West Drayton Aug 15 by In and Around Publishing

014 11:27

  



 







 The school summer holidays are underway and the roads are already noticeably quieter, something that I can now appreciate, whilst dropping my daughter Sami off to work each day. Did I just say work? Yes, not school, but work! Within a two month period, I’ve watched my child take exams, leave school, go to prom, start work and celebrate her six teenth birthday. All grown up, all of a sud den. Time really does fly (and apparently it doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re enjoy ing yourself or not!). On the work front, it’s been as busy as ever, with Jackie and Louise hot on the phones whilst I continue to fly around like a headless chicken. I still harbour this great notion of being super organised and running a seam lessly smooth operation, but after ten years, I’m starting to think that maybe being in a constant state of manic is the way I work best. It gets the job done and the mags through the doors, so maybe I should settle for that. There! Pressure off and I’m feeling better already. Time to down tools and hit the gym instead. .

   Tel: 0800 038 5001 Mob: 07759 536494 In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Ickenham . Ruislip Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 

www.inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 



Golden Years: Memories of 50 years ago

Local Events

Karen Munro: Careers

Zoe Hart Children’s Music Review

Breakthrough for Sciatica Sufferers

Fuel Saving

Health: Why Breast is still best

Property Matters

Bank Holiday Refuse Recycling Dates

Motoring: Honda Civic Type R

Reader Travel Offers

Coffee Break Puzzles

Are you birding, twitching or watching?

Beauty: Belle of the Beach

Interiors: Victorian Style

Credit cards for the stages of your life

Pets Corner

Garden Feature Clubs, Groups & Classes

38 40, 42 & 44

Wordsearch

Situations Vacant

Puzzle Solutions

  We are grateful for the support of local businesses whose adverts appear in this publication and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, claims made by advertisers or endorse companies, products or services. This publication, its contents and advert designs are © of In and Around Publishing. Any copying or reproduction in part or fully, is strictly forbidden without our prior consent.

l y d

The Woodfield Window Doctor saves you time and money!

Call 01895 622207 now for a FREE survey with no call out charge The Woodfield Challenge: We guarantee to beat any price for like for like windows and doors

Why replace, when you can repair! • Window, door & conservatories • Leaking or drafty windows repairs • Replacing faulty hinges, locks & handles



• Replacement of misted sealed units • All types of glazing repairs

Use your own window measurements for a free, no obligation instant quote • Measure the height and the width from the inside

• Call us on 01895 622 207 or drop in for your quote

• Kitchen & bathroom splash backs • Adjustments for windows & doors that don’t shut • New door panels and cat flaps fitted Call 01895

622 207 now for

your instant quote

We supply and fit only the finest quality: Windows • Doors • Conservatories • Porches • Composite & Bi-folding Doors We welcome you to come and visit our showroom: 39 Victoria Road, Ruislip Manor HA4 9AB. Open Mon to Sat 9am-5pm Call now on 01895 622 207 • Email: info@woodfieldwindows.com • Website: www.woodfieldwindows.com

e .



Golden Years Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning 1937 and gained a reputation as a hardheaded fixer, a manipulator, a wheelerdealer and when necessary a bully. Elected to the Senate in 1949, he spent six years as Majority Leader, honing his political skills but keeping his radical instincts under a bushel. He was chosen as John Kennedy’s running mate in 1960 not because the Kennedy clan admired him – quite the opposite – but because as sophisticated New Englanders they believed they needed a rustic southerner.

name “Bloody Sunday”. America was scandalised and Johnson immediately ordered the Justice Department to draft ““the goddamnest toughest voting rights act that you can devise”, unveiling it on 15th March with a speech that ended with the words “we shall overcome”. He backed words with action by sending Federal marshals to protect the final Selma-Montgomery March two days later. It took all his political skills, and Dr King’s help, to get the Act through Congress. And when Johnson was finally able to sign the VRA on 6th August he did so with a speech that still has to the power to draw tears. This came at the beginning of an administration that saw the creation of Medicare, the end of segregation in public facilities from gas-station washrooms to universities, and a huge improvement in living standards for America’s poorest. But LBJ was never liked – he was always on the edge of scandals, always suspect – and in the end his reputation was destroyed by Vietnam. It is an enduring tragedy that his epitaph should be: “Hey, hey, LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?”

   

Will African-Americans be holding street parties and torchlight parades on 6th August this year? They should – it’s the golden anniversary of a landmark in the struggle for civil rights. For on that day the US President signed into law, in the presence of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parkes, the Voting Rights Act that finally abolished literacy tests, property qualifications, “moral character” tests and all the other devices by which the Southern states maintained white supremacy. Texan-born Lyndon Baines Johnson was a Southern Democrat. But while many Southern Democrats were avowed segregationists, Johnson was different. Precociously intelligent but from a poor background, he had been exposed when young to the Social Gospel doctrine that saw the New Testament as not just religious but political too. He then had to work his way through college to become a teacher, and sharing the struggle of black and Mexican students helped him see America from their point of view. Abandoning teaching for politics, he was elected to Congress in 

When Kennedy was assassinated, the Voting Rights Act 1964 was in preparation. It was the third in a series, all of them ineffectual, and Johnson wasn’t satisfied. As president in his own right he was dissuaded from drafting a tougher replacement so soon; but only a month after his inauguration came the Selma-Montgomery Marches when black Alabamans came out in protest at being denied the vote. Over a period of weeks they were beaten and brutalised by state police – on live TV. On 18th February a young unarmed black man was shot dead; and the brutality with which the police thwarted an attempt to hand in a petition to governor George Wallace on 7th March earned the day the

Happy 50tH BirtHdays to Sam Mendez (1st), Cheryl Fergison (Eas (27th), & Shania Twain (28th). Cake and botox to you all!



Dated Events (Aug15)_Layout 1 24/07/2015 11:46 Page 1

AUGUST EVENTS

  

Local Events August into September 2015 

Family Fishing Fun Day 9th August, Little Britain Lake, Packet Boat Lane, Cowley. Hourly angling sessions guided by experienced volunteer anglers will take place throughout the day. Equipment and bait provided free of charge. Other free activities include river dipping, bird box making, face painting and a bouncy castle. Registration is on the day and places are offered on a first come, first served basis. See www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fishing

The Stage is Yours A Musical Theatre Workshop 10th to 14th August, 10am-4pm Community Hut and Winston Churchill Theatre, Pinn Way, Ruislip, HA4 7QL. A 5-day summer holiday musical theatre workshop allowing children to have a fun and an exciting time. Sessions are for children aged 7 to 14 years culminating in a final ticketed show. For more info visit www.hillingdontheatres.uk or call 01895 673200. Scavenger Boat Race 12th August, Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham, UB9 5PG. Activities like this one will run throughout the summer. For more details call 01895 833375 or www.colnevalleypark.org.uk. Lunchtime Classical Concerts Church of St John the Baptist, Sheepcote Road, Harrow, HA1 2JE. 13th August, 12.30-1.30pm Preludes by Rachmaninoff, J.S. Bach, Chopin, Debussy,

Alkan, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Lionel Sainsbury and Steve Law Steve Law (piano) 20th August, 12.30-1.30pm Music from Stage and Film Sondheim, Mancini, Arlen, Myers, Legrand, Dudley Moore. Janine van den Berg (vocals), Steve Law (piano) 27th August, 12.30-1.30pm Chopin - The 4 Ballades Neil Crossland - Yorkshire Suite Op. 41 Neil Crossland (piano). All concerts are free admission, for more details visit www.ruislip andharrowmusicfestival.co.uk Medieval Festival 16th August Manor Farm, Bury Street, Ruislip, HA4 7SU. A great day out for all the family for details visit the website at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/medfest

LIVE MUSIC EVENTS The Swan at Iver 2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG. 7th August Goldeneye live act 21st August 2Tone live show The Falcon Village Road, Denham, UB9 5BE. 16th August Tiny Tina & Blues Band - tribute band from 5-8pm. Champers Bar 184 Field End Road, Eastcote, HA6 1RE. 9th August - 2 Tone, reggae pop & soul duo

14th August - Stuart Wilson, early doors with Frank Sinatra 16th August - The B-Vinyl's, 50's Rock & Roll 23rd August - Ash Lee, Solo Guitarist 30th August - Freddie Mercury Tribute Act (tickets £3)

SEPTEMBER EVENTS Hillingdon 4 Business 2nd September, 8.30-10.30am Costa Coffee, The Pavilions, Uxbridge. Informal networking event for further information please email maggie@hillingdonchamber.co.uk Produce & Handicraft Show by Harlington Womens Institute 5th September, from 1.30pm Hayes & Harlington Community Centre, Albert Road, Hayes, UB3 4HR. As expected from the WI, the items available for sale will be of excellent quality, so come along and bag a Victoria sponge (or two)!

DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE! If you would like us to publicise your event in our September issues contact us no later than Friday 14th August.

   

p ll

...



Karen Munro Careers (Aug15)_Layout 1 24/07/2015 01:22 Page 1

Karen Munro - Career Coach www.munrocareers.co.uk #@munrocareers www.facebook.com/munrocareers Karen is a professional Career Coach providing individual support in all aspects of Career Development including effective CV Coaching, Interview Skills and Networking Techniques. A member of the Career Development Institute and registered with the Careers Professional Alliance, a qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer, she works with both private and business clients around London and the South East.

 

Karen also facilitates workshops and offers individual coaching to Military Personnel leaving the Armed Forces at RAF Northolt and works as an Associate Career Coach and Trainer for both Right Management and SMP Solutions. Writing for a number of career focused and military resettlement magazines she regularly contributes to ‘In and Around’ every month sharing her practical experience with her local community. Writing a strong C.V is about being able to highlight your key skills, qualities and career history in order to get put forward for a job interview.

FIRST impressions count, and employers will make a decision on whether to shortlist you for an interview as quick as 30 seconds. So, it’s important to know what you need to do to get the key information across very quickly. Firstly, keep it simple! Avoid, graphics, borders, fancy fonts, boxes, columns and lines. All of these detract from the information you are trying to put across and just become barriers. Always tailor your CV to your audience. Sending out 10 speculative and generic CVs to random organisations is pointless. You might as well just put them in the bin, as that is what the employer will do. You need to find ‘common ground’ with the employer – what skills, qualities and experience are they looking for? Read through their job descriptions and their websites, do your research. There is no point highlighting your qualities and key skills if they have nothing in common with what the employer is looking for! Open with a strong personal profile. Just one paragraph of no more than 5 or 6 lines written in the third person – it should be about you, not from you. Summarise your qualities, skills and length of experience and what you are looking for. The personal profile is the single most effective part of your CV. It needs to grab the attention of your audience, the employer, and give them a good overall impression of who you are and what you can do. Use bullet points to highlight some key skills and achievements before listing your career summary. Don’t list too many though or you will look like a ‘jack-of-all-trades and a master-of-none’. Your career summary should always start with your present or most recent job. Use bullet points to highlight your job responsibilities using positive language such as ‘achieved’ and ‘successfully managed’, ‘organised’ and ‘responsible for’. Don’t just list your job description in every detail. Always ensure you are demonstrating evidence of your key strengths and achievements in order to enable the employer to understand what value you will bring to their organisation. What are you good at? Think about what do you do and how do you do it? 

Highlight any professional memberships, training and qualifications in order of importance – not date. Summarise your education but remember no one is interested in your old ‘O’ Level or GCSE in Woodwork - your CV should only be highlighting your relevant qualifications. If you have done, or are doing any voluntary work, don’t forget to include it. Voluntary work is particularly important and impressive on a CV and if you’ve been out of work for a while, but have been volunteering, it’s a great way of showing an employer you are keeping your skills up to date and you are part of the community. It demonstrates so much more about you and your values. Finally, keep it to just two pages with no mistakes and don’t put information on your CV about referees – it’s about you – not them! Ensure you don’t have any personal information on your CV such as your age or nationality. If you would like to know if your CV hits the spot, Karen offers a free 8 point C.V ‘health check’.

Karen

“unlocking your career potential”



Zoe Hart FP+ (Aug15)_Layout 1 24/07/2015 07:25 Page 1

Music Review by Zoe Hart

 

ZOE HART an international club DJ since 1999, turned Childrens Entertainer in 2012.

Hi, I’m Zoe and I run a local children’s disco service.

She is also a qualified yoga teacher and EI and mindfulness practitioner.

In todays world we are constantly bombarded with information and not enough time to absorb and filter it for our children, so I thought I’d help a little, at least in the area that I’m good at. Music!

Her company ‘Hart Entertainments’ provides quality conscious discos for children of all ages in the Bucks, Middlesex and West London areas. www.zoehart.co.uk - 07747 063 149

This month’s favourite BLACK MAGIC – Little Mix Teen pop from X-Factor 2011 winners. Black magic shouldn’t be taken lightly or promoted to teenagers as a way to sort out your love life. Having courage and being kind should sort AGE that out. Ask the new Cinderella she knows.

16+

HOUSE EVERY WEEKEND – David Zowie Brilliant track. Appeals to all ages, got a good house groove and both the video and the song focuses on using dance to express and release pent up feelings. “I’ve gotta get out of my house every weekend cos if I let myself go, I might AGE just make it.”

SHINE - Years and Years Strange video with more magical happenings in it. Everything about both the song and the video are very bog standard pop. Nothing inappropriate in either though I wouldn’t AGE show the video to younger children.

SHOW ME LOVE Sam Feldt featuring Kimberly Anne I thought oh no not another version of this song, but then the video and the all new take on this classic melted my heart and I’m AGE looking forward to playing it to the family.

POISON – Rita Ora A good video and song from Rita. Beware the trappings of fame. It may all seem glitz and glamour but what happens to your principals AGE and boundaries?

NOT LETTING GO Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne Hip hop pop song with lyrics that are ﬁne for any age audience. Got a good groove, with a very easy to sing along section from Glynne. AGE Will go down well at the school disco.

ARE YOU WITH ME? - Lost Frequencies Belgian deep house producer creates a very danceable track which is easy to listen to and available to all.

FREAK OF THE WEEK – Krept & Konan According to uk.viva.tv “Krept & Konan are two up and coming artists from South London killing the UK underground scene... they bring together a dynamism unseen in this country.” The 20 year olds love it, personally I’m not a fan of using the ‘F’ word or ‘B’ words to emphasize AGE any F’ing point. You feel me dog?

18+

PHOTOGRAPH - Ed Shearan A beautiful song, beautifully sung and written, with a gorgeous accompanying video of a look at Ed’s life from the beginning to present day. Had me in tears, inspirational for all our kids. What AGE you waiting for, go show them now!

AGE

I would love to hear what your sunny choices are, let me know at: zoe@zoehart.co.uk

References: uk.viva.tv, mtv.co.uk, Wikipedia.co.uk, azlyrics.com, whosay.com, musicinsideu.com, youtube.



Zoe

  

Vs m







Why Breast is still Best (but not Compulsory)

 By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk  

August is World Breastfeeding Month, so let’s bust some negative myths, look at the benefits, and discover what influences mums’ feeding choices.

Breastfeeding Myths i can’t breastfeed because: • My nipples are flat or inverted. A simple, small operation can fix this – as can breastfeeding itself, sometimes. Breastfeeding can be difficult, but rarely impossible. • i need medication for depression. Some doctors will quickly suggest you give up breastfeeding (or don’t start), but sometimes both the benefits of treatment and breastfeeding outweigh the potential risks, which are very low with some antidepressants. • My baby has a tongue tie, cleft palate or cleft lip. Sometimes these conditions can make breastfeeding difficult for the baby and painful for you. They may need expressed milk in a bottle (but may find bottlefeeding tricky too). Tongue tie surgery is simple and if necessary, can be performed early on; cleft lip 

surgery is usually performed from 3 months and cleft palate surgery from 6 months. • i’m not sure i want to breastfeed; i’m going back to work, anyway. See how you feel after the birth. Even if you give your baby just a few feeds, they’ll receive colostrum, the special initial breastmilk full of your antibodies. Your ‘normal’ milk comes in around three days after birth. Even if you begin bottlefeeding, you’ll usually be able to breastfeed later, although as time goes by it becomes progressively harder to establish. If you’re returning to work, you can breastfeed at first then swap to expressed breastmilk, formula or mixed feeding later. You have a legal right to express milk at work and to ask for a change in your working pattern. • i can’t make enough milk: Despite what many mums are told or believe, it’s extremely rare to be physically incapable of producing enough milk. The process can be hampered though, if you’re unwell or have had a caesarean, or your baby is poorly, and expressing milk can take practice too. Usually it’s just a question of time and correct technique, but if

your baby is suffering or you need to leave them and can’t express, you can give formula...

...But mixed feeding will ruin my milk supply: If your baby needs the odd bottle of formula, don’t panic. ‘Breastfeeding with some formula is better for your baby than full formula feeding,’ says the National Childbirth Trust. Ideally, though, wait until 6 weeks to try regular mixed feeding. Breastmilk production is stimulated by demand (sucking or a breast pump) and the process of establishing the ideal production rate is best left uninterrupted. The NCT warns that mixed feeding too early often ‘leads to full formula feeding within quite a short time,’ but that once breastfeeding is established it can be successful. Rarely, a baby will be fussy about going back on the breast, but it’s usually short-lived. Breastfed babies wake more at night: Not necessarily. Research suggests parents of breastfed babies get more sleep, and there’s no night time formula preparation, sterilisation or bottle warming needed. I’ll be asked to move if I breastfeed in public: The Equality Act 2010 made this illegal.

Breastfeeding Benefits • Much healthier babies: breastmilk’s mixture of hormones, nutrients and antibodies is custommade, adapting to your baby’s needs, age and even time of day. It aids development, increases intelligence, and reduces the risk of chest, stomach, ear and urine infections, asthma, diabetes, obesity, leukaemia, meningitis, celiac disease, Sudden Infant Death syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, some lymphomas and cancers, Crohn’s disease, cardiovascular disease, eczema and allergies, and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in girls and necrotizing enterocolitis (a serious bowel condition) in premature babies.

postpartum haemorrhage, contracting your uterus to normal size after giving birth, and reduces your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes. It also keeps periods at bay for several months, conserving iron stores, and uses 200-500 calories daily, burning off pregnancy weight gain. • Convenient, economical and green: You can feed your baby anywhere, for free, saving £550 a year in formula alone and reducing waste delivered to landfill.

friend, while Liz intended to breastfeed until her midwife advised her bottlefeeding would be “easier” after her caesarean. Older ‘militant’ breastfeeding advice just caused guilt: “My LaLeche League book was SO awful about bottle feeding that when I finally offered my daughter formula, I felt I was poisoning her,” said Katie.

  

• Healthier mums: Breastfeeding helps prevent

decisions, decisions A mini-survey of friends echoed national findings: the main culprits responsible for making breastfeeding difficult or unappealing are poor advice and support (personal and professional). “I was banished to upstairs in my in-laws house!” said one breastfeeding

The NCT found that 90% of women whose friends breastfeed plan to breastfeed themselves, compared to 51% of women without breastfeeding friends (who are also three times as likely to abandon breastfeeding within two weeks). So ensuring mums are well-informed and supported, wherever and however they choose to feed their baby, is vital. nct (National Childbirth Trust): Helpline: 0300 330 0700 www.nct.org.uk/



Beauty

Property  

 

Belle of the Beach

The comparison site Go Compare has just pub lished a survey of the most popular home improve ments. It makes interesting reading, particularly by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk given that the number of properties going on the market is in a serious slump right now. It seems Late nights, are lazycurrently days atsubscribing the that homeowners to the oldbeach adage, don’t improve. and move, endless mojitos…

we do love summer

Top of the list is fitting a new bathroom (44%) with holidays. you’re installing a newWhether kitchen close behind on 39%. A surprising 33%off of home heading for aimprovers week inhave the gone for a new boiler while 28% opted for a garden make Canaries, catching a cruise over.

ship to the Caribbean, or just

taking the kids camping What is interesting about all this to is that when it comes to cost feast effective wayseyes of adding Cornwall, your on value to your home, only one of these things would make our pick of the latest beauty the top 5. The best way to add value is a loft con releases. version but only 10% of improvers went down this path. Building an extension, particularly to the side you like ‘buying love16% of re of If the house, is very British’ effectiveyou’ll but only the newhad British Botanical spondents opted to do this.Shower A new kitchen will certainly value but usually the cost of installing Creamadd from Elemis, which uses it will be greateringredients than the increase in value so it is UK-sourced such as anything but cost effective. However, fitting a new chamomile, lavender, rosemary and bathroom is relatively cheap to do (providing you oats. smellsaway) divineand andisisthe incredibly don’t getItcarried third best way of nourishing. adding value. At £24 it is rather pricey, but definitely one to consider if you

What all this shows, to me anyway, is that home fancy treating owners are thinking ofyourself. their own comfort and needs when they make improvements to their properties. Energy saving measures such as a Looking for a sun new boiler or fitting solar panels came high on the cream that’s suitable list of most popular improvements, but neither of fortoall thevalue family? these things does much add to a home or Green People’s make it more saleable.Try New kitchens and garden makeovers do much toOrganic make a property nice to live Children in but, once again, doScent little toFree add Sun value.Lotion, It seems that, given the lack of£16.95. choice in to buy, It’sproperties non-greasy many homeowners are sitting tight. The doldrums and rubs in more easily that are afflicting many estate agents show no than a lot of the other signs of lifting any time soon.

a choice of SPF 25 or 30, it offers great all round protection. Plus it’s packed with fruit and seed oils, including avocado, olive and aloe vera, and is kind to sensitive skin. It is water-resistant, but won’t survive a long swim in the pool, so do make sure that you reapply it regularly. If you prefer a lipstick to a gloss, but hate the drying effect that some lipsticks can have, you’ll want to get your hands on one of the new Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons. 100% natural, the crayons use shea butter, jojoba oil and kendi oil to soften and moisturise your lips. I could still feel the difference by the next day. There are six shades available. My personal favourite is Sedana Sands – a natural pink with just a hint of caramel, which is perfect for summer. Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons are priced at £8.99 and are available from Debenhams, Fenwick and www.burtsbees. co.uk.

We all know the risks, but when the sun is shining and we’re baring our pins on a golden beach, we can’t help natural sunscreens on the  but want a tan. Sometimes market. Offering both UVA it’s OK to fake it, and tanning and UVB protection, with



is one of those occasions. Don’t let the visions of Oompa Loompa lookalikes put you off; fake tans have come a long way and you no longer have to choose between milk bottle white or tangerine orange. For best results, wax or shave the day before, exfoliate well, then follow with a body lotion. Wait until the lotion is fully absorbed before applying the tan. New to the UK market is Aussie tanning brand Black Magic. Try the Black Magic Instant Tanning Mousse, £23, which is tinted, extremely easy to apply and comes with a mitt to keep your hands stain-free. www.blackmagictan.co.uk

If late night cocktails have left your skin looking a bit lacklustre, or you just don’t fancy slapping on foundation in the heat, give Origins GinZing™ EnergyBoosting Moisturizer, £23, a go. Designed to ‘wake up’ tired looking skin and leave it with a healthier looking glow, it’s no surprise that this has quickly become one of Origins’ ‘hero’ products. A 75ml limited edition version was released this spring, featuring a funky coffee bean lid, but it was snapped up pretty quickly. Still, you may be lucky and find one lurking at the back of a shelf in Debenhams…



 Motoring  Honda Civic Type R

If you’re going to spend five years in the wilderness sans any performance models, you’d better have one almighty bang in your back pocket when you return to the fray. Following a lengthy hiatus, Honda has launched the most eagerly-awaited performance car so far this year. Faithful disciples of Honda’s iconic Red Badge models, number in their hundreds of thousands around the world - 400 of whom have already placed advance orders, largely sight unseen.

The Style Factory

The new Civic Type R looks exactly like a Type R should look. It is gloriously shouty, has a big mouth, brandishes a Kardashian-like rear and an XXL rear wing tuned for maximum downforce. Other aesthetics include double dual exhausts either side of a massive rear splitter, a big front splitter, flared wheel arches and the vents that adorn them.

The Inside Story

The front furniture is fabulous - probably the best road car seats I’ve sat in for a while, with really tall side bolsters offering 

By Wayne Gorrett

excellent support. Other tactile elements are great too – an aluminium gear lever, shapely leather steering wheel and well-judged pedal weights. There’s plenty of headroom front and rear and the boot is huge, too.

Engines and Transmissions

The new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Earth Dreams i-VTEC turbo unit produces 228 kW at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque from a lowly 2,500 rpm. It still uses the VTEC variable valve timing system, however. All of that brutal power is received by the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox only and a helical limited-slip differential. Honda claims 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds and 269kph flat out. The front suspension now uses a strut arrangement with a bespoke ‘dual-axis’ design to reduce centre offset, reducing torque steer by an incredible 55 per cent. The Type R brakes are nononsense Brembo units and both performed exceptionally well on road and track. To the left of the grippy steering wheel is a button marked +R. This sports setting immediately changes all the dials in the car to fiery red. The result is

a change in engine mapping for sharper performance and steering, stability assist to maximise grip, while adaptive damping is increased by a spine-shrinking 30 per cent.

The Drive

On public roads, throwing the Type-R into sweeping corners inspires confidence as every judder of grip is fed back into the wheel. Those adaptive dampers ensure that smaller bumps are shrugged off with an ease that defies the very lowprofile tyres, although potholes and crusty surfaces still crash through the structure. Start to use the performance and the engine adopts a monotonous, booming drone that is neither pleasant nor inspiring. If you’re given an opportunity to take one of these onto the track – grasp it with both hands. You’ll discover a car that’s exceptionally racy but also very manageable and fairly forgiving. Steering is weighty but precise, with none of the expected twitchiness. Two versions are available – a standard model at £29,995 and a GT with additional equipment at £32,295. By way of comparison, the Golf R costs £30,820.

Summary

The new Honda Civic Type R is an extreme car and has been well worth the wait. Its target buyer will be someone who doesn’t welcome compromise – and who sports deep enough pockets to live with that decision. While unquestionably pricey, it is an utterly brilliant piece of automotive engineering.



Dream

holidays

In and Around

Call 01895 83 33 33 for bookings and information

GREAT DAY OUT

£79pp

B S



Greenwich Tall Ships & Lunch at the Tower Hotel

Monday 31 August, 2015 • Quote: GS8-IA

The Tall Ships Festival is back in London this August featuring a dozen historic sailing vessels from around the world moored at Royal Greenwich riverside. Many of the ships are open for tours so visitors can see what life is like aboard and get first-hand accounts from crew members. The festival aims to create a carnival atmosphere which also features live shanty music, street theatre, historical characters in re-enactments and market stalls. As a colourful cosmopolitan spectacle the festival is one of the capital’s major attractions. INCLUDED: Visit to Greenwich for the Tall Ships festival • 2-course late lunch at the Tower Hotel, overlooking Tower Bridge • Return coach travel Lunch menu: Soup of the Day or Goat’s Cheese Terrine • Roasted Chicken Breast, Pan-fried Sea Bass or Wild Mushroom Risotto • Viennoiserie Bread & Butter Pudding or Exotic Fruit Salad

GREAT DAY OUT

£59pp

Holidays oﬀered by GN Holidays & Voyages Higher Denham

L L

C K w e I • •

C o

ABTA NoY0291 •ATOL 9362

Escorted & River Cruise: www.gnvoyages.co.uk

Four Forts of the Solent Cruise & Cream Tea

Coach Breaks: www.gnholidays.com

Wednesday 2 September, 2015 • Quote: FF9-IA

Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays Closed Bank Holiday weekends.

Come with us to Portsmouth and enjoy a three-hour afternoon cruise around the Solent forts - built in the 19th century by Lord Palmerston to protect the eastern approaches to Portsmouth Harbour from invasion by the French - and including a cream tea. INCLUDED: 3-hour afternoon cruise around the four forts of the Solent & Portsmouth Harbour • Cream Tea • Return coach travel



R W I • • r e

Coach Breaks departing from Uxbridge, Ruislip & Slough Brighton & Bluebell Line Steam & Cream

Paddlesteamer PS Waverley Isle of Wight Cruise

Wednesday 9 Sept, 2015 - Quote BB9-2-IA

Friday 18 September 2015 - Quote PS9-IA

GREAT DAY OUT

 £59

n h t e e d f

e o y

£89PP

Enjoy a super day out including a visit to Brighton and a steam train ride with a cream tea. INCLUDED: 90-minute steam train ride on the Bluebell Line with a Cream Tea • Free time in Brighton • Return

Join us for a unique cruise on the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, PS Waverley. As she cruises the Solent, visit the engine room to see her classic steam power in action

coach travel

INCLUDED: PS Waverley return cruise from Portsmouth to Yarmouth or The Needles • Return coach travel

Leeds Castle Festival of Flowers & Lunch at Donnington Manor Hotel

River Avon Christmas Lunch Cruise & Festive Stratford upon Avon

Wednesday 23 September, 2015 - Quote LF9-IA

Thursdays: 3 & 10 December, 2015 - Quote FS12-1/2-IA

GREAT DAY OUT

£89PP

£69PP

Come with us to the spectacular Leeds Castle, in Kent, where flower arrangers, designers and artists will create an array of fresh, floral displays. Plus, enjoy lunch at a country hotel. INCLUDED: Entry to Leeds Castle & Festival of Flowers • 2-course lunch at Donnington Manor Hotel, Sevenoaks • Return coach travel

Enjoy a River Avon cruise with a traditional 3course Christmas lunch and see Stratford upon Avon decorated and lit for Christmas. INCLUDED: Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon • 3hour cruise on the Countess of Evesham • 3-course traditional Christmas lunch on-board - starter, main course and dessert • Return coach travel

Christmas on the Isle of Wight

We Love the 60s Spring Party Weekend - Pontins Pakefield, Suffolk Coast

Wednesday: 23 December, 2015 - Quote XW12-IA

Friday 11 March, 2016 - Quote PS3-2-IA

5 DAYS HALF BOARD PLUS

£359PP

Relax and enjoy an effortless Christmas on the Isle of Wight as we take care of all the arrangements. INCLUDED: 4 nights stay at the Shanklin Beach Hotel • 4 dinners and 4 breakfasts plus Christmas Day lunch • Excursions include an island tour with a steam train ride and a visit to the Panto • Coach travel and excursions

4 DAYS HALF BOARD PLUS The Merseybeats

£179PP

Join us at Pontins Pakefield for an over 40s party. Live shows include The Merseybeats, The Ivy League and The Pacemakers plus there’s free drinks every night. INCLUDED: 3 free drinks per person per night - house beers & spirits, wine by the glass, pumped soft drinks & mixers • Full 60s theme entertainment programme • 3 breakfasts & 3 dinners • 3 nights en-suite chalet 



  



holidays

In and Around

Call 01895 83 33 33 for bookings and information

GREAT DAY OUT

£79pp  

B S



Greenwich Tall Ships & Lunch at the Tower Hotel

Monday 31 August, 2015 • Quote: GS8-IA

GREAT DAY OUT

£59pp

Holidays oﬀered by GN Holidays & Voyages Higher Denham

L L

C K w e I • •

C o

ABTA NoY0291 •ATOL 9362

Escorted & River Cruise: www.gnvoyages.co.uk

Four Forts of the Solent Cruise & Cream Tea

Coach Breaks: www.gnholidays.com

Wednesday 2 September, 2015 • Quote: FF9-IA

Open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays Closed Bank Holiday weekends.



R W I • • r e

Dream Doors West London A5_210 x 148 17/06/2015 15:19 Page 1

Coach Breaks departing from Uxbridge, Ruislip & Slough

From a simple door swap  Brighton & Bluebell Line Paddlesteamer PS Waverley to& Cream a full replacement Steam Isle of Wight Cruise  kitchen...  Wednesday 9 Sept, 2015 - Quote BB9-2-IA

Friday 18 September 2015 - Quote PS9-IA

GREAT DAY OUT

 £59

n h t e e d f

e o y

GREAT DAY OUT

£ PP kitchen before .. Join us for a unique cruise on the world’s last! seagoing paddle steamer, PS Waverley. As she cruises the Solent, visit the engine room to see her classic steam power in action

coach travel

INCLUDED: PS Waverley return cruise from Portsmouth to Yarmouth or The Needles • Return coach travel

Leeds Castle Festival of Flowers & Lunch at Donnington Manor Hotel

River Avon Christmas Lunch Cruise & Festive Stratford upon Avon

Wednesday 23 September, 2015 - Quote LF9-IA

Thursdays: 3 & 10 December, 2015 - Quote FS12-1/2-IA

GREAT DAY OUT

• £Trusted reputation PP £ PP • Senior citizens discount Come with us to the spectacular Leeds Castle, in River Avon cruise with a traditional 3• Free designEnjoy and aChristmas planning service Kent, where flower arrangers, designers and artists course lunch and see Stratford upon Avon will create an array of fresh, floral displays. Plus, decorated and lit for Christmas. • Less cost, less time, less hassle enjoy lunch at a country hotel. INCLUDED: Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon • 3* & Festival INCLUDED: Entry to Leeds Castle of Flowersto measure hour cruise on the Countess ofdoors Evesham & • 3-course • Made custom-built units • 2-course lunch at Donnington ailsManor Hotel, Sevenoaks t traditional Christmas lunch on-board - starter, main e d r fo k s A travel • Return coach and dessert • Return coach travel • Huge choicecourse of doors, worktops, appliances, sinks & taps

We’ll payAT the V

Christmas on the Isle of Wight

We Love the 60s Spring Party Weekend - Pontins Pakefield, Suffolk Coast

Wednesday: 23 December, 2015 - Quote XW12-IA

Friday 11 March, 2016 - Quote PS3-2-IA

5 DAYS HALF BOARD PLUS

4 DAYS HALF BOARD PLUS

Visit our Showroom at PP 17 Broadway£Buildings, Boston Road, W7 3TT £ The Merseybeats * Terms & Conditions

359

Call Salil for a free estimate

apply,and pleaseenjoy ask for an effortless Christmas on the Isle of Relax full details Wight as we take care of all the arrangements. INCLUDED: 4 nights stay at the Shanklin Beach Hotel View our credentials at • 4 dinners and 4 breakfasts plus Christmas Day lunch • Excursions include an island tour with a steam train ride and a visit to the Panto • Coach travel and excursions

179

Join us at Pontins Pakefield for an over 40s party. Live shows include The Merseybeats, The Ivy League and The Pacemakers plus there’s free drinks every night. Find us on INCLUDED: 3 free drinks per person per night - house beers & spirits, wine by the glass, pumped soft drinks & mixers • Full 60s theme entertainment programme • 3 breakfasts & 3 dinners • 3 nights en-suite chalet 

020 3633 3575 www.dreamdoors.co.uk

Hobbies  Are you Birding,  Twitching or  Watching?  By Kate McLelland In the late 1980s the arrival of a tiny American songbird (blown off course during its annual migration) in Larkfield, Kent, led to a mass-mobilisation of the nation’s bird lovers. Over the course of several days 2500 “twitchers” crowded into the small Tesco car park that the golden-winged warbler had chosen as its temporary home. This extraordinary event – which has now earned a place in bird-watching history - shows just how much time and effort real enthusiasts are willing to put in when it comes to pursuing their hobby. The definition of a “twitcher” is someone who is willing to travel many miles in order to see a rare bird at first hand and in recent years, social media has significantly increased opportunities for these keen observers to come face-tobeak with their quarry before it moves on. In the 1980s a twitcher would need to rely on radio or TV reports, or home phone calls from fellow enthusiasts, in order to learn about a rare bird’s visit. Now, thanks to mobile communication, the news can be spread within seconds of the Answers first sighting. Just this year 500 Page appeared 18 people on a Norfolk 

beach in a matter of hours after a rare citril finch - normally only found in alpine areas of Europe – was spotted. One of the observers who rushed to Kent for a glimpse of the American warbler in 1989 told the Guardian newspaper that seeing the bird was “Better than sex … the adrenaline rush was phenomenal”, and this level of excitement and commitment explains why twitchers often find themselves in the media spotlight. But not all bird hobbyists are twitchers: twitching is just one aspect of a pastime that’s surprisingly broad and diverse. Activities may range from a single individual recording sightings in their local area (usually defined as a “birdwatcher”) to members of well organised groups who come together to learn everything they can about bird species, including their nesting habits, environmental usage and migration patterns. These serious hobbyists are known as “birders” and some even travel the world, taking part in competitive events. Our current interest in birds has its roots in the Victorian craze for natural history, which revolved around creating

collections of natural artifacts, and were then displayed in the home. At the same time as Victorian gentlemen were collecting rare birds’ eggs to impress their friends and neighbours, women began wearing feathers in their hats as a fashion statement. The plumage of exotic birds was particularly in demand and in the first quarter of the year 1884 hundreds of thousands of bird skins were imported to Britain from countries such as India and Brazil, including almost 7,000 bird–of-paradise skins. In 1889 a woman from Manchester called Emily Williamson, shocked to see so many birds slaughtered to satisfy the whims of fashion, set up the Plumage League. This society was patronised by leading figures of the day and later won a Royal Charter. Nowadays it is known as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The RSPB is still the UK’s leading bird charity and since its early beginnings it has done much to protect endangered species and promote bird welfare. The society’s “Big Garden Birdwatch”, which started over 36 years ago, has

become an important annual event across the country, encouraging householders to contribute to the charity’s research so it can record changes in bird populations. The country-wide network of birdwatchers created by this initiative helps the RSPB keep track of species in a way that would not previously have been possible and provides the opportunity for a rapid response when a decline in population is observed.

about birds and wildlife and take part in talks, walks and fundraising events.

“bird-watcher” or a dedicated “birder” or “twitcher” you can be confident that you’ve chosen a hobby that will always offer interest, excitement and fresh challenges. As climate change continues to affect the natural environment - altering breeding and migration patterns - it’s good to know that keen observers are continually monitoring the nation’s birds, recording and passing on vital information that will help preserve these precious populations well into the future.

   

You can sign up for the Big Garden Birdwatch (held in January each year) by going to the RSPB website (www. rspb.org.uk). Alternatively you may prefer to join one of the society’s local groups (enter a search for “Local Groups” on their website to find an A-Z list). Run by volunteers, these groups provide an opportunity for members to learn more

Birding UK (www.birding. uk.com) also provides information on a range of groups you can join, including “Birding Buddies”, “Bird Photographers”, “Bird Artists” and even “Birding Bikers”.

If you’re just getting started as a bird-watcher then you might like to purchase one of the many low-cost apps available for your mobile phone. Ranging in price from .69p to £12.99, these apps provide a handy guide to identifying birds and recording sightings. Some even provide examples of birdsong to help with identification but care should be taken when playing recorded birdsong in the natural environment, particularly at times when birds are nesting. Whether you’re a simple



Beauty Belle of the Beach

 Late nights, lazy days at the  beach and endless mojitos… we do love summer  holidays. Whether you’re by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

heading off for a week in the Canaries, catching a cruise ship to the Caribbean, or just taking the kids camping to Cornwall, feast your eyes on our pick of the latest beauty releases. If you like ‘buying British’ you’ll love the new British Botanical Shower Cream from Elemis, which uses UK-sourced ingredients such as chamomile, lavender, rosemary and oats. It smells divine and is incredibly nourishing. At £24 it is rather pricey, but definitely one to consider if you fancy treating yourself. Looking for a sun cream that’s suitable for all the family? Try Green People’s Organic Children Scent Free Sun Lotion, £16.95. It’s non-greasy and rubs in more easily than a lot of the other natural sunscreens on the market. Offering both UVA and UVB protection, with 

If you prefer a lipstick to a gloss, but hate the drying effect that some lipsticks can have, you’ll want to get your hands on one of the new Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons. 100% natural, the crayons use shea butter, jojoba oil and kendi oil to soften and moisturise your lips. I could still feel the difference by the next day. There are six shades available. My personal favourite is Sedana Sands – a natural pink with just a hint of caramel, which is perfect for summer. Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons are priced at £8.99 and are available from Debenhams, Fenwick and www.burtsbees. co.uk. We all know the risks, but when the sun is shining and we’re baring our pins on a golden beach, we can’t help but want a tan. Sometimes it’s OK to fake it, and tanning

 



Home & Interiors Victorian Style

By Katherine Sorrell much of it, from dressers and dining tables to sideboards and writing desks, though whatnots and chiffoniers are rarely to be found in the modern home. Fabrics, too, were rather more elaborate than we are used to today, with a great deal of embellishments – though William Morris’s Arts & Crafts designs introduced a relative simplicity and have remained popular ever since.

  

It may not be the height of fashion, but there is much to be said for Victorian style, which is confident, distinctive and eminently comfortable, says Katherine Sorrell Everything changed in the 19th century. From society to science, politics to industry, the Victorian era was a time of enormous transformation. Travel, too, became easier, and influences and ideas from all around the world became increasingly important. The middle classes expanded rapidly, and their homes became the perfect vehicles with which to show off both their newly acquired wealth and their cultural savvy. The result? An interior style that was exuberant, eclectic and, quite often, downright over the top. The high Victorian style was a riot of revivalism, and different periods were mixed with 

abandon, including Elizabethan, Italianate, ‘Louis’, Egyptian and Queen Anne Revival. The main ‘Battle of the Styles’, however, was between ‘Greek’, (in other words, pretty much all types of classical architecture and decoration), and ‘Gothic’ (more or less any style reminiscent of Olde Englande). Gothic was the winner, its most famous exponent Augustus Pugin, designer of the refurbished Palace of Westminster. Despite its mix and match of styles, and a tendency towards clutter, the main ingredients for Victorian living were not so far from where we are today, give or take a tweak or two in colour and pattern. Encaustic tiled hallways and polished, dark wood floors with a central rug featuring large, bold patterns set the scene, while patterned wallpaper was de rigueur. Wooden furniture was dark, solid and often very, very large – but we would recognise

Upholstered seating was the major development from the preceding Georgian era. Coil springing had been invented in the 1820s, and Victorian sofas and chairs featured deep buttons and comfortable, curving shapes. Also new to furniture-making was Thonet’s technique for bending beechwood to produce his nowclassic café chairs, while metal bedsteads were introduced to Britons at the Great Exhibition of 1851 – and have changed little in style ever since. As far as colour choices went, the Victorians loved anything rich, deep and vivid. These hues worked well with the dark brown furniture that predominated, but are best used judiciously today. That said, they can be most attractive in the right place: deep shades, such as crimson, claret, bottle green, sharp yellow, purple, mahogany, terracotta and Prussian blue, were preferred for sitting rooms, dining rooms and studies; paler and fresher hues, including pink, grey, pale blue and soft green, were considered to be more suitable for bedrooms. Lighting has, of course, altered a great deal in the last 150

years or so. When Victoria came to the throne, oil and candle lamps were the only form of lighting in most homes, but during her reign first gas lighting was developed and then, at the very end of the 19th century, early electricity. There were a great many elaborate and ornamental styles of lamp, including swan-necked brass wall lights, flower-shaped glass shades and china lamps covered with floral sprigs. Originals – which can often be converted to electricity – are often to be found today, as are all sorts of reproductions.

bedroom, using a wooden washstand plus bowl and pitcher, or a tin bath in front of the fire. Along with indoor bathrooms came distinctive sanitaryware – large, often colourfully decorated basins, and enamelled roll-top baths on ball and claw or scroll feet, much of which can be found in reproduction form for those with spacious enough rooms.

 

The Victorian middle-class kitchen, used only by servants, was a very plain room, equipped with free-standing tables, with the sink in an adjacent scullery. And the bathroom only came into being as a separate room in the 1870s, before which time all ablutions took place in the

Because Victorians considered bare rooms to be in poor taste, their houses were filled with more knick knacks, objets d’art and collections than ever before or since, some of which are right on-trend today – embroidered samplers or miniature flowers under a glass dome, anyone? Other Victorian accessories have not stood the test of time quite so well, including black and white miniature portraits, colonial exotica and toby jugs. Nor has a helpful kitchen accessory,

employed for anyone unlucky enough to suffer from cockroaches – a hedgehog kept in a box.. IMAGES - Page 1: The Bagsie sofa is a modern version of the classic Victorian Chesterfield. £1,715, Loaf, 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com. Above:Period stained-glass effect window film, £52, Purlfrost, 020 8992 4024; www.purlfrost.com.



 Finance  Credit Cards for the  Stages of your Life 

By Ann Haldon

With so many different credit cards to choose from, knowing which one is right for you often depends on the current stage of your life. Whether you’re a young adult just starting work, coping with the financial demands of a young family, or are approaching retirement, here are some of the features and benefits to watch out for. StudentS and graduateS Most student account ‘packages’ include a credit card for those who qualify, and generally offer an average Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of around 19%. Credit limits are unlikely to be more than £500, but this is often all that is needed to provide a financial cushion. The majority of banks now offer a very useful feature that alerts you when a payment is due. HSBC student credit card Offered alongside their student current account, you can make payments and view your balance online. Their representative variable APR is 18.9% - average for this type of card, with no annual fee payable. Graduate cards work in much the same way, often linked to a ‘graduate’ account, and with a similar credit limit and APR. A slight difference is that some banks offer the facility 

to transfer an existing balance over to your new graduate card at 0% interest for a limited time. Lloyds Bank graduate card Lloyds offer a limit of up to £500 on credit cards if you are a graduate current account holder. A selection of cards is available depending on your income as a new graduate, with some cards offering 0% interest on balance transfers. Young famiLY rewards cards Parents of young children may prefer to receive rewards and incentives from a credit card. These could include free travel insurance, commission-free foreign currency, free days out and money-off vouchers for meals at child-friendly restaurants. tesco Clubcard credit card Currently the Tesco Clubcard credit card offers five Clubcard points for every £4 spent with Tesco, including your spend on petrol. You can also earn one point for every £4 spent using the card at other outlets. Cash back cards Cash back credit cards come in handy if you can pay back the total balance each month. You need to read the small print carefully, however, as higher penalties often apply for missed or late payments.

Santander 123 credit card Santander is currently offering 1% cash back in the major supermarkets when you use their credit card, 2% in major department stores, and 3% on petrol and transport, including National Rail and Transport for London. Low interest rate cards Alternatively, you may simply want a card with low interest for the occasions when you don’t pay off the balance in full. You’ll need to have a good credit rating to get one of these cards, but they can help considerably when managing the family’s finances. mBna low rate credit card At the time of writing, this card from MBNA offers a low 6.5% variable rate for balance transfers, purchases and money transfers. You can transfer money from your credit card to a bank account with no handling fee, but the rate offered on the card may vary depending on your circumstances. retireeS A reduced income in retirement often means a narrower choice of credit cards. Banks and other financial institutions prefer to see a regular wage coming in, and some have a policy of refusing anyone over a certain age, regardless of how much

money they have saved. Even if your savings are with the bank you are applying to, banks have been quite rigid on this policy of late.

Should your credit file include bankruptcy, County Court Judgements, or other formal insolvency procedures, ‘standard’ credit cards will be unavailable to you for some time. Credit-builder cards are a good way to improve your credit rating in these circumstances, as long as repayments are made in full and on time every month.

good all-round card with a low interest rate, and let the added extras be just that – extra to the main features.

   

Saga Platinum credit card A variable representative APR of 11.9 % makes this credit card from Saga a middle-of-the-road option in terms of interest rate. Not the lowest, but certainly not the highest, the perks of this card currently include an introductory 0% on balance transfers and purchases for the first nine months, and 0% foreign currency fees on transactions worldwide. Credit-builder cards You may need to improve your credit rating at any stage of life, but this type of card comes with a high interest rate and a low credit limit. If separation or divorce have left you with no recent credit history, this may be a good option.

Vanquish Visa credit card This credit-builder card from Vanquish offers a credit limit of between £150 and £1,000, depending on your circumstances and credit history. The variable representative APR is 39.9%, and the account can be managed online. The best general advice from money experts is to shop around for the best credit card. Don’t be blinded by rewards and offers – simply find a

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/ credit-cards/student-credit-card http://www.lloydsbank.com/ current-accounts/graduateaccount.asp http://www.lloydsbank.com/ credit-cards.asp http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/ credit-cards/123-credit-card http://www.tescobank.com/ credit-cards/compare.html http://www.mbna.co.uk/creditcards/mbna-low-rate-creditcard/ http://www.saga.co.uk/money/ saga-credit-card.aspx http://www.vanquis.co.uk/creditcards



Pets Corner... (Aug15)_Layout 1 24/07/2015 06:30 Page 1

Skin Disease in Dogs... SKIN DISEASE is very common in our pets but unfortunately because the skin can only react in a limited number of ways symptoms may be similar for a number of different causes. Summertime seems to bring an increase in skin disease because external parasites are likely to be more numerous and plant growth more active leading to seasonal allergies. By far and away the commonest cause of skin problems is fleas and it is fair to say that until proven otherwise flea infestation is the most likely cause. Therefore it is essential to eliminate fleas from the equation by control with an effective product. Unfortunately many flea products are ineffective so it is best to take advice from a vet. Flea sensitivity usually starts along the middle and lower back with itchy skin, hair loss and military dermatitis – lots of little scabs, but can spread to other areas. The absence of visible fleas does not mean your pet doesn’t have them, indeed if you see live fleas there is already a major infestation in your house. Evidence is more often the flea droppings in the coat that appear as black bits which dissolve and go a characteristic red on a sheet of damp white paper. If it can be shown that there is no flea problem then further investigation is required and the first step is a skin scrape to look for mites. Dogs suffer from two major types of mites, Demodex which lives in hair follicles and causes patches of hair loss, typically on the face and fore limbs but can become generalised if not diagnosed correctly, and Sarcoptes which causes intensely itchy scaly lesions usually starting on the ears and elbows but can be found anywhere. Lice can also cause itchy skin but are much rarer. After parasites the next most likely cause of an itchy dog is Atopic dermatitis (Atopy). Atopy is caused by an allergy to something in the dog’s environment, most often grass or plant pollen in summer or house dust in the winter. Atopy characteristically causes itchy red skin on the belly, axilla, groin, feet and inside the ears. Often there is a secondary dermatitis which if controlled with appropriate medication may need no additional treatment. Failing this, corticosteroids are usually the first line of treatment but unfortunately steroids can cause serious long term side effects so the addition of Anti-histamines, Omega 6 EFA supplements, special shampoos and skin preparations can help to reduce the dose. Occasionally a specific vaccine can be made up and immunosuppressive drugs may have to be used in extreme cases but these can be expensive. A new drug Atopica has revolutionised treatment and is safe and very effective but is in very short supply.

Food allergies can cause similar skin lesions but these tend to be more around the face and neck. The only way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is by an exclusion diet - there are NO reliable tests for this. There are a number of rarer diseases which can cause skin problems but after the above causes have been eliminated skin biopsies are usually required to diagnose these.

  



M C Atkinson BVSc MRCVs www.stmartinsvetclinic.com



Tropical Paradise   

As the summer’s end is not too far away, many of us will be wishing for that exotic holiday we never quite had. But you can recreate that Typically Tropical Feel in your own garden instead. The temperatures may not be quite what they might be on a real exotic holiday, but it’ll certainly help to make your garden feel warmer and more appealing, and you can be sure that it’ll last a lot longer than the classic two week long trip.



are great and fast growing too. For very bold, colourfully striped foliage and screaming orange flowers try Canna ‘Tropicana’, or for a larger than life effect try the banana Ensetes ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ which grows very fast and has wonderfully rich purple-green leaves.

A tropical oasis might be particularly well suited to an urban garden, where temperatures are often warmer and conditions more sheltered and protected, but even if your garden gets its fair share of frosts you can still make an impact using a mixture of tender and hardy plants all of which have that exotic feel to them. Plant closely or fill ‘gaps’ with temporary plantings of the less hardy tropical look plants and you will create that dense, lush looks which spells tropical paradise.

If you want more than just foliage, the bulbous Eucomis bicolour has out-of-this world greenish yellow flowerheads which give it the common name of ‘pineapple plant’. Another favourite of mine is the Angel’s trumpet. These gorgeous looking plants may be very poisonous but the flowers of Brugmansia (previously known as Datura) as angel’s trumpet is also known, take some beating – choose white, yellow or cream and enjoy their perfume and elegant good looks. Although not hardy if you grow it in a pot it can be kept in the garden during all but the worst weather and then brought out again once it has started to warm up the following spring.

Lush, large leaves will always help to create a rainforest or exotic atmosphere and you could even grow a miniature banana called Musa ‘Basjoo’, which shows a good degree of hardiness. Indian shot plants, also known as the cannas

Don’t forget the vertical surfaces such as trellis, walls and fences as they too can be given a floral and foliage makeover. These may look boring now, but will look great when covered with passion flowers, ornamental vines or

by Pippa Greenwood

the pretty Cobea scandens commonly known as the cup and saucer plant. Then add to the ‘action’ using a few dramatic features – perhaps a Trachycarpus fortunei palm in open ground or a pot, or in the form of a sculpture or statue. If you go to the garden centre, many statues and garden ornaments are much more affordable than you might think. Partially hidden with some lush foliage they help to add to the jungle-like atmosphere. There are plenty of tropicaleffect plants to choose from including: tree ferns, phoenix palms, yuccas, cordylines, Rodgersia pinnata, Gunnera manicata, Rheum palmatum, cycads, citrus (including lemons, calamondin orange and other fruiting varieties) and bamboos. So, you see, the potential is there to create a holiday paradise without having to leave home, brave delays at the airport, find a house or petsitter…..all you need now is a deck chair and a cocktail or two, delivered on a tray! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for Nemaslug & other biocontrols, Speed Hoes, Speed Weeders SoftTie, pop-up crop covers, copper tape and lots more besides.



WD What's On... Jul15_Layout 1 29/06/2015 08:14 Page 1

HOBBIES...

   

Afternoon Leisure Painting Monday 2pm to 4pm and Wednesday 1.30pm to 3.30pm. The advanced and fundamental concepts of art in any media. Enthusiastic people welcome. Southlands Arts Centre 01895 632171

Crafty Cards Have fun creating your own cards. 2nd and 4th Friday, 10am to 12noon. Contact 01753 652 459 Craft Evening Group Tuesday 7.30pm. Members own projects and workshops to share experience and further skills at Southlands Arts Centre. Tel: 01895 442980 Handicraft - Morning Group Tuesday 10am to 12 noon, needlecraft and any handicraft with material. Paper 3D decoupage, patchwork, cross stitch, soft toys etc., at Southlands Arts Centre. Tel: 01895 442910

Knit & Knatterers Hand and Machine Knitting, Crochet 2nd & 4th Monday of the month 7.309.30pm at Southlands Arts Centre. Tel: 01895 421777 Les Artists - Evening Wednesday 7.30pm to 9.30pm. A mixed ability class for still life, portraiture etc. All welcome at Southlands Arts Centre. 0208 797 4635

KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA...

Bagot Stack (Fitness League) Term Time Only. Vyners School, UB10 8AB on Tue 7.30 - 8.30pm. Outline Theatre Group At St. Matthews Church, Yiewsley. Every Also in Windsor Monday & Thursday. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 Tue 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome from 8yrs+. See www.outlinetheatre. co.uk or www.thefitnessleague.com call Robert Jones on 01895 446352 Bokwa Dance Fitness Over-50's group Energetic workout that anyone can pick Painting Group - Morning up, dancer or not. Saturdays 10.30Tues 10am-1pm. Experienced water11.30am, Yiewsley and West Drayton colorists very welcome at Southlands Community Centre. Contact Penny, Arts Centre. Tel: 01895 421328 07771 872592/01895 420409; Spinning & Weavers Group learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk Tues 7.30-9.30pm at Southlands Arts Centre. Tel: 01895 443481

The Language Clubs of Hillingdon Harlington Locomotive Society From late Sept until mid-July. Visitors Every Thursday, 8pm at the club in High welcome, Speak some German, Street, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex Spanish, French or Italian? Want to UB3 5ET. For details call Peter Tarrant practise speaking and listening in on 01895 851168 friendly groups, with recent learners, improvers & native speakers? Join a Hillingdon Family History Society Language Club! Each Club meets on a At Hillingdon Park Baptist Church, different Thursday of the month at 7.45 Hercies Road, Hillingdon. Research pm in St Giles' Church Hall, Swakeleys room open (10am-1pm) every Fri (except the Fri before the first Sat of the Road, Ickenham UB10 8BG. For details: German Club 01895 254 723; Italian month). On the first Sat of the month Club 020 8863 3468; Spanish Club and open 10am-1pm at Uxbridge Library. French Club 01895 253 472 Experienced help available. See www.hfhs.co.uk . Contact Mrs P. Uxbridge Craft Market Reynolds 01895 444442 or email Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The hillingdonfhs@onetel.com Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Collectables Hillingdon Railway Modellers Club www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk Meet every Thursday, 7.30pm at Yiewsley Baptist Church. Contact Wednesday Stitch Club tonymoth@Hotmail.co.uk 10-12noon at Hillingdon Tennis Club . All abilities, Tutorial, White work, gold Hillingdon Natural History Society work, crewel work etc. Your choice! Call Meets 1st wed of the month at the sue 0208 868 8052. Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@hillingdonWest Drayton & District naturalhistorysociety.org.uk History Society Inland Waterways Association The society meets on the last Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Tuesday of each month Sep-May Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, (excluding Dec) at St Martins Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. Church Hall, Church Road at 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk Each month there is a talk of either local or national interest. During Iver Flower Club the summer months a programme The Coppins Room, Iver Village Hall, of visits and walks are arranged. Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9HW. Meets Membership £6 per year. 4th Thursday of month, 7.30pm. Call either Paul 07980 483182 or Cyril Call Jayne on 07730 249876. 07704 837042 for details. www.bbando.org.uk/clubs/iver



Yiewsley Angling & West Drayton Fishing Clubs Thurs 8-10.30pm, Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. For more details call 01895 443423

Dance, Gymnastics and Free Running Classes Presented by Futunity Uk in Uxbridge Town Centre & Hillingdon Sports & Leisure centre. Ages 2-adults catered for and all styles of dance from RAD ballet, Contemporary & ISTD Tap to Break Dancing , Street Dance, Hip Hop & Zumba. Check out our website for full class listings, www.futunityuk.com. Contact Futunity Uk Head Office 01895 251224 or email admin@futunityuk.com Fitness Club St Catherine School, Money Lane, West Drayton, UB7 7NX. Thursday 6-7pm. Circuits, Fitness and Boxercise. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, www.tauruspt.co.uk Tel: 07906 087749 Irish Dancing classes For boys and girls from age 5 upwards. Beginners and advanced classes available. Monday, 6pm at Hayes Conservative Club, Church Rd Wednesday, 6pm at Greenford Visitati on Catholic church hall Contact Deidre e: Deirdreosullivan@ hotmail.co.uk t: 07956 346383 Ladies Only Kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8.00pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Just turn up or call Instructor Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 e: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk continued over...

ail uk



WD What's On... Jul15_Layout 1 29/06/2015 08:14 Page 2

   

KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...

Linedance for Improvers Tuesdays 12-2pm Royal British Legion, Station Road, West Drayton. Call Instructor Ann 0791 435 8050

Line Dancing Thurs 12-2pm. St Martins Church Hall, Church Road, West Drayton. Call Susan 01895 832837 susanwynne376@gmail.com

Linedancing Tuesday evenings 7.30-10.30pm. Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. Call Ann on 0791 435 8050 Modern Jive Classes Mondays, 8-11pm, West Drayton Community Centre Thursdays, 8-11pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. Beginners welcome, first night entry and free lifetime membership with this advert. Contact: Alan 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 or email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com.

Nordic Walking & Wellbeing Explore our borough’s green spaces . with all round exercise in the open air 4 wk courses various days and locations pre-booking essential contact 07771 872 592 / learningmoves@hotmailco.uk Pilates and Tai Chi Fit courses Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Contact Penny 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk Pinewood Fitness The Fitness Room, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Sl0 0NH Mon 20.00-21.00, Wed 19.30-20.30 Booking only. Various Fitness Circuits, Boxercise, Gym Work £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, www.tauruspt.co.uk 07906 087749 Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.459.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm. Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. 

Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm

Tai Chi Classes Sat 10-11am, Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan on 07880 601429 to book. Tai Chi Fit Designed for modern life. Wed 09.3010.30am. Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre UB7 9JL. Contact Penny 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk Tap Dance Mondays 7.30-8.30pm at Meadows Community Centre, West Drayton. Adult Beginner/Intermediate tap. No exams. Contact 01895 420409 / learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk. Yoga for All Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. Priya 01895 440712

Zumba Mon 6pm, Walter Pomeroy Hall, Royal Lane Hillingdon UB8 3QU. Tues 7.30pm, St Marys Church Hall, Hemmen Lane (off Church Rd, Hayes) UB3 2JQ. All welcome. £5. Ann-Marie Samuels 07701 012927 Zumba Fitness Class Weds 8-9pm at Langley Grammar School Sport Centre Reddington Drive Langley, SL3 8LL. Thurs 7-8pm at Yiewsley / West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Rd, West Drayton. UB7 9JL. Call Gabriel 07735090325 or email gabrielzumba@instructor.net www.gabriel84.zumba.com PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS... Mobile Disco for Children A mobile disco available for hire, for children of all ages call Zoe on 07747 063149 for details. Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Mon and Thu 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12yrs) & Cadets (age 1218yrs). Fees £2pw, courses from £5. Email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk Stars at Knight After school Drama Club for children

7-18 yrs at Southlands Art Centre, 76 The Green, West Drayton. Tel: 0208 841 8940 / 07956 123626 e: starsatknightdrama@gmail.com www.starsatknight-schoolofdrama.co.uk MUSIC... Faraday Country Music Club In Slough SL2 1RN. Join us for the best live Country Music. From 811pm. Call Deb 07986 050742 www.faradaycountry.co.uk Guitar lessons Complete beginners welcome. Contact Sam for a FREE lesson 07798 588496 sam@uxbridgeguitarlessons.co.uk Yiewsley & West Drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. To join or book the band for an engagement contact Lynne on 07976 824152 or email Lynne@ywdband.com Yiewsley & West Drayton Training Band This is open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or those of you wanting to 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wednesday during term time 6.457.45pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com PETS... Iver Dog Training Club Every Tue and Fri 6.30pm-9.00pm at St Andrews Church, Richings Park. Call Diana 01753 732907 Iver Heath Fields Dog Club 'Outdoor Training' every Sat at 10.15am, Wed at 11am. Call Mike on 01753 817852 or 07795 031335 SELF DEFENCE... Close Quarter Combat Based in Richings Park. Specialising in speed, strength and conditioning training. Pad work combinations. Suitable for men & women of all ages. 1-2-1 sessions. Call Mark 07525 366126 e: mj.wilding@hotmail.com continued over...

 

Answers pg 46



WD What's On... Aug15_Layout 1 24/07/2015 12:39 Page 3

SELF DEFENCE CONTINUED... Karate Club of Denham For ages 5 years and upwards. Sundays 9.15-11am at New Denham Community Centre, Oxford Road. Call 07988 743725 Karate Club of Uxbridge For ages 5 years and upwards. Wed 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call 07988 743725

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. Rosemary Conley Every Thursday 10-11.30am, Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. Call Sarah on 0208 569 0181 Slimming World The Salvation Army, Cowley Road, Uxbridge. Tuesday 7pm Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. Tel: Mandy 07879 897578 Yiewsley Methodist Church, Farfield Road, Yiewsley. Wednesdays 5pm or 6.45pm. Tel: Nicki 07826 698360 Weight Watchers Every Tuesday, 5.30pm and Friday at 10.00am Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre. Call 01784 256974 or 07879 455882

   

Kung Fu Club (Ladies only) A work out for all ladies, at all levels of fitness on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9.30 to 10.30am. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or sportsclubuk@gmail.com Heathrow Boxing Club Men & women, boys & girls Junior Boxing Club: Tue & Thu, 5pm. Senior Boxing Club Mon, Tue & Thu, 8pm. 422 Bath Road, Longford, Middlesex, UB7 0EB. Tel: 0208 123 1271.

Martial Arts Bujinkan Kuri Dojo Ninjutsu and Bujutsu, Unit 21 Bridgeworks, UB8 2JG. Tel: 07878 471124. Training: Sunday 10.30am-12.30pm, Tuesday 8-10pm, Thursday 8.3010pm www.bujinkankuridojo.co.uk Shorinji Kempo self defence Learn the practical self defence techniques of this traditional Japanese martial art. Tue 6-7pm children (£2), 7-9pm adults (£5). The Barn, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge. Call Dan 07776 421957. www.sk.harrow.ac.uk Silat Kuntao Indonesian Self-Defence Traditional self-defence, includes empty hand, weapons, meditation and healing massage. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346 or kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. SELF HELP & SUPPORT... Alcoholics Anonymous Meet every Sunday, 7.30pm at St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. For more call Howard 07816 315688 

SOCIAL GROUPS... Colne Valley Park Conservation Volunteers Every second eeekend of the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife and landscape of the regional park. For more details contact Steve Ord steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or call 07718 043080. Harlington Women’s Institute Every 1st Wed of month, 7.309.30pm at Landsdown House, St Peter's Way Hayes UB3 5AB. Call Sarah Wilson 0208 759 0019 Over 60s Social Group Male, Female and couples. Meet fortnightly at various agreed venues. Judith 07980 073170 Mel 07785 582323 jlholl2014@gmail.com Over 65s Wellbeing Sessions Well Seasoned - every Friday afternoon from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Creative art & craft activities & chair & standing exercise for over 65s at Yiewsley Cornerstone Centre, 74 Colham Ave. Yiewsley UB7 8HF. Sessions free. Call 01895 458310 www.yiewsleycornerstone.co.uk. Southlands Ladies Group Talks, outings, own evenings. Mon fortnightly. Call 01895 445766

Senior Citizens Welfare Association W/D & Yiewsley Bingo played every 4th Wednesday of month 1- 3.30pm. Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Transport available. 01895 443423 Chair Exercise Classes Mondays 11am-11.45am. Call 01895 443423 for details or pop along to the West Drayton Community Centre. Tea Dancing 2-4pm every Tuesday at Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre Women’s Social Group Looking to make new friends? Social group for women. We meet regularly for coffee, a chat and have organised trips. Call Seema 07730 898635 or seemaa@seemaa.co.uk SPORT... Hayes & Harlington Road Runners Every Wed, 8pm at Hayes and Harlington Community Association, Albert Road, Hayes. Email: michsampson76@aol.com (ladies) jack.nisbet@talk21.com (men) www.hhroadrunners.com. Ladies Golf Meets 10am every Monday and Wednesday at Rickmansworth Golf Club new members welcome. Email ladies-captain@rickmansworthgolf club.co.uk for further details. Pink Ladies Netball Club All levels and abilities welcome. Training at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tues evening. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm. Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm Under 16s - call Rhiannon 01895 448878 email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk Table Tennis Eastcote Community Association require new players to play in Wembley & Harrow League. Call Eve & George Gibson on 01895 636106. Uxbridge Squash Club All welcome. Uxbridge Cricket Club, Park Rd, Uxbridge. E: squash@ uxbridgesquash.org.uk or visit: www.uxbridgesquash.org.uk. Yiewsley & West Drayton Bowls Club Interested? Come along, just bring your flat shoes! Tuesdays 2pm. Call Kenny Smith 07957 140627.



e is pt y s. n rt



SITUATIONS

VACANT

ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCY IN ALL SIX MAGAZINES FOR JUST £50   6 month Fixed Term Contract to assist in carrying out a multitude of tasks. Driving Licence essential. Must be physically fit, capable of handling heavy machinery, and practically orientated. Apps are by CV and covering letter . Job Desc can be found on  Email apps to 

  Wanted for small wheelie bin cleaning company based in Iver. Must be over 25 years of age, self motivated and driven with full, clean driving licence. For more details and to apply please call



 Good Rate of Pay Must be qualified to Level 3 or Equivalent For more details, please call Jenny  Rumours Hair & Beauty, Iver Heath    Short and Long Term opportunities available. Full training and support given. All we ask is 5 years UK driving experience, with no more than 6 points and off road parking. Travel is required between jobs, so resourcefulness is essential. All enquires/applications to jane.nealen@bcalogistics.co.uk

  Enthusiastic, experienced  required to join our team here at The Tan & Beauty Salon 3941 High Street, Ruislip, HA4 7AU call us now for more details or 

 Flexible hours to suit you Same day payment £9  £10 per hour Nice clients located in South Bucks 





    Email: hillingdon.recruitment@careuk.com

 

  

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

Bi-Fold Doors Sliding Doors Conservatories Winter Gardens

BiFold-Quality-A4.indd 1

9 9 9 9

Curtain-walling Structural Glazing Windows Glass Sky Lights

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

10/03/2014 11:27