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As I write this, we haven’t quite hit November yet and we’re just a few days away from Halloween, promptly followed by Bonfire Night. The sudden realisation that there is now only a few weeks until Christmas has also dawned on me and my daugh ter is about to break up from school yet again! I’m not sure whether it’s doing the job I do (where life is continually spent working a month ahead), but it’s as though one minute I was sneaking off for the odd hour to sunbathe in the garden and the next, I was grabbing my boots and brolly, com plaining about the cold, and contemplating how much my gas and electricity bills will have in creased by this year. On the magazine front, things have been even busier than usual this month. With more calls and emails, increased distributions and plans for future magazines (watch this space!) We’re also in the process of giving some of our regular features a fresh new look ready for the new year. As you will see, there’s lots to do this month and two whole pages of local events to keep you busy during November. We already have December events lined up ready and if you haven’t told us about your’s there’s still time to call, email or face book us before the deadline. We’ll do our best to publish them for you. In the meantime, enjoy the last month of relative calm, before the Christmas mania sets in!
Until next month! . Angela
“Ask us about our affordable advertising rates or visit our website for more information” Tel: 0800 038 5001 Mob: 07759 536494 In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Ickenham . Ruislip Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk
www.inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 4
Deham Green EAct Primary Academy 6 Property Matters 10 Wordsearch 10 Home & Interiors: Give your walls a facelift 12 How to organise your Christmas spending 14 Christmas Postal Dates 15 Southlands Victorian Christmas Fayre 16 Karen Munro: Careers 18 Designer Life 20 RSPCA Rehoming Appeal 22 History: What happened in November 1962 24 Children’s Puzzle Page 26 Infant Matters 28 Denham’s First Day of Christmas 30 Coffee Break Puzzles 34 Local Events 36 & 38 Our Financial Times 42 Beauty: Problem Solving Skin Care 44 What’s on at the Compass Theatre 46 Hobbies: Make it festive, keep it floral 50 Citizens Advice Bureau 52 Useful Telephone Numbers 52 Let’s Talk Counselling 54 Reader Holidays 56 An Incredible True Story 58 Puzzle Solutions 58 Road Test: Toyota Auris Hybrid 60 Denham Pets Corner 62 Wildlife Zone 64 Denham Against HS2 66 Garden Feature 68 Beware of Buying OnLine 70 Clubs, Groups & Classes 72, 74 & 76 Cake & Bake: Lamingtons 78 Beer of the Month 74
We are grateful for the support of local businesses whose adverts appear in this publication and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, claims made by advertisers or endorse companies, products or services. This publication, its contents and advert designs are © of In and Around Publishing. Any copying or reproduction in part or fully, is strictly forbidden without our prior consent.
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“It has been a transformative 18 months for the academy. The results we received were excellent and that’s been reflected in the rising intake of pupils this year which goes against the trend within this region.
“These appointments, along with a number of Cesare Nocera other appointments we have made in recent and Matthew months, are proof of our commitment to securing a Flannigan bring positive and progressive future for the academy.” a wealth of ex perience to their The academy welcomes visitors and if you would like to make an appointment to see the acad individual roles, and will support emy, or any of the leadership team, then visit the academy’s website at the work that has seen the or contact the academy im office on prove dramati cally over the last 18 months.
Mr Nocera be comes the new Deputy Head and previously worked at Little Springs Primary School, a school that worked closely with the academy in recent years. He will be a full time face for parents, as well as the local community, as the academy con tinues its development.
Mr Flannigan is the new Executive Principal and has experience overseeing other Primary Schools as an EACT systems leader. As one of EACT’s best performing primary academies in this sum mer’s SATs results, Mr Flanagan will use Denham Green as an example of best practice for other schools within EACT. The appointments follow a record breaking year in which 75 per cent of the Academy’s pupils achieved the government target of Level 4 in Eng lish and Maths. This was a 53 per cent improve ment on last year. Principal Sarah English said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Nocera and Mr Flannigan. Their wealth of experience is felt not only by staff and students, but by parents and the wider community.
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Property
Back at the tail end of 2006, my mum came to visit me. I needed to entertain her so I took her to look round the show home at a rather snazzy new de velopment of executive houses. It was like visiting Madame Tussauds, with crowds of people milling around admiring the marble work surfaces in the kitchen and commenting on the curtains in the lounge. Eight years ago, people were excited by anything to do with property and canny estate agents used open days to showcase properties and generate excitement and competition among potential buyers, in turn leading to higher offers.
has just been refurbished and when a property that has proved tough to sell has been tidied up and re launched. If none of the above applies to your home, an open day may not be the best tactic. Your house should be spotlessly clean and clini cally tidy for an open day; nobody wants to see someone else’s clutter. Turn on all the lights and light some scented candles. If it’s a cold winter’s day, light the fire and crank the heating up.
Make a party of it. A couple of bottles of wine, soft drinks for the kids and nibbles for everyone are Open days have gone through a rough patch in the money well spent. last few years; often there just weren’t enough Make your estate agent earn their keep. They potential buyers to make an event of it. But with should be contacting absolutely everyone who has activity in the housing market picking up strongly shown an interest in any properties in that price and a shortage of supply, they’re all the rage again. bracket. They should also be there on the day Here are a few tips for making the most of this drumming up some interest. useful marketing tool. Remember, you’ve nothing to lose from holding an There are three situations where open days are at open day and everything to gain. their most effective: when a desirable property first goes on the market, when an investment property
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11
Home & Interiors Give Your Walls A Facelift
By Katherine Sorrell
are square or rectangular, other shapes are available, and can create complex patterns that have enormous impact. Your chosen layout also makes a difference, whether it’s a simple grid, an offset design (also known as brick bond), herringbone, pinwheel or random. And what colour grout will you choose? Tiling may not be as simple as it first seems – but it can certainly be rewarding.
technique is expensive. It looks amazing, however, and is helpful in insulating against cold and noise.
Not a fan of wallpaper but bored with paint? Use your imagination and ingenuity to create all sorts of interesting decorative effects on your walls, says interiors expert Katherine Sorrell Terrific Tiles Hard-wearing, long-lasting, easy to clean and potentially highly decorative, tiles are often overlooked as a wallcovering other than for the inevitable bathroom or kitchen splashback. Yet they are available in as great a variety of colours and patterns as wallpaper, and can have just as much impact. Just how a tiled area looks – whether it’s a whole wall or a small splashback – depends on a variety of factors. Their colour, pattern and texture are most important, of course, but size (from huge slabs to tiny mosaic) matters, too, while shape also plays a part. While most tiles 12
Timber Panelling Wood panelling keeps heat in and noises out, and is great for disguising wonky walls and. More than that, though, it has fabulous warmth and character. Choose fielded panelling for classic feel, or simple tongue and groove for that cosy, country look. Leave natural or paint to co-ordinate with the rest of the room – it’s up to you. Mirror A wall (or a portion of it) covered with a sheet of mirror will reflect light around and instantly make the room seem bigger. The larger the mirror, the thicker it needs to be, so it’s often a good idea to get professional help to attach it securely. Polished Plaster A centuries-old Italian technique, also known as Venetian plaster, involves applying several thin coats of plaster and polishing with wax. The finished result boasts a lovely depth of colour and can resemble marble, stone or suede. Fabric Choose your fabric, line it, stretch it, and staple it to battens fixed to the walls. There’s no way around it: this traditional
Composites and Laminates They may seem dull, but in fact sheets of plastic laminate or solid composite have decorative potential. As they are waterproof and require few joins, they make an especially good choice for bathrooms. Leather Costly but eye-catching and incredibly luxurious, leatherclad walls possess enormous character, while their patina, like that of a quality shoe, will develop over time. Apparently, they are even sound- and fireretardant. Cork Cork sheets and tiles offer many appealing qualities, from being warm and soft to the touch to having insulating and soundproofing benefits. What’s more, they are highly environmentally-friendly. A range of modern colours, patterns and textures is available. Sheet Metal Fancy an unusual wall installation? Then opt for sheets of metal – steel, copper or aluminium, say. Finishes include different textures, laser-cut designs or even designer rust and, depending on their patina and arrangement, the end result could be either overtly industrial or sleek and upmarket.. Image: From the ancient designs of the star and cross to the modern take on MidCentury styling, these unconventional but graphically exciting Bazaar tiles are all made from more than 70% recycled materials. This Khamees design costs £3.35 per tile, from Fired Earth (0845 366 0400; www. firedearth.com.
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Finance
How to Organise Your Christmas Spending present before December.
Is it worth trying a cash back site?
Nobody wants the worry of huge credit card debts in the New Year, so why put yourself through that stress when you can be organised in advance? With a little forethought and planning it’s possible to get to the New Year with your finances intact, without compromising on the celebrations. These ideas will make your money go further, help to keep your spending in check and let you stay firmly in the black.
Saving money in Christmas Clubs
Christmas Clubs are still popular despite the problems experienced by Farepak Hampers in 2006 when savers lost their money. They are basically savings schemes that help you spread the cost of Christmas, with members making small monthly deposits that cannot be withdrawn until November or December. If you can put money away into a separate bank account or track your Christmas ‘fund’ within an existing savings account, that would be a better idea. You have the freedom to shop where you like, and withdraw some of the money if you spot the perfect 14
Cash back sites like Quidco and Top Cashback offer a percentage cash back on every purchase made. A directory of participating online retailers is listed on these sites, which pay a referral fee to the cash back site for directing shoppers their way. A percentage of this fee becomes the cash back you receive. Both Quidco and Top Cashback offer two tiers of membership. The basic account is free of charge, with the ‘premium’ account offering additional services for a £5.00 annual fee. A range of payout methods is available, including having your money paid into a bank account, PayPal account, or choosing an Amazon Gift Card.
A good time to use credit
Purchases of £100 to £30,000 are automatically protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This means that if the trader goes out of business, or the product is faulty and you can’t get your money back from the seller, your credit card company provides a full refund. For larger Christmas purchases, it’s a good idea to use a credit card for this reason alone as long as the outstanding balance is repaid as soon as possible. It offers a valuable level of protection that isn’t available with a debit card.
By Ann Haldon
Careful when buying gift cards
With so many household names going into liquidation, it’s not always a good idea to give gift cards at Christmas. If there is any doubt surrounding the ongoing status of a company, it might be safer to give cash or a cheque in a Christmas gift envelope instead.
Vouchers and discounts
Voucher codes and deals can be found at various websites including www. moneysupermarket.com and www.moneysavingexpert.co.uk with savings to be made on a wide range of products from electronic gadgets to jewellery and perfume. Some codes offer free postage and packing, so it’s worth shopping around on the internet for these deals.
0% credit cards for when it’s too late
If it all goes wrong and you’re dreading the credit card bill, look for a 0% interest credit card and transfer the balance if you can. This spreads the cost interestfree over a period of time, usually between 6 months and 2 years. There is generally a transfer fee of around 3% of the balance, and you’ll need to pay it off within the 0% interest time limit to get the most benefit. http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/shopping/section75-protectyour-purchases http://www.moneysupermarket. com/credit-cards/guide-to-creditcard-protection/ http://www.moneysupermarket. com/vouchers/store/asdadirect/14/1/ http://www.quidco.com/ http://www.topcashback.co.uk/
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At the corner of West Drayton Green stands the lovely Grade II listed house known as Arts Centre and once again it is opening its doors so you can enjoy a feast of goodies, gifts and seasonal fare at its Vic torian Fayre on . Following its established tradition of dressing every room in the old house in traditional style with Christmas Trees and encourag ing everyone to deck themselves in Victorian style costume, the Fayre has become an established local feature of the Christmas Season.
In the front handcrafted gifts, knitwear and embroideries will inspire you to complete your Christmas present list at less than shop prices.
will ensure you wont go away hungry. Finally to set complete the scene musicians and singers will entertain you throughout the day.
you can leave the chil dren in the Playroom to enjoy face painting, crafts and games. In the North Chamber Bric a brac, books and a well stocked Tom bola stall will invite you to try your luck while across the landing in the South Chamber, the history of area will be displayed by mem bers of the local history Society, handcrafted gifts and cards with views of local scenes will also be on sale. No Christmas event would be complete without Father Christmas and he may be found in his special attic room at the top of the house.
Because Southlands is a tradi tional Victorian home we regret that access to the first floor is only by the front or the very steep back stairs and there is no lift. However there is plenty to buy, see and hear on the ground floor where refreshments will be served all day in the
As you walk up the front door steps Hot Chestnuts and Hot Dogs will be on sale, and once inside the house, the will be full of seasonal posies and bowls of bulbs for you to buy and tempt you to have a flutter on the massive Hamper Raffle where no less than 5 well in the Kitchen Mulled stocked Christmas hampers will Wine and mince pies, sand wiches and cakes, tea and coffee be waiting to be won.
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Do join us at the Fayre that is unique in style and bound to put you in the mood for a lovely Christmas, please feel free to dress up in Victorian style to add to the party atmosphere. Free car parking available.
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Karen Munro Careers (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 01:34 Page 1
Karen Munro - Career Coach www.munrocareers.co.uk #@munrocareers www.facebook.com/munrocareers Karen is a professional Career Coach providing individual support in all aspects of employment including effective CV writing, interview skills training, networking and successful job searching.
A member of the Career Development Institute and registered with the Careers Professional Alliance, a qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer, she works with both private and business clients around Hillingdon, South Bucks and Middlesex. Karen is currently facilitating workshops and offering individual coaching to Military Personnel leaving the Armed Forces at RAF Northolt, helping them through their transition in to civilian employment. Karen writes for a number of careers focussed and military resettlement magazines and regularly contributes to ‘In and Around’ sharing her practical experience with her local community. At the time of writing this article I was about to travel to Gibraltar on business. the last time I went to Gibraltar I was 15 and on a school trip on the SS Uganda. the ship was later used as a floating hospital during the Falklands War before being decommissioned. I am now returning to 'the Rock' to run a workshop at the Gibraltar Barracks to a group of military personnel transitioning out of the Armed Forces in to civilian life. I am well outside of my comfort zone! So, this is going to be the focus of my article this month. Coming out of your comfort zone! We all have our comfort zone, be it our personal relationships, our jobs or our social life. In previous articles, I have talked about 'being fearless' and this is very similar. Our comfort zones are places where we feel most 'at home'. We can relax and be ourselves and not feel challenged. Comfort zones are dangerous! they are dangerous how comfortable we idle, unfocused and don't have to try - it status quo.
because we don't recognise are. We become complacent, can even become lazy! We just remains consistent - the
Relationships are like this - we've all experienced this at some point in our lives. A relationship needs to be 'alive' and 'active'. You have to constantly work at improving it and nurturing it. If it becomes too 18
routine, you start to take each other for granted, you become complacent and the relationship becomes dull and just ticks along ‘tick-tock, tick-tock!’ therefore, coming out of your 'comfort zone' and doing new things helps to keep that relationship fresh and alive. If you find that trying to do new things still doesn't improve the relationship, then you know that relationship isn't working. Work is exactly the same! You have to push yourself to do new things you would not normally do. You have to push your boundaries and actively seek new opportunities in order to experience more and to realise your personal potential. If, after all that you still feel things are not working out, you know it's time to look for a new job. the feeling of achieving new skills, experiences and qualities is amazing. It gives you such a boost in confidence. You can look back and say... "I did that"! So, back to my trip to Gibraltar, I could have just let someone else go in my place. I could have just carried on with 'business as usual'. But I took up the challenge and will actively step outside of my comfort zone. I know it will be a great experience and I will continue to push myself to meet new people, do new things and get the most out of every day. Are you in your comfort zone? What can you do to step out of it? Where will tomorrow take you?
Karen
“unlocking your career potential”
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Coaching Article (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 01:51 Page 1
Christmas 2014...
How to minimise stress As much as Christmas is a season of joy and good cheer, lets face it, it can also be quite stressful. So, in preparation for a busy month, here are some tips to help you keep your stress levels in check. 1.
Make a decision that you will not be stressed out. Sounds weird, but truth is, if we make our mind up first, we step into potential stressful situations with our subconscious mind already knowing that being stressed is not an option.
2.
Be prepared for unforeseen delays and last minute issues - embrace the negative with the positive. Say to yourself, “OK, it’s not that bad…”
3.
Get perspective and get it fast; a Christmas delivery that is delayed by a day or two does not equal the same as a loved one bring rushed into hospital. Stuck in a traffic jam? What could you do in this time?
4.
Be patient; you will be faced with queues and busy shopping centres and crowds.
5.
Plan ahead and make lists, shopping days and times, gift lists and menu planning for various events at home.
6.
Keep communication at home open and share diaries or calendars if you don’t already, and agree times and other important details so no one is left ‘not knowing’.
7.
Be early; where possible don’t leave things to the last minute.
8.
If you are a worrier and tend to think negatively it may be good to give yourself an hour to coach yourself to turning those negative thoughts into positive ones. Tackling some of those “What if’s” or fears is a good way to begin to identify where some of the fears are coming from.
9.
If you feel shy talking to strangers at parties, then prepare with a list of conversation starters and open questions… I also say “To look your best, wear confidence.”
www.designerlife.co.uk neelam@designerlife.co.uk
Neelam Challoner is one of UK’s leading Life coaches, specialising in Re-designing women’s lives and is the founder and owner of Designer life Coaching and the Author of ‘Successful but Incomplete’. Neelam has coached hundreds of people nationally and internationally since 2004. With over 15 years experience in leadership, she has a flair for getting the best out of people. Her clients range from professionals, high net worth individuals, and solo business owners, to unemployed, single parents and women who have suffered domestic abuse. She has empowered and coached both privately and in the public sector pan London and in the Hillingdon Borough and is relentless on her mission to inspire and motivate people to release their potential and live a ‘Designer life’.
10. Have a budget and stick to it - one of the biggest stresses during this season is overspend, and actually many people do not see the reward of that in the months ahead. 11. Keep your body happy; exercise, eat nutrient dense food, rest and laugh a lot. 12. Only take on what you can cope with, say “No”, “Not yet..” or “How about…” if you must. 13. Spread the joy; smile, give, do random acts of kindness and enjoy!
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Neelam
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Spike
Princess
2 YEARS OLD FEMALE WHITE CAT Beautiful Princess, with her distinctive different eye colours, is a shy little girl who sadly ended up in our care when her owner moved and couldn't take Princess along. She would love a new home where she is the only pet and can enjoy a peaceful life with lots of fuss and kindness. Princess likes to be with people, doesn't mind being brushed and is an easygoing cat who will make a lovely compan ion. Can you offer Princess her fairytale happily everafter home? 2 YEARS OLD MALE BLACK & WHITE CAT Spike had to be left behind when his owner moved abroad and so misses all the fuss and stroking he enjoys so much. He is a very relaxed and sociable boy, who just wants to find a forever home where he'll be loved. and certainly would have no objection to being spoilt rotten! Spike would probably prefer to be the sole centre of at tention, never having lived with other animals. Can you give Spike the second chance of happiness he so deserves? If you think you can spoil either Princess or Spike and offer them a loving home then please ring RSPCA Hillingdon Branch on 01895 833417 or visit our website www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk to download an application form. We're just a month away from Christmas and we will be celebrating by having a fun
Lots of great bar
gains, nice things to eat, as well as a photo competition, raffle and tombola, where you can win some fantastic prizes. We hope you can join us! 22
23
In and happened Around Readerin... Travel What
SAVE ...November 1962 £200 ?
PER COUPLE
On 29th November a draft treaty between Britain and France was signed. It was for a joint project to build a supersonic airliner.
BA’s and Air France’s Concordes made their first commercial flights on 21st January 1976. They had been beaten into the skies by the USSR’s Tupolev TU-144, but this aircraft only ever carried mail and the project was Escortedafter Holiday Rail abandoned a fatalby crash 5 days at the 1973semi Parisall Air inclusive Show.
on 5th July 2000. None of the passengers and crew survived.
In April 2003 it was announced that Concorde would be retired from service. A bid by Richard Branson to buy the BA fleet was unsuccessful and on 24th October that year people in London turned their eyes skywards at the familiar thunder for the last time. And this time their pride was mixed with sadness.
WAS FROM £479PP within a few decades, ‘…there NOW FROM is no reason to suppose £379the PP
average BRUGES, VALKENBURG, GHENT & boy or girl cannot be master of a personal I could have told BRUSSELS CHRISTMAS PARTY computer.’ RIVER CRUISE him that - it’s why I go looking
Departs 24 November,
1st: The US resumed its blockade of Russian ships OVER FREE to Cuba, following a two40S day suspension DRINKS duringONLY negotiations to halt the stationing of weapons on America’s doorstep.
for a teenager whenever PRIVATE I have a problem withQUOTE: the blooming things.
CHARTER
PC11-4-IA
4th: The first Mexican Grand Concorde could cross the Prix was won by Jim Clark Atlantic in under three and and Trevor Taylor. • Return rail a Join half hours, BAriver to cruise taking-in: Price includes: Escorted us for enabling a relaxing throughout boast that you were able to 3rd: The New York Times 6th: Saudi Arabia announced Valkenburg with its unique Christmas travel from London St Pancras to Brussels ‘Arrive before you leave’. Its the first use of the the abolition of slavery. Caves; beautiful Bruges with recorded its wonderful illustrious and all-too-short term ‘personal computer’. theunfortunately mps Princess sharing festive atmosphere Hasselt, a • 4 nights full-board 10th:onThe history was blighted byand a markets; John W Mauchly, inventor of titled ‘Nowhere to Main Go But Up’charming Belgian town with a festive a twin-bed outside rear cabin on Deck crash just after taking off from some of the first room-size opened at the Winter Gardens winterland; lovely Ghent, once medieval Charles de Gaulle Airport computers, predicted that available • Welcome cocktail on arrival upgrades Theatre, New York. Europe's second largest city; and Brussels,
2 Dutch spirits & soft 17th:of The unfortunately the Belgian capital. Voyages is • Beer, wine, choice Petrol cost about 5/- aGN gallon titled ‘Nowhere Gofrom But Up’ exclusively chartering the popular mps drinks served at lunch & dinnerto and 6pm to The average price of a house was about £2,700 closed at the Winter Gardens Princess again with great hospitality and entertainment on board. Beer, wine by the Three of the bestselling glass, Dutch spirits and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner singles this year were:and from 6pm to midnight at the bar. Morning and Lovesick Blues, Frank Ifield afternoon coffee and cakes and late snacks Telstar, Tornados are alsoThe included. Big Girls Don’t Cry, The Four Seasons
midnight at theTheatre, bar • Morning and afternoon New York. 20th: The breakfast USSR agreed to coffee/tea & cakes • Buffet & lunch
remove bombers from Cuba and the US lifted its blockade.
• Dinner served at your table • Late night snacks • Captain’s dinner • Entertainment • Transfers 26th: A group of four abroad
musicians made their first recordings under the name of the Beatles.
Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Voyages
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Friday 28 November, 2014 - Quote SS11-2-IA iNCluDED: Free Bar from 6pm to midnight nightly - house beers & spirits, wine by the glass, pumped soft drinks & mixers • Full entertainment & activities programme • 3 nights standard en-suite chalet - upgrades available • 3 breakfasts & 3 dinners • Return coach travel
iNCluDED: 3 nights stay at the Sherborne Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset • 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 1 traditional Christmas Day lunch • Visits to Longleat, with a ride on the Santa Express Train, and West Bay - the home of TV’s Broadchurch • Coach travel and excursions
Lunch Cruise & Festive Stratford-upon-Avon
Seaside Party at Pontins Pakefield Suffolk Coast
GrEat Day Out
£59PP
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Friday 13 March, 2015 - Quote US3-IA iNCluDED: 3 free drinks per person per night - house spirits, wine by the glass, house beer, pumped soft drinks River Avon cruise on the Countess of Evesham • 3-course & mixers • Entertainment with The Swinging Blue Jeans, Harefield Village Café has been built on a OPEN DAYStribute A WEEK The Tremeloes plus Buddy Holly and7Beatles acts for excellent food, friendly traditional Christmas lunch on-board - starter,reputation main course • 3 dinners & 3 breakfasts • 3 nights standard en-suite service and first class hygiene and and dessert • Return coach travel chalet – upgrade available • Return coach travel Mon - Fri: cleanliness. We are a modern busy café, 7:00 - 18:00 CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS conveniently located on the high street of Saturday: Harefield Village. Wed 3 December, 2014 - Quote RA12-IA
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DEPOSIT All our meals are freshly cooked order DaytoO ut PP Eat In Or Takeaway using the freshest and finest ingredients. Thursday 11 December, 2014 - Quote LV12-IA Saturday 21 March, 2015 - Quote TD3-IA iNCluDED: 2-hour Little Venice cruise on the My Fair Lady with mulled wine, sandwiches, hot mince pie, tea or coffee, Christmas cracker and decorations • London’s West End Christmas Lights tour • Return coach travel
iNCluDED: Visit to Thriplow Daffodil festival • 2-course hot & cold buffet lunch with a glass of wine at the White Horse Hotel, Hertingfordbury • Return coach travel
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Infant Matters FP (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 02:07 Page 1
"I am delighted to be writing this column for ‘In and Around Denham’. My name is Nick Andrews and I am headteacher at the village school. This is my first headship. I entered teaching as a second career in my mid-forties and have taught in three different schools – first as a drama specialist, senior teacher and then deputy head. I am married with two grown up children."
Rated GOOD by OFSTED in all areas Denham Village Infants School is celebrating this month. a visit by Ofsted inspectors last week rated the school GOOD in all areas. head Teacher nick andrews said “This is a major development for the school and it is a testament to all the hard work of everyone in the school over the last couple of years. The school is now very much ‘On the Up!’” OFSTeD found that ‘standards, the quality of teaching and leadership and management have all improved in quality since the last inspection’. The inspector made particular mention of the broad and balanced curriculum throughout the school and particularly in the school’s wooded area. Lucy Delnevo, the School’s Special needs co-ordinator (SenDCO), received particular praise from the inspector who noted that the children with special needs make good progress and their needs are very carefully assessed. “We will now continue our progress in providing a modern education in our traditional village school environment and would like to thank everyone in our school community for all their hard work over the last two years” commented mrs. Lorraine Couves – the Chair of Governors. Please telephone the school on 01895 832768 to arrange a visit if you are interested in seeing our work. “We are also very keen to promote local volunteering in our school – there are lots of opportunities to help out and join the team. We need readers who can help us promote reading by reading with the children, practical help is also welcome from those with practical skills. Budgets will be tight over the next couple of years and our focus will always be on the learning of the children so any money we can save will help us do this.” added mr andrews.
Nick Andrews | Headteacher | Denham Village Infants School Mobile 07583 550676 | www.denhamvillageinfant.co.uk
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Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX Independent School for boys and girls aged 3 - 11
An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School A family-run school with a caring atmosphere. Pupils achieve excellent results in academic subjects, music, sport and drama. For further information, or to arrange a visit, please telephone 01895 234371 Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com 29
It will be a community driven event involving the local churches, schools, businesses and, of course, residents. The evening promises to be a wonderful cele bration of Christmas featuring carols sung by local children’s choirs, live Christmas music and festive food and drink stalls including a sumptuous HOG ROAST and hot dogs which will be donated by THE VILLAGE BUTCHERS of Denham Green. The evening will kick off with a parade to the Village Green and a guest appearance from none other than Father Christmas himself! In addition to the musical entertainment, there will be a special guest appearance to officially light the Village Christmas tree, and Denham Parish Coun cil have generously agreed to help light the whole Parish in true festive spirit.
Please do mark your diaries now! It will not be a "ticketed event", so all you need to do is to turn up on the night, wrap up warm and bring your neighbours, friends and family! Further event details will be made available in the coming weeks regarding the line up and timing of the event. The evening will bring all the communities of Denham together and the residents hope that it will become a tradition in Denham for many years to come. If there are any local businesses who would be keen to provide their sponsorship or support for the event (however large or small), we would love to hear from you. It could be a wonderful opportu nity for local businesses to raise their profile by demonstrating their support of this unique village event. All enquiries in regard to sponsorship should be directed to Siobhan Evans on 07771 277894 or siobhan@siobhangriffin.co.uk
The story is about Lord Arthur Savile, a wellbred gentleman who is ‘not overbur dened with brains’. He is soon to be mar ried to the lovely Sybil Merton but all this changes when his prospective motherin law, Lady Julia Merton, insists he has his palm read by Mr Podgers, a well respected chieromantist (palm reader) who predicts that Lord Arthur will commit a murder. Arthur feels it is his duty to carry out the murder before he gets married so he enlists the help of his faithful butler, Baines. Together they decide which one of his numerous relations to murder. An un expected visitor arrives and offers to help them. Lord Arthur soon finds that murder is not as easy or painless as he thought. Various comic situations occur in Lord Arthur’s attempts at bumping off his relatives. Does he succeed in his mission?
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What are the options for a parent who’s had a good career, is used to earning a good income but has chosen to give it up in order to have a family?
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Returning to their old career will bring demands, pressure and they’ll suffer the guilt of the working parent. In part time jobs the hourly rate is poor and paying for childcare during school holidays is expensive. There is a way of building a fulltime income around the family’s needs working with a family run global company in the booming health and nutritionprofession. It has the Investors In People Champion award for training and support, the work is totally
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Local Dated Events (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 00:10 Page 1
Local & Festive Events november events Ruislip/Northwood Flower Arrangement Society Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, HA6 3AA. Tues 4th November, 7pm for 7.30pm Area demonstrator, Alan smith ‘Christmas Crackers’. Call 01923 829621 for details. Fireworks Display Wed 5th November gates open 5.30pm display from 7pm School Field (rear of Infants school), Harefield Infant & Junior Schools, High Street, UB9 6BT. tickets £6 Adult, £4 Child. email: friends. harefieldinfants@hotmail.co.uk for details. Michael Sobell Hospice Fundraiser Annual Festive Coffee Sat 8th November, 10am-2pm Michael Sobell Hospice, Gate 3, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, HA6 2RN. there will be an array of lovely affordable seasonal gifts plus a range of delicious home-made cakes and pastries with a hot cuppa to shake off those winter chills! entry and Parking will be Free of charge! All proceeds to michael sobell Hospice. For more information on this event go to www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk or call ophelia on 01923 844829 for more details. Bonfire & Fireworks Display Sat 8th November, gates open 5pm, display from 7pm Higher Denham Community Association, Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, UB9 5EA. Licensed bar (opens 5pm) and bbQ from 6pm. Kids stall, tea, coffee and mulled wine. build-a-guy competition. tickets: Family ticket (2 adults + children) £23. Adult £8 Child (4-16 years) £4. Under 3's go Free . event will go ahead whatever the weather! Ruislip Manor Chamber of Commerce ‘Lighting up the Manor’ (from 11am) & switching on the Ruislip Manor Lights (4.30pm) Sat 8th November Victoria Road, Ruislip Manor, HA4 9BH. switching on of ruilsip manor’s Christmas Lights by the Worshipful the mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr. Catherine Dann, at 4.30pm. A variety of activities: live music, children’s rides, trade & charity stalls plus much more.
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november into December 2014
Denham Friends of Guiding Autumn Fayre Sat 8th November, 2-4pm St Marks Hall, Green Tiles Lane, Denham Green, UB9 5HT. Cake stall, crafts & gifts, raffle, tombola, children's stalls, refreshments and lots more. Denham rainbows, brownies and Guides look forward to seeing you there. For more information email: denhamfog@gmail.com. ‘Butterflies’ Christmas Table Top Sale & Community Coffee Morning Sat 8th November, 9am-1pm Ickenham Village Hall, 33 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, UB10 8DG should anyone require to hire a table or require more information please contact vera on 01895 635224 or Chris on 676900 or email: butterfliesickenham@yahoo.com Harefield Amateur Dramatic Society presents ‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime’ 13th, 14th & 15th November, 7.30pm for 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield, UB9 6BX. A murderous comedy by Constance Cox, based on the oscar Wilde short story. ticket box office 01895 253346 or email janscurr@hotmail.com. HUBB Business Breakfast Event Thu 13th November, 8am-9am Uxbridge Conservative Club, 46 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PJ. networking with local professionals and in partnership with the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. ‘state of the nation - Healthcare in the UK’. Guest speaker Graham roberts from WPA. Coffee & pastries. For details email: emma.zovich@wardwilliams.co.uk Pamper Night Fri 14th November, 7-10pm Denham Village Infant School, Cheapside Lane, Denham, UB9 5AE. We have masseurs, manicures, eyebrow waxing, threading and tinting, acrylic nails. there will be an opportunity for a little Christmas shopping with a variety of stalls. tickets: £5 (includes a glass of wine). All welcome if you would like to book a treatment to be sure of a place please ring Wendy on 07826 685098.
Ickenham Art Society ‘At Home’ Exhibition Sat 15th November, 10am-4pm Village Hall, Ickenham, UB10 8DG. Paintings in all media for sale - 'please support you local art society.' refreshments.
Quiz ‘n’ Chips Night Sat 15th November, 7pm for 7.30pm Iver Village Hall, St Margarets Close, SL0 0DA. Quiz night with Fish/Chicken & Chip supper. Come on your own or make up a table of 6. tickets £10 per person (15yrs and under £6). Please bring your own extras (drinks/glasses etc). Details from Pat roberts 01753 647674. RSPCA Christmas Fair Sat 15th November, 11am-2pm Iver Village Hall, SL0 9NX. refreshments, bric-abrac, pet goods, Christmas cards and goodies, CDs and DvDs . entrance 50p. All proceeds go to local animals in need of love and care. Celebration of Voice - Cabaret Evening Fri 21st November, 7.15pm Ickenham Village Hall, 33 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, UB10 8DG. two sensational acts - matt & molly (mollymariewalsh.com) and shane Hampsheir (www.shanehampsheir. co.uk). Licensed bar. tickets £15 includes a selection of canapés. Available in advance from Pro music International, swakeleys rd, Ickenham or on the door. FISA Christmas Fayre Sat 22nd November, 12-3pm Iver Heath Junior School, High Street, Iver. All enquires to Pippa vinall, call 07771 932108 or email: pippavinal@aol.com.
Heathway Ladies Group Bazaar Sat 22nd November, 2pm Iver Heath Village Village Hall. Admission £1, children Free. Drinks tombola, crafts, cakes, cosmetics, tombola gifts, jewellery, grand raffle, refreshments and much more. Do come and join us. Christmas Fayre Fri 28th November, 3.30pm-5.30pm Iver Heath Junior School, St Margarets Close, SL0 0DA. Come and join the fun! Winter Fete Sat 29th November, 11am-4pm Iver Heath Royal British Legion, (Womens Section), Church Road, Iver, SL0 0RD. Lots of stalls. continued...
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Local Dated Events (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 00:10 Page 2
Local & Festive Events lIve musIc events
the Watersedge Packet Boat lane, Cowley, UB8 2Js Fri 14th nov ladies night with Drag Queen tiffany Wells and 2 male strippers (show starts 9pm with DJ 'til late £15pp including basket meal). the 3 steps high st, Cowley, UB8 2DX sat 8th nov Kylie tribute sat 15th nov live Band 'stiles' sat 22nd nov 'Big Al' sat 29th nov live Band 'J45s'
Ruislip/northwood Flower arrangement society northwood & Pinner liberal synagogue, oaklands Gate, northwood, ha6 3aa. tues 2nd December, 7pm for 7.30pm national demonstrator, Anthony Williams ‘christmas lights’. call 01923 829621 for details. Christmas Fayre sat 6th December, 11am-2pm harefield infant school, high street, harefield, UB9 6Bt. lots of stalls and games plus a chance to meet santa! entry 20p for info email: friends.harefieldinfants@hotmailco.uk
southlands Victorian Christmas Fayre sun 7th December, 11am-4pm the Green West, Drayton. UB7 7PW. Handmade craft items, bric-a-brac, mulled wine, hot chestnuts and mince pies, face painting, crafts, games and much more. the swan at iver 2 high street, iver, sl0 9nG Fri 14th nov two tone (pictured below), 9pm sat 22nd nov macmillan morning, 10.30am Drink coffee, eat cake and win prizes. sat 22nd nov swing & soul Duo, 9pm Fri 28th nov Boogie shoes Disco Band, 9.30pm
the Falcon Village Road, Denham, UB9 5Be. Fri 14th nov legacy ‘John & Belinda’ Fri 28th nov eckie & his sounds & sax
DecemBer events showcase presents society Christmas show 'Christmas memories' thu 4th to sat 6th December, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinee on saturday the most sacred heart Church, 73 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip manor, ha4 8nn. For tickets call 020 8572 0475 or 07917 381835. Proceeds from Friday evening performance donated to the church.
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Charity Race night Wed 10th December, 7.30pm for 8pm Uxbridge Conservative Club, 46 harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PJ. In support of the children’s Ward (Peter Pan & Wendy Ward), Hillingdon Hospital. tickets are £10 per person including supper. limited tickets available, email: emma.zovich@wardwilliams.co.uk with your name and supper choice. (Options are: Cod & Chips, Sausage & Chips, Chicken & Chips, Veggie Burger & Chips). the Uxbridge Choral society performing martin how's ‘advent Cantata’ sat 13th December, 7.30pm st. margaret's Church, Windsor street, Uxbridge, UB8 1aB. conductor: Jeff stewart. tickets: £12 adults, £6 for under 12s, available on the door on the night or by calling 01895 847083 in advance.
november into December 2014
ickenham Festive Community night Fri 12th December, 6pm-9pm around swakeleys Road, ickenham Village hall, Gelbe avenue and Community Close, ickenham, UB10 8DG. For a great night out featuring a wide range of music, games festive sales plus special attractions with many local shops opening late, hospitality and fun plus christmas themed lights in and around the village. Further information on how you can get involved is on the Ickenham Festival website at www.IckenhamFestival.org.uk. Follow on twitter at www.twitter.com/IckFest or call or text on 07516 984514. Christmas Fayre sat 13th December, 12-3pm Denham Village infant school, Cheapside lane, UB9 5ae. All welcome! come and see Father christmas. Grand raffle /Auction, craft room. enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake, plus much more. ‘light up a life’ Ceremonies sun 14th December, 3.30pm and 5.30pm michael sobell hospice lecture hall, Gate 3, mount Vernon hospital, northwood, ha6 2Rn. A special event when people come together to celebrate, reflect and remember loved ones who are no longer with us – whether they received hospice care or not. there will be two ceremonies with performances from the lemon tuesday choir. refreshments will be served. Free entry and parking. Pre-booking is essential call 01923 844730 to reserve a place.
Don't miss the DeaDline! If you would like us to publicise your event in our December free in the future. issues contact us no later than Friday 14th november.
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RSPCA
Christmas Fair Saturday 15th November 11am to 2pm
Iver Village Hall, SL0 9NX ** Refreshments * Bric a Brac * Pet Goods ** ** Christmas Cards & Goods * Books, CDs & DVDs ** and more .....
Entrance is 50p per person
All proceeds go to local animals in need of love and care
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The title is allegedly the English translation of a Chinese curse, used to heap misfortune on your worst enemies. While the sinister nature of the quote may have been largely forgotten in recent years, the comment is still often used, and it could be argued that today’s times are as “interesting” as they have been for a generation. In a meeting with a longstanding client last week, we had covered the usual “things ain’t what they used to be” areas, when he made a comment which I have immediately started to use as my own. He said that, if you took a map of the world, shut your eyes and stuck a pin in, as long as you hit terra firma you would find a region with problems. The Middle East is even more unsettled than usual, if that were possible, thanks to ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the ongoing situation in Gaza. Ukraine has temporarily disappeared from the front pages but no one seriously expects that to last. Europe continues to flounder amid the fallout from the financial crisis and it now seems that the mighty German economy, which has kept the Eurozone moving forward over the past 25 years, is finally beginning to buckle under that weig ht. South Am erica continues to see economic problems and social unrest. 42
China is still largely a closed book, but disturbances in Hong Kong must be a worry there. Finally, as if Africa didn’t have enough to worry about, the Ebola virus seems to be doing major damage and cases are now being reported in the more developed world. Stock markets around the world finally seem to be getting the message, and have seen significant falls in value over the past fortnight. Commodity prices are also moving steadily lower, and this is often seen as an indicator of slowing economic activity. Oil prices have been particularly fragile (all part of a US/Saudi plot to hit Russia financially, allegedly) which should at least lead to lower prices at the pumps. Interesting times indeed, and closer to home the two recent by elections will have given the two/ three main political parties another nasty reminder of their standing with the electorate. The Clacton result was probably predicable, but I doubt whether the UKIP top brass seriously expected to come within 600 votes of winning the safe Labour seat in Heywood. Today’s newspapers are now predicting a 25% share of the vote and 25 seats in the Commons for UKIP. The 2015 General Election is starting to look, well, interesting........
Whoever is in power after the event, whether it is Conservative, Labour, or a new form of coalition, nothing much will have changed. Money will be tight, so there will not be much scope for tax allowances, pensions and state benefits to be increased. More than ever, the onus will be on individuals to make their own financial provision, because it is safe to say that any state assistance will continue to lose ground in real terms, over time. The good news is that we have seen some helpful changes to the pension and investment world in recent months. The pension landscape has seen a transformation, where the new Flexible Drawdown rules will mean that accumulated funds can be used to meet individuals’ requirements, rather than according to blanket government department rules. In addition, pension funds will not now be subject to the 55% tax charge on the death of the policyholder, which will offer the potential for va lu abl e In he rit anc e Ta x savings. In addition, the ISA allowance has now been increased to £15,000, and under the new NISA rules it will be possible to place 100% of this into the Cash element, which will perhaps be more attractive to a wider audience. While it is always possible that the tax treatment of NISA may change in the future, it is unlikely that this will ever be changed retrospectively, so any money put into NISA now should remain largely tax free in the future.
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Beauty Problem Solving Skincare
by Helen Taylor
Visit the Salon There are so many salon treatments available for acne sufferers, as well as treatments that help to reduce the appearance of the scarring associated with the condition. You’ll also get a professional opinion and a customised plan to improve your skin. A simple salon facial is a great once or twice a week treatment that will decongest your skin. Omnilux Blue is a popular salon treatment that uses a spectrally blue light source to clear and control acne and kill spotcausing bacteria on the skin. Micro-dermabrasion is useful for removing acne scarring.
is definitely better than cure. Treat it Yourself Regular and thorough exfoliation is key to stopping milia from forming in the first place, but if you’ve got them and you want to treat them at home, then invest in a facial sauna. Use for 10-15 minutes every day and it will unclog pores and loosen dirt, debris and dead skin cells on the skin. You can then use a self-heating, exfoliating mini-peel treatment to help break down the milia even more. Visit the Salon Chemical peels work really well to treat this problem, especially the Priori Advanced AHA peel.
Flawless, radiant, glowing skin is the key to looking naturally beautiful, so forget covering-up with foundation and instead, start treating your lingering skin issues.
Adult Acne
Treat it Yourself Thoroughly cleanse your skin twice a day - using an oil free cleanser - to ensure that you remove every trace of make-up and oil. Treat individual spots with concentrated tea-tree oil, ensuring that you apply it neatly on the area you are treating to avoid irritating surrounding skin. Targeted products that reduce excess oils should be part of your routine. Proactiv do a really good range for acneprone skin. When you are covering spots, use a medicated concealer so that you are treating the problem as well as disguising it. A non-topical treatment for acne that many swear by, is to use a pillow and case made from bamboo fibres rather than cotton. It’s said that cotton and polycotton absorb acne-causing bacteria and bamboo fibres don’t. 44
Open Pores
Treat it Yourself Regular deep cleansing masks will help you to draw out impurities and eliminate excess oil. Use products that are designed to minimise the look of your pores - Benefit’s POREfessional and Clinique’s Pore Refining Solutions range are great. Visit the Salon Micro-dermabrasion and a series of glycolic peels work to dissolve the top layers of the skin, thus shrinking pores and ridding the skin of trapped dirt.
Milia
Those annoying hard, white blemishes - that look like little beads under the skin - can be hard to get rid of, so prevention
Red Cheeks
Redness in your cheeks is caused by spider veins or broken capillaries, and toning down the redness can be hard work. It’s caused by factors like hormonal changes in the body, exposure to harsh weather conditions and UV rays, as well as alcohol consumption. Treat it at Home Protect your skin as much as possible, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors - always use a high-factor sun-protection cream. Neutralise redness and disguise the problem using a green tinted primer under your foundation. Visit the Salon Intense Pulsed Light and Laser Intense Pulsed Light systems are very effective for this condition. Brief pulses of laser light destroy smaller blood vessels.
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Compass Theatre FP (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 03:34 Page 1
Compass Christmas!
at Compass Theatre Sun 30 November
What’s on at
The traditional Christmas concert with songs, readings and sketches from our community of local musicians and actors of all ages. With a free mince pie and a stocking full of cheer, this is the perfect way to warm up for Christmas.
Compass Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors
at Compass Theatre Thu 4 - Sat 6 December
November/December 2014 Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens
at Compass Theatre Wed 5 - Sat 8 November Part celebrity, part super-hero: strong, sexy, liberated... and all woman! Their mission is to fight crime and liberate the universe harnessing the Power of Disco! Come along and join Purple Theatre for a crazy night of disco, glam, rock and good old fashioned unadulterated funk! Not suitable for children.
Jesus Christ Superstar
at Compass Theatre Wed 19 - Sat 22 November
Players 2 presents Jesus Christ Superstar, the global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for over 40 years. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ground-breaking rock musical tells the story of the last 7 days of Jesus of Nazareth. Featuring the hit songs I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Superstar, this spectacular show brings to life the most famous story of all time.
Sad and lonely Seymour lives and works in a dusty old flower shop on Skid Row. After he finds a strange and unusual plant - not listed in any of his plant books, people start to come to see Seymour's plant. But just as business and his confidence start to pick up, things start to get painful as we discover that this plant doesn't use sunlight and water to grow like other plants... it feeds on blood! Just what lengths will our hero go to keep this plant alive?
The Night Before Christmas
at Winston Churchill Theatre Sat 6 December
On the night before Christmas Emily stares out of the window, hugs her teddy and waits excitedly for the morning, while in the corner a little mouse called Eddie can’t understand why only humans are allowed to celebrate and get presents. A co-production with Brighton Dome, this show is suitable for families with children ages 3 to 7 years.
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Season's Greetings
at Compass Theatre Wed 26 - Sat 29 November
Christmas comes but once a year... which is probably just as well judging by the chaos it causes in this hilarious Alan Ayckbourn comedy! Season’s Greetings is a play for anyone who has ever sung "Christmas is coming" with more than a slight sense of dread.
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CompaSS TheaTre Glebe avenue, Ickenham, UB10 8pD. WINSToN ChUrChIll TheaTre pinn Way, ruislip, ha4 7Ql. hIllINGDoN Box offICe 01895 673200
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Consultations by appointment only, some available on evenings and weekends
Iver Croft, Bangors Road South, Iver, SL0 0AD
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Mystery Shopper In order to maintain and improve standards, Unbiased, the UK’s biggest IFA search site undertakes a Mystery Shopper exercise, the results of which are published in the Financial Adviser magazine. Each week a mystery shopper seeks advice from a randomly selected group of independent and tied advisers from regions in the UK. The aim is to find out whether advisers are delivering the goods when it comes to the all-important initial telephone contact between client and adviser. It is only intended to evaluate this first interview, and it is understood that further meetings would be necessary before final decisions could be made. Ward Williams Financial Services were called as part of the programme staged in Watford during a week in September. The scenario was that a potential client and his partner had saved money in a Cash ISA for years, and were looking to put their £60,000 savings into something that yields more than 1.2%. He was concerned about the prospect of not having access to his savings, so wanted somewhere easily accessible. The outcome of the exercise was that Ward Williams Financial Services were awarded the ‘Shopper’s Choice’ and scored 33/35. You can read the article online by following this link: http:http://www.ftadviser.com/2014/09/17/ifa-industry/companies-andpeople/mystery-shopper-watford-SXVjoBMpwa75SQYO1JVQMM/article-1.html //www.ftadviser.com/2014/09/17/ifa-industry/companies-and-people/mysteryshopper-watford-SXVjoBMpwa75SQYO1JVQMM/article-1.html
If you wish to review your financial affairs, please contact Ward Williams Financial Services Ltd on 01895 236335 or email wwfs@wardwilliams.co.uk 48
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Hobbies Make It Festive, Keep It Floral
by Kate McLelland
green foliage and deep red blooms – or do you prefer a sophisticated blend of silver and white? What about an earthy palette, combining dried oranges and cinnamon sticks with orangey-brown chrysanthemums? Theme: Country cottage charm? Quirky retro? Traditional splendour or urban cool? There are flowers to suit every mood and you can add a range of extras, from silver baubles to spray-painted garden twigs, to support your chosen theme. The festive season provides the perfect distraction from the midwinter blues by prompting us to decorate our homes inside and out, but an overload of festive ‘bling’ sometimes makes us forget about the simpler pleasures of Christmas, particularly when it comes to buying fresh flowers.
Having decided on the colour, theme and location, it’s time to think about the type of vase or container you will use. Try to choose one that is compatible with your chosen theme. If you haven’t got a vase of a suitable colour, you could tie a ribbon around it in a colour that matches the floral display.
Flowers are a treat for the senses and it’s worth taking time to work out exactly how you can use them to best effect. Before you rush down to the florist, take a minute to think about location, colour and theme.
Make sure that you clean your vase thoroughly before adding the flowers, using bleach or Milton tablets and a bottle brush. It’s vital to use flower food if you want your bouquet to last: you can make a solution yourself using a quarter of a teaspoon of bleach, two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of sugar in a quart (1136ml) of warm water.
Location: where will the flowers be on display? What size is the room? Make sure you buy flowers that are right for the space – for example, strongly scented flowers such as lilies may be overpowering in a small room. Colour: do you like seasonal colours – shiny 50
If you are creating a table centrepiece, the golden rule is that their colour of the arrangement should harmonise with the tablecloth, napkins and crackers. A
crowded table might look better with just one or two stems placed in narrow bottles, arranged along the middle. One of the most distinctive aspects of a traditional, seasonal arrangement is the use of deep green foliage, but remember that evergreen branches have woody stems that can sometimes be reluctant to absorb water. You can give tough stems a head start by plunging them into a mug containing a couple of inches of boiling water and leaving them for a minute to “sear”. There are many more tricks and tips you can employ to keep your flowers looking great right through to New Year and you’ll find lots of inspirational videos on YouTube (www.youtube. com). Flowers can be more expensive at Christmas time, but you can create some fantastic arrangements by supplementing a few choice blooms with evergreen leaves and decorations. If you’re tempted to take up flower arranging as a hobby, then you’ll find some helpful information at www.nafas.org. uk, where you’ll be able to find out about local clubs, courses and classes. A festive floral arrangement provides us with a simple reminder that spring is on its way, so this year, don’t forget to say “Happy Christmas” in the language of flowers.
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Grandad was from strong stock. He was a Yorkshire miner who for years, hacked away at coal whilst standing in waist high freezing water; and he knew a thing or two.
best choices, or perhaps to decide not to choose at all!
I feel grateful to my Grandad. All these years later I know he was right. Our lives are not always easy, demands on us are When Grandad spoke people listened. As great, and a little nurturingat the right a ten year old, I was helping him as he timecan go a long way. dug up his potatoes ready to store them for winter. It was then that he dropped Can I help you? I’m ready to listen.. into my head a simple thought that, tens of years later, I have found to be profoundly Sandy Wickenden owns and runs Let’s Talk, based in Denham Village. She is true. I am like a potato. also available for sessions on Skype. “It’s like this lass”, he said. “Put a potato in the wrong place, starve it of what it needs and it’ll shrivel up and be as good as nowt. Give it a bit of tender love and care, manure, water and the like and it’ll grow big an’ strong.” He glanced up at me, “You have to take care of yourself too, then you’ll be just like this big un”, as he added a potato big enough for both our suppers, to the bucket. As I sit in my counselling room with my fellow human beings and listen to their stories, I am sure he was right. Too busy, too many worries, looking after others, daily pressures, financial concerns, the round of births marriagesdivorcesand deaths, we can be starved of what we need to thrive.
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Maybe this is why I am a counsellor. Not to give advice but to provide a safe place for my client. Where, for awhile they can find sustenance, a place to try to make sense of it all, to talk about whatever they want (or need) to talk about. A place to work out how to keep going, or make the
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iNCluDED: 3 nights stay at the Sherborne Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset • 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 1 traditional Christmas Day lunch • Visits to Longleat, with a ride on the Santa Express Train, and West Bay - the home of TV’s Broadchurch • Coach travel and excursions
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night. He was attached to life support machines and the doctors told her he would only have hours to live if he could not be transferred to a better equipped hospital as he had contracted a deadly virus which had destroyed his heart and caused the attacks. She fought desperately for his life and was able to arrange a jet to Bangkok Heart Hospital just in time through support and help from people she hardly knew. Andrew spent seven weeks in intensive care and was finally transferred to Harefield Hospital in January, coincidentally in their home town. They were told he only had weeks to live and he was fitted with a mechanical heart as a temporary measure to save his life. He then waited almost a year in hospital for a heart transplant. The staff at the hospital were kind and dedicated and he would not have got through this period without their sup port and expertise. He was lucky enough to receive the greatest gift of life thanks to an incredible and selfless donor family at the end of 2013 and the couple are now expecting their first baby. They will never have the The young couple were married in No words to describe how grate vember 2012 and jetted off to a remote ful and humbled they are to island in the Maldives for what should have been given a second have been a dream honeymoon but chance and not a day goes by within the first few days previously fit that they don’t think of his donor. and healthy Andrew began to feel increasingly unwell. He suffered three near ‘Strength in Strangers’ by Lauren fatal heart attacks and Lauren was only just Britton is available as an ebook on able to get him to the local hospital in time after amazon.co.uk and the Kindle app for dragging him onto a speed boat in the middle of the £1.88 with all profits to Harefield Hospital.
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It has managed this remarkable feat by producing cars that are unfailingly reliable, supremely wellbuilt and sensibly priced. Unfortunately, with the exception of occasional cars such as the GT86 (which is really a Subaru), Toyotas also tend to be dull as ditch water. So when I saw an advert for a Toyota that prom ised to put the fun back into driving, I was intrigued. It turned out that the car in ques tion was the new Auris Hybrid. The Auris is a midsize family hatch that doesn’t compare very favourably against the class leading Polo and Focus. How ever, I have to admit that I have never actually driven a hybrid so I thought I’d give it a go. There are a surprising number of peo ple who don’t understand how a hybrid works, so I’ll briefly ex plain the principle. The Auris has a 1.8 litre petrol engine, a bank of batteries and an electric mo tor. At low speeds the car is powered by the electric motor, though it only has a range of a mile or so. As soon as the bat teries run out of charge or you want to go a bit faster, the petrol engine kicks in and starts charg ing up the batteries. If you want to go really fast, the electric motor joins forces with the en gine to give you a bit more power. All this clever stuff equates to about 75mpg and very low carbon emissions. 60
That’s the science, but what’s it like in reality? The new Auris is much lower than before, has a chevron shaped grill like an inverted Citroen, angular head lights, a sharply raked bonnet and neatly sculpted sides. It’s by no means ugly but it is decidedly nondescript and instantly forget table. Inside it’s even worse, great slabs of black plastic and dismal black cloth, truly the definition of bland. At least it feels well screwed together and there’s plenty of room for pas sengers, although the boot is small by class standards. The engine and electric motor combined produce a respectable 134bhp and electric motors are renowned for producing lots of torque. Even so, all those batter ies add weight so the perform ance is adequate rather than scintillating. The Auris has a CVT gearbox which means the engine revs furiously while it waits for the car to catch up with it. Also, the electronics switch between electric and petrol power as they see fit, so the driver’s input is limited to press ing either the accelerator or the brake. The car is near silent around town but overly noisy at motorway speeds or when ac celerating hard. To add insult to injury, it isn’t even especially economical at higher speeds; a Golf diesel is considerably bet ter. The handling is safe and predictable but, with no sensa tion coming through the steering wheel or the seat of your pants,
is completely dull and uninspir ing. Whoever came up with that advertising strapline should be prosecuted under the trades descriptions act. All this hybrid technology is expensive so for the price of a high spec Focus you get a low spec Auris; there aren’t even any toys to keep you enter tained. After some considerable thought, I’ve worked out who might buy the Auris Hybrid. It would need to be someone who lives in London so the excellent urban economy and exemption from the congestion charge would be appealing. Also, as the average driving speed in London is around 7mph, the lacklustre performance and lifeless han dling wouldn’t present a prob lem. Finally, this person would need to have absolutely no inter est in cars but attend a lot of dinner parties so they could brag about the Auris’ environmental credentials. I believe that plenty of these kind of people actually do live in London but for the rest of us the Auris is just too dull. If you want to drive something a little less predictable than a ford, a VW or a Vauxhall, I would point you in the direction of a Kia Cee’d. Car as tested Toyota Auris 1.8VVTi Hybrid £20,645 RRP
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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Nov14)_Layout 1 23/10/2014 02:38 Page 1
THE WILdLIFE ZONE
BIO PHONY F 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.
or many people bio phony is a new phrase and one may well ask, what is it and how does it work? This can be difficult to define as bio phony is still developing, as my partner and I found out recently at Cheltenham Spa. To begin our weekend break we made time to enjoy the Regency town’s wonderful architecture, museums and pleasant parks before the final evening of the Cheltenham Music Festival. We had bought tickets for Richard Blackford’s world premiere of his latest composition The Great Animal Orchestra, based on Bernie Krause’s book of a similar title. It was followed by Cheltenham’s own Gustav Holst’s, The Planet Suite. As soon as we entered the Town Hall’s auditorium for the musical extravaganza, I recalled my first ever public performance, nostalgically I took a few moments to figure out exactly where my position on the stage had been; it was halfway up the rows of seats at the back, on the right hand side. My younger sister also made her first musical public debut on the same stage a few years later. Soon the orchestra came on stage with Richard Blackford and Bernie Krause explaining the aims and objectives of the music. By doing so, he made his composition accessible to people who don’t always appreciate classical music. Music is the ‘art of the ear’, and bio phony investigates, reveals, and explains the beauty of the animal world by using orchestral instruments. Blackford’s pioneering composition was a world premier which used Bernie Krause’s original animal recordings (which were also the base of his book) to introduce each of the five separate movements. After these initial introductions the orchestra’s instruments developed the composition, often mixed with more original animal recordings. The musicians used mimicry and the rhythm of the habitat to develop emotions, ideas and themes. One example of Blackford’s composition was the bewildering 44 note sound of Britain’s most numerous bird, the Wren. The Wren sings its song and then repeats it, a fact which the composer used to score one of the five movements of the piece. Richard Blackford selected other pieces from Bernie Klause’s archive of 5,000 animal recordings in similar ways. They concluded that in many cases, early in the morning a number of small insects and invertebrates such as crickets, cicadas made high pitched sounds. Blackford used instruments including piccolo, percussion and xylophone to replicate the sounds of the early mornings’ rhythm and atmosphere. By using this animal sound archive, he composed music to create similar feelings in the listener. One example which stuck in my mind was the forlorn sound of a male beaver which had just experienced the death of his mate. For some crazy reason, the American authorities had dynamited their lodge and killed the female inside. The male’s sonorous wail became the basis of a musical phrase, although people such as me also make it symbolic; and I treat it as a sad cry for what is happening elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Most musicians accept that bio phony began with the late French master, Olivier Messaien. He composed scores in which instruments mimicked birds’ songs, trills and calls. However he was always aware of the musical instrument’s limitations because the original birdsongs could never be recreated faithfully, either on stage or in the recording studio. His use of the harp, piccolo and other instruments was expressive, but was still limited with timbre, pitch and texture. Arguably South America’s greatest composer, the Brazilian Villa-Lobos used another perspective recreating the spirit and mood of the Amazon Rainforest in his compositions. He did this by imitating the rhythm of the forest where the cacophony of sounds regularly fluctuated in volume and pitch throughout the day. When I was trekking in the thick of Amazon I carefully listened to and analysed the different natural rhythms of its wildlife at dawn, dusk and night time. I found that when I closed my eyes and listened, there were different sounds throughout the day. A few days afterwards I visited the Manaus Opera House which has played some of these compositions, but there were no performances throughout my stay, and I missed out. Even so, I remembered that I had seen the play Whale Nation which successfully wove music, narrative and poetry together with the natural sounds of whales to promote an understanding of their plight. However the original sounds of whales were illustrative rather than integrated into a serious classical piece of music. The haunting song of the Humpback Whale indicated that other whales also communicate with vowel type sounds, as opposed to dolphins which use clicks and consonants. On our way back to the hotel, I thought about how Blackford had learned from the musical past and how bio phony can be of use in the future. Most people now believe that many governments have continuously failed to save us from our ever increasing environmental problems, such as deforestation, the ‘Mass Extinction of the Species’, global warming and climate change. Bio phony may become an important cultural factor and art form which could help address our problems. It may well help people by giving back our natural values that we had before modern society had replaced them with social and business preoccupations, such as the need to succeed in gaining wealth and status.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 64
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First the bad news: the HighSpeed Train (HS2) scarcely got a mention during the autumn round of party political conferences. Now the good news: whenever HS2 did get an airing in somebodyorother’s speech, nobody applauded. Not one single person. The silence was deafening. This was truly remarkable in a preelection period when supporters are ordered to clap at virtually everything, just in case that particular sound bite gets chosen for the Ten O’ Clock News. When all three major parties agree with each other – I include the Lib Dems in this group, but probably not for long – HS2 is unlikely to be an election issue. Who wants a manifesto that looks just like the other guy’s? But in my experience, when there’s virtual unanimity about something, it’s likely to end in tears. All three parties agreed that it was a very sensible idea to invade Iraq in 2003. Last year, they all decided against military intervention in Syria. How misguided both of these cosy arrangements seem now. A fellow antiHS2 campaigner, who attended the Conservative conference in Birmingham to hand out leaflets to the rankandfile, reported that nearly all of them said “I support you, I’m against it”, but when they were asked to tell that to their leader they replied: “He doesn’t listen.”
actually, because the Scottish devolution referendum, combined with the two dramatic byelection results in Clacton and Manchester last month, have shown just how quickly the political landscape can change. Suddenly, the devolving of power away from Westminster has pushed its way towards the top of the political agenda, while UKIP – a laughing stock five years ago – are certainly no laughing matter now. In the same way that they’ve been forced to rethink Scotland and immigration, the government can be made to listen to the clamour of opposition to HS2 too. Wishful thinking? I think not. Near Lichfield, Staffordshire, the proposed route of the notsohighspeedafterall train was to have crossed the busy A38, two existing railway lines and a lovely stretch of the Trent and Mersey canal on a series of viaducts. The local action group, backed by their County Council and their (Conservative) MP, petitioned for deep cuttings instead of viaducts, to reduce the noise and visual impact on the surrounding countryside. HS2 Ltd kept insisting that it couldn’t be done ‘for technical reasons’.
Labour seem equally set in their ways, fearful of upsetting the powerful City Councils in the north, who see HS2 as a source of jobs, prosperity and a way of narrowing the north/ south divide – even though any economist will tell you that if you develop a new transport link between two cities, the wealthier one will always benefit at the expense of the poorer. Why do our politicians persist in ignoring this fundamental truth?
So the Commons Select Committee, which is investigating HS2, arranged a site visit in Staffordshire to see what all the fuss was about. A local landowner got wind of their visit and heroically arranged to fly a noisy ‘drone’ – an unmanned aircraft at the exact height of the proposed viaducts, to illustrate how HS2 would ruin the place. This ‘shock and awe’ tactic worked spectacularly. Within a week, Transport Secretary Patrick McLaughlin announced that the line would be rerouted under the A38, the railway lines and the canal. There would be no unsightly viaducts for Lichfield. See? They listen, if our case is compelling enough.
HS2 may have slipped off the national news radar for the time being, but there are glimmers of hope. More than glimmers,
Here in the Colne Valley, we face a similar problem to Lichfield’s, with the longest viaduct since the Victorians laid down the UK railway
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Continued from over page.. network planned for our Regional Park, with its lakes, activity centre, canal, marina, Nature Reserves and Site of Spe cial Scientific Interest. Almost all of our local petitioners have urged the Select Committee to consider replac ing the viaduct with a tunnel. HS2 Ltd maintain that it can’t be done ‘for technical reasons’. Does that sound familiar? Lichfield has shown that it possible to per suade the government and the railway plan ners to change their minds – as long as local opposition is passionate, wellresearched and supported by a community that’s pulling in the same direction. Unmanned aircraft might help too. Anyone got a spare drone kicking around their garage, which we could borrow for the Select Commit tee’s visit to Denham and Harefield in the New Year?
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Planting Trees and Shrubs by Pippa Greenwood
This is a great time of year to get planting – the soil is still holding a bit of warmth from the late summer and is now more moist and provides good conditions for roots to develop, spread and establish. Furthermore trees, shrubs and woody climbers in particular are often a very good buy at this time of year.
A good planting hole or pit is essential, and you should sure that it is at least several inches larger than the current spread of the roots of the tree or shrub that you are about to plant. For years the advice has been that plenty of bulky organic matter should be incorporated in to the hole and the mixture with which you back fill it. Investigations now suggest that this may not necessarily be ideal: make the planting hole too ‘cosy’ and the tree’s roots may be inclined to stay in the hole. In a heavy clay soil a planting hole full of compost may also end up acting as a sump, so when the soil is wet the compost draws more moisture in to the hole, resulting in waterlogged roots. All very logical, but then I would also suggest that if you 68
garden on a very sandy, poor soil, a well-prepared planting pit which includes bulky organic matter such as garden compost will help to reduce the risk of drying out. Similarly, provided the organic matter is incorporated over a good enough sized area on a heavy soil, I think it does help to improve aeration and drainage around tree roots, especially if you incorporate some grit too. Well-rotted manure, garden compost and proprietary bagged compost are all useful in planting holes and if it is largely an improvement in soil texture which you are after, then home-made leafmould is great too. Next, to tease or not to tease the roots? I’m a teaser every time, having seen thousands of trees fail because their pot-bound roots never moved out in to the soil properly, if at all. Planting depth is important too, so do make sure that you cover the roots, and only the roots, with soil. Even the compost level in the pot is often too deep, so start from scratch if necessary. Laying a straight cane over the top of the planting hole will help you
to gauge the correct depth more easily.
Then of course there is staking. I suggest only doing this with large trees, apples on very dwarfing rootstocks or if the site is extremely windy as a tree will get tougher and more resilient if given a chance to move around slightly and so form a strong trunk. If you do stake, short stakes at an angle are now regarded as best, and do use a good quality tree tie, properly fitted so that the tree’s bark is not chaffed. Finally, remember that aftercare is essential, regular thorough waterings will be needed during dry weather, especially for the first couple of years after planting. If you don’t get the aftercare right, the plant and all that time and effort can easily be lost. Visit www.pippagreenwood. com for a great range of gardening-related gifts including stylish ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Card, handmade pottery herb planters, Pippa’s favourite weeding tool, signed books and lots of useful garden items for your friends & family…or for yourself.
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Beware of Buying Online
by Gillian Jones If going to a shopping mall fills you with dread at any time of year, November and December probably used to be a waking nightmare for you. But then came the internet and buying online saved your sanity. Suddenly you were able buy everything you need, at bargain prices, and it was delivered to your door. What was not to like? Except, it doesn’t always go to plan, and not all online retailers are equal. When you buy something from a real shop you can simply take it back and get a refund. Yes, it means travelling out in your car again, but at least within a day or two the money is back in your account. Hundreds – or even thousands – of miles away from your seller though, who has terms and conditions you didn’t read, and you could find online shopping is as stressful as battling the crowds in the High Street. So do your homework before you part with your money. 1. If you are buying a gift which the recipient may want to return weeks later, check the return deadlines. 2. Just because it’s on a website, doesn’t mean it’s in stock. Check whether the product is available 70
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immediately or not, and also what the usual delivery times are, especially if you are buying fairly close to a special occasion or Christmas. Always checking how you will send back your purchase if you need to. If you are buying a piece of furniture, and you have to pay for and arrange your own return, you should look elsewhere. Find out where the product is being shipped from. Goods coming from outside the EU are likely to be liable for import duty and that can make your bargain cost considerably more. And even if the overseas supplier accepts returns, if you have to pay the postage, it could be more than the original purchase price. If your purchase isn’t faulty, but just not what you wanted, you are covered by distance selling regulations so you will be entitled to a full refund. However this only applies to UK suppliers - an overseas seller doesn’t have to adhere to these rules and may only offer you a credit note. Even UK suppliers can be evasive in responding to your return request. If your
emails and phone calls get ignored, it’s going to take some persistence to rescue your hard earned cash. So make sure you know who you are buying from. If you are any doubt, but you really want what they are selling, check their address, do an internet search on their company name and even use Google maps to view the outside of the premises they claim to operate from. 7. Anyone can set up an online shop – just because a website looks professional, it doesn’t mean that the outfit behind it is. Fraudsters may be just trying to steal money by selling you something that’s never going to turn up or worse, trying to steal your identity. If there’s no phone number or address on the site, and you’ve never heard of the company before, be very wary of handing over your card details. 8. When buying electrical items, particularly personal computing devices, do make sure you are buying from an authorised source. The manufacturer can refuse to honour the warranty if you’ve purchased from an unauthorised dealer.
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DENHAM What's On... (Nov14)_Layout 1 22/10/2014 19:41 Page 1
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
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 at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AA. Call 0208 427 3559, e: secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk w: www.crosierinvestment.org.uk
Memorial Hall. Call Sandra 07867470240 Lisa 07533549072 E: lisa.sandra.fitness@gmail.com Fitsteps Cha Cha, Waltz, Quickstep or Jive at Denham Memorial Hall. Mondays 7pm and Wednesdays 10am. Call 07834 197745. info@limelightdancing.co.uk
Denham History society Meets 2nd Tues of the month, 7.30pm St. Marks Hall, Denham Green. Call 01895 833989 Pamela@craftygiraffe.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
Hillingdon natural History society Meets 1st Wed of the month, Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@ hillingdon-naturalhistory society.org.uk
Harefield amateur Drama society Tuesday, 8-10pm. Park Lane Village Centre, Park Lane, Harefield. Call Tony on 01895 820672
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
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
rock ‘n’ roll Monday's in Harefield! Every Monday. Beginners Jive Dance Classes 7.45pm. Slow practise session 8.30-9pm. Social Rock n Roll 9-11pm. No partner required - no experience necessary! Harefield Cricket Club, Breakspear Road North, Harefield, UB9 6NE. £5 entry. E: therockingrebels @gmail.com, 07947 106607 www.facebook.com/therockingrebels 1950s rock n roll with DJs the rocking rebels 1st Friday of every month 7.3011.30pm. Retro stalls, BYO drinks. St Marys Church Hall, High St, Harefield UB9 6BX. Contact 07947 106607 therockingrebel@gmail.com 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
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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 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
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 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
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keep-fit, dance & drama continued... 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
Zumba fitness with danielle Every Monday 7-8pm at Harefield Football Club, Breakspear Road North, Harefield. UB9 6NE. Call Danielle 07989 128131 www.zumba-class.co.uk
the Windsor & district Big Bands appreciation Society We meet on 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Road, Datchet. Meetings featuring the music of the big bands of the 1940s and 1950s 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
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, everyone welcome! Denham Village Green 10.45am for 11am start. Approximately 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 in the Bucks area call 01494 475367 www.buckscc.gov.uk/rightsofway Social Line dancing At St Marys Church Hall, Harefield Last Sat of the month 7.30-10.30pm tea dance Harefield Community Centre, Priory Ave on Thurs 2-4pm. All welcome. Free car parking. Call John 01895 284428 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
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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 a rehearsal studio in Denham by Melanie Kleyn, qualified HND, now on degree at ACM. Children over 8yrs, ladies, anyone keen to learn. 3.15-5.30pm or daytime. Eves taken by bands rehearsing. 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. Rehearsal room 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
Yiewsley & West drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 810pm 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. Monday and Thursday 7.30-9.30pm. Currently 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 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 and info on joining 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 for details. continued overleaf...
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pre-school & kids groups continued...
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 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 tiny toes childcare Full Day Care Nursery. Call 01753 655650 or tinytoes@ivercommunity.org 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
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
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 green W.i. Every 2nd Mon in the month 2-4.15pm, St Marks Hall, Denham. All ladies welcome. Contact Linda 01895 257895 or linda. allum@hotmail.co.uk or Laura 01895835868 or ljphillips22@me.com. denham lions 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 8pm at Denham Garden Village, Denham Green. 18+. info@denhamlions.org.uk 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
karate club of uxbridge For ages 5 years and up The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway Wed, 5pm-7pm Tel: Dominic 07988 743725
friendly Whist drive Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Thurs 7.30pm. Beginners welcome. Contact Lyn on 01923 820173
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
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 that raise money for charity and also have a busy social calendar. If you would like to meet new people, raise money and have
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many laughs please 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 levels and abilities welcome. Training takes place 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
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Cake and Bake
Lamingtons These scrumptious small Australian cakes are made with a whisked light and buttery sponge which is coated in a quick chocolate icing and desiccated coconut. They may be a little fiddly to make but it’s well worth the effort!
Ingredients: SPONGE • 4 large eggs • 115g caster sugar • 115g plain flour, sifted • 40g unsalted butter, melted and cooled ICING AND COATING • 450g icing sugar • 50g cocoa powder • 70g unsalted butter, melted • 225g desiccated coconut
TIP
Pop the sponge squares in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before coating in the icing – they will be a little firmer to handle and the icing will set more quickly.
Makes 9 cakes Ready in 1 hour, plus cooling and setting 78
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Grease a 23cm square cake tin and line the base with baking paper. 2. To make the sponge, place the eggs and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk together with a hand-held electric whisk until the mixture is very thick and pale and leaves a trail on the surface when the whisk is lifted. Remove the bowl from the saucepan. 3. Sift over the flour and fold in gently then pour over the melted butter and fold in until just incorporated. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until risen, golden and springy to the touch. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes then turn the cake out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Cut the cold cake into 9 squares. 4. To make the icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a large bowl. Stir in the melted butter and 75ml boiling water and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. 5. Spread the coconut on a large flat plate. Take each sponge square and dip in the chocolate icing to coat completely, using two forks to gently turn the sponge square. Lift the coated square out of the icing and shake to allow any excess icing to fall back into the bowl. 6. Roll the iced square in the coconut to coat all over. Place on a board lined with baking paper and leave to set. Repeat with the rest of the sponge squares.
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