30-8.30pm at Vyners School, Warren Road, Ickenham, UB10 8AB. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 before attending. www.thefitnessleague.com
Funky rhythms Dance & Fitness Zumba with Brian (07957 343528) Monday 6.30pm- Swakeley's School for girls, Clifton Gardens, Hillingdon Zumba with elli £5 (07833 690153) Tuesday 8pm- Active4less, 233 High Street, Uxbridge Zumba with Brian Thu 6pm & 7.30pm Watts Hall, Christchurch, Belmont Road, Uxbridge Zumba with sylvia J £5 (07793 769584) 8pm - Minet Jnr Sch, Avondale Dr, Hayes Irish Dancing Classes From age 5. Beginners & advanced classes. Mon, 6pm at Hayes Conservative Club, Church Rd. Wed, 6pm at Greenford Visitation Catholic Church Hall. Contact Deidre email: Deirdreosullivan@ hotmail.co.uk telephone: 07956 346383 continued overleaf...
UX8 What's On... (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 21:12 Page 2
keep-fit, dance & drama continued...
Jazzercise classes New Denham Community Centre Monday 9.30am-10.30am & Tuesday 6.45pm-7.45pm. Wednesday & Friday 10-11am Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Road, Denham, Bucks. Thursday 6.30-7.30pm. Contact: Wendy Whitefoord Tel: 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com
Ladies only kickboxing club Wednesdays, 6.30-8pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Just turn up or call Instructor Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 e: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk Line dancing Wednesdays at Uxbridge Community Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge. New class for absolute beginners is 10.30am-12.30pm, with free tea and biscuits - £3.50 Beginners/easy level 1.45pm-3.45pm - free tea and biscuits - £3.50 Thursdays at Charville Community Centre, Bury Road, Hayes End 8pm10pm for beginners/improvers £4.25, no tea and biscuits, but there is a bar. Call Susan 01895 832837 modern Jive classes Mondays, 8-11pm, West Drayton Community Centre Thursdays, 8-11pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. Beginners welcome, first night entry and free lifetime membership with this advert. Contact: Alan 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 or email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com passion dance Group Passion Dance Group (Ruislip) Queensmead Sports Centre and Highgrove Pool Classes include: Street Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Minie Me'z (3 - 6 years Ballet, Tap & Street), Kids Parties. We offer Shows, Workshops, Competitions and Assessments.
Age 3+ all abilities welcome. 07882 413428 passiondancegroup@hotmail.co.uk
pink academy of dance Classes held daily @ New Denham Community Centre. Exciting range of classes for boys and girls from 2 years to Adults. Monday - RAD ballet and IDTA Tap Wednesday - Jazz and Festival work Friday - Festival work Saturday - Little feet ballet (2yrs), Ballet, Tap, Disco, Festival work and Adult Ballet and Tap. Contact: Admin@pinkacademy.co.uk www.pinkacademy.co.uk 01895 257553 rockin' 8s Square dancing Modern American style - every Thurs 8.15pm. New Denham & Willowbank Community Centre, Oxford Road, New Denham. UB9 4DW. Call Jean 01895 622859 or email paul@stingproductions.com Salsa! Every Tuesday @ Slug and Lettuce Uxbridge UB8 1LB. No Partner required. From 8.30pm classes for beginners to more advance dancers with ViVaLaSalsa! For more details call 07961 699424 or visit: www.vivalasalsakizomba.com
Salsa classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.459.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm SaLSa (all styles) Every Monday at Uxbridge Community Centre, 32b The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ from 7.45pm to 10pm. Come and join Mina Queen Salsa for some amazing fun. Call 07958 578962 or email mina@queensalsa.com
Suzanne’s School of dance & drama 69 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8DQ. Classes from aged 2 yrs to adult. All types of dance and musical theatre, drama, singing. See website 'suzannes-dance.co.uk'
tai chi classes Every Saturday 10-11am at Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429 the pilates club St Giles & The United Reformed Church Halls, Ickenham. Visit www.thepilatesclub.co.uk or call 07968 920070 Yoga Monday nights 6.45-8pm at Uxbridge & District Conservative Club, Fairfield, 46 Harefield Rd, Uxbridge, Middx, UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653 Zumba fitness Mon 7pm, Wed 10am. Denham Village Memorial Hall. Ian or Suzanne 07545 910058 / 07834 187745. Zumba fitness class Mon 6pm, Walter Pomeroy Hall, Royal Lane Hillingdon UB8 3QU. Tues 7.30pm, St Marys Church Hall, Hemmen Lane (off Church Rd, Hayes) UB3 2JQ. No experience necessary. £5. Call Ann-Marie 07701 012927 muSic... drumbeatz Drum tuition for beginners by Melanie Kleyn, qualified HND. 8yrs+. Guitar lessons on site. 3.15-5.30pm or during the day. Text 07757 635880 Email: drumsmel@gmail.com faraday country music club in Slough SL2 1RN. The best live Country Music every Thursday for listeners, western partners, freestyle or line dancers. From 8 - 11pm. Contact Deb 07986 050742. www.faradaycountry.co.uk Guitar lessons Complete beginners welcome. Contact Sam for a FREE lesson 07798 588496 sam@uxbridgeguitarlessons.co.uk continued overleaf...
Slimming World UX8 FP (Sep14)_Layout 1 21/08/2014 07:55 Page 1
Scrumptious School Day Lunches At Slimming World we understand time constraints, tantrums and pester-power can sometimes cause nutritious diet to go a little awry when it comes to the children's lunchbox! Crisps, biscuit bars and chocolate are convenient lunchbox fillers and you can guarantee they'll be eaten! Whilst these salty, sugary and fatty snacks are fine in moderation, the recent reports on the rise of childhood obesity and behavioural problems are hard to ignore.
Merely changing the bread type can make a sandwich more interesting and fibre-filled. Mini wholemeal pitta bread is excellent for stuffing with fillings and tortilla wraps make perfect little parcels for fillings.
Swap stringy cheeses and stackable crackers as these can be very high in salt for a healthier selection packet of cheese from the Pick & Mix cheese section in the supermarket. Even easier simply slice a portion of cheese from your whole block for them to nibble on.
Load up their lunchbox with boiled eggs, rolled up slices of ham, chicken drumsticks or cherry tomatoes rather than with high sugar and high salt snacks. Dips - children love the novelty factor of dips and they're also a great way of getting vegetables into their lunch. Fat free fromage frais mixed with chives or garlic, or reduced fat houmous make yummy dips for pepper strips, carrot batons or breadsticks.
Appetising afters - A piece of fruit can often languish uneaten at the bottom of a child's lunchbox. Why not try sugar-free jelly with chopped up fruit pieces, chopped banana in a fat free vanilla yogurt, chopped strawberries, apple, grapes and melon mixed with a little orange juice or a small packet of raisins.
Involve your child in making lunch, they're more likely to eat something that they've chosen, they'll learn all about food preparation and they'll pick up tips about what's healthy!
Delicious drinks - It may come as a surprise to learn that so called juice drinks often are high in sugar and contain little actual juice! Some great drinks to pack into a lunchbox include are cartons of sugar-free fruit squash, home-made milkshake using a cordial such as Crusha Milkshake Syrup, smoothies made using natural yogurt and blended fruit or flavoured sugar free water.
As you can see there are lots of options for making your child's lunchbox into an altogether healthier environment!
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pre-school & kids groups...
Yiewsley & West drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. To join or book the band for an engagement contact Lynne on 07976 824152 or email Lynne@ywdband.com Yiewsley & West drayton Training Band This is open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or those of you wanting to 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wednesday during term time 6.457.45pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com sing and sign Britain’s favourite Baby Signing Classes from 6 months Wed at Uxbridge Leisure Centre, Fri at The White Bear, Ruislip. FREE TASTERS BOOK NOW contact Cathy 07712 047621 or email: cathyseddigh@ singandsign.co.uk slough sea cadets Parade nights on Mon and Thurs 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) & Cadets (age 12-18 yrs). £2 per week, courses from £5. E: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk
Tiny Talk Baby signing classes Friday classes at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge, UB8 2PJ 10.30 am, price £5.00 Pre-paid per family. Call Bev Meier 01895 824935 or 07818 025993 1st uxbridge scouts, Beavers & cubs www.1stuxbridge.com Tel: 01895 255479 self defence... shorinji kempo self defence Practical self defence techniques from this traditional Japanese martial art. Tue 6-7pm children (£2), 7-9pm adults (£5). The Barn, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge. (opp. Brunel Uni). Contact Dan on 07776 421957 or for details visit www.sk.harrow.ac.uk
karate club of uxbridge For ages 5yrs and up. Wed 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call Dominic on 07988 743725
kung fu club West drayton Great Kung Fu workout for everybody. Training for children & adults Tues 5.30-6.30pm, Fri 7.30-8.30pm, Sun 5.30-6.30pm. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Rd, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella on 07702 479435 e: sportsclubuk@gmail.com
silat kuntao indonesian self-defence Traditional self-defence art from Central Java, includes empty hand, traditional weapons, meditation and healing massage. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346 or kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. self help & supporT... hillingdon Brain Tumour group Support group held every 2nd Thurs of the month 12.30-2.30pm, Hillingdon Baptist Church, Hercies Rd Hillingdon, UB10 9LS. Call Cyril or Becky 01895 637444. parkinsons uk society – uxbridge Support group for sufferers and carers, meet at Christ Church, Redford Way, Uxbridge from 2-4pm on the last Tue of the month. Guest speakers and social outings. Call Mr Neasby on 0208 848 3920 slimming World New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. New joiners turn up at 10am to register Tel: Mandy 07879 897578 slimming World The Salvation Army, Cowley Road, Uxbridge. Tuesday 7pm. Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 slimming World Yiewsley Methodist Church, Farfield Rd, Yiewsley. Wed 5pm or 6.45pm. Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 Weight Watchers Christchurch Bailey Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. Thursday 6.30pm. Call 07920 409111.
social groups...
crosier investment club Objectives to learn more about the Stock Market and to improve personal investment skills. Meets 7.30pm, 3rd Thursday in month Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AA. Further details 020 8427 3559. Annual Subs £24 (inc. tea/coffees). secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk visit www.crosierinvestment.org.uk hillingdon family history society Based at Hillingdon Park Baptist Church, Hercies Road, Hillingdon. Our research room is open (10am-1pm) on the first Saturday of the month and on every Friday (except the Friday before the first Saturday). We have a wide variety of records, and experienced help is always available. Once a month, usually on the 3rd Thursday evening, there are general meetings with a speaker. For openings and events see www.hfhs.co.uk. Contact Mrs Pat Reynolds 01895 444442 or email hillingdonfhs@onetel.com
rotary club of elthorne hillingdon We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at Uxbridge Cricket Club. Call 01923 829657 for details rotary club of uxbridge We meet on Fridays at 12.40 for 13.00 (5th Friday evening, call Sec on 07910 197201) at The Middlesex Suite, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge. See website www.rotaryclubofuxbridge.org.uk Whist Tuesdays 2-4pm at Uxbridge & District Conservative Club, Fairfield, 46 Harefield Rd, Uxbridge, Middx, UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653 Women’s social group Social group for women in West London. Looking to expand your social group and make new friends? We meet regularly for coffee, a chat and organised trips and welcome women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@ seemaa.co.uk to find out more continued overleaf...
UX8 What's On... (Sep14)_Layout 1 22/08/2014 21:12 Page 4
Sport...
Badminton Club Requires additional players of average standard! Every Tuesday evening 7.45 to 9.45 at Vyners School, Ickenham. Interested? Then email John on turksclub@hotmail.co.uk play bowls, rugby, squash & tennis at Uxbridge Cricket Club. Bar food available daily. Non-members welcome. Tel: Anne 01895 237571. E: admin@uxbridgecricketclub.co.uk Hillingdon Golf Club All players and new members welcome. 18 Dorset Way, Hillingdon, Middx, UB10 0JR. Call 01895 460035/252718. www.hillingdongolfclub.co.uk
Indoor Short Bowls Thursday nights 8-10pm at Uxbridge & District Conser-vative Club, Fairfield, 46 Harefield Rd, Uxbridge, UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653 New Ladies Netball team Training Wed 7.30-8.30pm (TT) Ryefield Primary School, Ryefield Avenue, Hillingdon E: glebenetballclub@yahoo.com
old Abbotstonians rugby Club Youth Section Coaching non-contact (Tag) and full contact rugby for children aged 4-13 years. Training or matches Sundays 10am-12noon at Old Abbotstonians Rugby Club, Pole Hill Open Space, Raeburn Road, Hayes. For details call Colin Lowen on 07798 743041.
pink Ladies Netball Club All levels and abilities welcome. Training takes place at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tuesday evening. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm Under 16s - please Rhiannon on 01895 448878 for details email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk
'the Uxbridge Loiterers' Cycle Club Ring Don on 01895 232752 or Carole on 01895 833249 Uxbridge Squash Club All squash players welcome Uxbridge Cricket Club, Park Road, Uxbridge. Tel: 01895 237571 Visit: uxbridgesquash.org.uk
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Credit Crunch Gardening
by Pippa Greenwood
If you feel that your garden has become an expensive hobby, check-out my top tips for Credit-Crunch Gardening.
• Apply for an allotment. An allotment opens up a whole new opportunity to grow almost unlimited food at very little cost, get exercise without paying for the gym, and learn a lot from your neighbouring plot holders. • Gardeners are a very generous bunch, so don’t feel embarrassed to ask, friends, neighbours, or fellow allotmenteers for cuttings or seedlings of plants that you have admired. It is part of what gardening is all about. • Collect softish, deciduous leaves to make free soil improver. Just make a ‘cage’ from galvanised wire with posts at the corners or cram the leaves into bin liners and puncture a few holes. • Make the most of every bit of fruit and veg that your garden or allotment produces. Make jams, chutnies, jellies and of course bottle or freeze just about anything else. • Make your own wasp trap. Use a jam jar part filled with stale jam, mixed with water and topped with tin foil with a few holes in it made using a pencil. • Many local councils offer
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really good value composters and compost bins. Better still, if you’re at all handy with the hammer and nails, create your own from old pallets or floor boards. Fill a flowerbed with colour by sowing it with hardy annual seeds – some can be collected from existing plants, others from packet seed, often at under £1 per packet. Ask your local pub to give you any stale beer from the driptrays and use it as slug bait. Use an old plastic beaker part filled with beer and placed so that the rim is about 1cm above soil level in a slug and snail prone area. Enjoy some wild food. Many garden plants are edible, and don’t forget the old favourites such as hedgerow blackberries - great for crumble, stewed with some apple or for making into bramble jelly. Many fruits sold in the supermarket come in smart, clear-plastic trays, which can be used as miniature seed trays, and most even come with a clear plastic top, the perfect mini propagator lid. Growing your own vegetables really can save you a packet. Right now you can order in seed for crops, and onion sets and garlic for crops early
next summer. Then early in the year start planting potatoes and sowing seed. • Look after your garden tools. Store them in a dry shed or garage, wipe over any metal parts with an oily rag to keep rust at bay and they’ll last years longer. • Invest in a few raspberry canes. This has to be the best money saving crop, as they are expensive in the shops. Once established autumn fruiting varieties yield heavy crops and can give you ‘posh’ fruit....for just pennies. • The garden furniture is probably the most costly item in your garden and statistics show it’s what gardeners spend most money on replacing. Remove washable seat-pads and cushions first, wash and dry these and then cover the furniture up or move it into a shed or garage if possible.
Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardening products including Pippa’s favourite weeder, Nemaslug, Nemasys caterpillar, slug, ant and other biological controls, Enviromesh & Envirofleece and lots more besides.
Benny, Billy, and Bobby are 2 year old male guinea pigs. These 3 lovely boys were signed over to us when their owner was no longer able to look after them. Ideally, we'd prefer them go to a loving home together but would consider homing them separately. As with all guinea pigs, they will need a large run and plenty of space to stretch and exercise. Please get in touch if you can offer love, care and spacious accommodation to these rather handsome boys We have more than 30 kittens currently in our care, all looking for that special, loving home. Their ages vary from 10 weeks to 5 months. Please, please get in touch if you could adopt one or more of these beautiful kitties. Ring or visit our website to download an application form if you are look ing to adopt
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gibbs-gillespie.co.uk
LONDON BUCKS HERTS MIDDX
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If you are thinking of renting, buying or selling a property please call us and experience our award winning difference. Uxbridge Sales 01895 272742 Uxbridge Lettings 01895 252542 Denham 01895 835835
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