Island Magazines January 2022 Cowes, Gurnard & Northwood Area by Island Magazines

January 2022 Cowes, Gurnard & Northwood Area

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YOGA

Back to Yoga at last! by Judith Didham For eighteen months over 2020/2021, I was not able to teach my Yoga classes in Gurnard. Of course, all because of COVID-19 and its consequences which are still affecting us all, even now as the year ends and 2022 beckons. What a delight it was in September 2021, to be able to make the return to classes. I think everyone was a bit tentative in the beginning but without exception, all so happy to have a bit of “normal” back in their lives. That is what has made life very challenging for so many of us for so long.

Mondays & Thursdays at 9.30am - 11am

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Contact Judith for details Tel - 716144 judithdidham@btinternet.com www.judithdidham.co.uk

Judith Didham Yoga

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It also makes me think that it’s very easy to take everything we have in life for granted and forget how lucky we really are to have the freedoms most of us experience each day. There are many, not so lucky, all over the world. It has been a salutary lesson and I am so grateful for it.

For more info email islandmagazines@gmail.com or call 07880 587931

I am very lucky to teach Yoga which I love and I am truly grateful that I still can. My thanks to everyone for coming back and to those coming for the first time you are most welcome. There are still two or three spaces available. Get in touch if you are interested. For a caring and compassionate service

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As we roll into a new year and welcome 2022 into our lives, it is unsurprisingly mixed with some trepidation as we wonder what is just ahead for us. The last couple of years have been hard and at some point, we have all been touched and affected by the forever changing world that we live in. Something that I have learnt over this time is that we can only live in the ‘present’... there is no point in worrying about the past, it’s gone, and we can’t change it and don’t stress about the future as it hasn’t happened yet. On that note, I would now like to wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I’m sure many overindulged (like myself) and I put no limit on the amount of turkey or chocolate I could eat over the festive period. The Island comes to a bit of a standstill in January but if you have any events happening in February or March, please send me the details and I can share them on our ‘Dates for your Diary’ pages.

Inside this issue you will find the regular news reports from local councillors, information, editorials, puzzles, and adverts from local businesses. As I am always known for saying “please support local businesses and use their services when you can.” All our advertisers work really hard and the last couple of years have been hard hitting to many of them so I know they will appreciate your support. If you have community news and information that you would like to share or are a business that would like to advertise with us, then please get in touch by any of the means below. Island Magazines prides itself on working with and serving the community and I would like to thank all contributors, advertisers, and readers for your continued support. Have a great January and I look forward to catching up with you again next month.

07880 587 931 islandmagazines@gmail.com www.islandmagazines.co.uk

Debbie

facebook.com/islandmagazines twitter.com/islandmagazines Island Magazines Mailbox No 6 Store it Self Storage Ryde Unit 1 Nicholson Road Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1BE All information is correct at time of printing

Contact Lui Tel: 520522 Mob: 07795 363 534 www.primotechnical.co.uk primotechnical@gmail.com

What’s happening in our area by ‘Local and Vocal’ Lora Peacey-Wilcox I do hope you all had a lovely Christmas break. Wishing you good health and prosperity in 2022.

when shopping online, if you have one, most give you protection.

ARCTIC ROAD: I received notification from residents about issues with parking and with massive building works going on in the area. I contacted the site and am pleased to say that the issue (at this time) is now resolved. Thanks to all those that contacted me, and have understood the situation.

PHISHING Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use it – go separately to the website. Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov. uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.

CEMETERY: Coffee morning, Friday 7th January. 10.30-12.30. Theme, bring and buy…….!! A really lovely event to enjoy with friends and neighbours. A VERY warm welcome to you all. (First Friday of each month, different theme!). FUEL BILLS: On average ALL our bills will be going up by £400.00 that’s without us doing anything differently or using more fuel. Please get in touch with the marvellous team at Footprint Trust: 01983 822282 or info@footprint-trust.co.uk they can hopefully help you. ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS: Your information... Only create an account if necessary. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school. PAYMENT METHOD When it’s time to pay for your items, check there’s a ‘closed padlock’ icon in the browser’s address bar. Use a credit card 4

DEBT; BEREAVEMENT; VOLUNTEERING: Don’t bury your head in the sand. Please seek help! Our amazing team at Citizens advice and islehelpme are there ready to help you…. www.citizensadviceiw.org.uk and www.islehelp.me

DACK’S NEWSAGENTS EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT AND MORE... 4 THE ARCADE, COWES

• Newspaper delivery service in Cowes & Gurnard • UPS access point • Open daily for newspapers, magazines, confectionery, hot and cold drinks. The views and opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own and do not reflect the views of the Editor or Island Magazines unless stated otherwise. Island Magazines reserves the right to refuse or alter material where necessary.

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Specialising in teaching English & Spanish to adults. Beginner to intermediate level Spanish, and English at all levels. Fun, friendly and relaxed conversational based classes in Cowes, Ryde and Sandown. Contact Helen for more information helen@wightlanguages.com www.wightlanguages.com Tel: 07507 214876

subscribe Never miss out on reading a copy of Island Magazines. If you can’t get out to pick up a copy from local distributors you can subscribe to either our ‘DIGITAL’ or ‘PRINTED’ edition each month. For DIGITAL subscriptions please email cowesmagazine@gmail.com and include the words ‘subscribe digital’ in the email, then sit back, relax and wait for the next issue to drop into your email inbox.

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For PRINTED subscriptions there will be a small charge of £1.20 per month payable 6 months in advance. Email islandmagazines@ gmail.com with your name, address and which area you would like or call us on 07880 587931.

Climate Change... Let’s all do our bit The hard-hitting news that the planet will reach its global warming limit within the next 20 years, causing irreversible environmental damage and more extreme weather events can no longer be ignored.

Reduce your plastic usage Just small changes such as switching to bamboo toothbrushes and using a reusable water bottle rather than buying new ones can make a big difference.

Latest reports call for “rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions”, urging people to treat climate change as an “immediate threat”.

Manufacturing plastic items adds to greenhouse gas emissions, while plastic waste is also harmful to wildlife, particularly in our seas.

It’s time for us to all be responsible in taking steps to prevent climate change and although it may seem like an impossible and daunting task a few small changes at home can make a difference.

Reuse – Don’t just Recycle Although it is often pushed as the best thing you can do to help the planet, recycling has its own environmental implications. Transporting and processing waste for recycling requires a lot of energy, which means higher CO2 emissions. So, before you recycle, look to see if you can reduce and reuse first.

Cut down on meat and dairy The average carnivore diet produces 7.2kg of carbon dioxide a day, almost twice as much as a vegan diet. Livestock is responsible for around 15% of world emissions and, according to researchers at the University of Oxford, adopting a vegan diet is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Many families across the nation are swapping one of their regular meat meals for a plant-based meal. Join in and make Monday meatless. Avoid fast fashion Our taste for fast, cheap and disposable fashion is hurting the environment. You can dramatically cut down your carbon footprint by scouring charity shops, rather than opting for fast fashion items that have often been made abroad and come with a lot of packaging. Buying clothes second hand, selling or repurposing those you no longer want, and limiting how often you buy new items will all help.

Reduce food waste Buy fruit and vegetables loose, freeze as much as you can and buy only as much as you need to cut waste. In the UK we throw away 17 per cent of our food uneaten – eliminating this waste alone would save 370kg a year of CO2 and save the average household around £500 a year. Wash clothes at low temperatures Avoid washing anything above 30ºC, and dry things on a line rather than in the tumble drier. Higher temperatures mean more energy is needed to heat the water, and modern washing tabs are able to do their job at cooler temperatures.

Bringing the Community together in one place The Isle of Wight Community Club is a long-standing establishment that brings people together, not just from the local area but from all corners of the Island. Based in Park Road, Cowes (formerly known as the Plessey Club) they have some of the best facilities on the Island and cater for everyone. They are a family friendly club and can bring people together for social, sports and celebration events. They host regular weekly and monthly events, including bingo night, tea dances, The Evergreen Club for the over 60’s, bridge and crib, cheese and wine evenings, live entertainment, family discos and karaoke nights to name just a few. Everyone is welcome to attend these events. If sports is more your ‘thing’, whether watching, playing or taking part in the social side then the IOWCC is the perfect place for you. They are always looking for more players/teams for a variety of sporting events.

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Sports & Social Events

Football, Cricket, Cards, Pool, Darts, Dancing, Bingo, Petanque, Live Music Events, Panto & Murder Mystery, Indoor & Outdoor Bowls, Fireworks and much more...

Club Lounge Available for Hire Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Wakes, Corporate Events, Seminars Etc...

Catering Available

Do you have an event such as a wedding, To receive more details or to make a anniversary, birthday or a corporate event booking please call us or see our coming up? The Club Lounge is the ideal website and Facebook page or email setting to celebrate. The Lounge can be us at info@iowcc.com decorated and transformed to turn any event from great to fabulous and for those that want the full experience catering is also available. The Isle of Wight Community Club has something for everyone, and 2022 is going to be a great year for live entertainment and events. Who doesn’t like a game of bowls or petanque when the sun is shining? With so many activities in one place the only sensible thing to do is to become a member. For more details you can go to their website at www. iowcc.com and see their main advert.

A unique local shop that attracts residents from all areas is determined to make sure the High Street doesn’t disappear. Owner of Cowes Town Central, Steve Tewkesbury has created a unique interactive shopping experience in the Centre of Cowes High Street. Inspired by The Shambles, in York, CTC is an Aladdin’s cave, department store, and fourteen individual shops rolled into one!!! Based in the former NatWest Bank Building, every nook and cranny has been converted into a unique shopfront including the vault and the hole in the wall, yet it remains open planned with plenty of space. A lot of thought has gone into the design and each individual shop has been hand-picked for its unique wares. ‘Socks of Cowes’ has a range to meet every taste and their vast collection of ‘Good Mood Socks’ are a well-known brand for something a bit different and they now come with matching ladies’ briefs, but do not worry if you are more of a traditionalist as they also stock other brands including a range of thermals! The whole experience of shopping here has been made interactive and you can try before you buy hand and body creams and lotions in Aquazen Bath and Body Care. That Umbrella Shop has every colour, pattern, and style you could possibly want and the main focal point throughout the whole of Cowes Town Central is that every budget is catered for. While wandering through the themed streets as shown on the map opposite you will come across surprises and delights within each unique shop and together there are over 7,000 products with plans to expand in the near future. This really is the one and only type of shopping experiences of this kind on the Island and when you get here you will find that it’s probably more of an attraction (without an entrance fee to pay). There is much to see and do, the space is open, and you are encouraged to wander from room to room and be safe in the knowledge that all government guidelines are being followed and is fully compliant including the automatic electronic temperature reader at the front of the store and the UV light virus killer machine that cleans the air. If you can’t get to the shop in person, don’t worry as you can shop from the comfort of your own home and still enjoy the experience of 14 shops under one roof at www.cowestowncentral.co.uk Ensuring our High Street stays alive with ‘fresh inspirational ideas’ is important to Steve who is community orientated and when Cowes did not have a main Post Office he stepped forward and found room in his shop to accommodate a Post Office counter and took on staff to run this vital community asset. Please don’t just take my word for it… see for yourself and take this advert with you for 10% discount.

10% discount with this advert throughout January 2022

News Report from Cllr Richard Quigley - Cowes North Email: richard.quigley@iow.gov.uk Wishing you a Happy New Year and I hope you had a safe and peaceful Christmas. It’s been a month of unusually cold and wet weather. The Footprint Trust is available with advice on how to keep warm and keep bills down over winter. Please pass on the details to anyone you think will benefit from their help. www.footprinttrust.co.uk or telephone 01983 822282 Issues over the last month have included Resurfacing of Granville Road The state of the road is quite unsatisfactory, it is included in Island roads forward work plan, but residents are quite rightly concerned. The best way to get issues noticed is to report them to Island Roads Fix My Street at https://fms. islandroads.com/ Land on Market Hill Several residents have contacted me regarding the state of an area of land on Market Hill. Planning permission was granted some time ago, but the site is overgrown and appears to be encouraging the dumping of rubble. The Environment Officer has inspected the site and planning has been contacted. The issues will also be discussed at the next Town Council meeting, and I will report the outcome in the next issue. Housing The availability of homes to rent ( and buy) remains an issue. Rents are constantly increasing. I am working with the Alliance administration to find short- and long-term solutions. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and comfortable home.

Housing Association Properties If any tenants are struggling to contact their housing association regarding urgent issues, such as boiler breakdowns etc. and aren’t getting a response, please contact me. On a more enjoyable note, I was invited to attend the first Christmas prize giving. Pupils from Island schools were asked to draw or paint a picture of an activity they love doing, that doesn’t require the buying of expensive presents. Many of the entries depicted time doing family activities, such as walks, or a jigsaw or telling each other stories. It was an excellent reminder that children approach the world in a way us “grown-ups” could learn from.

St Mary The Virgin Church Hall Church Road, Cowes Mondays 5.30pm Fridays 10.30am Mixed Ability

For info and to book Call 07539 544865 email: dawn.e.middleton@gmail.com dawn.pilates.iow

01983 524413 07734956743 info@amphireltd.com www.amphireltd.com • Emptying Cesspits/Septic Tanks • Drain Jetting • Road Gully Cleaning • Toilet Hire • Events Equipment Call us now for free advice from one of our experienced technicians or book your water waste treatment.

NEW YEAR – NEW YOU!! By Dawn Middleton It’s that time of year when we are all making our New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s to become more toned, flexible, improve your posture or relax your mind - Pilates is for everyone, whatever your level of fitness. The health benefits are many, including improved flexibility, muscle strength and tone, posture and spine stabilisation, joint strength, and mobility. It requires concentration, focussing on your ‘centre’, breath, and control hence it’s great for stress management. Pilates lengthens and strengthens all the major muscle groups in a balanced fashion. I am a Mat 3 Pilates instructor and hold certificates in Pilates with Small Equipment, Pilates for Common Orthopaedic Problems and Pre and Post Natal Exercise. I am registered with CIMSPA, fully insured, DBS checked and have completed a Covid Awareness course. Pilates has been my passion for many years, helping me overcome a knee op and shoulder problems. Many of my clients say that there are improvements with back complaints after just a few weeks (due to improving posture/muscle imbalances). I currently run two classic Pilates classes in Cowes. We are a small group and have a giggle along the way. Everyone works at their own pace/level and there are always lots of options given. Power Pilates and Sculpt and Stretch classes are planned for 2022 and private 1:1 or 2:1 tuition in your own home can also be arranged. So, if you fancy a try, come along, and join us, you can call me on 07539 544865 or send me an email for more info/to book and see my main advert for class/contact details. 11

The puzzle page is sponsored by the Post Office at Cowes Town Central Shopping Arcade 104 High St, Cowes.

www.islandmagazines.co.uk ANAGRAMS

Rearrange the letters to make words related to the winter season

1. DLOC 2. AOENSS 3. IDLAZRZB 4. TRSFO 5. IABRETHEN 6. SGEOLV 7. SARFC 8. FREI 9. MEUPRJ 10. EZEREF 11. ETAHER 12. ICCRAT Wordsearch

Sudoku

ACETONE ASTERISK BAKERY BUILD CAIRN CELLS CLOY DEPOSITORY EXPANSIVELY FESTIVITY FUNERAL GLADIATOR GUSHED ILLS IMITATES ITCH ITINERARY KEPT LADY METRO MONO MYNA NAIAD NARC

The puzzle page is sponsored by the Post Office at Cowes Town Central Shopping Arcade 104 High St, Cowes.

Kriss Kross - Can you work out where each word goes in the grid to complete a crossword style puzzle?

3 LETTERS FAS IFS

4 LETTERS HEMS HERE HYPE ISMS ROUE

5 LETTERS BLINI DOSES EASES EDGES INURE OASES PAVED POSED PRIES PRIVY PUSES SAUDI SISES SPIED SPIES SQUAB

LAST MONTHS ANSWER

News Report from Cllr Paul Fuller - for Cowes West & Gurnard Tel: 01983 289595/07935 090835 - Email: paulfulleriw@gmail.com Community Bus - I continue to receive calls from residents regarding the Cowes Community Bus for extra services. Please note buses are driven by volunteers and are dependent upon the generosity of residents as well as the good will of Southern Vectis who operates the service. Respective of this, with the support of Northwood Parish Council I’ve asked to become more involved in the Community Bus Forum who oversees the service and liaises with Southern Vectis over services.

Items discussed were better signage at Roundhouse and ways to work in partnership with groups such as local businesses and potentially Gurnard Parish Council to give the village an identity for visitors who bypass the village for Cowes. It was felt that the Village, the seafront and the Marsh all had separate identities and aspects that could be used to attract people…

Highways and Transport Matters • I have taken further action to repair the damaged retaining wall in Crossfield If you are interested in volunteering Avenue, east of the junction with Baring as a driver, please let me know! In the Road. These repairs have now been meantime, we all remain grateful to outstanding for three years. In response, I residents who contribute to keeping our am promised this work will be enacted in service operational. the coming weeks… • Please let me know about dog poo. Local Planning Matters Baring Road continues to be a problem • Following feedback, the application area with support being sought from Island for a 5G transmitter in Baring Road was Roads and our Environment Officers. refused by Planners. • A request and action was taken to • An appeal has been lodged against clear drains and gullies in Cockleton Lane. the refusal to develop six dwellings in Baring Road. Covid Booster Vaccines - Residents have • A new application has been made contacted me regarding non-availability to replace and raise the Little Gloster (Ref: of Covid Booster Vaccines. On this, I’ve 21/02081/FUL). Concerns were raised complained to the Clinical Commissioning regarding the impact upon the street scene Group due to the fact that the NHS are of the raised roof, the net loss of parking, allocating boosters elsewhere in Hampshire the over development of the site and the and the rest of the country without the potential for any development to adversely same issues occurring on the Island. impact on the current water/ sewerage infrastructure. In response, last month the NHS • Following feedback concerns were introduced their Covid Booster bus to raised regarding a balcony in Tilbury Road. support residents. That said, I continue to apply pressure. In the meantime, please let Director of Regeneration - A meeting took me know if this remains a problem. place following calls from local businesses for greater support from the IW Council. 14

continued over the page

News report from Cllr Paul Fuller continued Bucklers View Update - Proposals to extend and provide extra accommodation at Bucklers View has been put on hold until the second half of next year. A reapplication to planners will be required should the scheme not start by 2023. Prior to any progress on this, I am assured that updates will be provided to Bucklers View residents. Smoking in Bus Shelters - I continue to receive complaints regarding smokers. I am reminded that it remains unlawful to smoke in most shelters and subsequently fines can be imposed on people disregarding the law. I have requested that the Environment Officer monitors this.

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Grief is overwhelming. All Electrical Work Undertaken Domestic and Commercial Design / Installation / Improvements Home Automation Inspection & Reports Fault finding & Repairs All Types of Lighting Computer Network Cabling

Let us help. If you’re struggling after someone close to you has died, there’s lots we can do to support adults and children. We can provide information, advice or simply listen. Find out how we can help you by: Visiting - www.cruse.org.uk Calling us on 01983 523030 Email us at isleofwight@cruse.org.uk

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Baby steps to big change by Maggie Currie It is usually best to ease into a big change by starting small. By making small changes with baby steps we allow ourselves to grow into a new habit and make it a permanent part of our lives. Making a sudden change may set us up to fail and that will make it difficult to go on, and we will be more likely to revert to our old ways. But don’t despair, even if we have made a sudden change and find ourselves contemplating the choice to start over again, we can decide to take it slowly this time, and move forward. The goals we set for ourselves are indicators of the need for change and are very useful in getting us moving in the right direction. However, it is possible that once we try out what we thought was ideal, we may find that it doesn’t actually suit us, or make us feel the way we had hoped. By taking baby steps we have the chance to look around and consider other options as we learn and grow. We have time to examine the underlying values of the desire for change and find ways to manifest those feelings, whether it looks exactly like our initial goal or not. Taking baby steps forward gives us time to adjust and find secure footing on our new path. Often life doesn’t give us the opportunity to anticipate or prepare for a big change, and we may find ourselves overwhelmed by what is in front of us. By choosing one thing to work on at a time, we focus our attention on something manageable, and eventually we will look up to see that we have accomplished quite a bit. Forcing change is, in essence, a sign that we do not trust the universe’s wisdom. Instead, we can listen to our inner guidance and make changes at a pace that is right for us, ensuring that we do so in alignment with the rhythm of the universe. If this has resonated with you in any way, please get in touch. I want to work with you so you have more freedom, more fun, less stress. I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities. Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

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