Look Local Magazine, Issue 121, December 2022

Hart and Amy Winehouse......plus a few surprises!

£15

Welcome to the December issue of Look Local Magazine. IT’S CHRIIIIIIIIISTMAS! Well almost! The most wonderful time of the year, and especially this year as we can fully enjoy it without any restrictions. There’s SO many local festivities going on from Christmas Light Switch on’s (my nephew, Harris Bradley, is part of the Thame switch on line up - so proud), and Christmas Markets to Light Displays and Santa Meet & Greets. Below are just a few festive finds I’ve come across to entice you:

Thame Town Hall, tel: 01844 212833,

- Farmer Christmas Land at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park - 12 days of Christmas at Hughenden - Christmas at Stowe National Trust - Elf School at the Eden Centre (High Wycombe) - Chiltern Open Air Museum Christmas Weekend (3rd- 4th) - Santa’s Grotto at Millets Farm

- Waddesdon Manor Christmas Light Display

- Santa Steam Train Specials at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my advertisers, readers and deliverers for supporting my magazine throughout this year. As a small, independent business I really appreciate you. So here’s to a jolly good Christmas and an even better new year! Until 2023, and continue to shop and support local and enjoy reading this months edition...

A Conscious Christmas: Gift Ideas... By

Coulon Stone

There are many ways to make Christmas more planet conscious. Some of our favourites include choosing recyclable paper (because most wrapping paper is not recyclable), being mindful when choosing gifts by only buying things the recipient will truly love/use, avoiding gifts which are plastic heavy, and shopping from independent, local businesses. If you’re stuck for ideas and have a loved one obsessed with home decor then we have some environmentally conscious gift ideas made from natural materials that will last a life time and are from a local, independent business.

Bird Bath

A natural stone bird bath is the perfect gift for the keen gardener or budding bird watcher, it’s always a treat welcoming more wildlife to your garden. Granite is the perfect stone for bird baths as it’s exceptionally durable and as it’s non-porous will hold water well. Local stone masons like Coulon Stone can help you design your bird bath, whether you want a rustic design or something more modern. Let your loved one sit back and enjoy as birds flock to your garden oasis.

Candle Holder

For those that love earthy, textured interiors, a natural stone candle holder may be the gift for them. Why not visit your local stone mason and hand pick the stone for that extra special, bespoke touch. They can then cut it to your requirements, whether you would want it to hold a tealight, dinner or pillar candle.

Pestle and Mortar

For the keen cooks out there a hand-crafted pestle and mortar makes a great gift. The hefty weight and deep bowl means it won’t slip and slide as your grind, and spices, seeds and nuts won’t jump about. Choose a rustic look which combines rough and smooth granite, or for a modern take choose a sleek, shiny marble. They also look great displayed on open shelving or on top of your worktop.

If you are interested in any of the gifts above please get in touch by visiting www.coulonstone.com

And for more natural stone inspiration follow us on Instagram (@coulonstoneltd) | Facebook (@coulonstoneltd)

Baby Sensory provides ideas for creative play, massage, tummy time, movement, visual development, textures, scents and music in simple practical ways that can be easily repeated at home. We also use a combination of original and traditional songs and rhymes to develop early speech and language skills, and sensory signing activities to help you and your baby communicate from birth.

An educational, interactive and developmental programme, which will help your baby learn and develop important skills.

Every class has been carefully designed, planned and researched by Dr Lin Day with you and your baby’s needs in mind.

Classes built on your baby’s natural play-rest-play cycle to ensure they are not overstimulated. An ideal place to meet new parents, ask questions, share ideas, experiences and memories together.

Highly trained Class Leaders who are all DBS checked.

Received the Gold Award accreditation with the Children’s Activities Association (CAA) - peace of mind for parents.

Ear & Hearing Centre Thame

Aston Hearing have been in Thame for the past 6 years. We are delighted and excited to welcome you to our new premises in Greyhound Lane, Thame. Please call in to say hello - hope to see you soon.

Kate & Duncan Collet-Fenson Directors of Aston Hearing

Transformational Hearing Care

Sound of Music

Welcome to our December music

page Here you will find information on how to find the best musical instrument tuition in the area and what musical activities and workshops are taking place at this time.

Thame has a variety of fantastic opportunities for budding musicians who wish to join together with other like-minded people. From bands to choirs to bell ringing! We also host a huge variety of annual musical event’s, these will all be back to provide a wonderful calendar of live music in 2023! In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Thame Music Academy -

TMA gift vouchers now available! Are you wondering what to buy for your loved one this Christmas? Look no further…. Thame Music Academy can provide personalised gift vouchers for musical instrument lessons with any of their fantastic tutors and for any of the instruments they offer tuition in! For further information and to purchase a voucher please contact TMA via the details at the end of this article. Vouchers are valid for up to a year from purchase.

Thame Music Academy provides lessons in a large variety of instruments including; Piano, Keyboard, Singing, Guitar (Acoustic or Electric), Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Violin, Strings, Brass and Music Theory.

Why not purchase a unique musical gift this Christmas!

Carols round the Tree

This traditional local event will take place in the heart of Thame on Tuesday 24th December from 6 pm – 7 pm. The singing will be based in front of the town hall where the usual fantastic Christmas tree will be lit up!

Accompanied by Thame Concert Band. Lyrics will be provided for everyone to sing along to their favourite Christmas songs in a wonderful build up to the big day itself! Entrance is free and you can just come along on the evening.

LOCAL LIVE MUSIC The First Thursday Music Club

FTMC have now moved home, after 10 great years at the Stables behind the James Figg pub they have now relocated to a bigger room at Thame Snooker Club in central Thame. The room can hold a lot more people, there is a stage and room for instruments, the artists, and the sound guys. The club have their own dedicated bar and loos. There is also ample free parking right outside.

Another change is that FTMC are requesting a donation entry fee of £3 to the audience. (acts do not have to donate). The event is on the first Thursday of each month. The next event is on Thursday 5th January 2023.

The club will be keeping their walk up open mic slots at the beginning of the evening as this is the essence of the FTMC. They aim for 7 acts per evening with a mix of slot lengths to reflect line-ups and repertoire. If people travel far the club like to give them a decent amount of time to play. They have also scheduled in longer for changeovers to make it stress free (hopefully) and allow the odd encore whilst still keeping to time.

If you would like to perform or find out more about the FTMC please contact them via their Facebook page, search ‘The First Thursday Music Club’.

NEWS & EVENTS in our region

Watlington Christmas Market...

Saturday 3rd December | 10am - 2pm

In conjunction with the Watlington Business Association (WBA) this annual event returns to the Town Centre of Watlington.

The festivities kick off with a Santa Parade at 10am. Visitors can then peruse the many Food & Craft Stalls, visit Santa in his Grotto (pre-booked) and try your luck on the Raffle.

Carols around the Tree...

Christmas Eve| 6pm - 7pm Chinnor Pavillion

Come and join us for a sing along around the Christmas Tree. Accompanied by Chinnor Silver Band. Mulled wine will be on sale.

Local charity event returns to kickstart the season of goodwill....

Sunday 11th December |

Aylesbury

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity is bringing its popular Santa Dash event back to Aylesbury this December. The event will see hundreds of participants dust off their best Christmas jumpers, don their Santa hats and take to the streets for Aylesbury’s jolliest fun run on Sunday 11th December.

Whether ‘yule’ choose to run, walk, jog or scoot the 2.5km or 5km circular route, kick off the festive period in style while earning that second mince pie and raising money for local hospice care.

Bill Richards, Community and Events Fundraiser for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, commented:

“Our Santa Dash is the perfect festive family event! Our last Santa Dash raised an amazing £1,500 to help us care for local patients and their families, so we’re back, hoping to make this year’s even bigger and better.”

Entry fees are £15 for adults and £10 for children and include a Santa hat and commemorative Santa Dash medal.

For full details of this year’s Santa Dash and to register your place head over to www.fnhospice.org.uk/santadash

Get Wrapped Up at Hartwell Nurseries this Christmas....

It’s December, which means only one thing… we can officially get immersed and wrapped up in all things Christmas! If you haven’t already, then it’s time to put up those decorations, eat the mince pies, spread some festive cheer and dive into the festive spirit at Hartwell Nursuries.

If you’re still looking for Christmas ideas and inspiration or you just want to pick up some last-minute pieces or even enjoy a dazzling Christmas display, then Hartwell Nurseries is the place to go.

The Christmas shop is filled to the brim with festive spirit - from traditional decorations and Christmas wreaths to trending items and festive bits you didn’t even know you needed!

You can never have enough Christmas decorations. There is always room for a handcrafted bauble on the tree, a new scented candle, a giant nutcracker or some new additions to your homemade centrepiece. You can find it all at Hartwell Nurseries.

The huge range of twinkling Noma Christmas lights and outdoor lit figures are highly energy efficient. Decorate your outdoor space with penguins, snowmen, reindeers all for a few pence. For example, the cost of lighting a Highland Stag for a day is just under 2p. So, to light it for the whole of December it would cost 50p. Now that is efficient.

Selling fast this year are the plush gingerbread men (4.99 - £44.99) and new for 2022, the Christmas Rats from the Rat Pack collection (£6.99 - £54.99). Both guaranteed to add some festive fun to your home.

The Christmas Shop has something for everyone at great prices. While you are there, don’t miss out on the fun Christmas display with lots of photo opportunities, and be sure to visit the Tea Room for some homemade delights.

Real Christmas Trees

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree. Hartwell Nurseries has the largest range of real, potted and artificial trees in the area. From Nordmann Fir to Norway Spruce, they have the perfect sized tree to suit your home and pocket. Almost all of Hartwell’s Christmas trees are grown in the UK and all are produced with a FSC certification, so you know you are only getting the very best.

Father Christmas?

Father Christmas will be heading to Hartwell Nurseries with his helpers from Haddenham Rotary Club this month. Santa and his elves will be in his magical grotto for the three weekends throughout December in the lead up to Christmas (3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th and 17th & 18th). Not only will children be able to meet Santa, but they’ll also receive a very special gift. A lovely experience for the whole family to enjoy.

Organised by Haddenham Rotary Club Santa’s Grotto, hosted by Hartwell Nurseries. For further information and to book your visit, please head to Haddenham Rotary Club’s website, www.haddenhamrotary.org

Santa’s coming - what could be more magical than meeting

It’s December so let’s talk about conifers...

Doesn’t really sound that sexy does it? In fact, conifers get a bad rap for conjuring images of socks and sandals and 70’s interiors where you are led out of French doors (prawn cocktail in hand) to island beds with miniature evergreens in every size, shape and variation.

Another grumble with the conifer is: “How can I (surreptitiously) get rid of my neighbour’s leylandii hedge?” Either way I’m not selling them. But actually I do. I sell them every Nov/Dec, the Nordmann Fir and the Norway Spruce and they people our homes as a symbol of everlasting hope at Christmas tide.

So, as it is that happy month and I’m feeling festive and charitable, I wanted to look a bit closer at the great variety of this plant group and how to care for them. Conifers include cedars, firs, cypresses, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces and yews.

Some of the oldest plants on the planet. Technically named gymnosperms, from the Latin meaning naked seed (getting sexier!) The majority are wind pollinated and bear pine cones as their fruiting bodies. But some like Junipers have fruit that are great for infusions in gin (now we’re feeling festive). Oh and there’s always Heston Blumenthal’s pine flavoured mince pies (though they are an acquired taste!)

Taxus too has a distinctive seasonal red casing to the seed though this is very poisonous! Do not eat or infuse your mince pies with these even for neighbours with the aforementioned hedges. Though this plant has lots to recommend it too. Taxus are often found in Churchyards, where they were placed as pagan talismans at the centre of the community before Christianity came to these shores, and their bark is used in the life saving cancer drug Taxol. My family knows all about that, and we are very grateful for it. “Cheers Taxus bacata, to your good health!”

Conifers are shallow rooted plants and so dry out quickly, you may have lost newly planted specimens this summer as the lack of available water in the soil will affect these plants first. All evergreens are slow to show the signs of drought having a hard cuticle layer to the leaf which means they won’t drop or wilt and instead will just turn brown and then it is too late.

Also you have to consider pruning, I can hear the happy firing of hedge trimmers! However hold your horsepower, Arborvitae, Juniper and Chamaecyparis will not regrow from old wood. So prune regularly as cutting back hard into dead wood will leave a bald patch! Others will respond well to pruning and should be cut in spring. Here heading cuts are sufficient. An anathema for most plants but the shaggy evergreens soon conceal these blunt cuts.

The beauty of a conifer is the colour even when deciduous as with Larix decidua they really are a beacon in the border, or the gold of Taxus Baccata fastigiata ‘Aurea’ perfect to give depth in the garden. So bring out the fondue set it’s time to bring the conifers in for Christmas.

For more garden tips and information visit my Facebook page @mimosagardendesign Email: info.mimosadesign@gmail.com | Call: 07737 286784

Look locally over the garden gate with Lucie Giselle Ponsford