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Gardening Fighting the Frosts
by Pippa Greenwood
put on a bit of new looking rather nice! growth. So, there’s If very harsh weather is definitely a very good forecast or there has been a reason to brace spell of mild weather which yourself, get out into may have promoted some the garden and take soft, new growththat will be some precautions. particularly frost prone, drape a double layer of horticultural Plants in containers are fleece over the top growth particularly of the plants and anchor it vulnerable to well. If you want to make life freezing or frosting a lot easier then invest in as their are roots some Easy Jackets: Fleece not protected they come in three sizes and the soil, beneath has a draw-string relatively but are each one and toggle so that you can exposed with just easily insert the plant and the container and then secure it. You can find a bit of compost to out more on my website cover them. Thin www.pippagreenwood.com/ walled containers products/protect-your-crops. pose the greatest threat, especially A double fleece layer can of those made of metal. The frosts are here, and in course be used on plants in Thicker wood or ceramic the weeks ahead the worst beds and borders too, or to is to provide pots a little extra of the winter likely arrive protect slightly tender wall insulation, but even these too. Added to that there Larger shrubs. individual may need a bit more. Where are is often a fair bit of rain or plants in borders, which possible, plunge your pots even snow at this time of too big for even the large by digging hole in the soil year, so our gardens can a fleece jackets, can be given and placing the plant in its be in for quite a battering. longer term protection with a pot into the hole. If it is too Now most of the plants you home-made protective ‘cage’. heavy to move then wrap grow in your garden are Just use four stakes or sturdy it up well in several layers probably fairly frost-resistant, canes to create a framework polythene of bubble wrap, but what can you do to which you wrap with netting or old curtains – it may not ensure that damage to those or chicken wire, then fill the look pretty but it’ll do the which are not so hardy is central space around the job. If the container is in a kept to a minimum? Some plant with dry bracken, straw very deterioration may already or leaves. prominent position and you want it to look more have occurred, but it is the Evergreens in containers appealing, buy some hessian last frosts and those which hit and in open ground may use lengths the plants in spring that are and of this to suffer from drought as well most likely to be damaging, create an outermost layer to as foliage or stem growth out as they catch plants hide the insulation material – during the cold weather when they have already – it can actually end up
they continue to need a fair amount of water and if this is frozen solid in the soil, they soon suffer. So it is essential to continue to water these, especially if they are in a spot where they are sheltered from a lot of the rain which does fall, or if the weather has been dry. A deep mulch applied to the soil or compost surface before the ground becomes frosted will help too. Once frozen, soil moisture becomes unavailable, so this mulch will help to keep the water available. Although most fruit trees - like apples and pears, cherries and 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 as by then the buds are further developed. If you are planting new fruit plants, it really pays to buy them from a specialist nursery and try to get late-flowering varieties where possible, as they are less likely to be flowering when there is still a risk of frost. Finally, don’t forget to use fleece to cover any seeds already sown out of doors. A double layer of well-anchored fleece or a fleece-covered 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 any seedlings brave (or foolhardy) enough to poke their heads above ground before the cold weather is
over! 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 well-anchored 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.
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.
Susan Brookes-Morris
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
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uk
Motoring
By James Baggott
Ferrari California T Handling Speciale
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 lump up front, this is the convertible Italian supercar for those that need to carry 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 and as such it has the ability to disappoint behind the wheel, unless you drive it in context. This is a GT car designed for comfort, looks and kerb appeal above driving entertainment, unlike its thoroughbred 488 stablemate. That means it’s more comfortable than exciting
to drive. 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 – despite its impressive performance credentials it just didn’t feel as involving as we’d hoped. That said, it was certainly a comfortable companion over distance and never failed to draw a crowd whenever we parked it up. The quality of its build is without question too – perfectly demonstrated with a wonderfully dramatic roof mechanism. space and practicaLity OK, so a Ferrari isn’t going to win any accessibility awards like a Citroen Berlingo might, however this is a sports car and comes with sports car compromises. Put the front seats back to anything less than a knee crushing position
and you lose all rear legroom – which means even carrying a five-year-old requires the front seat passengers to perform some gymnastics for the journey. The boot is pretty 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 at best. Weekly shopper, this isn’t. 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 although the feeling of acceleration is somewhat numbed in the cabin, it can hit 60mph in just 3.6 seconds. Sadly, the turbo engine loses some of the charms of a normally aspirated unit – it may offer improved performance, but 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 on the Manettino switch on the steering wheel. 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 our rutted roads. A parking camera makes backing the Ferrari into spaces a pretty simple affair and despite its sports car credentials the visibility isn’t too bad either.
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VaLue for money The California T Handling Speciale costs £155,244 – pitching it against the Audi R8 Spyder and Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. But that base price soon increases once you start ticking some options boxes. Two tone exterior (£4,320), carbon fibre dash inserts (£3,744), Scuderia Ferrari side shields (£1,056) and front and rear parking cameras (£4,032) are just a few of the options that can soon add up. In fact, our test car had no less than 29 options added – including titanium wheel bolts at £1,810 – which pushed the purchase price up to a staggering £215,011. That’s a whopping £59,767 on extras.
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.
for sure. It’s not as emotive to drive either – more functional long-distance GT than out and out sports car.
One well worth adding, though, is Apple CarPlay (£2,400) which makes the infotainment system far more usable.
who wouLd Buy one? California buyers are family men or women who need the occasional flexibility of carrying more than one passenger. OK, so that might mean compromising on space for everyone, but at least the option is there should they need it.
Verdict It’s hard not to be a little disappointed by the driving thrills the California fails to serve up, though what that’s down to is difficult to pinpoint. The turbo-charged engine isn’t as evocative as it could be: the sound certainly lacks the excitement of a Ferrari, that’s
However, for families that need flexible space, want the style of a convertible 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. Throw in the fact the Handling Speciale pack looks like a bargain when compared to the other options on the list and buyers would be simply foolish not to opt for the HS option when signing the order form.
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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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Ickenham OPINION (Jan17).qxp_IN! Tipss Style Editorials (Mar13) 19/12/2016 11:46 Page 1
OPINION
This Time
It’s War
THe following is a complicated tale of floods, fallen leaves and traffic wardens. It’s been a while since something happened that made my blood boil, but this situation more than made up for the wait. Three years ago, my town was ravaged by severe flooding. Well over 200 homes were flooded and mine was one of them. The flooding was caused by a torrential downpour, the heaviest the Met Office has ever recorded. You would think that it could be written off as a freak event but, unfortunately, something very similar happened seven years earlier. People were angry; why was something not done after the first flood? They wanted someone to blame and God doesn’t have to stand for re-election. The “authorities” wound up as the scapegoat and an organisation was formed to force them to do something about it. As is the way with such things, what started out as an anti-establishment populist movement quickly formed a committee followed by some working parties and the occasional steering group. In the meantime, the authorities finally got their finger out and earmarked several million pounds to build flood defences. The committee was left looking for a purpose in life. But then, an emergency came along. Some leaves had fallen from the trees, as does tend to happen in the autumn. It was also raining quite hard, an event that is also not unheard of in November. The town was in deadly peril - the leaves could block the drains and, before you know it, we would all be up to our necks in muddy water. The committee swung into action and organised an emergency street cleaning. In the dark of the evening, cones were put at the side of the road and notices pushed through letterboxes, asking the residents to move their
cars by 8.30 the next morning so the council could come along and sweep up the leaves. The next day, most people went to work taking their cars with them. I moved my car and parked on a patch of waste ground up the road. Because they were away or whatever, some people didn’t get the memo and left their cars where they were. Anyway, a road-sweeper duly arrived and cleared up all the leaves and it had stopped raining hours beforehand anyway. That should have been that, except… Some other people who didn’t get the memo were the town’s ever industrious traffic wardens. I have never worked out if traffic wardens get commission on every ticket they write or maybe the warden who writes the most tickets wins an all-expenses paid trip to Butlins. Whatever it is, they clearly saw an opportunity which inflamed their penalty notice issuing zeal. Every car left parked on the road got a yellow polythene bag affixed to the windscreen, even though there was no parking restriction in place when they were parked the previous day. They visited my patch of waste ground too, and decided that my car was fine but the one next to it was committing an offence worthy of a £70 fine. It is hard to say what is more annoying about this tale, the sheer bloody mindedness of the parking wardens or the hysterical overreaction of the committee. I have no doubt that every ticket the wardens wrote could be successfully appealed, but I’m sure most people just paid the discounted £35 fine, rather than risk getting stuck with the full £70 penalty and having to go to a lot of trouble besides. What should have been a shining example of a community working together to avert a potential disaster has ended in bitterness and recriminations. Perhaps traffic wardens who issue too many illegal tickets should be sacked. One thing’s for sure, the members of the committee need to get a new hobby. Maybe they could walk the streets wearing a sandwich board proclaiming “The End is Nigh!”
Howard Clemmow
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Health Cake and By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Realistic Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier New Year
Bake 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...
Mulled Pears
Recent research shows that
even low alcohol intake (well This is a lovely winter pudding that tastes just as under the recommended limits delicious served warm or cold. Choose firm but ripe of 2-3 units daily and 14 units small pears, and use a vegetable peeler to scoop out theper week) increases your risk of many serious conditions, core from the base of each one. including dementia and some New Year resolutions sound like a great idea; a fresh year and a Ingredients: fresh start seem to fit together, and even if we’re determined • 450ml red wine not to make any, other people Tip) inspire us – or can(see sometimes shame us – into making our • 150g caster sugar own. But if resolutions are such a • 1 pared strip of lemon good idea, why do they fail so rind often? Setting YourSelf • 1 cinnamon stick up for failure At Year,cloves festive goodwill • 2New whole and New Year enthusiasm • 8 give small can usConference a rosier view of life,pears tricking us into making a multitude of overly ambitious resolutions. They reverse the • 2tsp arrowroot positive effect of goal setting • Softly double by settingwhipped us up to fail - making us cream more likely to givefraiche, up or crème completely. to serve Here are some tips for turning three popular, doomed-toServes 4 failure aspirations into realistic resolutions.
Ready in 1 hour, plus
More exerciSe cooling time Your unrealistic resolution:
cancers, so cutting back is well I’ll go to Pilates every week, worth doing. But going teetotal walk1. at least Pourtwo themiles wineevery into a large or pan drastically reducing your weekend and do my dance intake and add the sugar, lemon rind,may be hard if you’re a DVD every Tuesday! regular drinker.
cinnamon stick and cloves. Heat
You haven’t managed to occasionally do a Better gently, stirring until resolution: Think any of these things every week the sugar has dissolved.about when and where you this year - so it’s unlikely you’ll drink alcohol, and plan to achieve all of them, every reduce your intake gradually. 2. Meanwhile, peel the pears, leaving the stalks on. week this year. Be honest Herethe arehot a few strategies try: Gently lower the pears into liquid. Covertoand about why you don’t do them. • Ifuntil you the usually have 4 drinks simmer for 35-40 minutes pears are tender. The activities you’ll find the on a night out, replace drink motivation or time for are those 3 with a spoon large soft drink; it 3. Remove the pears with a slotted and you can fit in most easily and may last you Blend the restthe of the set aside in a heatproof serving dish. enjoy the most. evening, halving your alcohol
arrowroot to a paste with 1tbsp cold water and stir
a Better resolution: I’ll do an intake. into the poaching liquid. Simmer gently for a further hour’s exercise every week. • Match every alcoholic drink 5 minutes, stirring, until syrupy. Remove the lemon with a soft drink. Perhaps you most enjoy a rind and cloves from the syrup. walk, but bad weather puts • Find other ways to relax if you you off? Plan to walk every always drink on 4. Pour the hot syrup over the pearshave andaleave foryour 30 return from work, and try to weekend, but commit to doing minutes. Serve the pears and syrup, warm or cold, make it a Friday-only treat your exercise DVD instead if with aawful. dollop whipped double cream crème (or reduce youror measure). the weather’s Orof plan to Feeling you ‘need’ a drink is a fit in the fraiche. exercise DVD weekly; warning sign – a first step on anything else is a bonus. While TIP a potentially dangerous path. it’s not the NHS recommended a full-bodied suchif as Consider youMerlot need toormake amount Choose of exercise, it’s some, red wine changes in your work Burgundy.You If you half of the redlife. wine and it’s consistent. canprefer, replace clear apple juice or •cranberry juice. If you drink wine with dinner increasewith it later.
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!
Beauty Finance
Interest Rates Are Low, So What Are Your Best Options For Saving? By Ann Haldon
Beauty Resolutions by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
regular savings accounts As the name suggests, these accounts require a regular payment in order to benefit from the higher interest rates. serum. £48.99 from They www.hollandandbarrett. are often linked to a Bank current account with the same com. current bank, in which a minimum accounts It’s easy to get to stuck in a so balance needs be held, this could affect your eligibility if perfume rut. Rather than It’s not you’re not able maintain this something play it safe withtoyour favourite balance. that we are are a few of the different accounts available at the time of writing.
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. scent, why not head to a Most of these are ‘nice to haves’ used to, but Again, some high interest rates local perfume shop and try are only available for a year as currently rather than essentials. If you are a few new Ideally, the banks useones? them as ‘loss some banks are offering high With interest rates set to remain looking to up your skin care regime spritz a perfume onnew a leaders,’ assuming their credit interest rates on their low for a while, it’s worth customer won’t be inclined to card first. If you like the current accounts. Most of though, I’d recommend considering what you could doadding a movescent once the rate falls. these deals only last for a with the spare cash you might immediately, serum. They’re more concentrated year, however, and are used now have. It’s always a good • Firstand Direct 5% AER stilloffers do after half thantoapay moisturiser, tonew customers, but idea off your debtsand first,designed to attract for one year, to customers an hour, then try it but therespecific is also some benefit from many also offer cash back or a holding a First Direct 1st target concerns, fine directly on your skin. to starting a small nest-egg. monetary incentive. Account. You’re allowed to lines to blemishes. Fragrance is designed
save between £25 and £300 • Nationwide offers 5% AER to change over time, per month, but if you missso fixed on their FlexDirect French brand one and deposit your savings don’t just spray, sniff buy. Give it time account for balances up to Ekia’s Sérum account willof. close and the & to show you what it’s made Van Cleef £2,500. Fermeté – This rate lasts for balance will be placed into a one year only and then drops Arpels So First (from £32) is a nice one to low-interest account. Highly Active to 1%, so you’ll try. needLight, to be fresh and feminine, it’s bursting Firming • The HSBC Regular Saver is prepared to swap again if you with floral notes, such as freesia and available to current account Serum, wantisto get a higher rate after frangipani, with a customers warm base of vanilla and (Advance Account designed this. To be eligible for the or Premier Account). It offers sandalwood. account you have to pay in at to tighten a credit interest rate of 5% least £1,000 perMany month.of us are guilty of splashing out on AER on savings up to £3,000 This broadening of your options and lift skin. Tesco Bank paytop 3% of the range hair per straighteners year, but if you miss and a means you could switch your The• ‘magic variableaAER onstyling balances payment your money is put current account to benefit from ingredient’, products, then throwing whatever into an account with low up to £3,000. There is no the credit interest offered by tree extract shampoo and conditioner is on offer in our interest. minimum pay-in amount with a different bank, or perhaps called basket. My top hair care recommendation this account, and you get opt for a fixed-term ISA that cash isa dragon’sthe blood sap, istosaid to helpClubcard firm to go for a gentler, decent shampoo and removes temptation pointsis when you Once the obvious choice to skin, smooth fine lines, increase moisture conditioner. avoid any that spend. spend using your debit card. Personally, maximiseIyour savings, a cash and aid renewal. Bear infelt mind that this rate is contain sodium lauryl I find ISA cansulphate, be a goodas place to it With eachskin bank applyingMy theirskin certainly variable, startand yourbrittle. nest-egg if you don’t tighter and hydrated the however. own rules formore eligibility, here after using leaves my hair dry 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 makes the Individual Savings Account (ISA), although still a good choice, perhaps no longer the automatic first choice for savers.
1.2% AER. You want to switch bank accounts Makeup bags andoffering brushes can be a bit JASÖNFixed-rate do some accounts can open it online with If you want to guarantee your or save a regular amount each of a breeding ground for bacteria, anda great haircare minimum deposit of £2,000. rate of interest and are sure month. that can lead to spots and skin irritation. products, priced you won’t need the money for Savings offer afor a In the 2016/17 tax year the ISA So if account you haven’t given accounts them a wash from around £6.50 some time, a fixed-rate guaranteed return on your limit is £15,240, and you have a while,You now’s themoney, time. Clean brushes with for a half-litre could be a good option. which can grow choice between a variable and needwill to factor likelihood a gentle hand wash or baby shampoo, bottle that last in the surprisingly quickly, especially if fixed rate account. of rates rising again in them the dry and pat leave to air dry. thethen interest is applied monthly. • The Coventry Building for ages. If you’re future, however, and try to Having some cash to one side Alternatively, if they’re looking a bit worse Society Easy Access ISA looking to treat determine the best length of gives you a degree of control offers a rate of 1.1% AER.yourself however, I for wear, treat yourself to time to lock your money away, to deal with unexpected life There is no limit on the can recommend some new ones. The otherwise you might lose out events such as redundancy, or number of withdrawals, and Nanshy range is a that good Saach if the interest rate goes above simply the reassurance you you can replace money that that of your account. choice. They’re made Organics have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. you’ve taken out in a tax year with premium synthetic http://www.moneysavingexpert. without it becoming part ofHair • Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER com/banking/compare-bestthe ISA limit. Shampoo and for a one-year term, but fibres (so cruelty-free), Strengthening bank-accounts#interest you must open the account • Paragon Bank’s three-year assembled by hand Nourishment Conditioner. with their Android or iOS http://www.moneysavingexpert. fixed term ISA pays and rigorously tested. They’re packed with1.5% nourishing app, which won’t appeal to com/savings/best-regularAER at the time of writing, They’re also lovely natural ingredients, such as everybody. You can deposit savings-accounts#bb with a minimum of £500 between £50 and £100,000, and soft and great almond oil, coconut milk you and http://www.moneysavingexpert. being required. Although and the interest is applied for blending. Nanshy hibiscus, andyour leave my highlighted com/savings/best-cashcan access money in either monthly or annually. isa#manipulate a fixed termsoft ISAand if you need brushes start from hair feeling healthy. to, thestart banks make heftyat www. • Tesco Bank has a fixed-rate http://www.moneysavingexpert. £5.95 at www. Prices from £9.95 account over three years, charges for doing so. com/savings/fixed-rate-savings
saachorganics.com.
myshowcase.com.
Dale & Sons Funeral Directors
Independent Family Owned Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons
Much has been written in the press and shown on television recently about the current and ever rising costs of funerals. The leading market research company, YouGov., gives the average cost of a funeral in our area of the UK to be £3907 (June 2015.) This price only includes the basics of cremation fee, coffin, hearse and funeral directors services. The extras of flowers, ash interment, order of service sheets and press announcements can raise this cost by hundreds of pounds. Here at Dale and Sons, as an independent family business, we are able to offer a range of low cost funeral services for under £1000 (not including third party costs), designed to provide an affordable solution to families who have a budget but still want to provide a high level of dignity for their loved ones final journey. We also offer a low cost direct cremation for under £700, 25% of the national average funeral cost. This lowest of the range of our services may not suit everyone but does include a coffin with name plate, bringing the deceased into our chapel during normal working hours and transporting them to the crematorium, along with the crematorium fee, showing that a funeral does not have to cost a fortune. Third party costs, known as disbursements are fees paid on behalf of the family which include crematorium and doctors fees. Crematoria charge a wide spectrum of fees ranging from £490 to £760 in this area. There is normally no surcharge if the deceased resided outside of the locality of the crematorium, so it is worth looking around. Our top of the range funeral, which includes professional services, coffin, hearse and crematorium costs in the region of £1000 lower than the national average. Some families feel able to say goodbye in a more lavish manner and for these occasions we can offer horse drawn carriages, motorbike hearses, white or pink hearses, dove and balloon releases. For families who worry that the funeral cost may be beyond their means, funeral plans can be purchased from us by a monthly direct debit.
01895 832220 (24hr) dalefuneralservice@gmail.com | www.dale-sons.co.uk
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Beauty Finance
Interest Rates Are Low, So What Are Your Best Options For Saving? By Ann Haldon
Beauty Resolutions by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
regular savings accounts As the name suggests, these accounts require a regular payment in order to benefit from the higher interest rates. serum. £48.99 from They www.hollandandbarrett. are often linked to a Bank current account with the same com. current bank, in which a minimum accounts It’s easy to get to stuck in a so balance needs be held, this could affect your eligibility if perfume rut. Rather than It’s not you’re not able maintain this something play it safe withtoyour favourite balance. that we are are a few of the different accounts available at the time of writing.
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. scent, why not head to a Most of these are ‘nice to haves’ used to, but Again, some high interest rates local perfume shop and try are only available for a year as currently rather than essentials. If you are a few new Ideally, the banks useones? them as ‘loss some banks are offering high With interest rates set to remain looking to up your skin care regime spritz a perfume onnew a leaders,’ assuming their credit interest rates on their low for a while, it’s worth customer won’t be inclined to card first. If you like the current accounts. Most of though, I’d recommend considering what you could doadding a movescent once the rate falls. these deals only last for a with the spare cash you might immediately, serum. They’re more concentrated year, however, and are used now have. It’s always a good • Firstand Direct 5% AER stilloffers do after half thantoapay moisturiser, tonew customers, but idea off your debtsand first,designed to attract for one year, to customers an hour, then try it but therespecific is also some benefit from many also offer cash back or a holding a First Direct 1st target concerns, fine directly on your skin. to starting a small nest-egg. monetary incentive. Account. You’re allowed to lines to blemishes. Fragrance is designed
save between £25 and £300 • Nationwide offers 5% AER to change over time, per month, but if you missso fixed on their FlexDirect French brand one and deposit your savings don’t just spray, sniff buy. Give it time account for balances up to Ekia’s Sérum account willof. close and the & to show you what it’s made Van Cleef £2,500. Fermeté – This rate lasts for balance will be placed into a one year only and then drops Arpels So First (from £32) is a nice one to low-interest account. Highly Active to 1%, so you’ll try. needLight, to be fresh and feminine, it’s bursting Firming • The HSBC Regular Saver is prepared to swap again if you with floral notes, such as freesia and available to current account Serum, wantisto get a higher rate after frangipani, with a customers warm base of vanilla and (Advance Account designed this. To be eligible for the or Premier Account). It offers sandalwood. account you have to pay in at to tighten a credit interest rate of 5% least £1,000 perMany month.of us are guilty of splashing out on AER on savings up to £3,000 This broadening of your options and lift skin. Tesco Bank paytop 3% of the range hair per straighteners year, but if you miss and a means you could switch your The• ‘magic variableaAER onstyling balances payment your money is put current account to benefit from ingredient’, products, then throwing whatever into an account with low up to £3,000. There is no the credit interest offered by tree extract shampoo and conditioner is on offer in our interest. minimum pay-in amount with a different bank, or perhaps called basket. My top hair care recommendation this account, and you get opt for a fixed-term ISA that cash isa dragon’sthe blood sap, istosaid to helpClubcard firm to go for a gentler, decent shampoo and removes temptation pointsis when you Once the obvious choice to skin, smooth fine lines, increase moisture conditioner. avoid any that spend. spend using your debit card. Personally, maximiseIyour savings, a cash and aid renewal. Bear infelt mind that this rate is contain sodium lauryl I find ISA cansulphate, be a goodas place to it With eachskin bank applyingMy theirskin certainly variable, startand yourbrittle. nest-egg if you don’t tighter and hydrated the however. own rules formore eligibility, here after using leaves my hair dry 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 makes the Individual Savings Account (ISA), although still a good choice, perhaps no longer the automatic first choice for savers.
1.2% AER. You want to switch bank accounts Makeup bags andoffering brushes can be a bit JASÖNFixed-rate do some accounts can open it online with If you want to guarantee your or save a regular amount each of a breeding ground for bacteria, anda great haircare minimum deposit of £2,000. rate of interest and are sure month. that can lead to spots and skin irritation. products, priced you won’t need the money for Savings offer afor a In the 2016/17 tax year the ISA So if account you haven’t given accounts them a wash from around £6.50 some time, a fixed-rate guaranteed return on your limit is £15,240, and you have a while,You now’s themoney, time. Clean brushes with for a half-litre could be a good option. which can grow choice between a variable and needwill to factor likelihood a gentle hand wash or baby shampoo, bottle that last in the surprisingly quickly, especially if fixed rate account. of rates rising again the dry and patin them leave to air dry. thethen interest is applied monthly. • The Coventry Building for ages. If you’re future, however, and try to Having some cash to one side Alternatively, if they’re looking a bit worse Society Easy Access ISA looking to treat determine the best length of gives you a degree of control offers a rate of 1.1% AER.yourself however, I for wear, treat yourself to time to lock your money away, to deal with unexpected life There is no limit on the can recommend some new ones. The otherwise you might lose out events such as redundancy, or number of withdrawals, and Nanshy range is a that good Saach if the interest rate goes above simply the reassurance you you can replace money that that of your account. choice. They’re made Organics have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. you’ve taken out in a tax year with premium synthetic http://www.moneysavingexpert. without it becoming part ofHair • Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER com/banking/compare-bestthe ISA limit. Shampoo and for a one-year term, but fibres (so cruelty-free), Strengthening bank-accounts#interest you must open the account • Paragon Bank’s three-year assembled by hand Nourishment Conditioner. with their Android or iOS http://www.moneysavingexpert. fixed term ISA pays and rigorously tested. They’re packed with1.5% nourishing app, which won’t appeal to com/savings/best-regularAER at the time of writing, They’re also lovely natural ingredients, such as everybody. You can deposit savings-accounts#bb with a minimum of £500 between £50 and £100,000, and soft and great almond oil, coconut milk and http://www.moneysavingexpert. being required. Although you and the interest is applied for blending. Nanshy hibiscus, andyour leave my highlighted com/savings/best-cashcan access money in either monthly or annually. isa#manipulate a fixed termsoft ISAand if you need brushes start from hair feeling healthy. to, thestart banks make heftyat www. • Tesco Bank has a fixed-rate http://www.moneysavingexpert. £5.95 at www. Prices from £9.95 account over three years, charges for doing so. com/savings/fixed-rate-savings myshowcase.com. saachorganics.com.
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!
UX8 What's On... May16.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2016 10:49 Page 1
regular events...
Quiz night Every Tues & Sunday from 8.30pm at the Coach & Horses, Ickenham
events at Harefield Community Centre, Priory avenue, uB9 6aP MOn Cameo Club (3rd Mon month) 10am-12pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2pm-5pm; Harefield Wine Club (2nd Mon in the month) 7.459.30pm; Judo (Seniors not 2nd Mon in month) 8-10pm. tues Line Dancing 10.45am-1.15pm; Bingo 7.45pm - 10.30pm. WeD Fitness, Fun & Dance 10.30am-12.00pm; Singing for Fun (1st Wed in month) 1-2.30pm; Judo Club 6.30-7.45pm; Dancing Club 8.15pm-10.30pm. tHurs Happy Families Group 9.45-11.45am; Tea Dances 2-4pm; Whist 7.30-10pm; Ladies Club (2nd Thur in month) 810pm. FrI Line Dancing 10.3012.45pm; Indoor Bowls 7.30-10pm. Call Lynne 01895 824621 or email harefieldcommunitycentre@btconnect.com rock ‘n’ roll Monday's in Harefield! Every Monday. Beginners Jive Dance Classes 7.45pm. Slow practise session 8.30-9pm Social Rock n Roll 9-11pm. No partner required - no experience necessary! Harefield Cricket Club, Breakspear Road North, Harefield, UB9 6NE. 7.30-11pm £5 entry. Email therockingrebels@ gmail.com or call 07947 106607 www.facebook.com/therockingrebels 1950s rock ‘n’ roll with DJs the rocking rebels 1st Fri of every month 7.30-11.30pm. Retro stalls, BYO drinks. St Marys Church Hall, High St, Harefield UB9 6BX. Contact 07951 652083 therockingrebel@gmail.com www.facebook.com/therockingrebels lessons in love Six workshops to help you deal with matters of the heart. Every Tuesday 7-9:30 call Keeley on 07923 074304 or visit www.key4change.com Wednesday stitch Club 10-12noon at Hillingdon Tennis Club. All abilities. All work. Call sue 0208 868 8052.
HOBBIes...
Chinese Brush Painting group Meet on Saturday mornings. Guided by an experienced tutor. Compose and develop your own style. Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield. Call Phyllis 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com
French sessions in Iver French Intermediate Class 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 Hillingdon Decorative & Fine arts society Enjoy 10 expert lectures a year about art and culture from around Britain. Outings to galleries & places of cultural interest. Receive NADFAS Review, Interested? Come along to a lecture, cost £6. See www.hillingdondfas.co.uk, email: membership@hillingdonfas.co.uk or call Ann Lowe 01895 638147 Hillingdon natural History society Meets 1st Wed of the month at the Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@hillingdonnaturalhistorysociety.org.uk Hillingdon railway Modellers Club Meet every Thursday, 7.30pm at Yiewsley Baptist Church contact tonymoth@Hotmail.co.uk Ickenham & swakeleys Horticultural society Local gardening club. Twice yearly Shows in the Village Hall, winter lectures, summer outings, newsletters Member Trading Hut with discounted goods. Clubhouse Lane, UB10 8FU. Enqs: Jill Watson 01895 674412 www.ickenham-horticultural.org.uk @IckenhamGarden 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 Iver Flower Club The Coppins Room, Iver Village Hall, Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9HW.
Meets 4th Thur of month, 7.30pm. Call Barbara Rhodes 01895 236531 or www.bbando.org.uk/clubs/iver.htm
the language Clubs of Hillingdon September until July. Visitors welcome. Speak some European languages? Want to practise speaking and listening in friendly groups, with recent learners, improvers & native speakers? Each club meets on a different Thursday of the month at 7.45pm in St Giles' Church Hall, Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8BG. For details: German Club 0208 429 1921; Italian Club 020 8863 3468; Spanish Club and French Club 01895 253 472 uxbridge & Ickenham Floral art society Meets in the village hall, Swakeleys Road. Call 01895 850943. uxbridge Chess Club At the Ivy Leaf Club, 1st floor, 8 Wellington Rd, UB8 2AP. Every Wed 7.30pm. All welcome. Parking, bar, tv. Tuition available. Free initially, then cheap membership. info: Peter Lord at peter-lord@tiscali.co.uk, and 01895 236973 or just turn up! uxbridge Craft Market Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Collectables www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk keeP-FIt, DanCe & DraMa... aikido Classes Yeading Community Centre, UB4 9BH. Seniors: Mon & Fri 8-10pm. Juniors (6yrs+) Fri 6.30-8pm. Friendly British Aikido Board registered club. Call Keith Holland 01895 636344 or email kuraiaikido @hotmail.com www.kuraiaikido.co.uk. uxbridge Dance studios offers Ballet / Dance classes for all at Uxbridge Community Centre. FREE TRIAL CLASS. Contact Jessica on 07772 879258 or email uxdancestudios@hotmail.com or visit us on www.uxdancestudios.co.uk. continued overleaf...
UX8 What's On... Nov16.qxp_Layout 1 28/10/2016 19:50 Page 2
KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...
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. Friends in Line Mondays at Hayes End Community Centre, Kingsway, Hayes, UB3 2TT. The absolute beginners class will start at 7.15 - £3. Beginners/ improvers from 8.15-10.15 - £5. Wednesdays at Uxbridge Community Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge, UB8 2PJ. 10-30-12.30 for absolute beginners/beginners. 1.30-3.30 for easy level/improvers. One class £3.75, both classes £5. Thursday evenings, 8-10pm at Charville Community Centre, Bury Road, UB4 8LF where we dance a lot of classics. Call Susan 01895 832837 or email: Susanwynne376@gmail.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) Tuesday 8pm- Active4less, 233 High Street, Uxbridge. Zumba with Brian Thu 6pm & 7.30pm Watts Hall, Christchurch, Belmont Road, Uxbridge. Zumba with Sylvia J £5 (07793 769584) 8pm - Minet Jnr Sch, Avondale Dr, Hayes. Irish Dancing Classes From age 5. Beginners & advanced classes. Mon, 6pm at Hayes Conservative Club, Church Rd. Wed, 6pm at Greenford Visitation Catholic Church Hall. Contact Deidre email: Deirdreosullivan@ hotmail.co.uk telephone: 07956 346383 Jacquies Workouts Mon 7.30-8.30pm Kettlebell with Fitness Pilates floor work. Thu 7.308.30pm Latin Dance & Tone. Sports Hall, Vyners School, Warren Road, Ickenham. Wed 10am-11am Kettlebell & Fitness Pilates floor work at Eastcote Community Centre, Southbourne Gardens Eastcote. Call Jacquie 01895 672354.
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 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 See www.jazzercise-uk.com or facebook.com/JazzerciseDenham NewDenham Ladies Only Kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Just turn up or call Leanne Phillips 07518 848285 e: leanne@kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk Modern Jive Classes (Ceroc) Mondays, 8-11pm, Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. Thursdays, 8-11pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. First night entry and free lifetime membership with this advert. Call Alan 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961, alanandsue@clubceroc.com Passion Dance Group Queensmead Sports Centre. Shows, Workshops, Competitions and Assessments. 07882 413428 passiondancegroup@hotmail.co.uk Pink Academy of DANCE Classes held daily @ New Denham Community Centre. Exciting range of classes for boys and girls from 2 years to Adults. Monday - RAD ballet and IDTA Tap. Wednesday - Jazz and Festival work. Friday - Festival work Saturday - Little feet ballet (2yrs), Ballet, Tap, Disco, Festival work and Adult Ballet and Tap. 01895 257553 Admin@pinkacademy.co.uk www.pinkacademy.co.uk Rockin' 8s Square Dancing Modern American style - every Thurs 8.15pm. New Denham & Willowbank Community Centre, Oxford Road, New Denham. UB9 4DW. Call Jean 01895 622859 or email paul@stingproductions.com
Sanders Street - Street Dance Teaching Hiphop, House, Breakin', Poppin' and Lockin' styles. Specialising in street stance for special needs. Sanders Pandas class, Age 5-11 Wednesdays 5.30-6.30pm at Guide Hall, Community Close, Ickenham. Email info@sanders street.co.uk or call Crissy on 07799 874003 www.sandersstreet.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, Packet boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Salsa (Cuban, Cali/Colombian, Puertorican & Xbody Styles). Every Monday at Ruislip Conservative Club, 56-58 Ickenham Rd, Ruislip, HA4 7DQ. LESSONS Beginners /Improvers: 8pm-9pm Intermediate/Advanced: 9pm-10pm 10pm-11pm. FREE STYLE DANCING £7 for 1 lesson, £10 for 2 lessons (Same evening). Tel: 07958 578962. Email: mina@queensalsa.com Suzanne’s School of Dance & Drama 69 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham UB10 8DQ. Classes 2 yrs to adult. All types of dance and musical theatre, drama, singing. See ‘suzannes-dance.co.uk’ Tai Chi Classes Every Saturday 10-11am at Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429 Tia Chi Chuan Tai Chi is an ancient art which combines deep breathing, correctly aligned posture and relaxation with slow gentle movements. It can help with mental and physical stress, improve balance, mobility and general health. Beginners welcome. Tues 89.30pm Yeading Community Centre, Ditchfield Road, Yeading, Hayes UB4 9BH. Contact David 0751 4998 674 david@zhong-ding.com www.zhong-ding.com continued overleaf...
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UX8 What's On... Jan17.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2016 02:12 Page 3
Motoring
By James Baggott
Ferrari California T Handling Speciale 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, drumbeatz
keep-fit, dance & drama continued...
uxbridge pilates Studio have a range of group and individual classes, including pre-and post-natal classes and rehabilitation classes. To book a Trial session, please contact Jessica on 07772 879258 or email uxpilates@hotmail.co.uk, visit www.uxpilates.co.uk. the pilates club St Giles & The United Reformed Church Halls, Ickenham. Visit www.thepilatesclub.co.uk or call 07968 920070
uxbridge pilates Studio have a range of group and individual classes, including pre-and post-natal classes and rehabilitation classes. To California T contact HS bookMeet a trialthe session, please – the version of the Jessica ontweaked 07772879258 or email uxpilates@hotmail.co.uk or you can manufacturer’s folding hard-top visitfamily us on www.uxpilates.co.uk. Ferrari. With two seats
small children tap in forthe funback – tapfor dancing for adults and V8 turbo-charged lump tueS at a Hayes End Methodist Church front, this isthurS the convertible Hallup 6pm-9.30pm. at West Drayton Community NEWthat Italian supercarCentre for those beginners Tapcarry Classmore startsthan at 7.30pm need to one followed by Zumba at 8.10pm significant other. New for the SatS at Hayes End Methodist Church Speciale model are Hall,Handling show class 10.30am. Contact: stiffer springs, louder/ Jeansome Chamberlain 01895-232379 exhaust and 07887 925472 or some email: ever-sojeanrod@blueyonder.co.uk subtle design tweaks – for
which you’ll be charged £5,568
Yoga with Yolanda to addVillage to an Hall ever-expanding Ickenham Mons from list 6.45oftooptions. 8.15. Mixed group. info call 07919 243648
Looks and image
Zumba classis aimed at Thefitness California Mona6pm, Walter Pomeroy Hall, certain type of buyer and Royal Lane Hillingdon UB8 3QU. as such it has the ability to Tues 7.30pm, St Marys Church Hall, disappoint behind theRd, wheel, Hemmen Lane (off Church Hayes) you it in context. UB3unless 2JQ. £5. Calldrive 07701 012927
This is a GT car designed for
muSic... comfort, looks and kerb appeal
above driving entertainment, accord, ruislip community choir unlike its thoroughbred 488 Every Thursday 7.30pm (TT). Ruislip stablemate. That Way, means it’s Baptist Church, Manor Ruislip. Callmore Chris 07714 226216. comfortable than exciting
Drum tuition for beginners. Guitar lessons. 3.15-5.30pm or by app. Text Melanie 07757 635880 or Email: drumsmel@gmail.com
faraday country music club in Slough SL2 1RN. Live Country music every Thursday. From 8-11pm. Contact Deb 07986 050742. www.faradaycountry.co.uk Guitar lessons Complete beginners welcome. Call Sam for FREE lesson 07798 588496 sam@uxbridgeguitarlessons.co.uk hillingdon choral Society Mondays 7.45-9.45pm (TT). Ickenham United Reformed Church. All welcome 01895 234380 or see www.hillingdonchoralsociety.org.uk
Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS.
and lose all rear Cadets legroom Maleyou & Female Junior (age & Cadets (age 12-18 yrs). –10-12 whichyrs) means even carrying per week, courses fromthe £5. a£2 five-year-old requires E: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk front seat passengers to perform Stars at some knight gymnastics for the journey. The boot pretty After school Drama Clubisfor children 7-18 yrs at Southlands Art Centre, cramped too. If you don’t want Thethe Green, to76use roof,West youDrayton. get a little Tel: 0208 841 8940 / 07956 123626 more space, but if you do then e: starsatknightdrama@gmail.com you’ll be restricted to two small www.starsatknightschoolofdrama.co.uk bags at best. Weekly shopper, tinyisn’t. talk Baby Signing classes this
Friday classes at The Uxbridge Centre,
Behind the Uxbridge, wheeL UB8 2PJ The Greenway, 10.30am, price £5 motorway Pre-paid per For long distance family. Call Bev Meier 01895 824935 journeys, the California T HS or 07818 025993. is a comfortable companion. to drive. Even with the louder the rock project Greater London The 552bhp turbo-charged V8 exhaust system on this HS 1st uxbridge Scouts, We teach 7-18 year olds how to play has impressive Beavers & cubs breadth to its model, on drums the road found guitar, bass, andwe vocals in it delivery and although255479 www.1stuxbridge.com.01895 small and quiet. as a band. Sessions power just groups a little too run Wed's at Nower Hill High School, the feeling of acceleration In fact, we found the School, defence... Pinner and Thurs at Vyners isSeLf somewhat numbed in the CaliforniaJuniors lacked a lot4.15of the Ickenham. (7-11) cabin, it can hit 60mph in just Shorinji kempo self defence 6.15pm and Seniors excitement you’d (11-18) expect 6.30to Traditional Japanese art. Tue 3.6 seconds. Sadly, martial the turbo 8.30pm. £20 per two hourly session. find in a Ferrari – despite 6-7pm children (£2), of 7-9pm Contact Pritpal on 07855 863058 or engine loses some the adults its impressive performance (£5). The Barn, Kingston Lane, email uxbridge@therockproject.com charms of a normally aspirated credentials it just didn’t feel Uxbridge. (opp. Brunel Uni). Call Dan unit – it 421957 may offer improved uxbridge folk club 07776 www.sk.harrow.ac.uk as involving as we’d hoped. Meets on a Thursday at performance, but lacks some of That twice said,aitmonth was certainly a karate club of uxbridge Uxbridge RNA, 388a Long Lane, the pleasure you expect comfortable companion For aural ages 5yrs and up. Wed 5-7pm at Middlesex. UB10 over 9PG Hillingdon, from a Ferrari. The Greenway, Uxbridge. distance and never failed to and supports all kinds of acoustic Call Dominic on 07988 743725 music. floor whenever singers & musicians. draw Also a crowd we Those stiffer springs and louder parked it up. The quality of its kung fu come club West exhaust into drayton play when pre-SchooL & kidS GroupS... Great Kungthe Fu workout for everybody. build is without question too you select ‘Sport’ setting Training for children & adults – perfectly demonstrated Yiewsley & West drayton Bandwith on the Manettino switch on the Tues 5.30-6.30pm, Fri 7.30-8.30pm, Rehearse every Wed and Fri roof 8-10pm a wonderfully dramatic wheel. HitWest the Drayton bumpy Sun 5.30-6.30pm. atmechanism. St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. To steering road button Centre, on the Harmondsworth steering Community join or book the band for an engagement contact Lynne on 07976 824 Rd, UB7 9JL. Contact wheel too, and you’ll Ella be on 07702 space and practicaLity 152 or email Lynne@ywdband.com 479435 e:with sportsclubuk@gmail.com rewarded a compliant ride OK, so a Ferrari isn’t going to Silat kuntao indonesian that’s just about perfectSelf-defence for our winand anySign accessibility awards Sing Traditional self-defence from Baby Classes from might, 6 months rutted roads. A parkingart camera like Signing a Citroen Berlingo Central Java. Adult classes only. Wed. Uxbridge Leisure Ctre, Fri at The makes backing the Ferrari however this is a sports car White Bear, Ruislip. Call 07712 047 Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham into spaces a pretty andcathyseddigh@singandsign.co.uk comes with sports car 621 Village Memorial Hall,simple Denham, UB9 compromises. Put the front affair despite its sports 5BN. and Call Philip Davies 07790car 496 seats Sea back to anything less credentials the visibility isn’t too 346 or kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. Slough cadets Parade Mon andposition Thurs continued overleaf... than anights kneeon crushing 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 that base price soon increases once you start ticking some options boxes. Two tone exterior (£4,320), carbon fibre dash inserts (£3,744), Scuderia Ferrari side shields (£1,056) and front and rear parking cameras (£4,032) are just a few of the options that can soon add up. In fact, our test car had no less than 29 options added – including titanium wheel bolts at £1,810 – which pushed the purchase price up to a staggering £215,011. That’s a whopping £59,767 on extras. 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.
for sure. It’s not as emotive to drive either – more functional long-distance GT than out and out sports car.
who wouLd Buy one? California buyers are family men or women who need the occasional flexibility of carrying more than one passenger. OK, so that might mean compromising on space for everyone, but at least the option is there should they need it.
Verdict It’s hard not to be a little disappointed by the driving thrills the California fails to serve up, though what that’s down to is difficult to pinpoint. The turbo-charged engine isn’t as evocative as it could be: the sound certainly lacks the excitement of a Ferrari, that’s
However, for families that need flexible space, want the style of a convertible 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. Throw in the fact the Handling Speciale pack looks like a bargain when compared to the other options on the list and buyers would be simply foolish not to opt for the HS option when signing the order form.
UX8 What's On... Jan17.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2016 02:12 Page 4
Home & Interiors
Declutter for the New Year By Katherine Sorrell
SELF HELP & SUPPORT... Hillingdon Brain Tumour Group Support group held every 2nd Thurs of the month 12.30-2.30pm, Hillingdon Baptist Church, Hercies Rd Hillingdon, UB10 9LS. Call Cyril or Becky 01895 637444. Parkinsons UK Society – Uxbridge Support group for sufferers and carers, meet at Christ Church, Redford Way, Uxbridge from 2-4pm on the last Tue of the month. Guest speakers and social outings. Call Mr Neasby on 0208 848 3920 Slimming World New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. New joiners turn up at 10am to register Tel: Mandy 07879 897578 The Salvation Army, Cowley Road, Uxbridge. Tuesday 7pm. Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 Yiewsley Methodist Church, Farfield Rd, Yiewsley. Wed 5pm or 6.45pm. Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 Weight Watchers Christchurch Bailey Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. Thursday 6.30pm. Call 07920 409111.
What could be a better New Year’s resolution Colne Conservation forValley yourPark home than to Volunteers eliminate mess, Every second weekend of create the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife space and generally have and landscape of the regional park. a good sort out? For more details contact Steve Ord SOCIAL GROUPS...
steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or When the festive fun comes call 07718 043080.
to an end, the presents are
Friendly Rubberand Bridge all opened the Christmas Tuesdays & Fridays 12noon - 4pm at pudding finished, Pinner Bridgefinally Club, 103 Marshit’s Road, Pinner. 01895 622033 timeCall to Keith take a breath and
assessFamily just how much mess Hillingdon History Society At Hillingdon Parkhas Baptist and clobber builtChurch, up in Hercies Road, Hillingdon. Research your home over the past room open (10am – 1pm) on theyear. first is too much, Sat If ofthe the answer month and every Fri (except before the first Sat). thenthe it’sFritime to declutter your Experienced help available. See stuff and sort your www.hfhs.co.uk Call Mrsstorage, Reynolds so 01895 or email that444442 your home will be messhillingdonfhs@onetel.com free and super-stylish in time Inspirations for 2017.Spiritualist Group Spiritualist group for like-minded
First, grab some rubbish bags
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. Macular Society meet every 3rd Friday of the month at Uxbridge Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm. Contact Stella Black regional Manager on 01306 644908. Over 60s Social Group Male, Female and couples. Meet fortnightly at various agreed venues. Contact Judith 07980 073170 or Mel 07785 582323 or email: jlholl2014@gmail.com Elthorne Hillingdon Rotary Club We meet on Wednesdays for 7pm at Uxbridge Cricket Club. Call 07921 887607 or randeep@courtwoods. co.uk See www.hillingdonrotary.co.uk Rotary Club of Uxbridge We meet on Fridays at 12.40 for 13.00 (5th Friday evening, call Sec on 07910 197201) at The Middlesex Suite, Civic Centre, High website andStreet, a fewUxbridge. boxes orSee baskets. www.rotaryclubofuxbridge.org.uk
Work methodically through
Bus Pass to Broadway each room (it’s boring, but If you are over 60 and enjoy singing necessary – tryand doing just half and dancing come be part of a fun meet Monday angroup. hour we a day forevery a couple ofat 10.30am at Wayfarers Tennis weeks) and sort out obvious Club, Ickenham. Call 01895 672354.
rubbish, things that can go to
Scrabble (casual, all abilities) a local charity shop, items that Every Thurs 1:30pm-4:30pm could sold second-hand, Elm Parkbe Lunch Club, Ruislip Manor Hillingdon only,mending, small fees anythingResidents that needs payable. Call Mel: 01895 444947 things that can be E:little-used zarf77777@blueyonder.co.uk
put away in the garage or loft,
Scrabble (keen players welcome) andFri genuinely great stuff that Every 1:30pm-4:30pm...free Ickenham Library. Call Try 01895 444 you want to keep. to get 947 E:zarf77777@blueyonder.co.uk
rid of as much as possible
Veterans Breakfast (let’s face it: we Club all have too runs to help Armed Forces Veterans in much stuff), only holding onto West London and surrounding areas that you really need forthings the purpose of Comrades (old & new) fromlove. all Services to get together and/or on the last Saturday of the month at the Good Yarn Public House, With what’s left, it’s now Uxbridge time High Street, UB8 1JX, 09:30-11:30
to work out where it will go.
Lorraine Reed 07976 398533, Often, our most persistent lorraineareed@gmail.com or (exRAF) Iain Henderson, Iain115@aol.com. clutter arises from the fact that
we haven’t designated spaces Whist Tuesdays 2-4pm at Uxbridge where things can easily be& District Club, put, so Conservative stuff just ends upFairfield, lying 46 Harefield Rd, Uxbridge, Middx, around. Label your storage UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653 if necessary, and make sure
Women’s Social Group the whole knows what’s Social groupfamily for women in West London. women of all meant toWe go welcome where. You’ll ages. Please call Seema on already898635 have created extra 07730 or email seemaa@ storage space seemaa.co.uk by having
such a good clear-out; if you still need more, look for all Badminton Club you could fit the areas where Requires additional players of additional storage, whether average standard! Every Tuesday evening to 9.45 at Vyners built-in 7.45 or free-standing: from School, Ickenham. Interested? backs turksclub@hotmail.co.uk of doors to under the Email: stairs, tops of wardrobes to Play bowls, rugby, squash & tennis under the bed. Think at Uxbridge Cricket Club.racks, Bar food available daily. Non-members hooks and shelves as well welcome. Tel: Anne 01895 237571. as conventional cabinets and E: admin@uxbridgecricketclub.co.uk chests of drawers and, where Hillingdon Golf Club possible, coAll players ensure and newthey members welcome. 18 Dorset Way, Hillingdon, ordinate with existing furniture, Middx, UB10your 0JR.home’s Call 01895 enhancing style 460035/252718. and even adding a soupcon www.hillingdongolfclub.co.uk of on-trend glamour. You Indoor Short Bowls may alsonights wish 8-10pm to have at a Uxbridge Thursday & District Conser-vative Club, of rethink about the location Fairfield, 46 Harefield storage Rd, Uxbridge, some conventional UB8 1PJ. Tel: 01895 233653 spaces. If, for example, toys Ladies Golf in the living room are always Meets 10am every Monday and rather thanatinRickmansworth the children’sGolf Wednesday Club new members welcome. Email bedrooms, how about adding ladies-captain@rickmansworthgolf a toy storage unit somewhere club.co.uk for further details. handy, rather than having to New Ladies Netball Team tidy them away upstairs every Training Wed 7.30-8.30pm (TT) day? Primary School, Ryefield Ryefield SPORT...
Avenue, Hillingdon There are a few rules of E: glebenetballclub@yahoo.com
storage that might be helpful.
Uxbridge Tennis Club Obvious, butUxbridge worth Located in perhaps, Gatting Way, UB81NR, 07905 Social bearing intel. mind all 293444. the same. Tennis: Thu 7pm, Sat 2pm, First, store like with like (itSun may 10am. www.uxbridgetennisclub.org.uk
take a while to go through
Smart motorways rack up £450,000 from speeding fines. Are you next?
the house and organise this, have allowed extra space, and you can easily assess which but it really is worth the effort then filled it… it’s time to start items you never wear. You for the ease of finding things all over again. could try the same idea by Caroline Dunne later on). Never say: ‘I’ve got in the kitchen (turn the Easy ways to banish clutter this box, what shall I put in handles of your mugs in one Consultant • Write a list of where you it?’ match the size direction, put glasses upside IBBInstead, Solicitors want to declutter. Start with and shape of the container to down, and so on), the caroline.dunne@ibblaw.co.uk the hardest or the easiest what’s being kept inside (in playroom, the living room… – the important thing is that other words, Speeding is find onesmall, of thelidded most common and The £6 billion pound in smart • Makeinvestment it a family competition. you now know what you boxes for things Lego can commit behind dangerous actslike a driver motorways has resulted in the “safest Who will be the fastest to need to do. and big squishy baskets for the wheel. motorways on thefind network”. according three things to throw • Have an intensive declutter teddy bears). Store as much away, three thingsfor to give to Shaun Pidcock, a spokesman workout and spend just five as possible near to where it’s away and three things to In 2015 over 52,000 drivers were issued fixed Department of Transport. minutes clearing as much as most needed, but don’t store tidy away? Offer prizes as penalties on 11 stretches of the motorway you can in one area. You’ll frequently used items below necessary. including M1, M25shoulder and M6. In comparison Fordifference speeding drivers, it means there is a be amazed at the knee level or above • If what you need is some you can make. Repeat as only 2,023 drivers were caught on the same higher risk of being caught. This can result height, especially if they’re emergency decluttering, often as stretches in storing 2011 -things before the upgrade to you can. in an immediate fine and points on your heavy. Avoid there’s no shame in popping on surfaces such as tables smart motorways. • Not sure which license. clothes to everything into a big box or desks – they’re where you get rid of? Hang them all and hiding it somewhere want to motorways put things while you’rethe traffic with flow the hooks facing one Smart manage Driving penalties until canyou be costly andto go have time organising them, not keeplimits andway. Every timeemotionally you wear through various speed opening draining so ititproperly. is important that through them there afterwards. And something, re-hang it with the hard shoulder during busy times. receive the support you needMazeballs from family, Main Image: bed, allow yourself room to expand the hook facing the opposite £625, Loaf: 0845 468 0698; Already, almost 240 miles of motorways friends and even the right legal expert. – but only within reason. If you way. After, say, six months, www.loaf.com
have been incorporated into smart motorways and a further 200 miles are either planned or under-construction.
Today, smart motorways catch more than 1,000 drivers speeding every week. On the M1 motorway in Nottingham, police issued 8,489 tickets; an equivalent of nearly £450,000 worth of fines.
If you are facing any charges relating to speeding , we are here to help. At IBB Solicitors we have solicitors who specialise in road traffic law and advise individuals and employers facing charges relating to speeding. Our goal is to help you understand the charges, advance any defence and support you if you go to court.
Call us on 0330 999 4999 at any time if you are charged with a speeding offence or email us on roadtraffic@ibblaw.co.uk.
Hobbies 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.
Gardening Fighting the Frosts
by Pippa Greenwood
put on a bit of new growth. So, there’s definitely a very good reason to brace yourself, get out into the garden and take some precautions.
The frosts are here, and in the weeks ahead the worst of the winter is likely to arrive too. Added to that there is often a fair bit of rain or even snow at this time of year, so our gardens can be in for quite a battering. Now most of the plants you grow in your garden are probably fairly frost-resistant, but what can you do to ensure that damage to those which are not so hardy is kept to a minimum? Some deterioration may already have occurred, but it is the last frosts and those which hit the plants in spring that are likely to be most damaging, as they catch plants out when they have already
Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to freezing or frosting as their roots are not protected beneath the soil, but are relatively exposed with just the container and a bit of compost to cover them. Thinwalled containers pose the greatest threat, especially those made of metal. Thicker wood or ceramic pots provide a little extra insulation, but even these may need a bit more. 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 up well in several layers of bubble wrap, polythene or old curtains – it may not look pretty but it’ll do the job. If the container is in a very prominent position and you want it to look more appealing, buy some hessian and use lengths of this to create an outermost layer to hide the insulation material – it can actually end up
looking rather nice! If very harsh weather is forecast or there has been a spell of mild weather which may have promoted some soft, new growth that will be particularly frost prone, drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well. If you want to make life a lot easier then invest in some Easy Fleece Jackets: they come in three sizes and each one has a draw-string and toggle so that you can easily insert the plant and then secure it. You can find out more on my website www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops. A double fleece layer can of course be used on plants in beds and borders too, or to protect slightly tender wall shrubs. Larger individual plants in borders, which are too big for even the large fleece jackets, can be given longer term protection with a home-made protective ‘cage’. Just use four stakes or sturdy canes to create a framework which you wrap 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 – during the cold weather
they continue to need a fair amount of water and if this is frozen solid in the soil, they soon suffer. So it is essential to continue to water these, especially if they are in a spot where they are sheltered from a lot of the rain which does fall, or if the weather has been dry. A deep mulch applied to the soil or compost surface before the ground becomes frosted will help too. Once frozen, soil moisture becomes unavailable, so this mulch will help to keep the water available. Although most fruit trees - like apples and pears, cherries and 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 as by then the buds are further developed. If you are planting new fruit plants, it really pays to buy them from a specialist nursery and try to get late-flowering varieties where possible, as they are less likely to be flowering when there is still a risk of frost.
over! 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 well-anchored 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.
Finally, don’t forget to use fleece to cover any seeds already sown out of doors. A double layer of well-anchored fleece or a fleece-covered 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 any seedlings brave (or foolhardy) enough to poke their heads above ground before the cold weather is
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.
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