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Whats On
Harry The Polis Lanark Memorial Hall 14/03/14 Tickets are £8.00 each and for a limited time only, buy one ticket get one free! Please contact the box office on 01555 667999 for more information. The Illegal Eagles Lanark Memorial Hall 15.03/14 Tickets: £20.50/£18.50 concession A Salute To Musicals Lanark Memorial Hall 17/03/14 Tickets £8.00
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The Piping Hot Ball in aid of “maggies” Lanarkshire Friday 21st March Hosted by Steve McKenna ( Real Radio) at The Alona Hotel Strathclyde Park Ticket £40 or £400 per table of ten. Book now at janet@jarodesign.co.uk or 07808 777 262
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A Good Read? My Autobiography – Alex Ferguson Everyone knows who Alex Ferguson is – controversial, yes, but without doubt the most successful football manager of modern times. On its release, this became one of the fastest selling football books of all time, with fans queuing at midnight to get their hands on a copy. Headlines were made by Ferguson’s pronouncements on the quality of his own players and those who starred for other teams. Shortly afterwards, the book hit the headlines when readers discovered a number of factual errors in the text. Bearing all of that in mind, should you buy a copy? If you are a Manchester United fan, then the answer is that you probably have one already. If not, what will you get? The book mainly focuses on Ferguson’s last seasons in charge at Old Trafford, and his final year in particular, with some detailed rundowns of key games. In between, there are chapters devoted to memorable friends and adversaries – notably Roy Keane, David Beckham, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho. Ferguson tells a good story, and as you might expect, he has a huge stock of anecdotes about his time in charge. He also shows an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and offers a real insight into the scouting and signing process at a Premier League club.
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However, if you have read any of the articles published at the time the book was released, chances are that you have heard the best tales already, and certainly the best lines. The chapter on Keane is a prime example – the argument in the changing room is undoubtedly dramatic, but comes as no real surprise. The now legendary boot-kicking incident with Beckham is equally familiar, and offers no great insight.
I bought this hoping to learn something new about what makes Ferguson tick and how he achieved his phenomenal success. I finished it rather disappointed, feeling that I hadn’t found out a great deal – other than the general message that if Fergie is not always right, then he is 99% of the time. For the fans, a must. For the general reader, maybe not.
To advertise in The VISION call 07957 358 355 or Email sales@thevisionmarketing.com The VISION | Feb/Mar2014 | issue 16
ld t team wou n e m p lo e v rts De al! Culture’s A d n a eart festiv re u H is t e a L g e n ir u h o s rk nnual Y South Lana the ninth a to u o y e it like to inv Specially aimed at the 50+ age group. Young at Heart is a unique festival that celebrates the arts as accessible and engaging for all. It has grown from strength to strength over the past eight years and we are delighted, once again. to build on this success with a variety of events throughout South Lanarkshire. This year sees the return of many of our popular events such as the free music recitals at 2pm. the arts and crafts fair. exhibitions and tea dances and, this year. we are delighted to bring Young at Heart back to the newly reopened Lanark Memorial Hall. As always, there is also a range of courses and workshops including the chance to have a go at a ceramics or textile workshop. Look out for Arts in the Park at Chatelherault Country Park . As before, this promises to be a fabulous event on the first weekend of the festival when Grandparents or older relatoves are encouoraged to bring the family for
a day out to the park where there will be a ranqe of activities for all the family. Again. we have a selection of afternoon and evening performances to Sult everyone with our usual mix of theatrical and musical events. New for this year is our fantastic Big Band Ball al Rutherglen Town Hall complete with a live Big Band and performances by the Kennedy Cupcakes. We are delighted that this year’s festival will conclude with a special evening featuring Scottish Showbiz star Elaine C Smith at The Town House, Hamilton and pleased to be able to offer all tickets for this at a special one·off festival price. If you are interested in the arts then this festival is for you, and we are confident that you’ll find something on this unique programme that appeals!
Places are limited for most events so advance booking is advisable. Email: artsdevelopment@southlanarkshireleisure.co.uk
Tel: 01698 452 299
Microsoft Stopping Support for Windows XP on April 8th It is Microsoft’s own decision to stop supporting XP. It has supported it free of charge for 13 years, and we are now three iterations beyond XP. It is reasonable to say that Microsoft has fulfilled its contract to users of XP. After all, Windows Vista came out seven years ago, so the end of XP can hardly be said to be a surprise.
a Windows 8.1 licence. If you are strapped for cash you don’t need to upgrade.
Stopping support for XP is not the same thing as killing it. XP will still work fine on April 9. All that is happening is that Microsoft will no longer provide free software patches for XP.
What does the ‘end of support for Windows XP’ mean for XP users?
If you simply can’t upgrade your PC, you have to weigh up just how much you need or want a new PC. April 8 is not the deadline for you to decide
The end of support for Windows XP doesn’t mean that Windows Update will suddenly stop XP remains a stable and feature-filled operating working. It simply means that no new Windows system. For many XP users it is still fit for service. updates will appear. Here are the facts about the XP to Windows 8 question: If you are okay running XP now, you will still be okay running XP the day after Microsoft stops supporting it. You will become less okay over time, however. This relates to security and the availability of third-party software and hardware. (Whatever OS you use you should be running up to date antivirus, antispyware and a firewall, and you should keep all software as up to date as you can) If you can upgrade your XP hardware it would probably make sense to do so, but that depends on how easy it is to find the £99 to buy
This has implications for stability. More importantly it means that any holes in security found in newer versions of Windows are likely to be tested to see whether they can also be adapted to attack XP, and if they’re successful, there will be no help from Microsoft in fixing the problem.
after April 8. No PC connected to the internet is safe from attack, so the question is degrees of vulnerability. An XP is in principle at least less secure than is a Windows 8 PC. But that doesn’t mean you will be a victim any more than it means Windows 8 is invulnerable. Upgrade your OS if you can and you can afford to. Buy a new PC if you want to. But don’t be bullied into making an expensive change on April 8.
It’s possible that there are individuals holding back security attacks they have already found so they can unleash them after Microsoft has stopped producing updates – in effect ensuring these yet-to-be-exploited vulnerabilities never become fixed Microsoft has helpfully given its own take on this. It says that XP infections will rise 66 percent
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Choosing The
You've been waiting patiently for the day when it's your turn to have multiple stylists fussing over you at a glamorous wedding boutique as you sip champagne and try on gorgeous gowns in front of three-way mirrors. As much fun as shopping for a wedding dress can be, it can also seem like quite a daunting task if you don't have an idea of what you want Focus on how the dress makes you feel. Ideally you should feel elegant, comfortable and confident. If the dress takes you out of your comfort zone or makes you feel awkward, it isn't for you.
The pictures of your wedding will last longer than the day. When you're looking back at the videos or photos you want to be proud of how timeless the dress is. Choosing a dress which is very much in Vogue runs the risk of having the cringe factor a decade later
Having a clear idea of what you want to do with your hair will help you when you're wedding dress shopping. Or, you can go the other way around and decide upon hair styles once you have the dress.
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Perfect Dress When dress shopping bring along a picture of the kind of dress you are looking for. This can then be handed to the assistant who can immediately put you in the right direction, saving you time and stress. Don't take too many people wedding dress shopping. Remember it is your day and nobody knows what you like better than you. At most take your closest friends or family who share your taste, but don't overdo it, or risk losing your input into your wedding dress. If you are having difficulty choosing between two or three dresses a good tip is to take pictures of them on and glance at them from time to time. Over time you will begin to form a favourite.
Taking photos of you trying on your dress whilst wedding dress shopping is a good idea. Not only can you form a better opinion on the dress but you can also take the picture to your wedding photographer and give them a better idea of what you kind of photos you are expecting
You need to cater for your height. Shorter people find it difficult to carry some styles, whereas taller women can carry off all styles of wedding dress. More petite ladies should try and steer clear of stiff lines and try a longer dress with a sweeping train when wedding dress shopping.
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Business Profile
If you are looking for a glazier to complete repairs quickly and efficiently? Then look no further than Reid & Sons. They are a small family run firm based in Lanark with over 28 years experience. You can rest assured that you will receive a quality and professional service, along with friendly and helpful advice. All work is fully guaranteed. If you are in need of glazing repairs, Reid and Sons offer an incredible quick turn around time and endeavour to complete your repairs as soon as possible. Give them a call for FREE estimate, they offer competitive prices and guarantee to beat any written quote. Reid and Sons carry out all glazing repairs such as misted double glazing units, smashed windows as well as installing new glazing including mirrors. Reid and Sons would like to thank all of their customers for their continued support and look forward to meeting new customers this coming year.
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To advertise in The VISION call 07957 358 355 or Email sales@thevisionmarketing.com The VISION | Feb/Mar2014 | issue 16
No one likes a soggy bottom! It’s a phrase normally associated with BBC2’s Great British Bake Off, but its not just cooks who go to great lengths to ensure their produce (pastry in this case) doesn’t end up with a soggy bottom, it affects gardeners too! I’m not talking about sitting on wet grass, or toppling over in the veg plot after too much potting-shed homebrew, but about the poor plants we expect to grow in badly-drained soil. Out in the wild, a plant’s survival depends on whether its seeds blow into a dry rock face or a sticky clay soil puddle, and that’s fine because one will die while the other thrives. But it’s very different in the domestic garden, where overenthusiastic humans buy anything that looks pretty, dig a hole and expect it to bloom. The right plant for the right soil is as important, if not more so than its tolerance to sun or shade. Studies show that plants cannot survive for more than just a few days if left in standing water. It’s a little known fact that roots need air too … well, most plants that is. You see there’s a clever lot who have adapted over the years to thrive in such conditions and they’re commonly known as bog plants. I understand it’s not the most glamorous name, unlike their closelyrelated cousins such as water lilies, which are known as hydrophytes. Plants that thrive in heavy, wet clay soils, which are damp but not permanently waterlogged,
include the beautiful bold leaves of the Hosta, the feathery plumes and delectably dissected foliage of the Astilbe, and any of the Primulas, which are ideal for low-growing spring colour. For fern lovers, Osmunda regalis is a favourite or for a splash of summer colour in full sun try Lobelia cardinalis. If you have a larger garden and need to fill areas of damp soil, try the herbaceous Rodgersia which look great planted in drifts, and if you have a really large area why not try the prickly rhubarb-like Gunnera manicata: children will love standing under the giant leaves of its huge green umbrella! If you don’t have a boggy area, but would like to try growing some of these plants for yourself, why not create one? If you dig out a ‘mini pond’ and then add an old liner or plastic sheet, pierce it several times with a fork and then add the soil back in, you can plant a selection of the plants above. You’ll need to make sure it doesn’t dry out in the summer, so a shady location usually works best, and if you’ve only got a teeny garden, try the fly-eating pitcher plants Sarracenia. They will provide a talking point.
“It’s a phrase normally associated with BBC2’s Great British Bake Off”
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MOVIE OF THE MONTH
Release Date : 28th March Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.
Congratulations to Animal Heaven Rescue Who has been awarded Charity status. This is a testament to all of the great work carried out by Michelle Laycock and her team of hard working volunteers. All of the animals found at the centre have been abandoned or ill treated by their previous owners. At Animal Heaven the animals are clean, well fed, happy and cared for with dignity and respect. If you are interested in adopting or re-homing an animal then just pop down to the centre for details. There is a whole host of animals to be seen including a donkey, pony, pigs, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, roosters and my favourite the chip monk, who has just woken up from hibernation. A small fee is charged at the door but all of the money goes to the care and upkeep of the animals. The centre is found within Dobbies garden centre. Why not take the kids to the cuddle club, it’s a great day out for all the family.
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