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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Jan17).qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2016 01:56 Page 1
THE WILDLIFE ZONE
SNAKELESS LANDS 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.
The Common Porpoise
I HAVE visited Ireland a few times and spent many glorious hours in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. In particular I enjoyed the magnificent scenery around Glendaloch, despite not seeing as much wildlife as I had wanted to. However, by the end of my time there, I had seen something remarkable. I knew that even before I set foot in Ireland that I would not see any snakes. Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove them all away when the Celtic church brought Christ’s message to the pagan peoples. Environmentalists believe that when the massive ice sheet and huge snow drifts of the last ice age, had melted, it triggered enormous consequences. Over many rears the volume of the kilometres thick ice shelf thawed and allowed the water to dissipate into the surrounding seas, making them rise hundreds of feet. Eventually the seas rose so much that Britain separated from the continental shelf. Then Ireland separated from the rest of Britain as the Irish Sea was formed. It was at this time when the previous highlands of Western Britain separated, that snakes were not present in that area, and that the lack of any land bridge prevented land animals from populating the newly formed island. However, the best wildlife moments came when I organised a boat trip around the stunning west coast. I wanted to see the magnificent seabirds and any other animals possible, such as seals. Fortunately we did see birdlife, including many species of gull, terns and even auks amongst others. It was the members of the Auk family, in particular the razorbill and guillemot which interested me the most, bearing in mind that they seem so similar at first sight and at a distance. I have even been interested in how they got their names. The razorbill has a small white flash running across its black, blunter bill which is the most distinguishing feature of the two species. The guillemot gets its name from the French, Guillaume meaning ‘William’, and mot, meaning ‘word’. The more common guillemot has a sharper bill and browner plumage, but is often seen alongside and with their coastline cousins. I did not see the third species of the auk family, the puffin, and its comical and colourful bill; although I did have the pleasure of this in later years. But my most euphoric moment came when a small pod of ten or so porpoises surfaced from the depths to play with us in our boats. The bobbed up and down through the rippling surface of the deep blue sea, as they played the unknown rules of their games or private competitions. It was a glorious sight, as the sea contrasted with the colours of the rocky coastline, green pastures resting above them, the puffy white clouds and light blue sky. Fortunately for me, these smallest of the cetacean families were in a really playful mood as they continually broke the water’s surface. The Common Porpoise, also known as the Harbour Porpoise is the smallest of the cetaceans, at about six feet in length, and is seen throughout British waters. Larger cetaceans, the dolphins (also known as the lesser whales) are also quite common, whereas the great whales are less common, but are the behemoths of the oceans. I knew that these porpoises were toothed cetaceans, as they had to catch their prey of fish, squid and crustaceans. Their speed, blunt mouths, sharp teeth and echolocation, a type of naturally built in sonar would do this successfully. I tried to photograph their arcing bodies as they hooped like partial circles, but failed miserably. As soon as I saw them break into the air, I lifted the camera from my lap, pointed the lens, focussed and pressed the button; but by that time, they had always vanished. All I had was a patch of sea water in excellent focus and a blurred coastline in the distance to add interest. I was left fuming as the pod got fed up with us, and moved on to more exciting things. I said nothing out loud, but inside I was really furious. The captain probably guessed what I was thinking and tried to make me feel better. “Remember next time that these sea mammals are almost impossible to photograph. The only thing you can do is to point the camera at where you anticipate the animals to surface, and wait until they do breach the surface.” This proved to be a good learning time for me, as I have also used this technique with fast flying birds since then. So not only did I have a glorious time but I came away with greater skills as a wildlife photojournalist.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk
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Beauty Beauty Resolutions by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk It seems you can barely pick up a magazine without reading about another new skincare ‘miracle worker’, from skin softeners and beauty essences, to micellar water. Most of these are ‘nice to haves’ rather than essentials. If you are looking to up your skin care regime though, I’d recommend adding a serum. They’re more concentrated than a moisturiser, and designed to target specific concerns, from fine lines to blemishes. French brand Ekia’s Sérum Fermeté – Highly Active Firming Serum, is designed to tighten and lift skin. The ‘magic ingredient’, a tree extract called dragon’s blood sap, is said to help firm skin, smooth fine lines, increase moisture and aid skin renewal. My skin certainly felt tighter and more hydrated after using the
serum. £48.99 from www.hollandandbarrett. com. It’s easy to get stuck in a perfume rut. Rather than play it safe with your favourite scent, why not head to a local perfume shop and try a few new ones? Ideally, spritz a perfume on a card first. If you like the scent immediately, and still do after half an hour, then try it directly on your skin. Fragrance is designed to change over time, so don’t just spray, sniff and buy. Give it time to show you what it’s made of. Van Cleef & Arpels So First (from £32) is a nice one to try. Light, fresh and feminine, it’s bursting with floral notes, such as freesia and frangipani, with a warm base of vanilla and sandalwood. Many of us are guilty of splashing out on top of the range hair straighteners and styling products, then throwing whatever shampoo and conditioner is on offer in our basket. My top hair care recommendation is to go for a gentler, decent shampoo and conditioner. Personally, I avoid any that contain sodium lauryl sulphate, as I find it leaves my hair dry and brittle.
JASÖN do some great haircare products, priced from around £6.50 for a half-litre bottle that will last for ages. If you’re looking to treat yourself however, I can recommend Saach Organics Hair Strengthening Shampoo and Nourishment Conditioner. They’re packed with nourishing natural ingredients, such as almond oil, coconut milk and hibiscus, and leave my highlighted hair feeling soft and healthy. Prices start from £9.95 at www. saachorganics.com.
Makeup bags and brushes can be a bit of a breeding ground for bacteria, and that can lead to spots and skin irritation. So if you haven’t given them a wash for a while, now’s the time. Clean brushes with a gentle hand wash or baby shampoo, pat them dry and then leave to air dry. Alternatively, if they’re looking a bit worse for wear, treat yourself to some new ones. The Nanshy range is a good choice. They’re made with premium synthetic fibres (so cruelty-free), assembled by hand and rigorously tested. They’re also lovely and soft and great for blending. Nanshy brushes start from £5.95 at www. myshowcase.com.
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the house and organise this, but it really is worth the effort for the ease of finding things later on). Never say: ‘I’ve got this box, what shall I put in it?’ Instead, match the size and shape of the container to what’s being kept inside (in other words, find small, lidded boxes for things like Lego and big squishy baskets for teddy bears). Store as much as possible near to where it’s most needed, but don’t store frequently used items below knee level or above shoulder height, especially if they’re heavy. Avoid storing things on surfaces such as tables or desks – they’re where you want to put things while you’re organising them, not keep them there afterwards. And allow yourself room to expand – but only within reason. If you
have allowed extra space, and then filled it… it’s time to start all over again. Easy ways to banish clutter • Write a list of where you want to declutter. Start with the hardest or the easiest – the important thing is that you now know what you need to do. • Have an intensive declutter workout and spend just five minutes clearing as much as you can in one area. You’ll be amazed at the difference you can make. Repeat as often as you can. • Not sure which clothes to get rid of? Hang them all with the hooks facing one way. Every time you wear something, re-hang it with the hook facing the opposite way. After, say, six months,
you can easily assess which items you never wear. You could try the same idea in the kitchen (turn the handles of your mugs in one direction, put glasses upside down, and so on), the playroom, the living room… • Make it a family competition. Who will be the fastest to find three things to throw away, three things to give away and three things to tidy away? Offer prizes as necessary. • If what you need is some emergency decluttering, there’s no shame in popping everything into a big box and hiding it somewhere until you have time to go through it properly. Main Image: Mazeballs bed, £625, Loaf: 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com
Finance
Interest Rates Are Low, So What Are Your Best Options For Saving? By Ann Haldon
With interest rates set to remain low for a while, it is worth considering what you could do with the spare cash you might now have. It is always a good idea to pay off your debts first, but there is also some benefit to starting a small nest-egg. From April 2016 everyone has a Personal Savings Allowance, which means that many people won’t need to pay tax on their savings (subject to a maximum limit). This broadening of your options means you could switch your current account to benefit from the credit interest offered by a different bank, or perhaps opt for a fixedterm ISA that removes the temptation to spend. With each bank applying their own rules for eligibility, here are a few of the different accounts available at the time of writing. Bank current accounts It is not something that we are used to, but currently some banks are offering high credit interest rates on their current accounts. Most of these deals only last for a year, however, and are used to attract new customers, but many also
offer cash back or a monetary incentive. • Nationwide offers 5% AER fixed on their FlexDirect account for balances up to £2,500. This rate lasts for one year only and then drops to 1%, so you will need to be prepared to swap again if you want to get a higher rate after this. In order to be eligible for the account you have to pay in at least £1,000 per month. regular savings accounts As the name suggests, these accounts require a regular payment in order to benefit from the higher interest rates. Again, some high interest rates are only available for a year as the banks use them as ‘loss leaders,’ assuming their new customer won’t be inclined to move once the rate falls. • First Direct offers 5% AER for one year, to customers holding a First Direct 1st Account. You are allowed to save between £25 and £300 per month, but if you miss one deposit your savings account will close and the balance will be placed into a low-interest account. cash isa Once the obvious choice to maximise your savings, a cash ISA can be a good place to start your nest-egg if you don’t want to switch bank accounts or save a regular amount each month. • The Coventry Building Society Easy Access ISA
offers a rate of 1.1% AER. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals, and you can replace money that you have taken out in a tax year without it becoming part of the ISA limit.
Fixed-rate accounts If you want to guarantee your rate of interest and are sure you won’t need the money for some time, a fixed-rate account could be a good option. • Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER for a one-year term, but you must open the account with their Android or iOS app, which won’t appeal to everybody. You can deposit between £50 and £100,000, and the interest is applied either monthly or annually. Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return on your money, which can grow surprisingly quickly, especially if the interest is applied monthly. Having some cash to one side gives you a degree of control to deal with unexpected life events such as redundancy, or simply the reassurance that you have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/banking/compare-bestbank-accounts#interest http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-regularsavings-accounts#bb http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-cashisa#manipulate http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/fixed-rate-savings
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A Fresh Start
The start of a new year is often the time when we take a critical look at
our lives and think about making some changes. Whether you want to take up a new hobby or start your own business, this month’s books are for you… The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever – Marie Kondo If you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of ‘stuff’, this book might help. Kondo encourages us to only keep those possessions that ‘spark joy’. There is some waffle in places, but stick with it. There are some great tips and tricks. Most importantly, Kondo helps the reader to think about the emotions connected to items, and the kind of life they could have if they lived in a simpler, less cluttered space.
this genre, it’s also actually enjoyable to read.
The Idea in You: How to Find It, Build It, and Change Your Life – Martin Amor and Alex Pellew If you’re fed up with the daily grind and thinking of starting your own business, this book could give you the kick start you need. It’s packed with advice and encouragement for turning ‘your daydream into dynamite’. There are case studies, exercises, and useful resources, along with plenty of practical information. And, unlike many other books in
The Great British Sewing Bee: From Stitch to Style – Wendy Gardiner Those looking to indulge their creative side in 2017 could find plenty to tempt them here. The companion book to the fourth series of the BBC2 show The Great British Sewing Bee, the book offers advice on everything from choosing fabric to altering designs. There are also more than 25 patterns included with the book, with projects ranging from a Babygro to a cocktail
The Girl in the Garden – Melanie Wallace A single teenage mum, a grieving widow, a photographer, a recluse, a man trying to do what’s right. Characters with very different outlooks and lives, but their stories are all entwined. And their flaws, hopes and buried dreams are all too identifiable. They all need to allow themselves to heal and trust if they’re to take those first tentative steps towards a better life.
dress. Aimed at all abilities, this could well prove to be indispensable for new and experienced sewers alike. Bloom: Navigating Life and Style – Estée Lalonde Beauty and lifestyle vlogger Lalonde has gained a legion of fans, and much critical acclaim, for her daily musings on style, beauty, food and life in general. In Bloom, Lalonde talks about the highs and lows of her life, including overcoming depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. A beautifully designed book for dipping in and out of when you need a bit of inspiration. Making It Up As I Go Along – Marian Keyes In this collection of essays, Keyes gives us a hilarious insight into her daily life and thoughts. While it’s laugh-aloud funny, there’s also a good dose of reflection. Keyes isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself and reveal her own vulnerability. By doing so, she reminds us that often we’re our own worst critics and sometimes we need to just go easy on ourselves.
We help people in their later years to enjoy the life they always have. Whatever you want to know about elderly care, please come and talk to us. Our home will be open in June this year when you can view our facilities, sample our bar & bistro and ask any questions you might have about the home and your care requirements. Whether it’s for you or a friend or relative, we look forward to seeing you soon. Our innovative care concept includes: Chauffeur-driven car | Cinema room | Bistro & Bar | Private dining | Hair Salon and Spa | Library All-inclusive pricing | Creative events | 50% higher staffing than average Paying above the living wage
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Ickenham TRAVEL (Jan17).qxp_IN! Tipss Style Editorials (Mar13) 19/12/2016 12:00 Page 1
TRAVEL
Want a winter market? Try a cruise! THE first time I was asked to go aboard a cruise ship, I went with notions of my fellow passengers representing a certain type of clientele. I was so glad to be proved wrong. It was an amazing experience and one I quickly wanted to repeat with my husband for company. However, he proved a little unwilling and exhibited all the reservations of someone who had never been on a cruise before, so I hatched a cunning plan. Most of the main cruise lines offer “mini cruises,” a fantastic way to see if you can earn your sea legs, and they are great value too, as they are normally Five Star with full board. Now, we have a particular love for all things Christmas in my house so when I spotted a mini break to Bruges for the winter market, I knew I could get the other half to go and, sure enough, he agreed to give it a try. We boarded at Southampton and after telling my husband several times it wasn’t a boat, he finally realised what I was talking about. As soon as we boarded he looked at me and said, “You were right; this is amazing.”. I smiled rather smugly in the knowledge that there was so much more to come. We set sail with the two of us bubbling away in the outdoor hot tub, a brass band playing on the quayside and a glass of champagne at our side. We went to the restaurant for our evening meal, a lovely relaxed 7 course dinner with silver service and enough options to suit every conceivable palate; it was delicious. Afterwards we decided to head to the onboard casino and came away winners (for once). When we woke up, we were already docked in Zeebrugge; my husband was astonished as he’d not felt movement or heard any clunking or banging. He said it was like a floating luxury hotel, praise indeed! After
breakfast, we got the coach into Bruges, which was only 20 minutes away. We decided to take advantage of one of the ship’s partial excursions; we took a guided tour for the first 30 minutes and then had several free hours to enjoy the city before returning to the ship. Bruges is a historical fortress city with wonderful architecture. We took a ride in a horse drawn carriage before making our way to the highlight of our visit, the Christmas Market. We bought some souvenirs and lots of the famous Belgian chocolates, then took a turn on the ice rink, soothing our bruises and hurt pride with a mulled wine afterwards. Next, we decided to visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a church built in the 12th century with lots of pieces of art and historical items; all very interesting. A canal boat ride was also a must; cruising down all the small canals and getting to see even more of the city, it is easy to see why Bruges is called the “Venice of the north.” We disembarked and decided on a light lunch and a stop at the famous Beer Wall. With 780 Belgian beers, all with their own glass, it was very hard to limit ourselves to just one. Having taken the coach back to Zeebrugge and boarded the ship again we had a coffee in the piano bar, then got dressed ready for the evening's events, another gourmet meal followed by a dance show of the standard you would normally see in the West End, before heading for the nightclub. There we danced the night away aided by a cocktail or two, returning to our cabin at around 3am! After another lovely (and much needed) breakfast, we disembarked. My plan had worked and my husband was converted. We now cruise regularly on several different liners. So, go on, give it a try; you might even like it.
Rhiann Hill
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Live like Tish the Fish (Or how to keep your goldfish happy) By Kate McLelland Almost everyone has kept a goldfish at some time in their lives. Whether it was won as a prize at a funfair or bought as a pet, most of us have a memory of watching our fish swim around its new, watery home for the first time. The trouble is, many of us also have a memory of our first fish dying - sometimes within weeks or months of bringing it home. Keeping goldfish is not as easy as it seems, although with proper care and attention some can live for as long as 25 years. A record-breaking goldfish called “Tish”, from North Yorkshire, actually lived for 43 years.
especially when adding fresh water that is colder than the water currently in the tank. If you are worried about temperature swings, buy a thermometer. a clean fish is a happy fish Fish from the carp family (to which the goldfish belongs) produce a large amount of waste matter. This means that harmful toxins build up in the water, so buy a filter and make sure that it is regularly cleaned.
With their bright scales, varied colours and graceful moves, goldfish can make delightful pets. If you are thinking of keeping goldfish, here are some useful care tips.
The chlorine in tap water is dangerous to fish, so leave water to stand for 24 hours or add a dechlorinating product. It’s impossible to tell whether water is healthy by just looking at it, so test the water at least every four weeks with a kit that screens for ammonia and nitrate.
Too darned hoT? Goldfish need to be kept in clean, cool water that mirrors their original habitat of freshwater rivers, ponds and lakes. The temperature should ideally remain between 10° C to 22° C, so a heater should not normally be necessary. It’s important to avoid sudden changes of temperature,
Give me some space A simple way to calculate the amount of space your goldfish needs in a tank is to allow 2 litres of water per 0.5cm of goldfish length. The RSPCA is very clear that ‘decorative’ tanks, such as goldfish bowls, are not suitable for fish. Round bowls are particularly harmful because the surface area is
very small, limiting the amount of oxygen that can enter the water. feed me Make sure you buy the right kind of food for your fish and never feed a goldfish with tropical fish flakes. Goldfish require a plant-based diet, whereas tropical fish need protein. Remove food after five minutes if it remains uneaten, as it will rot and pollute the water. If you are not sure how much to give your fish, start with a small amount, then add a little more if they still appear to be hungry. All these guidelines may make goldfish care seem complicated - particularly if you thought you could just pop your fish into a bowl of tap water and watch it swim around. There may be a certain amount of work involved in keeping goldfish, but you’ll be rewarded by the sight of happy, healthy fish that - like Tish the Yorkshire goldfish - will live to a ripe old age. Your fish may not survive until they are over 40, but with good care they will certainly give you many years of pleasure.
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Iver Village Junior School
The Autumn term disappeared so quickly! December was full of tinsel and glitter – and music!
Our school choir was very much in demand and performed a total of 6 concerts during the last two weeks of term. Everyone who saw them said that they were fantastic!
The Lower School put on an amazing Christmas production called ‘Straw and Order’, an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. This is a story about animals arguing about the barn and needing a judge to help them sort out their disagreements. The story ends with all the animals getting along with each other and living peacefully – a wonderful message for us all. The production was a shining example of how very talented our children are and how mature our lower school children have become. Our children also took part in the Christmas Tree Festival at the local church. Our tree was decorated by the children and they treated the members of the public, who were there, to a couple of songs. Our last big event of the school year was our annual carol concert. This was a wonderful evening of music and singing and our talented pupils did us proud. The audience got involved too, with brilliant singing and it was truly a lovely end to our very busy term. The Autumn term was so busy and such fun! This term we have many events planned to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible education for all our children. Our first event is going to be an amazing science day where the children will carry out exciting experiments and then we will be invaded by monsters in the second part of this term, so watch out Iver!
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every night, change to alternate nights (or alternate it with non-alcoholic wine). • Swap some alcoholic drinks for low alcohol or nonalcoholic alternatives. They’ve come a long way and there’s now a large range. no SMoking Your unrealistic resolution: “I smoke 30 a day, but I’m giving up forever at midnight, December 31st!” It’s probably quicker to list conditions not aggravated or caused by smoking than to list those that are - and it can be hard to accept you’re addicted to nicotine. But in reality, when you crave a cigarette to ‘calm your nerves’ that twitchiness you feel is a symptom of withdrawal, which can come on very quickly with nicotine. This can make smoking a
hard habit to kick, particularly if you’re a moderate or heavy smoker – and while a few people do succeed in going ‘cold turkey’, the most reliable and angst-free way is to reduce your nicotine intake gradually (and/or tackle your toxin intake). A Better Resolution: Pick or combine the cut-back strategies below to suit you, and if one doesn’t work, try another. • Visit your GP, who can prescribe some nicotine replacement products and refer you to counselling. You can also buy nicotine replacement products experiment and see what works best for you. Some are particularly suitable for heavy smokers. • If you don’t already, make yourself smoke outside. It takes more effort and prevents toxins from your
cigarette lingering in the air (second-hand smoke) and settling on surfaces, where they are re-released (third-hand smoke), so you’ll be improving the health of housemates and visitors too. • Swap to e-cigarettes or vaporisers; you’ll be inhaling nicotine, but not cigarette toxins such as cyanide and arsenic. • Smoke to a timed schedule and gradually increase the time between cigarettes. Even if you smoke 25 a day and only drop one daily cigarette per fortnight, you’ll still be a non-smoker in under a year. ‘Resolution’ has an array of scientific and historical meanings, one of which is ‘reduction to a simpler form’. So keep your resolutions simple – and realistic!
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Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Realistic Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier New Year
leSS alcohol
Your unrealistic resolution: “I’ll give it up entirely!” “I won’t drink at home/when I’m out/on weekdays/until Easter!” If you rarely drink, you’ll find sticking to such drastic resolutions easy. But if you rarely drink, you’re probably not making alcohol-based resolutions...
New Year resolutions sound like a great idea; a fresh year and a fresh start seem to fit together, and even if we’re determined not to make any, other people can sometimes inspire us – or shame us – into making our own. But if resolutions are such a good idea, why do they fail so often? Setting YourSelf up for failure At New Year, festive goodwill and New Year enthusiasm can give us a rosier view of life, tricking us into making a multitude of overly ambitious resolutions. They reverse the positive effect of goal setting by setting us up to fail - making us more likely to give up completely. Here are some tips for turning three popular, doomed-tofailure aspirations into realistic resolutions. More exerciSe Your unrealistic resolution:
I’ll go to Pilates every week, walk at least two miles every weekend and do my dance DVD every Tuesday! You haven’t managed to do any of these things every week this year - so it’s unlikely you’ll achieve all of them, every week this year. Be honest about why you don’t do them. The activities you’ll find the motivation or time for are those you can fit in most easily and enjoy the most. a Better resolution: I’ll do an hour’s exercise every week. Perhaps you most enjoy a walk, but bad weather puts you off? Plan to walk every weekend, but commit to doing your exercise DVD instead if the weather’s awful. Or plan to fit in the exercise DVD weekly; anything else is a bonus. While it’s not the NHS recommended amount of exercise, it’s some, and it’s consistent. You can increase it later.
Recent research shows that even low alcohol intake (well under the recommended limits of 2-3 units daily and 14 units per week) increases your risk of many serious conditions, including dementia and some cancers, so cutting back is well worth doing. But going teetotal or drastically reducing your intake may be hard if you’re a regular drinker. a Better resolution: Think about when and where you drink alcohol, and plan to reduce your intake gradually. Here are a few strategies to try: • If you usually have 4 drinks on a night out, replace drink 3 with a large soft drink; it may last you the rest of the evening, halving your alcohol intake. • Match every alcoholic drink with a soft drink. • Find other ways to relax if you always have a drink on your return from work, and try to make it a Friday-only treat (or reduce your measure). Feeling you ‘need’ a drink is a warning sign – a first step on a potentially dangerous path. Consider if you need to make changes in your work life. • If you drink wine with dinner
every night, change to alternate nights (or alternate it with non-alcoholic wine). • Swap some alcoholic drinks for low alcohol or nonalcoholic alternatives. They’ve come a long way and there’s now a large range. no SMoking
hard habit to kick, particularly if you’re a moderate or heavy smoker – and while a few people do succeed in going ‘cold turkey’, the most reliable and angst-free way is to reduce your nicotine intake gradually (and/or tackle your toxin intake).
cigarette lingering in the air (second-hand smoke) and settling on surfaces, where they are re-released (third-hand smoke), so you’ll be improving the health of housemates and visitors too.
Your unrealistic resolution: “I smoke 30 a day, but I’m giving up forever at midnight, December 31st!”
It’s probably quicker to list conditions not aggravated or caused by smoking than to list those that are - and it can be hard to accept you’re addicted to nicotine. But in reality, when you crave a cigarette to ‘calm your nerves’ that twitchiness you feel is a symptom of withdrawal, which can come on very quickly with nicotine. This can make smoking a
A Better Resolution: Pick or combine the cut-back strategies below to suit you, and if one doesn’t work, try another. • Visit your GP, who can prescribe some nicotine replacement products and refer you to counselling. You can also buy nicotine replacement products experiment and see what works best for you. Some are particularly suitable for heavy smokers. • If you don’t already, make yourself smoke outside. It takes more effort and prevents toxins from your
• Swap to e-cigarettes or vaporisers; you’ll be inhaling nicotine, but not cigarette toxins such as cyanide and arsenic. • Smoke to a timed schedule and gradually increase the time between cigarettes. Even if you smoke 25 a day and only drop one daily cigarette per fortnight, you’ll still be a non-smoker in under a year. ‘Resolution’ has an array of scientific and historical meanings, one of which is ‘reduction to a simpler form’. So keep your resolutions simple – and realistic!
Fussy
Eaters by Kate Duggan
Ah, fussy eaters. Don’t you just love them? And don’t you just love those parents who gloatingly tell you that their child eats whatever they’re given, or goes to bed hungry? (Obviously these people have never been woken up at 3am by wails of, “I’m so hungry. Please can I have some porridge?”) Remember the days when your kids would eat most things, as long as it was blended with carrot? Or when you smiled smugly because your nine month old would happily chew on broccoli? It’s like they hit two and then develop taste buds that despise anything other than pasta, bread and sweets. Forget five a day, sometimes you wonder whether your child has eaten so much as a grapesized portion of fruit and veg all week. If you’re at your wits end trying to get them to eat some vegetables, these tips might just help. We know it’s winter, but there are few kids who’ll refuse ice-cream or lollies, even if it’s snowing outside. Try blending two small frozen bananas with a couple of handfuls of frozen raspberries or mixed fruit, and about a third of a cup of yoghurt. It makes a great
ice-cream and uses up those bananas the kids have been turning their noses up at. Or, even simpler, buy a readymade smoothie, pour it into lolly moulds and freeze. While too much fruit juice isn’t great for a child’s teeth, one glass is fine. Ideally, give it to them with a meal. Keep an eye out for mixed juices and smoothies too. (Some even have added multivitamins.) Contrary to popular belief, not all kids like tomato-based sauces. Most do however. Cooked tomatoes are even healthier than raw, so try whizzing up a batch of sauce with a few hidden veggies. Cook a couple of cans worth of chopped tomatoes, along with some salad peppers, carrots, leek and any other vegetables you have languishing in the fridge. You can add a tiny bit of sugar if you want. Blend until smooth if your kids are particularly fussy, then use it as a pasta sauce, or add it to mince to make bolognaise, or cottage pie. Freeze what you don’t use – it’ll keep for months. You can also disguise veggies in other ways. Cauliflower mixes well with potato for
example. Or try finely slicing a sweet potato, tossing it in olive oil and roasting it to make ‘intergalactic orange crisps’. (It’s all in the name.) Kids often prefer raw vegetables to cooked. You could offer them raw carrot, cucumber and salad pepper crudities as a side dish or snack. Some kids will surprise you by loving quite strong flavours. (Mine go mad for olives for example.) And strong flavours can be great for masking the taste of vegetables. So try pesto, garlic or mild curry. Children also like having some control. You could give them a list of five vegetables some days, and ask them to choose two for dinner. Or start a reward chart where they get a sticker for each type of vegetable they eat that week. And try setting out various raw veg with tortilla wraps and letting them make fajitas. Or doing the same with pizza bases. When all else fails, my fussy five year old will eat most things if I pretend it’s a fish that doesn’t want to be eaten, and he’s a shark. The things we do as parents…
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An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School A family-run school with a caring atmosphere. Pupils achieve excellent results in academic subjects, music, sport and drama. For further information, or to arrange a visit, please telephone 01895 234371 Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com
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Motoring By James Baggott
Ferrari California T Handling Speciale question too – perfectly demonstrated with a wonderfully dramatic roof mechanism.
Meet the California T HS – the tweaked version of the manufacturer’s folding hard-top family Ferrari. With two seats in the back for small children and a V8 turbo-charged engine, this is the convertible Italian supercar for those with more than one significant other. New for the Handling Speciale model are some stiffer springs, louder exhaust and some ever-sosubtle design tweaks – for which you’ll be charged £5,568 to add to an ever-expanding list of options. Looks and image The California is aimed at a certain type of buyer - this is a GT car designed for comfort, looks and kerb appeal above driving entertainment, unlike its thoroughbred 488 stablemate. Even with the louder exhaust system on this HS model, on the road we found it just a little too quiet. In fact, we found the California lacked a lot of the excitement you’d expect to find in a Ferrari, though it was certainly comfortable over distance. The quality of its build is without
space and practicaLity This is a sports car with sports car compromises – with the front seats back there is very little or no rear legroom and the boot is cramped too. If you don’t want to use the roof, you get a little more space, but if you do then you’ll be restricted to two small bags. Behind the wheeL For long distance motorway journeys, the California T HS is a comfortable companion. The 552bhp turbo-charged V8 has impressive breadth to its power delivery and can hit 60mph in just 3.6 seconds. Sadly, although the turbo engine offers improved performance, it lacks some of the aural pleasure you expect from a Ferrari. Those stiffer springs and louder exhaust come into play when you select the ‘Sport’ setting, and hit the bumpy road button on the steering wheel too and you’ll be rewarded with a compliant ride that’s just about perfect for rutted roads. A parking camera makes reversing straightforward and the visibility isn’t too bad either. VaLue for money The California T Handling Speciale costs £155,244 – pitching it against the Audi R8
Spyder and Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. But options increase that base price; our test car had 29 added extras totalling £59,767, pushing the price up to a staggering £215,011. One well worth adding, though, is Apple CarPlay (£2,400) which makes the infotainment system far more usable. Ferrari’s standard system isn’t a match for the likes of Audi or Porsche, so the addition of Apple’s integrated software is well worth selecting. who wouLd Buy one? California buyers are family men or women who need the occasional flexibility of carrying more than one passenger. It might mean compromising on space for everyone, but at least the option is there. Verdict It’s hard not to be a little disappointed by the California, though what that’s down to is difficult to pinpoint. The turbo-charged engine isn’t as evocative as it could be and it’s not as emotive to drive either – more functional long-distance GT than out and out sports car. However, for families that need flexible space, want convertible style but with the added refinement of a folding hard top, and for whom anything less than a Ferrari badge simply won’t do, the California will hit the spot - and, the Handling Speciale pack does look like a bargain when compared to the other options on the list.
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New Year, New Tech, New You The gadgets that can help you reach your New Year goals
It’s that time of year again: gym owners rub their hands together in glee as the entire world makes New Year resolutions to sort out their health, their fitness or their looks. But while many of those gym memberships will turn out to be expensive mistakes as the initial fervour fades, a few wellchosen gadgets could keep you on the right track all year round. Health and fitness tracking is huge in technology right now, largely because it’s still a relatively untapped market: even the best-known fitnesstracking smartwatch, the Apple Watch, has only sold a few million units. That means there are plenty of firms hoping to win over everyone from casual dieters to mountain explorers. For the latter category, outdoor watches such as the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch are built to military specifications for toughness and deliver accurate GPS, as well as recording your hikes and climbs. If that sounds like overkill, and for most of us it probably is, the £170 Garmin Vivosmart HR+ is one of the best all-round fitness trackers for monitoring your heart rate, recording your activity and tracking GPS. It’s pretty, too - and the Misfit Ray is prettier
still, resembling a bracelet rather than a watch. It’s half the price of the Garmin and offers good all-round fitness-tracking features. Over 2017 we’ll see a lot more wearable trackers, many of them odd: fancy a Welt, a sensor-enabled belt that tracks your steps for as long as you keep your trousers on? If you’re more concerned about what you’re putting into your body than what you’re sweating out, smartphone apps offer all kinds of diet and lifestyle tracking - and increasingly those apps tie in with platforms such as Apple Health, WiThings’ HealthMate, Microsoft Health, Jawbone UP and many more. Platforms are designed to enable data sharing from multiple trackers, so for example Apple’s Health app can get data not just from the iPhone it’s on but also from the Apple Watch, from wireless scales and from a wide range of wired and wireless health-monitoring devices. If you haven’t already committed to a particular health-tracking platform, it’s a very good idea to check out sites such as Wareable.com to find out the latest news and rumours about the different manufacturers. For example, at the time of writing Microsoft has announced
the end of its Microsoft Band tracking device, so if you buy one now you might not be able to get a repair for it or a replacement one if it breaks. It also means that if you want to upgrade from a Band 2, there won’t be a Band 3 to fulfil your wishes. Gadgets don’t just help you when you’re exercising or watching what you eat. They can help you when you’re asleep too. Many wearable devices such as the Fitbit Blaze and Surge, Fossil Marshal, Pebble Time and Apple Watch (via third-party apps) can monitor your sleep, gathering data to help you identify the triggers of a poor night’s sleep and the best times to set the alarm for, and the best times to head up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire. The data recorded does vary from device to device and some are more practical than others - wearing a smartwatch in bed all night means you’ll have to charge it in the morning - but the insights can be useful.
Images L to R: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch; Garmin VivoSmart HR+; Misfit Ray fitness tracker; Fossil Marshal smartwatch
Gardening Fighting the Frosts
by Pippa Greenwood
if the container is in a very prominent position. If very harsh weather is forecast or a spell of mild weather has promoted some soft, new growth, drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well. Alternatively, consider Easy Fleece Jackets: they come in three sizes and have a draw-string and toggle so that you can easily insert the plant and then secure it – find out more on my website www.pippagreenwood. com/products/protectyour-crops.
plums - are hardy, they are also prone to damage. The main risk is to newly opened blossom, though the buds themselves may be damaged too, with late frosts being the most harmful. If you are planting new fruit plants, it really pays to buy from a specialist nursery and to get late-flowering varieties, as they are less likely to be flowering when there is still a risk of frost.
With frost, rain and perhaps even some snow, at this time of year our gardens can be in for quite a battering. Although most of your garden plants are probably fairly frost resistant, what can you do to minimise the damage to those which are not so hardy? It’s time to get outside and take some precautions. Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to freezing or frosting, and thin-walled containers pose the greatest threat. Where possible, plunge your pots by digging a hole in the soil and placing the plant in its pot into the hole. If it is too heavy to move then wrap it well in several layers of bubble wrap, polythene or old curtains, using lengths of hessian to create a more appealing outermost layer
A double fleece layer can be used on plants in beds and borders too, or to protect slightly tender wall shrubs. Much larger plants can be protected with a home-made ‘cage’ – wrap a framework of four stakes or sturdy canes with netting or chicken wire, then fill the central space around the plant with dry bracken, straw or leaves. Evergreens in containers and in open ground may suffer from drought as well as foliage or stem growth, so continue to water these, especially if they are in a sheltered spot or the weather has been dry. A deep mulch applied to the soil or compost surface before the ground freezes will help to keep water available. Although most fruit trees - like apples and pears, cherries and
Finally, use fleece to cover any seeds already sown out of doors. A double layer of wellanchored fleece or a fleececovered pull-out EasyTunnel is quick and easy to install, and will help to provide protection and that bit of extra warmth for germinating seeds and seedlings. If you are planning on sowing any early varieties of crops such as broad beans or lettuce, then I’d also suggest that you cover the soil before you sow. A layer of wellanchored polythene will keep off excess rain and allow a little warmth to build up, so when you sow the seeds they won’t suffer from excess sogginess and won’t get such a cold shock. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and book Pippa for a gardening talk or peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items, including pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, fleece jackets for plants, pull-out EasyTunnels, ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher cards, signed books and lots more besides.
Pets Corner... (Jan17).qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2016 01:35 Page 1
Scoop that Poop...
An update on worm control
IT is very important that our pets are routinely dewormed as worms can cause serious illness and some can affect humans. Because you don’t see worms doesn’t mean your pet is not infested. Sample approved product
The egg of Toxocara canis, the common roundworm of dogs, is microscopic but it can attack the eyes and brain if it is ingested by children and teenagers. Between 50 and 100 children a year are blinded by Toxocara and many more suffer impaired vision and brain damage so it is important to regularly worm dogs throughout their lives, ideally every month but at least every 3 months. Puppies and kittens are born with worms and should be treated from as early as 2 weeks. It is important that this is done repeatedly until 14-16 weeks of age. A single worming dose for kittens at 6-8 weeks is usually enough. There are a number of effective products but be aware that most sold in pet shops are far inferior to those available from the vet, so ask your veterinary surgeon for his/her advice. Toxocara eggs are passed through the faeces so it is also very important that dog’s droppings are cleared up especially from places where children could play as the eggs may persist for many months in the environment, even when the faeces have gone. Tapeworms are transmitted through intermediate hosts: depending on the species, these are fleas, rodents and birds, but one which can be transmitted by dogs allowed to roam farmland and feed on dead livestock can cause fatal illness in man. It is therefore important to worm every 3 months in animals that hunt or scavenge. Less commonly seen worms include hookworm and whipworm. These are usually associated with poor hygiene but treatment for them should still be included with routine worming. Lungworm has become a major problem in the UK in dogs, especially in the south east, and is transmitted
through eating slugs and snails. Symptoms may include a soft cough but more often internal bleeding occurs which can be fatal if not treated promptly. This is now such a serious problem that we recommend routine treatment for all dogs. Not many products are effective against lungworm so it is essential you take advice from your vet.
A new kid on the block is tongue worm. This is has been imported into the UK in dogs from Eastern Europe fed on raw diets. Given many pets now travel abroad and foodstuff is imported it is very likely this parasite could transmit between dogs here. Treatment is very difficult so the best way to prevent infestation at present is to avoid feeding raw diets. M C Atkinson BVSc MRCVs www.stmartinsvetclinic.com
want to switch bank accounts or save a regular amount each month. In the 2016/17 tax year the ISA limit is £15,240, and you have a choice between a variable and fixed rate account. • The Coventry Building Society Easy Access ISA offers a rate of 1.1% AER. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals, and you can replace money that you’ve taken out in a tax year without it becoming part of the ISA limit. • Paragon Bank’s three-year fixed term ISA pays 1.5% AER at the time of writing, with a minimum of £500 being required. Although you can access your money in a fixed term ISA if you need to, the banks make hefty charges for doing so.
Fixed-rate accounts If you want to guarantee your rate of interest and are sure you won’t need the money for some time, a fixed-rate account could be a good option. You need to factor in the likelihood of rates rising again in the future, however, and try to determine the best length of time to lock your money away, otherwise you might lose out if the interest rate goes above that of your account. • Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER for a one-year term, but you must open the account with their Android or iOS app, which won’t appeal to everybody. You can deposit between £50 and £100,000, and the interest is applied either monthly or annually. • Tesco Bank has a fixed-rate account over three years,
offering 1.2% AER. You can open it online with a minimum deposit of £2,000. Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return on your money, which can grow surprisingly quickly, especially if the interest is applied monthly. Having some cash to one side gives you a degree of control to deal with unexpected life events such as redundancy, or simply the reassurance that you have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/banking/compare-bestbank-accounts#interest http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-regularsavings-accounts#bb http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-cashisa#manipulate http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/fixed-rate-savings
Home & Interiors
Declutter for the New Year By Katherine Sorrell
What could be a better New Year’s resolution for your home than to eliminate mess, create space and generally have a good sort out? When the festive fun comes to an end, the presents are all opened and the Christmas pudding finally finished, it’s time to take a breath and assess just how much mess and clobber has built up in your home over the past year. If the answer is too much, then it’s time to declutter your stuff and sort your storage, so that your home will be messfree and super-stylish in time for 2017. First, grab some rubbish bags
and a few boxes or baskets. Work methodically through each room (it’s boring, but necessary – try doing just half an hour a day for a couple of weeks) and sort out obvious rubbish, things that can go to a local charity shop, items that could be sold second-hand, anything that needs mending, little-used things that can be put away in the garage or loft, and genuinely great stuff that you want to keep. Try to get rid of as much as possible (let’s face it: we all have too much stuff), only holding onto things that you really need and/or love. With what’s left, it’s now time to work out where it will go.
Often, our most persistent clutter arises from the fact that we haven’t designated spaces where things can easily be put, so stuff just ends up lying around. Label your storage if necessary, and make sure the whole family knows what’s meant to go where. You’ll already have created extra storage space by having such a good clear-out; if you still need more, look for all the areas where you could fit additional storage, whether built-in or free-standing: from backs of doors to under the stairs, tops of wardrobes to under the bed. Think racks, hooks and shelves as well as conventional cabinets and chests of drawers and, where possible, ensure they coordinate with existing furniture, enhancing your home’s style and even adding a soupcon of on-trend glamour. You may also wish to have a rethink about the location of some conventional storage spaces. If, for example, toys are always in the living room rather than in the children’s bedrooms, how about adding a toy storage unit somewhere handy, rather than having to tidy them away upstairs every day? There are a few rules of storage that might be helpful. Obvious, perhaps, but worth bearing in mind all the same. First, store like with like (it may take a while to go through
the house and organise this, but it really is worth the effort for the ease of finding things later on). Never say: ‘I’ve got this box, what shall I put in it?’ Instead, match the size and shape of the container to what’s being kept inside (in other words, find small, lidded boxes for things like Lego and big squishy baskets for teddy bears). Store as much as possible near to where it’s most needed, but don’t store frequently used items below knee level or above shoulder height, especially if they’re heavy. Avoid storing things on surfaces such as tables or desks – they’re where you want to put things while you’re organising them, not keep them there afterwards. And allow yourself room to expand – but only within reason. If you
have allowed extra space, and then filled it… it’s time to start all over again.
you can easily assess which items you never wear. You could try the same idea in the kitchen (turn the handles of your mugs in one direction, put glasses upside down, and so on), the playroom, the living room…
Easy ways to banish clutter
• Write a list of where you want to declutter. Start with the hardest or the easiest – the important thing is that you now know what you need to do.
• Have an intensive declutter workout and spend just five minutes clearing as much as you can in one area. You’ll be amazed at the difference you can make. Repeat as often as you can. • Not sure which clothes to get rid of? Hang them all with the hooks facing one way. Every time you wear something, re-hang it with the hook facing the opposite way. After, say, six months,
• Make it a family competition. Who will be the fastest to find three things to throw away, three things to give away and three things to tidy away? Offer prizes as necessary. • If what you need is some emergency decluttering, there’s no shame in popping everything into a big box and hiding it somewhere until you have time to go through it properly. Main Image: Mazeballs bed, £625, Loaf: 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com
IVER What's On... Nov16.qxp_Layout 1 28/10/2016 20:47 Page 1
regular events...
art Classes Come & Join Us! Isabel Hunt, your local artist, teaches a new project every week, which can be a landscape, seascape, still life, pets, portraiture, etc. In the first 2 sessions equipment/materials are provided. at St Marys Church Hall St Marys Rd Langley SL3 7EN info: 07411 125407 or 01753 542209 chavi2000@hotmail.com Chinese brush Painting group We meet on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor. Learn to compose and develop your own Chinese painting style as well the finer points of Chinese calligraphy. At Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or contact Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com
Clubbercise class Mondays at Iver Village Junior School, High St, Iver, SL0 9QA. Term-time, 18.10-19.00, £5 PAYG, for anyone from the age of 16 up! Contact Liz 07795 512938. Come and Glow with glowsticks in the dark to 90s anthems upto present-time music. French sessions in iver French Intermediate Class. Small friendly group with French Native Teacher meets every Tues. Iver Village Hall 7.30-9.30pm from Sept 22nd 2015 Call 07940 281233 e: c.marionnet@blueyonder.co.uk 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
Methodist Church Love Lane Mon 8-9pm, Thurs 7-8pm. St Lawrence Church Hall Bridle Road Pinner Fri 9.30am. St Lukes Hall Love Lane Pinner Wed 7.45-8.45pm, Sat 910am. Wendy Whitefoord 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@ btinternet.com. See www.jazzerciseuk.com or facebook.com/ JazzerciseDenhamNewDenham
Free Family games event Second Saturday of every month - for parents, carers and guardians with children of all ages, at the Kings Church, Iver, 10am-midday - visit www.hartentertainment.co.uk for details or call 07747 063149 to let us know your coming. Open to all. hobbies...
Mandarin tuition In Iver Heath. All welcome. Experienced teacher. Call Yuan on 07932 649107 or ynhyuan@yahoo.co.uk keeP-Fit, danCe & draMa...
adults Zumba Classes Running on Wednesdays 6-7pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret's Close. Call Diane 07926 854184. ballet Classes Iver Heath Village Hall, Friday 4.457pm. Call L Killian 01753 814280
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 donna’s keep Fit Iver Heath Village Hall. Call Donna 01753 674945. Tue 9.45-10.45am Fitness Club St Catherine School, Money Lane, West Drayton, UB7 7NX. Thu 6-7pm Circuits, Fitness and Boxercise. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk insanity Mon 8.15-9pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. Booking essential. 07745 622011. iver health & exercise sessions for over 55's. Designed to keep over 55's fit and to suit all abilities. Session includes light lunch and activity. £5 includes lunch Fridays 10am-1pm Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Jazzercise Classes Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Oxford Road Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45 - 7.45pm , Wed, Thurs , Fri 9.45-10.45am. Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Road Thurs 6.30-7.30pm. Ruislip Sports & Social Club Grosvenor Vale Mon 6.45-7.45pm Tues 9.30am, 7-8pm, Wed 9.30-10.30am. Pinner
ladies only kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8.00pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 email: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk Military Fitness Class A good way to get fit and enjoy the outdoors, suitable for beginners Monday 7-8pm, Iver Heath Rec, Church Road, Iver Heath, SL0 0RD. £2 per session. 1st session FREE! info: Leon 01895 837334. nordic Walking & Wellbeing All round exercise in the open air, 4 week courses various days and locations pre booking essential contact 07771872592 / learningmoves@hotmailco.uk P90X Thurs 8.15-9pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. Cardio and toning class using weights. £5 Booking essential. 07745 622011. 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 Pilates Class Tues 12-1pm & Thurs 9.30-10.30am St Peters Centre, Iver. All levels, booking essential. Call Rachel 07745 622011. Pilates and tai Chi Fit courses Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Contact Penny 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk continued overleaf...
JASÖN do some great haircare products, priced from around £6.50 for a half-litre bottle that will last for ages. If you’re looking to treat yourself however, I can recommend Saach Organics Hair Strengthening Shampoo and Nourishment Conditioner. They’re packed with nourishing natural ingredients, such as almond oil, coconut milk and hibiscus, and leave my highlighted hair feeling soft and healthy. Prices start from £9.95 at www. saachorganics.com.
Makeup bags and brushes can be a bit of a breeding ground for bacteria, and that can lead to spots and skin irritation. So if you haven’t given them a wash for a while, now’s the time. Clean brushes with a gentle hand wash or baby shampoo, pat them dry and then leave to air dry. Alternatively, if they’re looking a bit worse for wear, treat yourself to some new ones. The Nanshy range is a good choice. They’re made with premium synthetic fibres (so cruelty-free), assembled by hand and rigorously tested. They’re also lovely and soft and great for blending. Nanshy brushes start from £5.95 at www. myshowcase.com.
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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...
Thursdays, 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall SL0 0DA Saturdays, 9am Call Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com www.weightwatchers.co.uk
Richings Players Amateur theatre group perform three shows per year at Iver Village Hall. Contact Evelyn on 07950 039827 richingsplayers@mail.com See www.richingsplayers.co.uk.
PiYo® Classes Sweat, stretch & strengthen all in one low-impact, music -driven, body sculpting workout. Tues 7-7.45pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. £5 per class booking essential. Call Rachel on 07745 622011.
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 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 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 Taurus Circuits Pinewood Studio. With Personal Trainer Shaun. Monday 8pm-9pm Booking only 07906 087749 Tai Chi Classes Tues 10am at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610 Every Saturday 10-11am, Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429. Toddler & Junior Fitness Fun Junior Trampolining Weds 4.30pm5.30pm held at the Evreham Sports Centre Iver. Call 01753 672610. Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre SL9 9QX. Wednesdays, 7pm. Iver Village Hall, SL0 9NW.
Yoga Iver Heath Village Hall.Mon 6.307.45pm. Jon Bell 07790 682238.
ZUMBA in Langley Mon 7-8pm & Tues 7-8pm St. Mary's Church Centre. Thurs 7-8pm St. Francis Church Hall.
ZUMBA ® Fitness Classes Mon & Thurs 7-8pm. St Peters Centre, Iver - all levels welcome! Call Rachel on 07745 622011.
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 07735 090325, 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 Iver Singers Singing for Fun Tuesday during term time from 19:00-20.30 at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Bucks, SL0 0DA. New members welcome. FREE first session. No auditions. Call 07733 466177 www.iversingers.com. Learn to Play in a Rock Band At a professional recording studio taught by expert musicians. Open to 7-18 year olds, we teach guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Sessions will run after school at R'n'R Studios, Uxbridge starting October. Contact Conor for details on 07946 402797 or email wlsr.uxb@gmail.com
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 on 01753 654398
Signature A Cappella singers Monday night at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Iver Heath SLO 0DQ. 7.45-10.30 with a ten minute break.If you enjoy singing please come along or visit www.signaturesingers.com Stoke Poges Singers A friendly four-part choir singing a wide variety of music. New members always welcome - no auditions. 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 The Rock Project Greater London We teach 7-18 year olds how to play guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Wed's at Nower Hill High School, Pinner and Thurs at Vyners School, Ickenham. Juniors (7-11) 4.15-6.15pm and Seniors (11-18) 6.30-8.30pm. £20 per two - hourly session. Contact Pritpal on 07855 863058 or email uxbridge@therockproject.com Yiewsley & West Drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. ontact Lynne on 07976 824152 or Lynne@ywdband.com continued overleaf...
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MUSIC CONTINUED... Yiewsley & West Drayton Training Band Open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wed during TT. 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 or see website www.ihfdc.com PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS... Iver Village Pre-School open Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, we take children between the ages of 2-5 yrs. Funding is available for 2, 3 & 4 year olds. For more details contact Sandra Davis on 01753 654859 or theoffice@ivervillagepreschool.co.uk French for Children with La Jolie Ronde, 5-11yrs. In Iver, Saturdays. Call Estelle 07831 779888 Rainbow Guides Iver Heath Scout Hut on Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm. Call Sian Mann on 07951 172396. Iver Village Infant School Nursery (formally Richings Park Pre School) St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Monday to Friday 9.15am-12.15pm. Extended days Monday to Thursday until 2.15pm. 15 hours per week funding available for 2-3 year olds per week. Call 01753 655104. Email: nursery@iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk 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, Wednesday 9.30-11.30am. Call Janet Beale 01753 652375 The Launchpad An after school for children aged 5-11. We also offer holiday play schemes. Evreham Centre, Swallow St Iver SL0 0HS Call Cheryl on 01753 654546 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 Full day care nursery for children aged six weeks to five years open from 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Evreham Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Call Paula on 01753 655650 tinytoes@ivercommunity.org SELF DEFENCE... Close Quarter Combat In Richings Park. Speed, strength and conditioning training. All types of pad work combinations. Suitable for adults of all ages. 1-2-1 sessions. Call Mark 07525 366126 email: mj.wilding@hotmail.com Karate (Adults & Children) Iver Heath Village Hall on Tues & Thurs. Kids 7-8pm, Adults 8-9.30pm. Call Sensei R. Baker 07898 946330. Karate Club of Denham / Uxbridge For ages 5 years and up. Sunday 9.15-11am at New Denham Community Centre, Oxford Road. Wed 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call Dominic on 07988 743725.
Kung Fu Club West Drayton Great Kung Fu work out for children & adults on: Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.30-8.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre, 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 kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. SELF HELP... Alcoholics Anonymous Every Sun, 7.30pm, St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Call Howard 07816 315688. Slimming World Tues 5.30pm & 7.30pm and Wed 9.30am at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver Heath. Call Kate: 07432 107089 Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre Weds 7pm. Iver Village Hall Thurs 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall. Sats 9am. Contact Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com SOCIAL GROUPS... 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. Colne Valley Park Conservation Volunteers Every second weekend of the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife and landscape of the regional park. For more details contact Steve Ord steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or call 07718 043080. continued overleaf...
MILITARY FITNESS CLASS
— SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS The aim of the class is to give everyone a fun and effective form of training using
the highly professional skills learnt in the military. Exercises done are usually body weight (either your own or that of a partner) to perform a wide range of individual, partner and team speed, strength, agility and stamina exercises – all tried and tested by the military.
ALL SESSIONS SUPERVISED BY A FULLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR SESSIONS COST £2.50 CLASSES SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS OR PEOPLE WANTING TO TRY FOR FIRST TIME SESSIONS TAKE PLACE INDOORS SO PLEASE BRING APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR
EVERY MONDAY 7.00PM—8.00PM at Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS For further details and to book call 01895 837 334 Or e-mail
Leon.Popplewell@gll.org
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SOCIAL GROUPS CONTINUED... Heathway Ladies Group Meets at Iver Heath Village Hall. All welcome (no waiting list). 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 Inspirations Spiritualist Group Spiritualist group for like-minded people. Weekly services with a guest Medium every Thursday at The Walter Pomeroy Hall, Royal Lane, Hillingdon, UB8 3QY. 7.15pm for 7.45pm start. Admission £5 Concessions £4.50 Accompanied Children u16 - FREE. Enqs: 07968 039426 or 0208 841 4901. Iver & District Countryside Assoc., If you enjoy walks in the country and social evenings, why not join us? Call Paul Graham 01753 655183 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 except Bank Holidays when we meet on the 2nd Monday. 2pm in the Community Room of the Iver Heath Village Hall. New Members and Visitors Welcome. Contact Pat Roberts 01753 647674 or email pat@roberts3011.orangehome.co.uk Iver Heath Community Library The Library is open: Tues 9.30-1pm & 2-5pm . Thurs 9.30-1pm & 2-6pm.Sat 10am-1pm. Free membership of all Bucks libraries Free public pc & Wi-fi. Reading Group, craft group, bounce and rhyme for toddlers, childrens crafts , coffee mornings enqs: 0845 2303232 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 Pinewood Hotel, Wexham Park Lane, George Green, SL3 6AP 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 wide range of interests. Call Maureen Richardson 01753 819456. The Rotary Club of Langley & Iver meets on Thursdays, 7pm at the Pinewood Hotel, Wexham Park Lane, George Green, SL3 6AP. We are a small friendly club that welcomes everyone. If you are interested in improving the lives of others and have fun doing it contact Graham Jones 01753 540148 or 07802 784024 or visit http://langleyiver.rotary1090. org/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 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 and 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 Ladies Golf Meets 10am every Monday & Wednesday at Rickmansworth Golf Club, new members welcome. Email ladies-captain@ rickmansworthgolf club.co.uk or call 07941 589445. Learn to Sail! We are an RYA approved training centre and are open to new members, www.kingsmeadsc.org.uk FREE sailing taster sessions! 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 contact Rhiannon 01895 448878 email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk Richings Park Short Mat Bowls Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Wed from 4pm. Just turn up - equipment provided. Richings Park Tennis Club Want play tennis? New members always welcome at our Brand New court facilities. Contact Graeme or Wendy on 01753 651071 or visit www.richingsparkltc.org.uk
Ickenham CHINESE NEW YEAR (Jan17).qxp_IN! Tipss Style Editorials (Mar13) 19/12/2016 09:18 Page 1
Chinese New Year The Year of the Rooster
ChineSe new Year falls on Saturday 28 January. in China many people will take a whole week off from work to mark the celebration. it is known as the Spring Festival. On New Year’s Eve, Reunion Dinner is eaten. Many Chinese believe this is the most important meal of the year. It is usually shared by several generations and consists of fish, dumplings, spring rolls, glutinous rice cakes and sweet rice balls. To mark New Year, red lanterns are hung in the street, red couplets are pasted on doors and images of prosperity displayed. Fireworks are lit and it’s believed that the person who launches the first firework of the New Year will have good luck. Lion and Dragon Dances take place and these are intended to scare away evil, and attract health, wealth and wisdom. Many New Year activities have links with Chinese legends... New Year is called Guo Nian which means ‘celebrate a New Year’ or ‘overcome Nian’. Nian was an ancient sea living monster who came onto land on New Year’s Eve to eat people and livestock. One year, an old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion managed to scare away the monster by pasting red papers on to doors, burning bamboo which made a loud cracking sound, lighting candles in the houses and wearing red clothes. Another monster called Sui was said to terrify children whilst they slept. Parents would stay up all night watching
and lighting candles to try and keep their children safe. One official’s family gave their child eight gold coins to play with. The child wrapped the coins in red paper and then played at unwrapping them and wrapping them back up until he got so tired he fell asleep. The parents put the coins under the child’s pillow and legend has it that when Sui came and tried to touch the child, the eight coins omitted such a strong light that it scared the demon away. This is the basis for why elders and those who are married give children and young unmarried people red envelopes with coins in them at New Year. The red envelope is called Yasui Qian which means suppressing Sui money and the purpose is to scare away the monster and bring good luck. According to Chinese astrology, each year is associated with an animal symbol. There is a 12 year cycle and 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. ‘The China Highlights’ website says that those born in the Year of the Rooster are observant, hardworking, confident and courageous. They are best matched with those born in the Year of the Ox or Snake.
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