In and around Ickenham oct 14 by In and Around Publishing

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Indefinable quality For expert advice and installation of all Schueco systems: 9 9 9 9

Bi-Fold Doors Sliding Doors Conservatories Winter Gardens

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Curtain-walling Structural Glazing Windows Glass Sky Lights

0844 358 2227 info@bifolddoorfactory.co.uk www.bifolddoorfactory.co.uk

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Well, having said last month about everyone’s thoughts turning from holidays to Christmas, mine have done a complete u turn. I’m not sure whether that’s something to do with the impending going back of the clocks, the shorter days and longer nights, or the sudden realisation that 10 months into the year and I still haven’t had a holiday. Jackie has managed a couple of small breaks, but then her planning and time management skills are far better than mine. The mags have really kept us on our toes this year and whilst they do involve a lot of work, Jackie and I both love what we do, particularly getting to meet and talk to so many new people every month. Jackie’s face literally lights up at her desk when she gets a call from someone saying how much they like the magazines. We think of the Ruislip and Ickenham magazines as our babies, being the newest of the six at a little over a year and a half old. However, we are de lighted at the support we’ve been given and hope to grow them into even better publications in the new year. Local contributions and articles are always most welcome, so do please continue to keep in touch, either by telephone, email or facebook and let us know what’s going on where you are. Now, back to the planning, where are those holi day brochures?

.

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Wildlife Zone

Used Cars: Retro Rockers

Karen Munro Careers

Children’s Puzzle Page

Ruislip Central Horticultural Society

Garden Feature

Computer Helpdesk

Travel: Alicante

Useful Telephone Numbers

RSPCA Re Homing appeal

Property Matters

What foods can I freeze?

Designer Life

Coffee Break Puzzles

School Phobia

What’s on a the Compass Theatre

Opinion

Reader Travel Offers Clubs, Groups & Classes

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Puzzle Solutions

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Recipe: Cheesy onion soup

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Local Events

In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 

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the wildlife zone

kaiser T  

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.

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 

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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.    

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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 

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 wellbuilt 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.      

      

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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.    

     

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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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Karen Munro - Career Coach

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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 

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

Free Drinks & Champagne check-in

SEMI ALL INCLUSIVE FROM

£849pp

 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

   Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX  Independent School for boys and girls aged 3 - 11 

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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 

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  AuTuMn 

LAST month Margaret told us all about Dahlias, and if you visited the Great Barn in Ruislip on the 13th of September you will have seen what all the fuss was about - over 100 Dahlias were on display with a spectrum of colours.

This month, RCHS Show Manager Patricia Swindells gives an in depth review of the RCHS Autumn Show. This month is a great time to start planting your bulbs for Spring flowering, Narcissi (Daffodils) do a lot better if planted earlier. Plant them in groups of 5s or 7s rather than one or two dotted here and there. Clumps have a greater effect. Tulips too give an amazing show a little after the Daffodils are over, allowing a seamless flow of floral delights into the summer months, and you can start planning these too now. one of my favourite is the fantastic ‘Queen of the night’ and ‘Black Jewel’ with its wonderful dark purple fringe. This variety also repeats well year after year. In the RCHS Spring show in March 2015 you could even show your well rewarded efforts! Over to Patricia with the Autumn Show review... Ruislip Central Horticultural Society Autumn Show September 13th 2014. Unlike at the Summer Show there was no apocalyptic clap of thunder to open the Autumn Show. Instead we were blessed with warm sunshine typifying Keats description of Autumn as a “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. once more the Society members excelled in providing a dazzling display of colour in their exhibits. The display of Dahlias caught the eye on entering the old Barn in Ruislip. The red, orange, purple, yellow and pink flower heads were spectacular and caused a few members of the public to enquire how they too might grow some for next year! The display of fruit and vegetables was mouthwatering and the Show Manager did take the precaution of counting the exhibits as the temptation to taste the produce might have been overpowering. Surprisingly there were quite a few wine producing grapes on display so it might not be too long before a ‘Chateau de Ruislip’ is featured in the local stores. The display in the Domestic section showed that the tradition skills are not lost but thriving. The Floral Art competition showcased the skills of our members. The themes Halloween, 

SHow

Remembrance and Happy Birthday produced exhibits of a very high standard with only single marks differentiating between First and Second place. Another section which highlighted the skills was the Handicraft section. This is a section of the show which is growing in popularity and the standard of entry was very high. Another area of growth is the children’s' section and the Society would like to encourage more children and grandchildren of members to take part. The Cacti and Succulents are always worth close inspection and it was good to see young members of the public taking time to look and ask questions. It was from this section that one particular exhibit caught the Judges' eyes and so was awarded the ‘Best in Show’. The members of the Society were also able to enter other plants that demonstrated the range of plants that are grown throughout Ruislip from shrubs with berries to patio pots from Roses to Fuchsias. As usual the Ruislip public and the members of the Society ensure that there was a very good turnout and when looking at all the exhibits proved too tiring the Society was able to offer refreshments to round the visit off. If you exhibited in the Autumn Show why not do it again in March 2015 and if you were a member of the public inspired by what you saw, why not join us and participate in the Spring Show? There are sections for everyone even complete novices – so come and join us and be part of the Ruislip Central Horticultural Society community.

RCHS MAILBAG Q This time of year I begin to see amazing colours on trees which I have always wanted in my garden. I want to buy a tree for the garden however, I want that amazing Autumn colour, can you recommend a tree for this effect. Thank you. Sally, Ruislip. A Sally, one of my all time favourite trees for Autumn colour is ‘Liquidambar styraciflua’ commonly known as American Sweet Gum. The leaves usually have five (but sometimes three or seven) sharply pointed palmate lobes rich dark green, smooth, shiny, star-shaped leaves with turn brilliant orange, red, and purple colors in the Autumn. This Autumnal coloring has been characterized as not simply a flame, but a conflagration. Its reds and yellows compare to that of the maples (Acer), and in addition, it has the dark purples and smoky browns of the ash Fraxinus Email your questions for the team at the RCHS to rchstalks@gmail.com, we look forward to answering them in the coming issue. Look out next month for our tips on pruning.

Warren

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GARDENING 

 What a load  of rhubarb!   with Lee Bestall, Inspired Gardener Cast your mind back to the fabulous sunny months of April, May and June, when the rhubarb plants were producing delicious stems of juicy fruit, perfectly ripe for crumble. Each of the stems (so technically not a fruit at all) which blushed with the colour of pink champagne or deep raspberry sorbet depending on the variety, could easily be torn from the plant, topped and tailed and then either used immediately or blanched and frozen for later. Rhubarb freezes very well, and lasts for around a year, in fact I made a crumble in April this year using last years frozen harvest. Chopped into 1cm pieces, it can be placed directly into freezer bags, but to retain its colour should be blanched for around 1 minute in boiling water. Allow to cool and dry before freezing. To revive, boil in a little fresh orange juice, a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and sugar to taste before allowing to cool. It’s a versatile crop and makes great jam, compote and crumble, and tastes delicious when made as above and served with crème fraîche. Rhubarb originates from the colder parts of China and its popularity is fairly recent in historical terms, becoming more widely eaten as sugar became less expensive. The leaves are toxic and so too are the stems later on in the year, because the toxic acids move down the stems from the leaves and into the crown as the winter temperatures cool. 

October is the perfect time to plant rhubarb if you haven’t got any at the moment and would like a patch of your own. It’s quite un-fussy and will grow in sun or part shade as long as the soil is moisture retentive. Add well-rotted manure to the planting hole and mulch the plant with a ‘doughnut’ shape of manure about 50cm deep in spring. Give the plant a feed with ‘blood, fish and bone’ in March and watch it grow! It’s an easy perennial plant, which produces giant leaves and is pretty resistant to pests, although hungry mammals might feast on the crowns in early spring when food is scarce. Early rhubarb can be ‘forced’ inside up-turned dust bins, but only do this with established plants. Place a black bin (or terracotta rhubarb forcing jar if you’re a pro) over the plant in early spring, and then enjoy the small, tender and sweet stems as they develop and search for the light. Grown commercially in large dark sheds in the Yorkshire rhubarb triangle - between Wakefield, Leeds and Morley - this wonderful vegetable (classed as a fruit for tax reasons) can also be divided up this month if you have a large overgrown patch. Happy Gardening. Lee Bestall www.inspiredgardens.net

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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 c o m m e r c i a l 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 multibillion 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

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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 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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   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 

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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Van Gough

The Barnes Family RSPCA Middlesex North West is appealing to local animal lovers to become    to help them to cope with increasing numbers of unwanted and abandoned animals. Many of the animals in our care need a little bit of extra love, and would struggle to live in animal centre environment. Whether they are baby animals who are too young to be rehomed, mothers who need a safe haven to give birth, or animals who have been abandoned and need someone to help them to get their confidence back. We are looking for volunteers who live locally who are able to care for pets in their homes on a short term basis, until they are ready to find a permanent home. All veterinary, food and accommodation costs are covered by us – the only commitment we need from you is time and lots of love to give. Whether you are elderly and want some extra company, but don’t want to commit to a forever pet, or a busy animal loving family – please get in touch! The Barnes family have been fostering animals for us since 2009. “We all love animals and fostering has proved to be a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Giving temporary homes to animals, we get a lot back in return. We have had the opportunity to experience all sorts of rabbits, guinea pigs and cats, with expert advice and support on hand. It is lovely to pick the children up from school and tell them a new foster pet is waiting for them at home. When a foster pet goes on to their forever home, the children now recite what I have always said – ‘you never know what or who you are going to get next’ and as yet we have never been disappointed,” said Jackie Barnes. If you would like to join our wonderful team of volunteer fosterers please call our Animal Welfare Team on or email us at  

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skills shortage in the building trades. He told me how he visited one of his new builds and found that all five brickies on site had been lured away to another development down the road with the prom ise of much higher wages. This claim has been reinforced by some of the bosses of the largest house builders in recent weeks. After the financial crash, they laid off great swathes of their skilled The first problem was that the price differential trades people and drastically reduced the number between a derelict house and a similar property in of apprentices they were taking on. The results of pristine condition in the same area has dwindled to these two policies have now come home to roost. almost nothing. In recent years, doing up rundown properties has been a cost effective way for land The perceived wisdom is that the shortfall in the lords to increase their rental portfolios, with the number of new houses being built is the result of added benefit of a capital gain on the finished arti mortgage rationing and bottlenecks in the planning cle. This strong demand has led to an increase in process; now it seems that those are not the only the price of derelict houses, which means that the factors in play. More apprentices can be trained purchase price combined with the renovation costs and there will no doubt be a price correction in the now far outstrips the value of the renovated house. derelict housing market, but these things will take As a result, rundown houses are being left to lan time. Don’t expect the housing shortage to end any guish on the market. time soon.  The other problem he highlighted was a serious I was talking to a property investor the other day, a man whose business involves building purpose built rental accommodation, converting disused commercial buildings such as pubs into residential properties and renovating derelict houses for the rental market. He told me about two things that are making life difficult for him right now.

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A lesson from Hilary Devey;  Will, Can, How and When A few years ago I had the privilege of meeting Hilary Devey (pictured below right), one of the ‘dragons’ in the TV show ‘Dragons Den’

www.designerlife.co.uk neelam@designerlife.co.uk

neelam challoner is one of UK’s leading life coaches, specialising in Re-designing women’s lives and is the founder and owner of Designer life coaching and the Author of ‘Successful but Incomplete’. neelam has coached hundreds of people nationally and internationally since 2004. With over 15 years experience in leadership, she has a flair for getting the best out of people. Her clients range from professionals, high net worth individuals, and solo business owners, to unemployed, single parents and women who have suffered domestic abuse. She has empowered and coached both privately and in the public sector pan london and in the Hillingdon Borough and is relentless on her mission to inspire and motivate people to release their potential and live a ‘Designer life’.

Hilary came across as very ‘real’ not pretentious or arrogant. She had a presence and a charisma that kept us engaged as she shared her experiences, with good eye contact and willingness to hear our comments/questions Hilary gave us access to her business mind... and I might add she looked pretty amazing too! Her most valuable business lessons came when she was just 7 years old. With a goal to own a horse, Hilary needed to complete her chores to get paid and save up enough money to buy this horse. Hilary says she worked very hard in her early years growing up and by 11 years old she was pulling pints, taking orders, giving last orders and knew the pub business pretty well. She was being groomed for business in a ‘mans’ world without realising the future she had ahead of her. Hilary had a very good relationship with her father who was a huge role model for her. He taught her one important lesson, which she still lives by; “will, can, how and when” and one we can also glean from. As an adult, she faced many personal challenges whilst being a single mum, but Hilary had an idea. The idea came when she discovered a problem with logistics and the distribution of pallets and the long delays that were incurred in getting the pallet(s) to their end destination. Following the lesson her father gave her, Hilary did some research and turned the idea into a business plan and went to HSBC. The bank refused her a business loan of £112K. But not giving up in defeat, she sold her house, jewellery and downsized her car and raised the money to start her business. She was so determined she sacrificed so much for this idea that she felt so strongly and passionate about. After one month in business and after paying her staff, Hilary Devey was left with £1 and it was Christmas! As you know the rest is history, but it was the making of Hilary Devey; the business woman who went against the odds, turning visions into reality, solving an obvious problem and creating a successful and profitable logistics company which is now expanding into Europe and eventually across Asia, gaining her the respect and credibility that she deserves. Today if you are facing a challenge in your personal or business life put the lesson to the test; WIll you do something, cAn you do something, HoW will you do it and WHen? Discard the thoughts of; won’t, if, but, only and can’t. These are the first steps to redesigning your life!

Neelam 

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       

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School Phobia There seems to be growing evidence of a condition known as School Phobia. It was ﬁrst recorded in America around 1941, then gained further attention in the 1960’s, and has become more commonly diagnosed in recent years.

Kay Mawson, the mother of sufferer Andrew, describes School Phobia as the ‘fear of school,’ which brings on debilitating symptoms. She says that to avoid the fear, children exhibit behaviour often called School Refusal. For her son the causes were a sensation of feeling trapped and out of control in school and therefore feeling insecure and unsafe. He also suffered from separation anxiety resulting from being apart and out of contact with those he cared about, and being fearful that something might happen to them. Kay feels it is important to raise awareness of the condition because it is commonly misunderstood, and often remains untreated. Many parents become distressed at finding themselves struggling with courts, schools and truancy issues. Last years Netmums and the TV programme This Morning carried out a poll of 1,054 parents. This suggested that one in five British children suffer from School Phobia but only half of parents are aware of it. Children aged five to six and 10 and 11 were the most frequent suffers. Common behaviours include faking illness to try to avoid school, or going for registration and then leaving. Many sufferers have temper tantrums and scream and kick if forced to attend. Forty six percent of those referred to in the study also became 

ill with genuine stress related conditions such as headaches and stomach aches. Many had difficulty sleeping. Whilst in some cases the factors were not related to specific instances at school, the parents of other sufferers felt the condition had been triggered by bullying, under-performance or a general sense of being overwhelmed by school expectations. The study suggests that many parents struggled to get help; indeed some experts claim that parental behaviour has sometimes made cases worse. Some parents have been able to get their children medically diagnosed with School Phobia, and pupils in the UK have obtained places at special units for anxious and school phobic children. There remain differences of opinion on the best way to handle the condition. Some feel that getting the child into school is crucial even if it involves parental accompaniment and perhaps arranging special acclimatisation sessions. Some parents have found that moving their child to a more supportive school helped tremendously, while others believe that home schooling provides the solution. Kay Mawson advises parents to research all of the available options and discuss them with their child and perhaps an educational psychologist. That way there is a consensus on the best way to move forward, though arrangements should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Susan Brookes- Morris

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Relatively Speaking

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by Alan Ayckbourn at Compass Theatre Wed 15 - Sat 18 October

What’s on at

Compass Theatre

Greg wants to marry Ginny, even though they've only known each other for a month. He follows her on a visit to what he assumes is her parental home, so that he can ask her father’s permission. Unfortunately, the house belongs to Ginny’s middle-aged lover, Philip, and his wife Sheila. Prolonged misunderstanding reigns in this early Ayckbourn classic.

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October/November 2014

Comrades in Arms

at Winston Churchill Theatre Sun 19 October

Seussical The Musical

at Compass Theatre Thurs 2 - Sat 4 October

Join the Cat in the Hat as he takes you on a journey into the fantastical, bombastical and songtastical world of Dr Seuss. Seussical The Musical is fabulous fun-filled show for all the family, featuring the much loved characters from the world famous books by Dr Seuss including Horton the Elephant, the Grinch and many more. Suitable for the very young, but all ages will enjoy.

The Grimm's Tales

at Compass Theatre Wed 8 - Sat 11 October Join Argosy as they take you on a theatrical journey guaranteed to ignite the senses as The Grimm's Tales comes alive on stage. Not for the faint-hearted.

Ha!

In this year of commemorating the outbreak of the First World War, the Choir presents a powerful and evocative choral programme reflecting the emotions associated with conflict, oppression and the fight for freedom.

Ha!

Quiz ‘n’ Chips

Ha!

at Compass Theatre Sun 19 October

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.

Ha! Ha!

Comedy Compass

at Compass Café Bar Sun 12 October & Sun 9 November Once a month comedy night event at the Compass Theatre Bar. A selection of the best and upcoming comedians working the British circuit are performing monthly, in the Bar at Compass Theatre, with the express intention of providing Great Value Entertainment on a Sunday evening. 

Ha!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! H

Ha! H Ha!

Steve Brookstein: Forgotten Man

Ha! H

One of ITV1's X-Factor winners Steve Brookstein plays songs from his new album live on stage at Compass Theatre in an acoustic concert accompanied by guitarist Luca Boscagin.

Ha! H

at Compass Theatre Thurs 23 October

'Brilliant!' Sir Tom Jones

Ha! H

Ha! Ha

Ha! H

Mary Poppins(U)

at Compass Theatre Tues 28 October

Join the practically perfect Mary Poppins for a Jolly Holiday as she magically turns every chore into a game and every day into a whimsical adventure. Along the way, you'll be enchanted by unforgettable characters such as Bert, the multi-talented chimney sweep. Directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and David Tomlinson.

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Ha!

Jolly Holiday Craft & Performing Workshops

at Compass Theatre Wed 29 October Workshops inspired by the film screening of Mary Poppins in the same week - all programmed to keep 5 to 11 year olds busy in the Half Term holiday. Make something to take home in the Craft Workshop then learn a routine to perform in the Performing Workshop. Sessions last 2 hours and run at 10am and 1pm - so you can bring a packed lunch and come to both. Workshops fill up fast so book places in advance.

Just So Stories

by Rudyard Kipling at Compass Theatre Thurs 30 October

Movement, puppetry and a little bit of magic for Half Term. Using live music, puppetry and just a little bit of magic, Apollo Theatre Company tackles Rudyard Kipling’s best beloved tales that take us on a journey back to where it all began.

Blues Brothers Halloween Special at Compass Theatre Fri 31 October

The UK's leading, most authentic tribute to Jake and Elwood Blues with a 12 piece high octane live professional show band performing classics as featured in the hit motion pictures The Blues Brothers, Blues Brothers 2000 and much more. So slip on those dancing shoes and get ready to shake your tailfeather with an authentic tribute that will keep you moving all night long!

Murder on PLeisure Island

at Compass Café Bar  Sun 2 November

PLeisure Island is the perfect holiday getaway, with everything you would expect; sun, sea... and suspicion! The detective urgently needs your help to discover the killer from among the shady, sun-tanned suspects. Solve the mystery in the Compass Cafe Bar over a chip supper. Choose from fish, sausage, chicken or a veggie burger.

Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens

at Compass Theatre Wed 5 - Sat 8 November As the audience settle back for an evening of cosmic cabaret, all is not well at Saucy Jack’s. The evil shadow of a serial killer looms over the bar; cabaret acts are being killed off one by one, found stabbed by the heel of a sequinned sling-back shoe. Part celebrity, part super-hero: strong, sexy, liberated...and all woman! The Space Vixen's mission is to fight crime and liberate the universe harnessing the Power of Disco! Not suitable for children.

Hee!

Jesus Christ Superstar

at Compass Theatre Wed 19 - Sat 22 November

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ground-breaking rock musical tells the story of the last 7 days of Jesus of Nazareth. Featuring the hit songs I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Superstar, this spectacular show brings to life the most famous story of all time.

Theatre details... COmpaSS TheaTRe Glebe avenue, Ickenham, UB10 8pD. WINSTON ChURChIll TheaTRe aND hall pinn Way, Ruislip, ha4 7Ql.

Hee!

Hee

hIllINGDON BOx OFFICe 01895 673200

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Tax update for residential property landlords 

As a landlord of residential property there are some important changes that you need to be aware of. Renewals basis for unfurnished rental properties

as from April 2013 the tax concession which allowed landlords of unfurnished properties to claim tax relief for the cost of replacing stand-alone white goods and furniture/ furnishings in an unfurnished property has been removed. HMRC is monitoring the impact of the change.

New Capital Gains Tax (CGT) charge on non-residents selling UK property

under current legislation, generally speaking, non-residents are not liable for CGT should they sell residential property situated in the UK (subject to anti-avoidance provisions). The Government has announced that from April 2015, for gains arising from that date, CGT will be charged on non-residents’ gains on UK residential properties. This policy change could also have an impact on UK residents, as there is a proposal to abolish the ‘main residence election’ – that is, the ability to nominate which property is to be treated as the main residence where a taxpayer has more than one ‘home’. The consultation proposes that rather than having the ability to elect which property is to be the main residence, this will be determined by fact.

Private Residence Relief

the final period of exemption for CGT private residence relief has been reduced from 36 to 18 months (in most cases) as from 6 April 2014. This measure is set to become law later in 2014.

If you wish to discuss the above, please contact simon.boxall@wardwilliams.co.uk

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OPINION

 LOCALISM  too much of a  

good thing?

For the past two decades, localism has been the watchword of political parties of every hue. It’s a simple but compelling idea: take power from the central government at Westminster and transfer it to the regions. After all, local governments should be much better at representing the interests of their citizens than a central government that, typically these days, 60% of the electorate didn’t vote for. Tony Blair really got the ball rolling when he created separate parliaments for Scotland and Wales. Aside from that, all manner of powers have been created for or transferred to local councils, largely funded by steep increases in council taxes. The Conservatives have brought us independently elected Mayors and Police Commissioners and there is talk of an “HS3” railway line linking Manchester to Yorkshire and a multi-billion pound fund aimed at creating an economic power house stretching from Liverpool to Leeds. But where has all this localism got us? The Welsh Assembly has done little to promote Welsh focussed policies despite spending a lot of money on an extra tier of government and an expensive building to put it in. Meanwhile, the creation of the Scottish Parliament has led directly to the referendum on independence (by the time you read this, we’ll know the outcome) which threatens to break up a country that has stood strong for over 300 turbulent years. Then there’s the case of 

Birmingham City Council which decided it would be a great idea to pay its binmen £50k a year while also feeling it was perfectly acceptable to pay female workers a much smaller salary to do exactly the same job as their male colleagues. The resulting compensation claims for this blatant sexual discrimination have nearly bankrupted the council. Or what about Manchester City Council which has been under overwhelming Labour control for 40 years. As of now, out of 96 councillors there is just one nonLabour potential voice of dissent. Compared to that, the current government of Iraq looks like a shining beacon of democracy in action. Or how about Bromley Borough Council which has just decided to make anyone who wants to rent out a residential property of any description pay a £1000 licensing fee. Renting a home in Bromley is about to get a lot more expensive. The majority of Police Commissioners are anything but independent; instead they are apparatchiks of whatever political party holds sway in the county they represent. The emerging child abuse scandal in Rotherham perfectly illustrates the potential pitfalls in this jobs for the boys system. Admittedly, there have been no similar scandals involving directly elected mayors, but a lot of city councils ran well funded, highly eﬀective campaigns to defeat the referendums that would have

allowed them to be elected in the ﬁrst place. The problem is clear; transferring power to the regions actually means creating more politicians at a local level and then handing them budgets to control. All too often, politicians of every stripe are more interested in bribing the electorate to vote them in again next time around than in serving the best interests of their constituents. Yet there is an example of localism that yields great beneﬁts with none of the downsides. By any objective measure, the academies program has driven marked improvements in standards of education in the schools that have joined it. Instead of transferring powers from central government to regional politicians, the program transfers power from local governments to individual schools; it is localism at a micro level. But schools are not run by politicians, they are run by head teachers who are appointed by boards of governors who are themselves not politicians. The academies program is not a political football either, it was brought in by a Labour government and is being carried on by a coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. If you take the politics out of localism, it might just work. I have never understood what on earth David Cameron was blathering on about with his Big Society idea; perhaps this is it.

Howard Clemmow

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In and Around Reader Travel 

Riviera of Flowers Monaco & Portofino 8 DAYS

Free Drinks & Champagne check-in

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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

 EPOSIT

   Quote BG11-IA  River Avon Christmas Lunch Cruise & Festive 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

Stratford-upon-Avon

Great Day Out • Wednesday 3 December, 2014

£10PP DEPOSIT

£69PP

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

Quote RA12-IA

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

Quote XD12-IA

ABTA No. Y029 ATOL 9362

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  

regular & local events... Quiz night Every Tues & Sun, 8.30pm Coach & Horses, Ickenham

Bollywood night Fri 25th April, at Vyners School Hall. Call Doug on 01895 633217 or see www.IckenhamFestival.org.uk

comedy... comedy Bunker Ruislip Golf Centre, Ickenham Road, Ruislip HA4 7DQ. For details see www.comedybunker.co.uk comedy nights The Empire Comedy Club at The White Bear, Ickenham Road HA4 7DF every Thurs night. Pete 01895 675293

hoBBies... Brushstrokes art classes with sue Friendly weekly classes with tuition. Beginners welcome. Hayes, Ickenham & Ruislip. Ring Sue 01895 639294 or 07949 805246 chinese Brush Painting group Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor. Learn how to compose and develop your own style as well as practicing calligraphy. At Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or contact Phyllis Nash 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com

harrow & hillingdon geological society Meet for lectures at 7.30 for 8pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Cavendish Pavilion, Field End Road, Eastcote, HA4 9PG. All are welcome, visitors £3 donation. Refreshments. For details contact: Jean Sippy, Secretary Tel: 020 8422 1859 www.hhgs.org.uk hillingdon arts & crafts club Meet every 2nd Friday in The Parlour at the URC Church in Swakeleys Road from 9.45-11.30am. £3pp. Call Sue Williams 07799 054444 hillingdon Family history society At Hillingdon Park Baptist Church, Hercies Road, Hillingdon. Research room open (10am-1pm) on the first Sat of the month and every Fri (except the Fri before the first Sat). Experienced help available. See www.hfhs.co.uk Contact Mrs Reynolds 01895 444442 or email hillingdonfhs@onetel.com inland Waterways association Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road,

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Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk

ruislip & district natural history society Meet last Mon of the month from Sept to April in Guide Hut near Ruislip Library. Call John Matthews 01895 636215.

ruislip & northwood Flower arrangement society Meet every 1st Tues of the month at the Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood HA6 3AA ruislip, northwood & eastcote local history society Meets on the third Monday of the month at St Martin's Church Hall, High Street, Ruislip at 8.15pm. See RNELHS website for details. Susan Toms 01895 637134 toms.susan@gmail.com the ickenham art society Meets Thu, 7.30pm in the Scout Hut, Community Close, Ickenham. See www.ickenhamart.co.uk. For painters in any medium. Tel. 01895 637545. the chiltern aviation society Meets every 4th Wednesday at the Methodist Church Hall, Ickenham Road. 8pm. Call Keith Hayward on 01895 637872 or email John Roach at Chilternaviation@virginmedia.com the language clubs of hillingdon From late Sept until mid-July. Speak some German, Spanish, French or Italian? Want to practise speaking and listening in friendly groups, with recent learners, improvers and native speakers? Join a Language Club! Each Club meets on a different Friday of the month at 7.30pm in St Giles' Church Hall, Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8BG. For details: German Club 01895 254 723 . Spanish Club . French Club starts 10 Oct 01895 253 472. Italian Club starts 17 Oct 020 8863 3468. uxbridge & ickenham Floral art society Meets in the village hall, Swakeleys Road. Call 01895 850943 keeP-Fit, dance & drama... argosy Players theatre group Meets at Ruislip Conservative Club, Ickenham Road, West Ruislip. Every Thurs, 8pm. Call 07972 394702. Bagot stack (Fitness league) TT only. Vyners School, UB10 8AB on Tues 7.30-8.30pm. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 www.thefitnessleague.com classical Pilates Mat classes for all levels in Ruislip. Contact Tonja Osborn 07766 011036 or email TonjaOsborn@gmail.com

dance, gymnastics and Free running By Futunity UK. Ages 2 - adults catered for and all styles of dance. See www.futunityuk.com, call 01895 251224 e: admin@futunityuk.com

eastcote exercise classes Metabolic workout class, 45 minute stretch class. Mon, Tues & Sat mornings. Contact Virginia King 01895 232551 virginiaking@vking2468.freeserve.co.uk empowering yoga Fusion of Hatha & Vinyasa Yoga Wed 9.30-10.45am at Windmill Studio Centre, Ruislip Manor Thur 9.30-11.00am at St Thomas More Church, Eastcote + classes in Harrow. FreeTrial Class contact: Joanne 0845 4561336 e:info@empoweringyoga.co.uk

Fitness league Fun dance routines to music for women of all fitness levels. Tues 7.30-8.30pm at Vyners School, Warren Road, UB10 8AB Call Rosemary 01628 776838 before coming. www.thefitnessleague.com Funky rhythms dance & Fitness Zumba with Brian (07957 343528) Monday 6.30pm - Swakeley's School for girls, Clifton Gardens, Hillingdon Zumba with elli £5 (07833 690153) Tue 8pm - 233 High St, Uxbridge Zumba with Brian Thu 6pm & 7.30pm Watts Hall, Christchurch, Belmont Road, Uxbridge Zumba with sylvia J £5 (07793 769584) 8pm - Minet Junior School, Avondale Drive, Hayes Zumba with elli £5. 8pm Active4less, 233 High Street, Uxbridge Zumba with Brian £5. Sat 11am Swakeley's School for Girls, Clifton Gardens, Hillingdon images school of dance Fun and friendly dance & drama classes for all ages. Based in Ruislip Manor. www.imagesschoolofdance.co.uk e: info@imagesschoolofdance.co.uk irish dancing classes For children aged 5+. Beginners and advanced. Mon 6pm, Hayes Conservative Club, Church Rd. Wed 6pm, Greenford Catholic church hall. T: 07956 346383 e: Deirdreosullivan@ hotmail.co.uk Jazzercise classes New Denham Community Centre Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45-7.45pm. Wed & Fri 10-11am. Denham Village Memorial Hall, Village Road, Denham, Bucks Thurs 6.30-7.30pm Contact: Wendy, Tel: 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com

Industrial deafness and hearing loss by Alan Jolliffe Senior litigation executive, personal injury team IBB Solicitors alan.jolliffe@ibblaw.co.uk

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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (work-based hearing loss) is permanent and the damage is irreversible. This could occur from working in an industrial or factory environment for a prolonged basis without adequate hearing protection. For many people the first sign that they have suffered some damage is a temporary reduction in their level of hearing at the end of the working day.

What are the signs of industrial deafness or noise induced hearing loss? As we get older most of us expect to become a little hard of hearing. We just accept that we turn the TV and radio up too high for those around us and conversation becomes something of a lottery as we struggle to hear what is being said, and as a result just nod politely in what we hope are the right places. However, getting older may not be the only cause of this hearing loss. If you have worked in a noisy environment such as a factory or have used power tools of some sort on a prolonged, regular basis without adequate hearing protection it is possible that you may have developed Noise Induced Hearing loss as a result of your exposure to noise at work. For the noise levels in your work place to be considered excessive, as a rule you would need to shout to hold a conversation with a workmate standing between four and six feet away from you. If you feel that these criteria apply to you then you may be entitled to recover compensation for the damage you have suffered to your hearing during the course of your employment.

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What is Acoustic Shock? Acoustic shock is a relatively new type of industrial accident associated with poor quality audio equipment. It often occurs in call centres and involves a sudden unexpected loud noise coming from the headset of a call centre worker. Such sound bursts (acoustic shocks) can result in hearing damage and leave call handlers in severe pain. Common sources are: Electric sounds from fax machines Random electric impulses A customer whistling or shouting down the phone An acoustic shock may result in one or a combination of the following symptoms: Anxiety; Ear pain; Facial numbness and tightening; Feeling of pressure in the ear; Headaches; Hearing loss and problems; Soreness of the ear and/or neck; Tinnitus. For further information about compensation for hearing loss and to make a possible claims, contact one of our specialist solicitors. We are based in Uxbridge but cover all surrounding areas. Call us on 01895 207230 or 01895 207295 or send an email to pi@ibblaw.co.uk.

Don’t suffer in silence Your employer owes you a duty of care to protect your hearing. If you think your hearing has suffered through noise exposure at work, call our specialists to find out how we can help you start a claim.

08456 381381 ibblaw.co.uk 

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modern Jive classes Mon 8-11pm, West Drayton Community Centre. Tues & Thurs 8-11pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. Beginners welcome. Free lifetime membership with this listing. Call Alan: 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 www.clubceroc.com email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com

oaken Leaves english folk dance club Thurs 8.15-10pm, Methodist Church Hall, Ickenham Rd, Ruislip. All welcome. call Joan 01895 638008. ruislip dramatic Society Meets at South Ruislip Methodist Church. Mon 8pm & Thurs 8.15pm. Call 07854 284508. SaLSa (all styles) Every Monday at Uxbridge Community Centre, 32b The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ from 7.45pm to 10pm. Come and join Mina Queen Salsa for some amazing fun. Call 07958 578962 or email mina@queensalsa.com Salsa classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.45-9.30pm Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.30-9.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Showcase amateur dramatics Do you like singing & dancing or maybe some acting? We are an amateur musical theatre company. Rehearsels every Fri, the Sacred Heart Church Hall, 73 Pembroke Road, Ruislip Manor, 7.30pm-10.30pm. Email: info@ showcasemusicaltheatre.org.uk Suzanne’s School of dance and drama 69 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8DQ. Classes from aged 2 yrs to adult. All types of dance - ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, street and musical theatre, drama, singing. www.suzannesdance.co.uk the pilates club St Giles & The United Reformed Church Halls, Ickenham. Call 07968 920070 or visit www.thepilatesclub.co.uk Yoga Monday nights 6.45 – 8.00pm at Uxbridge & District Conservative Club, Fairfield, 46 Harefield Road, Uxbridge UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653

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Yoga Hatha Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga classes in Ickenham, 1st Scouts, UB10 8RE. All levels. Call Katja on 07951 763851

Zumba Wed 7.15-8.15pm. £5 Curves Uxbridge, Redford Way, Uxb UB8 1SZ Call Liz 07795 512938

marketS... duck pond artisan food & craft market and farmers’ market Artisan Market - on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 10am-3pm, Farmers’ Market - first Sunday of each month from 10am-2pm. Both at the Great Barn, Ruislip. Free parking, dogs welcome. www.duckpondmarket.co.uk mad cat crafts Hand painted and decorated objects for the home & garden. Wed to Fri 10am5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, the Great Barn, Ruislip HA4. www.madcatcrafts.co.uk ruislip country market Every Fri 10-11.30am - car park at St Martins Approach, Ruislip. Fruit, veg, eggs, honey, hand made cards & jewellery, cakes, pies & much more... muSic... the rocking rebels ‘1950s rock n roll’ 1st Friday of every month 7.30-11.30pm, St Marys Church Hall, High Street, Harefield, UB9 6BX. BYO drinks. Call 07951 652083 www.facebook.com/the rockingrebelstherockingrebel@gmail.com capital connection Ladies Singing Meets every Wed evening at South Ruislip Community Centre, Deane Park, Long Dr, HA4 OHS. Call Jean 01895 474877 Visit: www.capitalconnection.org.uk eastcote choral Society Rehearses every Tuesday from 8-10pm at Ruislip Methodist Church, Ickenham Road. All welcome. Call 01895 904556. the Sound crowd Singing at Ruislip Golf Club. Thurs (TT) 7.45-9pm e: thesoundcrowd@gmail.com top Jazz at the fairway Ruislip Golf Centre, Ickenham Rd, West Ruislip. Last Monday of the month. 01895 632394.www.jazzwestlondon.com pre-SchooL & kidS groupS... rickmansworth & Watford Sea cadets Volunteers needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:15 to 21:30 and recruiting Juniors (ages 10 -12) and

cadets (12 - 18) fees £15 per month and plenty of weekends away. Email: corickmansworth@gmail.com

tiny talk Signing classes Thursday classes at St Giles Church Hall, 1 High road Ickenham UB10 8LE. 10am, 11.15 am & 1pm price £5 pre-paid per family. Call Bev Meier 01895 824935 or 07818 025993

the Windmill Studio centre, ruislip Hosts a wide selection of classes and activities for all ages.Call 01895 624755, e: thewindmillstudio@gmail.com or visit www.thewindmillstudio.com SeLf defence... Silat kuntao indonesian Self-defence Traditional self-defence 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... rosemary conley Mon 6-7.15pm Hillside Junior School, Northwood HA6 1RX. Tue 10-11.15am & Wed 7-8.15pm North Harrow Methodist Church, Pinner Road HA2 6EQ. Thurs 5.30-6.30pm Eastcote Methodist Church HA5 2QU. Call Sam 01895 460766 sam.simon@rosemaryconley.com. SociaL groupS... crosier investment club Learn more about the stock market and to improve personal investment skills. Meets 7.30pm, 3rd Thurs in month at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner HA5 1AA. Call 0208 427 3559. e: secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk w: www.crosierinvestment.org.uk duplicate Bridge Mons & Weds 7.30pm, Thurs 1.15pm. Long Lane Hall, 304 Long Lane, Hillingdon. Call Tony 01895 233853 friendly Whist drive Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Thursday at 7.30pm. Contact Lyn 01923 820173 ruislip Wi Every 1st Thurs of the month at Upper Room, GAA Sports & Social Club, West End Rd, South Ruislip, 7.20pm-10pm Contact Kim Murphy 07989 558925 email ruislipeveningwi@gmail.com

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social groups continued...

ruislip social club At Ruislip Social Club, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip HA4 6JQ. Fridays and occasional other nights, live bands & tribute bands for details visit www.tropicatruislip.co.uk sing and sign Britain’s favourite Baby Signing Classes from 6 months Wed at Uxbridge Leisure Centre, Fri at The White Bear, Ruislip. FREE TASTERS call Cathy 07712 047 621 cathyseddigh@singandsign.co.uk uxbridge conservative club Bingo, Carpet Bowls, Table Tennis, Lunches, Quiz & Race Nights etc. at 46 Harefield Road Uxbridge UB8 1PJ Contact Georgina Baile 01895 233653/ 07778 348082 e: udcc@btconnect.com

Women’s social group Looking to expand your social group and make new friends? We meet regularly for

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coffee, a chat and organised trips. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk for details

dads army golf society Tuesdays & Thursdays at Ruislip Golf Club. For details call Sid 01895 631489

sport...

new ladies netball team Training Wed 7.30-8.30pm (TT) Ryefield Primary School, Ryefield Avenue, Hillingdon. glebenetballclub@yahoo.com

Badminton club At St Pauls Church Hall, Tiverton Road, Ruislip Manor. Every Wed at 8pm and 10pm. Call Tony or Ann 01895 472578 Badminton club Requires additional players of average standard! Every Tuesday evening 7.45 to 9.45 at Vyners School, Ickenham. Email John: turksclub@hotmail.co.uk Bessingby park Bowls club Every Tues & Thurs, 2-4pm. Call Jack 0208 845 1469. Bikewise Bike rides set off from 61 Swakeleys Rd. 2nd & 4th Sun every month. Call 01895 675376 or email@bikewisegb.com

swakeleys tennis club Adult Social Tennis Club in Ickenham. Would suit people returning to tennis after a break. Four days a week all year. Contact Pam 01895 677149 or Ed 01895 635568 www.swakeleystennis.co.uk uxbridge squash club All squash players welcome. Uxbridge Cricket Club, Park road, Uxbridge www.uxbridgesquash.org.uk or email squash@uxbridgesquash.org.uk Tel: 01895 237571

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Come and learn how to sing in perfect harmony in six weeks with our fun and friendly chorus, and sing in a final performance for your friends and family. for six weeks from 7.45pm until 9.15pm at South Ruislip Community Centre, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HS. Pre registration is required, so book your place now for  by calling Patricia Kirkham on  or email patriciakirkham@talktalk.net.

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october events 

Local Events october into november 

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.

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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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gibbs-gillespie.co.uk LONDON

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If you are thinking of renting, buying or selling a property please call us and experience our award winning difference. Ruislip Sales Uxbridge Sales 01895 622220 01895 272742 Ruislip Lettings Ickenham Sales 01895 622884 01895 635555 

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