In & around april 16 denham april 16 mag 68pp by In and Around Publishing

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10/03/2014 11:27

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Well, whilst March seems to have flown by, for me personally, it was quite a packed month of birth day, Mothers Day and Easter celebrations. Not to mention the copious amounts of chocolates that are still hanging around the house and threaten ing to sabotage my diet at any given moment. I think I’ve probably spent half the month eating super healthily and the other simply packing my face with chocolate and cake. On the positive front, I did complete the annual deconstruction of my garden, which simply means clearing it of dog bones and debris, before giving the grass its first cut of the year. Not a major achievement for most people, but for me it’s a big tick off my list of things to do. Now if I could just put the list away and not keep adding things to it, I might actually stop it going onto two sheets of paper. In fact, if I keep going at the rate I am, I’ll be able to paper the living room with it. As ever, I stand in awe of those who seem to achieve everything on their list and still have time to spare. Any time management tips, always very welcome. .

You can advertise in this magazine from as little as £22.00 per month Just £50 puts your recruitment advert into all six publications (that’s over 30,000 homes).    Tel: 0800 038 5001 Mob: 07759 536494 In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Ickenham . Ruislip Publisher: Angela Fisher Phone: 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 Email: info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk Information and Details of Rates at

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Privacy Glass 10 Denham Parish Council 12 World Book Day at St Helen’s 16 Children’s Puzzle Page 18 Local Events 20 Denham Against HS2 22 Coffee Break Puzzles 24 Beauty: Spring is in the Air 26 RSPCA Rehoming Appeal 28 Technology: Gadgets for the indoor gardener 30 The Golden Years: Memories of 50 years ago 32 Recipe: Pork Jambalaya 36 Pets: Does your pet have an allergy? 38 Wordsearch 38 Motoring: Range Rover on Test 40 Travel: Vienna 42 Puzzle Solutions 43 Wildlife Zone 44 Interiors: Planning a master bedroom 46 Citizens Advice Bureau 48 Useful Telephone Numbers 48 Karen Munro Careers 50 Short Story: Alpaca on the Line 52 Don’t be taken in by the pension scammers 54 Books: Older, but not always wiser 56 Garden Feature 58 Clubs, Groups & Classes 60, 62 & 64 Situations Vacant 66

MAY COPY DEADLINE 21ST APRIL 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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Dear Residents, We put together our re sponse to the 17 ques tions posed by the Chil tern and South Bucks Local Plan Initial Consul tation Document and if you are on our email list then you should be in receipt of our answers (if you need a copy email clerk@denhampc.co.uk). We also held an open evening in the Parish Office where we dis played larger maps to allow you to see the ar eas the local plan re ferred to. We were quite pleased that we had or ganised this as over fifty residents attended. In conjunction with Ac tive Bucks we are orga nizing some Yoga and Pilates sessions, these are suitable for all ages and beginners. Cost for each session is £2 with the first session free so come along and meet new friends. Every Fri day starting 6th May from 11.30–12.30 at St Marks Church Hall, UB9 12

5HT and every Monday starting 9th May from 2.30–3.30 at New Den ham Community Centre, UB9 4DW. Mats will be provided. To book contact Leon on 01895 837334 leon.ppplewell@gll.org. We would like to say a warm welcome to our new Rector, Christoph Lindner, whom many of you have now met. On Monday 25th April we will be holding our Annual Parish Meeting and hope you will attend. The meeting will be held at the Denham Country Park Visitor Centre at 6pm FREE PARKING FOR MEETING. We will have reports on the ex citing developments cur rently happening at the Country Park, an HS2 update and the Parish Council’s response to the emerging South Bucks and Chiltern Local Area Plan Review. On Sunday 1st May we will be holding our An

nual ‘ Be atin g t he Bounds’ when we walk the Parish Boundary. This year we will walk the boundary starting at Tatling End Play Area, Gladwins Wood, M40, Field Road, finally finish ing back at Tatling End Play Area for tea & bis cuits. This ancient tradi tion dates back to medie val times and has been an annual event in Den ham since 1992. It was partly designed to rein force the parish bounda ries to children from gen eration to generation. It is traditional to (gently) bang the head of chil dren on the parish boundary. An event for the whole family that will be led by Paul Graham, previous Parish Clerk. For more information e m a i l u s a t clerk@denhampc.co.uk Marilyn Heath Chairman, Denham Parish Council    

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Finance 

Don’t be Taken In By The Pension Scammers By Ann Haldon unscrupulous individuals and criminal groups are taking advantage of a lack of regulation within the industry, plus an uncertainty about how best to invest such a large amount of money.

Since new pension regulations were introduced in 2015, conmen have been using the new freedoms to target people approaching retirement. One of the scams involves telling those under the age of 55 that a ‘legal loophole’ allows them access to their full pension, with no requirement to pay tax on the money withdrawn (in reality, a rate of up to 55%). Pension monies are then moved into an alternative scheme run by the fraudsters, with savings either being stolen or severely diminished after extortionate charges are made for the ‘service’. To make matters worse, HM Revenue and Customs has been sending out bills to reclaim tax on the amounts withdrawn, leaving victims of the scam with no pension savings and in large-scale debt in some cases. How can tHe conmen operate so effectively? Although younger people are a clear target for pension scammers, those aged 55 and over are also under threat. With no restrictions on how pension savings can be used, 14

Inefficient systems also form part of the problem, enabling conmen to set up these rogue pension schemes. HM Revenue and Customs are not pension regulators, but having introduced a ‘fit and proper person’ test in 2014, they have at least attempted to control the potential for fraudulent activity. HMRC has the power to deregister or refuse to register a new pension scheme, but some have said they should take more responsibility for what is happening to victims, rather than chasing them for tax payments. wHat exactly are tHe new pension freedoms? There’s no longer a requirement to buy an annuity with your pension savings in order to fund retirement, although it is still an option. Some people choose a staged income drawdown, which involves purchasing stocks and shares and cashing them in over a period of time. Others prefer to invest in property at home or abroad, earning an income from renting out their investment, and benefiting from the increase in its capital value. People searching for the best return on their pension savings are now more vulnerable to conmen,

however, especially in an industry with such complex products. watcH out for tHese common pHrases used By tHe scammers Specific phrases have been used by conmen to garner interest in their schemes, and to motivate their victims into taking action. They include: • ‘legal loophole’ to avoid paying tax on pension withdrawals if you’re under 55 • ‘sophisticated investor’ • suggesting you invest in an ‘alternative’ area or those ‘not traditionally available’ • ‘free pension review’ or a ‘free transfer of your pension pot’ By telling you about a free pension or government review, scammers may be attempting to obtain personal and financial information. ‘Guaranteed level of investment’ is also a phrase to watch out for, as are timelimited offers and any form of pressure to make you sign quickly, i.e. before you’re able to access other professional advice. project Bloom taskforce A new taskforce has been set up by the government and the National Crime Agency to combat the problem of pension fraud. A ‘perfect storm’ of new pension regulations, lack of awareness about where to reinvest, and the fact that large sums of money are involved, has enabled scammers to get away with too many sophisticated cons.

It’s hoped that Project Bloom will bring awareness to the issue, however, and specific advice is offered to anyone concerned about their pension. You need to be wary of: • Anyone offering a ‘free pension review’ or access to your pension pot if you’re under the age of fifty-five • Offers of help to obtain a pension statement, or to provide a tracing service for lost pensions • An alternative investment product for your pension pot that seems too good to be true The Pensions Advisory Service provides free advice if you’re worried about potential scams, or to discuss your pension options in general. a sopHisticated approacH One of the problems is that scammers set up sophisticated

be able to gain access to your Martin’s Carpet  personal information in this  you way, and then contact Cleaning Company directly via phone or email. 

systems and procedures that include glossy brochures and polished, well-rehearsed speeches. This makes the entire con appear legitimate unless you’re aware that this type of fraud is taking place.

offering free advice. They may

It pays to check the web address you’re typing in very carefully, to ensure that the site is legitimate and not part of the fraudsters’ arsenal of tricks.

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Bringing awareness of what’s happening is key to combating crimes like this, and hopefully Project Bloom will help to • Carpets dry in 1 to 2 hours prevent more people suffering http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/ the devastating loss of their • Upholstery money/investing-pensions/ Cleaning retirement income. pension-liberation-scam• Leather Cleaning • Rug Cleaning Those involved in Project victims-facing-huge-tax-billsBloom include the National 11364036908047 Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Safe and Non toxic eco friendly Office, HMRC, The Pensions http://www.thisismoney. cleaning solutions Regulator, the Financial co.uk/money/pensions/articleConduct Authority, and the Satisfaction guaranteed OR you 3419232/Should-pensionDepartment for Work and scam-victims-let-tax-bills.html pay NOTHING Pensions. watcH out for fake weBsites Fraudsters are even setting up fake websites with names very similar to legitimate bodies

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WORLD BOOK DAY at ST. HELEN’S COLLEGE 

Pupils and staff at St. Helen’s College primary school in Parkway, Hillingdon have had a colourful  and educational time celebrating World Book Day rd today (Thursday, 3 March 2016). Pupils were encouraged to dress as characters from the clas sics, and there were plenty of characters from books such as Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. There was even a (female) Hamlet! Several of the children from Years 2 to 6 stood up spontaneously during assemblies and spoke as their characters, including Hamlet delivering some of the famous ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ soliloquy!

game of croquet during their PE lesson to extend the Alice in Wonderland theme! A superb day was had by everyone, with pupils really benefiting from discussion of the stories they and their friends love. The children also brought in good quality second hand books for a huge school wide book swap.

Mrs. Savage, English Coordinator, said, ‘We love World Book Day here at St. Helen’s College and enjoy taking the opportunity to stretch the children’s imaginations even further, introducing them to books they might not otherwise discover, and bring Visiting author Marcia Williams ran workshops with ing their learning to life with costumes, assemblies children throughout the school, and Oak Farm Li and workshops’. brary visited the very youngest children in Nursery for story time. There were World Book Daythemed assemblies and an ‘Extreme Reading’ photo com petition, for which pupils had to send in photo graphs of themselves reading in extreme places. The children sent photographs of themselves read ing in trees, in museums, while on pogo sticks, while washing up and many more. One of the most amazing was this photograph of Jasmine (Year 2) reading underwater! Some classes enjoyed a ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’, during which they promoted books which they had read and enjoyed, and catering staff themed the lunch time service around Alice in Wonderland too, with ‘Eat Me’ and ‘Drink Me’ signs and colourful cupcakes on offer for dessert, served by The White Rabbit! Pupils from every class at Upper School visited Lower School children as ‘reading buddies’ and read to them, which was a super experience for both age groups. Year 6 even participated in a

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APRIL EVENTS Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

 5th - 9th April

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Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, UB10 8PD. Clifford Hume is starring as the Queen of Hearts in the newly refurbished theatre. For tickets and more info 01895 250615 or visit www.hillingdontheatres.uk Ruislip Stamp Fair 9th April The Ruislip Methodist Church Hall, Ickenham Road, HA4 7DG. For details call 01895 637283.

Local Events April 2016 20

Swim-a-thon in aid of Michael Sobell Hospice 17th April, 9.15am-12.30pm St Helen’s School, Northwood. Support your local hospice join our first ever Swima-thon. Free entry and free parking. Details from Laura Kaye 01923 844906 or e: lkaye@michael sobellhospice.co.uk

Ickenham & Swakeleys Horticultural Society Spring Show 9th April, from 2.30pm Ickenham Village Hall, UB10 8FU. Free entry to see stunning spring flowers and enjoy teas and homemade cakes For more details visit the website www.ickenham-horticultural.org.uk and tweet @IckenhamGarden. Hillingdon Canal Club Talk 12th April Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX. Andrew Taylor, Waterways Chaplaincy – talks about ‘The Role of the Waterways Chaplaincy’. Email: middlesex.socials @waterways.org.uk for details. HUBB Business Breakfast Event 14th April, 8am-9.30am Bay Lodge, 36 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PH. Networking in partnership with the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. In this presentation : ‘Living & Working with Autism’. To book email: helen.thompson@wardwilliams.co.uk or visit : www.wardwilliams.co.uk The Hardy Plant Society Middlesex Group Plant Sale 16th April, 10am-2pm The Community Hut (previously Manor Farm Hall), St. Martin’s Car Park, Ruislip, HA4 8BD. Free entry. A fine selection of both usual and unusual plants which you will not find in garden centres. Advice available if required. Contact Brian Franklin on 01923 236043 or go to our website www.hardy-plant-middlesex.org.uk

Lunchtime Classical Music Concert 27th April, 12.15pm. St Martin’s Church Hall, corner Eastcote Road and High Street, HA4 6DG. Valentin Schiedermair (Piano).

Veterans Breakfast Club 30th April The Good Yarn pub, High Street, Uxbridge. All Veterans and Military personnel welcome.

ADVANCE NOTICES Uxbridge Choral Society & Aylesbury Choral Society 22nd May, 7pm Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Botwell Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2AB. Together performing Verdi’s ‘Requiem’. Tickets: £12 (under 12’s £6) on the door or from www.uxbridgechoralsociety.org.uk Ladies in the Night Walk 10th June, Walk starts 10pm Register for the 6th Annual Michael Sobell Hospice ‘Ladies Night Walk’ (sponsored by Savills Eastate Agents) online at www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk or call 0203 826 2367 for an entry form and join us for this fantastic community event.

LIVE MUSIC EVENTS The Swan at Iver 2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG. 2nd April Michael Bublé tribute 8th April Solace 15th April The Flyers 22nd April 2 Tone show 29th April Introducing ‘Neighbourhood Noise’ The WatersEdge Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. 29th April The Ramblers The Whip & Collar Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HU. 29th April Mark Kelly, from 9.15pm

Please send us your details to be included in the May issues by Friday 15th April.

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Home & Interiors Denham Against HS2

HOAC  Puts a Brave Face on Proposed Move  from Hillingdon to Denham Planning A Master Bedroom By Katherine Sorrell Ever since the first, alarming map of the proposed High Speed Two (HS2) route between London and Birmingham was published five years ago, it’s been clear that HOAC, the Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, off Harvil Road between Harefield and Ruislip, was in serious trouble. The plans showed the 45-acre sailing lake virtually cut in half by a viaduct running between the edge of London and the Colne Valley Country Park.

a partition.

While all this was going on, HOAC and HS2 were escape technology scouring the areaWe for can’t alternative sites, and from a dozen or so possibilities they identified anywhere, and althoughDenham Quarry, a swathe of watery, gravel-rich land watching TV is not necessarily presently under excavation, mile beyond conducivehalf to aa good night’s the Denham roundabout on the Slough.idea to sleep it isroad still to a lovely

include a TV in the bedroom –

“We wouldn’t choose to move,” said Jeff Creak, a languorous Sunday HOAC’s Principal,ideal at a for recent presentation, “but if lie-in with croissants, this can be done morning in the timescale, it gives HOAC a newspaper. future. No jobs willcoffee be lost.and Weacan survive.” If you

don’t want to look at a blank

If HOAC’s planning application is the approved screen the rest of time, by Bucks County Council, centre manufacturers would move from fitted the furniture Harvil Road to Denham duringcupboards the winter of 2017, can provide from and open for business the following April with all its which TVs pop up or slide out, present facilities intact. In addition to a ‘main’ sailing music specialists offerat a lake there’d be awhile separate rowing lake, and sleek and goodcost of £35 millionallallsorts their of other facilities would be looking speakers and sound transplanted or rebult, including their high ropes, will track. probably low ropes, caving systems. system andYou karting

also want a place to connect

Computerised ‘fly-through’ shows HOAC’s lake and outbuildings directly in the path of HS2

The downside is and thatsite theanew HOAC woulda no landline phone, longer receive its small annualdesk grantonfrom Hillingdon. which to pop No financial assistance is likely to be forthcoming your computer, e-reader orfrom South Bucks District Council. “We’ll have to run a tablet, and somewhere to plug tighter ship, said Jeff Creak, “but the lack of these in the a charger for your mobile. funds doesn’t mean centre can’t survive.”

Even in a bedroom, you can’t

for example, with aWe bedside Your bedroom is a highly have many plugwell, sockets. wish Jeff and the too HOAC team but we each to up hope that the House of Lords will personal but ifthat youHOACtable haven’t given The line of thespace, viaduct meant would no side; remember Luxurious, wall-to-wall carpet allow enough space (experts take a more favourable view of the simple and longer viable, and the historic Dew’s are be considering selling, or Farmhouse is always a good idea for a 450mm) sensible proposal of an environmentally friendly next door would have to be destroyed. recommend at least simply want to enhance master bedroom, purecould Valley tunnel, in which case and HOAC around the bed to Colne give you yourwhich property’s value in stay exactly wherenew it is. wool has just the right HOAC, hosts tens of thousands of sportsroom to change the sheets. warm, soft, snuggly-toe feel. orientated visitors every year,also lies within Hillingdon the long term, you’ll To create calm and order Choose a high quality underlay Borough Council, which owns need to design it so it the land and has HS2try‘Information inand Denham whilegrant, minimising clutter, helped keep the Centre afloat with an annual for extraDay’ bounce softness. has general appeal, currently about £55,000. A says year ago, the Council as much storage to include That said, you could combine HS2 Ltd is staging a presentation at the Katherine Sorrell.plan for this section produced an alternative of can the squeeze in. A as you heating on withSaturday Memorial Hall inunderfloor Denham Village line, proposing a tunnel under the lakes instead of a of fitted wardrobes, th whole wall wooden boards 16 April. This engineered follows similar well-attended Your immediately first consideration when viaduct overhead. Hillingdon calculated events before Easter at Chalfont Giles, with well thought-out internal and beautiful rugs for St a more planning master bedroom, that the extraa expense of a tunnel would be about Ickenham, and Newlook Denham. HS2 staff and divisions, is a HOACtraditional with plenty large or small, should always £175 million, and presented a petition todrawers the House will can field about of character – and engineering, still enjoy great for option, and you add questions of be Commons Committee a comfort.Select Zone the space appealing construction, property and how the local warmth underfoot. The latter free-standing pieces such as change of heart from the planners. according to how you use it – environment would be affected by the option,1though onlythrough possiblethe chests of drawers construction and blanket of Phase sleeping, dressing, exercising, of the line Dozens of other petitioners, includingboxes Denham if you are undertaking majorand for character and checking your laptop, reading Colne Valley. The event starts at 11am Against HS2, asked for the same thing, but theGiven enough floor renovations, will also save the flexibility. finishes at 4pm. The more local people who turn – and, if it helps, draw a Select Committee turned down our appeals, largely space would have been up, the more HS2 and that the government will get space, it may also be possible scaled plan of the room so on the grounds of cost. In the context of the overall the message that we caretaken passionately otherwise up with aabout to create play around the will exceed billyou for can HS2, which we with believe £80a separate dressing the futureaof our radiator. neighbourhood. area,Valley using a tall bedhead, layout. nice toextra havecost yourof a Colne billion, theIt’s marginal tunnel seemed a small to pay bookcase for all the or wide wardrobe as bedhead opposite theprice window, Well-designed lighting is advantages it would bring. Frank Partridge, Denham Against HS2 22

an asset in any room, and the master bedroom is no different. A central pendant is fine for general, overhead light, but you can be more creative elsewhere by adding wall-mounted reading lights beside the bed, a bright, adjustable light above your dressing table and perhaps a table lamp or two to create a gentle glow. Such layers of light will provide a pleasing ambience and give you great flexibility. Conversely, for Before restful darkness while you are sleeping, ensure your curtains have a good blackout lining, or else choose well-fitting shutters – which will help block out noise, too. The days of carefully matched bed linen and window treatments are long gone, yet it is still important to get this combination right. When the bed is plain, some pattern

at the window is lovely, and vice versa – simply avoid two patterns that clash. Plain curtains can look absolutely beautiful if made from a generous amount of fabric, hung from a pole with pretty finials at the ends, and finished with an edging of ruffles or a contrast border. If privacy is a problem, it may be necessary to add sheer or lace curtains, either full-length or covering the bottom half of the window only. Considering adding an ensuite? Once a luxury, these days they are virtually a necessity, and will certainly make your home more saleable – and may even add value, too. If you have enough room for a walk-in wardrobe, there’s probably enough space to convert to an en-suite, though if you want a proper bath you’ll need to allow a

little more room. Alternatively, you could knock through and steal a little space from an  adjacent room. When space is tight, compact fittings can be effective, but do make sure they are practical for regular use. While any arrangement is possible in theory, the least expensive place to install an en-suite bathroom is close to other plumbing, particularly the soil pipe. And, because the room leads directly off the bedroom, install low-noise sanitaryware and lights on dimmers, with a high-powered extractor fan that’s controlled separately from the light.

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Beauty 

  Spring Is In The Air  by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk Spring is a great time to  clear out the makeup bag (or  overflowing cupboard in my case) and treat yourself to  a few new goodies.

How pretty is this new palette from Paul & Joe? Teaming an eye shadow duo with a powder blush, the palette is available in two shades: Papillons de Printemps and Floral Nectar (pictured). Retailing at £28 each, they’re not cheap, but the colours are easy to apply and you’ll be the envy of the other bathroom mirror hoggers on a night out. If you really want to splash out, Paul & Joe have also released some new lipsticks, in three vibrant spring shades. Many people find that they need to buy a new foundation for spring/ summer, as their skin loses its winter hibernation paleness. (Or that’s my excuse anyway.) The 26

new Aqua Glow Serum Foundation by Stila combines foundation with a treatment serum. It gives great, natural looking coverage, while hydrating and softening skin. 94% of testers reported dramatically improved skin tone. If you can’t wait to take your makeup off at the end of the day because your face feels dry and uncomfortable, you need to try this foundation. It contains hyaluronic acid and other ingredients that help to keep skin hydrated for up to 12 hours after applying it. Available in 10 shades, the Aqua Glow Serum Foundation retails at £34.50. If your hair is looking a little ‘meh’, but there’s still weeks to go until your next trip to the salon, try a KC Color Mask. Available in 14 shades, including platinum, golden copper, plum and coffee, these masks revitalise coloured hair. A small amount helps to maintain the hair colour and add brightness, while a larger amount can deepen the colour intensity. Just apply to freshly washed hair, comb through, leave for up to ten minutes and wash out. They’re particularly useful

for toning down brassy tones in blonde hair, and giving depth to darker shades. The masks also contain Pro-Vitamin B5 and keratin derivative, to help repair the cuticle. Prices start from under £5. Spring demands a lighter, fresher fragrance, and Yardley London has just released the perfect one. English Daisy is reminiscent of a wildflower meadow – floral, but not too sweet. It’s unashamedly girly, with notes including hyacinth and white rose, warmed with sandalwood and musk. And, at just £19.99 for 50ml, it’s a bit of a bargain. Team it with the English Daisy body lotion, £6.50 and embrace the warmer weather.

I’m finding that the sun’s reappearance means it’s a lot easier to drag the kids out for a walk (although it’ll be a while before  we’re out of our wellies I reckon). Along with wet wipes and plasters, the one thing I always take with me is Pure & Light Organic’s Essential Family on-the-Go Cream. It’s packed with plant-derived vitamins, and helps to treat everything from insect bites and bruises to eczema. The 18 natural active ingredients include soothing calendula, hydrating shea butter and nourishing avocado. Priced at £15, it’s available from www. pureandlightorganic.eu and www.lovelula.co.uk.

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

The RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston and District Branch Registered Charity No: 263515

Thank you for your support . We can’t do it without you!

It is with great sadness we have to TINY TIM & TINA 12 WEEKS OLD announce that our Crescent Parade This adorable pair actually came to us separately. furniture and children’s shop will be Tiny Tim was found in a back garden and Tina was closing by the end of June this year. an unwanted pet, at such a young age these ador

able kittens are looking for a forever home. They do love each other’s company and they can be a Our fashion and general shop further along the bit mischievous, but they love a fuss and the atten parade at no 12/13 will be staying very much open, tion. Could you offer this lovely pair a forever extending its rear area to accommodate children’s home? wear and electrical. Furniture will transfer to our large Ashford Middlesex store. Bringing a new kitten home is exciting, but it’s a big commitment. You’re providing a cat with a loving It has been impossible to make ends meet of late home for the next 14+ years of their life. They on the furniture, very labour and vehicle intensive need lots of time and attention so the decision to and competition with corporate discount stores get a new feline family member should never be hard to compete with. Profits have dropped and taken lightly. the sad decision not to renew the lease has been reached by the Trustees. Wherever your kitten comes from, it should be sociable and brighteyed with no visible health There will be a limit to the amount of children’s problems. A kitten also shouldn’t be taken away toys and clothes we will be able to accept – any from their mother until they are eight or nine weeks ideas welcome!! old. Getting your girl cat spayed protects her from getting pregnant, your cat will need to go the vet to We would love to hear from anyone willing to offer have a simple operation called spaying. It’s impor some voluntary hours in our main shop on Cres tant to have her spayed before she is fourmonths cent Parade, anything from 2.5 hour shifts. old to protect her from getting pregnant while she's still a kitten herself. You may have heard that it’s Our charity shops are our lifeline to animal welfare, good for cats to have a litter of kittens before they without the income from our shops we would not are spayed  but this isn’t true. Once she has been be able to help the 10k+ animals that come spayed your kitten will be able to do all the things through the Hillingdon clinic each year. Local ani cats enjoy doing, like going outdoors, climbing mals rely on the success of these shops so any trees and playing. help anyone could offer would be appreciated. If you think you can offer one of our animals a In the interim period the furniture shop will only be loving home then please ring RSPCA Hillingdon open occasionally as voluntary staff are available. Branch on 01895 833417 or visit our website Many thanks for your understanding and support. www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk to download an application form 28

  



Gadgets For The Indoor Gardener

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You don’t need to get dirty to grow great things

Spring has sprung and it’s gardening season. But not everybody has a garden or access to decent growing space - and even if you do have the space, the recent stormy weather has been enough to keep all but the most determined gardener indoors. Don’t despair, though: there are plenty of gadgets that enable you to grow great things indoors or when you have limited space for green things. There are even tools to design gardens that don’t exist. If you’re also a keen cook, you’ll like the Indoor Allotment (£24.99, currently on preorder at Firebox.com): it’s a miniature herb garden complete with picket fence and storage shed. It includes basil, coriander and oregano along with everything you need to get your herbs growing - and it’s small enough to fit in the corner of a windowsill. If you fancy something a little bit more ambitious, IKEA’s Socker miniature greenhouse is just £12 with an assembled size of 45cm wide, 22cm deep and 35cm high, which is more than enough for all kinds of plants. You can also keep the roof vents partly open to improve air circulation for plants that don’t like it too hot. 30

While you’re in IKEA, it’s worth checking out their self-watering plant pots too. The Sötcitron and PS Fejö pots (from £6 to £16) are designed for those of us who don’t always remember to water our plants, and do a superb job for very little money. Fancy something a little more high-tech? The Click and Grow (€59.95 from clickandgrow.com) describes itself as a “smart garden” and uses a NASA-inspired combination of hydroponics and electronics to ensure that your plants get the right combination of water, oxygen and nutrients without you doing anything. It includes a LED lamp for maximum germination, and because it’s LED the running costs are microscopic. The creators suggest growing petunias, tomatoes, chillies, basil or thyme but it should be able to handle anything that isn’t too large. If you’ve got green fingered children, the Chuppon selfwatering animal planter (£9.99) should delight them: it’s a ceramic animal with a herb basket on its back and a straw that sips from any glass or mug. There are four animals and four herbs to choose from, although of course you can put your own herbs in instead.

Even the smartphone has made its presence felt in the world of gardening, and there are lots of apps and devices for indoor and outdoor gardening. One of the cleverest devices is the Parrot Flower Power, a wireless device that sits in your plant pot and monitors the plant’s health, sending alerts to your phone. It’s available for Apple and Android phones, measures sunlight, temperature, fertiliser and moisture, and it currently costs £42. That’s probably a bit steep if you’re growing cress, but if you’ve got something exotic or temperamental it could be a very wise investment indeed. There’s another type of digital gardening you can do, and that’s to create a virtual one in your computer - something you can do just for fun, or to plan what you’ll do to a real garden space. There are many garden planning apps to choose from, including My Garden (free from www.gardena.com/uk) and Marshalls Garden Visualiser (free from www.marshalls. co.uk). Happy gardening! Images L to R: Indoor Allotment; Chuppon selfwatering animal planter; Parrot Flower Power; Click and Grow Smart Garden.

      



  Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning     

Golden Years 

The cleverest inventions often fail at what they’re intended to do but then go on to succeed brilliantly elsewhere. I could write a list, but seeing that 6th April 1966 is perhaps the most significant date in its history, let’s focus on one outstanding example: the hovercraft. We tend to think of the hovercraft as a product of our own age, and indeed it is; but the advantages of minimizing or even eliminating contact between hull and water have long been obvious. The first patent in hovercraft design was taken out by John Thornycroft (as in Vosper Thornycroft) way back in 1877 - but his was the age of steam, and no suitable engine existed. Once petrol engines were available, designers became interested in contactless or reduced-contact motorboats again - but now their inspiration was aviation technology, and between 1915 and 1940 prototypes of various steppedhull and hydroplane coastal craft were built in Austro-Hungary, Finland, the USSR, the USA amongst others. World War II put a stop to these developments, but in the 1950s a Norfolk boatbuilder, Christopher Cockerell, decided to revisit Thorneycroft’s patent. Light but powerful engines were plentiful, and Cockerell was also able to design a way of swirling the air cushion on which his 32

hovercraft would ride that made it more efficient still. At last, a craft that would rise clear out of the water! Cockerell’s design won the support of the National Research Development Council, which licensed his 1955 patent to a number of builders including Saunders-Roe; and on 11th June 1959 the four-seater 28mph SR-N1 (Saunders Roe Nautical 1) was launched. The craft was then shipped to Calais and on 25th July made the first Channel crossing by hovercraft. It wasn’t the first into service, though – that honour went to the rival Vickers-Armstrong 3, which started a scheduled ferry service across the Dee between Rhyl and Wallasey in July and August 1962. The second, launched in the same year, used a new Saunders-Roe hovercraft, SRN2, to cross the Solent between Ryde and Southsea – a service that still runs today, albeit with rather more modern craft! But the Channel was the challenge, both technically and commercially. It was open sea, the weather could be rough, and hovercraft had not so far proved themselves terribly robust (the VA-3’s career was ended by a storm). But the potential pickings were rich: international travel was becoming more affordable and more popular, and Dover and Folkestone were at full stretch. So, on that April day 50 years ago, the 38-seater SR-N6 raised itself up on its rubber skirt (an improvement designed not by Cockerell but by a naval officer called LatimerNeedham), trundled down the Ramsgate beach that would be the service’s home for the next 16 years, and set off on

the 40-minute, 35-mile journey to Calais. Connecting coaches would take passengers on to Paris for £3.7s.6d or Brussels for £2.7s.6d. Cheaper and faster they might be, but cross-Channel hovercraft never really challenged the ferry’s supremacy. Like the British airliners, the Trident and the VC-10, there wasn’t enough demand for them to justify a permanent production line: the later models even had to cannibalise each other for spare parts. The oil crisis of the early ‘70s made them less competitive; the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 proved a fatal blow. The last two were retired in September 2000, just a year after the death of their inventor. Hovercraft are, of course, still in use around the world as coastal search and rescue vessels, as military transport and assault craft, as buses using frozen Alaskan rivers in winter, although they’ve never eclipsed conventional vessels as was once hoped. But the field in which they have proved most successful is one that Cockerell probably never expected: gardening. For in 1964 a Swedish engineer, Karl Dahlman, saw an early hovercraft in action...and invented the Flymo.

Happy 50tH BirtHdays to

Chris Evans (1st), Teddy Sheringham (2nd), Lisa Stansfield (11th), and Phil Tufnell (29th)

Cake and botox to you all!

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

Pork Jambalaya  

Serves 4

Ready in 55 minutes  Cooked in just one pan and on the table in less than an hour this is a great midweek family supper. Serve with garlic bread or a mixed green salad, if liked.

Ingredients: • 1 tbsp groundnut oil • 100g chorizo sausage, sliced • 350g pork loin steaks, cut into chunks • 1 onion, peeled and chopped • 3 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed • 2 tsp smoked paprika, plus extra for sprinkling • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning • 225g easy-cook long grain rice • 700ml vegetable stock • 100g fine green beans, chopped • 1 large yellow pepper, deseeded and diced

TIP

You can replace the pork in this recipe with diced chicken breast fillet or boneless thigh fillets. Alternatively use large raw king prawns and add them to the pan in step 4 and cook until pink. 36

Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the chorizo over a high heat until golden and the fat starts to run. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Add the diced pork to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time until browned. Remove and set aside with the chorizo. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and fry the onion, celery and garlic for 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Stir in the spices and rice and cook, stirring, over a medium heat for 2 minutes then pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Return the pork to the pan and cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chorizo, green beans and yellow pepper into the pan and cook, uncovered, for a further 6-7 minutes until the rice and vegetables are tender, adding a little more stock if necessary. Serve sprinkled with a little more smoked paprika and freshly ground black pepper.

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Answers pg 43

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Range Rover on Test By James Baggott Finding Nemo could work his fishy magic at keeping the Are We Nearly There Yets at bay until at least Dover.

It’s the dreaded question that anyone even remotely connected to cars fears more than any other: what’s your favourite car? But finally I might have the answer: the Range Rover. Not the Sport or Evoque but the good old fashioned, full fat Rangie. A looming family holiday looming involving a 1,500-mile trip gave the perfect excuse to borrow the car, and after two 13-hour shifts behind the wheel I can honestly say there’s nothing else I’d rather have been in. Here’s why. First, it’s super comfortable. The front seats in our Range Rover were heated and cooled and had more adjustments than a home hi-fi amplifier from the 1980s. The huge armchair like seats with cushioned headrests never dulled a muscle and left us with no aches and pains. With a five-year-old on board, the £7,300 entertainment pack (yes, you read that right) was a blessing. Two 10.2-inch rear screens and wireless headphones meant 40

The multimedia system might be showing its age a little but it works well. It takes seconds to hook your phone up for music streaming, the satnav might look a little dated but it got us to France, Switzerland and home without fail and it’s simple to set a DVD running for the rear occupants while listening to Dad FM in the front. Then there’s the size – I know Range Rovers are massive, but when it comes to getting a ski trip’s worth of luggage inside, it coped admirably. Despite using up the entire boot space there was ample room inside – enough to curl up for a snooze in the back and enjoy the equally cosseting rear seats when my wife drove. For its size it’s no slouch. Our test car had the delightful 4.4-litre SDV8. Despite only returning 26mpg, with a top speed of 135mph and a 060mph time of 6.8 seconds, it’s brisk enough for French Autoroutes. It piles on speed in a smooth and linear fashion, quietly and without fuss, whilst adding to the feeling of luxury travel. However, what really sets the Range Rover apart are the

little touches. Things like the soft-close doors, the illuminated logos projected onto the floor by the wing mirrors at night, and the front seat armrests that adjust to the perfect height. I love the fridge in the centre console, the cameras all around the car that make it a doddle to park, and the split tailgate that automatically opens and closes at the touch of a button. But above all it’s the fact that despite all this luxury and Rolls Royce-rivaling opulence, it’s still so utterly capable off road. As we arrived in Villars, Switzerland, the snow was falling heavily and cars were being abandoned up the mountain as snow chains failed to do their jobs. But not the Range Rover. A flick of the all terrain response button to its Snow & Ice setting and away we went. So there you have it. The one car I would buy if I had to live it with it for the rest of my life. Just as long as I could afford the £109,710 for the pleasure…

The Knowledge Model: Range Rover Autobiography Price: £109,710 (with options) Engine: 4.4-litre SDV8 Power: 339bhp / 740Nm 0-60mph: 6.8seconds Top Speed: 135mph CO2: 219g/km Economy: 33.6mpg

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Beauty

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Beyond this palatial treasurefilled interior, the Habsburg displayed their wealth and power in extensive grounds, from the botanical garden and Europe’s oldest zoological to park to the orangerie, the palm house and the English

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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2016 13:18 Page 1

THE WILDLIFE ZONE

MARTLETS  

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.

SOME animals such as eagles, lions and boar, as well as mythical beasts such as martlets and unicorns were used in medieval heraldry. The little known martlet was depicted as a mysterious bird that had no feet but was believed to be fast and elegant in the air. A notable user of the martlet was the Earl of Pembroke family that included Aymer de Valence and his wife Marie de Saint Pol. The martlet had qualities that this aristocratic family claimed for themselves and displayed it for society to admire. As tradition indicated, when Marie de St Pol founded Pembroke College, Cambridge on Boxing Day, 1347, she gave the institution the family name and coat of arms. Since then the martlet has represented a ‘constant quest for knowledge, learning and adventure’; traits that Pembroke College still value today. Quite incredibly, some of us can attract the natural birds represented by the mythical martlet into our gardens, or at least see them flying overhead. The martlet was the medieval name for the swift, and a general description for swallows and martins. This trio of birds had things in common, which is why they were grouped together. For example, they are seen in the warmer months between April and September; then they migrate fly to their African feeding grounds. Many people want to know why these birds fly these fantastic distances, making huge efforts to overcome all of the dangers that they must face. It is an incredible phenomenon, bearing in mind that many of them simply cannot and do not survive such ordeals. The most popular theory held by scientists is that these treks are a left over from the Ice Age. Whilst the world was different then, there should be some present day environmental similarities from which the birds can benefit. The African winter has warmer months, bringing with it greater supplies of insects. Consequently these three species still gain more from their migration to the tropics than wintering in the cold British Isles. How these birds migrate is another fascinating subject, and many concepts abound. It is likely that they begin their migration by calculating the hours of Autumnal daylight as well as gauging the changing weather with internal natural barometers. After embarkation from the British countryside they use the Earth’s magnetic field as well as the sun, moon and stars to steer themselves onto their traditional migration routes. Directing themselves to their own particular territories and nests, individuals may well also design their own natural history maps by using landmarks such as coastlines, rivers, forests and mountains. Since the c18th taxonomists such as the Linnaen Society has discontinued the medieval martlet grouping and has categorised swifts in their own family. The smaller swallows and martins however, have been classified as hirundines. The larger, brown coloured swifts, only feed in the air, using their scythe shaped wings to catch flying insects high in the sky loftily gliding and wheeling in ways that are unmistakeable to the trained eye. Whilst they can be seen overhead at the Millstream Fork wildlife garden, they never settle to nest in the nearby trees or on the house. Their natural nesting sites are cliffs, although they do improvise with quarries, bridges and large, tall buildings. Swallows and martins often feed by skimming and rolling over rivers, ponds and lakes. But like swifts, they also need a lot of open space as their swoops and dives make turning and changing direction in close circles very difficult. I regularly see them soar over the nearby river catching fluttering insects in their wide trap-like gapes. However, they do not use the narrow tree-lined millstream, as overhanging branches could easily damage a wing and cause a horrible death from starvation. Swallows and house martins are often confused with each other because people usually get only fleeting glimpses of them before they flash out of focus. The swallow’s famous markings are its red face, metallic blue sheen and its forked tale with long distinctive streamers. Martins are not as colourful as swallows because rather like the larger swifts, they have only brown and white feathers together with a less pronounced V-shaped tail. At Millstream Fork, I saw swallows using one of the man-made double nest boxes that I had fixed directly under the eaves. I watched them clinging onto the nests with their unnoticeable feet, remaining perfectly still and perpendicular. I hoped that a family would fledge and return each and every year, as many have been known to do. Unfortunately this did not happen. Perhaps a predator such as a sparrowhawk killed them or they may have died from one of the lethal dangers that lurked in migration. Whilst these three bird species are relatively familiar, they still have some secrets from us, just as the heraldic martlet once had. Personally I look forward to when we can fully understand them, their habits of migration, and accept these animals for what they are – miracles of nature.

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Home & Interiors 

 Planning A Master Bedroom By Katherine Sorrell 

Your bedroom is a highly personal space, but if you are considering selling, or simply want to enhance your property’s value in the long term, you’ll also need to design it so it has general appeal, says Katherine Sorrell. Your first consideration when planning a master bedroom, large or small, should always be comfort. Zone the space according to how you use it – sleeping, dressing, exercising, checking your laptop, reading – and, if it helps, draw a scaled plan of the room so you can play around with the layout. It’s nice to have your bedhead opposite the window, 46

for example, with a bedside table each side; remember to allow enough space (experts recommend at least 450mm) around the bed to give you room to change the sheets. To create calm and order while minimising clutter, try to include as much storage as you can squeeze in. A whole wall of fitted wardrobes, with well thought-out internal drawers and divisions, is a great option, and you can add free-standing pieces such as chests of drawers and blanket boxes for character and flexibility. Given enough floor space, it may also be possible to create a separate dressing area, using a tall bedhead, a bookcase or wide wardrobe as

a partition. We can’t escape technology anywhere, and although watching TV is not necessarily conducive to a good night’s sleep it is still a lovely idea to include a TV in the bedroom – ideal for a languorous Sunday morning lie-in with croissants, coffee and a newspaper. If you don’t want to look at a blank screen the rest of the time, fitted furniture manufacturers can provide cupboards from which TVs pop up or slide out, while music specialists offer all sorts of sleek and goodlooking speakers and sound systems. You will probably also want a place to connect and site a landline phone, a small desk on which to pop your computer, e-reader or tablet, and somewhere to plug in a charger for your mobile. Even in a bedroom, you can’t have too many plug sockets. Luxurious, wall-to-wall carpet is always a good idea for a master bedroom, and pure new wool has just the right warm, soft, snuggly-toe feel. Choose a high quality underlay for extra bounce and softness. That said, you could combine underfloor heating with engineered wooden boards and beautiful rugs for a more traditional look with plenty of character – and still enjoy warmth underfoot. The latter option, though only possible if you are undertaking major renovations, will also save the space that would have been otherwise taken up with a radiator. Well-designed lighting is

L • • • • •

an asset in any room, and the master bedroom is no different. A central pendant is fine for general, overhead light, but you can be more creative elsewhere by adding wall-mounted reading lights beside the bed, a bright, adjustable light above your dressing table and perhaps a table lamp or two to create a gentle glow. Such layers of light will provide a pleasing ambience and give you great flexibility. Conversely, for restful darkness while you are sleeping, ensure your curtains have a good blackout lining, or else choose well-fitting shutters – which will help block out noise, too. The days of carefully matched bed linen and window treatments are long gone, yet it is still important to get this combination right. When the bed is plain, some pattern

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little more room. Alternatively, you could knock through and steal a little space from an adjacent room. When space  is tight, compact fittings can be effective, but do make sure they are practical for regular use. While any arrangement is possible in theory, the least expensive place to install an en-suite bathroom is close to other plumbing, particularly the soil pipe. And, because the room leads directly off the bedroom, install low-noise sanitaryware and lights on dimmers, with a high-powered extractor fan that’s controlled separately from the light. Image - Soft carpet, sumptuous curtains and a deeply buttoned headboard all add up to a sense of luxury. Huntington bed, £1,175, Sweetpea & Willow, tel 0345 257 2627; www.sweetpeaandwillow.com.

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Karen Munro Careers (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2016 14:45 Page 1

Karen Munro - Career Coach www.munrocareers.co.uk 

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Karen is a professional and qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer who provides support in all aspects of Career Development and Transition including effective CV Coaching, Interview Skills and Networking Techniques. A member of the Association of Coaching and registered with the Careers Professional Alliance, she works with both private and business clients around London and the South East who are looking for career change, direction, motivation and support. She works as an Associate Career Coach for a number of organisations including Right Management, Personal Career Management Ltd and is part of the MOD contract providing career support and guidance to Military Personnel transitioning in to civilian life. Karen contributes to ‘In and Around’ every month sharing her practical knowledge and wealth of experience with her local community.

Time for a change? SPRING is here and it’s that time of year when we all start updating things, such as spring cleaning our house, putting away all our winter clothes, throwing out our old and unwanted items, painting and redecorating in brighter and lighter colours. It’s time to shake away the winter, open up all the windows and let the sunshine in. It’s time to make changes. Change is a constant. It’s happening all around us. Change it good. At the end of last year I also considered what needed changing in my life. So, this year I set about winning and securing new business contracts, increasing my private coaching practice and on a more personal note, moving home (not too far though!). So, I am also going through a period of change and as I type this month’s article I am surrounded by packing boxes! Change can be a daunting prospect and it is often much easier for us to stick with the status quo and continue doing what we are doing and keep everything safe and within our own limits. However, if we never push ourselves to make change we can also become stale, de-motivated and we can lose our enthusiasm. Many companies who have not embraced change have ended up falling victim to it – a strong company will always be looking to change, grow and embrace new initiatives. It is therefore equally important we, as individuals do the same. Don’t allow change to become more of a challenge or a threat. Use it to achieve more and bring you new experiences and adventures. It is difficult to know what lies ahead and it can generate a credible fear of the unknown, which inevitably causes us to refuse to change at all. We even may rely on others to help us and tell us what to do. 50

“Find a job you love and you will never work again.” Winston Churchill

When coaching a client through career change one of the most important messages to relay is that change comes from within. It is never about someone telling someone what to do, what is right for them, or how they need to change. They have to want it and embrace it in order to create it. A good career coach will guide a client to help them find the answers they need themselves. They will empower the client to recognise what is important to them, what their values and strengths are and help them identify what change they want to make, no matter how big or small. So, remember, Spring is here – what changes are you going to make?

Karen

“unlocking your career potential”

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 Short Story  

Alpaca On The Line By Jackie Brewster “Once again we apologise for the delay.” Godfrey, trapped in a stuffy train carriage cluttered with empty food wrappers, rolled his eyes at the announcement. His wife, Betty, had gallantly joined the queue for the buffet, so now he was bored and had no one to entertain him. The young man opposite was absorbed in his Spycraft magazine, unconcerned that he was taking up all of Godfrey’s leg room. Godfrey had already noted from the badge pinned to the man’s shirt that his name was Daniel Goffin and that he’d been attending a first aid training course. He’d also observed from the reserved card in Daniel’s seat that they would only be sharing this table until the next station, which was of little comfort given that the train wasn’t even moving. “We are currently awaiting a farmer’s assistance to herd a stray alpaca off the line,” the announcement continued. Daniel looked up from his book. “What’s an alpaca?” he said to no one in particular. Godfrey smiled to himself. “Very good question,” Godfrey replied. “It’s interesting, isn’t it, how most people are unaware of real life espionage situations?” “Are they?” Daniel seemed amazed. “Very much so,” Godfrey continued. “I spent years in the Secret Service so I can always spot a code word when I hear it”. 52

“A code for what?” Daniel put down his magazine. “The ‘alpaca’ naturally refers to an agent on this very train who is in possession of top secret data,” he whispered. “’On the line’ means his cover’s been blown.” “Why would they announce it?” Daniel asked, dumbfounded. “That’s the interesting bit,” Godfrey said. He leaned in closer. “Now they need a ‘farmer’.” Daniel frowned. “A ‘farmer’, as that periodical you’re reading will no doubt tell you, is a civilian volunteer.” Godfrey scanned the carriage to see if anyone else was listening. “Their task is to collect the data and deposit it safely. It’s your classic dead drop.” “How?” Daniel had also started whispering. “The volunteer goes from table to table collecting up all the refuse into a special bag. It looks like a normal supermarket carrier bag but it is impregnated with a microscopic homing device.” “It’s amazing what they can do now,” Daniel said in awe. “Isn’t it just?” Godfrey agreed. “Then the bag must be placed in a rubbish bin at the next station.” Daniel looked staggered. “Why?” he said finally. “Because the agent will have placed the data in an empty coffee carton or something like that.” Godfrey tried to contain his exasperation.

“Why are you telling me this?” Daniel asked suspiciously. “Because Daniel Goffin,” Godfrey pulled a plastic bag out of his knapsack and slid it across the table, “you’ve been chosen.” “Why me?” “I believe they felt your first aid training might come in handy.” Daniel turned a shade of green. “Is there a reward?” he asked finally. “Surely serving your country is reward enough?” Godfrey said. “Think of it as a kind of jury service.” Daniel touched the carrier bag gingerly. “It’s your chance to be a hero,” Godfrey added magnificently. Daniel’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll do it.” He stood up decisively, bumping his head on the baggage rack. “Good man,” Godfrey said, “if anyone asks, this conversation never happened.” He watched him go just as Betty returned. “What’s that strange young man doing?” she said, handing him a packet of biscuits. “You’ve not been playing secret agents again have you? You did promise.” The train shunted into motion. “He’ll be alright,” Godfrey smiled, stretching out his legs. “I’ve just given him a little project to keep him busy.”

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Finance 

Don’t be Taken In By The Pension  Scammers By Ann Haldon

 

unscrupulous individuals and criminal groups are taking advantage of a lack of regulation within the industry, plus an uncertainty about how best to invest such a large amount of money.

systems and procedures that include glossy brochures and polished, well-rehearsed speeches. This makes the entire con appear legitimate unless you’re aware that this type of fraud is taking place.

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Bringing awareness of what’s happening is key to combating crimes like this, and hopefully Project Bloom will help to prevent more people suffering the devastating loss of their retirement income. Those involved in Project Bloom include the National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, HMRC, The Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Department for Work and Pensions. watcH out for fake weBsites Fraudsters are even setting up fake websites with names very similar to legitimate bodies

offering free advice. They may be able to gain access to your personal information in this way, and then contact you directly via phone or email. It pays to check the web address you’re typing in very carefully, to ensure that the site is legitimate and not part of the fraudsters’ arsenal of tricks. http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/ money/investing-pensions/ pension-liberation-scamvictims-facing-huge-tax-bills11364036908047 http://www.thisismoney. co.uk/money/pensions/article3419232/Should-pensionscam-victims-let-tax-bills.html http://www.thisismoney. co.uk/money/pensions/article3397828/Three-tell-tale-signsduped-pension-fraudsters.html

Older, But Not Always Wiser  

The main characters of these books may be in their twilight years, but they certainly aren’t content to sit back and spend their pensions on Werther’s Originals and bingo nights. With amateur sleuths, explosive experts and adventurers amongst them, they’ll keep you reading well past a sensible bedtime.

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Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey 82-year old Maud is determined to solve the mystery of where her best friend Elizabeth has disappeared to. While she’s at it, she’d also like to figure out what happened to her sister, who went missing more than 60 years ago. The problem is that Elizabeth has been getting a bit forgetful lately, and the clues keep getting muddled in her head. With twists and turns aplenty, you’ll be left guessing until the end. Definitely a ‘just one more chapter and then I’ll go to sleep’ kind of book. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper – Phaedra Patrick Arthur Pepper likes the quiet life, but that all changes when he discovers a charm bracelet hidden away in his late wife’s things. Arthur’s cross-country quest to discover the meaning of each of the charms sees him uncovering a side to his wife he never knew existed. But will his new found knowledge help him come to terms with her death, or forever taint his memories of her? A thoroughly enjoyable read, with great characters and a page-turning storyline, this is Phaedra Patrick’s debut novel, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see her on the bestseller lists very soon. 56

The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 – J.B. Morrison Being run over by a milk float wasn’t on Frank’s to-do list for the day, and he sure as heck isn’t going to let some interfering home-help try to baby him. Nope, he’s quite content on his own, with his cat Bill, his DVDs and a series of cold callers trying to sell him things he doesn’t need. But home-help Kelly Christmas proves rather more likeable than he expected, and he starts to realise that life can indeed begin again at 81. With his biting sense of humour, Frank will keep you laughing all the way through this immensely entertaining book. George’s Grand Tour – Caroline Vermalle When George tells people he’s going to do the Tour de France, some are rather concerned. He is, after all, 83. However, George has a slightly less taxing plan in mind; he’s going to do the Tour by car, with a friend. Agreeing to check in with his granddaughter, Adele, by text along the route, he sets off across the country. In the end, the journey may prove as lifechanging for Adele as it is for George, as she starts to really appreciate the man who, until now, has just been a name on her birthday cards.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry – Rachel Joyce Staid, reliable Harold lives with his wife Maureen in Devon. When Harold receives a letter from an old friend, Queenie, telling him she’s terminally ill, he pens a short reply and sets off to the post box. But his walk to the end of the road turns into a somewhat longer trip, as he decides to deliver the letter in person, and on foot. As he travels the long road north, both Harold and Maureen are given the time to look back on their long marriage, and figure out whether it can be saved. Beautifully written, and at times extremely poignant, this book is highly recommended. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson Allan has just about had enough of his care home, with its condescending manager, rubbish food and endless rules. So on his 100th birthday he makes his escape, in his slippers. After stealing a suitcase full of money, Allan begins a dash across country, picking up new friends as he goes (including an elephant called Sonya). As we learn of his extraordinary life, it becomes clear that there’s rather more to this centenarian than meets the eye, including a passion for explosives…

P H A

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 Go On,  Grow Your   Own! by Pippa Greenwood   

Enjoying a delicious meal which includes some home grown ingredients is a wonderful feeling – it fills you full of just the right sort of pride (and maybe even a little bit of smugness!). It simply feels good to indulge in a bit of Grow Your Own and then reap the rewards.

You may well have been sowing and potting on vegetables for a while now, but if you’re behind schedule or haven’t produced vegetables before, don’t panic – there’s still time to grow just about any crop in your plot this year. Most plants can be raised from seed now, but there are a few that are likely to give a much better yield with an earlier start. Instead, buy in plants of crops such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, chilli peppers, melons and aubergines over the next month or so. Some vegetables can be directly sown now into wellprepared garden soil in a suitable spot in all but the coolest gardens – beetroot, lettuce, beans, peas, carrots, rocket, spinach to name but a few. Slightly more tender crops such as sweetcorn, squash and courgettes fare better if given a bit of extra heat when you are 58

germinating the seeds, which is where an electrically heated propagator really comes into its own. The seedlings may then need pricking out and potting on until they are sturdy enough to live in the great outdoors, but try to ‘harden off’ the young plants before placing them into their final positions as they may be damaged by cold, wind or rain. Put the young plants outside on warm days once the weather has stabilised, and bring them back under cover at night. Leave them outside after a week or so, covering them with fleece at night to let them acclimatise.

To save time, you can buy in small plants and you will get a good range from seed merchants or garden centres, but if you would like advice from me to ensure great results, don’t forget that you can still order garden-ready plants, accompanied by weekly advice and tips emails specific to the vegetables you’ve chosen to grow. There are more details at www.pippagreenwood. com/grow-your-own and you can use the code 12419-E7SPS at the checkout to get £4.00 discount, whichever pack size you choose. Garden-ready plants can be planted out immediately and, provided you

follow the instructions, keep them well-watered during drier weather and apply feed at regular intervals, you will soon be harvesting crops such as climbing French and runner beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, sugar-snap peas, peppers, chillies, onions, melons, butternut squash, beetroot and courgettes.

Most vegetables need a good fertile soil and a sunny or partly shaded spot, so choose your growing area with care. If space is limited, don’t worry – most vegetables will do well in good sized containers (minimum 30cm x 30cm x 30cm) with good-quality compost, though bigger pots will need less frequent watering. But, whether you plant and sow vegetables in pots, tubs, greenhouses or open ground, the end result will be gorgeous tasting, superfresh vegetables. So go on, get growing! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ - fantastic UK grown vegetable plants of your choice plus weekly advice and tips emails from Pippa, Nemaslug, biological controls, pop-up crop covers, signed books and lots more besides.

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regular events... events at Harefield Community Centre, Priory avenue, uB9 6aP MOn Cameo Club (3rd Mon month) 10am-12pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2pm-5pm; Harefield Wine Club (2nd Mon in the month) 7.45-9.30pm; Judo (Seniors not 2nd Mon in month) 810pm. tues Line Dancing 10.45am1.15pm; Bingo 7.45pm - 10.30pm. WeD Fitness, Fun & Dance 10.30am12.00pm; Singing for Fun (1st Wed in month) 1-2.30pm; Judo Club 6.307.45pm; Dancing Club 8.15pm10.30pm. tHurs Happy Families Group 9.45-11.45am; Tea Dances 24pm; Whist 7.30-10pm; Ladies Club (2nd Thur in month) 8-10pm. FrI Line Dancing 10.30-12.45pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2-5pm. All enquiries to Lynne Mogge 01895 824621 or e: hare fieldcommunitycentre@btconnect.com

Denham History society Meets 2nd Tues of the month, 7.30pm St. Marks Hall, Denham Green. Call 01895 833989 Pamela@craftygiraffe.co.uk Hillingdon Decorative & Fine arts society Enjoy 10 expert lectures a year about art and culture from around Britain. Outings to galleries & places of cultural interest. Receive NADFAS Review, Interested? Come along to a lecture, cost £6. See www.hillingdondfas.co.uk, email: membership@hillingdonfas.co.uk or call Ann Lowe 01895 638147

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 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

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Beginners rock ‘n’roll Jive Classes Every Monday at Harefield Cricket Club, UB9 6NE. Doors open 7.30pm, class 8pm. Fun & friendly, no experience or partner required. 1950s Rock n Roll record hop - 1st Friday of every month at St Mary's Church Hall, Harefield, UB9 6BX. 7.30pm-11.30pm.Call 07947 106607 the rockingrebels@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 Meets on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor so no experience required! You will learn how to develop your own style as well as practicing Chinese calligraphy. Find us at Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or call Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com Crosier Investment Club Improve personal investment skills. Meets 7.30pm, third Thursday in month at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AA. Call 0208 427 3559, e: secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk w: www.crosierinvestment.org.uk

Hillingdon natural History society Meets 1st Wed of the month, Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@ hillingdon-naturalhistory society.org.uk

Inland Waterways associations Meets 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk

uxbridge Craft Market Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk

keeP-FIt, DanCe & DraMa... aerobics Denham Village Memorial Hall. Every Mon and Wed 4.30-5.30pm Call Jean Nisbet 01895 832063 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 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

Harefield amateur Drama society Tuesday, 8-10pm. Park Lane Village Centre, Park Lane, Harefield. Call Tony on 01895 820672

Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45-7.45pm. Wed & Fri 10-11am, Thurs 10-11am. Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Rd, Denham, Bucks Thurs 6.30-7.30pm Wendy Whitefoord, Tel: 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com ladies Only kickboxing Club Wed 6.30-8.00pm, Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Call Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 e:leanne@kickboxinglondon. co.uk. www.kickboxing-london.co.uk line Dancing At Higher Denham Community Centre, Off Old Rectory Lane, Higher Denham. Mon 7-10.15pm, starts with beginners, then onto improvers and finally from 9-10.15pm, Intermediates. Contact Christina on 07952 815076, email : c.capel477@btinternet.com, website wwww.chalfontlinedanceclub.co.uk or Facebook ‘chalfontlinedanceclub’ Modern Jive Classes (Ceroc) Mon 8-11pm, Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre and Tue & Thu 811pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. First Night Entry & Free Lifetime membership with this listing. Call Alan: 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 www.clubceroc.com email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com noBiz Dance Local Musical Theatre school (based in Hillingdon ) classes in all genres of dance (Street dance, Hip Hop, Rhythm Tap, Lyrical, Singing, Drama & Musical Theatre) for children aged 4-22 years. Adult Street Dance Class for more call: Giselle 07525 857171 or Lisa 07777 611012. www.nobizlikeshowbiz.co.uk. continued overleaf...

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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED... 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

Social Line Dancing At St Marys Church Hall, Harefield Last Sat of the month 7.30-10.30pm Tia Chi Chuan An ancient art which combines deep breathing, aligned posture and relaxation with gentle movements. It can help with mental and physical stress, improve general health. Beginners welcome. Tues 8-9.30pm at Yeading Community Centre, Ditchfield Rd, Yeading, Hayes UB4 9BH. Contact David 0751 4998 674, david@ zhong-ding.com / www.zhong-ding.com

NEW Little Roars Music Classes for children aged 0-5 years. Wednesday, 10am at St Marks Church Hall, Green Tile Lane, Denham, UB9 5HT. FREE trial class. Block bookings £5 per child, siblings half price. Call Charlotte Lion 07825738414 or e: charlotte@littleroarsmusic.com

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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

Run & Fitness Session Every Friday at Tatling End Play Area, Hollybush Lane, Tatling End UB9 4HH. Meet at 9am for 9.15am - 45 minute workout to improve your Running, Fitness, Cardio, Legs and wellbeing. £5. Come and join Carmel and Steph and ‘feel the burn’ Small friendly group. All levels welcome especially beginners. For details call Carmel 07956 295511. SALSA (all styles) Every Monday at Uxbridge Community Centre, 32b The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ from 7.45pm to 10pm. Come and join Mina Queen Salsa for some amazing fun. Call 07958 578962 or email mina@queensalsa.com

Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.45-9.30pm Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.30-9.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Simply Walk Langley & Black Parks Every Monday Langley Park, 10am Thursday Black Park, 10am. Second Sunday of month Langley Park at 11am. See www.friendsoflangleypark.co.uk Social Dancing Ballroom Latin & Sequence Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Wed, 8pm. Beginners welcome. Call 01895 634674 Simply Walk in Denham First Sunday of every month. Denham Village Green 10.45am for 11am start. Approx. 90 minute walk, 2.5-3miles. Led by trained volunteers as part of a healthy walk scheme funded by Bucks County Council, local District Councils and Bucks PCT. For details of other walks call 01494 475367 or see www.buckscc.gov.uk/rightsofway

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 E mail@umtheatre.co.uk or see www.umtheatre.co.uk Zumba Fitness Every Wednesday 8-9pm at New Denham Community Hall, Oxford Road, UB9 4DW. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk Zumba Fitness with Danielle Every Monday 7-8pm at Harefield Baptist Church. Call Danielle 07989 128131. www.zumba-class.co.uk Zumba Gold For Older Active Adults. Every Friday 11am at Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham, UB9 5EA. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk Zumba with Ruddy Thurs 7-8pm, St Marks Hall Denham Green UB9 5HD and Sats 9.30-10.30am at Harefield Academy Northwood Way UB9 6ET. Call Ruddy 07901 828051

MUSIC... Drumbeatz Drum tuition for beginners by Melanie Kleyn, qualified HND, now on degree at ACM. Kids 8yrs+, ladies, 3.15-5.30pm or daytime only. Call 07757 635880 Email: drumsmel@gmail.com or text Faraday Country Music Club in Slough SL2 1RN. Country music every Thurs for listeners, western partners, freestyle, line dancers. 8-11pm. 07986 050742 or see www.faradaycountry.co.uk Guitar Lessons Complete beginners welcome. Contact Sam for a FREE lesson 07798 588496 sam@uxbridgeguitarlessons.co.uk

Music Lessons at Little Halings Studio Piano and French Horn lessons with experienced, friendly young female teacher, Victoria Coghlan. At Little Halings Studios in Denham. All welcome. Guitar tuition is also available. Call: 07737 493980 (Victoria) E: victocoghlan@gmail.com Penny Lane Singing Lessons Monday singing classes 4-5.30pm 7yrs-12yrs and 5.30-7pm 12yrs-18yrs at Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HW. www.pennylanesinging.com or call 07951 294044. Rickmansworth & District Ukulele Club Our friendly group welcome all players and singers, all levels, all ages. Meet second Wednesday every month, 6.30 for 7.00 at 'The Fox and Hounds', 183 High Street, Rickmansworth (free parking behind).Tel Dave 01895 823404.

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 The Rock Project Greater London School of Rock & Pop teaching 7-18 year olds to play guitar, bass, drums & vocals. Sessions run Weds at Vyners School, Ickenham and Thursday’s at Nower Hill High School, Pinner. Juniors (7-11) 4.15-6.15pm and Seniors (11-18) 6.30-8.30pm. for more info: Contact Pritpal on 07855 863058 . e: uxbridge@therockproject.com. The Windsor & District Big Bands Appreciation Society We meet on 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Road, Datchet. Music of the big bands ‘40s & ‘50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDS, along with a raffle and sometimes there's even a live band. Call Derek Verrier on 01753 654398 Yiewsley & West Drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. To join or book the band for an engagement contact Lynne on 07976 824152 or email Lynne@ywdband.com continued overleaf...

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PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS CONTINUED...

Tiny Toes Childcare Full Day Care Nursery. Call 01753 655650 or tinytoes@ivercommunity.org

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 6.45-7.45pm, St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com

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

2370 (Denham) Squadron Air Training Corps ATC HQ, Tilehouse Lane, Denham Aerodrome Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DN. Mon and Thurs 7.30-9.30pm. Recruiting 13-17 year old males and females. Call 01895 834522 (Mon & Thu only)

Karate Club of Denham For ages 5 years and up at New Denham Community Centre, Sundays 9.15-11am also at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway Wed, 5pm-7pm Tel: Dominic 07988 743725

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 under 5’s. Messy Play and Stay & Play sessions. Call 01895 835967. Denham Girlguides 1st Denham Rainbows (age 5-7) 4th Denham Brownies (age 7-10) 4th Denham Guides (age 10-14) For more details on meeting times visit www.gxanddenham.cfsites.org Denham Youth Club (ages 8-11 years) Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Uxbridge UB9 5EA. Thursday 6.15pm to 7.45pm. Call 01895 834313. Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 7.30-9.30pm at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 12-18 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk 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

Silat Kuntao Indonesian Self-Defence Traditional self-defence art from Central Java. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346

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. See www.langley-iver-rotaract.org.uk Slough Plus Meet at the Tower Arms in Iver, 4th Wednesday of the month, with weekly events and weekends away. All ages 20's-60's. Visit sloughplus.weebly.com 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 Veterans Breakfast Club A social event and meets on the last Saturday of the month at The Good Yarn, High St, Uxbridge (opp. Tesco). At 9.30am and is open to all Veterans of the UK Armed Forces and their Allies and current serving Personnel. Women’s Social Group Social group for women. We meet regularly for coffee, a chat - open women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk

SELF HELP & SUPPORT...

SPORT...

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.

Denham Cricket Club Playing or social members welcome. Way & Tillard Memorial Cricket Ground, off Cheapside Lane, Denham Village. Tel: Bill Nicholas 01895 834527 Denham Lawn Bowls Club Denham Way, (off Old Mill Lane) Denham, UB9 5AX. New members welcome. Coaching & equipment available. Contact: Jennifer Johns (Sec) 01895 833845 or email: jenniferjohns919@hotmail.com Harefield Archers Meets every Tues 7.30-9pm at Harefield Academy, Archery Beginners Courses run twice a year. Contact: Andy Harding secretary@harefieldarchers.co.uk www.harefieldarchers.co.uk Ladies Golf Every Mon & Wed, 10am at Rickmansworth Golf Club new members welcome. Email ladiescaptain@rick mansworthgolf club.co.uk for details. Learn to Sail! We are an RYA approved training centre new members welcome. FREE sailing tasters! www.kingsmeadsc.org.uk Pink Ladies Netball Club Training at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tues. Seniors16+yrs 7.30-9pm. Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30-8.30pm. u16s for details 01895 448878 www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk

SELF DEFENCE...

Kung Fu Club West Drayton Every 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

Slimming World New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. To register turn up at 10am, call Mandy 07879 897578

SOCIAL GROUPS... Colne Valley Park Conservation Volunteers Every second weekend of the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife and landscape of the regional park. For more details contact Steve Ord steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or call 07718 043080. 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 Friendly Whist Drive Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Thurs 7.30pm. Beginners welcome. Contact Lyn on 01923 820173

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SITUATIONS 

VACANT

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

De Vere Venues, a unique collection of iconic city centre hotels, business centres & tranquil countryside venues, now have exciting opportunities available! Recruiting now at De Vere Venues, Denham Grove, Tilehouse Lane, UB9 5DG Restaurant & Bar Team Members –  Food & Beverage Supervisor Food & Beverage Manager Assistant Conference & Banqueting Manager

Reliable people wanted to deliver our local magazines once a month. Areas include Iver, West Drayton & Uxbridge. Minimum age 14 years Pay £7 per 100

VERY COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS! If you love hospitality and are looking for an exciting challenge email your CV to: pchotai@deverevenues.co.uk Contact: 01895 833 338 www.deverevenues.co.uk

Call 0800 038 5001 or 07759 536494

ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCY HERE!

Just £50

will put your vacancy within all six publications and inside over 26,000 homes Call 0800 038 5001 or 07759 536494

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AN EXPERIENCED TEAM OF PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS

Clive

Nick

Erica

Dev

Chris

Sandra

Whilst we maybe new to Gerrards Cross – Gibbs Gillespie have been successfully selling & letting properties in the Middlesex, Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire area for over 25 years. Call us to benefit from a fresh and motivated approach.

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