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The month of of Spring Spring and and the the month month of of con con The first first month ception for five five of of the the six six In In and and Around Around Maga Maga ception for zines. March is is the the official official birthday birthday for for West West zines. March Drayton, which celebrates celebrates its its 9th 9th year, year, Denham Denham Drayton, which its Uxbridge its its 4th 4th and and Ickenham Ickenham and and its 7th, 7th, Uxbridge Ruislip their 2nd. 2nd. II myself myself will will also also have have be be Ruislip their come a year year older, older, although although exact exact figures figures shall shall come a remain a close close guarded guarded secret. secret. Let’s Let’s just just say say a a remain a cake with one one very very large large candle candle would would be be pref pref cake with erable to an an edible edible fire fire hazard! hazard! erable to It’s also the the start start of of It’s also (Don’t (Don’t forget to put put your your clocks clocks forward forward an an hour hour at at 1am 1am forget to on ). ). Yes, Yes, II know know we we lose lose on a precious precious hour’s hour’s sleep, sleep, but but we we can can look look for for a ward to to lighter lighter evenings, evenings, daffodils daffodils and and other other ward spring flowers flowers popping popping up up everywhere, everywhere, warmer warmer spring weather and and best best of of all, all, lower lower gas gas and and electric electric weather ity bills. bills. ity this this year, so get get those those tables tables booked booked and and those those year, so flowers ordered. For For me me personally, personally, this this will will be be flowers ordered. beyond my daughter daughter Samantha’s Samantha’s budget budget as as beyond my she’s still at at school. school. But, But, ifif you’re you’re reading reading this this she’s still dear child of of mine, mine, I’d I’d like like bacon, bacon, sausages, sausages, dear child egg and toast toast for for breakfast. breakfast. The The fridge fridge has has egg and been stocked in in anticipation. anticipation. been stocked Wishing you all all a a fabulous fabulous March! March! Wishing you . .
Tel: Tel: 0800 0800 038 038 5001 5001 Mob: Mob: 07759 07759 536494 536494 In In and and Around Around Magazines Magazines cover: cover: West West Drayton Drayton .. Iver Iver .. Denham Denham .. Uxbridge Uxbridge Ickenham Ickenham .. Ruislip Ruislip Angela Fisher Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 5001 // 07759 07759 536494 536494 0800 038 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk
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Cake 6 Cake & & Bake: Bake: Hot Hot Cross Cross Buns Buns 6 Property 10 Property Matters Matters 10 Wordsearch 10 Wordsearch 10 Interiors: 12 Interiors: Look Look Back Back in in Nostalgia Nostalgia 12 Finance: 14 Finance: Pension Pension Rules Rules are are Changing Changing 14 Karen Munro: Careers 16 Karen Munro: Careers 16 Floppity 18 Floppity Poppity Poppity 18 RSPCA 20 RSPCA Rehoming Rehoming Appeal Appeal 20 The The Golden Golden Years: Years: Memories Memories of of 50 50 years years ago ago 22 22 Children’s 24 Children’s Puzzle Puzzle Page Page 24 Zoe 26 Zoe Hart Hart 26 Infant 28 Infant Matters Matters 28 Coffee 32 Coffee Break Break Puzzles Puzzles 32 Local Events 34 Local Events 34 Beauty: 36 Beauty: Wrinkle Wrinkle Removal Removal 36 Motoring: 38 Motoring: Land Land Rover Rover Discovery Discovery Sport Sport SD4 SD4 38 What’s on at the Compass Theatre 42 What’s on at the Compass Theatre 42 Breakthrough 46 Breakthrough for for Sciatica Sciatica Sufferers Sufferers 46 The 46 The League League of of Friends Friends of of Hillingdon Hillingdon Hospital Hospital 46 Around 48 Around Britain: Britain: Saints Saints 48 Mothers 50 Mothers Day Day Around Around the the World World 50 Puzzle 51 Puzzle Solutions Solutions 51 Denham 52 Denham Green Green EAct EAct School School News News 52 Citizens 54 Citizens Advice Advice Bureau Bureau 54 Useful 54 Useful Telephone Telephone Numbers Numbers 54 Technology: 56 Technology: Top Top Tech Tech for for 2015 2015 56 Reader 58 Reader Holidays Holidays 58 Travel: 60 Travel: Sete Sete ~ ~ Water Water Jousting Jousting 60 Road 62 Road Test: Test: Volkswagen Volkswagen Passat Passat 62 Wildlife 66 Wildlife Zone Zone 66 Denham Against HS2 68 Denham Against HS2 68 Garden 70 Garden Feature Feature 70 Clubs, 72, Clubs, Groups Groups & & Classes Classes 72, 74 74 & & 76 76 Recipe: Haddock Kedgeree 78 Local Events 78
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Dated Events (Mar15)_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:09 Page 1
MARCH EVENTS
Local Events March into April 2015 6
Courtwoods Mother’s Day Tea Party Fundraising Event Sun 8th March, 12pm-4pm Courtwood Car Services, Penfield Estate, Lancaster Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1AP. This charity open day will be held in support of DASH (Disablement Association Hillingdon). Special guests include the Deputy Mayor Councillor George Cooper and Deputy Mayoress Councillor Judith Cooper. There will be children’s activities and lots of family fun, fab raffle prizes and refreshments on sale.
HUBB Business Breakfast Event Thu 12th March, 8am-9am Bay Lodge, 36 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PH. Networking with local professionals and in partnership with the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. ‘How to improve your business’ – Interactive Workshop with guest speaker Mark Harris from Enterprise Doctor. Who will explore the different aspects of a business which can be improved and the importance of working on the business rather than in the business. Coffee and pastries. For details and to book your place email: helen.thompson@ wardwilliams.co.uk please do circulate this invitation to your colleagues/contacts.
The Inlands Waterways Association Tues 10th March, 7.30pm Hillingdon Canal Club (HCC), Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX. (opposite the General Elliott pub) Speaker Athena Beckett on 'Buckinghamshire Canal Society' Email Lucy Smith on middlesex. socials@waterways.org.uk. KLOS Musical Theatre presents 'When The Lights Go On Again' 11th-14th March Winston Churchill Theatre Pinn Way, Ruislip, HA4 7QL. Come along to KLOS Musical Theatre's performance and enjoy all your favourite World War Two songs such as 'The White Cliffs Of Dover', 'We'll Meet Again' and 'The Lambeth Walk'. Finally, rejoice with the cast as VE day arrives! For tickets email: boxoffice@KLOS musicaltheatre.co.uk or call 0208 2072340 or 07539 025 211.
Quiz Night Sat 14th March Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Come and join us - cost is £7 includes Ploughman’s. For more info/tickets please call 01895 822320. FREE Family Fun Day Sat 14th March, 2pm-4pm St Leonards Hall, Richings Park, Bucks. Sometimes we all need to get out the house, it's good if the children have somewhere for them to get together and play and even better if we can get together with our friends, have fun, meet new people AND STILL give our children the attention that they want / need over the weekend. This fun family games day is a 2 hour event, where Hart Entertainments provides a 5 section 'wave of games' flow:
DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE! If you would like us to publicise your event in our April issues contact us no later than Monday 16th March.
1) welcome warm up, getting to know each other, 2) energy busters, 3) team games, 4) equipment games 5) chillout By bringing a little something to eat, drink and share with you. We'll have a break half way to refresh and re-energise. Please note: The event is Free for all the family. By joining you agree for Hart Entertainment to film the event and use pictures and video footage for future promotions. Children cannot be left unattended. For details and tickets visit www.zoehart.co.uk or call Zoe Hart on 07747 063 149.
Pot a Plant for Mother's Day Sat 14th March, 9.30am-3.30pm Smith's Nurseries, 95 Oxford Road, New Denham, UB9 4DE. Choose a plant and pot it for Mum, ideal activity for Dads and kids the day before Mother's Day. No booking required but call for more information if required on 01895 233 844. Butterflies Table Top Sale and Community Coffee Morning Sat 21st March, 9.30am-1pm The Village Hall, Ickenham, UB10 8DG. Entry 50p, children free.
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TH E B UL L H O T E L
MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH EASTER SUNDAY LUNCH SUNDAY 15TH MARCH SUNDAY 5TH APRIL
Three-course carvery lunch with a glass of Bucks Fizz and a gift for Mum.
Three-course carvery lunch, Easter Egg hunt and Easter Egg gift for every child.
£35.00 per adult £17.50 per child (4-12 years)
£27.50 per adult £13.75 per child (4-12 years)
Prices are per person and correct at time of print. Children under 4 eat for free.
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Property
In 2012 the government introduced the new Na tional Planning Policy Framework, a major shakeup of the planning laws aimed at encouraging the building of more new homes. The number of new homes completed has fallen far short of what is required for most of the last decade and planning restrictions are seen as one of the main constraints on supply.
Has the legislation achieved its objectives or has it created new problems?
Well many communities will have breathed a sigh of relief that they are not having large scale devel opments imposed on them by distant politicians. On the downside, there is evidence that some local councils have simply failed to produce a plan or submitted plans that call for minimal levels of build The reform had three main points. Firstly, the legis ing in a bid to appease Nimby voters. The number lation was greatly simplified so it runs to around 50 of legal challenges by planning inspectors against pages instead of several hundred. Secondly, na inadequate local plans doubled last year. tional and regional housebuilding targets were However, the strongest sign that the reforms are scrapped and replaced with a local framework, so working is that in the year up to September 2014 decisions on how many houses to build and where planning permission to build 240,000 homes was to put them are made primarily by district councils. granted, the highest since 2007 and 80,000 more Most importantly, the guiding principle of the new than in 2011. Even then, not all permissions will legislation is a "presumption in favour of sustain result in a completed home but it is a very encour able development." Sustainable is defined as not aging sign. But, consider this: only 140,000 homes impacting negatively on future generations. In ef were completed in the last financial year; the plan fect, providing that the proposed development will ning system may be working but the developers not a have a detrimental impact and it is in accor are still not building enough houses. dance with the local plan developed by the council, it should be approved.
Answers pg 51 10
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Home & Interiors
Look Back In Nostalgia
By Katherine Sorrell
paint, or else push the boat out and go for floral wallpaper. A hand-block printed effect, in a palette of light, bright and cheery colours, is particularly effective. For bathrooms and kitchens, painted tongue and groove panelling or white beveledged tiles (laid in a brick bond pattern) work especially well.
Do you yearn for the charming styles of the past? For the pretty patterns and jolly colours, the homemade accessories, the simple good looks that made a home really homely? Then read on for interiors expert Katherine Sorrell’s look at nostalgic style. Take a look at your floors for a first step towards nostalgic style. Plain or painted wooden boards are ideal, with flatwoven rugs for extra warmth where necessary, though neutral carpets or naturalfibre coverings are a good alternative, while you could opt for stone tiles in hallways or kitchens. On the walls, you might keep things plain and simple with while or off-white 12
Furniture can be really inexpensive –you might pick something up at a local auction or even a second-hand shop for next to nothing. Look for sturdy, useful pieces in a timeless style, made from pine, oak or Lloyd Loom. Anything too dark or heavy looking can be painted – though make sure it is not too massive and overbearing in the room. Don’t expect perfection: knocked corners or faded upholstery may even enhance the overall look, while mismatching pieces aren’t too much of a problem provided they fit into the overall aesthetic. Textiles are often the key to getting nostalgic style just right. Think plain fabrics combined with ticking stripes, gingham, spots and florals – spriggy or else big, blowsy blooms. Don’t aim for over-coordination; instead, a range of complementary colours and patterns gives a suitably eclectic effect. Natural fabrics (such as cotton, linen and wool) are nicest, in a range of weights and effects, such as tweed, canvas, muslin or sateen. Remnants, if you’re good with a sewing machine, can be run up into all sorts of lovely items. Window
treatments, for example, are a doddle – just a pair of gathered curtains – while leftovers can quickly be made into cushion covers. Patchwork quilts, of course, are simply perfect in the bedroom, as are Welsh blankets and satin eiderdowns, while knitting and crochet (especially granny squares) are essential ingredients in virtually any room. Displays of pretty accessories can be the making of this look, whether it’s spongeprinted ceramics, pressed glass, blue-and-white crockery or enamelware. Modern reproductions are easy to find and not expensive, but more fun can be had in seeking out just the right original bits and bobs, from storage jars to aprons, cut-glass jugs to wooden kitchen utensils, whether it’s at a vintage fair, charity shops or your local car boot sale. Think dressers piled with pretty crockery, a stack of biscuit tins on a shelf or laceedged towels in the bathroom. Add woven baskets, metal buckets, vintage milk bottles, bristle brushes, some lengths of bunting, even old books such as orange Penguin classics or Ladybird children’s stories; and finish things off with some informal arrangements of native flowers tucked into jam jars or informal jugs or vases. The result? You have transformed yesterday’s pleasures into today’s delightful treasures. Main Image - A selection of crockery from Cath Kidston’s spring 2015 ranges, tel 08450 262 440; www.cathkidston.co.uk.
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Finance Pensions Rules are Changing: What You Need to Know
F
By Ann Haldon www.cornerstonewebcontent.com If you’re confused by drawdown, annuity, tax wrappers and pots, you are definitely not alone. It sometimes feels like politicians are being deliberately obtuse - why don’t they use plain English when talking about pensions so we all know where we stand on this important issue? Although other choices are available, including property or stocks and shares, saving into a private pension does offer the following tax advantages: • The government pays tax relief on your payments • You’re not taxed on the money in your pension pot (up to certain limits) • At pension age you can withdraw a percentage of your pension as a tax-free lump sum But what about the State Pension – won’t that provide the income I need in retirement? State Pension rules are set to change from 2016 when a weekly flat rate will be introduced. These are some of the new rules, should you reach State Pension age on or after April 6th 2016: • The full pension amount will be a minimum of £148.40 per week (the actual amount to be decided upon in late 2015) • At least 10 qualifying years 14
are needed to receive the new State Pension • The total number of qualifying years for eligibility has increased from 30 to 35 Auto enrolment Auto enrolment is new legislation that obliges employers to offer eligible employees a workplace pension. The new scheme, which was introduced in October 2012, is being rolled out to include all UK employers by February 2018. Currently, if you earn a minimum annual salary of £10,000, are aged between 22 years and the State Pension age, and work under a contract of employment in the UK, you are entitled to automatic enrolment on a workplace pension. New legislation regarding annuities Until recently, when you retired you had no other option but to use your pension fund to buy an annuity. Annuities provide you with a fixed income for life, and even though the legislation has now changed, this product may still offer the most stable income for you in retirement. The 2014 Budget saw changes to pension legislation. From 2015 you will not be forced to buy an annuity with your pension fund, but can use the money in other ways. As a general rule, people choose the ‘income drawdown’ option, an
annuity, or a mixture of the two. What is income drawdown? Income drawdown is an alternative to buying an annuity. You buy stocks, shares and other investments and take a regular income by cashing them in over time, with 25% of each ‘drawdown’ being tax-free. If you are not risk averse and you have a larger pension pot of £100,000 or more, the rewards can be greater. Income drawdown is a complicated option with high fees and charges, and it will not be right for everybody, but there is a middle-ground that offers the security of an annuity with a little more flexibility. An investment-linked annuity There are two types of investment-linked annuity: • Unit-linked: these depend on the performance of stocks, shares and other investments • With-profits: these retain part of your return in highperforming years for use if investment performance declines Charges and fees for pension products can be high, and serve to reduce the overall value of your fund. That’s why you need the advice and guidance of a professional financial expert to cut through the jargon, clearly explain what you are buying, and tell you the true cost of the product.
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Recruiting NOW Foster carers and adopters needed
Find out more at our information events Thursday 12 March, 10am to 12 midday Tuesday 24 March, 6.30pm to 8.30pm Civic Centre, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW Please arrive five minutes before the start time.
Book your place today
fost-adopt@ hillingdon.gov.uk 0800 783 1298
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fost-adopt 15
Karen Munro Careers (Mar15)_Layout 1 24/02/2015 14:03 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 Career Development including effective CV Coaching, Interview Skills and Networking Techniques. 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 London and the South East.
Karen also facilitates workshops and offers individual coaching to Military Personnel leaving the Armed Forces at RAF Northolt and works as an Associate Career Coach and Trainer for both Right Management and SMP Solutions. Writing for a number of career focused and military resettlement magazines she regularly contributes to ‘In and Around’ every month sharing her practical experience with her local community.
MOST people fall in to their careers purely by accident. Suddenly they get to a stage in their lives when they think “How did I get here?” And “How did I end up doing this?” More often than not, it isn’t what they really wanted to do in the first place and it seems almost impossible to think about doing something else now. So they continue along the path they were on at the risk of becoming more and more dissatisfied with their own career choice. Could this be you? What is important to remember, is YOU choose your career direction – it is not made for you it is created by you. Everything you have done until this very moment, whether it has been a conscious or unconscious decision, has been your decision. The biggest and bravest decision to make now is whether to continue on this path or take a different direction. To find out if you are doing the right job, ask yourself these 3 simple questions: 1. If all jobs paid the same, what job would I do? 2. If I knew I couldn’t fail, what job would I do? 3. If I was given a magic wand and could create the job of my dreams, what would it be? What do your answers say to you? If you are doing a job that really interests, motivates and inspires you, not only will you enjoy it and feel happier than you ever have, but you will ultimately become a success! Studies show that success does not necessarily translate in to financial reward (though it’s always nice!) but is about doing something you enjoy, that gives you a sense of satisfaction and personal reward. 16
If your answers are indicating you are not doing something you want to do and you would like to do something different, well, why not start exploring what that might look like and think about how you can achieve it? Career Coaching is about helping people to explore their transferable skills and identify what motivates them. It’s about exploring all the options and eliminating many of the barriers preventing them from realising their career potential. Here’s another little exercise you can try for yourself: 1. Draw a line on a piece of paper with your date of birth at the start and your estimated year of death (without getting morbid!) at the end. You have now created your ‘personal life line’. 2. Now mark an ‘X’ to show where you are now. How far along the line is the ‘X’? Consider, what you have achieved until now and think about how much time has passed? What jobs have you done? What did you enjoy and what were your successes? 3. Next, look at what remains on the right of the ‘X’. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve? How much time do you have to achieve that? If your earlier answers to the 3 questions indicated you’re not doing a job that really makes you happy, then perhaps it’s time to start thinking about what you would like to do and how you might be able to achieve it. Career Coaching is not an overnight fix, and magic wands are in short supply. However, if you really want to change - you can. You are in control of your own career and ultimately you can always change direction. “If you do not change the direction in which you are going, you will end up where you are headed.” Confucius
Karen
“unlocking your career potential”
17
Short Story
Floppity Poppity
“Maxwell, we need to talk about the rabbit”, Colin said gruffly, “will you please stop twitching the curtain?” “No can do, Dad”, Maxwell peered through his parents’ window into the twilight, “I’m checking the coast is clear”. “Didn’t you buy that fancy sports car to attract the ladies?” Colin chuckled, picking up his newspaper. “Your neighbour, Dolores Bagwell, is no lady. She treats me like a free taxi service”, moaned Maxwell, “the second I unlock the car she virtually leaps into the passenger seat”. Maxwell closed the curtain and looked at his Dad. He knew what this was about. “You’re not getting rid of Floppity Poppity”, he said, “and that’s final”. “Mum and I want to decorate the spare room, and it’s time the rabbit went”, Colin said. “Went where?” Maxwell asked suspiciously. “I’m sure there’s space in your flat”, Colin smiled. Maxwell grimaced. His flat had nothing but space, and that’s the way he liked it. It had reclaimed oak floorboards, and zinc worktops. Floppity Poppity, a four foot cuddly rabbit with one ear, a tatty bow, and some mysterious stains would certainly not go with his decor. “I don’t see why I’ve got to take him just because you’re giving my bedroom a lick of paint”, Maxwell sulked, “it seems very selfish”. 18
Floppity Poppity had been a present from Aunty Betty for Maxwell’s first birthday. He had sat in the corner of Maxwell’s bedroom and been a wrestling partner, a makeshift beanbag and a comforter through chicken pox. Maxwell loved him, just not enough to have him in his flat. “Chuck him in a skip”, Colin said bluntly. “The Dawson’s on the corner have got one, and it’s only half full”. “I’m sure they’d be delighted if Floppity suddenly appeared in it”, Maxwell said sarcastically. “They’d be fine, I’ve already asked them”. Colin quickly hid behind the sports page. Maxwell’s mouth fell open, “you want me to just throw him away, like we owe him nothing? Can’t you just put him back in my bedroom once you’ve decorated?” “It hasn’t been your bedroom for over ten years and why you still need a cuddly toy is beyond me”. “I can’t believe you could be so heartless”. Maxwell snatched up his car key. “I’m going”. “Take the rabbit with you”, Colin called after him. Maxwell bundled the rabbit out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Opening the passenger door of his car he sat Floppity down on the seat. The rabbit looked sadly at him. “I guess it’s time to say goodbye old fellow”, Maxwell said, and, in one last tender
gesture, fastened the seatbelt around him. Maxwell was getting into the driver’s side when he heard the familiar sound of high heels tottering up the drive. His heart sank. “Maxwell darling”, Mrs Bagwell called, “the off-licence please. And be quick, it closes in ten minutes”. “Mrs Bagwell, I can’t…”, Maxwell began. “Who’s that? A lady friend?” Mrs Bagwell peered indignantly through the windscreen at the shadowy figure inside. “That’s no good, she’s in my seat”. Maxwell seized his opportunity, “Yes, that’s, er, Flo”. “Flo who?” Mrs Bagwell asked resentfully. “Flo who sits in the passenger seat now”, he added cryptically and quickly started the engine. Reversing off the drive, he called, “Dad would love to give you a lift”. Then he grinned at the sound of Mrs Bagwell’s urgent knocking on his parents’ front door. “Floppity, old friend”, Maxwell smiled, accelerating past the Dawson’s skip, “I think you’ve just found a whole new purpose in life”. By Jackie Brewster
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Male – 8 years old – Black / Tan Terrier x Yorkie Smudge is a lovely character looking for a rather special experienced home with someone who can give him all the love and attention he craves, and understands how upset he gets being left on his own (especially at bed time!), so is happy to be with him most of the time. Smudge is good with children, and other dogs on the whole but the terrier instinct is strong and he definitely couldn’t live with cats or other small fur ries. Do you have the love, time and patience to offer Smudge in return for an affectionate and devoted companion for life (with loads of cuddles thrown in)? If you think you can offer one of our animals a lov ing home then please ring RSPCA Hillingdon Branch on or visit our website to download an application form. The RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston, District Branch has had an RSPCA clinic since before world war 2. Over the generations, millions of volunteer hours have kept this safe haven open for sick, unwanted and abandoned pets and pets belonging to people in hardship who cannot afford private vet fees. 13,000 pets a year go through our doors. We face daily constant financial battles, we receive no state aid or help from local councils this legend helping local animals in need by: Donating on line, Donating regularly, Volunteering, Donating pet goods, food and bedding. RSPCA clinic 16 Crescent Parade, Hillingdon, UB10 0LG. For appointments 01895270926 Enquires 01895231435 Thank you for your support . We can’t do it with out you! 20
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GNH_in&around_dps_March2015_Layout 1 11/02/2015 13:42 Page 1
In and Around
holidays
Golden Years
QUOTE: LQ5-IA
Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning
redemption through music, troupe was hitting the big time. and their dramatic escape And refusal caused the family from the Nazis is well-known. no problems – they were even It’s also common knowledge introduced to Hitler himself, that the movie and the 1959 who was a fan. Rodgers & Hammerstein stage The dramatic escape portrayed musical on which it was based, in the film never happened played fast and loose with – they simply went off on a Maria’s memoir of the family’s scheduled concert tour of career. It overdramatized and America, where they got good oversweetened – a string of reviews and $1,000 a show. directors actually turned the The von Trapps departed the picture down as too sugary USA in March 1939, played before Robert Wise (who had some dates in Sweden, and just won two Oscars for West went home. The outbreak took£it on. pp • Departs 3 DaysSide HalfStory) Board, May, 2015 of war24 found them on tour in Norway: faced either with But Maria’s best-selling 1949 Pier back Head.toWe will alsocertain visit the Cunard’s memoir, three Ocean Queens willTrapp sail city’s going an almost The Story of the call-up defecting to America FamilyMersey Singers, to Roman city or of Chester into the River for seems a spectacular and keeping the troupe going, have been just as sanitised. celebration of the company’s 175th INCLUDED: 2 nights the Days Georg opted for stay NewatYork. Not The Von Trapp family stars in the Sound Written after Georg’s death at much self-sacrificing antianniversary. The Elizabeth, andit Inn,so of Music theatrical, pictured outside the the suggestion Liverpool, sharing a twin/doubleof a Mary publicist, Nazi as self-serving impresario. theatre in Helen, Georgia, USA. portrays family as political Victoria ships will the assemble in front of bedded room • 2 dinners and 2 refugees who had to flee when One could dig more Liverpool’s famous Three Graces at the breakfasts • Coach travel and excursions On March 2nd 1965 the highest- Georg’s principled refusal of dirt. But even if it were grossing musical film of all a commission in the German true, does it matter? time opened in New York. Four navy antagonised Austria’s Macbeth isn’t diminished weeks later, on 29th March, it Nazi rulers. But the story is so as art by Shakespeare’s opened in London. It went on to doctored, so full of omissions misrepresentation of his win five Oscars including Best and ambiguities, that it leaves subject; and once you get past Picture and Best Director. It was room for a very different and the sugar-coating, what really www.gnholidays.com The Sound of Music, and it’s much darker narrative. matters about the Sound of been an evergreen for 50 years. Music is the glorious Rodgers Georg (a World War I & Hammerstein score, their last The story of blossoming love submariner) was asked to and surely their best. between frosty, aristocratic help the Nazis create their Holidays offered by Austrian widower Georg von U-boat fleet, but before Hitler’s if your heart doesn’t swell Co achAnd Holid ays & GN Holidays Great Da ys Out Trapp and the free-spirited takeover of Austria in March when Julie Andrews bursts governess of his seven & Voyages 1938, not after; he rejected it into the opening line of the title children,Denham Maria, the family’s not on principle but because his song, then you have no heart. Higher
Call 01895 83 33 33 for bookings and information
Three Queens Across the Mersey Celebrating Cunard’s 175th Anniversary 169
IN •
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Packed with ideas for Great Getaways
2015 Coach Holidays On 6th March 1965 & Great Days Out
2015
ABTA NoY0291 •ATOL 9362
River Cruise www.gnvoyages.co.uk aged 82. She was the
, Margaret Dumont, died Happy 50th birthdays greatest straightwoman in the history of cinema to Lembit Opik (2nd), and the butt of Groucho Marx’s cruellest witticisms (“You’re fighting for this Lawrence LlewellynCoach Breaks woman’s honour, which is more than she ever did!”). A trained opera singer, Bowen (11th), Mark www.gnholidays.com she became a Broadway star in the early 1920s and found herself cast Carney (16th), Marti Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays revue, The Cocoanuts, in 1925. Between 1925 and Pellow (23rd), Depar andting from in a Marx Brothers *Greenford, Harrow 9.30am to 12.30pm Ruislip, Uxbridge, Sloug h Piers Morgan (30th). 1941 she played the blue-blooded but none-too-bright matron in six Marx Maidenhead & *Staines Saturdays Brothers movies and also starred opposite other comedy giants of the era Cake and botox to ☎01895 83 33 33all! you including Abbot & Costello, Laurel & Hardy and WC Fields. 22
Call for your copy
*Note: Due to drivers hours restriction s our day tours are not available from Greenford or Staines
Published: 26 January , 2015
B L
IN
L
c
Coach Breaks departing from Uxbridge, Ruislip & Slough
A VERY HIGH TEA!! SPINNAKER TOWER, ISLE OF WIGHT GUNWHARF QUAYS & HARBOUR CRUISE EXPLORER Great Day Out, £69pp 5 Days Half Board, £269pp QUOTE: SP3-IA
Departures: 26 Mar, 7 May, 2 July & 10 Sept, 2015
QUOTE: SB4-IA
Departs Monday 13 April, 2015
INCLUDED: 45-minute Portsmouth Harbour Cruise
INCLUDED: 4 nights accommodation sharing an en-
• High Tea with a glass of Prosecco at the Café in the
suite twin/double room at the Shanklin Beach Hotel -
Clouds - 105 metres up Spinnaker Tower • Free time in
no single room supplement • 4 breakfasts and 4
Gunwharf Quays • Return coach travel
dinners • Coach travel and excursions
QUOTE: BB4-IA
QUOTE: DR8-IA
BRIGHTON & THE BLUEBELL LINE STEAM & CREAM
DARTMOUTH ROYAL REGATTA & SOUTH DEVON
Great Day Out, £59pp
4 Days Half Board, £249pp
Departures: 16 Apr, 9 July & 3 Sept, 2015 INCLUDED: 11⁄2 hour steam train ride on the Bluebell Line with a Cream Tea • Free time in Brighton • Return coach travel
Departs Friday 28 August, 2015 INCLUDED: 3 nights accommodation sharing an ensuite twin/double room at the Preston Sands Hotel, Paignton • 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners • Excursions take in Dartmouth and the Royal Regatta, Torbay, Torquay and Brixham • Coach travel and excursions 23
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Zoe Hart FP+ (Mar15)_Layout 1 26/02/2015 12:31 Page 1
Age appropriate music Every parents minefield? Not any more!
ZOE HART an international club DJ since 1999, turned Childrens Entertainer in 2012.
Come along to Hart Entertainments FREE FAMILY GAMES EVENT on Saturday 14th March, 2-4pm at St Leonards Church Hall.
Hi, I’m Zoe and I run a local children’s disco service. In todays world we are constantly bombarded with information and not enough time to absorb and filter it for our children, so I thought I’d help a little, at least in the area that I’m good at. Music!
Call Zoe on 07747 063149 for details and to book your family’s place.
Each month I’ll review a selection of the top 40 hits, detailing the artists and the tracks that have caught mine and the kids attention.
www.zoehart.co.uk - 07747 063 149
THE NIGHT – Avicii
OUTLINES – Mike Mago & Dragonette
He said “One day you’ll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember.” Wise words, and gets the kids bouncing AGE big time. 0+
Kids burst into dance when I put this on. Nice B line.
AGE
6+
I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melisa Steel SUGAR - Maroon 5 Sugar yes please! The little ones won’t get what it’s about, they just like sugar. It’s got the other ‘s’ word in it too though.
Commercial house not at it’s best. Nothing inappropriate here though.
AGE
6+
AGE
16+ TAKE ME TO CHURCH – Hozier
L.A. LOVE (LA,LA) - Fergie Female vocalist of the Black Eyed Peas, this track is fine if you like Hip-Hop-Rap, just cut the last 20 seconds where it’s about the AGE promotion of ‘Cali’ (Cannibis). 10+
The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. Me ‘n’ the kids love it, but it’s not AGE party music.
6+
LIPS ARE MOVIN – Meghan Trainor Another lovely track from Meghan, more innuendo than a fruit bowl.
This month’s favourite BLAME IT ON ME – George Ezra Hungarian English 21 year old, lives in Bristol, both his parents are teachers. Very unique voice. Lovely song. He’s definitely AGE one to watch. 0+
SAY SOMETHING - Karen Harding "If you want to say something, say it now." Good point. We could all do with better communication.
AGE
0+
AGE
7+
WRAPPED UP – Olly Murs featuring Travie McCoy Fun & bouncy track with sexual inference spoken so fast they won’t catch it.
AGE
5+
This months top pick for parents is by Joe Bonamassa – No.1 Blues billboard artist. Download for FREE now: http://jbonamassa.com/freebonamassa-album/
References: etonline.com, mtv.co.uk, Wikipedia.co.uk, azlyrics.com, whosay.com, musicinsideu.com, lyricinterpretations.com, songfacts.com.
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Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX Independent School forboys and girls aged 3 - 11
An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School
OPEN DAY
Saturday 21st March 2015 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Please telephone 01895 234371 to make an appointment Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com 27
Infant Matters FP (Mar15)_Layout 1 26/02/2015 11:17 Page 1
Were they really the good old days? Denham Village Infant School was established in 1878 and is situated in the peaceful and picturesque village of Old Denham.
We aim to provide a traditional ethos coupled with the highest educational standards.
AT the turn of the year thoughts often turn to how things have changed over the years; and it is all too tempting to believe that as the years go by we are losing more than we are gaining. My daughter recited the following aphorism over Christmas as I was shouting with rage at Windows 8 on my new laptop. “Anything invented before you are 15 is normal and part of how the world works, anything invented when you are between the ages of 15 and 35 is new and exciting and you can probably get a career in it and anything invented after you are 35 is just wrong and against the natural order of things!” An email arrived in my office just before Christmas that gave me real pause for thought. A lady who had attended our school in the 1940’s had written asking for a visit to check that she was in the school records. She is in her 80’s now and obviously wanted to re-connect with her childhood. She A typical infant school classroom circa 1940 had been looking on our website and was aware of how respect and consideration are such an integral part of how we are with each other at Denham Village Infant School. This touched a chord with her and she wrote to describe her experiences at the school over 70 years ago. “I was the little Jew girl from London – I hated the registration when my different name was called out. If ever there were fleas I was the one called up to the front because they must have started with me. I was singled out if anything went missing as it must have been me that had taken it – because I was a Jew. The children once chanted to me at Easter that I had killed Jesus and when the hot crossed buns were being handed out I was denied one because I was a Jew.” She ended her email with the wish that perhaps the children could be helped to realise how lucky they are to be educated now without racial and religious prejudice and in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect.
The fact that we are deeply shocked by the treatment she received back then shows how far we have come and the ‘good old days’ are often merely the ‘old days.’ This ex-pupil will be an honoured guest in our school in 2015 and the deep respect we will show her surely cannot undo the damage done but at least she will realise how much has changed – and all for the better.
Nick Andrews | Headteacher | Denham Village Infant School Mobile 07583 550676 | www.denhamvillageinfant.co.uk
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Garden Centre, Bertram’s at Smith’s is more than just a Café…… When Bertram Thomas Smith started growing in his two small green houses back in 1931, he would never have believed that over eight decades later, a Café would be named in his honour.
Bertram’s Café is now a well-established and much loved eatery amongst it’s regulars. But to others, it’s an unknown and hidden gem!
On Sundays the roast is “Legendary” said one fan recently. “We come here often as the
food is amazing and such good value”. It’s no surprise really as the Sunday Lunch Carvery at Bertram’s offers a choice of two fresh joints of meat, freshly cooked vegetables and roast potatoes, all made in house. Bertram’s Big Breakfast is also a favourite with regulars and is available all day. Or for those who might want a ‘proper drink’, Bertram’s is also licensed so you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your meal.
n tea
Afternoo
Popular for those small celebrations is the ‘Afternoon Tea’ Menu, a delight of freshly made sandwiches, cakes, pastries and lots of tea!
Open from 8am weekdays, with free wifi and free parking, Bertram’s is the ideal place for a meeting too. You can reserve a table and even enjoy a ‘Breakfast Platter’ of fresh pastries for your group, just call to book.
Smith’s Su
nday Roas
t
So pop into Bertram’s Café today and try out the menu, there are also meal deals and special daily offers too. Smith’s Nurseries, 95 Oxford Road, New Denham, UB9 4DE Tel; 01895 233844
Join us on Facebook or Twitter or visit the website www.smiths-nurseries.co.uk 30
Bertram's Café
SHED
SALE
15% OFF
• Order an Apex or Pent (flat roof) shed in the below sizes before the 1st April for 15% Off list price • Available sizes for deal: 6` x 4` | 7` x 5` | 8` x 6` (all in feet) • Choose where you want your doors and windows (or no windows) when ordering • Visit us in-store to see the full shiplap construction sheds on display • Order with one of our shed experts and quote `SHED15` to get the deal • All sheds are made to order and usually delivered within 3 weeks • Local delivery included in the price* 6` X 4` SHEDS FROM £292 (inc VAT + local delivery) 7` X 5` SHEDS FROM £338 (inc VAT + local delivery) 8` X 6` SHEDS FROM £385 (inc VAT + local delivery) • Pop in-store to pick up a brochure and price list, or download them from www.smiths-nurseries.co.uk • *Assembly is extra, please call us on 01895 233844 for more info • Our garden buildings are made by TGB. They are made of high quality shiplap and manafactured to a very high standard. They do not consist of any chipboard and/or `sheet` material that is often used in substandard garden buildings. • We supply many more sheds, summerhouses, playhouses and garden storage solutions, call us for more info..
Tel: 01895
233 844
www.smiths-nurseries.co.uk
95 OXFORD ROAD | NEW DENHAM | MIDDLESEX | UB9 4DE31 Smiths Nurseries_Ad A5_0215.indd 1
05/02/2015 09:24
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Dated Events (Mar15)_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:09 Page 2
MARCH EVENTS
Live Jazz with Enrico Tomasso and Roy Williams Sat 21st March, 7.30pm The Village Hall, Ickenham, UB10 8DG. Tomasso and Williams perform the music of Clark Terry & Bob Brookmeyer. Featuring an All Star rhythm section comprising Christian Vaughan, pno; Dave Green, bass & Steve Brown, drums. Rico is considered one of the top jazz trumpeters on the scene and has won best trumpet category in the British Jazz Awards 2 years in a row. A poplular figure at many of the European festivals and clubs, he has an exciting presence and lively personality on stage, with his command of the instrument and stylistic invention placing him amongst the top echelon. Roy's professional musical career has now spanned 7 decades, having made his name as the regular trombonist with the Alex Welsh Band from 1965 to 1978. In addition he has worked with many of the greats from both sides of the pond including Peanuts Hucko, Humphrey Lyttelton, Scott Hamilton, Brian Lemon and John Barnes, amongst others. The music of Clark Terry & Bob Brookmeyer is close to both Rico & Roy and as the title suggests is an appreciation of their musical collaborations. Tickets £12 available from Pro Music International, Swakeleys Rd, Ickenham, UB10 8DF on the door on the night subject to availability or online at www.toots musicmanagement.co.uk/newsevents.
Harrow Harmony Spring Concert Sat 21st March, 6.45pm for 7.30pm St John’s United Reformed Church, Hallowell Road, Northwood, HA6 1DN. Celebrating their 15th Anniversary year, Harrow harmony present their Spring Concert with the premiere of a newly-comissioned work by Philip Lawson and soloist Micheila Brigginshaw on piano. Tickets £12, under 18’s £6, price includes buffet supper, contact 020 8861 4017 or boxoffice@harrowharmony.co.uk. See www.harrowharmony.co.uk for more details.
Local Park & Events March into April continued 34
Ruislip Central Horticultural Society Spring Show Sat 28th March, 1pm-4pm The Barn, Bury Street, Ruislip. See website for details: www.ruisliphorticultural.org.uk
Cancer Research UK Market Sat 28th March, 10am-12.15pm The Village Hall, Ickenham, UB10 8DG. Various Stalls, Refreshments, Raffle etc. Entrance 50p. Tables available for hire call 01895 634851 for more details. Free Meditation Event Sat 28th March, 2pm-5pm Meditation House, 279 Swakeleys Road, UB10 8DR. Positive Thinking Starter Course. The course is free but booking is required, contact 07970 147967 or 020 8574 3699.
warming party, to which the other two couples have been invited. All three preparation are doomed to disaster, by the martial problems of Trevor and Susannah who descend on each couple in turn, leaving chaos in their wake. For tickets contact 01895 253346 or email: janscurr@hotmail.com. Tickets cost £9.50 with concessions on Thursday evening only at £7.50.
LIVE MUSIC EVENTS The Swan at Iver 2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG Fri 13th March Lucky for some, who experience the show of Steelworks Sat 14th March Dine and enjoy the music of Nicky B Fri 20th March Rock band Solace return Sat 28th March Great show with Swing and Soul Duo The WatersEdge Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS Fri 20th Mar Back by extremely big demand! Ladies Night with Drag Queen Tiffany Wells and 2 male strippers (Show starts 9pm with DJ 'til late £15pp inc nibbles). Sun 3rd May Join us to celebrate 10 years at The Watersedge - bbq from 2pm with live music from 4pm. Tropic at Ruislip Ruislip Social Club, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ Fri 13th March Classic Clapton - Eric Clapton Tribute Band
APRIL EVENTS Harefield Amateur Dramatic Society present Bedroom Farce 16-18th April, 7.30pm for 8pm St Marys Church Hall High Street, Harefield, UB9 6BX The classic comedy by Alan Ayckbourn takes place in three bedrooms during one night and the following morning revolves around four married couples. At the beginning of the play, the oldest couple are getting ready to go out for a meal to celebrate their wedding anniversary; the youngest couple are about to host a house-
Fri 20th March Roxy Magic Sun 22nd March Bookends play Simon & Garfunkel Fri 27th March True Gold - Spandau Ballet Tribute For full details and tickets see www.tropicatruislip.co.uk or call 020 8707 2256
DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE! If you would like us to publicise your event in our April issues contact us no later than Monday 16th March.
35
Beauty
Wrinkle Removal: The Results & the Risks
You moisturise, tone, exfoliate, eat a healthy diet and stay out of the sun. You don’t smoke. But still those pesky wrinkles gradually gain ground. Available treatments can significantly reduce telltale signs of ageing, and whilst the effect won’t be as dramatic as cosmetic surgery, for many it’s enough to give them a ‘lift’ and a fresher appearance. Picking Your Therapist Recommendations are great, but always check the qualifications and experience of any therapist. Stay safe: • Therapists performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures don’t require medical qualifications and aren’t overseen by the Care Quality Commission, but many procedures carry risks and should only be performed by someone highly trained. The Treatments You Can Trust (TYCT) register, backed by the Department of Health, will tell you if the treatment provider is appropriately qualified. • Injectable cosmetic treatments should only be performed by an appropriately trained doctor, dermatologist, dentist or registered nurse within a clinical setting. • See your doctor for a review of your medical history before 36
undergoing injectable treatments. All the treatments below may cause allergic reactions, which can potentially lead to anaphylaxis. Ensure the therapist would know how to deal with this if it occurs. Injectable Treatments Botox® Botox® contains Botulinum toxin A, which relaxes the muscle underneath the wrinkle, smoothing it out. Pros: Effects usually last for several months. Cons: Possibility of flu-like symptoms for a day or so, and some bruising. Results can be slow to appear and repeat treatments are needed. Treated areas may be droopy for a while. Dermal fillers Dermal fillers (e.g. hyaluronic acid and collagen) are injected either to fill wrinkles or plump up lips. It’s highly recommended that they’re administered by a medical professional. Some fillers are more permanent than others. Pros: Permanent fillers give long-lasting results. Cons: Results can sometimes be asymmetrical or lumpy, or the filler can drift away from the injection site, sometimes requiring surgical repair. Treated areas may be swollen, tender, bruised or itchy. In the worst case scenario, dermal fillers can cause necrosis (death of the surrounding tissue). You may require a local anaesthetic. Resurfacing Treatments These treatments work by damaging the outer skin layer,
by Alison Runham
removing dead cells and stimulating new growth and collagen production to repair the damage. If you’re a cold sore sufferer, they may trigger an outbreak. Laser/light resurfacing (‘laser peel’) A pulsating burst of light from a laser or diode light is used to remove the skin’s outer cells layer by layer. Pros: May remove blemishes and scars too. Effects are long lasting (up to several years). Cons: Your skin will dry and peel after a few days. Facial redness may last for months. Chemical peels Chemicals are used to peel away the top layer of skin. Some peels have limited effects, but intensive peels using aggressive chemicals (e.g. salicylic acid) penetrate deeply, giving more noticeable results. Pros: Deep peels are a one-off, long-lasting treatment. Cons: Deeper peels can be uncomfortable and carry increased risk of scarring and pigmentation changes. A sedative and/or local anaesthetic may be needed. Microdermabrasion Microdermabrasion uses fine abrasive crystals to ‘sand off’ the outer skin layer while a vacuum device removes dead cells. Pros: Noticeable results; may remove blemishes too. Cons: Temporary facial redness and slight bruising. May cause scarring and permanent pigmentation changes. Several treatments are needed for best results. Remember: Always tell your therapist about any sensitivities, allergies or medical conditions before you start treatment.
t
n
o s
l
Free mini consultations for cosmetic and bariatric surgery
6.30pm - 8.30pm (by appointment only) Wednesday 29 April 2015
Spire Thames Valley Hospital Wexham Street, Wexham, Bucks, SL3 6NH
01753 468 168
info@spirethamesvalley.com www.spirethamesvalley.com
“It gives you more confidence and a new lease on life.”
Facelift and fat transfer patient
Mini consultations are an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about cosmetic surgery and are not a formal out-patient consultation. If you wish to proceed to surgery, a full out-patient consultation will be required. 37
Motoring
Land Rover Discovery Sport SD4
It’s the first model in a new family of cars from Land Rover, but can the Discovery Sport live up to the legacy of the Freelander it replaces? James Baggott heads to Iceland to find out.
What is it?
The long-awaited replacement for the Freelander and the first in a new family of Discovery models. Land Rover has split its range into three distinct ‘pillars’. There’s Range Rover, the soon to be retired Defender range and then there’s Discovery. The Disco Sport is the first and where it sits in the range will become clear as the new models are unveiled.
What’s under the bonnet?
A diesel engine. Yes, for now at least, just the one. Jaguar Land Rover has an all-new set of power plants waiting in the wings, but they’re not ready yet. It comes in six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic guises, has 190bhp and 420Nm of torque. CO2 emissions are 161g/km and it’ll return 47.1mpg. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but there’s little wrong with it either. 38
By James Baggott @CarDealerEd
What’s the spec like?
Not too bad at all. There’s a new infotainment system which Land Rover - and sister firm Jaguar - have been crying out for. There’s a new suite of apps which run on a smartphone and can be displayed on the car’s screen. Four trims are available - SE, SE Tech, HSE and HSE Luxury - all with varying levels of the usual extras. Options include an armrest cooler and warmer box, seven USB points and headrest mounted iPad holders.
Any rivals?
The Discovery Sport enters a marketplace full of premium compact off-roaders, including the popular Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Where the Land Rover stands tall is in its off-road ability - the tough Icelandic terrain covered so easily during this drive would be the death of many a supposed off-roader. Its seven-seater layout is unique for this class of car.
What’s it like to drive?
We spent three days at the launch of the Discovery Sport in Iceland, tackling terrain that wouldn’t look out of place
on the moon. However, the landscape was so extreme it gave us very little idea what it would be like to drive on a normal road. We can report it’s incredibly competent off road, though. We found the ride a little hard, but then that could have been the dreadful surfaces, and it was a little loud inside too, but again that was probably the studded tyres.
Verdict
There’s no doubt the Discovery Sport is a marked improvement on the Freelander. The interior is a vast improvement; it’s comfortable and has plenty of room in the front and back. The multimedia system is better than before, although not perfect, and off road it’s in its absolute element. However, with no time on ‘normal’ roads on the launch it’s impossible to report on what it would be like as a daily driver. We’ll reserve judgement on that for a later date. Still, we doubt this will harm the Disco Sport’s popularity - the brand is on such a roll it’s going to fly out of the showrooms.
The knowledge Model: Land Rover Discovery Sport SD4 Price: From £32,995 Engine: 2.2-litre, fourcylinder, turbocharged, diesel Power: 190bhp, 420Nm Max speed: 117mph 0-60mph: 9.8s CO2 emissions: 161g/km
Harefield
In & Around Readers Exclusive
ALL MAJOR
CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS
Harefield Village Café has been built on a reputation for excellent food, friendly service and first class hygiene and cleanliness. We are a modern busy café, conveniently located on the high street of Harefield Village. We serve great value set breakfasts all day, lunches and homemade dinners. We also have a variety of kids meals, perfect for the whole family in a friendly warm atmosphere. We can also cater for large orders, parties and special occasions. All our meals are freshly cooked to order using the freshest and finest ingredients.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon - Fri: 7:00 - 17:00 Saturday: 7:00 – 17:00 Sun & B.Hols: 8:00 - 17:00 Village Café 5 High Street Harefield UB9 6BX
Eat In Or Takeaway
Visit our website to view our full menu: www.harefieldvillagecafe.co.uk 39
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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
01494 871329
CHALFONT ST GILES London Road, HP8 4NL Mon & Thurs 8.30am - 7.30pm Tue, Wed & Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 1pm
196144 20
www.wheelhousevets.co.uk
Celebrating
50 Years
AMERSHAM 1 Woodside Close HP6 5EG Mon, Tue & Thur 8.30am - 7pm Weds & Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 11.30am
ur pets
01494 725320
g you and yo
CHESHAM Amersham Road HP5 1NQ Mon - Fri 8am - 7.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.00pm Sunday 10am - 4.00pm
of ser vin
01494 782001
Open 7
Weekend av
41
Compass Theatre FP (Mar15)_Layout 1 25/02/2015 07:07 Page 1
Harrow Opera presents
Bizet’s Carmen
at Compass Theatre Wed 18 - Sat 21 March There was never a dull moment when that girl was around. Set in 1930s Spain, against a background of the chaos and confusion of civil war. A passionate tale of love and betrayal is woven through Bizet's well-loved music. The production will be sung in English.
What’s on at
Compass Theatre
Hillingdon Musical Society presents
Crazy For You
March into April 2015
The Drowsy Chaperone
at Compass Theatre Wed 4 - Sat 7 March A hugely comical musical the stage comes alive each night. A musical that pays homage to the silly, predictable gems of the golden age of musical theatre. The woman in the chair leads the audience through the back stage and on-stage silliness of a show she loves called 'The Drowsy Chaperone'.
Comedy Compass at Compass Café Bar Sun 8 March
A selection of the best and upcoming comedians working the British circuit are performing monthly in the bar, with the express intention of providing great value entertainment on a Sunday evening. To see who is performing next, visit www.facebook.com/ComedyCompass Ariel Dorfman’s
Death and the Maiden
Arthur Miller’s
The Crucible
at Compass Theatre Thu 26 - Fri 27 March Set in Massachusetts in 1692, this play recounts the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. This was a time when paranoia, hysteria, and deceit gripped the Puritan towns of New England. The themes of the play have been seen as Arthur Miller’s comment on his experiences of 1950’s McCarthyism. This play is still regarded as a modern classic.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
at Compass Theatre Wed 11 - Sat 14 March Set in an unnamed country that is, like the author's native Chile, emerging from a totalitarian dictatorship, the play explores the after-effects of repression on hearts and souls. Paulina Escobar's husband Gerardo is to head an investigation into past human rights abuses. A Dr. Miranda stops at Escobars' to congratulate Gerardo. Paulina overhears them speaking and is convinced that Miranda supervised her prison torture sessions. This white knuckle thriller is a riveting intellectual and emotional tug-of-war. 42
at Winston Churchill Theatre Wed 25 - Sat 28 March Hillingdon Musical Society transport you to 1920’s New York via dusty Nevada, to see such classics as...Someone to Watch Over Me...They Can’t Take That Away From Me... and I Got Rhythm. This show promises big dance numbers and great singing.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
at Compass Theatre Wed 8 - Sun 12 April The exciting and timeless classic is bought to life by the same people who co-produce Compass Theatre's pantomimes, as a perfect Easter Family Treat. Performances Wed 7pm, Thu-Fri 3.30pm and 7pm, Sat 1.30pm and 5pm and Sun 1.30pm. Tickets £14.50 / £10 under 16s available online. Family ticket; 4 for £40.
COMPASS THEATRE Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, UB10 8PD. WINSTON CHURCHILL THEATRE Pinn Way, Ruislip, HA4 7QL. HILLINGDON BOX OFFICE: 01895 673200
43
HUBB Spotlight
Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce, established in 1906, affiliated member of West London Business and the newly formed Local London Chambers of Commerce, attracts businesses across the borough of Hillingdon. Run by a voluntary committee of business professionals dedicated to providing its 300+ members, with access to business advice, networking events, training opportunities, local business news and member-to-member offers, the Chamber plays an important role in the local business community. Ward Williams interviews Mike Langan – Chair of the Hillingdon Chamber and member of the Local Strategic Partnership, Uxbridge Initiative, London Civic Forum and Hillingdon Economic Sustainable Taskforce to find out more about the Chamber and its plans for growth.
WW: What is the purpose of the Chamber? Mike: A body of businesses that come together with a voice for Hillingdon, and a network of businesses which help create extra business and make Hillingdon a place where business is welcome and which is expanding. WW: What initially attracted you to the Chamber? Mike: At the time I was working as a bank manager at NatWest, my line manager said it would be good if all managers took some local responsibilities. One of them suggested I work with the Chamber of Commerce. I’ve fulfilled all Chamber committee roles over the years; secretary, treasurer, vice-chair and most recently chair. In these various roles, I’ve felt like I’ve been giving something back to the community, because Hillingdon is a good place. It’s important that small businesses have representation because they are lacking a voice in government. WW: How important do you feel it is to be a Chamber member? Mike: It’s important to have contact with other businesses so that you can seek advice and learn from their experiences. 44
A body of businesses that come together with a voice for Hillingdon, and a network of businesses which help create extra business and make Hillingdon a place where business is welcome and expanding. Mike Langan, Chair
hillingdonchamber.co.uk
WW: How do you plan to grow the Chamber in the next two years? Mike: By carrying on doing what we’re doing. We aim to increase membership by 10 per cent every year through events that we participate in/partner with including: Hillingdon4Business, Eastcote4Business, Hillingdon & Uxbridge Business Breakfast (HUBB), ‘Meet the Buyer’ – Heathrow Business Summit, Hillingdon Expo 2015… WW: What would help you to grow your membership database? Mike: Extra funds and extra bodies! We need a bigger advertising budget, and extra funds to employ people. Occasionally we receive funds from the local council, but the vast majority of funding comes from membership fees. If you look at economic development over the boroughs, Hillingdon is the second largest borough in London with many large businesses based here, yet it has one of the smallest economic development teams. WW: As a key partner of the Hillingdon Expo 2015, what does the Chamber hope to achieve? Mike: a) attract members b) showcase what’s happening in Hillingdon - that there is business to be had and c) improve business connections because it’s a business fair. WW: Has Ward Williams helped the Chamber in any way? Yes, you’ve helped to increase Chamber membership through your strong following at HUBB events, and we have got our network to know about your events. It’s an important partnership from our point of view. Just like the partnership we have with you, Bird & Lovibond and Handelsbanken for the new Hillingdon4Business events. It’s going to be good because it’s another networking opportunity for businesses in the local area, something that wasn’t there before. When you see 50 or so people attending it’s a great feeling. Hillingdon Chamber membership is open to all businesses, from the smallest sole trader to the largest multinational. Apply on line.
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Do you have a couple of hours spare one or twice a month? If you have two hours spare once or twice a month, the League of Friends of Hillingdon Hospi tal would like to hear from you, as they are looking for a couple of additional volunteers to join their existing team, to help in the Tea Bar and “Baby Boutique” at The Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon. The League of Friends is a voluntary organiza tion. All profits and funds raised by the Tea Bar and “Baby Boutique” are used to fund additional equipment and services for the welfare and bene fit of patients at Hillingdon Hospital. The Tea Bar is based in the main Outpatients Dept and sells a wide selection of rolls, sand wiches, confectionary and drinks. It is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm each weekday. The “Baby Boutique” is located on the ground floor of the Duchess of Kent Maternity Wing, sell 46
ing baby clothes and accessories as well as snacks, drinks and confectionary. The “Boutique” opens from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm each weekday and also opens at weekends for a couple of hours. We are looking for dependable volunteers who can help us for a minimum of 2 hours a month on a rota basis, who enjoy meeting and helping people, are able to use tact and initiative where necessary and are capable of handling money. The work is ideal for active, retired peo ple or those who would simply like to make a worthwhile contribution to the local community.
A more caring approach to care at home.
Have you ever wondered if there’s an alternative to residential or respite care for a loved one?
With EdenCare there is.
We offer quality care at home for you, or your loved one, whether a child, young adult or an elderly person. We are a local and independent provider of care and understand the importance of choice. If you would like further details of our individually tailored care-at-home packages please contact us for a no obligation chat or visit our website.
Tel. 01753 885556 www.EdenCareatHome.co.uk 47
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Mother’s Day Around The World By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Mothers deserve attention all year round, so as 15th March approaches, we might wonder why we only celebrate mothers on one special day - and if other countries follow suit.
The UK
Our Mother’s Day originates from ‘Mothering Sunday’ (the fourth Sunday in Lent) when people returned to their baptismal ‘mother church’. As this was often close to their parents’ home, over time it became a holiday for visiting family. Flowers were gathered for mothers on the way home, and mums received Simnel cakes (giving the day the alternative title of ‘Refreshment Sunday’, as breaking the Lent fast was permitted). However, Mother’s Day had gradually withered until Constance Smith, inspired by Anna Jarvis’ U.S. campaign, revived it in 1920. By 1938 Mothering Sunday was celebrated throughout the Empire, and is now widely known as Mother’s Day.
Around the World
Most countries have a Mother’s Day, but origins and traditions vary. Unless stated, the
countries below follow U.S. tradition, as most countries do, celebrating on the second Sunday in May. Germany, concerned about its low birth rate, introduced Mother’s Day to celebrate women with large families. In 1938 the government began awarding the Mother’s Cross (Mutterkreuz) in bronze (for 4 children), silver, or gold (for mothers with eight children or more). Today Germans celebrate modern Muttertag with a family day out, often ending with dinner at a restaurant. In France, American soldiers introduced their version of Mother’s Day during the First World War, sending so much Mother’s Day mail that a special postcard was created for them. Originally focussed on mothers of large families, today the Fête des Mères on the last Sunday in May celebrates all mothers, who traditionally receive a cake shaped like a bouquet of flowers. Sweden also celebrates on this day. Their Red Cross sells plastic flowers in aid of deprived mothers. In Italy, mums receive a heart-shaped cake while
families in Finland go out early to gather flowers for their mums. On the second Sunday before Christmas, children in Serbia tie their mother up, not releasing her until she agrees to give them treats. Egypt’s Mother’s Day on 21st March was introduced in 1956, after a journalist heard about a son who abandoned his mother, showing no gratitude for her years of care. It’s now spread throughout the Arab world. Celebrations include songs especially devoted to mothers. In Nepal, children return to the family home on Mata Tritha Puja or “Aama ko Mukh Herne Din” (meaning “to see Mother’s face”), on the last day of Baishak dark fortnight (April/ May). They make breakfast for their mothers and give them gifts, favourite foods and new clothes. Those who have lost their mother visit Mata Tirtha, a sacred site with a pool in which people can ‘look upon their mother’s face’, or visit a local holy site, offering sweets, fruits and money to commemorate their mother. Legends name Mata Tirtha as the place where a cowherd saw his dead mother’s face in the pool while
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praying - or as the place where Lord Krishna found his missing mother, Devaki (who declared it a sacred place for children to reunite with departed mothers).
State Home for Women. Schoolchildren in Japan draw pictures of their mothers for a nationwide competition and winning pictures travel the country in a mobile exhibition.
de la Patria (Independence Day), to honour Juana María de Lara’s role in winning Paraguay’s independence. Similarly, Bolivia’s Dia de la Madre Boliviana on 27th May commemorates the women killed fighting for independence in the Battle of Coronilla.
The USA didn’t keep English Mother’s Day, but Anna Jarvis campaigned for a Mother’s Day in honour of her mother, who had introduced “Mothers’ Friendship Day” after the Civil War. At a church service on the second anniversary of her mother’s death (the second Sunday of May), Anna handed out her mother’s favourite flowers: white carnations. Today a coloured carnation signifies a mother still living while a white carnation honours mothers who have passed away. It became a national holiday in 1914. In Australia, Mother’s Day grew from Janet Heyden’s campaign to give gifts to lonely inmates of Newington
In Mexico, Mother’s Day on 10th May - once a pawn in the battle between government and church on modernisation, women’s roles and U.S. materialist influence – now celebrates both mothers and the Virgin Mary. Children often arrive at their mother’s house the night before. Traditionally the day starts with mass before mothers are presented with a breakfast of tamales and atole, a hot drink made from hominy, but many mothers are now treated to breakfast, flowers and gifts at home, accompanied by a song. In Paraguay, Mother’s Day is celebrated on 15th May on Dia
In Ethiopia, their ‘Antrosht’ celebration lasts three days, beginning on a flexible date after the rains have ceased (usually October/November). Traditionally, mothers cook a special meal but daughters provide the dairy products, vegetables and spices while sons must bring the meat. After the meal, there are traditional songs and dances. So why not celebrate Mexican-style this year and sing your Mum a song?
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of Jews in the world and their understanding and perceptions of the faith that is followed by approxi mately 13 million people. Laila Stanley, a year 4 pupil said: “I learnt a lot about the different Jews in the world – it was very interesting.” As part of new guidelines from the Department of Education to promote ‘British Values’, Denham Green has been looking at innovative ways to develop their pupils spiritually, morally, culturally and socially.
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein said: “I really enjoyed my visit to Denham Green, and was impressed with the academy, the children and the staff.”
Head teacher Sarah English said: “At Denham Green we encourage members of different faiths to share their knowledge with our pupils. It en hances their learning and also exposes them to the culturally diverse society they live in. “We have also had the local Vicar taking weekly All pupils from the academy welcomed Rabbi assemblies and the children have really enjoyed Aaron Goldstein to their assembly who spoke to learning about different religions. the children about being a Jew, the different types che models and painted. The models are now displayed in their library. Saajan Gill from Year 6, who created a model from the popular ‘Boy in the Dress’ book by David Walliams said: “I’ve really enjoyed the whole proc ess. It’s amazing to think that I started from this small design to end up with a finished model. It’s been brilliant and I can’t wait to use the library now.”
Over the last two weeks Year 5 and 6 pupils have sketched their favourite characters from books with local artist Gina Martin. The sketches were then brought to life in the form of large paper ma 52
Headteacher Sarah English said: “At Denham Green we believe that literacy and reading are key skills, and believe that the library is the heart of the academy. “The children’s 3D models have made the library more vibrant and inspiring, which we hope will encourage the children to make the most out of the library. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Gina for all of her hard work.” For more information about Denham Green EACT Primary Academy please visit: www.denhamgreeneactprimaryacademy.org.uk. To find out more about Gina Martin please visit: www.ginamartinart.co.uk
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Top Tech For 2015
The tech you might be watching this year - if it isn’t watching you
Every year, the great and the good of technology travel to Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show, CES. It’s where we see the top trends for the coming year and the tech firm’s best ideas. So what’s coming our way in 2015? TVs were big this year, literally: screen sizes are getting bigger and bigger, with resolutions increasing too: if you thought True HD was impressive, 4K Ultra HD offers twice the picture quality. Some firms are also trying to convince us that curved screens are the way forward, but so far such screens appear to be little more than a gimmick. We’re much more enthusiastic about firms using OLED (Organic LED) displays, which deliver amazing colours and deep blacks while using relatively tiny amounts of energy. Also on the TV front was Android TV, Google’s third attempt to take over our living rooms. All 2015 Sony Bravia TVs will have Android TV inside to deliver the usual Netflix and iPlayer services plus specially developed Android apps and games, and lots of other TV firms are making Android TV sets too and separate Android 56
TV boxes too. The other big trend on show was fitness technology and wearable computing. Bragi’s “The Dash” manages to pack fitness tracking into a tiny pair of wireless headphones, and we saw endless fitness tracking bands and smartwatches from the likes of Withings and Sony. We even saw a smart belt: Belty, which automatically adjusts its fit as your measurements change and which tells your phone whether you’re getting bigger or smaller. One of the oddest gadgets was the Belfie stick. You may have heard of Selfie Sticks, which enable you to take selfies by sticking your phone on a long pole and shooting yourself from a distance; the Belfie stick is an evolution of that idea, designed to take selfies showing your bum. If that makes you despair of the real world, why not try a virtual one instead? Virtual reality headsets were everywhere and 2015 should see the likes of the Facebook-owned Oculus VR, Sony’s Project Morpheus and similar sets from firms such as Microsoft taking gaming and movies into a new dimension. VR has
been overhyped for years, but in 2015 it’ll actually start to deliver on its promises - first for gamers but ultimately for everyone. Fancy a Facebook where you can actually see your friends when you talk to them? We saw lots of transportation ideas at CES this year, with Mercedes Benz showing off a particularly stunning self-driving car concept, but there were plenty of smaller transporters too. There was Onewheel, a skateboard with an electricpowered wheel in the middle and clever technology to keep you balanced; the GenZe, Inu and Ecoreco lightweight electric scooters; and the Ninebot, a “personal transportation robot” that looks like a shrunken Segway and which can travel 20Km at 20Km/h on a single charge. The devices differ in how they look and work, but they all have the same aim: to get us out of our cars and onto cleaner, more eco-friendly transport. Or you could always walk. Images left to right:Sony’s ultraslim Sony Bravia; Bragi’s The Dash wireless headphones and fitness monitors; Oculus VR virtual reality headset; Ninebot personal transporter
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GNH_in&around_dps_March2015_Layout 1 11/02/2015 13:42 Page 1
holidays
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Three Queens Across the Mersey Celebrating Cunard’s 175th Anniversary 3 Days Half Board, £169pp • Departs 24 May, 2015 Cunard’s three Ocean Queens will sail into the River Mersey for a spectacular celebration of the company’s 175th anniversary. The Elizabeth, Mary and Victoria ships will assemble in front of Liverpool’s famous Three Graces at the
city’s Pier Head. We will also visit the Roman city of Chester INCLUDED: 2 nights stay at the Days Inn, Liverpool, sharing a twin/doublebedded room • 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts • Coach travel and excursions
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Published: 26 January , 2015
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Departures: 16 Apr, 9 July & 3 Sept, 2015 INCLUDED: 11⁄2 hour steam train ride on the Bluebell Line with a Cream Tea • Free time in Brighton • Return coach travel
Departs Friday 28 August, 2015 INCLUDED: 3 nights accommodation sharing an ensuite twin/double room at the Preston Sands Hotel, Paignton • 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners • Excursions take in Dartmouth and the Royal Regatta, Torbay, Torquay and Brixham • Coach travel and excursions 59
Between the vast lagoon of Thau and the blue waters of the Med. in the south of France, Sète is a delightful place crisscrossed by canals where myriad boats tie up along the quays. Quaint flower-draped bridges span the water, seafood restaurants set up their tables in the shade and pastel-coloured lanes climb up the hill for spectacular views. But the ‘Little Venice of Languedoc’ comes into its own at the height of summer when water jousting is in full swing, staging over 50 tournaments across the region. Most prestigious of all is the heavyweight Grand Prix held in Sète on the feast of St Louis. Tingling with anticipation, crowds gather early on the banks of the Royal Canal to watch the opening parade and the first ‘pass of honour’ when opponents exchange the traditional handshake and if they know each other well, a resounding kiss on the cheek in true French style. Two boats will compete, one red, one blue, each one with an oboist and a drummer playing traditional melodies 60
Sète
Water Jousting By Solange Hando in the bow to set the tone for the long-awaited festival. With their beribboned straw hats, they look straight out of a Venetian painting. Meanwhile, the White Knights take up their positions, 10 on each boat, most of them fishermen, entirely neutral but the strongest fastest oarsmen you’ve ever seen. Captain at the helm, the first star jouster climbs on the pedestal rising at the stern two metres above the water while others wait in line for their turn. All is set for action, shield protecting the jouster’s chest, long wooden spear with steel tips held tight under the right arm. Oboists and drummers break into a frenzy, excitement mounts on all sides and the red and blue boats race furiously towards each other, ready to send the first jouster diving into the water. Which will it be, the blue, the red, both of them maybe? No problem, a small fleet of motor boats buzzes around, ready to pluck the unfortunate fully soaked heavyweight out of the deep. Sometimes a burly jouster will miss the water altogether and drop like a stone into the opponents’ boat. Oh la la…
The crowds cheer, laugh, clap, the judges scribble copious notes for it isn’t just about getting wet or staying dry; speed, accuracy and respect for the rules matter too. At the end of the day, the winner will receive the best prize of all, ‘immortality’, just like a god, when his name is inscribed on the jousting shield, as per tradition for the past 348 years. Sète held its first jousting tournament on 29th July 1666 to mark the foundation of the harbour which would be linked to the Canal du Midi, then at the planning stage. In the early days of jousting, the blue boat was for bachelors, the red one for married men. Today colours denote different districts but wherever you come from, being a jouster is like belonging to a brotherhood, You are upholding an ancient tradition which reflects the very soul of Sète, a city on water where future generations train with pride in the local jousting school. Colourful, exciting and free to watch, jousting in Sète is one of the most exciting festivals in Languedoc.
Iver Croft, Bangors Road South, Iver, SL0 0AD
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The Passat has always been considered a cut above the midrange saloons produced by other volume manufacturers: classier, a little more prestigious, a quality product, it manages to sit somewhere in between the Mondeo and the BMW 3 Series. Yet, despite this, in the UK it is consistently outsold by rivals such as the Vauxhall Insignia, so it’s easy to forget what a global success story the Passat truly is. Since its launch in 1973 a staggering 22 million cars have been sold and each year it sells more than the entire output of Audi or BMW. The eighth generation of the Passat has just gone on sale and, I can tell you now, it is only going to en hance that remarkable commer cial success. VW is a firm believer in evolu tionary styling and this is born out in the new car which is clearly a descendant of the old model but has the current corpo rate VW snout with frowning ellipsoid headlights and a wide grill. It’s wider than the previous car and looks sleek and low with hard edged, angular styling – almost like an Audi A4 on a lower paygrade. I have to say that the optional 18” alloys really fill the wheel arches nicely too. Inside, the Passat has adopted the “virtual” instrument binnacle from the Audi TT but with less success. It has the same format with the speedo and rev counter at each side and the satnav overlaid in the centre, but the 62
graphics are overly fussy and, as the satnav is not a standard feature on many cars, the centre of the display gets filled up with a hodgepodge of informa tion; I preferred the old analogue instruments. Still, the materials are all top quality and the fit and finish cannot be faulted. The seats are firm but supremely comfortable on a long trip and there’s plenty of space, particu larly in the rear seats and the boot. At the moment there’s an all diesel engine line up; clearly VW hasn’t registered recent con cerns about NO2 and particulate air pollution. At the bottom of the range is a 1.6 with 118bhp, then VW’s trusty 2.0 litre with uprated outputs of 148bhp or 187bhp and, finally, a ripsnorting biturbo version of the 2.0 litre kicking out a remarkable 237bhp. I tried the 148bhp version, likely to be the biggest seller, which delivers respectable performance – 8.7 seconds to 62mph and a top speed of 137mph. It is also very refined, more so than any other VW diesel I’ve ever driven, al though you’ll struggle to achieve the claimed 69mpg economy figure. That engine refinement is carried over to the rest of the car. At motorway speeds it is almost eerily silent and the ride is close to perfect; there is noth ing even a potholed city street can throw at it that isn’t soaked up with ease. This level of com fort isn’t achieved at the ex pense of the handling either;
there is minimal body roll and huge levels of grip. With the precise 6 speed gearbox and torquey engine, it’s actually good fun to throw down a twisty A road, though there isn’t enough feel from the steering to deliver a truly sporty drive. The appeal of the Passat has always been that it does every thing well. This latest version has sleek styling, a perceived sense of quality, plenty of space and practicality and class lead ing comfort and refinement. The solid performance and handling simply complete the package and the estate version is one of the best load luggers around. It is not even expensive and you can take it as given that the residuals will be rock solid. This is not a car you yearn for and it will not attract covetous glances from your neighbours, but its businesslike air and faultless quality will provide years of happy motoring, together with the satisfaction of knowing that you bought a better car than the rest of the crowd.
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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Mar15)_Layout 1 26/02/2015 15:57 Page 1
THE WILDLIFE ZONE
HUMMERS H
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. 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.
ummingbirds are amongst the most spectacular and fascinating birds in the world, which is why I had them high on my list of ‘must sees’ when I went to South America. They may be numerous but that does not mean one can easily spot them, as I found out: although I also had other animal-watching priorities such as anteaters, river dolphins, sloths, capybara and many more. ‘Hummers’ get their name from the humming sound of their wings when they hover in front of flowers, feeding on nectar. They beat their wings so fast that the human eye cannot possibly count the wing beats making the image a fantastic blur. These exotic pollinators only live in the New World where they evolved from songbirds over millions of years. Hummingbirds have progressed to use the soaking rain to clean and preen their spectacular plumage. This is an important advantage they have over other pollinators such as insects which often become damaged when they are drenched. Some scientists believe that these birds developed this advantage to fill the ecological niche in wet climes, especially in the colder mountainous habitats. From these regions, hummingbirds diversified and spread throughout the Americas, pollinating plants and forming a symbiosis with them which we witness today. The tell-tale characteristics that I looked out for when I was in the Amazon and the Sub Tropical Forests of Iguazzu were their tiny size, long bills, sensational colours and iridescent feathers. I had thought that I would be able to view them everywhere at any time, but I was wrong and I only managed to see a few species towards the end of my tour. Even then, I never witnessed their superb aerial acrobatics such as flying backwards or upside down; skills learned no doubt from hovering and feeding on flowers. Nor did I see them visit their small nests; some so minute that they neatly fit underneath a large blade of grass or flower stalk which hides and protects them from rainstorms and predators. Whilst they were perching before darting back and forth to colourful bell-shaped flowers, I once again pondered on their body mechanisms. Scientists have found that many hummingbird species have hearts that beat up to a ‘mere’ 400 times per minute when perching, but increases to a staggering 1,200 times per minute when flying. Because they must continually feed from nectar, or occasionally have protein from flies and other small flying insects to supplement their diet, I suspected that they must live on the edge of existence and always be only hours from death. Consequently their specialist behavioural patterns, such as their feeding habits, mean that these tiny birds now occupy a specific niche in the eco-system. As a result, a damaged wing or bill, or any illness which lasts a few days, is usually fatal. Their petite bodies and delicate biology will not allow the birds even a few days to recover from imperfect health to full fitness. It is only at night time when the ‘hummers’ rest from feeding, although it is the time when death is always near. If they haven’t fed enough throughout the day, they starve; but those which have eaten well can perch through the hours of darkness. However if predators appear, the defenceless ‘hummers’ remain motionless and often die in an attack. However, even in daytime hours, the hummingbirds’ spectacular colours attract both mates and predators. Despite this, the ever present threat of predation is outweighed by the likelihood of finding a mate and rearing a family in their short lives. Even though their precarious existence caused by their specialist feeding habits, tiny size and vulnerability to predators, ‘hummers’ still fight each other to the death for territory and mating rights. The fittest and strongest birds choose the most appealing territories which include the best flowers and feeding areas, as well as the optimum nesting sites. The offspring which have the highest quality genetic material of their parents will fledge and grow up in these prime territories. However, after juvenility they will either inherit these elite territories or fight to gain new ones elsewhere. One of the green hummingbirds I managed to see in the dense foliage had a long slender bill, even though it was still smallish in comparison to some ‘hummers’. This means that this species can only feed on certain flowers which have its nectar close to the opening of the flower head. If the nectar lies beyond the length of the ‘hummers’ bill, the bird cannot access the food. Only the hummingbirds with longer bills will be able to feed on flowers which have larger petals and deeper canals. In the USA they have found that some species have learned to find food from garden feeders which are designed to look like red flower petals. The difference is that these specialist feeders are jars filled with clear nectar, and have been adapted to suit the ‘hummers’ long bills, tongues and hovering routines. But mankind’s negativity is never too far away, including habitat destruction where nectar producing flowers could decline and push some birds towards extinction. As a result conservationists remain wary and on their guard. At the end of my Brazilian expedition I was happy to have seen some ‘hummers’ as well as being able to photograph one, despite the difficulty in doing so. Since then I have been continually filled with awe because of their incredible biology, flying acrobatics and sensational colours.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 66
F
T T
C
YOUR LOCAL RSPCA BRANCH HAS BEEN CARING FOR LOCAL ANIMALS IN NEED FOR OVER 40 YEARS
With rising costs and diminishing funds, we rely on public support to continue to provide that care PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH DONATIONS OF:
Small furniture items Electrical goods * Bric-a-brac Quality clothing Children's goods * Electrical goods with CE mark only please
Local collection may be available - please call.
We are happy to accept donated goods at:
RSPCA Misbourne Cattery Brokengate Lane Denham 01895 833417 07818 870934 or at any of our Charity Shops
Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston & District Branch Registered charity no. 263515
YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS HELP US CHANGE LIVES! www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk
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Exactly five years after a new highspeed train route between London and the North of England was proposed by the last government, local petitioners objecting to the £80 billion scheme have been called to appear before the HS2 Select Committee at Westminster. Scores of petitions submitted from across the Colne Valley – which includes parts of Hillingdon and Hertfordshire as well as South Bucks will be squeezed into a two week period starting on Tuesday10th March, before Parliamentary business is suspended for the Budget and then the General Election campaign, when the six MPs on the Committee go off to their constituencies to defend their seats. Only one of the MPs is contesting a marginal constituency, so the nucleus of the Committee will likely return in the summer to hear from County, District and Borough Councils as well as influential bodies such as the National Trust and the Chiltern Society, who are also vehemently opposed to the government’s highspeed plan. But it’s ordinary folk who are being given the first chance to air their grievances in Parliament – not in the chamber of the House of Commons, but in a Committee Room a few corridors away, with the proceedings broadcast live on Parliament TV. This is our opportunity to tell our individual stories. Why we came to live in this neighbourhood. The time and money we spent improving our properties, only to see their values slashed by the threat of a decadelong construction programme within earshot. How we value our pocket of green on the edge of the urban sprawl, with the 68
privilege of having a green ‘lung’ the Colne Valley Country Park on our doorsteps, with its network of attractive footpaths, lakes, nature reserves and the iconic Grand Union Canal. Some will tell the Committee how their health has been affected by the anxiety of it all; their sleep disturbed by the prospect of living in a house that they can’t sell, with either negligible compensation in prospect, or none at all. Some will raise the spectre of the noise and disruption that would result from living near a permanent workers’ construction camp or power station. Those in riverside properties will mention the possibility of the Rivers Colne and Misbourne flooding because of the tunnelling going on around their source in the Chilterns. Parents will state their concerns about dustpolluted air causing respiratory illnesses amongst their children, and their daily school run or commute to work being twice as long as it is at the moment. There’s only so much the Select Committee can do. Their job is to listen to reasonable objections and take appropriate action if our suggested remedies are affordable: they can’t recommend to the government that HS2 is scrapped. So in the second week of March, the ordinary folk of the Colne Valley will do what we can to soften the impact of the railway if it does go ahead. We’ll ask for a tunnel under the Colne Valley, but if we can’t get that (on grounds of cost) we’ll appeal for rigid guarantees on pollution, hours of work, soundscreening, public transport, re cr e a ti on a l a me n it ie s , wo od l an d preservation – and more generous compensation to those whose lives will be changed by HS2 for ever. Wish us well.
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The problem I am asked about most frequently is that of what to do with a north-facing wall. Everyone wants to know what you can plant up it but more importantly, what you can do to increase the chances of your chosen plant not just surviving but also thriving.
Getting the right plant for the spot is essential and I’ve listed some great north-facing wall climbers below. But first consider whether you need year round cover (and so something evergreen) or would accept a deciduous climber that will lose its leaves but keep a framework of stems, or if you could live with an herbaceous climber that will die back each year and return again in the spring. If the wall is very shaded it may be worth reducing the shade if you can. Nearby wall-shrubs could be pruned back or overhanging trees crown lifted (the lower branches removed) or crown thinned (the crown’s density reduced). Walls may be a dark grey or brick colour but you can make the spot considerably more plant friendly if you change the colour of the wall before planting. A pale-coloured masonry paint on the wall will cause light to be reflected back 70
Facing North
by Pippa Greenwood to the plant and make it more likely to thrive. Consider growing more than one climber to increase the season of interest and so the amount of time that the wall looks good.
Flowering may be reduced if the site is gloomy and so to maximise your climber’s flower power make sure that you apply sulphate of potash as this will increase flowering potential. Follow the instructions on the pack, and generally try to apply it to the root area in late summer and then again in spring. Make sure that the climber goes in at a good distance from the wall up which it is to grow. A minimum of about 45cm (18in) should mean that it can develop a good strong root system and this will help to keep it growing well. Self-clinging climbers such as the climbing hydrangea or a variegated ivy can look great and help to provide at least part of the interest you’re after for your north-facing wall, but even these often need a bit of a helping hand to get them started – train the stems on to the wall and protect from wind until they get properly attached.
TOP PLANTS FOR NORTHFACING WALLS AND FENCES Akebia Quinata - Pretty pale green foliage with vanilla perfumed purple-brown flowers in late spring. Berberidopsis Coralline - Prefers acidic soil, clusters of deep red flowers in early autumn. Clematis - Many smaller flowered varieties such as white flowered, rampant C. montana do well. Codonopsis Convolvulacea Pretty bell or saucer shaped violet coloured flowers in summer. Humulus Lupulus (the hop) - The golden leafed ‘Aurea’ will perform quite well as long as the shade is not too intense or the site windy. Hydrangea Anomela Petiolaris - A deciduous climber with broad creamy white flowerheads. Lathyrus Latifolius - the everlasting pea. Small clusters of pinky purple flowers throughout the summer and in to early autumn Lonicera x Americana - Classic honeysuckle flowers in yellow flushed red and with a gorgeous perfume during the summer. Lonicera x Tellamanniana - Bright yellowy orange honeysuckle flowers in late spring and summer. Vitis Coignetiae - Renowned for its fabulous autumn colour. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system, biological controls, fleece, copper tape and lots more besides.
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REGULAR EVENTS... 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) 7.45-9.30pm; Judo (Seniors not 2nd Mon in month) 810pm. TUES Line Dancing 10.45am1.15pm; Bingo 7.45pm - 10.30pm. WED Fitness, Fun & Dance 10.30am12.00pm; Singing for Fun (1st Wed in month) 1-2.30pm; Judo Club 6.307.45pm; Dancing Club 8.15pm10.30pm. THURS Happy Families Group 9.45-11.45am; Tea Dances 24pm; 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. All enquiries to Lynne Mogge 01895 824621 or e: hare fieldcommunitycentre@btconnect.com
at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AA. Call 0208 427 3559, e: secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk w: www.crosierinvestment.org.uk Denham History Society Meets 2nd Tues of the month, 7.30pm St. Marks Hall, Denham Green. Call 01895 833989 Pamela@craftygiraffe.co.uk Hillingdon Decorative & Fine Arts Society Enjoy 10 expert lectures a year about art and culture from around Britain. Outings to galleries & places of cultural interest. Receive NADFAS Review, Interested? Come along to a lecture, cost £6. See www.hillingdondfas.co.uk, email: membership@hillingdonfas.co.uk or call Ann Lowe 01895 638147
Fitness League Tone & stretch exercises for the whole body, with fun dance routines to music for women of all fitness levels. Tue 7.308.30pm at Vyners School, Warren Road, Ickenham, UB10 8AB. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 before coming. www.thefitnessleague.com Fitness Yoga Improve flexibility, strength and balance. Monday 6-7pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall. Call Sandra 07867470240 Lisa 07533549072 E: lisa.sandra.fitness@gmail.com
Rock ‘n’ Roll Monday's in Harefield! Beginners Rock ‘n’ Roll Jive dance classes every Monday at Harefield Cricket Club, UB9 6NE. Doors open 7.30pm, class 8pm. Fun and friendly, no experience or partner required. 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll record hop - 1st Friday of every month at St Mary's Church Hall, Harefield, UB9 6BX. 7.30pm-11.30pm. Contact: therockingrebels@gmail.com 07947 106607 or visit: www.facebook.com/therockingrebels
HOBBIES... Art Classes Drawing, pastels, oil & watercolour at New Denham Community Centre Autumn, Spring & Winter Terms Tue 1-3.30pm, Wed 12.45-3.15pm and 7.30-9.30pm. Call Tony 0207 243 3787 Art Smart Weekly Art Classes at Denham Village Hall. Drawing and Painting for beginn-ers and Improvers Thursdays 1.30-3.30pm. Tutor Roz Smith call 01494 670372 Chinese Brush Painting Group Come and join our friendly group meeting on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor so no experience required! You will learn how to develop your own style as well as practicing Chinese calligraphy. Find us at Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or call Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com Crosier Investment Club Improve personal investment skills. Meets 7.30pm, third Thursday in month
Hillingdon Natural History Society Meets 1st Wed of the month, Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@ hillingdon-naturalhistory society.org.uk Inland Waterways Associations Meets 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk Uxbridge Craft Market Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Collectables www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk
KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA... Aerobics Denham Village Memorial Hall. Every Mon and Wed 4.30-5.30pm Call Jean Nisbet 01895 832063 Bagot Stack (Fitness League) Term Time Only. Vyners School, UB10 8AB, Tue 7.30-8.30pm. Also Mon & Thu in Windsor. Call Rosemary 01628 776838. www.thefitnessleague.com Boot Camp Fun and friendly exercise class held at a private location in Gerrards Cross. Every Mon, Tues, Fri 9.15-10am. Qualified Personal Trainer and Level 3 Contact Julie on 07769 311789 or visit: www.juliegxfit.com Bootcamp Circuit for Adults (Mixed) Wednesdays, 7-8.15pm Denham Village Memorial Hall. Tel: Jayne 07968 361965 Dance, Gymnastics and Free Running Classes By Futunity Uk. Ages 2-adults catered for and all styles of dance from RAD ballet to Zumba. Full class listings at www.futunityuk.com. Call 01895 251224 or email admin@futunityuk.com
Fitsteps Cha Cha, Waltz, Quickstep or Jive at Denham Memorial Hall. Mondays 7pm and Wednesdays 10am. Call 07834 197745. info@limelightdancing.co.uk General Yoga Class Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham, UB9 5EA. Wed 7.30-9pm. Thu 9.45-11.15am with BWY certified teacher tel: 01895 820267 Harefield Amateur Drama Society Tuesday, 8-10pm. Park Lane Village Centre, Park Lane, Harefield. Call Tony on 01895 820672 Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45-7.45pm. Wed & Fri 10-11am, Thurs 10-11am. Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Rd, Denham, Bucks Thurs 6.30-7.30pm Wendy Whitefoord, Tel: 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com Ladies Only Kickboxing Club Wed 6.30-8.00pm, Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Call Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 e:leanne@kickboxinglondon. co.uk. www.kickboxing-london.co.uk Line Dancing At Higher Denham Community Centre, Off Old Rectory Lane, Higher Denham. Mon 7-10.15pm, starts with beginners, then onto improvers and finally from 9-10.15pm, Intermediates. Contact Christina on 07952 815076, email : c.capel477@btinternet.com, website wwww.chalfontlinedanceclub.co.uk or Facebook ‘chalfontlinedanceclub’ Modern Jive Classes Mon 8-11pm, West Drayton Community Centre and Tue & Thu 8-11pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. First Night Entry & Free Lifetime membership with this listing. Contact Alan: 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 www.clubceroc.com email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com continued overleaf...
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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...
Social Line Dancing At St Marys Church Hall, Harefield Last Sat of the month 7.30-10.30pm
NoBiz Dance Local Musical Theatre school (based in Hillingdon ) classes in all genres of dance (Street dance, Hip Hop, Rhythm Tap, Lyrical, Singing, Drama & Musical Theatre) for children aged 4-22 years. Adult Street Dance Class for more call: Giselle 07525 857171 or Lisa 07777 611012. www.nobizlikeshowbiz.co.uk.
Tea Dance Harefield Community Centre, Priory Ave on Thurs 2-4pm. All welcome. Free car parking. Call John 01895 284428
Penny Lane Singing Lessons Monday singing classes 4-5.30pm 7yrs-12yrs and 5.30-7pm 12yrs-18yrs at Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HW. For details see www.pennylanesinging.com or call 07951 294044.
Pink Academy of DANCE Classes held daily at New Denham Community Centre. For boys & girls from 2 years to Adults. Call 01895 257553 Admin@pinkacademy. co.uk www.pinkacademy.co.uk or call 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 paul@stingproductions.com 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 Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.45-9.30pm Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.30-9.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Simply Walk Langley & Black Parks Every Monday Langley Park, 10am Thursday Black Park, 10am. Second Sunday of month Langley Park at 11am. See www.friendsoflangleypark.co.uk Social Dancing Ballroom Latin & Sequence Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Wed, 8pm. Beginners welcome. Call 01895 634674 Simply Walk in Denham First Sunday of every month. Denham Village Green 10.45am for 11am start. Approx. 90 minute walk, 2.5-3miles. Led by trained volunteers as part of a healthy walk scheme funded by Bucks County Council, local District Councils and Bucks PCT. For details of other walks call 01494 475367 or see www.buckscc.gov.uk/rightsofway
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Uxbridge Musical Theatre Ruislip Conservative Club, 56-58, Ickenham Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7DQ. Tuesday 8-10pm. Call Phil Harrison 01895 636367 Email: mail@umtheatre.co.uk or see www.umtheatre.co.uk
Zumba Fitness Every Wednesday 8-9pm at New Denham Community Hall, Oxford Road, UB9 4DW. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk Zumba Fitness with Danielle Every Monday 7-8pm at Harefield Baptist Church. Call Danielle 07989 128131. www.zumba-class.co.uk Zumba Gold For Older Active Adults. Every Friday 11am at Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham, UB9 5EA. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk
Zumba with Ruddy Thurs 7-8pm, St Marks Hall Denham Green UB9 5HD and Sats 9.30-10.30am at Harefield Academy Northwood Way UB9 6ET. Call Ruddy 07901 828051
MUSIC... Drumbeatz Drum tuition for beginners in Denham by Melanie Kleyn, qualified HND, now on degree at ACM. Children over 8yrs, ladies, 3.15-5.30pm or daytime only. Email: drumsmel@gmail.com or text mobile on 07757 635880 Faraday Country Music Club in Slough SL2 1RN. 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 Music Lessons at Little Halings Studio Piano and French Horn lessons with experienced, friendly young female teacher, Victoria Coghlan. At Little Halings Studios in Denham. All welcome. Guitar tuition is also available. Call: 07737 493980 (Victoria) E: victocoghlan@gmail.com
Stoke Poges Singers A friendly four-part choir singing a wide variety of music. New members welcome (no auditions. The ability to read music is not essential. Rehearsals on Thursday at St Andrews Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, 7.45pm. Come along or call Naomi on 07831 217575 or Anthea on 01753 662355 Sing for Fun - Adults No auditions or previous singing experience necessary. You must just enjoy singing! Higher Denham Community Hall, Wednesday (TT) 2.30-4pm. Call Avril on 07587 175640 The Windsor & District Big Bands Appreciation Society We meet on 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Road, Datchet. Music of the big bands ‘40s & ‘50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDS, along with a raffle and sometimes there's even a live band. Call Derek Verrier on 01753 654398 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 Open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or 'brush up' your skills. Every Wed during term time 6.457.45pm, St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com
PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS... 2370 (Denham) Squadron Air Training Corps ATC HQ, Tilehouse Lane, Denham Aerodrome Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DN. Mon and Thurs 7.30-9.30pm. Recruiting 13-17 year old males and females. Call 01895 834522 (Mon & Thu only) 2nd Denham Scout Group Scout Hut, The Pyghtle, Denham Green Close, Denham Green Beavers Age 6-8 Thu 5.45-7pm. Cubs Age 8-10 Wed 6.30-7.45pm Scouts Age 10-15 Friday 7-9pm Tel: Linda Batten 01753 892373 continued overleaf...
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Denham & Gerrards Cross Children’s Centre Tilehouse School, Nightingale Way, Denham, UB9 5JL. Free sessions for families with children age 5 and under including Messy Play and Stay & Play sessions. Call 01895 835967. Denham Girlguides 1st Denham Rainbows (age 5-7) 4th Denham Brownies (age 7-10) 4th Denham Guides (age 10-14) For more details on meeting times visit www.gxanddenham.cfsites.org Denham Youth Club (ages 8-11 years) Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Uxbridge UB9 5EA. Thursday 6.15pm to 7.45pm. Call 01895 834313. Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 7.30-9.30pm at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 12-18 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk Stars at Knight After school Drama Club for children 7-18 yrs at Southlands Art Centre, 76 The Green, West Drayton. Tel: 0208 841 8940 / 07956 123626 e: starsatknightdrama@gmail.com www.starsatknight-schoolofdrama.co.uk Youths United Senior Youth Group in Denham, at Martin Bakers Social Club. Ages 12-18 years Wednesday evenings 7-309pm. Tel Joyce Haynes 01895 832643 Tiny Talk Baby Signing Classes Tuesday classes at St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield UB9 6BX at 10am, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Thursday classes at St Giles' Church Hall, 1 High Road, Ickenham UB10 8LE, 10am, 11.15am and 1pm, price £5.00 pre-paid per family Friday classes at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ, 10.30am, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Call Bev Meier 01895 824935 or 0781 8025993
SELF DEFENCE...
Karate Club of Denham For ages 5 years and up at New Denham Community Centre Sundays 9.15-11am Tel: Dominic 07988 743725 Karate Club of Uxbridge For ages 5 years and up The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway Wed, 5pm-7pm Tel: Dominic 07988 743725 Kung Fu Club West Drayton Great Kung Fu work out for everybody, on: Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.308.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or sportsclubuk@gmail.com Shotokan Karate Sports Hall, Tilehouse Lane, Denham for men, women and children age 8+. Monday, 7-8pm. Interested? Contact Erin on 01494 758079 or visit www.chilternkarate.co.uk 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 email 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 01895 637444. Slimming World New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. To register turn up at 10am, call Mandy 07879 897578
SOCIAL GROUPS... Denham Lions 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 8pm at Denham Garden Village, Denham Green. 18+. info@denhamlions.org.uk
Tiny Toes Childcare Full Day Care Nursery. Call 01753 655650 or tinytoes@ivercommunity.org
Denham Wives Group Last Tuesday of each month at St. Mark’s Hall Denham Green 7.15pm. Contact Ann Collins 01895 833820 or acollins683@uwclub.net
Activities for families with children Children aged 0-5 years offered at The Denham and Gerrards Cross Children’s Centre, Nightingale Way, Denham, Bucks. UB9 5JL. Call 01895 835967
Friendly Whist Drive Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Thurs 7.30pm. Beginners welcome. Contact Lyn on 01923 820173
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Rotaract Club of Langley & Iver Meet at 8pm every 2nd & 4th Tues of the month, the Red Lion Pub, Langley, SL3 7EN. A group of 18-30's. If you would like to meet new people, raise money and have many laughs contact us! www.langley-iver-rotaract.org.uk Stoke Poges Bridge Club meet at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Rogers Lane, SL2 4LN on Monday from 1.30-5.30pm for players who want to improve their game. Call 01753 642 438 www.stokepogesbridgeclub.org.uk Uxbridge Conservative Club Bingo, Carpet Bowls, Table Tennis, Lunches, Quiz & Race Nights etc. at 46 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 1PJ. Contact Georgina Baile on 01895 233653 or 07778 348082, e: udcc@btconnect. com or visit www.uxbconclub.com Women’s Social Group Social group for women. Looking to expand your social group and make new friends? We meet regularly for coffee, a chat - open women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk
SPORT... Denham Bowls Club Denham Way, Denham, UB9 5AX. Lawn Bowling. Coaching available. Call Brian Simpson (Sec) on 01895 834007 or Jenny Johns on 01895 833845 Denham Cricket Club Playing or social members welcome. Way & Tillard Memorial Cricket Ground, off Cheapside Lane, Denham Village. Tel: Bill Nicholas 01895 834527 Pink Ladies Netball Club All welcome. Training at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tuesday. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm Under 16s for details 01895 448878 email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk Table Tennis Denham Village Memorial Hall Tuesdays 5.30-10pm. Call Richard Cottle on 01895 835292 Uxbridge Squash Club All squash players welcome. Uxbridge Cricket Club, Park Road, Uxbridge. See uxbridgesquash.org.uk or email: squash@uxbridgesquash.org.uk Tel: 01895 237571
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se se is is pt pt by by s. s. In In rt rt 77
Smoked
Haddock Kedgeree
Serves 4
Ready in 45 minutes
Just a few ingredients are needed to make this simple rice dish but it’s full of flavour! It’s ideal for a quick and easy supper or filling weekend brunch served with crusty bread or warmed mini naan breads, if liked.
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • •
350g smoked haddock fillet 4 large eggs 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed � tsp ground coriander � tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp mild curry powder 300g easy-cook basmati rice 3tbsp fresh chopped coriander
Tip: Add a large handful of baby spinach leaves or some lightly fried mushrooms just before the end of cooking to make this dish even more substantial. 78
Place the haddock in a large pan, cover with plenty of cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5-6 minutes until the fish just flakes. Boil the eggs in a small pan of water for 7-8 minutes. Remove the fish with a slotted spoon and flake the flesh discarding any skin and bones. Strain the cooking liquid into a jug – you’ll need about 600ml so top up with water if needed. Run the boiled eggs under cold water until cool enough to handle. Remove the shells and cut into wedges. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the onion and garlic over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until softened. Stir in the spices and cook for 1 minute then add the basmati rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Gradually pour in the reserved stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in the flaked haddock, eggs and coriander and heat through for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
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