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And whether you’re a fan of Autumn or not, it’s definitely here! Fortunately, we’ve had some fabu lous weather this year and it seems a lot of people, like myself, have been quite happy to remain at home and make the most of it. The downside of that, particularly if you work for yourself, is that you don’t really take a break. I did manage a lovely overnight hotel stay in Marlow last month, but I think being miles away from home with a good book and a sun lounger (the back garden doesn’t count), is what’s really needed to recharge your batteries. Having become ill yet again right on deadline, I’ve realised that taking a break is not really a luxury, but an absolute necessity and if you don’t plan them, they tend not to happen.
Armed with half a dozen holiday brochures and driven by the impending longer nights and shorter days, we’ve suddenly gone into holiday planning frenzy. Christmas somewhere hot is definitely on the menu and for the first time in over eight years, we’re going to book next Summer’s holiday too. This is all a bit alien to me, but I’m assured that if you plan for things to happen, they will indeed happen! Feeling rather motivated by the whole planning ethos, I’ve started a log of all the things I want to achieve and the steps I need to take to make them happen. I’m starting small of course with day to day things, which always end up being done at the last moment and if that works well, who knows, I may become brave enough to at tempt the grand five year plan...well maybe 12 months anyway! .
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
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Iver Heath Residents Association 6 Wordsearch 6 Children’s Puzzle Page 8 The Life List 10 Tech: Some like it hot 12 Cake & Bake: Apple & Blackberry crumble cake 14 Wildlife Zone 16 Used Cars: Retro Rockers 20 Travel: Alicante 22 Short Story: The Dare 24 Coffee Break Puzzles 26 Computer Helpdesk 28 Beauty: How to get a perfect pout 30 Is I time to part with your old mattress? 32 Home & Interiors: On the wall 34 Health: Tea & Coffee the good and the bad 36 Richings Players / Evreham Theatre Club 38 History: What happened in October 1964 42 Karen Munro: Careers 44 Reader Holidays 48 Life Begins: Too many phish in the sea 50 Coaching from the Heart 52 Local Events 54 Citizens Advice Bureau 56 RSPCA Re Homing Appeal 56 Richings Park Residents Association 58 Gardening Feature 60 Iver/Iver Heath Schools Community 62 Puzzle Solutions 62 Pets Corner 64 Around Britain Trivia: Football 66 Clubs, Groups & Classes 72,74,76 & 78
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With the likelihood of several major develop ments planned for the nottoodistant future, a group of Iver Heath residents are forming a properly constituted Residents Association with the broad aims of: Mitigating the impact of future development on the village and the community. Supporting our members’ community inter ests. Liaising with other relevant organisations. An interim committee has been set up in order to launch the residents association and we would like the support of as many local residents as possible to ensure we represent the whole community.
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A Public Meeting will be held on Saturday 11th October starting at 11am in Iver Heath Village Hall to agree our Constitution, elect a full Committee and give local people the opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns.
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E
ton End School is an Independent Preparatory Day school located in over 6 acres of rural countryside on the outskirts of Datchet.
We welcome boys age 3 – 7 and girls age 3 – 11. Pastoral care is our strength and personal development is as important as academic attainment.
“The pace and variety of activities and learning initiatives across the school are stunning” Current Parent, Autumn 2011
One chil�hoo�
One E�ucation
Eton End School 35 Eton Road • Datchet • Berkshire • SL3 9AX Tel: 01753 541075 Email: admin@etonend.org Website: www.etonend.org For further information or to arrange a visit please contact our Registrar
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10
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www.eltze.co.uk Bob hands over the keys as another happy customer moves into their new home. Mr & Mrs Saud, the happy customers, said “we could not have sold our house and moved without Bob and his team’s help, they were so supportive and helpful going the extra mile throughout our sale and purchase.”
Bob, Laurie, Jo, Peter, Sam and Nadia look forward to helping you move…
Just call us on 01753 651652 11
Some Like It Hot
Technology taking the expense out of heating your home
With summer a rapidly fading memory it’s likely that you’ve had the central heating on for weeks or even months. With energy prices constantly increasing, a few simple bits of kit can make a huge difference to your outgoings. One of the simplest changes you can make is to replace your boiler’s old timer with a modern digital programmer, such as Siemens’ RWB29. This £45 device enables you to set different times for weekdays and weekends, and you can set three different heating times per day. Installing it and any similar programmer isn’t a particularly difficult job and the extra control it offers can help reduce your heating bills. Another option is to invest in thermostatic radiator valves, or TRVs for short. With prices starting at around £7, TRVs are simple to fit and enable you to set different temperatures in different rooms, so for example you might set the bedrooms to be several degrees cooler than the living room. You can even get digital ones such as the Terrier i-temp i30, which enables you to set up to 6 different temperature settings per day - handy if the room’s temperature is subject to 12
outside factors such as late afternoon sunshine. For many of us our heating systems are fairly low tech, but that’s changing with the arrival of systems such as British Gas’s Hive. Hive connects your boiler to your broadband, and that means you can control it with a smartphone app. You might override the heating settings because you’re coming home later than expected, keep an eye on your daily energy use, or just show off by turning the heating on and off when you’re at work. British Gas reckons that the £199 Hive will pay for itself very quickly, offering savings of up to £150 a year on your energy bills, and it’s compatible with 99% of the UK’s gas boilers. One of the most advanced home energy gadgets is the Nest learning thermostat, which is now owned by Google. The £249 device isn’t just a good looking thermostat; it’s a computer that learns your everyday activities and sets the heating to suit - and it knows when you’re out, lowering the heating accordingly. Once again the big selling point here is reduced energy bills, and Nest has proved so successful at doing that in America that
some US energy companies are giving them away free to their customers to help keep their bills down (and the customers loyal). A thermostat is hardly the most exciting sounding gadget, but Nest has big ideas: Google has teamed up with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and fitness gadget maker Jawbone, remote control firm Logitech and garage door firm Chamberlain to make Nest compatible with their products. A Mercedes car knows what time you’ll be home and can alert the thermostat accordingly; a Jawbone fitness tracker can tell when you’re waking up and can turn the heating up automatically; allin-one remotes can get all your entertainment gadgets ready for a movie while dropping the temperature to make the thriller even more chilling. It won’t be long before Google adds voice control to the mix, and it’s clear that it sees Nest as the centre of a much wider home automation system. It’s hot stuff already!
By Gary Marshall
Images left to right:British Gas Hive smart thermostat; Honeywell Homexpert replacement heating programmer; Nest learning thermostat; Thermostatic radiator valve
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Cake and Bake Apple & Blackberry Crumble Cake
Making the most of seasonal fruit, this moist cake is delicious as a warming pudding served with custard or you can leave it to cool and enjoy it with a mid morning cup of coffee. Ingredients: • 350g self-raising flour • 2tsp ground mixed spice • 175g unsalted butter, chilled and diced, plus extra for greasing • 150g golden caster sugar • 2 medium eggs, beaten • 2 large dessert apples, peeled cored and diced • 200g blackberries • 50g Demerara sugar • 50g roasted hazelnuts, chopped
TIP
You can vary the fruit filling, try pears with blueberries or thickly sliced plums and replace the hazelnuts with chopped blanched almonds.
Makes 8 Slices Ready in 1 hour 20 mins, plus cooling 14
1. Preheat the oven to 190C, Fan 170C, Gas Mark 5. Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up. Grease a 20cm x 24cm cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper. 2. Sift the flour and mixed spice into a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. Remove 175g of the crumble mixture to a second bowl and set aside. 3. Stir the caster sugar and beaten egg into the larger amount of crumble to make a soft and slightly sticky dough. Press into an even layer in the base of the cake tin using floured hands. Scatter over the diced apple and berries. 4. Stir the Demerara sugar and chopped hazelnuts into the rest of the crumble mixture and spoon over the fruit, pressing down gently. 5. Place the cake tin on the hot baking sheet in the oven and bake for 40-50 mins until the cake is risen and golden brown (cover the top of the cake loosely with foil after 30 mins if it starts to overbrown). Leave the cake to cool in the tin for about 20 mins then remove by gently lifting the parchment. Serve warm or cold.
Building Construction/Bricklaying Extensions & Loft Conversions Patio/Paths/Block Pave Driveways Decking Kitchen & Bathroom Installation Plumbing & Heating
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the wildlife zone
kaiser
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.
T
he male sparrowhawk, or kaiser as I call him, could be a rare visitor to the Millstream Fork wildlife garden. This is difficult to prove as sparrowhawks are difficult to watch because they are usually just flashing through a patch of ground whilst hunting. It is difficult to distinguish exactly how rare sparrowhawks are in the area, although I piece together bits of evidence. When the Kaiser arrives in the wildlife garden, birds scatter like shrapnel. On two occasions I have seen this male sparrowhawk grab birds on the patio with his sharp, killing talons. When I was a child, I thought that a bird of prey’s sharp beak was for stabbing the prey to death, whilst being held in a vice like grip. However, these claws are so powerful, that the razor blade talons do the killing as well as 8 sowing needles pressed deeply into the body at the same time. After the prey has been killed, the formidable beak plucks the feathers and tears the flesh into smaller digestible fragments. The Kaiser’s first successful hunt at Millstream Fork was when I had a Blue Tit nest box sited at the side of the patio doors about 8 feet off the ground. One early evening in summer, at about 6 o’clock, the Blue Tit flew back to the nest box. As the Blue Tit flew towards me and the nest box I noticed its flight path. They fly in a particular style which is up and down, rather like a large radio or alpha wave, if seen from the side-on perspective. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the sparrowhawk flash in from the left side of the patio. In one stupefying moment, the Kaiser snatched the flying blue tit just about a yard or so from the safety of its home. The hunter gyrated, wheeled around on the spot and flew back from whence it came, having made the perfect kill. On the ground a few yards of way from this incident a pair of Mallards were waddling around in a relaxed manner, slowly searching for food on the path near the patio. In an instant, they had figured out the danger of the fatal incident. They were deeply upset and created a commotion. I could easily tell this from the loud and hurried quacks they made, their nervousness and the way they stomped around in tight circles for a few moments. For some moments afterwards they were still fluffing their wings, looking around and on their guard for any other possible threat. Within a minute they had flown up and were away. This may have been because sparrowhawks also hunt mallards and smaller waterfowl. Therefore this pair really could have been ‘sitting ducks’ in the true sense of the word as their only fighting weapon would have been their bills. The sparrowhawk’s short, rounded wings and longish tail have evolved over countless millennia to live in woodlands, where these features enable the bird to get extra maneuverability. With the burgeoning suburbs, the sparrowhawk uses their skills of twisting and turning whilst flying at great speed to dodge fences, trees and outhouses to catch songbirds by surprise. The second time I saw a successful hunt at Millstream Fork was when the Kaiser crashed into two feeding baskets hanging from the patio bird table just three feet away from where the mallards had been on that first fatal incident. This time the victim was a young Robin, a fledgling, whose red breast feathers had not yet had time to replace its speckled brown feathers. This time I clearly saw the Kaiser’s yellow eyes, his bluish grey back and his white and rusty barred chest as he turned around with his sorry prey firmly locked in his talons. sparrowhawks and other predators such as Kestrels and hobbies are animals whose evolutionary path has led them to being carnivores. It is how these birds have fitted into an ecological niche that makes sure that the predators cannot have a digestive system that lives on berries or leaves. Therefore their position in the ecological niche means that they must hunt smaller birds in the food chain, irrespective of how human beings feel about it. My suspicions that Millstream Fork is actually inside a sparrowhawks territory was all but vindicated shortly afterwards. This was when I had witnessed another sparrowhawk hunting in my garden on three or four occasions. However as this sparrowhawk was much larger than the Kaiser, it must have been the hen. I also noticed that it had different markings to the male. The hen had a dark brown back and dark bars on her chest. Moreover, within a few weeks of these sightings, I had seen this hen take a fully grown Woodpigeon a couple of hundred yards away from Millstream Fork in another garden. Usually in nature the males are larger then females, perhaps due to their need to fight off other males of the same species for the right to mate. For many other species, the male has to do much of the hunting for the nesting female. However for many birds of prey, including sparrowhawks, the male, or tiercal, is about a third smaller than the female. As a result of this activity, I expect to see sparrowhawks here at the wildlife garden for as long as they are able to find enough food. I accept that sightings may be scarce, although their presence is likely to be more common than is actually observed. All of this seems to point to the probability that there is a local pair of nesting sparrowhawks. I would love to see their nest in the trees around here, which is where I suspect they are.
the charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 16
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The first of the retro rockers, the Figaro was really a design exer cise that made it into production, with 20,000 being produced in just one year. Styled on the 1960s’ Datsun Fairlady, the Figaro was as cute as a button. A tiny 1.0 litre turbo engine pro vided surprisingly brisk perform ance but this car was all about style and comfort. Standard equipment included leather, air conditioning, a CD player and a full length sunroof that all but made it a cabriolet. All UK ex amples are imports but are easy to find. Expect to pay £4,000 for a decent example with 60k on the clock.
The New Beetleis a perfect example of the platform sharing that VW have made into an art form; it’s really a Mk3 Golf with a curvy, retro body plonked on 20
top. A concept car that was intended to capitalise on the enduring popularity of the origi nal Beetle, it has proved re markably successful. It’s avail able as either a hatchback or a cabriolet and features just about every engine fitted to a Golf up to 2005. The Beetle is compara tively practical and wellbuilt but the handling is a disappointment and most models are slow and decidedly thirsty. You can pick up a Beetle for under a grand but a pristine 2010 model with 20,000 miles on it will set you back just £7,500.
BMW’s take on the iconic British car has been a massive success story, so much so that there are now 7 different models in the MINI range. The designers have managed to combine the pert looks, dinky proportions and unique style of the original car with a sporty drive and BMW’s exemplary engineering and build quality. The original 1.6 litre engine comes in 3 flavours, 98bhp, 118bhp and a hefty 168bhp from the supercharged Cooper S; all provide strong performance and decent econ omy. Inside, it’s as retro as you like but the back seats are cramped and the boot is tiny.
The handling is terrific but the ride is punishingly harsh, par ticularly with the 17” wheels fitted. MINIs are cheap and plentiful; I found a 2009 Cooper S with 35K miles under its belt for £7,500.
Fiat belatedly got in on the retro act with the supremely pert and pretty 500. Based on the de pendable Panda, it has all the predictable 1960s’ styling cues and that tiny exterior belies the surprising amount of space inside, considerably more than the larger MINI. The original range of 1.2 and 1.4 litre petrol engines together with a 1.5 litre diesel were all fairly weedy and not particularly frugal, but the new 950cc Twinair turbo is a gem. The handling of the 500 is pretty good but it provides an uninvolving drive together with an overly bumpy ride. There was a waiting list for the first few years of production and prices have held up surprisingly well; you can pick up a 2008 1.2 Lounge (high spec) with sub 50k mileage for £5,250.
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TRAVEL
Arribar Alicante Most people think of Alicante as the airport you fly to before heading off to the tawdry delights of Benidorm, but it is actually a major tourist resort in its own right. I’d heard good things from a relative and chose it for this summer’s family holiday. We were staying in the Melia Alicante which rears up above the seafront like a cruise liner that has run aground between the beach and the marina. Built at the dawn of the Spanish tourist trade, the Melia is old enough to be classified as retro. The rooms are large and wellappointed and enjoy views across the beach or the marina, while the public areas are stylish and smart. The breakfast deserves a mention because it caters to every conceivable taste; I got into the habit of enjoying a glass of Buck’s Fizz with my Fruit ‘n’ Fibre. On the downside, the Melia suffers from the problem that afflicts many town centre resort hotels, a small pool and a shortage of both sunbeds and space to put them in. Alicante is a very cosmopolitan city and, unusually, many of the tourists are Spanish along with the usual gaggle of Brits, Germans and Scandinavians. The main beach, Postiguet, is a beach lover’s paradise with fine golden sand, shallow water and acres of serviced sunbeds. An inflatable archipelago is moored just 22
offshore to entertain those who want to do more than just dip in the water to cool off and the entire two mile beach is lined with bars and restaurants. Every water sport you could possibly desire is available, including flyboarding, which I haven’t seen before, where participants are propelled into the air by two jets of water attached to their feet. On the other side of our hotel, the area around the marina has been heavily developed with a clutch of high end nightclubs and restaurants and the gaudiest casino this side of Las Vegas. The promenade features an array of stalls selling jewellery and handbags along with a couple of cocktail bars and a life-size galleon which doubles up as a restaurant. There are few nicer places to sip a Pina Colada while you ponder what to eat that evening. Talking of eating out, you really are spoiled for choice in Alicante. Across the road from the Melia lies the old town, a charming maze of squares and alleyways where you can sit out on the street and tuck into a first rate meal. With the exception of a low rent Italian on the main boulevard, we didn’t have a bad meal during our stay; I can particularly recommend the Monastrell restaurant, superb food and surprisingly inexpensive. This part of Alicante has a great atmosphere and is remarkably civ-
ilised; there are no stag weekends or drunks and the street crime that plagues places like Barcelona is conspicuous by its absence. If you grow tired of sunbathing, eating and drinking, there are other things to fill your day. Alicante is home to a handful of museums and a medieval fortress perched on a mountain, though it’s a bit of a hike if you want to visit it. You can also take a boat trip out to the island of Tabarca a few miles down the coast. This was once a pirate lair but nowadays it is left to the restaurateurs and shopkeepers to extract money from the wallets of passing tourists. The voyage out there takes about an hour and costs 18 euros a head, not a bad way to spend a day. Alicante has a lot going for it as a holiday destination but there is a problem. It is not just a tourist resort, it is a city in its own right and, as such, it is not immune from the economic malaise that grips much of Spain at the moment. Beggars are everywhere, even pestering you as you dine and there are too many boarded up shops, while the waiters are overly desperate to lure you into their restaurants. But, if you can ignore these things, Alicante has a charm all of its own.
Howard Clemmow
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Short Story
The Dare by Jackie Brewster
“I dare you to eat one”. Cole said, holding out a shiny conker.
argue with the authority of You Tube.
The twins had been collecting conkers as they scrambled through the darkening woods on their way home from swimming. Morgan liked conkers, but he also liked the spiky green casings that he prized them out of; his pockets were full of them.
“His eyes turned green and everything”. Morgan watched Cole closely. There were two things that his brother was scared of – zombies and mushrooms.
It was such a good dare that Morgan wished he’d thought of it. He was certain conkers were poisonous. And it wasn’t even Cole’s turn to set a dare. Just yesterday Cole had dared him to stroke Mrs Burgey’s mangy dog. Afterwards Cole had broken the first rule of Dare Club – that no one talks about Dare Club - and told their mother. She’d made Morgan take a shower, and it wasn’t even Sunday. Morgan had been biding his time, waiting to get his revenge. Cole couldn’t be allowed to get away with it, after all Morgan was the eldest by ten whole minutes. “Do you understand exactly what you’re asking?”. He said mysteriously, taking the conker from Cole. “Yeah”. Cole answered, unimpressed. “You know that conkers contain powerful magic don’t you?”. Morgan smiled thinly. Cole pulled a face. “Say’s who?”. “I saw it on You Tube”. Morgan lied, “This guy ate a conker on a full moon, and he turned into a zombie”. Cole snorted, but could not 24
“Tonight’s a full moon”. He glanced at the sky, “Just so you know what you’re asking”. “Rubbish”. Cole kicked the leaves, “That’s just werewolves”. “It’s werewolves too”. Morgan raised the conker to his lips. “Still dare me to eat it?”. Both boys stared hard at each other. Morgan shrugged, “It’s been nice knowing you”. He popped the conker into his mouth. Cole frowned. “You’ve got to swallow it”. Morgan indicted a need to sit down. The business of digesting conkers was arduous and shouldn’t be tackled while standing. Cole went to perch on a log, “Not there!”. Morgan spluttered, “It’s covered in toadstools”. Cole’s rapid inspection of the log gave Morgan just enough to time spit the conker into the leaves, and find what he needed from his pocket. “Now we’re sitting comfortably”. Morgan mumbled with gravity, “I will swallow”. The violent gagging sounds he made as he pretended to swallow impressed even him. “What now?”. Asked Cole, wide-eyed.
“Now we wait”. Morgan folded his arms and leaned back against the tree. The shadows grew longer and a flock of crows came home to roost. “This is boring”. Cole said, glancing at his watch. The chill evening air had just descended to the forest floor when Morgan chose his moment. He began to cough and shake. He clutched his stomach and moaned. He spat foamy dribble down his coat for dramatic effect. “The magic is beginning to take hold”. He cried, “Run Cole, run, while you still have the chance”. Cole laughed nervously, “Stop mucking around”. “The pain, the pain!”. Morgan cried, burying his face in his hands. Writhing in agony, he uttered an unearthly moan. Then he took his hands away to reveal himself transformed. His huge zombie eyes were green and covered in gruesome spikes. Cole turned the colour of concrete, shrieked (like a girl thought Morgan) and ran off, leaving his swimming kit behind. Morgan laughed and took the conker casings out of his eyes. He knew he would get into trouble for this, but just for the moment it was worth it.
Paintings of your home
House Portraits
Artist Philip (Pip) Heath will paint a picture of your home or favourite building in the style of those shown here using acrylics onto a canvas stretcher ready to hang on your wall. The painting could be framed to your taste with or without reflective or non reflective glass and borders. Pip will normally discuss the painting with you and will take some photographs for reference, you should allow four to six weeks for completion of the painting and you are welcome to see how it is progressing, photographs can be emailed to you as it takes shape. Alternatively you could email some photographs of your home for reference from any part of the country. You will have a completely original painting that is absolutely exclusive to you. You can also visit the website to view other work.
Phone: 01753 650221 Call direct: 07957 166671 enquiries@hugoheathcliff.com www.hugoheathcliff.com 25
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To the casual observer, the most significant uses that technology and the internet have been put to are all social – the internet makes it much easier to buy the stuff we crave; social media makes it much easier to share our thoughts and experiences with each other every waking hour of the day. But the big changes have been going on behind the scenes, particularly in terms of database technology and cloud computing. One business that has made use of these developments to provide a service that offers both a social good and vast commercial opportunities is Theranos. Launched as a tech start up in 2003, it has attracted around $70 million in funding so far, much of it from some household names of the technology world, and is now poised to launch on the stock market in a multibillion dollar IPO. What is it doing to get investors so hot under the collar?Theranos does blood tests – nothing very exciting about that you might think; we’ve been doing blood tests for decades, but the way that Theranos does them could lead to a dramatic improvement in the effectiveness of healthcare services around the world. There are hundreds of common blood tests that can be carried out and the results can determine if the patient has anything from Crohn’s Disease to Diabetes. Blood tests are also an essential tool in the early diagnosis of cancer. The current system for doing blood tests normally starts at the GP’s surgery or hospital. The doctor reviews the patient’s symptoms and comes up with a potential diagnosis of what is wrong with them;the blood test effectively confirms if the diagnosis iscorrect. A sample of blood is taken and put into a test tube. A paper trail is then created that links the sample with the doctor, the patient and the type of test required. Then the sample is sent to a central laboratory where the test is carried out and the results sent back to the doctor. The whole process is complex and time consuming and it is not unknown for the wrong results to come back to the wrong patient. More importantly, it is expensive so budget constrained doctors will often be reluctant to order a barrage of blood tests to confirm an early diagnosis. By 28
comparison,
the
Theranos
system
is
a
revelation. The doctor or a nurse uses a handheld testing device which can perform a battery of up to 30 tests on just one drop of blood. The device can perform hundreds of different tests as required and the results are beamed wirelessly back to the database that holds the patient’s medical records, where they are available to everyone who needs to see them. The benefits are immense. For starters, the cost of the tests is less than half that charged by the existing laboratories. In America alone it is estimated that the two main healthcare providers could save over $200 billion over the next decade. That’s before the savings in administration are taken into account. Then there’s the time saving; the results are available instantly rather than a week later. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Early diagnosis of cancer transforms survival rates and drastically cuts the costs of treatment. Early diagnosis of diabetes could save the NHS billions and transform the lives of those who suffer from it. It’s not just about money either; it’s about people’s health and happiness and about switching the ethos of health services from cure to prevention. The story of founder, Elizabeth Holmes, is an interesting one. She dropped out of Stanford at the age of 19 and used her tuition fund to start up the business. She successfully sold her idea to some very savvy investors and is now poised to become the first woman technology billionaire. Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is a multibillionaire and has had a film made about his life and he just created a dating site. What does the future hold for Elizabeth Holmes?
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Beauty
Professional Make-Up Secrets: How to Get a Perfect Pout
With the help of a few simple make-up tools and techniques it’s easy to transform your lips into the pout you’ve always wanted. Thin Lips
Thin lips are a big beauty concern for many women - especially as they age. That’s because over the years, our lips lose their plumpness and become visibly thinner. Fortunately there’s plenty that can be done to add some volume, without having to resort to fillers. Choose lipsticks in light shades and always opt for a glossy finish. Lighter colours work to make lips look bigger by bringing that area of your face forward, whereas darker shades have the opposite effect by pushing it back. Light-reflecting pigments in glosses and lipsticks add 30
instant fullness to thin lips - unlike matte formulations that make the lips look flat. A creamy lip liner, in a natural pale hue is an essential tool when makingup thin lips. Warm the pencil in your hands before lining your lips just slightly outside their natural line and bring the liner as far down to the corners of your mouth as you can - whilst still keeping it looking perfectly natural. Particularly emphasise your cupid’s bow and the middle of your bottom lip. Using a lip brush, neatly fill in your lips with your chosen lipstick. Add a dab of gloss to the centre of your bottom lip and highlight your cupid’s bow by adding a touch of shimmer highlighter - powder, cream or pencil varieties will all do the job.
Uneven Lips
If your bottom lip is fuller than your top, then your lips can look uneven - but it’s easy to balance things out with well-applied lipstick. Choose a lip liner in a shade that matches the lipstick you are going to use and apply it to your cupid’s bow - at the centre of your top lip. Don’t be tempted to extend the line all the way down because you only want definition in the centre.
Cover your bottom lip with a dot of concealer or foundation - this makes it easier to correct the shape - then line the centre of your bottom lip slightly above the natural line and softly extend the line outwards, but not all the way to the corner of your mouth. Bring the lip liner on to your bottom lip and lightly fill it in - the aim is to create a matte finish so that your bottom lip appears less prominent. Then, using a lip brush, fill in your top lip with the lipstick that matches your liner. Draw attention to your top lip and create a perfect finish by adding a touch of gloss to the centre of your top lip.
Narrow Mouth
If your mouth is small and narrow it can look out of proportion compared to your other facial features. A little lip liner and lipstick can easily ‘extend’ the mouth though. Find a lip liner that matches the natural colour of your lips as closely as possible, then line the outer corners of your mouth by using light, feathery strokes. Bring the line up and round, over your cupid’s bow but make sure the line isn’t as strong as the one on the corners of your lips, because emphasising the corners of the mouth will have an elongating effect. Choose a neutral coloured lipstick in a creamy or satiny finish - it’s important to stick to lighter shades, as darker hues will make your lips appear smaller. By Helen Taylor
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Is It Time To Part With Your Old Mattress? by Kate McLelland
An old mattress is like an old relationship: worn-in and comfortable, with the odd uneven bit that you have learned to avoid. It may have been beautiful when it was new, but now you’ve ceased to notice the frayed corners, the sagging middle and the missing studs. Although it is comforting and familiar, your old mattress may not be giving you the good night’s sleep you deserve. Here are three common mattress myths that may deny you a peaceful rest: “My old mattress is comfortable because it has adapted to the way I lie in bed.” Unfortunately you can still feel comfy long after your mattress has lost its ability to provide your body with the proper support it needs. “The stiffness I feel each morning is due to too much exercise, or old age – or both!” It may simply be due to a mattress that doesn’t give you enough support. If you generally feel better in the morning when you’ve slept elsewhere, it’s time for a change. “My mattress is still under guarantee!” The warranty exists to protect the consumer from product defects and is not an 32
indicator of how long a mattress should be used. A mattress that has been in constant use for five to seven years may need to be replaced. If it is time for you and your mattress to part company, how do you go about choosing a newer model? Pocket sprung mattresses have springs sewn into individual fabric pockets so your partner’s movement won’t affect your side of the bed. These mattresses can be costly but proved most popular in a survey conducted by the consumer association Which? Continuous coil mattresses are made from a single looped wire, while open-coil mattresses are made of single springs fixed together by one wire. The springs move as one unit, so you are more likely to be disturbed by your partner’s movements at night. These mattresses are cheaper, but tend to wear out faster than those with pocket springs. Memory foam mattresses are good at relieving pressure on painful joints, but usually cost more than a sprung mattress. Memory foam is affected by room temperature: as the mattress
reacts to body heat, it moulds to your shape. This reduces air circulation around your body, which makes the memory mattress feel warmer, but it may make it harder for you to move around at night. Latex mattresses are hypoallergenic and so can prevent fungi, bacteria house dust mites from accumulating. Latex is made from rubber so has natural elasticity, retaining its shape as soon as the pressure is removed. Mattress toppers: As the name suggests, a topper sits on top of your ordinary mattress to give you extra comfort and support, but it won’t help if your mattress has already begun to sag. Toppers can also provide a useful protective layer between the sleeper and full mattress in the event of night-time accidents or spills, however prices vary and some can be as costly as buying a new mattress. Remember, comfort, support and durability are key when it comes to buying a new mattress. It’s worth taking time to search for the right one, as your reward will be many years of blissful sleep. Main Image: Top Dog Mattress £645, Loaf.com
Birmingham Christmas Market & Worcester £10 D Victorian Christmas Fayre £99PP 2 days half board • 29 November, 2014 PP
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest outdoor Christmas Market in the country. Traditional stalls offer an array of beautiful handmade toys, Christmas decorations and craft goods. Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year. INCLUDED: 1 night stay at the Hilton Hotel, Bromsgrove • 1 dinner and 1 breakfast • Visits to Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre Coach travel and excursions • Coach travel and excursions
EPOSIT
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River Avon Christmas Lunch Cruise & Festive £10 D Stratford-upon-Avon £69PP Great Day Out • Wednesday 3 December, 2014 PP
EPOSIT
Join us for a Festive Lunch Cruise on the Countess of Evesham, a popular, well-established family-run 70ft restaurant cruiser. Enjoy a traditional 3course Christmas lunch while the Restaurant Boat cruises some of the most delightful stretches of the gently flowing River Avon. You will also have free time in Stratford-upon-Avon which will be decorated for Christmas. INCLUDED: Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon • 3-hour River Avon cruise on the Countess of Evesham • 3-course traditional Christmas lunch on-board starter, main course and dessert • Return coach travel
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Christmas in Dorset, Longleat & Broadchurch 4 days half board+ • 24 December, 2014 Join us for a 4-day Christmas break at the Sherborne Hotel in rural Dorset. The hotel is nestled in 6 acres of private grounds and is surrounded by fields. It is a short walk from the historic market town that shares its name. The hotel has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment programme. There will be entertainment on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day evenings. Our holiday includes visits to Longleat, with a ride on the Santa Express, and West Bay - home to TV’s Broadchurch. INCLUDED: 3 nights stay at the Sherborne Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset • 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 1 traditional Christmas Day lunch • Visits to Longleat and West Bay • Coach travel and excursions
Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Holidays & Voyages, Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
£10PP DEPOSIT
£429PP
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ABTA No. Y029 ATOL 9362
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Home & Interiors
On The Wall
Choosing a wall finish is a question of combining personal choice and practicalities. While some finishes are hands-offdon’t-touch delicate, others are ideal for protecting walls from knocks and bumps, muddy paws and sticky fingers; some are meant only for perfectly smooth walls, while others are great at disguising blemishes. Find the right type of finish, then decide how colourful, patterned and textured you want it to be. A plain white wall, for example, may be just the ticket for showing off your collection of tin toys, or as a counterpoint to bright cushions and other accessories. On the other hand, you may want an exciting wallpaper that draws the eye to a feature wall, or adds pzazz to an otherwise boring room. 34
By Katherine Sorrell
Ideas for feature walls • Peel-off stickers. Instant transformation. Available in all sorts of designs, small or large, from simple outlines to complex illustrations. • Wallpaper with a huge, graphic pattern and bold colours can be overwhelming for a whole room, but is a great focal point on just one wall. • Paint effects are right on-trend. Try modern styles such as broad horizontal stripes or a dip dye effect. • Maps (old or new) are goodlooking and educational. Simply paste straight on to the wall. Try sheet music, wrapping paper and pictures enlarged on a photocopier, too. • Digital images can be enlarged as much as you like. Why not use one to cover an entire wall? • Wallpaper samples, vintage or modern, can be pasted up as a colourful collage. On the same theme, why not employ different colourways of the same pattern for an impressive and unusual effect? A world of wallpaper Wallpaper is oh-so-hot right now, but as well as being fashionable, it’s a brilliant way to add interest to any room. Conventional, machine-printed
designs are easiest to get hold of, usually inexpensive and simple to put up. But there is a whole world of wallpaper choice out there, from natural woven fibres and light-reflecting metallic papers to interactive papers that you can colour in or add stickers to, hand-blocked papers, three-dimensional designs incorporating crystals, sequins or tiny LED lights, digitally printed papers made to your own design and even magnetic wallpapers that work as a noticeboard. Types of wallpaper Standard decorative wallpapers are ideal for areas that don’t suffer from moisture or severe wear and tear. Vinyls are durable and easy to put up, often coming pre-pasted. They can be used anywhere, but are especially suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Washable wallpapers have a transparent coating to make them wipeable. Embossed wallpapers feature a raised, textured pattern and are meant to be painted. Blown vinyls are similar. Flock wallpapers feature a velvety texture in stencil-like designs. Foils are metallic wallcoverings. They vary from a gentle sheen to almost mirror-like. Natural wallcoverings include grass, silk, wood veneer, hessian and cork. Though they are backed with paper, they can be delicate and difficult to clean. Image: Create a wall-to-wall indoor garden with this geranium wallpaper mural, from £99, from Digetex HOME (0161 873 8891; www.DigetexHome.co.uk).
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Tea and Coffee: The Good and the Bad By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
We meet up for coffee; invite friends for a cuppa. But are these drinks friends or foes?
Caffeine
The good: Caffeine increases our alertness, and may temporarily sharpen our cognitive abilities. Substantial research suggests that coffee and tea drinkers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, most likely due to caffeine, which may also help with symptoms. The bad: Caffeine can raise blood pressure and adrenaline levels. It can also relax pelvic muscles, making you urinate more frequently. High levels may be linked to low birth weight or miscarriage. The truth: Maximum protection against Parkinson’s disease seems to come from just three cups of tea or coffee daily. While lab results seem promising, there’s no definitive evidence linking tea and coffee drinking with reduced Alzheimer’s risk. Our bodies can become accustomed to caffeine. Without it we can become tired, irritable, headachy and even shaky and nauseous. So how much is too much? Recommended limits average at 400-600mg per day and just 200mg if you’re pregnant. • cup of green tea: 40mg • cup of normal tea: 70mg • mug of instant coffee: 100mg • filter coffee: 150mg • average latte: 150mg • large Americano: 200mg 36
Don’t forget other caffeine sources too: energy drinks, chocolate and some painkillers and fizzy drinks.
Antioxidants
The good: Antioxidants mop up free radicals which can damage our cells. We all know green tea contains antioxidants, but so do black tea and coffee - just at lower levels. The bad: It’s unclear how much we benefit from these antioxidants once our body has processed our cuppa. But active compounds in green tea are being used in research with nanotherapeutics – the development of microscopic compounds that escape processing to find and target diseases, including cancer. The truth: Many foods contain antioxidants, often at higher levels than tea and coffee, so there are better sources.
Diabetes prevention and management
The good: Some evidence suggests that moderate amounts of coffee or tea, drunk black or with a little milk, may slightly reduce your risk of Diabetes Type 2. The bad: There’s also research showing that high coffee intake may impair insulin resistance, making it harder to stabilise blood sugar levels. The truth: You’re likely to see both theories in the media, but more research that eliminates other influential factors is needed.
Reducing stroke, coronary heart disease risk and cholesterol levels
The good: Some studies suggest that drinking tea and coffee reduces stroke, coronary heart disease risk and cholesterol levels. The bad: Contradictory evidence. One study found high tea consumption, and low and high coffee consumption reduced stroke risk most,– moderate consumption made no difference. Reported reductions in cholesterol levels were small. The truth: Once again, more research is needed to exclude other factors and study longterm effects.
Liver health
The good: Research suggests moderate consumers of coffee and green tea are less likely to suffer from NALD (non-alcoholic liver disease). The bad: High intake of green tea supplements has been linked to liver damage, although it’s not clear whether green tea extract or another ingredient is guilty. The truth: Tea or coffee can’t prevent or reverse liver damage if you drink or smoke heavily. So moderation seems best. Three or four cups of tea or coffee daily appear to give maximum health benefits and minimum risk, and without milk or sugar they’ll be calorie free - but practically nutrition-free too, so drink fruit juices and dairybased drinks as well.
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?
flexible, there’s no pressure and it’s very rewarding. To find out more, please call Leena on
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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Richings Players are facing possibly their greatest challenge yet with their next production, the inno vative musical ` Spring Awakening `.
The cast of 14 includes several newcomers to the group whose acting, singing and dancing talents enhance RP`s reputation.
This Tony and Olivier award winning show is an explicit account of a journey into adulthood. Based on Frank Wedekind`s 1891 play, it examines the exuberance, intensity and confusion of teenage life today and asks important and pressing ques tions about how young people are shaped for their future by a generation that doesn`t understand them. If you like your theatre powerful, visceral and full of energy then book now for this unforget table contemporary musical.
IVER VILLAGE HALL, HIGH ST. IVER SL0 9NW Ticket price £12 OR groups of 10+ only £10pp.
Starring Brian Conley this exhilarating musical follows Phineas T. Barnum, the legendary showman, as he fulfils his dream to create the Greatest Show on Earth – Barnum and Bailey’s Circus – lighting up the world with the colour, warmth and excitement of his imagination.
Beginning at the Musical Museum at Brentford we will share the moment when we hear the unmistakeable tones of the Mighty Wurlitzer as it rises majestically from the orchestra pit, providing an impressive centrepiece for the
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Christmas Concert and singalong. Following sherry and mince pies we will join the coach to see the London Christmas Lights and Sights finishing the tour at Somerset House before heading home. Evreham Theatre Club organises approximately twelve outings per year to include musical and dramatic theatre, exhibitions and other places of interest and social events, all events are advertised to members through the regular Newsletter. 2014 membership is £7.00 for individuals and £12.00 for couples. For further information please contact Pauline Harrison (Secretary) 01753 732019, Heather Golby (Membership Secretary) 01753 541677.
Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX Independent School for boys and girls aged 3 - 11
An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School
OPEN MORNING Wednesday 15th October 2014
Please telephone 01895 234371 to make an appointment Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com 39
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What happened in...
...October 1964?
high speed rail link between Tokyo and Osaka was opened. It had an operational speed of 170mph; ‘coasting’, as Craig Breedlove would probably call it.
At Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, on 15th October, Craig Breedlove, set a new land8th: Baby, I can drive my own speed record of over 520 mph. car! Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, passed Just seconds later he set his driving test. another (still unbroken) record for the world’s longest 10th: Yoshinori Sakai carried skid – nearly six miles! His the Olympic torch into the parachute brakes failed and stadium in Tokyo to open the the car travelled another six Summer Olympics. Yoshinori miles before crashing into a was born in the outskirts of lake at 200 mph. He managed Hiroshima on 6th August, to exit the car without even 1945, the day the atomic getting wet. bomb was dropped. This Craig is currently working on a project to take a car powered by two jet engines to 1,000 mph (mach1.4), although the 77-year-old won’t be driving it himself. No, don’t all rush, he already has a driver. 1st: The first section of the
choice of runner was a symbol of Japan’s reconstruction and commitment to world peace.
(I know the feeling, I’m always forgetting stuff). The threeman crew landed the next day after sixteen orbits of Earth. 14th: At the age of 35 Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. 15th: The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, won the general election, ending thirteen years of Conservative Government. American composer/ songwriter Cole Porter died aged 73. 16th: China successfully exploded its first atomic bomb.
12th: The USSR launched Voskhod 1, the world’s first spacecraft to carry more than one person and the first not to take spacesuits and helmets
Petrol was about 4/6d a gallon The average price of a house was about £3,360
Three of the bestselling singles this year were: (There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me - Sandie Shaw I’m Into Something Good - Herman’s Hermits Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
29th: The Star of India, an almost flawless ‘double-sided’ star sapphire the size of a golf ball was part of a haul stolen from the American Museum of Natural History. The gang responsible were jailed and the gems were recovered – all except one. The Eagle Diamond is still missing.
Short Shorts by Patrick D Cousins is a collection of short stories available as an e-book for £1.99. Rainbows, Dreams and Angels is a double novella from Amazon. You can hear the song on You Tube. 42
Amazing Dentures Eat, Talk, Smile
01895 770140 07970 058506 We can help you live life to the full once again with our beautiful, tailor made dentures. Andrew Dougan is a highly qualified Clinical Dental Technician who has been dedicated to bespoke denture creations since 1989.
• True life teeth & latest materials • Repairs & alterations • Cosmetic denture enhancements • Denture problem solving • FREE car park
For honest, friendly advice or to book a FREE consultation call or
17 Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, Bucks HP10 9LS Andrew Dougan Dip CDT RCS (ENG) RDT GDC No. 162175
www.denture-world.co.uk
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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 Careers Professional Alliance, a qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer, she works with both private and business clients around Hillingdon, South Bucks and Middlesex. Karen is currently facilitating workshops and offering individual coaching to Military Personnel leaving the Armed Forces at RAF Northolt, helping them through their transition to civilian work. Karen writes for a number of careers focused and military resettlement magazines and regularly contributes to ‘In and Around’ sharing her practical experience with her local community. I have been doing a lot of work on the subject of ‘networking’ lately. I recently ran a Networking Techniques workshop and was also invited by the ‘Officers Association’ to discuss the topic with service leavers via a webinar. Firstly, let’s understand what is networking? Well, the true definition of networking is to “interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one's career.” With up to 85% of the job market not being actively advertised, it is clear many of those jobs are secured through friends of friends, word of mouth, direct and indirect contacts. Networking is therefore critical to anyone thinking about making a career change or looking for a job. There are always some key concerns raised about networking and one of them is the fear of approaching people initially. How do you start networking? Many of my clients worry networking will appear ‘false’, ‘fake’ or ‘insincere’. However, networking is normal and expected in the commercial world and everyone is doing it. Networking is about having relevant conversations with other people who may have a common interest with you, such as the industry you work in or want to work in, or a specialism. It isn’t however, asking people for a job directly. People will instinctively shy away from direct requests for work. So a different approach is required. Networking is about researching and asking relevant questions and exchanging ideas and experiences. Start with your primary contacts, people you know already and have a good rapport with – how can they help you? Widen your search by asking them if they know anyone in their contacts who may be able to help you. Can they refer you anyone? These referrals will be the decision makers, recruiters and people with the information you need to find out about the job market. Start to get yourself noticed. Ask about industry trends; who is hiring and who is firing? What skills and training are currently required in your line of work and what will make you a strong candidate? Ask people for feedback on your CV . Find out which organisations only use Agencies and which ones don’t. There is no point registering with a particular recruitment agency if the 44
company you want to work for doesn’ t use them. Networking will bring all this information to your doorstep and will effectively become the foundation of your job searching strategy. I always recommend using Linked-In (www.linkedin. com) as a fantastic resource to facilitate networking as well as using Twitter to follow companies and get real time information on the job market and industry trends. However, don’t fall in to the trap of thinking networking is all about being on-line, because nothing is better that meeting someone face to face. Personal impact is important so use your online connections to facilitate meeting face to face, perhaps over a coffee, where you can engage with someone personally. Always make sure when you meet someone for a networking meeting, you are clear about what you want to gain from the meeting. Don’t turn up waiting for them to initiate conversation. You will need to explain to them what you want to discuss and what information you are looking for. Nearly all of my clients find employment through networking. It demonstrates they are proactive and professional and are prepared to get out there, meet people and work hard. Networking can facilitate employment even when a vacancy doesn’t exist. It can lead to alternative job offers, more referrals, new posts being created and will continue to expand your contacts even further. For every networking meeting you have, try to get at least 2 more referrals and remember to communicate with everyone. Keep your primary contacts ‘in the loop’ letting them know how you are getting on and how their referrals have helped you. Networking can start to become a full time job in itself. It can be extremely rewarding meeting new people and engaging in conversations about common themes in employment and industry. It will boost your confidence and your communication skills – and that can only be a good thing!
Karen
“unlocking your career potential”
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In and Around Reader Travel
Riviera of Flowers Monaco & Portofino 8 DAYS SEMI ALL INCLUSIVE FROM
£849pp
Free Drinks & Champagne check-in
Portofino
Monaco
Dolceacqua
Departures: 13 April, 15 May, 19 & 25 September, 1 October, 2015 This super holiday, taking in the French and Italian Rivieras, starts with a glass of bubbly at St Pancras’ famous Champagne Bar before taking an afternoon Eurostar to Lille or Paris. After an overnight stay, we continue by TGV train to Nice then coach to Diano Marina on Italy’s Riviera of Flowers. Enjoy free drinks every night at the hotel and excursions to Monaco, Eze, Portofino and Dolceacqua. INCLUDED: Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras • Return rail travel from St Pancras to Nice • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille • 6 nights in Diano Marina - half board plus selected free drinks 6pm to 11pm every night • Excursions & transfers abroad
Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Voyages Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. GN Holidays & Voyages www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
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ABTA No. Y0291 ATOL 9362
Birmingham Christmas Market & Worcester £10 D Victorian Christmas Fayre £99PP 2 days half board • 29 November, 2014 PP
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest outdoor Christmas Market in the country. Traditional stalls offer an array of beautiful handmade toys, Christmas decorations and craft goods. Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year. INCLUDED: 1 night stay at the Hilton Hotel, Bromsgrove • 1 dinner and 1 breakfast • Visits to Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre Coach travel and excursions • Coach travel and excursions
EPOSIT
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River Avon Christmas Lunch Cruise & Festive £10 D Stratford-upon-Avon £69PP Great Day Out • Wednesday 3 December, 2014 PP
EPOSIT
Join us for a Festive Lunch Cruise on the Countess of Evesham, a popular, well-established family-run 70ft restaurant cruiser. Enjoy a traditional 3course Christmas lunch while the Restaurant Boat cruises some of the most delightful stretches of the gently flowing River Avon. You will also have free time in Stratford-upon-Avon which will be decorated for Christmas. INCLUDED: Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon • 3-hour River Avon cruise on the Countess of Evesham • 3-course traditional Christmas lunch on-board starter, main course and dessert • Return coach travel
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Christmas in Dorset, Longleat & Broadchurch 4 days half board+ • 24 December, 2014 Join us for a 4-day Christmas break at the Sherborne Hotel in rural Dorset. The hotel is nestled in 6 acres of private grounds and is surrounded by fields. It is a short walk from the historic market town that shares its name. The hotel has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment programme. There will be entertainment on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day evenings. Our holiday includes visits to Longleat, with a ride on the Santa Express, and West Bay - home to TV’s Broadchurch. INCLUDED: 3 nights stay at the Sherborne Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset • 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 1 traditional Christmas Day lunch • Visits to Longleat and West Bay • Coach travel and excursions
Call 01895 83 33 33 GN Holidays & Voyages, Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL
Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. www. gnvoyages.co.uk • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
£10PP DEPOSIT
£429PP
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ABTA No. Y029 ATOL 9362
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Life Begins
Many Phish In Too Sea ... The
by Kate McLelland
Looking at my inbox, it’s a wonder that I’m not in serious trouble with a lot of people.
“HM Revenue and Customs” emailed me several months ago and asked me to go through my tax return - attached to the email - and reply immediately. I ignored them. Then I received an email confessing to an “operational error” that meant I had overpaid my tax and was due a refund. I deleted it. It’s the same with my friends. They email me in crisis from various exotic holiday locations, but I turn my back on their desperate pleas:
“We were mugged in an alley by a gang of thugs on our way back from shopping. All our money, phones and credit cards were stolen and I’ll be grateful if I can get a loan of £1,750.” All emails originate from my friends’ actual addresses and are signed with heartbreaking messages such as: “All hopes on you, Joanna”. But I’m not a heartless millionaire, too rich to care. All these emails have been sent by criminals trying to get my money or steal my identity (or both). The generic term for these attempts at online extortion is “phishing”. We’re all so busy these days that it’s easy to assume the 50
official-looking communication that arrives in your inbox is the real thing, but there are a few rules you can follow to make sure that you don’t become a victim.
1. Never respond to emails requesting personal financial information. Reputable organisations don’t ask for passwords or account details in an email. Don’t be fooled by messages such as “Urgent – your account details may have been stolen” or “Your account has been frozen”. 2. Always visit a bank’s website by typing the bank’s URL into the address bar Phishers try to lure people to link to a fake site (“myonlinebank.co.uk” rather than the correct site “myonlinebank.com”) by asking them to click on a link in an email. It’s safer to type in the bank’s address yourself. 3. Keep a regular check on your online accounts. Make sure you check your statements frequently. If you spot any suspicious transactions, report them to the bank immediately. 4. Check that the website you are visiting is a secure one You can tell that you are dealing with an encrypted
site if the start of the address “http://“ includes an “s” for “secure”, as in “https://“ and a little lock icon appears on your browser’s status bar. However, you should continue to exercise caution - just because a site uses encryption it doesn’t guarantee that it’s legitimate. 5. Be careful with emails and personal data Don’t give away PINS or passwords or any personal information. Don’t ever write down your passwords or use the same password for multiple accounts. 6. Keep your computer secure by setting up a firewall and installing and updating anti-virus protection software. Don’t be tempted to open suspicious-looking emails. 7. Report suspicious activity. Crimestoppers has a useful site where you can learn about different types of fraud and find out how to report them: http://gameoffraud. crimestoppers-uk.org
These are general guidelines but remember that just as technology continues to develop and improve, so will the skills of the phishers. That leaves you with one golden rule: if an online communication arouses even the slightest suspicion, don’t open it.
PARK RICHINGS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
Bowls, Softball, Tennis Cricket, Football, Running Darts& Pool Licenced Bar & Catering Hall Hire For Weddings, Reunions Christenings Corporate Events
Wellesley Ave, Richings Park Iver, Bucks SL0 9BN Tel: 01753 651320 email: administration@rpsc.org.uk www.rpsc.org.uk
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Ann Rennie is an experienced coach, mentor and trainer. She is based in Iver Heath and works through Skype and by phone with a wide range of clients. She has a corporate background which combines sales, customer service and managing major projects. Her real passion is supporting individuals in making the changes in their thinking and behaviour that produce a transformation in the results they experience. With qualifications in NLP, sales and retail management and project management she draws on her own experience of what works in the real world with best practice from current research to create bespoke solutions. Her mantra is ‘don’t get it perfect, get it done’ and her focus on taking action led a client to describe working with her as ‘like having your own personal business supernanny’.
What part does luck play in the success of our business or how happy we are with our lives? How do I pick a topic? Because it is suggested by what I hear from clients with many women entrepreneurs and they talked about the role luck played – some organisations tell stories of ‘lucky’ encounters. We talk about synchronicity or serendipity and these are examples of the outcomes experienced by us all at times and people who describe themselves as lucky see as happening repeatedly and frequently to them. You will have heard stories or even have your own and have heard people talk about fate or serendipity as the explanation for what they are experiencing and the results they get. When you step back and look at it in more detail people who seem to be consistently lucky seem to share certain characteristics. They may talk about chance meetings resulting in opportunities as if they are somehow magically created but when you break down what they do there is evidence that they are creating the results they shrug off as just lucky. I’m suggesting luck is a label for something we can all learn and implement in our everyday lives and especially in our businesses. Luck is the outcome of a set of behaviours and beliefs – in other words it is a state of mind that drives specific focused action. I want to share with you some areas that have come out as areas in research and if you know of individuals you regard as lucky or think of times you yourself have been lucky you may notice that luck is not about fate or some random chance. One of the areas lucky people talk about chance meetings or opportunities that seem to appear – but it seems that in fact they are simply acting on opportunities they themselves have created and that they are openness leads them to notice them when they come along. * Socialise and build networks 52
*
They are creating opportunities for new connections and contacts * Ensure exposure to new ideas and are open to new experiences * They are curious and receptive to where and what the next opportunity may be * Not prone to rumination – look forward and live in the now is they display decision making approach they take allows intuition to take centre stage * Listen to their gut feelings – and trust it in making decisions * They will describe their decision making process to include stepping back and finding a quiet place or returning to it later This approach seems to allow a wide series of factors to be involved under the heading of ‘intuition’ So lucky people contribute to the process of creating and noticing the opportunities and direction for them to get what they want and then they do something about it is around when they start to take action: * Go into situations expecting things to go well – they are living examples of the power of expectations * In the same way they expect other people to be competent and to interact with them positively * Look for and usually find ‘the silver lining’ in setbacks and ‘failure’ – things go wrong for lucky people but this doesn’t stop them. It is about course correction and they look at how to get a different outcome next time. * They believe things will work out over time and keep going. * Post traumatic growth thinking * Lucky people are persistent Final thoughts on luck – Oprah Winfrey has said – You can decide to be ‘lucky’ –what you experience is down to you!
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october events
Local Events october into november 54
watch & take part – face painting, Punch & Judy show, ferret racing, archery and craft-making plus refreshment tents & a bbQ. entry will be £1 per adult & £3 parking. children go free.
Ruislip/northwood Flower arrangement society northwood and Pinner liberal synagogue, oaklands Gate, northwood ha6 3aa. Forthcoming Events: tue 7th october - Area demonstrator, Andrew Lloyd - ‘The Colours of Autumn’. tue 4th november - Area demonstrator, Alan smith ‘Christmas Crackers’. tue 2nd December - national demonstrator, Anthony Williams - ‘Christmas Lights’ cost: visitors £5 for Area Demonstrators and £6 for national Demonstrators. tickets may be purchased on the door. call 01923 829621 for details. michael sobell hospice Fundraiser ‘Brain Box Quiz night’ Wed 8th october, 7.30pm michael sobell hospice, mount Vernon hospital, northwood, ha6 2Rn our popular quiz night returns. tickets cost £15 and includes a fish & chip supper (veggie option available) there is also a licensed bar. Free parking. barclays bank will match funds to make your donation go further. tickets can be booked online at www.michaelsobel lhospice.co.uk or 01923 844730. hUBB Business Breakfast event thu 9th october, 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 ‘Butterflies’ autumn sale & Community Coffee morning sat 11th october, 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 apple Day sat 18th october, 11am-4pm home Cottage Farm, Bangors Road south, iver heath A great family fun day out with numerous stalls for local charities, producers and traders – from toffee apples and pumpkins to bric-a-brac and crafts. Lots of children’s activities and events for all ages to
Quiz ‘n’ Chips night sun 19th october Compass theatre, Glebe avenue, ickenham ,UB10 8PD Another fun general knowledge quiz night in aid of the restoration of Ickenham Hall and compass theatre's building and fittings. the bar will be open throughout. tickets include a tasty chip supper with either fish, chicken, sausage or veggie burger. tel: 079 302 68686.
Ruislip Central horticultural society thurs 21st october, 7.30-9.30pm st lawrence Church hall, 2 Bridle Road, Pinner, ha5 2sJ A talk not to be missed! 'Plants for the Autumn' given by timothy Walker, Director of oxford botanic Garden. For more details contact Warren reeves; call 01923 451616, email: rchstalks@gmail.com or visit www.ruisliphorticulturalsociety.org.uk £3 members, £4 non-members including refreshments. Flower Festival Fri 31st oct to sun 2nd nov st marys Church, the Fairway, south Ruislip Dedicated to the First World War and those who gave their lives for us. see www.stmarychurch.co.uk for more.
Don't miss the DeaDline! If you would like us to publicise your event in our november issues contact us no later than Friday 10th october.
noveMber events Uxbridge Business Biscotti Wed 5th november, 8.30-10.30am Devonshire Business Centre, Boundary house, Cricket Field Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1QG the philosophy is simple – if you want to network, make contacts and forge business relationships in an informal environment visit Uxbridge biscotti. there’s no need to book, just come along and buy a cup of tea or coffee (donation of £2) to support
the venue! (Nearest car park is ‘intu shopping centre’). Glebe Primary school Pta shopping evening thu 6th november, 6pm-9pm ickenham Village hall, 33 swakeleys Road, ickenham, UB10 8DG Free entrance. various stalls plus refreshments on sale. ‘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 Ruislip manor Christmas Fayre sat 8th november come and join the fun. call Les Drussel on 07792 856984 for more. 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.
LIve MUsIc events the Watersedge Packet Boat lane, Cowley, UB8 2Js Fri 10th oct the Flyers Fri 14th nov Ladies night with Drag Queen tiffany Wells and 2 male strippers (show starts 9pm with DJ 'til late £15 pp inc basket meal) the 3 steps high st, Cowley, UB8 2DX sat 11th oct 'Amy Winehouse' tribute sat 18th oct 'Pack of Lies' Fri 24th oct 'stiles' sat 25th oct cher tribute Fri 31st oct Halloween Party the swan at iver 2 high street, iver, sl0 9nG Fri 17th oct two tone Fri 24th oct boogie shoes Fri 31st oct Halloween Fancy Dress Party + disco - 1st prize £100 the Whip & Collar 135 swallow street, iver, sl0 0hU sat 18th oct rod stewart tribute sat 25th oct Halloween Fancy Dress + DJ, plus prizes for best dressed!
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Flora
Emma
Due to no fault of her own, Flora is still looking for her forever home. Could anyone help give this beautiful girl a place to live her life happily, with lots of love and TLC? Please do get in touch. Flora and her two kittens came into the RSPCA when someone found them scared and injured on the side of the road. Flora is a tabby and white female around 3 years of age. When she arrived, she was filthy and had several wounds on her side. Despite this, she was constantly purring and very thankful for the human attention. Flora's two kittens were found with her and were only 6 weeks old. Although uninjured, they were very scared and wouldn't let the RSPCA staff near them. After lots of hard work and TLC by the team here, they were absolutely fine and have now found new homes, leaving Flora behind. Could you offer Flora her forever home? Emma is 23 years old white and tabby. Emma is yet another of the many unwanted cats to end up in our care after being rejected by their owners. It's hard to imagine how anyone could not fall in love with this beautiful girl, who is so friendly and adores being fussed. She is semilong haired, so will require some grooming but she doesn't seem to mind this at all. Emma would make such a lovely family member and is just looking for genu ine love and care in return. Can you help Emma find the love she is looking for? The RSPCA have many more animals that have been abandoned and are waiting for you. If you can give either of these lovely girls a home then please ring or visit our website to download an application form if you are looking to adopt. 56
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The work on the temporary replacement bridge has continued all summer. The night time working caused significant problems for residents living nearby, with the environmental health officers taking action with regard to the noise, dust and lighting problems created. Following discussions with Crossrail and their contractors we have now obtained a plan of what they are intending to do, a timeline of work going forward and an undertaking that most of the work will now be carried out during the day. All this information as well as the Noise Management Plan is on our website. However, there will be one way traffic flows at times which will no doubt cause some queues.
This is still a big concern across the whole area, particularly along the perimeter roads of Richings Park. We would like to be able to operate the Community Speedwatch activity again which did have a considerable effect in reducing speeding. However, in order to do so we need volunteers to come forward to help us. If you can spare sometime we would be very pleased to hear from you.
If you have not already done so please remember to pay your subscript ions to your road steward or at the Post Office. Details on our website if you lose the envelope delivered to you. 58
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Gardening
Conifers
by Pippa Greenwood
Conifers are a great way to add colour, texture and living sculpture to your garden 365 days of the year. With several hundred different cultivars of conifer to choose from in the UK, there really is one to suit every situation. Dwarf Conifers - There are many conifers which reach a maximum height of 1m (3ft). These are obviously particularly useful for small gardens and will often add a great extra dimension to a rock garden or a small-scale border. They may need an occasional trimming, but generally hold their shape well. Recommended: Picea abies ‘Little Gem’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Gnome’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana’, Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ Tall and Narrow - Very stylish, many of the columnar or tall, slim conifers look especially stunning when used to create a screen, or to add height to a mixed border or a shrub border. Being rather like a living sculpture they are also good grown as a single specimen tree in a lawn. Recommended: Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata Aurea’, Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’, Thuja plicata ‘Fastigiata’. 60
Pyramidshaped Conifers - With their relatively wide bases and narrow tops, pyramidal conifers can bring welcome shape, texture and evergreen colour to your garden and if carefully position are often useful to hide an eyesore. Recommended: Picea albertiana ‘Conica’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Yvonne’ or Thymus occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’ Spherical Conifers - With their prominently rounded shape these conifers naturally produce a sculptured look and are perfect for growing either side of a gateway or house entrance. They also look great in a mixed border, adding colour, texture and interest when many of the other border ingredients are below ground. Recommended: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Sunset’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Glauca’, Thuja occidentalis ‘Danice’ Ground-Cover Conifers - Great for hiding low-lying eyesores such as manhole covers, an evergreen groundcover hides them all year long. Low growing conifers also work well for covering steep slopes and edging paths and beds. They will help to keep weeds at bay and are very low maintenance. Recommended: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Coat’, Juniperus conferata, Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’. Conifers for Containers
- Conifers can look great either on their own (especially when planted with a few small bulbs around their roots, to add splashes of seasonal colour) or in a mixed planting where they help to bring structure, texture and off-season colour. Recommended: Juniperus compressa ‘Compressa’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwood’s Gold’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan-Sugi’ , Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Springtime’, Pinus leucodermis ‘Schmidtii’ Conifer Planting and Growing Tips - Make the planting hole a minimum of 1m wide by 30cm deep and incorporate plenty of bulky organic matter such as garden compost, proprietary planting mix or well-rotted manure. Tease or spread out the roots well and backfill the hole with garden soil mixed with planting compost. Make sure that only the roots are below the soil surface, water in well. Keep the soil moist at all times, especially during late spring and summer when drought is likely. Feed in April using a proprietary fertiliser to keep the growth good and ensure it is a good colour. Trim conifers regularly but remember if you cut back into old or brown growth you’ll end up expose all the old growth as they don’t produce dormant buds.
Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardening-related items including‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Cards, handmade pottery herb planters, Pippa’s favourite weeding tool, signed books and lots of useful garden items.
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Everyone at IVJS is looking forward to another exciting year. We finished last year with a magnificent production of Alice the Musical, and all the pupils who took part gave an outstanding performance. We said a sad goodbye to our wonderful Year 6 pupils as they left IVJS to move to the next stage of their learning. Last term saw many events including our Sports Day. This was held in beautiful sunshine and the children competed in a range of team and individual sports. All the children tried their hardest and were a credit to the school. The event was well attended by parents and family members who cheered on all the pupils. The Summer term also included many trips to help enhance the children’s learning. These included a residential trip for Year 6, a Punch and Judy show for Year3 and building shelters for Year 5. This term our Year 6 pupils will be attending PGL at Windmill Hill in Sussex for a week of team building adventure activities. The activities include climbing, high ropes, mountain biking and raft building. Our year 5 and 6 pupils will be taking part in a “bikeability” course which is being run here at our school. This important course will give the pupils valuable safety advice and experience to cycle safely in our village. Our curriculum is packed full with children studying topics such as ‘Animal Antics’, Machinery and electricity.
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They’re itching to tell you something...
This year seems to have been a bumper year for fleas. The weather has been warm and often humid which is flea heaven! Added to that, like many other vets, i suspect that one of the more popular ingredients of flea products, Fipronil, already difficult to apply effectively, appears to be losing its efficacy and most other pet shop products are ineffective anyway.
Don’t forget that if you see one flea on your pet there are probably dozens. Adult fleas lay eggs on the coat that then fall off into the environment (your house!) along with the flea’s droppings – the characteristic black bits you see in the coat. The eggs hatch into larvae which turn into pupae and then into adult fleas which then jump back onto your pets (or you)! in good conditions the life cycle can complete in less than a week, a female flea can lay 60 eggs a day. Added to that, the eggs can live for years in your home so there is the potential of a huge reservoir of fleas maybe in their thousands. Routine flea control is essential all year round to prevent this build-up but especially through the late summer and into Autumn. Fleas are the most common skin parasites but you will come across a few other creepy crawlies on your pets. Lice can cause itchy skin but at least spend all their life on the host so they don’t infest your house. Look for the characteristic white ‘nits’ in the coat. Sarcoptic mange is caused by a microscopic mite that burrows in the skin. it is commonly passed directly from dog to dog or from foxes to dogs on bushes, fences etc. it causes intensely itchy patches, typically on the flanks, elbows, face and ears. Demodectic mange shows as bald patches usually on the head and face most often in short coated dogs. it is usually not very itchy but can spread and may be a sign of other more serious disease. Ear mites are commonly found in cats and rabbits but sometimes affect dogs (especially puppies from pet shops and poor breeders) and can cause a lot of irritation and infection. Ticks can be picked up from parks and other wooded over-grown areas but although they won’t stay long on 64
your pet can carry diseases.
Rabbits and other small pets don’t suffer from fleas as frequently but mites and lice are common. Cheylitiella (walking dandruff) causes patches of itchy white scurf on rabbits. Guinea pigs can suffer from a form of mange which is severely pruritic and can be debilitating, and even life threatening. Even reptiles and birds can suffer from, often visible, external parasites.
More than ever your vet is best able to give you advice on treating fleas and other parasites, and has the most up-to-date and effective treatments.
M C Atkinson BVSc MRCVs www.stmartinsvetclinic.com
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Guy Fawkes Night Fireworks Display
Richings Park Sports Club
Wellesley Avenue, Richings Park, SL0 9BN
Wednesday 5th November, 2014 Doors Open 6.15 pm Firework Display 7.15 pm Licensed Bar & Food Available Adults £5 accompanied children under 12 £1 No drinks,fireworks or bottles BBQ Food Available
allowed onto site No Parking within the grounds
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FREE ONE DAY PASS? THAT’S BETTER… We are Better, your local leisure centre. Try our facilities for free and enjoy the full benefits of a
Better prepaid membership for a whole day. With a wide range of activities on offer, including exercise classes and gym, you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy.
For more information, visit www.better.org.uk or email grace.curry@gll.org Evreham Sports Centre Swallow Street, Iver Bucks, SL0 0HS 01753 672 610 Terms & Conditions apply
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Iver Village Infant
Open Days Come and find out what makes our school so unique.
School
Friday 10th October 9.30 am Tuesday 14th October 1.30pm Thursday 13th November 9.30 am
“...a happy community, where children are well behaved and work successfully as a team with the teaching staff” Ofsted 2013 “Reception children's learning activities inside and outside of the classrooms are well planned, interesting and an experience where the children delight in finding out new things”. Ofsted 2013
You and your child will be able to explore and discover life in all parts of our school. A full tour will be available and the chance to meet the teachers and pupils too.
Caring, Growing, Learning in the Heart of the Community Iver Village Infant School www.iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk
Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9NT Tel:01753 655104 office@iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk
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flowers & gardening... iver flower Club The Coppins Room, Iver Village Hall, Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9HW. Meets 4th Thursday of month, 7.30pm. Call Jayne on 07730 249876. Visit: www.bbando.org.uk/clubs/iver
Call Rosemary 01628 776838 www.thefitnessleague.com
class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk
iver Heath garden & allotment Club Iver Heath Village Hall. Every 2nd Monday of the month at 8pm. Call Barbara Thompson Programme Secretary 01895 235213. Contact email address is Ann McCullough Secretary amcc100@gmail.com Hobbies...
bobbin lace Making group Every Thu 7.30pm at Southlands House, The Green, Swan Road, West Drayton. Call Julie 020 8897 9368 or Margaret 01895 851349 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 compose and develop your own Chinese painting style as well as practicing the finer points of Chinese calligraphy often seen on paintings. Find us at Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or contact Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com inland waterways association Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk
ballet Classes Iver Heath Village Hall, Friday 4.457pm. Call L Killian 01753 814280
Hour of Power - Ultimate workout Wed 7pm at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610.
bokwa fitness tone & Core The latest craze - hits all your fitness targets in one - 07771 872592 learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk
iver Heath drama Club Meet every Wednesday at Iver Heath New Village Hall between 7.45pm & 10pm. Contact Matt Streuli email: matt@ihdc.co.uk or www.ihdc.co.uk
boxfit Saturdays 9.45-10.45am at the Evreham Sport Centre, Iver. An exciting class which uses focus pads and gloves to enhance an excellent aerobic workout. Call 01753 672610 Children's Zumba (Zumbatomic) Classes Wednesdays at 3.30-5.30pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, Saint Margaret's Close. Call Diane on 07926 854184
futunity Street Dance and Hip Hop for children age 7-11 years. Fri's from 4-9pm call Cheryl on 01753 651754 or email childcare@ivercommunity.org Modern Jive Classes Monday 8-11pm at West Drayton Community Centre Tuesday & Thursday 8-11pm at Uxbridge Civic Centre Beginners Welcome – First Night Entry & Free Lifetime membership with this listing. Contact Alan: 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 www.clubceroc.com email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com donna’s keep fit Iver Heath Village Hall. Call Donna 01753 674945. Tue 9.45-10.45am
adults Zumba Classes Running on Wednesdays 6-7pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, Saint Margaret's Close. Call Diane on 07926 854184
evreham adult learning Centre Please call 0845 045 4040 to book the following… Gentle Yoga Wed 13.30-14.30. Class suitable for beginners to intermediate level. Cost £50 for 10 weeks. Fully qualified Exercise To Music Instructor.
bagot stack (fitness league) Term Time Only. Vyners School, UB10 8AB on Tue 7.30 - 8.30pm. Also in Windsor Monday & Thursday.
fitness Club St Catherine School, Money Lane, West Drayton, UB7 7NX. Thu 6-7pm Circuits, Fitness and Boxercise. £5 a
keeP-fit, danCe & draMa...
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Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Monday 9.30am-10.30am and Tuesday 6.45pm-7.45pm. Wednesday and Friday 10-11am Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Road, Denham, Bucks. Thursday 6.30-7.30pm. Contact Wendy Whitefoord, Tel: 07803 602142 or email: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com
ladies only kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8.00pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Just turn up or call Instructor Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 email: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk line dancing Tuesday 7.30-10pm, Iver Village Hall. All ability levels welcome. £5, £2 kids. Call Stephanie 07958 643307 nordic walking & wellbeing Explore our borough’s green spaces . with all round exercise in the open air, 4 week courses various days and locations pre booking essential contact 07771872592 / learningmoves@hotmailco.uk Personal training Looking for some extra help to get fit & into shape? For more info and prices call Rachel on 07745 622011 Pilates Iver Heath Village Hall on Thurs 7pm8pm call Mrs S Webb 01923 721335 continued overleaf...
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keep-fit, dance & drama continued...
toddler & Junior fitness fun Junior Trampolining Weds 4.30pm5.30pm held at the Evreham Sports Centre Iver. Call 01753 672610 for details.
7.45-10.30 with a ten minute break for a cup of tea, a chat and a biscuit. If you enjoy singing or would like to find out more about us, please come along to watch us one evening or visit www.signaturesingers.com
pilates class St Peters Centre, Iver. Tuesday 7-8pm. Julie Hall 07976 966 583 pinewood fitness The Fitness Room, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Sl0 0NH. Mon 20.00-21.00, Wed 19.30-20.30. Booking only. Various Fitness Circuits, Boxercise, Gym Work. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk richings players Perform three plays each year usually at Iver Village Hall. If you would like to become a member call Adrian on 01753 652843 or www.richingsplayers.com Salsa classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.459.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm. Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm tap dance Mondays 7.30-8.30pm at Meadows Community Centre, West Drayton. Adult Beginner/Intermediate tap. No exams. Contact 01895 420409 / learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk
Yoga Iver Heath Village Hall Mon 6.30-7.45pm Jonathan Bell 07790 682238
ZumBa ® fitness classes Mon & Thurs 7-8pm. St Peters Centre, Iver - all levels welcome! plus INSANITY Classes Mondays 8.15pm9pm. £5 per class. Call Rachel on 07745 622011 for info/to book. Zumba fitness Weds 8-9pm at Langley Grammar School Sport Centre Reddington Drive Langley, SL3 8LL and Thurs 7-8pm at Yiewsley / West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Rd, West Drayton UB7 9JL. Call Gabriel 07735090325 or gabrielzumba@instructor.net www.gabriel84.zumba.com muSic... faraday country music club in Slough SL2 1RN. Join us for the best live Country Music every Thursday for listeners, western partners, freestyle or line dancers. From 8-11pm. Contact Deb 07986 050742. www.faradaycountry.co.uk
tai chi classes Tues 10am at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610
the Windsor & district Big Bands appreciation Society Meet on 2nd Wed of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Rd, Datchet. Meetings feature the music of the big bands of the 40s & 50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDs, along with a raffle and sometimes a live band. If you like to reminisce, do come along and join us! Contact Derek Verrier on 01753 654398
tai chi classes Every Saturday 10-11am, Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429
Signature a cappella singers We meet on a Monday night at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Iver Heath SLO 0DQ. Time
taurus circuits Pinewood Studio. With Personal Trainer Shaun. Monday 8pm-9pm Booking only 07906 087749
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Stoke poges Singers A friendly four-part choir with about forty members singing a wide variety of music during the year. New members are always welcome and there are no auditions. The ability to read music is not essential. Rehearsals on Thursday evening at St Andrews Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges from 8pm. Come along to a rehearsal or contact Naomi on 07831 217575 or Cheryl on 01753 655682. www.stoke-poges-singers.org Yiewsley & West drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. To join or book the band for an engagement contact Lynne on 07976 824152 or email Lynne@ywdband.com Yiewsley & West drayton training Band This is open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or those of you wanting to 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wed during term time 6.45-7.45pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com petS... iver dog training club Meet Tuesday & Friday 6.30-9pm, St Andrews Church, Richings Park. Call Diana 01753 732907 iver Heath fields dog club 'Outdoor Training' every Sat at 10.15am, Wed at 11am call Mike on 01753 817852 or 07795 031335
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pre-school & kids groups... French for children with La Jolie Ronde, 5-11yrs. In Iver, Saturdays. Call Estelle 07831 779888 for more details. rainbow guides Iver Heath Scout Hut on Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm. Call Cindy Gordon 01753 795724 or Tracey Glynn 01895 469804 richings park pre-school St Leonard's Hall, St Leonard's Walk, Richings Park Iver, SL0 9DD. Monday to Friday 9.15am-12.15pm Extended days on Tue, Wed and Fri until 2.15pm. 15 hours funding available for 3-4 year olds per week. 2yr old funding. Call 07712 477848. shooting stars pre-school An innovative pre-school setting for children aged two-five years open from 7.00am – 6.00pm Monday – Friday. Iver Village Hall, High St, Iver, SL0 9NW. Call Rafia 01753 651754 or e: childcare@ivercommunity.org slough sea cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 1218 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for a weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk sticky Fingers Mothers & Toddlers Iver Heath Village Hall, Wed 9.3011.30am. Call Janet Beale 01753 652375 The launchpad A breakfast club for children aged 511 and after school club for Infants. We also offer holiday play schemes. Iver Village Hall, High Street, Iver, SL0 9NW. Call Cheryl on 01753 651754 childcare@ivercommunity.org The pod An after school club for Junior school children combining childcare with specialist educational activities. Iver 76
Village Junior School, High Street, Iver, SL0 9QA. Call Cheryl on 01753 651754 or email: childcare@ivercommunity.org Tiny Talk Baby signing classes Tuesday classes at St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield UB9 6BX, 10am, price £5 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. Please call Bev Meier to book 01895 824935 or 0781 8025993 Tiny Toes childcare An inspirational full day care nursery for children aged six weeks to five years open from 8.00am – 6.00pm Monday – Friday. Evreham Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Call Susan on 01753 655650 tinytoes@ivercommunity.org selF deFence... close Quarter combat Based in Richings Park. Specialising in speed, strength and conditioning training. All types of pad work combinations. Suitable for Men and Women of all ages. 1-2-1 sessions. Call Mark 07525 366126 email: mj.wilding@hotmail.com
Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or email: sportsclubuk@gmail.com Martial Arts Bujinkan kuri dojo Unit 21 Bridgeworks, UB8 2JG Tel: 07878 471124. Training: Sun 10.30-12.30pm, Tue 8-10pm, Thu 8.30-10pm www.bujinkankuridojo.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... Alcoholics Anonymous Every Sunday, 7.30pm at St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Contact Howard on 07816 315688 "if alcohol is costing you more than money, you should meet us" slimming World Tuesday 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver Heath Contact Kate: 07432 107089 sociAl groups...
karate (Adults & children) Iver Heath Village Hall on Tues & Thurs. Kids 7-8pm, Adults 8-9.30pm. Call Sensei R. Baker 07898 946330.
coffee shop At St Margarets Church, Church Rd, Iver Heath. Wed 10.45-11.45am. Enjoy a coffee and a chat in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
karate club of denham / uxbridge For ages 5 years and up. Sunday 9.15-11am at New Denham Community Centre, Oxford Road. Wednesday 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call Dominic on 07988 743725
heathway ladies group Every second Tues of the month at 2pm. You’re welcome as a visitor at the cost of £1.50, as we have a waiting list. Contact Secretary Tricia Cooper 01753 817749 or e: tricia.cooper3@virginmedia.com
kung Fu club West drayton Great Kung Fu work out for everybody, attractive trainings for children & adults on: Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.30-8.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre,
iver & district countryside Assoc., If you enjoy walks in the country and social evenings, why not join us? Call Paul Graham 01753 655183 continued overleaf...
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social groups continued... iver evening Women’s institute Iver Village Hall, meets 2nd Monday of month, 7.30pm. Call Margaret 01753 653751 for details. iver Heath ladies Meet on the 1st Monday of the month (exc. BHs). At 2pm in the Community Room, Iver Heath Village Hall. Call Pat Roberts 01753 647674 or email: pat@roberts3011.orange home.co.uk iver Heath community library The library is open on Tuesday 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm Thursday 10am-1pm & 2pm-7pm Saturday 10am-1pm We hope that people from all three local areas will join with us to preserve this important local resource. Membership is free. Many of the facilities are free. For details contact us or, alternatively, come to one of our free monthly coffee and cake mornings and discuss with us in person. Tel: 0845 2303232 email: lib-ivh@buckscc.gov.uk King's Friends A group of older men and women enjoying life. Contact 01753 651178 for our latest programme. probus club of langley & iver is always looking for new members, we meet for lunch at the Richings Park Sports Club on the last Tuesday of the month (except Dec). We are friendly and attract retired persons of both sexes who usually are from a professional background although there is nothing rigid about background. We normally have a speaker and cover a very wide range of interests. Contact the Secretary on 01753 653571. the rotary club of langley & iver Meets on Thurs evenings 6.45 for 7pm, Richings Park Golf Club. North Park. Iver. SL0 9DL 01753 655370. We are a small friendly club that welcomes everyone, from all walks of life. If you are interested in improving
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the lives of others and have fun doing it, visit www.rotarylangleyandiver.org. uk or email: akahold@hotmail.com Women’s social group Social group for women in West London. Looking to expand your social group and make new friends? We meet regularly for coffee, a chat and organised trips and welcome women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk for more. sport... Back school Small Osteopath lead rehab excercise sessions designed to help strengthen the back with lots of self care advice. Held at Lotus Wellbeing Clinic call 01753 677 604 for further details. Basketball (starting 7th June) Drop-in sessions for adults age 16 and over. Saturdays 12-2pm. £3 per session. At the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610. darts Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Men & Women Players. Tuesday & Thursday Nights. Call Gerry 07957 804204 iver Heath tennis club Church Road, Iver Heath, Bucks. SL0 0RW. New members always welcome, adults and juniors, visit our website for details www.ihltc.co.uk or call John Stephenson 01895 441033 iver Heath Bowls club Interested in playing bowls? Ring Brian Carter 01753 817794 or Hon. Sec. Betty Hemsley 01753 651775 iver short Mat Bowls We are open on Wednesdays 2-5pm & 5-10pm in Iver Village Hall, experience not necessary. Age 18yrs+. Cal Bob 01753 654049 or Ron 01753 819644 or Mary 01753 654765 iver Veterans golf society For men and women over 60. We meet every Tuesday morning at Iver
Golf Club. Handicap not necessary. Regular competitions held at Iver and other courses. You do not need to be a member of Iver Golf Club, just come along and play and make some new friends. Special rates for IVGS members. Contact: 01753 654246 nordic Walking taster session iver Starts Wednesday 30th January, 10am-11am, £5 at Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, Bucks, SL0 0HS. Session is £5 with poles included. If you would like to book onto the course or require more details call the Evreham Sports Centre on 01753 672 610. pink ladies netball club All levels and abilities welcome. Training takes place at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tuesday evening. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm Under 16s - please Rhiannon on 01895 448878 for details email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk richings park ladies Badminton club Meet at St. Andrews Church Hall, North Park, Iver. Every Monday 24pm except Bank Holidays. Intermediate standard of playing. Call Daphne Wood 01753 653404 for details. richings park short Mat Bowls Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Wed from 4pm. Just turn up - equipment provided. run for life Richings park running and fitness club. Richings park sports club Mon and Thu 6-7pm. With Personal trainer Shaun - sessions includes running, circuits, boxing and various other exercises. Call 07906 087749. running club For Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. Runs organised in the local area. Free of charge, chance to train with other runners at your level. Call 01753 677 604 for further details.
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