Vale life sept oct 2015 web edition by Charlie Trott

Vale Life FREE MAGAZINE

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Sept/Oct 2015

Cover picture: M&S Best of British A/W 2015 cowl neck jumper Katy Dyer’s guide to the new Autumn styles starts on Page 8

Inside: Three Hearts

New Wendover Tapas restaurant

Let’s Talk Business

Aylesbury Vale Show is Oct 7th See our website at: www.vale-life.co.uk

Read all about it

Thame Arts and Literature Festival

Thrilling season is Full Monty

Autumn fun at Waterside Theatre

Free local listings for events and businesses

Plus Katy, Penny, Heather, Naomi, Polly, Amanda, Janice, Jacqui, Cathy, Charlotte, Tracy, Rob, Alan and much, much more...

w Meal for two at Tres Corazones w Magi:Bobble set w Children’s Book w w Tickets to the clothes show w Tickets to Oxford Fashion Week w

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Great rates Amazing results To advertise in Vale Life Magazine Call Charlie on 07702 006218

Spread the word across The Vale: see: www.vale-life.co.uk for details

Autumn/Winter Style

Invest in your workforce

Venus rising

Let’s talk business

Got a sense of adventure?

Buying a car

Age is just a number

Generation game

Making small changes

Totally tipped off

Preparing dogs for noise

Three hearts

Ready to fly the nest?

Summer of change

The Washingtons of Tring

Nothing to fear

Cabin fever

Cheers to Charity

The perfect fit

Turn it up!

38 Moving on up

Read all about it

40 Finding a good tradesman

Thrilling season is Full Monty

44 Autumn time for planting

From East to West

8 17 19 23 24 27 28 31 32 37

Katy looks at the new season fashions Want to look younger? Try a Venus Freeze! Why not volunteer for Bucks Search & Rescue Fergie’s 72 and fit as a fiddle Fitness tips from manly Joe

Sound therapy can desensitise nervous pets Top tips for starting at Uni.

George’s roots go back to Tring Polly’s got wood on the brain

High fives for Charles Huntington New showroom for tillynilly

Charlotte’s guide to picking the best Naomi’s feeling fruity

On yer bikes now!

he world has gone cycling mad! Everywhere you look there’s people on bikes peddling furiously in hi-vis lycra and space-aged helmets. Even our local optometrist has been in the saddle recently and not just to pop to the shops and back. Ivan Cammack opticians has branches in Thame, Wendover and Chinnor but the man himself has still found time to push pedals for pounds in The Optics Tour of Yorkshire, a 174km charity cycle challenge. The mammoth effort meant pedalling 108.1 miles over a

ongratulations to the following Aug/Sept edition competition winners! Hopefully your prizes will have arrived by now, please let us know if not. Commiserations to those

Left to right: Ivan Cammack and his team mates Lesley, Brian, Elaine, Dan and Karen.

weekend to raise money for Optometry Giving Sight (www. givingsight.org.) and Ivan not only smashed his original target of raising £1,250 but has so far raised over £2,000. The money will go towards preventing blindness and impaired vision in countries where access to

who weren’t so lucky - read on though for more competitions inside this edition, including the chance to win: A meal for two at Tres Corazones, Wendover; Tickets to The Clothes Show Live; Tickets to

Work placements & apprenticeships Aylesbury Vale Busines Show, October 7th JVS points out the pitfalls How to communicate with different ages Are tips a big rip off?

Wendover’s fab new tapas bar Lots going on down on the farm Penny’s got lots of ghostly tales Bottoms up for Florence Nightingale Dan’s guide to local live music Have you booked your tickets for TAL? Take your hat off to Waterside

New girl Sandra is a talent spotter

eye care is limited. As part of a cycling team of six, Ivan completed his challenge on Sunday 30th August, riding the entire 1st Stage route of the Tour de Yorkshire. Starting in Scarborough, the team passed through the North York Moors National Park, Dalby Forest and back along the coast via Whitby to finish up in Scarborough. The gruelling route features a 1.5km climb out of Robin Hood’s Bay with an average gradient of 10%. “Optometry Giving Sight is a fantastic charity,” says Ivan. “It aims to help the millions of people around the world that are visually impaired simply because they cannot access an eye exam and a

Oxford Fashion Week Catwalk Show; A signed copy of Please Don’t Let Grandpa; A set of Magi:Bobbles. Last issue’s prizewinners were: A meal for two at The Bell at Hardwick: Rosie

pair of glasses. “We are lucky in this country and take the provision of eye care and good eyesight for granted but millions do not have that luxury. I am thrilled to have successfully completed what was an incredibly tough challenge and would like to thank all my sponsors for their support.” The final fundraising total is yet to be announced and donations are still being collected at www. justgiving.com/Ivan-Cammack1 if you can help. Have fun and happy reading,

Smedley, Winslow Four Tickets to the Mini Plant: Julia Gela-Dundas, Thame Tickets to HOYS: Charlotte Russell, Brill; Ingrid Hodges, Steeple

Charlie

Charlie Trott, Editor Claydon; Kazz Post, Ickford A copy of Frogley, Cockhead & Crutch book: Angela Godfrey, Milton Common A Ninja Gnome: Hayley Abson, Tring

Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by Vale Life Magazine, 23 Glenham Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3WD Telephone: 01844 261579 Mobile: 07702 006218 Website: www.vale-life.co.uk Email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Vale Life. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions or late changes. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015 7

with Katy Dyer

Personal stylist and fashion expert Katy scours our local boutiques and passes on tips and tricks for looking your best, plus the latest news on the high street trends

Autumn/Winter 2015

ove Autumn! Time to get cosy and layer up. Sumptuous knits, on-trend boots and wraps that go on forever. Now is the time to add a touch of luxury to your new season wardrobe - and here’s what to choose to get ahead of the crowd.

fluffy, furry gilets to soft shearling jackets don’t be afraid to try out new style this season and discover the perfect piece for you. If you are a smaller size on your top half, look out for wider reveres to balance your body line. And

Texturize It’s all about the texture this season. And texture doesn’t have to mean bulky. From

‘For the Love’ cardigan by Odd Molly, Andrew Gardner, Wendover, £189

White & Neutral Faux Fur by Marc Cain Gallivant, Thame

‘Celine’s Chime’ skirt by Alice’s Pig: White Hart Studio, Haddenham

Armani grey suede fur-lined boots, Gallivant, Thame, £210

Pia Rossini grey patterned ‘Anna’ wrap with long tassles Chocolate Boutique, Princes Risborough, £39 8

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Per Una Shearling Jacket, M&S £79

it’s not just fur - boucle, knitwear and boiled wool jackets will also add to the look. Brighten up your day The colour is red - and all shades of. Early Autumn collections are a riot of burnt orange, terracotta and pumpkin. Great if you have warm tones to your colouring. As the season moves on, look out for deep tomato reds, plum and burgundy - fabulous with deeper colouring - otherwise consider teaming with lighter accessories such as a winter white or sharp silver scarf. If a new winter coat is a must-have for you this year, the wisest choice for an investment buy is a neutral shade - navy, charcoal grey or taupe will work beautifully with accessories of all colours, making your purchase really versatile and look great for all occasions. Clash of the decades There’s boho 70s and super-sharp 80s so take your pick. Rich, flowing boho capes, ruffled Continued on page 10

Left: M&S Collection Necklace, £29.50 Far right: Orange Pocket Detail Coat: Next, £60 Right: Pia Rossini ‘Anouska’ faux fur gilet and red Oxford bag: Chocolate Boutique, Princes Risborough

Discover the New Season Looks Browse our latest arrivals in store or online

6 Greyhound Walk, Thame gallivantboutique.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Classic styling with a twist at Simon Carter, Wendover ‘Dusty’s Drop’ blouse by Alice’s Pig: White Hart Studio, Haddenham Striped Sweater, Next, £32

Velvet by Graham & Spencer blanket cape, Gallivant, Thame, £245

Eton shirt: Andrew Gardner, Wendover

Hig

oro h Str e et, Prin ce s Ris b

See the inspiring new Autumn Collection now, at Chocolate Boutique, Princes Risborough 10

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Men’s shirts by Simon Carter: Simon Carter, Wendover

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Continued from page 9

the past season. Choose the classic English or ‘semi-cutaway’ collar cuffs, fringing and flares make a real styling. Texture is big news too - how statement in style. Eighties more about a shearling coat? Back to the your thing? Look out for fuller shoulders, sharp tailoring, wide, wide 70s with colourful twists - set to be THE look for this winter. Not quite belts alongside pussy bow blouses plus the glamour and glitz of metallic you? Then consider a luxe knit for more subtle texture. fabrics, jewellery and accessories. Clothes maketh the man Key updates for men this season: it’s got to be the classic brogue. In boot and shoe styles, investing in this classic yet current style will be a great choice. If statement shirts are your preference, you are spoilt for choice this season. Just make sure to choose a colourway and scale to suit you. How to? 1) Try on the shirt, take a look in the mirror 2) What do you see first, the shirt or you? 3) Choose the one that harmonises (rather than competes) with your own colouring and scale. It’s all in the detail In menswear, collars are all change - no Harry Hill style super-collar or the extreme-cutaways we’ve see over

Whatever your style statement, make sure any new season purchases are pieces you love - and that will love you back! Because when you feel good, you look good. l Katy Dyer is an award-winning personal stylist and image consultant. Katy is skilled at helping people discover the confidence to change or develop their personal or professional style and image - whether for a new career, a new stage in your life, to completely reinvent your look, or just to find the right outfit for a special occasion. Katy is holding Autumn/Winter 2015 Style Events this October. To receive your personal invitation contact: katy@katydyer.com or call: 07815 923 019. For more details visit: www. katydyer.com Gift vouchers and experiences are available.

Eton shirt: Andrew Gardner, Wendover

The Tanyard, Tring Tring Road, Road, Wendover, Wendover, Bucks, Bucks, HP22 6ND @andrewgardner.co.uk t: 01296 625488 e: women t: 01296 625488 e: men@andrewgardner.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Janice Issitt ‘Making the most of it’

Janice Issitt

Opportunity shop

hat time of year is approaching... I know you are still waiting for an Indian Summer but Christmas really isn’t that far away and to be extra prepared, organised and original, why not plan some gift shopping at the Vale’s special sales. Sally Evans Events have several opportunities for meeting artists and makers for unique and individual presents, which, let’s be honest, are so much nicer than a mass produced over-priced piece of plastic. The schedule for Sally Evans Events is as follows: 10th October Thame Town Hall, 14th November Great Missenden Memorial Hall, 21st November Wendover Memorial Hall and 28th November Thame Town Hall. The cross-section of talent covers blacksmiths, book-makers, jewellery, paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics and leatherwork. I’ve met and purchased from a few of these artists myself when they were at Waddesdon, particularly loving the leatherwork of Fitch (now at fitch & fellows Gallery,

Making the most of it

East Street, Thame) who make satchels in bright coloured leather, still very ‘on trend’ but classic and quirky at the same time. Many independent shops are also marking the season with events. Holy Cow Home on Cambridge Street, Aylesbury have their own special ones tied in with Hindu festivals - keep a look out for Ganesh’s Birthday Sale and the Diwali shopping event, which coincide with the Aylesbury Christmas Lights switch on (19th November) and Diwali (the festival of lights) they have special discount shopping evenings with refreshments, Indian style. Pop into the shop for a leaflet or follow them on facebook for updates.

Win Magi:Bobbles!

witching from wearing your hair in a tight ponytail to wearing it loose has never been quite so easy since the exciting launch of Magi:Bobble from the professional hair colour specialists at Quif. Magi:Bobble is designed to prevent split ends and hair breakage by reducing tension on the scalp. The hygienic, easy clean bobble grips hair of all types firmly and still leave it fresh and kink-free when you take it down! And Magi:Bobble will have you waving goodbye to ponytailinduced kinks forever with its telephone cord design. Available in a range of natural and neon colours including Clear, Black, Brown, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Purple, Green and Orange, Magi:Bobble makes a great fashion accessory. You can even wear them on your wrist as super-cute arm candy! If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning Two packs of Magi:Bobbles, simply email your name, address and telephone number, plus which colour 12

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

complete fossil in England. It’s a one woman play telling the fascinating story of how ‘fine clever men’ took the credit for her work. Theatre in the Villages is part of the National Rural Touring Forum and subsidised by AVDC and Wycombe councils. You can find more info on their websites. Check with your village hall and see if they need any help with the shows, and maybe it’s not a bad idea to buy a ticket and take someone along as an early Christmas gift. Keep it local, keep it hand made, it’s good Karma!

I would also like to mention some really interesting nights out in the form of Theatre In The Villages. Which, starting on 26th September and running through to 4th December offers many different shows staged in village halls all across The Vale. I particularly like the look of Victor and Albert’s A-Z of Britain, played by the comic twin characters Professor Victor and Dr. Albert and The Fossil Lady Of Lyme, a true story about Mary Anning who discovered the first

l Read Janice’s blog at: http:// janiceissittlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk where she posts photo tutorials about things to make and lovely pictures of life in the Vale.

Artists & Makers Fairs 2015 Thame Town Hall, OX9 3DP 10th October and 28th November •

Great Missenden Memorial Centre, HP16 9AE 14th November •

Wendover Memorial Hall, HP22 6HF 21st November •

Magi:Bobbles you’d like (see www. magibobble.com for options) along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which hair colour specialists make Magi:Bobbles? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by Oct 30th, 2015. www.magibobble.com

10am – 4pm

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Fashion, Jewellery, Gifts & Interiors

Autumn/Winter 2015 fashionwear now in stock

White Hart Studio, 15 Churchway, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8AB Tel: 01844 292308 Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm Website: www.whitehartstudio.com

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Nicky Gregory‘Curious World’

Booted to protect lawns

f you were Victorian and owned a large house with extensive lawns, your lawn mower and roller would have been sizeable contraptions drawn by horses, ponies or donkeys, which would have worn lawn boots to protect the grass. The first recorded hoof boot was made of straw and widely used by the Japanese military in the 19th Century. The Romans used strap-on, solid-bottomed sandals called ‘hipposandals’. Hoof Boots were used in this country from about 1850, when

Nicky Gregory

Curious world

horse-drawn lawn mowers were introduced. They were made of thick leather, padded inside with wool and had straps that fastened around the pastern and behind the heel. The soles were usually leather and sewn or rived to the upper and they often had small studs - wet grass can be slippery, and were known as Lawnmowing Boots. They were used by farmers and draught horse owners who wanted traction for working horses, farming the land or delivering goods. Horse Boots were, and still

are, used for protection and injuries. Leather was You can view this a strong, mystery object at long-lasting Antiques@Wendover material and wasn’t changed until the mid20th century but now modern lightweight technical fabrics and carbon fibre are used. Our last edition’s mystery object was an electrical insulator for overhead wires, the winner is B. Bittenbender from Weston Turville The object above is the Mystery

Object for October and can be seen in the Antiques Centre. Can you guess what it is? The prize for the winner, chosen from the correct answers, is a £10 Gift Voucher for Antiques at Wendover. Email your answers along with your name, address and contact telephone number to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Winner to be notified by email. l Nicky Gregory is the owner of Antiques@Wendover, The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Web: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk

ANTIQUES AT… WENDOVER A Dateline ANTIQUES CENTRE Est. 1987 A QUALITY ANTIQUES CENTRE offering town and country antiques in a Tudor, brick and timber house, with wall paintings and inglenook fireplaces. Park in the Courtyard at the rear, where you will find Garden Antiques, a Tea Shop, the Barn Courtyard Shops and an Artist’s Studio. We are open every day from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Hester Clarke Fine Jewellers

Independent Family Jewellers since 1892 Goldsmiths House 10-14 Cambridge Street Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1RS www.hesterclarke.co.uk

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

01296 482963

Edwardian Copper Thermograph £245 The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Website: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk

Win tickets to The Clothes Show Live!

he Clothes Show, in association with ALCATEL ONETOUCH, returns to the NEC Birmingham from 4th8th December, 2015. With over 500 leading fashion and beauty brands, non-stop catwalk shows, makeovers, manicures, beauty demonstrations and style advice, 2015 will offer an all-new fashion experience. Whether you’re looking to update your wardrobe, fuel inspiration for a career in fashion, or meet your favourite celebrities, prepare to immerse yourself in the world’s largest fashion festival. Visitors can take a stroll down The Clothes Show’s, new Boutique Boulevard, where they will be able to shop in pop up stores from the likes of Sugarhill Boutique, Playful Promises, Mink Pink, Wolf & Whistle, Little Mistress, Girls On Film and House of CB. Style savvy shoppers can mix high-street buys with the most soughtafter labels in the Designer Outlet. New to the show, Pringle, Mawi and Bolongaro Trevor will sit alongside Gushlow and Cole to offer lust-have brands with a discounted designer price tag. Paul’s Boutique, Oasis, South Beach, Love and Glamorous

will also add to the line-up with their must-have AW15 collections. With every great outfit comes the all-important finishing touches! A whole host of Hair & Beauty products from brands including Rimmel, Elemis, Ciate, Lee Stafford, THX Total Hair Experts, and The Beauty Store will be on show, as well as pamper pit-stops where visitors can sit back and enjoy a luxury blow dry, manicures and make-overs from hair and beauty experts. Adding to the fashion-filled

spectacular will be several mustvisit stages. The Image Catwalk, presented by fashion guru Antonia O’Brien, will show the latest in high-street, graduate and emerging designer collections while fashion journalist and industry favourite, Hilary Alexander OBE, will be hosting the OLYMPUS PEN Style Studio, offering exclusive trend presentations and interviews from leading designers. Joining Hilary is The Clothes Show legend, Caryn Franklin MBE. Caryn has been part

of the show from the beginning and continues to inspire the fashion talent of the future. Every ticket to the show includes a seat in the ALCATEL ONETOUCH Fashion Theatre, showcasing a highenergy spectacle of fashion, music and dance. Head stylist Karl Willett will bring together the very best in high-street and designer brands to the show while Charli XCX, Rae Morris and Ella Eyre will take to the stage for live performance. Expect to see some familiar faces as broadcaster and writer Rick Edwards, TV favourite Jamie Laing and Radio 1 presenters Alice Levine and Gemma Cairney host the stage across the five days. If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a pair of tickets to The Clothes Show, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk When is The Clothes Show taking place? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by October 30th, 2015. l For more information, please visit: www.clothesshow.com

Thursday 12th November: 10am-7pm Sunday 15th November: 12noon-5pm Thursday 19th November: 10am-7pm (Aylesbury Christmas Lights Switch On) November 13, 14, 16, 17 & 18th open 10am-5pm Refreshments, Offers, Discounts & More!

Holy Cow Home, 6 Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1RS Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Amanda Trott

l Column

Older skin ages you. It droops and wrinkles and generally lacks the youthful vibrancy we’d like to hold on to. If only there was a way to turn back the clock...

n Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love and beauty. She was often depicted as a beautiful young woman with flowing hair, a curvaceous feminine body and perfect skin. It would thus seem only fitting, that the anti-aging and sculpting face and body treatment that everyone is talking about at the moment is called Venus Legacy. Venus Legacy is a non invasive contouring and skin tightening treatment that has been designed for use on the face, neck and body. It delivers Multipolar Radio Frequency and Magnetic Pulse Therapy to the skin by way of heat, which causes collagen synthesis and contraction, growth of new tissue, and the breakdown of fats. Susannah Nicholas Health and Beauty in Princes Risborough have recently started to offer this groundbreaking new procedure and are already amazed at the difference it is making to their clients after just one treatment. “A single treatment will give what we call the ‘Cinderella’ effect,” explains Susannah, “great if you are wanting to look your best short term for a special occasion, but if you are aiming for more dramatic longer lasting results, then a course may be what you need.” Susannah opened her salon in 1989 and has expanded over the years from a single room to six comfortable, well equipped treatment rooms and six therapists. Her salon now offers a huge range of treatments which include facials, massage, waxing, permanent hair reduction, spray tanning and even semi-permanent make-up. It has been a Guinot Crown Salon since 1999, and alongside Guinot products, she uses and retails Aromatherapy Associates and Jessica. Susannah invited me to her salon to try Venus Freeze for myself. It is aptly named as the treatment aims to

Susannah glides the Venus Freeze head over my face, working for set times on a series of small areas

Before Venus Freeze ‘freeze time’ and regenerate a more youthful appearance from our skin. Susannah started by removing my make-up and smoothing glycerin over my face, which helps the wand to glide across the skin. She set the machine to the correct temperature and started sliding what felt like a small heated massage head over my face. The machine has to reach the correct temperature in order for the process to work as radio waves and magnetic pulses stimulate the generation of new collagen and elastin. Although the wand can feel hot if left against the skin, the gliding action kept the temperature down and it felt very similar to a hot

After Venus Freeze stone massage. The machine has a timer, so Susannah knows how long to stay on each area before moving on to the next. The whole treatment on my face and neck took an hour and afterwards I could see a difference in my jawline and cheek bones, with a family member commenting later on my ‘fresh’ appearance! The Venus Freeze apparatus consists of an energy-generating unit plus a handheld applicator which looks a bit like a shower head. There is a smaller one for the face and backs of arms and a larger one with a central suction area for administering the Venus Legacy

Health & Beauty

Amanda Trott

Beauty Spot treatment to areas such as the tummy and thighs. The energy it emits penetrates multiple layers of skin, uniformly heating the tissues to about 40°C, although different temperatures are set for fat reduction and anti-aging. In response, the skin’s fibres of collagen (protein-based connective tissue) immediately shorten and thicken, tightening the skin and over the next few weeks, new collagen forms to provide additional support. Fat cell volume also decreases, improving the appearance of cellulite. In addition, the treatment induces the release of growth factors needed for new blood vessel formations, thus promoting the flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. Prices start from £75 for a one area treatment but if you’re looking to do more, a course can work out to be better value. “ We recommend 6 treatments on the face and 10 on the body,” says Susannah “but you should see dramatic results after just three treatments. “We recommend treatments are carried out once a week and then, when the course has been completed, periodic treatments every six weeks or so will maintain the results.” For myself the result was visible after just one visit to Susannah’s salon. Would I go back for more? Yes, I’d love to! l Susannah Nicholas Health and Beauty, The Malt House, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire , HP27 9AA Tel: 01844 343055 Email: info@susannahnicholas.co.uk Web: www.susannahnicholas.co.uk l Amanda is a talented and experienced, Vidal Sassoon trained hair stylist, who at one time managed Charles Worthington’s Covent Garden salon. If you would like to have your hair cut, styled or coloured by Amanda she is available in Thame from Tuesdays to Thursdays at Eclipse Hair Design. Call 01844 260062 to book or arrange a free consultation. Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Providing the ultimate salon experience

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e are now pleased to introduce our ‘Express Hair Up’ service, by Shannon. Simply walk in, choose from our Hair Up menu set styles and we will transform your hair in approximately 45 minutes for just £25! This complements our Pillow Proof Blow-dry Bar - another walk in service, where Amy or Shannon will wash and blow-dry your hair for just £15* (*all other stylist levels £25).

Shannon

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Exciting News...

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Column: Stacey Astley-Clark ‘Good to give’

Got a sense of adventure?

t’s exam season and a time of celebration for the 30% of eleven year olds who make it to Grammar school. But what about the remaining majority? While most are happy to take the comprehensive route, a worrying number of children are buckling under the pressure. From 2013-2014, Childline received over 34,000 calls from pupils who were worried about school or exam results, an increase of 200% in just a year. In many cases, counselling helps but for some young people, the stress can drive them to extremes. While suicide is thankfully rare, an increasing number of children are being reported missing and it’s down to organisations like Bucks Search and Rescue (BSAR) to find them and bring them home. The county-wide charity, which supports the emergency services during major incidents, is now reaching crisis point due to a desperate lack of volunteers. This I find surprising. Many of

Stacey Astley-Clark

Good to give

of adventure. Forget the 11+, what greater achievement than saving a life? If you’d like to attend a free Search & Rescue taster session in Aylesbury, email: stacey@ communityimpactbucks.org.uk

the 900 Not-for-Profits we support are struggling for volunteers, but not all of them offer free hands-on training in everything from map reading and rope training to bike and kayak rescue. Sue Hill-Venning volunteers at BSAR: “Every week brings a

different challenge - whether we are wading through rivers for a lost child or scouring the Chilterns for a person with dementia, the buzz when we find them is always awesome.” No special skills are needed, just a few hours each week and a sense

l Stacey works for Community

Impact Bucks, a charity dedicated to creating a better life for the people of Buckinghamshire. Every year over 900 local voluntary groups rely on their support for funding, volunteers & crisis support. Their hotline is 0300 1111 250 www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk

Your Local Consultants: Rachel B - 07718 742006 Leeanne F - 07983 093300 Kirsty F - 07538 827623 Tanya C - 07900 806169 Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: ‘Kiss & tell’ with Tracy Kiss

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

New Ebook is all Tracy

have always loved writing ever since I was a tiny tot scribbling on my bedroom wall with crayons! And I was ecstatic to have poetry published, at the ripe old age of twelve, which cemented my dream to write and gave me faith in my ability. Today my love for writing is channelled into my blogging and I am extremely honoured and proud to have touched over three million people worldwide. At the age of twenty-seven I’ve set myself the task of publishing my first ebook. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for so long but never knew where to start. I’ve titled my first ebook ‘Traces Of Me’ because I believe that no matter what we go through in life, the ups and the downs, highs and lows, love and heartbreak, each experience and relationship makes us the person we are, and likewise we touch the lives of those we meet and leave behind a trace of ourselves. I was a very shy and insecure

Tracy’s Ebook is now available via Amazon

child and suffered many years of bullying for my bland appearance and nervous disposition, yet at the age of eighteen I became a published glamour model for a host of men’s magazines and newspapers; from ugly ducking to graceful swan in the blink of an eye. I wanted to use my transition

The Lily Pot Floristry for all occasions l Bouquets

and arrangements for any occasion: anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, Christmas... contemporary or traditional designs l Floral Tributes: Option for bereaved to assist in creating floral tributes for their loved ones l Children’s Parties: Combining nature with arts and crafts skills in a fun atmosphere l Seasonal workshops: see website for details and dates

4 Lakeside, Watermead, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 0FX Tel: 01296 708095 / Mobile: 07538 296430 Email:info@thelilypot.co.uk Web: www.thelilypot.co.uk 20

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

in life to help and inspire others to understand that true beauty comes from within, and judging people based purely on appearances is a great shame. I created the character of April to tell my story - a single girl approaching thirty and feeling that a piece of her life is still missing; true love. As well as dating she also explores her sensuality which is a huge part of forming relationships that we can all too often be too embarrassed or shy to talk about and assess. In my book I expand on the insecurities that men and women face about their bodies and appearance, the doubts and fears that you have when giving your heart, and how that lust can become love. I guess Traces Of Me is a modern day Bridget Jones meets Fifty Shades Of Grey. Self publishing has been a daunting yet eye-opening experience, and I have managed it single-handedly, from writing 50,000 meaningful words to proof

Tracy Kiss

Kiss & tell

reading, publishing and marketing. Nobody can work as hard for you as you can yourself, and if something is worth doing then it’s worth putting your all into it. If you’re looking for a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page then visit Amazon where my ebook Traces Of Me by Tracy Kiss is just £1.99 l Read Tracy’s blog at: www.tracykiss.com or follow her on: Twitter: @kisstracy4 Facebook: /TheTracyKiss

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Since first opening their doors in late December last year, Three Chairs has continued to go from strength to strength. The salon, based in Princes Risborough, offers the ultimate male grooming service and a first class experience, every time. The aim has always been to bring the quality of the top London salons to Buckinghamshire, but without the associated price tag. When the shop was first opened, only one of the 3 chairs in the cutting area was manned - there are now two additional highly skilled stylists on hand. Add to this the fact that Three Chairs now also serve a selection of craft beers and hand-picked soft drinks, produce and sell their own grooming products (as well as those from Baxter of California), and stock clothing in store; it’s clear to see why it has become so popular locally in the short time they have been open. Despite adding to the list of products they offer, the Three Chairs mantra is one thing that hasn’t changed; with the team combining the technical aspects of hairdressing with the tradition of barbering to bring you a truly bespoke service you deserve. You can choose from Three Chairs’ comprehensive services menu, whether it be a haircut, beard trim, a hot towel shave or a revitalising facial, and will receive a first class experience and end result. You can also enjoy a game of pool and a drink before or after your haircut, or browse the clothing on sale - it’s definitely worth spending a little extra time in the shop and having a look around. Three Chairs has a laid-back, cool, and extremely welcoming atmosphere. It’s more than just a haircut. You can check out all of the latest news from Three Chairs on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ThreeChairsGrooming Hair: Ryan Bartlett Photographer: Sukh S-ence Mode: Jack Overbury

To book your appointment or to shop the Three Chairs store visit... threechairsgrooming.co.uk Tel 01844 347312 Mob 07852 907793 Email info@threechairsgrooming.co.uk Opening Times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

10:00am 10:00am 1:00pm 1:00pm 10:00am 8:00am

7:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 9:00pm 7:00pm 4:00pm

ThreeChairsGrooming ThreeChairsG @threechairsgrooming ThreeChairsG Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going wireless

01296 415234 www.aylesburydentists.co.uk

45 Buckingham Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 9PT 22

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Health & Fitness

Column: Fitness Focus with Fergie

Age is just a number!

itness Instructor Sandra Ferguson is passionate about the importance of staying active whatever age you are. Not being particularly sporty or competitive as a child, Sandra loved music and dance at school. Then, 35 years ago, she attended a keep fit class at her local Church Hall - nothing like it is today - exercising in bare feet, and ‘changing the record’ after each routine! At that time there were no formal qualifications for teachers – they were more like demonstrators than instructors, but Sandra loved the classes. In 1984 the YMCA ran their second Training Course in teaching Exercise to Music and Sandra was lucky enough to attend. The course was run by the legendary Lesley Mowbray,

founder of YMCA Training and Development. Sandra passed the examination with a Credit, which was very encouraging! She’s now 72 years of age and has been running Fitness Classes ever since. This year is the 21st Anniversary of her teaching classes at the Bedgrove Pavilion in Aylesbury. She currently offers: Shape up and Tone, Pilates and Exercise to Music for Seniors classes and people of all ages, from early 20s to over 70s attend. The classes are great fun and participants have increased their fitness and made many friends along the

way. “The classes involve flexibility, endurance and strength training,” says Sandra, “as well as some aerobic work. Participants are encouraged to work out at their own level, and to have a good time! “I like to stress the three Fs Fun, Fitness and Friends and the importance of moving. It doesn’t matter what you do and it doesn’t matter what age you are, you can always improve your fitness level safely and effectively. “We now know that inactivity is a major health risk factor as we age, and that one of the by-products of safe exercise is that it can improve bone density and help ward off osteoporosis.” Sandra has kept up her training over the years by completing many refresher courses and hasn’t missed a yearly FitPro

Sandra Ferguson Fergie’s Fitness Classes

Convention since they began over 20 years ago. As well as running private classes at Fairford Leys Community Centre, Bedgrove Pavilion and Weston Turville Village Hall, Sandra also teaches at the Holiday Inn, Aston Clinton; the Nuffield Health and Welfare Centre, Fairford Leys; and at AquaVale Sports Centre in Aylesbury. “I’m teaching 11 classes a week at the moment,” she says, “and enjoying every minute. Retirement is not an option – anyway the classes help to keep me fit! l For more information contact Sandra: 01296 338 140 or see: www.fergiesfitness.co.uk

Sandra ‘Fergie’ Ferguson

Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy Has helped many people in many ways. It could be just the help you need!

Angie Elbourn

DHP. MNRAH Reg Hyp. Reg CNHC Over 25 years experienced therapist

Aylesbury’s only dedicated Yoga Centre. YOGA Teachers, styles and times to help suit your needs. RELAX KIDS Yoga inspired classes for children ages 4-7 years and 8-12 years.

CNHC are the only regulatory body for the profession of hypnotherapy that is recognised by the Dept of Health. Tel: 07775 677796 Website: www.hypnohelp.co (just .co not uk) Email: Angie.hypnohelp@hotmail.co.uk

MEDITATION 4 week courses to help those beginning a meditation practice. YOGA FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS One-2-one sessions to enhance the natural development of babies and young children.

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CHANTING These sessions can help create a tranquil, less agitated mental state.

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Health & Fitness

Column: Fitness Focus with Joe Manley

Making small changes

ith years of experience in the sports and fitness industry Joe Manley believes that mind-set and motivation are vital to success. Below he outlines a few ways to gradually improve your health and fitness, when you’re ready, though. “Don’t put pressure on yourself if you are not as fit and healthy as you would like to be,” says Joe. “It’s easy to get down on yourself and try and change everything all at once. “Consistency of effort always beats the intensity of effort though. Making small sustainable changes will make a difference to your body, energy levels and your mood. “Don’t make unrealistic demands on yourself either. If I said to my clients no beer, wine or chocolate, I know as a trainer that environment will often beat willpower and that they will most probably give way to temptation when relaxing at home after a hard days work or when out to dinner with friends.

vegetables as a good carbohydrate source. Look at your lifestyle and nutrition and start looking at what you could change. Make one change at a time and get it embedded into your lifestyle before choosing the next. This is far more successful than the latest crash diet.

Joe Manley Setting this restriction is not suitable and comes with a sense of failure. Rather health and weight can be improved with constant small changes to lifestyle and nutrition. Things like increasing our steps per day, looking at portion sizes, looking at the quality of your food, drinking enough water, increasing movement/sport that you enjoy doing, reducing certain food groups instead of eliminating them and basing most meals on a good protein source and loads of

5 Tips to effective exercise/ movement Set yourself a fitness goal - it helps with motivation and will keep you on track If you train in a gym, pick functional movements, lifting weight or body weight training is really effective for body fat loss. Test and challenge yourself - can you move faster or further, lift heaver, take more steps? Don’t have time? A high intensity 15 min workout at home is really effective. Don’t do the same thing all the time, mix up your training and your body will keep adapting.

Joe Manley

Prostart Personal Training 5 tips to good effective nutrition. Cut down on processed food, eat as much natural, close to the source food as possible. Eat different colours - mix up your fruit and vegetables to make sure you are getting a range of vitamins and minerals and not becoming deficient in one area. Don’t miss meals! Be prepared and have healthy quick meals/snacks at home and at work. Enjoy what you eat! Try different meals and recipes. l For more info contact

Joe Manley, ProStart Personal Training - Aylesbury www.prostart-personaltraining.co.uk

Kate Walker

Thame Therapy Clinic

Mobile Chiropodist BSc (Hons) Hcpc Registered

Complementary Health Therapies from Experienced Practitioners

General Foot Care l Verruca Treatment l Ingrowing Nails l Biomechanics l

23 Upper High Street, Thame, OX9 3EX Tel: 01844 215555

Tel: 078875 51591

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Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Maria Bray

Nutritional Therapy

The Science of Health and Vitality l

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07771 330366 laura.gilbey@hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk Unit 5, Layby Farm, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks. HP22 5XJ

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Take charge of your health - I can assist you to achieve your desired health improvements with a mutually agreed and appropriate stepped programme of dietary and lifestyle changes. Diagnostic testing for: l Food intolerances / poor digestion l Vitamin D skin prick - overall health; bones, depression; skin; immunity l Homocysteine testing - heart health; brain health

Call for free half hour consultation

Tel: Maria on 0771 5414719 / 01296 581561

www.mariabraynutritionaltherapy.com

Free 50+ Swim THAME LEISURE CENTRE THAME LEISURE CENTRE For a full list of available holiday activities, speak to a member of staff or visit

For a full list of available holiday activities, speak to a member of staff or visit

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THAME LEISURE CENTRE In partnership partnership with with In

For a full list of available holiday activities, speak to a member of staff or visit

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In partnership with

Better isis aa registered registered trademark trademark of of GLL GLL (Greenwich (Greenwich Leisure Leisure Limited), Limited), aa charitable charitable social social enterprise. enterprise. Registered Registered office: office: Middlegate Middlegate House, House, The The Royal Royal Better Arsenal, London, London, SE18 SE18 6SX 6SX IPS IPS No: No: 27793, 27793, Inland Inland Revenue Revenue Charity Charity No: No: XR43398 XR43398 Arsenal, Better is a registered trademark of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX IPS No: 27793, Inland Revenue Charity No: XR43398

YOGA FOR EVERYONE Scaravelli inspired Yoga Classes Reduce Stress Improve Strength In partnership with Flexibility and General Wellbeing

Active Women and Racquets Fitness Centre offer SIX exercise classes at £5 each (including free crèche facilities)

Classes on offer include yoga & pilates & can be selected from the current timetable at: www.racquets-fitness-centre.com between 14th September and 21st December 2015 One to One Myofascial Yoga & Movement For more details and to get your Active Women rewards card Better is a registered trademark of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Clarke: 07768 567 876 (required) please contact Anna For injury and post surgery Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX IPS No: 27793, Inland Revenue Charity No: XR43398 Email: anna.clarke@southandvale.gov.uk (T&Cs apply) Help with posture, spine & alignment

YOGA THERAPY

Contact Carolyn: 07817 830390 Email: caz@cazyoga.com Web: www.cazyoga.com

Thai Orchid Massage and Spa www.thai-orchid-massage-and-spa.webs.com Traditional Thai Massage, Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy Body Massage, foot massage, herbal hot compress, back, head & neck massage 1 hr Aromatherapy/Swedish Full Body Massage £40 1 hr Traditional Thai Massage £45

Reflexions Health & Leisure Centre

Tel: 01296 330311 Mobile: 07587 172659 Buckingham Road, Watermead, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 0FY

EAR WAX REMOVAL If you are troubled by excessive ear wax causing discomfort or loss of hearing, CV Health Aural Care Service can offer you a very effective treatment at its Haddenham Medical Centre. Micro-suction is the most up-to-date procedure for removing obstructions in the ear and compared to syringing, it is safer, quicker, better tolerated and more effective. What does it cost? CV Health offers a competitively priced service at £80.

Call now 01494 412525 Monday to Friday (9 am to 5 pm) or email for an appointment: c.v.health@nhs.net Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

A B C AYLESBURY BULLION COMPANY The Family of Jewellers

11a, High St Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP20 1SH Tel:

01296 423198

Jewellery designed and produced to your specifications, or choose from our extensive range of new, secondhand and antique pieces. l Diamond merchants (certified stones always available) l Antique restorations l Hand engraving

l Valuations: insurance and (carried out on the premises) l Insurance claims advisors l Complete repair service

probate

Servicing of Rolex, Tag, Omega, Raymond Weil, Gucci etc. Batteries fitted and waterproof testing carried out on the premises. Top prices paid in cash for antique and modern jewellery, watches (especially Rolex), coins, gold, silver, platinum and scrap precious metals. Part exchange available.

11a High Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1SH

Tel: 01296 423198 www.aylesburybullion.co.uk

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Anna Webb‘Barking blonde’

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Preparing dogs for noise

he RSPCA reckons that a staggering one in two, or four million, of Britain’s dogs are distressed by the sound of fireworks. In London there’s no escaping the annual aerial assault. Parks are so closely sandwiched between residential and central locations. In two years living in The Vale there’s not been so much of a problem with fireworks, as there has with gunshots, to spook a dog or turn it into a quivering wreck. Dogs don’t like sudden alien sounds and can react in many ways. Owners make mistakes by unwittingly rewarding their dogs’ fear by ‘comforting’ them. The best approach is to prepare them for ‘fireworks’, or gunshots, by desensitising them to these ‘sounds’ months ahead. ‘Sound Therapy’ works by training your pooch to associate a potential ‘scary’ noise with a good experience, namely eating a tasty meal. Molly my bull terrier was very sound sensitive as a youngster

Dexter being de-sensitised with a Sounds Scary CD

Anna Webb

Barking blonde Molly’s ‘Mutt Muffs’ kept falling off especially to fireworks. I used a planned de-sensitisation program using ‘Sounds Scary’ CDs. Simply by playing out offending noises, like fireworks, while your dog is munching on his dinner. Slowly but surely ‘Fido’ learns that these sounds mean a positive experience - eating. On bonfire night stay indoors with your dog, don’t leave him home alone. Make a comfortable den to fulfil his instinctual need to seek ‘cover’. Exercise him really well in the daytime so he’s feeling more relaxed. I like to feed a starchy

food in the day, like sweet potato, to calm them. The important thing is to go about a normal routine. Ignore the fireworks or gunshots. Lead by example and your dog will settle. Fussing them will only exacerbate the problem. Molly my Miniature bull terrier was very sound sensitive as a youngster. Her first bonfire night couldn’t have got off to a worse start. My neighbours misfired a rocket that exploded on our downstairs window - thankfully shut! That sealed the deal. We began a long program of sound

therapy. We also used anxiety T- shirts that worked to calm her barking, whereas the Mutt Muffs from the USA kept falling off. Dexter is now using our Sounds Scary CD to help him cope with gunshots and the shooting season in the Vale. l Combining a psychology degree with

‘Naturopathic Healthcare & Natural Nutrition’, Anna Webb offers doggy life-coaching, training, natural health and diet advice. Anna contributes expert advice on national radio and TV and cowrites a weekly blog for The Independent (Barking Blondes). Her book ‘Barking Blondes’ co-written with Joanne Good is out now (Hamlyn). www.annawebb.info www.crendoncanines.com

106xx out of the dog house a5 1pp 2 25/10/2013 10:40 Page 1

Aylesbury 01296 706403 Winslow 01296 715697 www.uniquepets.mobi Duck Farm Court, Aylesbury / High Street, Winslow

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Out of the Doghouse Dog Listening

Contact: Roselle 07989 947316 email: roselle@ outofthedoghouse.co.uk

Does your dog:

Do you to give your puppy or rescue dog • jump upwant • pull on the lead• bark excessively the best possible start in your home? • display nervous, obsessive or aggressive behaviour Does your dog: bicycles or livestock • have issues with food • chase joggers, • jump up • destroy carpets or furniture when left alone? • pull on the lead

Dog Listening is a simple non-confrontational method, for all bark excessively dogs,• through which you can address undesirable behaviours • display nervous, obsessive or aggressive and build a rewarding relationship with your dog. behaviour

www.outofthedoghouse.co.uk • chase joggers, bicycles or livestock • destroy carpets or furniture when left alone • have issues with food? Dog Listening uses a simple non-confrontational method, suitable for all dogs, regardless of size, SJor breed, through which you can address age all undesirable behaviours and build a rewarding relationship with your dog.

Poochie Parlour

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Call: Sara-Jayne 07599 333182 www.sjpoochieparlour.co.uk Towersey/Thame area

Call 01296 706403 or pop into the shop to book your grooming appointment. Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column: Catherine Stoker Learning process

Are they ready to fly the nest? Independent education consultant Catherine Stoker’s tips for getting your teenager for university...

o, the A level grades are in the bag, place confirmed, the celebrations are over and your teenager is now looking forward to moving on to University. Here are a few tips to support parents in preparing them, so you can sleep slightly easier, once they have flown the nest. 1. Familiarisation in advance with the town or city where they will be studying including the campus layout, location of faculty teaching blocks, public transport, location of the supermarket etc. will reassure you they will be safe and give them a head-start when term begins. Try to secure accommodation amongst other Freshers in a hall of residence, rather than a rented house during year one. This will make finding their way around and meeting new friends easier and give a gentler acclimatisation into University life, especially if they’ve been living at home. 2. Find out what the local GP arrangements are for students and register them. 3. Review the clubs and societies that

Catherine Stoker Learning process are on offer. University is a fabulous opportunity to try a huge variety of new and exciting sports and activities and those who get fully involved from the outset will make new friends and settle quickest. 4. Organise their finances. Shop around for the bank that is offering the best student incentives. Ideally choose one which has a branch located close to the university or even better on campus. Spend some time talking through the importance of budget planning and monitoring cash-flow carefully. Advise against credit cards. 5. If the timetable structure of their course looks like there might be time for a part-time job help them to get a CV and application letter ready and help them to start to research places where

they might seek employment once in situ. This will keep student loans to a minimum and will encourage them into a culture of working to support themselves and the value of ‘earned’ cash. Talk them through the basics of interview technique such as body language. Reliability, looking respectable and a friendly personality will be the key factors to get across. 6. Spend some time in the kitchen helping your teenager with planning and cooking healthy meals on a budget. Reproducing some of mum’s homecooked dishes for new friends will be a positive way to cope with homesickness in the early stages. 7. Have a serious chat about safety, keeping gadgets and tech safe, managing drink, turning down drugs and coping with peer pressure to do things which they may feel are out of their comfort zone. 8. Advise against packing too many possessions for the start of term. Some things are essential, but having too much will cramp living space and be too hard to keep track of. Homely but uncluttered is best. Valuables should be minimal. Make sure key items are covered by appropriate insurance. 9. Advise against taking a car until they have seen where they will be

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

living and investigated the parking arrangements. If they do chose to take a car, drink-driving should be discussed. 10. A bike is a good investment and don’t forget lights, cycling helmet and a high-vis top. 11. A laptop with a good size screen will be crucial. Consider getting a separate mouse, keyboard and ensure they have the latest up-to-date software. Consider how their work will be backed-up and a few USB sticks might come in handy. 12. How will you keep in touch? Give them space to explore this exciting new stage of their life, but explain your need to hear from them every once in a while, to be reassured they are happy and safe! l Do you have a teenager in Year 12 or 13 starting out on the university application process? Our team of friendly, professional consultants supports teenagers with planning all aspects of their UCAS application. Call Claire on: 01865 522066 or email her via consultants@ independenteducationconsultants.co.uk l Catherine Stoker is Managing Director of the Independent Education Consultants: www. inpendenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Pardon my English! Win copy of new A local dialect ‘Call My Bluff’ by Jacot de Boinod Can you guess the right definitions of the following words? 1) Yoffle (Hertfordshire dialect) A) the large paunch in a pig B) to eat greedily and noisily C) to walk with shoes nearly off the feet 2) horrocks (Hertfordshire dialect) A) the traces left by a stag in the underwood through which he has passed B) a carter’s command to a horse to turn right C) litter consisting of broken straw

3) Footer (Berkshire dialect) A) the larger tiddlywink that you press down on the smaller winks B) to cry, to be tearful C) a derisive term for a dog that doesn’t stray far from a hunter’s feet 4) Snook (Berkshire dialect) A) to send an opponent’s tiddlywink a long way away, preferably off the table B) to knock the feet together in walking C) stolen

l Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for

the television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World, published by Penguin Books. Having researched our rural dialect, he is setting a fun ‘Call-My-Bluff Quiz for Vale Life readers - mind your language now... ANSWERS: 1B) to eat greedily and noisily. 2C) litter consisting of broken straw (also shack) 3B) to cry, to be tearful. 4C) stolen.

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Children’s book

ocal author, Helen Costar, from Ludgershall, has produced a beautifully illustrated children’s book as a tribute to her father. It is also loosely based on his antics. Her father, Joseph Welch, was the Headteacher of S.S. Mary & John Primary School at Cowley, Oxford for 35 years before finally retiring in 1982 and taught several generations of families in that time. ‘Please Don’t Let Grandpa’ tells of things a Grandpa and his grandchildren do, in rhyming verses, with outcomes that don’t always go as planned, due to the Grandpa’s mischievous sense of fun. “My father was a wonderful, if somewhat unusual, father and grandfather,” says Helen, “who did lots of things which kept both me, when I was a little girl, and subsequently my children entertained. Some are listed at the back of the book, which is aimed at children aged 1-4 years.” The book is available from: The Book House, Thame; Brill Stores,

Brill; Gorgeous Giggles, Princes Risborough and Gingko, Watlington. If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a signed copy of ‘Please Don’t Let Grandpa’, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Who is Helen’s father? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by Oct 30th, 2015. l ‘Please Don’t Let Grandpa’ can be purchased direct from: helenmcostar@gmail.com

l Column: Read all about it! Book reviews by The Book House, Thame

Books that will take you on different journeys of using real photos scattered through the story, further serving to blend fact with fiction, historical events with imagined accounts, all to great effect. Amory is a complex character - and not one the reader always likes - but one whom Boyd presents with such assuredness that you cannot but find her fascinating. Wonderful storytelling.

Sweet Caress by William Boyd Professional, female photographer Amory Clay’s account of her life over 70 years, interleaved with a journal being written in her old age in a remote Scottish cottage, is the backbone of this utterly compelling novel. It moves from her birth in 1908 comfortable Edwardian Sussex (her birth was mistakenly announced in The Times as that of a son) through to 1920s London, pre-war Berlin, 1930s New York, wartime France and, in Amory’s sixties to Vietnam. In Sweet Caress Boyd has employed the hugely successful innovation, for fiction,

Harry Mount’s Odyssey by Harry Mount Subtitled ‘Ancient Greece in the Footsteps of Odysseus’ this is the travelogue of Mount’s own odyssey, trying to flee heartbreak in London with an ancient Greek hero for his guide - and as his excuse - to roam the Mediterranean. You can’t of course, follow ‘the footsteps’ of a sailor - even a mythological one - and that is just one of many jokes arising from the contrast between Harry and his hero. There aren’t many books that make you laugh on the very first

page, but this is one of them, with the author contrasting the start of Odysseus’s journey, from Aegean beaches, beneath the remains of Troy, with his own embarkation point: the Pret A Manger at Heathrow airport’s Terminal 5. This is not a serious attempt to follow Odysseus, but a hugely entertaining account of Mount’s emotional (and geographic) journey through a part of the world which is, sadly, getting very poor press at the moment. Warmly recommended.

The Wonder Garden by Jenny Broom illustrated by Kristjana S. Williams Fold back the covers of this large and beautiful book and let the gates to earth’s wonder garden swing wide open! Wander in and look

Children love books!

about you, as you stroll through five dazzling habitats (rainforest, coral reef, mountains etc) and see where life, in all its glorious variety, abounds - all presented in extraordinary, breathtaking, engraved illustrations by Icelandic illustrator Kristjana Williams. We are huge fans of this book! Ages 7 to 70. l The Book House, 93 High Street,

Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HJ Tel: 01844 213032 anybook@thebookhousethame.co.uk www.thebookhousethame.co.uk Open Mon-Sat: 9am-5.30pm

ntr

Children Learning to Succeed

Maths & English Tuition Come and choose from the best children’s bookshop in the county:

THE BOOK HOUSE

in Aylesbury

Call for a FREE assessment! 07762 886 951 aylesburytown@firstclasslearning.co.uk

93 High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3HJ Tel: 01844 213032 Open Mondays-Saturdays 9am-5.30pm

Website: www.thebookhousethame.co.uk Email: anybook@thebookhousethame.co.uk We also sell books for grown-ups... and fantastic cards as well as gift stationery and toys. Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: The Flo Show with Florence Grace

Keeping a healthy balance

hen we last spoke, I was worried about growing up. Now, it seems I have been growing up quite a lot! No, I can’t cook. Or change a light bulb. Or sort out the bin bags! But I have been growing up in other ways... First of all, I got myself a new job to start my desired, media based career. A position that involves blogging and handling the social media for a London based clothing company, Young Britannia. Not only does this mean regular trips to London for meetings and photoshoots (yay!), but there are a lot of other perks - free clothes, launch parties, fashion shows and festival tickets! It’s very exciting and I’m working as hard as I can in the hope that I can turn this into a full time career - what a dream come true that would be! However in the meantime... I’ve also started distance studying an NCTJ Diploma in Magazine Journalism. I’ve never

Florence Grace The Flo Show

Flo has a new job with Young Britannia Clothing distance learnt before, so I’m a little worried about how I will be able to stay motivated, how I’ll be able to ask for help when I’m stuck, how I won’t just throw down the pen and give up! Getting this qualification is important to me though, as I’m hoping it will benefit my writing greatly and is a qualification a lot of media companies appreciate job candidates having. So fingers crossed that acts as a big enough

motivator for me! Whilst doing these two huge activities, I also write for this magazine, for Amor Magazine and run my blog, whilst trying to do my radio shows, work out in the evenings and spend time with family and friends and just relax! I have been struggling to maintain a healthy balance in all of these areas and keep myself happy and stress free, so it was just recently that I made my first grown

up decision - to quit my job. Eeek! Its time to focus on my career and what I actually want to do write, play with social media and be a radio presenter! The world is a big, scary, competitive place but you’ve got to take risks and try new things if you want to keep moving forwards...and that’s exactly what I have done. It will be challenging, it will be different but hopefully it will be fun! Wish me luck! You know I will keep you updated... Love from, Florence Grace. l Florence Grace is from Aylesbury and blogs at: www.lovefromfg.blogspot.co.uk She is a photographer and DJs for internet radio station BlinkFM (http://tunein.com/radio/ Blink-FM-s188577/).

Win tickets to

Oxford Fashion Week Travelodge staff at the special fundraising ‘Green Day’

Staff raise record sum for Macmillan Cancer

Picture from last year’s Oxford Fashion Week event

n 31st October Oxford Fashion Studio will present collections from extraordinary and emerging designers during runway shows as part of Oxford Fashion Week (6th 31st October 2015). Runway show tickets are now available for the event, which takes place at the Sheldonian Theatre with Independent Collections featured at 6pm and the black-tie Couture Show at 9pm. Tickets are available now from: www.oxfordfashionweek.com 30

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a pair of tickets to The Oxford Fashion Week Runway Show, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@ vale-life.co.uk Where is the runway show being staged? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by October 20th, 2015. l For more details see: www.oxfordfashionweek.com

ravelodge, one of Thame’s biggest employers, has raised a record £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, at its third annual Green Day event. The special fundraising day, called ‘Green Day’ after the charity’s official brand colour, was held in August at Thame Cricket Club. More than 250 people, including Travelodge head office staff and their family and friends, attended the event, which included a range of fun activities throughout the day, a fete, a sports day, human table football, welly wangling and an all day 20/20 cricket match between the Travelodge head office team, the company’s tax advisors, FTI Consultancy, and the company’s legal

advisors, Addlehsaw Goddard (AG). Paula Lewis, Travelodge Charity Co-ordinator said: “We are delighted that our 2015 Green Day event has raised a record £10,000 and we have beaten last year’s total of £7,500. This event takes months of planning and this amazing result is all down to great team work across all head office functions. I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their support.” Since the charity partnership was launched in 2013, Travelodge’s 10,000 staff members across the company’s 504 UK hotels and at the head office in Thame have raised over £500,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support to help people affected by cancer.

by Cathy Soughton

Washingtons

of Tring

ost of us would have been taught at school that George Washington became the first president of the United States of America in 1789 but did you know that his great grandfather John Washington originated from Tring? Since the 1920s a Washington family tree has hung on the North wall of Tring’s Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul depicting those members of George Washington’s immediate ancestors who were born in Tring or associated with the town. In June this year as part of the Tring 700 celebrations a new, revised family tree of the Washington family was presented to the church by the Tring & District Local History & Museum Society. Recent research by Murray Neil, the author of ‘The Washingtons of Tring’ showed that revisions to the original were required. His book recounts how John Washington’s father Lawrence was born in Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire in 1602. He entered

George Washington Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1619 and was elected a fellow of the college in 1626. He was related to the Spencers of Althorp House and during his time at Oxford he visited Althorp on at least two occasions, where he met Sir Richard Anderson who was married to Lawrence’s fourth cousin, Mary Spencer. Sir Richard was the owner of Pendley Manor Tring and it was there that Lawrence met his future wife. She was Amphyllis Twigden, a farmer’s daughter from Creaton, Northamptonshire. Her mother had moved to Tring in 1612, after her husband died, with Amphyllis and her four sisters, and married Andrew Knowling of Frogmore Street. When Lawrence and Amphyllis met

at Pendley Manor they had an affair which resulted in the birth of their son, John, in 1631. They could not marry then as fellows of Oxford University were not permitted to marry. However after Lawrence was appointed as Rector of Purleigh in Essex they married in Tring. Two more children were born in Tring before Amphyllis and the children moved to Purleigh in 1637 where two daughters were born. Purleigh was a rich parish in an area that was predominately Puritan and Parliamentary whereas Rev. Lawrence was Royalist and Anglican. In 1643 after the start of the Civil War he was ousted from Purleigh due to his Royalist sympathies and became vicar of a poor church in Little Braxted, Essex where he remained in poverty until his death in 1653. Amphyillis and the children returned to Tring in 1641, where her final child, William, was born, and she remained in Tring for the rest of her life. In 1650 her stepfather, Andrew Knowling, died and left his estate to Lawrence, the second son of Rev.Lawrence and Amphyllis. As the eldest son John should have been the beneficiary of Knowling’s will but was denied his inheritance, due to

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

his illegitimacy. If John had inherited Knowling’s estate then it is unlikely that he would have left Tring and therefor the history of the United States would have changed significantly. Amphyllis died in 1655 and was buried in the graveyard of Tring Parish church. John was in Tring in 1656 to finalise his mother’s affairs before leaving on a trading voyage to Virginia. On the return voyage his ship was wrecked in the Potomac River resulting in John remaining in Virginia. He married the daughter of a rich plantation owner and they began a family which eventually resulted in the birth of his great grandson, George Washington, first president of the United States of America. Murray’s book is available from Tring & District Local History Museum in Market Place, Brook Street, Tring (the museum, which is well worth a visit, is open from 10am to 3.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays) and also from Almars in Tring High Street. l Cathy Soughton is a professional genealogist and architectural historian providing family history and house history research across the local area. Tel: 01296 624845 Email: soughton@btopenworld.com Web: www.bucksresearch.co.uk

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To request a brochure or make a booking please contact Adams Travel. Telephone: 01296 873017 Email: aylesbury.adamstravel@gmail.com

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

How to rock the raw wood vibe - a fast growing contemporary aesthetic that’s popping up everywhere, from hotels and clubs to bars and restaurants...

n the last issue I spoke about the highly fashionable appeal of Salvage Chic, a homely mix of beat-up vintage furniture, mismatched accessories, flea market art and touches of glamour. This time I’m taking the reclamation chic a little further by focusing on the rugged trend that’s gaining momentum with the cool crowd - modern rustic. I’ve always got one eye on what’s happening in public spaces, both for inspiration as well as clues to future residential trends. It was here that I first noticed walls clad in reclaimed timber, the new ‘exposed brick’ that remained so popular throughout the past decade.

Refurbishing or opening a new food and beverage business is very costly, with interior design a key component of its success. The design needs to be original with an appealing atmosphere and relative longevity. If you think about it, the styles, materials, lighting, colours and textiles are often worth noting as having staying power, and, even if they push boundaries, there will be elements that will work at home too. Cabin Fever is less about perfection and more about provenance and connecting with nature. We’re familiar with using reclaimed-wood flooring to add character to a space, but it can also transform the

Polly Gibbs

Step inside

Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design, shares her down to earth approach to interiors, from design secrets to trends and everything in between. Soho FarmHouse, (image courtesy of Soho House)

Interiors Edition: A Modern Rustic 32

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

look and feel of a room when used to clad walls, cupboard doors, as bookshelves, bath panels or headboards (e.g. Alexa bed, from £1199 at West Elm). The natural patina and aroma of timber is divine and comes with a natural acoustic dampening effect too; making it perfect for open plan living. The look is the antithesis of sleek and designed, rather, it hints at the traditional log cabin and Scandinavian style. The new Farmshop restaurant at Bicester Village captures the raw vibe perfectly, brought to you by the gurus of interior chic, Soho House. A cavernous space cocoons you in timber; softened by rustic furniture, plump cushions, mustard leather seating and net curtains (yes, you heard me right – net curtains. I also remain to be convinced on these!). A few leather or velvet clad chairs in the main area would really make the interior pop for me, adding just a tad more warmth. Farmshop manager Carlos will extend you a warm welcome as you soak up the style over a full English, afternoon tea, or cocktails on the roof terrace. (sohohouse.com / farmshopbicester.com). Continued on page 34

N S TA L • I L

NS • SER

• ST O

Farmshop Bicester Village, (image courtesy of Farmshop Restaurant)

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Step inside by Polly Gibbs Bathroom (image: Pinterest)

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Step inside by Polly Gibbs Continued from page 33 Take the look home by cladding walls with wood straight from the sawmill, (try Lawson’s | 01704 893998 | traditionaltimber.co.uk

or Brill Sawmills | 01844 202440 | www.brillsawmills. co.uk), reclamation yards, or discarded builders timber. Avoid using a single pale species of wood or you’ll end

Simon Mancave (image courtesy of Simon Jones

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

this in his Oxfordshire man cave, balanced with a vintage inspired leather chair - see pic far left). Soft textures are really important as they balance out the rugged surfaces. Add lots of soft furnishings, velvets, faux fur, leather, silk and linens. Natural jute and banana baskets work really well also, and don’t be afraid to have wooden furniture, it sounds like it shouldn’t, but it just works. Roadie Chic from Wayfair I’ll start you off with a up with a sauna, larch works well. few well priced options; However, do paint the wall to be the Urban Chic sideboard from clad dark first to disguise any natural £232.50, Roadie Chic sideboard shrinkage between the planks. Note (above) £449, and Archarn at £409 also that the surface will be rough, for a 2 door / 3 drawer sideboard so it’s not suitable for areas occupied (wayfair.co.uk). by young children. l Polly is an award-winning designer, Use it in the cloakroom to Decorex100 Interiors Influencer and surprise, as a living room feature Amara Interiors Blog Award Finalist wall, or clad the interior of a garden 2014. Discover her blog at: room (my friend Simon has rocked www.coco-design.co.uk/blog.

Kloeber’s advanced glazing solutions are available in bespoke or set sizes, with exceptional insulating values, multi-point locking and low maintenance finishes. View our website for further details of our extensive product range with solutions for all self builders and home improvers. Kloeber’s timber bifold doors and FunkyFront entrance doors are Secured by Design.

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35 Vale Life : Sept/Oct09/09/2015 2015 23:09

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Five years ago David Castellano set up Charles Huntington Flooring. The company has a stylish showroom at Aylesbury’s Duck Farm Court and is impressing customers not only with the exciting selection of flooring on display, but also with David’s exceptional skills as a carpet layer...

avid Castellano, owner of Charles Huntington Flooring has been in the carpet business for 28 years and in that time has laid pretty well every flooring going. He has not lost his enthusiasm yet though. Amid the stunning range of beautifully displayed carpet, sisal, seagrass, coir, jute, wood, vinyl and synthetic flooring in his Aylesbury showroom, he delights in showing me an unusually textured carpet sample and is positively overexcited at a selection of imposing designer stripes! “We stock a varied selection,” says David. “We can supply pretty well anything a customer might request but we also like to inspire with designer carpets and flooring that are a little different and which you don’t find at larger suppliers. We offer a wide range of standard styles - something for all tastes and budgets - but we’ve made an effort to source some interesting alternatives. I’ve got carpets here from great value budget weaves to tufted silk at over £200 a square metre!” When he left school David took an apprenticeship with a local carpet firm, learnt the ropes and gradually became a skilled fitter. He worked for firms in Amersham, Hazlemere and Chesham, often abroad, laying all sorts of complicated patterns in hotels and commercial premises, as well as in private homes: “I’ve been to Belgium and Albania, all over really,” he says, “laying huge conference rooms and bedrooms at top hotels, and at all sorts of private homes, big and small, it was pretty varied. “The highlight of my career was probably laying the carpet at the Hindu Temple in Neasden,” he laughs. “It nearly killed me! It was a huge job, very complicated with numerous panels of carpet to be matched up. It looked stunning when it was finished though.”

David Castellano David set up on his own in 2001 as a flooring contractor and continued to work at home and abroad in homes and hotels and for a variety of Emma Goddard companies including John Lewis. In 2010 he set up Charles Huntington Flooring with partner Emma Goddard. “I now supply and advise on carpet and floorings,” says David, “but I still enjoy going out and personally ensuring the job is laid down correctly. If I am supplying carpet that costs several hundred pounds a metre I want to be sure it is fitted perfectly! ‘A carpet’s only as good as the person who fitted it’ they say in the trade!” Fashions change in flooring as with anything else and David has been enjoying the trend for stair runners and striped carpet. “We are experienced in templating stair runners with turns and half landings,” he says. “We offer a variety of finishes: binding tape, blind stitching, or whipping - we’ve also a good selection of stair rods and stair clips. “We stock quite a range of makes: Best

Wool Carpets, Victoria Carpets, Weston Hammer, Jacaranda, Crucial Trading... something for all pockets and tastes. We do a good range of sisal as well - Crucial Trading have a great selection. It gives you a nice crisp clean look, it’s a bit different. We can make rugs with it too. Sometimes a customer will have wood in the hall and then we’ll make a sisal rug with bound edges to go on top. We can make rugs with any carpet and to any size, all neatly finished with stitched edging.” “We’ve got a website which will give you an idea of what we do,” says Emma. “We’re happy to visit customers at home, if preferred, but it’s best to come in and have a browse around the showroom - so you can feel the samples! Bring your paint swatches down and have a look around. We can have a coffee and explore the possibilities, perhaps even cake - well it is our 5th birthday!” l Charles Huntington Flooring, 23 Duck Farm Court, Station Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2SQ. Tel: 01296 337181 Mob: 07767 370067 Email: info@charleshuntington.co.uk Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm on Sat. Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

In 2012 we wrote about Thame based interior designer Tracy Nielsen. She’d just reclaimed her dining room having moved her growing business into a home office/studio in the garden! Three years on, tillynilly is still expanding and Tracy has now opened a showroom in Thame town centre...

’ve been doing this for nearly 13 years now,” says tillynilly owner Tracy. “I started out making blinds for fun and it’s grown from there. “The garden office was useful, but now we are dealing with more enquiries, a larger workspace is necessary. Our new base at 55 North Street in Thame has studio and showroom space and a workspace for our in-house seamstress. It is light and spacious and gives us the opportunity to complete orders more quickly and offer alterations and adjustments. “There are more visitors to the showroom each day, as it’s easy to find, on the first floor above Martin Kemps Property, Jack & Atticus and Tapis Rugs. You don’t need an appointment to come in and have a look around but if you want to discuss something specific, it is best to make an appointment so that proper time can be spent discussing and designing your requirements” Tracy officially launched her tillynilly brand in 2009. Primarily offering window dressing and soft furnishings, tillynilly also provide design assistance with product selection, fabric and colour. The product range includes hand finished made to measure curtains, roman blinds, cushions and soft furnishings. All types of blinds are available including blackout rollers and wooden venetians, plus a wide range of fabrics, wallpaper and home accessories. Tillynilly also offer a reupholstery service and a new interior design service which is being run in conjunction with local

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Tracy Nielsen in the new tillynilly showroom architect and interior designer, Elena Jackson. A complimentary design clinic is hosted at their showroom every Wednesday morning drop-in, no appointment required, and receive advice from Elena on layouts, storage and general design queries. Tracy will also be on hand to assist with window treatments advice and fabric selection. Fabric and wallpaper ranges are available for you to browse. “We will produce blinds and curtains to coordinate whole rooms, or even the whole house,” says Tracy, “with combinations of Roman blinds, roller blinds, curtains and

cushions, whatever is required. “Double layering of windows is very much back in fashion now with curtains and blinds or curtains and a transparent voile for privacy. Roman blinds are a very popular choice and a tillynilly best seller! A hand-finished item can be produced, using a client’s own fabric if required. We supply lining, components and fittings where needed to complete the blind and make it ready for hanging. “Measuring and quotation is offered at no extra cost in Thame and the surrounding areas and installation is also available.

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015 BLINDS AND SOFT-FURNISHINGS – free measuring and quotation: assistance with choosing appropriate products and installation available INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE - tailored to your needs: from plan to completed design or help with finishing off your look

Made to measure: venetian wood rollers blackout vertical panel hand finished curtains romans & accessories design assistance wallpaper upholstery

www.tillynilly.com

01844 220035

info@tillynilly.com

Visit us at our new studio 55 North Street Thame OX9 3BH Shop online for accessories and gifts www.tillynilly.com/store

“With lots of new building, extensions and loft conversions taking place we have had a spate of unusually shaped, or placed, windows which require a bespoke blind to be made. It can be a challenge but a solution can usually be found, such as an electric roller blind with remote control for a window you can’t reach. “New safety regulations for chain operated blinds mean technology has come into play with motorised blinds, either wired in or battery operated, becoming more popular. “Curtains can be recycled by altering the length or width, or the heading type to achieve a more current look, saving the cost of buying new fabric. You could use fabric from a favourite curtain for a roman blind or for cushions. Choose from our selection of furniture fabric though if you’d like a completely fresh look or to have an old chair, sofa or headboard recovered. A change of headboard and some new blinds can completely transform the look of a bedroom! “Customers are also welcome to order fabric for their own use and a useful remnants collection is on sale too, so if people are looking for smaller pieces they are invited to come along and have a look through. “Three to four weeks is our usual lead time for blind orders but it always get busier towards Christmas so if you are looking to complete a project by then, it’s a good idea to start getting organised now. “Our range of wallpapers is expanding massively and now offers some gorgeous designs along with collections from Holland and Sweden which are lovely and a bit different - some are quite subtle, while others make a real impact. Wallpaper is used in so many

interesting ways these days, with just a square in a frame, or wallpapering a door to create a feature. “Currently we are developing our lighting range too and hope to offer more styles soon. At the studio we have beautiful wire weave lamps with integrated fairy lights and the very ‘on-trend’ Jeeves and Wooster lights by Innermost - fun bowler hat and top hat shaped ceiling and wall lights. Funky Lothair Hamann lampshades are also available, made of polypropylene loops. “Gosia is our talented in-house seamstress. She is very skilled at making replacement covers, alterations and matching a design of something that already exists. “Our clients are a diverse mix of ages and tastes. There are those who prefer a traditional or classic look and those who like very modern styles and every combination in between! “I still enjoy running the business very

much. I love our new showroom, which I’m gradually filling up with brochures and sample books, curtain tracks, poles and finials, cushions, fabric and interesting items of homeware, but mostly I love working with our clients. Offering a bespoke service which may involve several visits to a client’s home is gratifying as I get to know their tastes and can help to choose paint colours, wallpapers and fabrics. On bigger projects clients have often become friends through the process and by the end it sometimes feel like I’m part of the family!” Tracy, designer Elena Jackson and Vale Life style expert Katy Dyer are teaming up for a Home and Fashion event at Thame Barns Centre from 11am-3pm on Sunday, October 4th. See www.katydyer.com/events for details. Tickets are £9.50 and include a special goodie bag, complimentary drinks, treats and exclusive pop-up shopping stalls. l tillynilly, 1st Floor, 55 North Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3BH Tel: 01844 220035 Email: info@tillynilly.com Web: www.tillynilly.com Open Mon-Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm, and Sat by appointment. Drop-in design clinic Wednesdays 9.30am-12noon.

Tracy and tillynilly seamstress Gosia

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Real Living

by Charlotte Bolton

a good tradesman Finding

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Real Living

Charlotte Bolton

Need a simple job doing around the house or planning more major work? Finding the right person for the job may seem a daunting task, so follow these tips to find your honest and reliable tradesman... Get recommendations from friends and family: The best way by far to choose a reliable plumber, electrician or builder is by word of mouth. Ask family, neighbours, colleagues or friends for referrals. Or if you’ve noticed vehicles in your road/ street belonging to tradesmen, it may be worth noting down names and numbers for reference. It’s also worth asking industry contacts. For example, if you’re looking for a reliable plumber and you’ve had a good experience with another professional, such as a roofer or an electrician, try asking them for a recommendation. Local (approved) trader schemes: The ‘Buy With Confidence’ www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk approved trader scheme has been set up in Buckinghamshire and is administered by Bucks County Council (www.buckscc.gov.uk). It is part of a national scheme which is being operated by several

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

miles of your postcode and comes up with a list of trader contacts in order of those closest to you. A TrustMark logo means you’re offered several guarantees including: • A firm’s technical skills have been independently checked through regular on-site inspections • Firms have signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care.

Of course if you need a plumber Charlotte’s husband comes very highly recommended: R Morley Plumbing & Heating Services; 0781 321 4025. Trading Standards authorities throughout England. The scheme provides a list of local businesses that have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards. Each approved

member has been individually checked for trustworthiness and compliance with consumer protection laws. Amanda Poole, Assistant Head of Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, says: “Approved trader schemes, particularly ones with Trading Standards approval, are a great help in protecting people from rogue traders. I would urge anyone getting work done to get a range of quotes from trades people who are members of such schemes before making a decision who to use, and to never get work done from anyone who cold calls.” TrustMark (www.trustmark.org. uk) is a not-for-profit governmentbacked scheme. On the website you simply put in your postcode and say what sort of trader you want. The database is then searched within 50

More local resources: Try local newspapers, magazines (www.vale-life.co.uk) and trade directories for sourcing information on local tradespeople by way of editorial features or advertisements. Also many of the villages around the vale have their own websites (such as www.haddenham.net) with their own ‘trade directories’ listing local trades people. Online recommedation sites Online recommendation sites can be a bit hit or miss, but may be a better option than just picking out a trader at random! There are a number of sites in the UK now, all of which work by providing space for customers to post jobs they need doing or traders to advertise their services. These sites work very much on a similar basis to word of mouth recommendations - in theory, traders are all judged and rated based on previous jobs. This can prove really useful in finding a good tradesman, and the more reviews on a site the better (a bit like how the rating systems on sites like eBay and Trip Advisor work). Continued on page 42

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Real Living

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

by Charlotte Bolton

General industry contacts trade referral services. You simply post your location and • Building: To find a builder contact the National Federation of But remember that businesses pay to a clear description of the job you be listed on trader sites - so they are want doing on the website, and up to three ‘recommended traders’ who essentially the ‘customer’ too. subscribe to the service then contact Rated People (www.ratedpeople. you to quote on the work. com) is one of the UK’s largest You can read up about the traders online and make a decision based on what other customers have said about them. After the job is complete, you go back and rate the trader on the work they have done. Builders on: 0207 608 5150, Trustatrader.com (www. www.builders.org.uk or the trustatrader.com) is another Federation of Master Builders on: recommendation-based directory 0207 2427583; www.fmb.org.uk where consumers can do a postcode • Electricity: Niceic is the search to locate a list of traders in UK’s leading voluntary regulatory their local area - not just builders but body for the electrical contracting also retailers, car sales and garage industry: 0870 013 0382, services. Before contacting traders www.niceic.com on the list, consumers can access • GAS: Gas Safe: 0800 408 5500, feedback left by previous customers, www.gassaferegister.co.uk plus look at pictures of previous Gas Safe is the official register for work carried out. Gas Safety. The organisation hold the official list of gas engineers who mybuilder.com is another site are registered to work safely and that seems to have lots of positive legally on boilers, cookers, fires and experiences from users. all other gas appliances. Continued from page 40

• PLUMBING: To find a plumber contact the Institute of Plumbing on: 01708 472791, www.ciphe.org.uk Once you’ve found your tradesperson... • Be specific and set out a detailed, clear brief when requesting quotes. Get more than one and, ideally, at least three. • Ask for a detailed, written quotation with start and finish times and agreed payment terms. • Ask for references, speak to previous customers and if possible visit previous jobs. • Only pay for work that has been done and not by advance payments. But where materials need to be bought in advance, it’s reasonable for the trader to ask you to pay a fair percentage of these costs as the job progresses. • Always use a written contract - it offers you protection if anything does go wrong. Agree any stage and final payments before work starts. l Contact Charlotte at: www.reallivingspaces.co.uk or email: cjb@charlottebolton.com

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uring the busy summer months we have successfully let or sold many properties. This includes some, which as a result of the recession, have lingered on our books for up to 8 years. Consequently, we are now actively

seeking commercial property in the office, retail and industrial sectors to satisfy a demand in the following areas: Aylesbury, Thame, Long Crendon, Tring, Berkhamsted, Amersham, Chesham, Princes Risborough, Prestwood and Great Missenden.

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To Let

(Conversion to residential will not be permitted.)

60B Wedgewood Street, Aylesbury: 3,500 sq ft

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The Vale Industrial Estate:

20,715 sq ft Warehouse with 16,500 sq ft yard

Recently vacated by Travis Perkins, 20 The Vale Industrial Estate, Aylesbury, is a concrete portal framed building, comprising three bays with brick and profile metal cladding to all elevations. It benefits from various loading doors and a yard to the rear.

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15 March Place, Aylesbury: 2,255 sq ft

This property provides an end of terrace steel portal framed building and benefits from Trade counter use, 3 phase electrics, mezzanine storage and good car parking.

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(From 9,424 sq ft to 36,447 sq ft, over 3 floors)

A rare opportunity has arisen to occupy this iconic headquarters building. Stupples Chandler Garvey are pleased to offer office accommodation (over ground, 3rd and 4th floors) on a full repairing and insuring lease. VAV Air Conditioning and excellent natural light provide a pleasant working environment with good on site parking and both passenger and goods lifts

To Let

Sunley House Office Suites, Aylesbury :

(12,348 sq ft - suites available from 1,000 sq ft upwards) The 3rd and 4th floor office suites at Sunley House are available on flexible terms with extremely economic rental from ÂŁ3.50/sq ft. The open plan office space and common areas have been/ will be refurbished to a high standard. Amenities include good on site parking and passenger lifts to the four floors. The distance of the town centre offices are within easy walking and rail and bus stations.

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column ‘In the Garden’ with

Naomi MacKay

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Autumn - a time for planting

ummer may be over but another growing season has just begun, says Naomi MacKay

This is an odd time in the garden. Summer has gone - not that it seemed to be here for long - and some plants have gone over, while the long-stayers and late summer/ autumn bloomers are still putting on a bit of a show. I’m never quite sure whether to cut everything down and pull everything up - or leave it to do its thing for a bit longer - I guess I’m reluctant to bid farewell to the season. However, for committed gardeners this time of year is not the end but just the beginning! Autumn is a fabulous time for planting both trees and shrubs as the ground is still warm from the weeks of sunny weather (again, I’m talking in general here because I don’t remember the weeks of sunny weather this summer!), and the new introductions have time to get well bedded in and settled before winter

It’s been a good year for pears

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Maloni - Mini Apple Tree or vodka for Christmas - a quick survey of our hedgerows has revealed that this is a great year for sloes too. They are the small round blue-black fruit of the blackthorn bush – watch out for the thorns when picking though! Now is the time to plant your own fruit trees – and what you choose will depend on what fruit you like and how much space you have. Swiss breeders Lubera (www. lubera.co.uk) have some unusual varieties of apple that will set you apart from the neighbours! How about the Redlove Family, which has both red skin and red flesh? Dwarf root stock means they won’t get too unwieldy, and they boast lovely dark pink flowers, Look for Era, Circe, Calypso and Odysso - the

last two are great for Christmas eating. If space is really at a premium, the Maloni Family - Mini Apple Trees are worth a try - they are compact and bushy and about half the height of other trees - you can even grow them in pots. Look for Sally, Lilly and Billy. And if you like to get the most out of any planting, chose one of the Appleduette - double apple trees, with two varieties on one tree. If you would like a purely decorative tree, here are a few suggestions for smaller trees that won’t take over the whole garden: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum AGM). This pretty tree has flaking bark that curls back to expose the cinnamon-coloured bark elbow great for autumn colour.

Redlove apple has red skin and flesh

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How to plant large shrubs and trees l Make sure the soil is in the best condition possible - aim to improve not just the planting hole but a decent area around it - especially when planting a tree. Loosening the soil will improve drainage and help the roots to find their place. l Add some organic matter and fertiliser to give your plant the best start. l Dig your planting hole - it should be as deep as the roots, but can be up to three times as wide. l Take your tree or shrub out of its container or wrapping and gently tease out the roots - this will help them to spread. l If planting a container-

grown plant, scrape away the top layer of compost. l Place in hole and add a stake for trees if required usually if they are top heavy or bigger specimens. l Refill the hole with soil, making sure the soil is all around the roots with no air pockets, l Firm around the plant - do this gently as compacting the soil will not help growth. l Remember to water after it is planted, and to ensure it doesn’t get dried out - wind can dry out the ground just as sun does. Keep the area around the tree or shrub weed-free - you could mulch around the tree or shrub to keep weeds at bay.

Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ AGM. In spring, this tree is covered in white flowers, before the young leaves appear with their bronze tinting. Another good one for autumn colour. All-round interest is on offer from Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’, which boasts late-spring white flowers, yellow fruits and some fabulous

purple, orange and red autumn colour.

l Naomi Mackay is a freelance journalist and publisher of a website for parents of primary-aged boys at www.itsaboything.net. She also helps small businesses with blogs, social media and anything else that needs words! You can contact her at: naomimackay@gmail.com

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Vale of Aylesbury Housing (the Trust) has launched two inventive new programmes for children and young people. And those not familiar with the work of the Trust may be surprised to learn that the programmes don’t just benefit residents...

Youngsters enjoying the summer activities at Green Park despite the rain!

orking in the community is part and parcel of what Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust employees do every day. The Trust has an array of programmes for residents - but not all of them are just for residents. This year sees the launch of two exciting new partnerships that’ll benefit young people and children in the wider community. Teaming up with Box Cleva Fresh off the back of the successful children’s Summer Activities Programme, Community Engagement Officers at the Trust have teamed up with Hertfordshire based charity ‘Box Cleva’ and Hert of Bucks to put on after school sessions for 7 to 15 year olds. They approached ‘Box Cleva’ to work in

Contractor Keepmoat sponsored medals for every youngster taking part in the Summer Activities 46

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Buckinghamshire after seeing their success in neighbouring county Hertfordshire. Established in 2010, over 5,000 attendees have already befitted from the charity’s programme. Running during the 40 week school year, the 90 minute long sessions are designed to help children and young people learn skills around discipline, respect, perseverance, fair-play and fitness, in a safe, controlled environment. The non-contact sessions are based on the principles an amateur boxer would learn and also include information about healthy eating and drug awareness. Participants are encouraged to work towards either a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum award depending on what they’ve learnt during the programme. The Trust and ‘Box Cleva’ worked

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Thomas Hickman School pupils proudly displaying their goodie bags after a fun and informative Litter Day alongside Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council and Thames Valley Police to secure places for children and young people who would most benefit from being on the programme and the majority of the twenty places available have now been taken up by young people who aren’t residents of the Trust. Dropping litter is rubbish No-one at the Trust guessed that children could get so excited about a load of rubbish, but if you’d turned up at Thomas Hickman School on April 21st this year that’s exactly what you would have seen! The Community Engagement Team worked with the school to look at ways the pupils could be educated about litter - and it was so

successful that another dedicated litter day is due to take place in October. The event was piloted after an environmentally concerned local resident reported that there was a lot of rubbish around the school and in the surrounding streets. The school contacted parents and guardians of Year 4 pupils (aged 7 to 8) to ask permission and 43 pupils ended up taking part in the specially designated day. Eight of the eager pupils applied for the two ‘Litter Champion’ places that were up for grabs, but the applications were so good that all eight were given the responsibility. During the day the pupils learned about the cost of fly tipping and litter on the environment and had the opportunity to

take part in recycling games and to step outside the school grounds and see just how much rubbish could be picked up from their neighbourhood. It was a great success with the pupils filling some 20 bin bags with litter from streets around the school. For more information If you know a school that would benefit from the Community Engagement Team’s Litter Awareness workshop, please call Community Engagement on: 01296 732600 or email: communities@vaht.co.uk l Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, Fairfax House, 69 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2NJ Tel: 01296 732600 Email: info@vaht.co.uk Website: www.vaht.co.uk

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Down to business with Philippa Batting

Invest in your workforce

he lifeblood of a business is its staff, which is why employers should be investing in them and aiming to maximise their potential. ‘Skills’ is a broad term that means different things to different people, and the skills that each business requires differ, but by developing the practical work skills and the personal life skills of their employees, employers will reap the benefits for years to come. As an organisation whose role it is to help create a dynamic business environment where every business can flourish, Buckinghamshire Business First is dedicated to working with our partners to improve the skills offering in the county. These partners include local education providers like Amersham and Wycombe College, Aylesbury College, Bucks New University, Buckinghamshire University Technical College and The University of Buckingham, which all offer an extensive range of qualifications and training. Working with training providers

Ease the transition from school to work with apprenticeships and placements

is a great way for businesses to improve the lot of their staff, which in turn improves their own outputs. The cost of training does not have to be prohibitive either; the government can fully or partly subsidise the cost of a range of training delivered by colleges and other training providers depending on certain criteria. While much of the training on offer covers practical skills required for specific jobs, there is also much that will improve life skills that

play just as important a role in the development of employees. Apprenticeships and work placements are tried and trusted ways to improve work-readiness, especially of young people. According to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) comparatively few Buckinghamshire businesses offer work placements compared to the rest of the UK, but our businesses recruit more school and college leavers than any other part of the country. It would make sense for businesses to interact with young people before they leave college and not just after, in order to ease young people’s transition from education to work and to help develop the skills and workreadiness of their future employees. As with training, there is financial support on offer to take an apprentice on, so it’s certainly something for businesses to consider. It is businesses that benefit from the improvement of practical skills and the workreadiness of the future workforce,

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Philippa Batting Down to business

so it is businesses that have a role to play in that improvement. Put your business first and plan for the future by making the most of the resources available to you. Let us know what your business needs to grow. Contact us for business support: BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com / 01494 568941. Visit bbf.uk.com/workforcesupport or call 01494 568941 for more information on ways to support and train your workforce. l Philippa Batting is MD of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF). Based in Saunderton, BBF works to support and facilitate success within the business community and to create a dynamic environment in which local business can flourish. Membership is free - visit: www.bbf.uk.com for more details.

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The third annual Aylesbury Vale Business Show takes place in October, offering the chance to meet and network with an impressive selection of our area’s most exciting enterprises...

ow in its third successive year, the Aylesbury Vale Business Show is back offering the opportunity for local Aylesbury Vale companies of all sizes to showcase their business to an audience of local business people, form new connections, boost local trading and raise their profile across the area. After two very successful years the 2015 show will once again be held at The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF, this year on Wednesday 7th October. The event attracts a range of exhibitors offering a wide variety of products and services within the Aylesbury Vale, and now boasts a total capacity of 85 exhibitors. Making its debut this year is the ‘New Business Area’ - discounted stand space for new businesses looking to develop trade in the local area. The Aylesbury Vale Business Show will also feature a selection of seminars, run by local businesses offering practical advice on a range of subjects, including marketing, meaningful social media usage and the council’s economic growth strategy for the Vale. The exhibition is open to visitors from 10am to 4pm, with entry free to all. If you are interested in attending the event, you can pre-register online to enjoy fast-track

Seminars and Speakers To be held alongside the exhibition, within the venue, in the Diamond Room. Current schedule includes: 10:30 - 11:15: Keynote Speaker - Dale Murray, CBE: Took his company from start-up to £450m turnover in just six years 11:30 - 12:15: Angus Grady of Customeyes Media - LinkedIn expert 13:30 - 14:15: Sue Jenkins, Executive Director of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity - talking about charity/ business interaction and mutual benefits

lucky three winners will find in their goodie bags on arrival. To find out more about the Aylesbury Vale Business Show 2015, the exhibitors and the seminars, as well as to pre-register, visit the Business Show website: www.aylesburyvale. biz, or call the team on 01296 821533 to talk further. l Aylesbury Business Show Organiser: Wilde Events, Unit 12 Fieldside Farm, Quainton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4DQ Tel: 01296 821533 Email: info@aylesburyvale.biz Website: www.aylesburyvale.biz Twitter: @AylValeBiz

14:30 - 15:15: Karen Moule of Enterprise Marketing: ‘The impact of future trends on your marketing strategy’ 15:30 - 16:15: Alex Pratt, OBE and leader of the council Cllr. Neil Blake in live debate over plans for the local council to offer ‘for profit’ business services entry, with a pre-prepared goodie bag and lanyard ready for you on arrival. Pre-registered visitors will also be entered into a prize draw, for three bottles of champagne, which the Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column: Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Consumer Affairs

fieldstead insolvency Debt problems? Cash flow problems?

Award-winning BBC Three Counties presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith extends his Consumer Hour to report for Vale Life Magazine on consumer issues that could effect you...

obile phones, internet connections and cars are the three products I receive the most calls about on my consumer radio show. Today I’d like to help you avoid problems with the latter - cars! Buying a good, reliable car, rather than a nightmare vehicle that will eat into your wallet is a good way to start. The first important thing you must understand is that unless you buy a car from a proper retailer, you have no comeback if the car develops a fault. The minute you drive a new car away from a private seller, you’re on your own if it breaks down. I therefore always suggest buying cars from good, reputable garages, and if you can stretch to it, main dealers. They, generally (and I use that word with caution - some are awful!), offer the best after sales service. Secondly, you must do your research. Use the internet to find the most suitable car for you. Look at reliability scores, running costs and insurance. Don’t rush into buying a car you know nothing about on the forecourt, just because you think you’ll look good in it. Find something that’s the right size, has a good reputation for reliability and isn’t going to cost the earth to run. The third thing you must do is to buy LOCALLY. Please don’t make the mistake that so many people make these days. They go to a search website, enter the car of their dreams, find that the only independent garage that has one available in the colour they like is 300 miles away and travel up by train to buy it. If you have a problem with that vehicle it will be YOUR responsibility to get it back to them to repair. That’s going to be a very expensive journey on a recovery vehicle all the way to Manchester! Use the internet to research garages and the people that run them. Fourthly, if you don’t know anything about cars, then for goodness sake, take someone with you who does! A friendly

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

mechanic is best. If you don’t know anyone who is an expert, then I would strongly advise having an independent check on the vehicle by an organisation such as the RAC. It may cost a couple of hundred quid, but it’s worth every penny if it prevents you from buying a complete lemon. A car is normally the second most expensive thing you purchase after a house, I lose track of the number of people who spend £15,000+ on something they know and understand absolutely nothing about and then wonder why they have problems. Please remember, when you find a car that you like, do not put a deposit down unless you really intend to buy it. When you agree to pay a deposit, you normally enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the product. If you change your mind, you not only risk losing the deposit, you could be forced by the garage to take the car and pay the full amount owing on it. Salesmen and women often suggest the deposit in a relaxed manner. Don’t be fooled, when you change your mind, the relaxed manner will probably fly right out the window. Never pay the full amount requested for a vehicle. The garage will price a vehicle up with some room for negotiation. If you pay the price on the windscreen, you’re probably paying over the odds. Remember car salesmen and women are employed partly because of their ability to get as much money out of you as possible and make the company as much profit. Bear this in mind at all times when agreeing a price to pay. If you’re hopeless at doing a deal, then take someone with you who is good at it! Finally, if you follow all of my advice and you STILL have a problem with it or the garage, then you can contact me at BBC Three Counties Radio and I’ll do my best to try and help you. l Listen to The JVS Show

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Column: Small World with Robyn Bourne

It’s a generation game

e live in a world with five different generations of people. Yet the vast majority of organisations continue to act as if there were two groups of customers - ‘old’ and ‘young’. In today’s multi-channel world, it is increasingly important for business to have a multigenerational communications strategy. What are these five generations and how are they likely to behave in terms of media consumption and communications? The oldest age group are those born before 1945, The Veterans. These people will be used to traditional channels such as print journalism, radio and television. They will also be the group who are happiest with traditional ‘push marketing’. After them come the Baby Boomers, those born after the Second World War, up until the start of the Swinging 60s. The assumption would be that these people would follow the generation

before in feeling most comfortable with traditional channels. However, a study earlier this year by Pew Research Center found that almost 50% of those people aged 64+ were using social media regularly. This group will have got used to video, then computers, email, internet and mobiles so why not social media too? Following them is Generation X, the people born up until the end of the 1970s. They were the first generation to have computers in school, video recorders and colour photos in newspapers. As a group, they have also been early adopters who have increasingly eschewed traditional marketing in favour of online and social. Indeed, the median age of those using Facebook is now the 35-45 segment. Much has been written about Generation Y or the ‘Millennials’, the first generation to have grown up with the internet, emails and social media. This is also the first

Robyn Bourne Small World

group of people who are least likely to have read a paid-for newspaper, who never listen to local radio and don’t like being bombarded by advertising. In fact, many state that they don’t respond to marketing or advertising. It’s no surprise that these people have stopped using Facebook in favour of social messaging sites. While we are all acknowledged to have shorter attention spans these days, due to the vast amount of information we are exposed to, the Millennials are the group most closely associated with wanting bite-sized information, interesting visuals and increasingly video content. They will also make up

50% of the workforce by 2020. Finally there are those born after 2000, Generation Z or ‘Edge’. These youngsters are the true social media generation who have never known a world without smartphones, tablets, Snapchat and WhatsApp. For them, content is something to be consumed quickly, regularly and with many others - a type of social communion. The challenge for businesses is to communicate with, and be relevant to, all five audiences and to develop and implement a strategy to achieve this. l Robyn Bourne is Development Manager for the Thames Valley region of the Federation of Small Businesses supporting 7,500 local members. www.fsb.org.uk

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▪ serviced offices ▪ virtual offices ▪ meeting rooms Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column: Jacqui

Thorndyke ‘Foodie On Tour’

More than a little tipped off

ips, tips, tips, that’s all I’m hearing at the moment. The media’s in a frenzy about how much we tip, who we tip and where the tips go. Rightly or wrongly, some restaurant chains have been accused of pocketing discretionary service charges and using them to ‘subsidise staff wages’. Some restaurants have even been accused of taking the cash tips. You can understand why people are annoyed, when we eat in a restaurant and choose to pay a tip we assume it’s going directly to the waiter/staff who provided our service that day. We use tips as a way of rating our experience - no tip/low tip = bad service, average tip = average service, good tip = exceptional, ohmigod that was amaaaazing service - so we don’t like the thought of our money being used for other means. But is it ok for restaurants to ‘subsidise staff wages’ with these

tips, if it ensures the staff get a decent income. No, no it bloody well isn’t. It’s tantamount to fraud. If a restaurant needs to subsidise staff wages, then they clearly aren’t paying staff enough in the first place. Worse still, they’re using this method to make their food appear cheaper than it is. If they’re adding a 12.5% service charge to everything, then just up the prices by 12.5% and be honest about it. It’s great that the topic is out there, but will things actually change? I imagine with all the negative press some restaurants will have to make changes to avoid a dip in business, especially with the world and his dog now stepping into the debate. But what can we, the consumer, actually do? We’ve far too British in this country to actually complain, so when faced with a bill with 12.5% service added on automatically, unless the waiter/waitress actually took a crap on your plate we’ll

Jacqui Thorndyke

Who’s getting your tip?

rarely ask for it (the service charge…) to be removed! The only things we really can do are pay cash to the serving staff directly, ask where the tips go (assuming they’re allowed to answer honestly), or avoid the cheeky chains altogether. I can’t think of a single independent restaurant that adds a discretionary service charge and I certainly can’t imagine any of the good ones pocketing the cash tips -

though if they do now’s the time for it to come out of the woodwork! So yes, it’s great the tip debate is fired up. I imagine after all of this though, we’ll end up doing the same old thing - grumbling about it under our breaths while paying the bill in full, smiling, and saying thank you. We are British after all. l For local food and restaurant reviews and recommendations, visit www.foodieontour.co.uk, or follow Jacqui on Twitter @FoodieOnTour. To contact Jacqui directly, please email: foodieontour@yahoo.co.uk

Join us for lunch or Dinner in the Restaurant during September and October and enjoy a glass of bubbles on us! The Pointer is a pub with a difference. We have a beautiful dining room in a converted barn, our own butchers and farm producing around 70 ingredients to use on our plates including an ever increasing herd of Long horn cattle, rare breed pigs and now our own Lambs. Our head chef Mini uses the seasons to create classic British food with a creative twist showcasing the very best produce we have to offer

27 Church Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT | Tel 01844238339 | Email info@thepointerbrill.co.uk 52

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Tapas is Spanish for ‘small plates’ - filled with delicious savoury snacks, which are an ideal accompaniment for wine, beer or chilled dry sherry. Tapas is a way of life in Spain and now is extending its influence to the cosmopolitan Costa Wendover - ‘Bienvenido Tres Corazones’...

endover’s new Tapas bar and restaurant is up and running in place of the long-established Le Bistro restaurant on Pound Street at the top end of the High Street. It’s called Tres Corazones, Spanish for ‘Three Hearts’ and refers to owner Katrina Turnbull and her two daughters Katie and Lena. Katrina’s mother has lived in Wendover for some 15 years and the girls came to the area recently from Yorkshire, where they previously ran an award-winning Tapas restaurant in Darlington. Katrina and her husband Peter, who sadly died last year, loved Spain and visited the country regularly, to bring back ideas and inspiration for their restaurant. At Wendover Katrina will not only be tapping into her own experience of tapas culture but also that of her Spanish chefs, Pablo and Angel Ortiz. The brothers come from Alborada in Murcia, to the south east of Spain. Pablo is head chef and has worked both in Spain and in England including stints at the Three Michelin Star Restaurante Martín Berasategui near San Sebastian and for Iberica, the Spanish restaurant chain, in London. “Tapas is a sociable fun, relaxed way to eat at any time of day,” says Katrina. “It’s great for a snack or a meal. You can have as much or as little as you like. I love having little plates to pick at with a drink - you can order a few and it’s like a mini buffet at your table, great fun for swapping and sharing and there are a few larger dishes if you want a big plateful. “You can just come in for a drink but if you then feel like some cheese or tortillas, that’s fine, whatever you fancy! You can sit in

Lena, Katie & Katrina

the bar, or sit at a table, we don’t mind. “I’m really pleased to have found Pablo and Angel. Pablo has a real passion for cooking. He’s only 26, but is very experienced and makes everything from scratch, from stocks to desserts, he doesn’t cut corners. Angel was working at Tapas Brindisa in London and having the two of them here is brilliant.” A lot of the dishes are traditional: ‘Patatas Bravas’ (Spicy Tomato Potatoes), ‘Croquetas’ (various recipes), ‘Tortilla Espanola’ (Potato & Onion Omelette), there’s quite a range plus speciality dishes too, such as ‘Cochinillo’ (Crispy Suckling Pig on Creamy Mash with Sautéed Asparagus & Spring Onion) or Carrillada De Ternerra (Ox Cheek in Foie Sauce), there’s Paella, meatballs, cold meats, hams and cheeses, squid and prawns, Spanish

Angel, left, Pablo, right

Tomato bread, olives and Gazpacho soup, it’s a thoroughly yummy selection and details can be seen at: www.tresorazones.co.uk Since Le Bistro closed Katrina has organised an extensive renovation and redecoration of the premises. Regulars will recognise the lovely old tiled floor but otherwise a smart new bar area greets your arrival while stylish lighting and subtle colours team with exposed brickwork, oak pillars and a chunky wooden bar to provide the perfect combination of rustic charm meets urban chic. It’s smart but casual and the sound system subtly adds a cool combination of jazzy Latin grooves and funky Cuban rhythms that’ll soon have your feet tap tapasing too! With a fab selection of premium drinks such as Estrella Galicia lager, Whittakers Yorkshire Gin (served with rhubarb), Sangria, Chase Vodka, wines and spirits from all over the world, cocktails and some excellent Spanish Sherry of course, it’s a great place for a quick drink, a snack, a full on meal or a party! There’s also the option of breakfast or brunch, with a Full English/Spanish available! l Tres Corazones, 4 Pound Street, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, HP22 6EJ Tel: 07487 856210 / 01296 622092 Email: katrina@trescorazones.co.uk Web: www.trescorazones.co.uk Open: Tue/Wed 11am-11pm, Thur-Sat: 9am-11pm, Sun: 10-5pm Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Win a Meal for Two at Tres Corazones

res Corazones - Bebidas Y Tapas says the sign and I am reliably informed that this means drinks and food, or more specifically, ‘little plates’ in Spanish. If you haven’t read our restaurant profile on page 53 yet, this is Wendover’s new bar/restaurant, situated in the old Le Bistro premises at the top end of Wendover High Street. There’s a relaxed welcoming vibe to the place, a cosy bar area and a sea of tables for two which can easily be pushed together for larger parties. Adaptability is a key feature here for Tres Corazones is open for brunch, lunch and dinner Tuesdays and Wednesday (11am-11pm) and breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner Thursday to Saturday (9am-11pm), plus Sundays 10am-5pm. You can of course just pop in for a drink or coffee but foodwise there’s something for any time of day. With two accomplished Spanish chefs making everything fresh in the kitchen and ingredients coming direct

Tres Corazones

from Espagna, it would be a shame not to try the Tapas menu. It’s the authentic taste of Spain which teamed with soulful Latino grooves providing atmospheric background on the house sound system and Sangria, Sherry and Estrella Galicia at the bar, you’ll soon feel like you’re back on holiday! The main Tapas menu ranges from nibbles such as Spanish Tomato Bread with Garlic & Olive Oil (Pan Con Tomate) £2.50 or Tuna, Egg and Potato in Mayo (Ensaladilla Rusa) £3.70, through hot tapas favourites

such as Spicy Tomato potatoes (Potatas Bravas) £3.90, Fried Squid with Aioli (Calamares Fritos Con Alioli) £4.90, Roast Aubergine, Serrano Ham and Prawns baked in the oven with Bechamel Sauce (Berenjenas A La Crema) £5.50, to larger plates such as Fresh Fish of The Day, Ox Cheek in Foie Sauce (Carrillada De Ternerra) £12, or Crispy Suckling Pig (Cochinillo) £13.50. Paella, Seafood, Chicken or Lobster (£12 per person) is made fresh to order (12 hours advance

notice needed) and for a minimum of two people. There’s olives, cold meat platters, cheese platters, hams, croquettes, omelettes and meatballs... of course if you are thinking breakfast though the morning menu includes Eggs Florentine, Scrambled Eggs with traditional Spanish Salt Cod, a Full English/Spanish Fusion breakfast and numerous other delights plus a great range of teas and coffees. If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a meal for two with bottle of house wine at Tres Corazones, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk What is Potatas Bravas? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by Oct 30th, 2015. l Tres Corazones, 4 Pound Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6EJ Tel: 07487 856210 / 01296 622092 Email: katrina@trescorazones.co.uk Web: www.trescorazones.co.uk

The Bell at Hardwick is a delightful 17th century pub in the pretty village of Hardwick near Aylesbury. It has recently been lovingly restored and refurbished and is now an inviting place to enjoy a drink or choose from a wide range of freshly prepared, home-cooked food.

From delicious light snacks and meals at lunchtime, to a full, ever-changing seasonal menu in the evening, all served in a friendly, relaxing and informal pub atmosphere, or al fresco in the pleasant garden or courtyard, The Bell at Hardwick has something for everyone. A separate dining room is available for small parties and functions and a marquee over the courtyard can accommodate larger parties. l Recently awarded the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence The Bell at Hardwick, Lower Road, Hardwick, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4DZ | Tel: 01296 640005 | Web: www.thebellathardwick.co.uk 54

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Heather Jan Brunt ‘This farming life’

Why not join Young Farmers?

n a wet soggy day I met a bunch of young farmers, but being young farmers they didn’t let a bit (or a lot) of rain get them down. With their boots on to cope with the mud and waterproofs to ward off the rain, they were recruiting for new members. The team from Oxfordshire Young Farmers Clubs was at Towersey Festival for the first time, with the county’s mobile marketing unit, to tell festival goers all about the fun and friendship to be found in this fabulous youth organisation. And with a new junior club due to open in Banbury very soon, the team was also hoping to find enough interest to start up a new club in Thame as well. Anyone aged from 10 through to 26 can be a young farmer – you do not have to come from a farming family, but it certainly helps to have a genuine interest in the countryside. The federation is all about having fun at parties, dances and social outings while learning new skills in anything from

Fine

This farming life Heather Jan Brunt

Recruiting at Towersey Festival, from left: Matt Rees from Bicester, Jade Bowerman from Bicester, Caroline Nixey from Henley, Philippa Brunt from Abingdon and Jimmy Wallington from Bicester. public speaking to hedge laying, drama and singing, leading to regional and national competitions, as well as giving back to society through charitable fundraising and community events. The members run the senior clubs themselves, organising the annual programme and taking on the officers’ roles, which gives them valuable life experience in how to organise events. There are 11 clubs in Oxfordshire at the moment in Enstone, Bicester, Witney, Abingdon, Faringdon and Henley. Some areas have both a junior and senior club. The junior clubs are run with the

I n dia n

Dining

help of parents and a committee, introducing children to the joys of the YFC federation, and as they get older they move on to the senior clubs at about age 16. Jade Bowerman, 24, who is a legal secretary, is a member of Bicester YFC, and was at Towersey with a bunch of friends from several of the Oxfordshire clubs. She said: “We want to let people know what Young Farmers is and what we do. “I’ve built up my public speaking skills and got through to regional finals. I was in the choir and got to the national finals. There are so many opportunities. I got into the

floral art national finals as well.” Jade said if there is enough interest, the Oxfordshire federation would like to set up a new club in Thame as the nearest Oxfordshire clubs to the town are Bicester and Henley. If you want to know more about Oxfordshire YFC, or a specific club, or want to talk about a new Thame club see: www.ofyfc.org.uk. On there you will find contact details for all the clubs in the county, as well as details for the county office. l Heather Jan Brunt is a journalist

and a farmer’s wife. Follow her on Twitter @HJBjournalist. She and her husband sell their own award winning Terrick Beef on the first Friday & Saturday of the month. See: www.downonthefarm.co.uk

‘Christmas bookings now being taken’

High quality dining in our historic 550-year-old ‘Old Library’ building - now recently refurbished.

Tel: 01844 690446/273412 Takeaway and free local home delivery available Reserve a table or order online at: www.radhunigroup.com/risborough The Old Library, Church Street, Princes Risborough, HP27 9AA www.facebook.com/RadhuniPR

@RadhuniPR

Food served 12noon-10pm Mon-Sat Sunday lunch 12noon-6pm 225 Aylesbury Road, Wendover, HP22 6BA Tel: 01296 623884 Email: villagegate@outlook.com www.thevillagegate.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column:

Farm Life by Helen Mackellar

Summer of change Helen Mackeller Farm Life

more besides. So, whilst the weather may not have been amazing, we feel the summer has certainly been one of the best for the Orchard View Farm team. We have lots more planned for the autumn from Let’s Dine Together Medieval and Hallowe’en themes, bonfire parties, Christmas planning and lamb planning too which starts when the rams meet their good lady friends at the end of October!

Artisan cheeses at Orchard View Farm Right; Lee (on left) has joined the butchery team

he last few months have seen continued change and developments at Orchard View Farm. We have welcomed new piglets a-plenty (21 to be precise!) - some somewhat unplanned - while inside the shop you will also see some changes. We have had a furniture re-shuffle but, far more excitingly, we have some new members of the team. Lee has joined our butchery team from the sadly closed Seasons Farm Shop, as has Kate, who is joining the team in the kitchen to work her wonders. As a result, the meat counter has grown in its range, offering a wider variety of the high quality meat you

have come to expect from us. We also have a whole new deli counter with over 25 Artisan British Cheeses (many award winning) which you can try and take home as much or as little as you like. We can offer advice on suitable biscuits and homemade chutneys that will pair your cheeses perfectly. Sitting alongside the cheeses are our homemade range of muffins, salads, pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches and many more delights, changing day by day as the fancy takes us! Let us know if you have a great idea for an addition to wow the crowds! The turkeys are continuing to grow for Christmas and are now big enough

to be outside all day exhibiting their natural free range habits and growing in tastiness ready to delight families around the Home Counties on Christmas Day! In our spare time we have provided our delicious food ‘on tour’ at beer festivals, weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, public fetes and much

l Jim and Helen Mackeller run Orchard View Farm, Farm Shop and Café at Little Meadle near Longwick. Orchard View Farm, Stockwell Lane, Little Meadle, Bucks, HP17 9UG Tel: 01844 273387 / 07968 560724 Email: Helen@orchardviewfarm.co.uk Web: www.orchardviewfarm.co.uk Open: Tue-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm

SUNDAY

Y VER CAR INN E HOLIDAY AT TH

Why not treat the family this Sunday to a delicious Three Course Carvery Lunch at the Holiday Inn, Aylesbury.

£13.95 PER ADuLT

£9.95 CHILDREN uNDER 12

Call us to book your table in our child-friendly Junction Restaurant, where we will have a fantastic Three Course Lunch waiting for you at an amazing price!

There’s an ice-cream decoration too! station and a colouring corner Perfect venue for family gatherings, birthdays and anniversaries.

PRIVA T EVENT E AT THE S HOLID A Y INN

Packages available from £25 per person to include Three Course Meal and private room hire.

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

ghts i n y t r a as p LIDAY INN m t s i r h C 015 AT THE HO PRICES STARTING FROM

£54.95

on selected dates in November and December

All inclusive party nights are back once again. Three course meal, DJ & Disco, and all inclusive drinks from 7.30pm until midnight.

To book your place or for more information on all our Christmas Events please call 01296 734030 or email events@hinnaylesbury.com For more information or to book any of the above events, contact us on 01296 734000 and quote reference ‘VALE EVENTS 1’

l Column: Katy Brown - mix96

Stay Warm This Winter! Dry Logs

Prompt Delivery

Pick Up Only

Pre-Packed Coal

For Open Fires & Multifuel Stoves Mix96 Breakfast DJ Katy Brown shares a little of her life in local radio...

Launching the Urban Farm at Pebblebrook School last year

s Autumn fast approaches (and let’s be honest, we sort of skipped summer, didn’t we?!) we see Mix96’s Community Challenge get underway. Each year we work with a local charity or non-profit organisation to transform a project (or even, the idea for a project), that is really important to them, into something wonderful. Over the last couple of years ventures have included creating an urban farm on a patch of disused ground at Pebble Brook School in Aylesbury - this saw a specialist school for 11 to 19 years with communications and interaction needs learn how to nurture and study small animals, from rabbits to ducks, in their very own urban farm! Cuteness overload! We’ve also transformed the kitchen at Aylesbury Vale Community Church Hall for those in the community who use the facilities through Gap and Rainbow Totz. This means new mums, dads, their babies and children have a place where they can go, meet other people, relax and use the facilities bringing local people together. This year is no different. We’ll work with our friends at Vale of

Aylesbury Housing Trust, who provide over £2,000 worth of labour and materials to turn a dream into reality. It’s such a ‘feel good’ challenge, I can’t wait to start seeing the nominations flood through! Perhaps you’re already part of an organisation that need some help or maybe you walk past a project that looks unfinished every day and wish you could find a way to help - you can! Tell them the opportunity is here and waiting for them to apply. It could be a local scout or guide group that would like a safe camping site, a gardening and eco patch for a club, a community garden for a nursing home or an outdoor learning area for a school… that’s just a few ideas from me to get you started but I know there are many more challenges out there waiting to be explored! To find out how to apply and to watch the winning challenge get underway and completed go to: www.mix96.co.uk/ communitychallenge.php and hopefully it’ll be your project I’ll be attending the grand opening of next year! Good Luck! l Catch Katy on air weekdays from 6am-9am on 96.2fm www.mix96.co.uk

Visit Us For:

- Large Selection Of Fruit & Vegetables - Extensive Freezer Selection- Home Produced Lamb & Beef - Top Brand Pet Foods & Animal Feeds - Chiltern Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil -

P E Mead & Sons Farm Shop Wilstone, Nr Tring, HP23 4NT 01442 828478 www.pemeadandsons.co.uk

Welcome... Eat Well, Laugh Much, Drink Often...

Welcome...

Andy and Emma welcome you to The Boot, modern country pub and eating house, in the heart of the picturesque Chiltern Hills. Enjoy fresh, locally produced food, local ales and fabulous wines. Our chef creates exciting dishes suitable for all tastebuds, so families can dine in style. Pop in for a pint, a delicious evening meal or a leisurely Sunday lunch, you will always be greeted with a friendly smile and attentive service. Open: Tue-Thur: 11am-3pm & 5pm-11pm, Fri/Sat: 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-7pm Food served: Coffee & pastries from 11am Tue-Sat: 12noon-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm. Sundays: 12noon-6pm. Closed Mondays Chinnor Road, Bledlow Ridge, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4AW Tel: 01494 481499 | Email: theteam@theboot-bledlowridge.co.uk Website: www.theboot-bledlowridge.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Column: Penny Harper ‘Thoughts of a small town girl’

Nothing to fear! Y

ears ago I was drinking wine and talking to a friend of mine in Australia about fears. Dying a slow, painful death was pretty much the crux of hers. When I revealed that mine was the dark, she balked. “Darl, what are you so scared of? There’s nothing there in the dark that wasn’t there in the daylight”. In Australia, this is a humungous lie as about three squillion critters that weren’t there in the day come out of their hiding places as dark falls. It’s not even the critters I am afraid of; I am afraid there is another person there in the dark and I am convinced that some places have others already living there. It really helped me overcome my fears when I went to see a stage production of ‘The Woman in Black’. I had avoided reading the book and done well to steer clear of the film version too but I thought in the theatre, I’d be safe. I mean, how scary can a play be? Oh. My. Goodness. I don’t think I slept properly for three weeks after that. A friend had suggested that I sleep over in his spare room after the show, that way

we could have a curry and a few drinks without me having to drive home. I declined, based on the fact that he owns an incredibly scary, former boarding house that’s full of empty rooms where ghosts could be hanging out. If I made it through the night without having a heart attack it would be a miracle. I drove home to my empty, dark house, where I spent the first five minutes making sure all the curtains were closed so that faces couldn’t look in at me and then threw myself under the duvet and stayed there until dawn, trying not to think of the ghoulish Woman in Black screaming in my face. If you think I am being jumpy, consider this: I once dumped a longterm boyfriend because he leapt out of my fitted wardrobe and booed on me after we’d watched a scary film; and after I had specifically asked him not to because it scares the bejesus out of me. I was better off without him at any rate. Idiot. I used to live in a high street flat in Thame and the buildings there, as everyone knows, are centuries old. I remember walking into the cavernous

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Penny Harper

living room on moving day and saying out loud, “If there’s anyone else here, you are most welcome to stay… I just never, ever want to see you.” I was pretty convinced that I wasn’t alone in there but never saw anything unusual. A couple of years later I was telling my Dad what I used to think of the flat. A strange look came across his face and then he said, “I suppose I can tell you now you’ve moved out.” He then proceeded to describe to me how on one occasion when he’d been house-sitting for me, he’d had to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. As he got into the hallway he turned towards the living room, and there he saw a group of five or six people, all dressed in Victorian garb, some standing and some sitting, in the middle of the living room. It spooked him so much he hot-footed it back to bed. Now, my Dad is a man of science and not prone to hysterics. If he says that’s what he saw, then that’s what he saw. Aside from the Woman in Black who still resides in my head, I am pretty sure that I live in my current property

Small Town

Girl

alone. The cat may be an irritating bringer of mice and dead birds, but he doesn’t seem to have detected any supernatural presence in the house. I guess they all live next door where they’ve got open fires and their walls aren’t mouldy. Maybe one day I’ll be able to overcome my fears but until then, I’m not opening my door to trick-or-treaters this Hallowe’en. It’s partly for their own protection though. There really can’t be anything scarier than a 37 year old single woman.

Halloween Trail Green Park & Your Café 26th to 31st October £3

Learn an instrument in a fun and inspiring environment l l

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Complete beginners to advanced Offering all styles and instruments jazz/blues/pop guitar, singing/songwriting, music theory, classical & jazz piano, drums and all brass instruments... Learn how to listen, play, perform and create Come and try an instrument: 30min taster lesson for only £10 with a professional and inspiring teacher Beginner drum course - 6 lessons from Mon, Nov 2nd

Thame Institute of Music, 18 Cornmarket, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2BL Tel: 07400 071342 Email: info@thameinstituteofmusic.co.uk Web: www.thameinstituteofmusic.co.uk Facebook: \thameinstituteofmusic Twitter: @ThameInstiMusic 58

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

ilyy famhe-da peayr-on-t p

Start the Halloween Trail from Your Café in the Park. Follow the pumpkins, collecting the clues as you go. When you reach the end, unscramble the clues to win your prize - will it be a trick or a treat? To find out more or book, please call;

033 0303 0101

Beware of the Creepy Crawlies Along the Way www.green-park.org.uk Stablebridge Road • Aston Clinton • Bucks • HP22 5NE

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

he Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) annual Beer Festival, in partnership with CAMRA, and with help from Aylesbury Lions, returns for its 22nd year, on Friday 23rd (6pm -11pm) & Saturday 24th October (11am - 11pm), at Bucks County Council Sports & Social Club, Lower Road, Stoke Mandeville. The festival will be officially opened at 6pm on Friday 23rd October by David Lidington MP, who will pour the first pint, and Deputy Town Mayor of Aylesbury, Barbara Russel. FNHC’s Katie Holt commented: “We’re really pleased to be holding our annual Beer Festival once again at Bucks CC Sports & Social Club. With so many delicious ales, beers and ciders on offer, from local suppliers as well as those from further afield, plus LIVE entertainment on both days, including Morris dancing and music - why would you want to stay at home?” Sponsor a barrel Fancy sponsoring a barrel in support of Florence Nightingale Hospice? For a £100 donation, your business will feature in the festival programme and you’ll receive two

How to get your ticket

Tickets are £5 in advance via the Charity’s office at Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Aylesbury Tourist Information Office, and from the Charity’s shops in Aylesbury, Wendover, Winslow, Leighton Buzzard, Thame & Chinnor or the Furniture Showroom, located at Unit 2 Chamberlain Road, Aylesbury, The Bell pub, Stoke Mandeville or £6 on-the-door. Arriva Red Route 9 bus provides a regular bus service to the venue from Aylesbury Town Centre, every 30 minutes. complimentary tickets for the event. Aylesbury Conservatives, Aylesbury Panelcraft, Hi-Tide Fish & Chips and Executive Lettings, Haddenham, are just some of the local businesses and organisations already showing their support by sponsoring a barrel. To find out more, please contact Katie Holt at katieholt@fnhospice.org.uk or call the FNHC Fundraising team on 01296 429975. Last year more than 500 beer loving festivalgoers attended, raising over £5,000 for FNHC - much-needed funds for the hospice services which support local people battling lifelimiting illness, across Bucks, Beds and Oxon.

Nightingale H nce

ice osp

Cheers to Charity

Flore

Hot & cold food, live entertainment, children’s activities (12-4pm Sat), ales just £3 per pint!

BEER FESTIVAL 2015 Supported for 22 years by CAMRA

FRI 23 OCT

6.00pm - 11.00pm

SAT 24 OCT

11.00am - 11.00pm at Bucks county council sports & social cluB, lower road, stoke Mandeville, Hp21 9dr

Over 20 Real Ales plus Ciders & Perries Hot & Cold Food Soft drinks available Live music & entertainment on Saturday

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity 01296 429975 www.fnhospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1119499

Tickets on sale at: The Fundraising Office, 01296 429975 Aylesbury Tourist Information and the hospice shops in Aylesbury, Chinnor, Wendover, Leighton Buzzard and Winslow

FNHC has been helping to provide hospice care since 1989, and needs to raise over £650,000 this year to provide vital funding for in-patient and at-home hospice services. To find out more about the work of the charity, visit www.fnhospice.org.uk

New FNHC store for Thame

lorence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) opened its brand new retail store at 5 Cornmarket, Thame, in July, with special guest, Mayor of Thame, Cllr Nichola Dixon, officially cutting the ribbon watched by an eager-to-takea-peek crowd on the day. The new outlet houses a dedicated children’s wear section, with well-known high street and designer name brands up for grabs, as well as ladies’ and men’s wear clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, bric-a-brac, new goods, FNHC Christmas cards, Nightingale Country Crafts (handmade knitted items crafted by the Charity’s talented volunteers) and much more. Jez Cox, FNHC’s Regional Operations Retail Manager commented: “We’re really excited to be in Thame as we have some fantastic support here and in the surrounding villages. “Many local people have received specialist care and support from

SOLD IN-STORE

Children’s wear l Ladies’ wear Men’s wear l Shoes l Accessories l Handbags l Nightingale Country Crafts (hand-made knitted items) l Toys l New goods l l

We are always looking for good quality donations, so please pop any items in a bag, and bring them down to us at the store. Our Thame team will be happy to give them a new home

Wellwishers gather for the official opening of the Thame FNHC shop Right: Inside the new store Florence Nightingale Hospice services, either in the hospice itself or through specialist athome community teams including Nightingale 24/7 Care and Florrie’s - home-based care for children aged from birth to 19, often ‘round the clock’. “We’ve been working on this project for a long time now and the shop has really come together nicely. Thanks to community support, we hope to raise vital

Open: Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm Telephone: 01844 217068 Email: thame@fnhospice.org.uk

funds towards Hospice services. “We’re always looking for good quality donations though, so if you’re having a clear-out, pop your items in a bag, and bring them down to us at the store. Our Thame team will be more than happy to give them a new home.”

If you have a few hours to spare each week and would like to try volunteering in one of the Charity’s hospice shops, please contact Tracey O’Hara, FNHC Volunteer Services Manager on: 01296 332600 for an informal chat or email: traceyohara@fnhospice.org.uk l The Florence Nightingale Hospice www.fnhospice.org.uk Facebook: /florencenightingalehospice Twitter: @fnhospice Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015 59

Music Column:

Turn it up! with Dan Mordente

Cancer patient finds voice within

Our music columnist is Dan Mordente. Dan is ‘Artist and Events Manager’ at BFS Records, and as an avid follower of the local music scene, is always keen to meet and work with enthusiastic local musicians. Contact Dan and email him local gigs and music news on: dan@vale-life.co.uk Add your gigs to our website what’s on diary at: www.vale-life.co.uk

Live Music

september 25th Mouth On A Stick, The Green Man, Aylesbury 25th Leech, Shootpool, Aylesbury 25th Gilmore & Robert, Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury 26th & 27th Homegrown Music Festival, Thame Showground 26th Harmony, Westcott Sports & Social Club, Westcott 26th Michael Knight, Rivets Sports & Social Club, Aylesbury 26th Skanks (Reggae), Aristocrat, Aylesbury 26th Continuum Covers Band, Victoria Club, Aylesbury 26th Rollin’ Clones (Tribute Band), Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury 26th The Two Non Blondes, The Dashwood Arms, West Wycombe October 1st Alvin The Ultimate Elvis (Elvis Tribute Artist), Aristocrat, Aylesbury 2nd Reggae Fever! The Swan Hotel, Thame 2nd Bad Hombre, Aristocrat, Aylesbury 3rd Simon Phillips + Two Shades, Rivets Sports & Social Club, Aylesbury 3rd Replica Rockaholics, Aylesbury Shootpool, Aylesbu 3rd Pulse 626, The Harrow, Aylesbury 3rd Callow Saints, The Chandos Arms, Weston Turville 3rd DogHouse, The Plough, Marsh Gibbon 9th Alan Gregory, Westcott Sports & Social Club, Westcott 9th Bustin’ Loose, Aristocrat, Aylesbury 9th Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd Trib), The Dashwood Arms, West Wycombe 10th DogHouse, The Rising Sun, Haddenham 10th Harry Cambridge (Luther Vandross), Rivets Social Club, Aylesbury 10th Devestation, Shootpool, Aylesbury 10th Roger Kiesa, Tring & District Conservative Club, Tring 11th Mark Scobey, Railway Club, Aylesbury 16th October - The Papa George Band (Blues), Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury 17th Lee Small, Westcott Social Club, Westcott 17th Fordaway, Rivets Sports & Social Club, Aylesbury 17th The New Foundations, Victoria Club, Aylesbury 17th Five Fold Kiss, Shootpool, Aylesbury 23rd The Scoundrels, George & Dragon, Princes Risborough

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Local singer-songwriter, Ray Coates, has lived and worked in Aylesbury for many years as a driving instructor. In March 2008 Ray was diagnosed with throat cancer and told if he didn’t have surgery and treatment he would have only months to live. Like millions of others he began his arduous treatment and in so doing, virtually lost the ability to speak for a year. Gradually his voice has returned though. When he was given the 5 year all-clear, he began working on a musical project to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. Six years to the day after his first surgery to remove the tumour, Ray released his studio single, entitled ‘The Voice Within’. The single is available on iTunes now. The Voice Within is dedicated to all those who have been affected by the disease. Through this song Ray wishes to thank the people that helped him through the dark times and to be a voice of hope to those who are suffering still. A key motivation for Ray is to promote early detection/ awareness of head and neck

Ray Coates cancer, and Ray has now become the Buckinghamshire representative of the charity 2020 Voice Cancer. Ray is now recording an album, with the help of local producers Jai Raja and Jamie Dix, in an effort to raise much needed funds for the purchase of diagnostic equipment for ENT cancer units nationwide. He is planning to release the album ’Jigsaw Me’ later this year with profits from the sales going to the charity 20-20 Voice

Cancer. “I intend to keep using my voice,” says Ray. “It is something I never fully appreciated until I lost it. I am meeting some amazing people and realising that cancer has a community. In other words, so many people have been affected by it. I want to play my part in trying to end it”. To pledge your support please visit: www.raycoates.co.uk and message Ray through the website. Alternatively, visit: www.2020cancerappeal.org

Debut release for Lucy

The 4th of August saw local singer-songwriter Lucy Mair, release her debut single, ‘The Fool’. The seventeen-year-old musician signed to Thame-based record label, BFS Records, in June 2015 and she has spent the summer perfecting her debut studio EP. The 6 track EP, entitled ‘Naïve’, will be released via all good digital retailers in Winter 2015, and Lucy will be performing live on a regular basis to promote the release. To find out where you can see Lucy play visit: www.facebook. co.uk/lucymairmusic. If you can’t wait until the 23rd BBZ Allstars, The Bell, Princes Risborough 23rd Dealey Plaza, Shootpool, Aylesbury 23rd Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury 23rd Dogmattics, The Black Horse, Tring 24th 2d, Rivets Social Club, Aylesbury 24th The Dung Beatles,

Winter you can get a taste of what to expect by purchasing the first single to be taken from the EP - ‘The Fool’ - which is available

now via all good digital retailers including iTunes and Amazon. Meanwhile, Lucy’s BFS labelmates, A Little Bit Country, have been busy recording their debut studio album at Blackfrog Studios. The country duo, consisting of Paul Adams and Harriet Stewart, are prominent figures on the local scene, playing regular gigs in Thame and their hometown, Aylesbury. With the album expected for release early 2016, A Little Bit Country will be busy both in the studio and on the gigging scene over the coming months, so head to www.facebook.com/ ALittleBitCountryUK to find out where you can catch them next.

Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury 24th The Brahmas, Victoria Club, Aylesbury 24th Atomic Blondie (Tribute Band), Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury 30th Maxwell Hammer & Smith, Victoria Club, Aylesbury 30th Bruiser, The Green Man, Aylesbury 30th Roughcut Ruby, The Black

Horse, Tring 31st Bustin’ Loose, Shootpool, Aylesbury 5th Rod Stewart Tribute (Garry Pease), Aristocrat, Aylesbury 7th Life Without Roger, Victoria Club, Aylesbury 7th Planet X, Shootpool, Aylesbury 7th Lou’s Sextet (Jazz) St Leonards Village Hall, Tring

Lucy Mair on the cover of her debut single, entitled ‘The Fool’

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2014

There’s books, poetry and music to enjoy at this year’s Thame Arts and Literature Festival (TAL) plus a packed programme of fascinating and entertaining speakers that includes professors from Oxford, Cambridge and Warwick, doctors of medicine and philosophy, comedians, celebrated journalists, famous politicians, and even Plum, the dog and her mistress, Emma Chichester Clark...

he 6th annual Thame Arts & Literature Festival will take place on the weekend of 16th October. Describing itself as A Whole Weekend of Inspiration, TAL has grown into one of the most highly respected boutique festivals in the literary calendar. This year, some 36 talks, drama, poetry and film presentations will play at venues across the beautiful, historic market town of Thame. “The Festival is a glorious opportunity to indulge in the luxury of listening to great speakers, hearing wonderful music and seeing excellent drama, art and film - all packed into a single weekend,” says Festival Director, Yvonne Maxwell. This year’s subjects include the French Resistance (Prof. Robert Gildea), the gardens at Eythrope house near Aylesbury (Lady Mary Keen), clothes rationing (Julie Summers), the life of Clementine Churchill (Sonia Purnell), stations of the Great Western Railway (James Attlee) and Thunderbirds. Add in Will Gompertz telling us ‘How to Think Like an Artist,’ Michael Billington’s (Guardian Theatre Critic) 101 greatest plays and Dominic Sandbrook’s The Great British Dream Factory and TAL stages are set for an inspiring and enjoyable weekend. This year’s Founder’s Lecture sponsored by The Book House - Thame’s independent book shop, is given by the renowned genetic epidemiologist, Dr Tim Spector. ‘The Diet Myth’ is a fascinating and concise look at our relationship with dieting and food. He is a great communicator. On a lighter note, we are delighted to welcome comedienne Helen Lederer with her first novel ‘Losing IT’ and are looking forward to the second visit of Harry Mount. His Odyssey - a lovely trawl through ancient and modern Greeks amidst the disaster of his lost love! Speaking of love, Hilary Boyd is compared favourably with Joanna Trollope and writes for the ‘mature’ person. ‘Meet me on the Beach’ is her brilliant and poignant new novel. Even as Helen tells us she is Losing

Helen Lederer 7.30pm , Fri 16th Oct, Thame Town Hall, Vince Cable, 4.30pm, Sat 17th Oct, Christchurch

Hilary Boyd 6pm, Sat 17th Oct Thame Town Hall

it, Hilary reminds us we are all still alive! All three are entertaining and very funny! Vince Cable needs little introduction. Vince’s new book ‘After The Storm’ is published in September. As an economist, he offers a unique perspective on the state of the global financial markets and how the British economy has been managed since 2008; as a politician, he was at the very heart of it all. This year, TAL has several Poetry related events including visits from renowned poets Elaine Feinstein and David Morley. Jean Moorcroft Wilson brings her acclaimed biography of First World War poet, Edward

Join Thame Cinema 4 all and TAL at The Players Theatre on Sat, Oct 17th at 10am for a very special screening of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’.

Thomas which is followed by a new play for voices on the same subject. ‘The Other Man’ is by Oxford based playwright, Gwilym Scourfield. Finally, TAL welcomes LiTTLe MaCHiNe. They put poetry of all kinds to music and are described by Carol Ann Duffy as ‘The most brilliant music band in the world.’ The Saturday evening concert ‘Pepys & Purcell”at St Mary’s Church is from Thame’s very own Chamber Choir with actor Bruce Alexander reading extracts from Pepys’ diary. For the third year running, The TAL Short Story Competition is open to any nonprofessional author and this year’s subject is ‘Regret’. Stories can be no longer than 2,000 words and entry details are at www. talfestival.org. The prize is £100 worth of book tokens for The Book House, so get writing! TAL Festival really is a weekend of inspiration, with a large dose of enjoyment and something for everyone. Tickets are available on-line, by phone or in person at the Box Office in Thame Town Hall (9.30am-4pm : Tue/Thur/Fri & Sat). l Thame Arts and Literature Festival 16th-18th October, various venues. Website: www.talfestival.org Tel: 0871 288 3421 (10p per minute) Email: info@talfestival.org

LiTTLe MaCHiNe 6pm, Sat 17th Oct, Players Theatre Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

If you enjoy music, drama and a jolly good laugh then Aylesbury Waterside’s Autumn programme boasts several shows that could be described as the full monty plus one that really is...

rom Thriller to Priscilla, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre must really Want You Back judging by their hit parade of must-see shows on offer in the build up to Christmas! The undisputed late King Of Pop lives on in Thriller Live celebrating the career of Michael Jackson, one of the world’s greatest entertainers. Seen by over 3million people in 30 countries and in its 7th record-breaking year in the West End, this musical extravaganza is two hours of non-stop hits from pop to rock, soul to disco paying homage to Jackson’s legendary live performances and innovative dance moves. Expect all your favourite songs from ABC, Can You Feel It, Dirty Diana, Billy Jean and Smooth Criminal, to name just a few. Feather boas at the ready! Join the party bus and hop aboard Priscilla for a night to remember with the feel-good international hit sensation Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Starring Jason Donovan and back due to popular demand, you won’t want to miss this journey to the heart of fabulous. The show is full of outrageous costumes and dance floor classics including It’s Raining Men, Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Boogie Wonderland. Telling the heart-warming adventure of three friends in search of love and friendship, and finding more than they ever dreamed of, this wildly fresh and funny musical is a definite date for your diary during Hallowe’en week! Getting down to the bare truth with The Full Monty! In 1997, a British film about six out-ofwork Sheffield steel workers with nothing to lose, took the world by storm - and now it’s Aylesbury’s turn to see The Full Monty! The hilarious and heart-felt adaptation gets standing ovations every night, with a catalogue of songs from the movie including hits by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones. Vale Life got the lowdown on the production from cast member Gary Lucy (no stranger to the Waterside having appeared

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Gary Lucy and crew do The Full Monty! Mon 23rd to Sat 28th November alongside Cilla Black in the theatre’s first panto in 2010), and writer Oscar-winner writer Simon Beaufoy: Former Hollyoaks and EastEnders star

Gary is no stranger to taking his clothes off but he’s doing it for the first time on stage as he leads the cast in November. “Every job I’ve had has seemed to involve

ValeLife Life::Sept/Oct Sept/Oct2015 2015 Vale

s The Full Monty!

ThrillerLive Live Thriller Mon19th 19thtotoSat Sat24th 24thOctober October Mon some sort sort of of nudity!” nudity!” laughs laughs Gary. Gary. some “I had had never never consciously consciously decided decided not not to to “I do theatre theatre but but I’ve I’ve been been incredibly incredibly lucky lucky in in do my career to have played so many memorable my career to have played so many memorable characters in in some some great great TV TV series. series. characters “When the the producers producers of of The The Full Full Monty Monty “When approached me me about about starring starring in in the the tour, tour, II approached just thought thought that that itit was was aa great great opportunity. opportunity. just It’s aa really really strong strong script. script. All All the the characters characters It’s have stories stories to to tell, tell, and and the the audience audience really really have follows that through. It’s a really great cast follows that through. It’s a really great cast too, we we all all get get on on well. well. It’s It’s all all guys guys together together too, and we’re we’re just just having having aa laugh.” laugh.” and Gary’s well into the swing of life life on on the the Gary’s well into the swing of road and and isis enjoying enjoying the the nightly nightly standing standing road ovations but but he he does does admit admit that that “it’s “it’s tough tough ovations being away away from from home home as as II have have two two young young being kids but but II am am really really well well supported supported and and II am am kids getting home home as as much much as as possible.” possible.” getting Writer of of the the film, film, Simon Simon Beaufoy, Beaufoy, was was Writer nervous about about adapting adapting the the film film for for stage stage nervous as aa stage stage novice. novice. Even Even with with aa mantelpiece mantelpiece as groaning with awards he admits that itit groaning with awards he admits that was terrifying terrifying to to begin begin with, with, but but he he was was was determined not not just just to to do do aa carbon carbon copy copy of of determined the film film on on stage. stage. the “I felt felt really really strongly strongly that that audiences audiences would would “I want to to come come and and see see aa really really good good play play so so want that’s how how II approached approached it” it” Simon Simon recalls. recalls. that’s

“It was was aa steep steep learning learning curve curve for for me me and and “It enormously invigorating invigorating to to learn learn aa whole whole new new enormously craft after after 16 16 years years writing writing for for the the cinema. cinema. II craft had to to discover discover what what works works and and what what doesn’t. doesn’t. had Ironically, it’s it’s turned turned out out that that the the story story feels feels Ironically, perfect on on stage. stage. It’s It’s an an ensemble ensemble piece piece about about perfect group of of men men who who are are stuck stuck and and wondering wondering aa group what to to do do next.” next.” what Having won won an an Oscar Oscar for for Slumdog Slumdog Having Millionaire and Millionaire andwritten writtenscreenplays screenplaysfor for127 127 Hours, Salmon Fishing in Yemen and Hunger Hours, Salmon Fishing in Yemen and Games: Catching SimonFire, saysSimon that The Hunger Games: Fire, Catching Fullthat Monty “theMonty film that I’m most proud says TheisFull is “the film that of. I love it because of the characters, because I’m most proud of. I love it because of the of the city because and because it’scity about peopleit’s characters, of the andthe because I met the in the late 80s, who werelate some the about people I met in the 80s,of who warmest peopleand I’vekindest ever come were someand of kindest the warmest people across.” I’ve ever come across.” Tickets are are on on sale sale now now for for these these Autumn Autumn Tickets highlights. Visit Visit the the website website for for aa full full listing listing highlights. of shows, and book now by visiting the of shows, and book now by visiting the Box Office, Office, calling calling 0844 0844 871 871 7607 7607 (( calls calls 7p 7p Box per min, min, plus plus your your phone phone company’s company’s access access per charge), or or visiting visiting www.atgtickets.com/ www.atgtickets.com/ charge), aylesbury (bkg (bkg fee). fee). aylesbury l Aylesbury Aylesbury Waterside Waterside Theatre, Theatre, l Exchange Street, Street,Aylesbury, Aylesbury, Exchange Buckinghamshire, HP20 HP20 1UG 1UG Buckinghamshire, Telephone Booking: Booking: 0844 0844 871 871 7607 7607 Telephone Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury Website:

JasonDonovan Donovaninin Jason PriscillaQueen Queenofof Priscilla theDesert Desert the Mon26th 26thtotoSat Sat Mon 31stOctober October 31st

Coming up at The Waterside Your at-a-glance at-a-glance Your guide to what’s what’s on... on... guide to Jersey Boys Boys Jersey Hello Kitty Kitty Live Live Hello The Dreamboys The Dreamboys The Carpenters Carpenters Story Story The The Sensational 60s The Sensational 60s Experience Experience Ellen Kent’s Kent’s Opera Opera --Tosca Tosca Ellen Thriller Live Live Thriller Priscilla Queen Queen of of the the Desert Desert Priscilla The Full Full Monty Monty The

Tue 22nd 22nd Sept Sept Tue to Sat Sat 3rd 3rd Oct Oct to Tue 6th Oct Tue 6th Oct Thu 8th 8th Oct Oct Thu Thur 15th Oct Thur 15th Oct Fri 16 16 Oct Oct Fri Sat 17th 17th Oct Oct Sat Mon 19th to Mon 19th to Sat 24th 24th Oct Oct Sat Mon 26th 26th to to Mon Sat 31st 31st Oct Oct Sat Mon 23rd 23rd to to Mon Sat 28th 28th Nov Nov Sat

ValeLife Life::Sept/Oct Sept/Oct2015 2015 Vale

63 71

l Column: Alan Candy’s Altomobiles

Aiming high Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 Eco

ike some of its sporty models, Kia is a company determined to go places fast. It started off purely as a valuedriven company. Now comes phase two – an incredibly ambitious desire not only to match the world’s best in all aspects, but to surpass them. And never more is this personified than in the imposing shape of Kia’s UK flagship model the Sorento, now into its third generation, with a whole raft of improvements. The elegant new seven-seater is longer, lower and wider than the previous model, while an extended wheelbase creates more room in all three rows of seats. There’s also a re-engineeredd 2.2 turbodiesel engine; the car drives better; and it is more refined to travel in. To top it all, all-new SUV

Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 Eco

Alan Candy’s

AltomobilES bristles with available new technology that includes Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Around View Monitoring, Adaptive Front Lighting and Speed Limit Information. The common theme is that all models boasts permanent allwheel drive, a seven-seat interior and are powered by the 2.2 turbodiesel, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.

I have been driving the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 Eco which can double as sevenseat family charabanc or converted five-seat SUV with massive luggage space, with the reassurance of ultimate traction and some extra refinement that Kia has made available. That improvement in quality is evident the moment you climb in the vehicle, with tactile, softtouch surfaces on dash and doors and a classy, all-black interior. Converting the car from seven to five seats is a simple operation as the rear pair just fold easily straight into the back floor,

thus freeing up vast amounts of luggage space behind the middle row. The good news for families is that there is a huge amount of cabin space for everyone, and that ride quality is consistently good. The good news for the driver is that all that on-board technology and information is neatly grouped and logically placed in the cockpit, so that you don’t have to dither around searching for what you need. The test car’s stippled leather seats were comfortable and supportive. Continued on page 66

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03/11/2012 09:32

Column: Sandra Smith ‘Our Creative Vale’

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

From East to West T he link between a remote area of Japan and Aylesbury Vale may not be obvious but for printmaker Laura Boswell studying traditional woodblock techniques in the Far East has culminated in Twelve Views of Buckinghamshire, a key part of her solo show at Obsidian Art. “Japanese woodblock is an ancient form of printing using watercolour paint mixed with sticky rice paste,” says Laura. “I use soft horse hair brushes to brush the paint onto a woodblock, giving a translucent effect. The bleeds of colour make it a hop and a skip away from watercolour painting.” The 10 week course not only taught her innovative skills but a fresh way of approaching her calling. “I really liked the discipline of it. I was taught to slow down and concentrate on learning skills. In Japan practice and achievement of small things is valued in a way it isn’t in the West. This new technique changed my thinking of how to work.”

In her Winslow studio where she also teaches, Laura uses solid timber when needing a wood grain finish but has favoured lime plywood for this exhibition’s woodblocks due to the ease with which it can be cut as well as lack of grain. “I’m working with a traditional Japanese size (10” by 15”) called oban. This is smaller than I usually work with and, being portrait

format, the other way up. “In Twelve Views there are obvious places such as Butlers Cross, recognisable landscapes and beech trees that are familiar to Buckinghamshire but the way I’ve treated them is different.” Earth and mineral pigments, bound with gum Arabic, provide a solution not as uniform as watercolour but close to a traditional Japanese pigment for these hand created images. Laura’s other preferred medium - linocut - requires a printing press. A Victorian machine, around which her studio was designed, originally churned out broadsheets, but nowadays prints individual pieces of lino which are cut away after each process. “Picasso called it suicide printing,” she laughs, “but being a good printmaker means adapting your work. I never know how many layers of colour I’ll use. I’m not a believer in planning; my work evolves.” As well as illustrations by her son, James Boswell, numerous

Creative Vale

Sandra Smith examples of Laura’s woodblock and linocut work are featured in this exhibition which, in fusing cultures and techniques, project a personal and fascinating viewpoint of our countryside. Laura Boswell Printmaker Solo Show, Sept 18th to Oct 11th: Obsidian Art, Layby Farm, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville HP22 5XJ. Tel: 01296 612150 Web: www.obsidianart.co.uk. Web: www.lauraboswell.co.uk l Find out more about Sandra

Smith’s work as a freelance writer by following her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visit: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

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Continued from page 64 On the move, the mighty Sorento sails forth serenely, the Koreanbuilt leviathan being particularly strong in the straight-ahead position, where it is rock solid at speed. A six-speed manual gearbox has a positive, easy action and the turbodiesel engine is quick for this size of vehicle; smooth on the open road but a little rowdy on tickover. It’s built more for comfort rather than as an out-and-out racer, and as a long distance cruiser, it excels, but there is enough in the steering and handling to make everyday driving enjoyable. The only minus marks for the test vehicle were for the brakes, which tended to be all or nothing

and over sensitive, especially around town. Make no mistake, Kia is aiming high and the Sorento is the vehicle leading the charge. Other manufacturers ignore them at their peril. Factfile: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 Eco, £29,400 (Sorento prices from £26,995-£41,575). Powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine (197bhp). CO2 emissions: 161 g/km. 0-60mph in 9 seconds; Top speed 124mph. Combined 46.3mpg. Dynamax all-wheel-drive system (selectable lock mode for off road).

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Servicing

restone rms and tyres, conditio ns apply

MOT’s

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

l Column: On

The Road

Less is more PEUGEOT 308 SW GT Line

AKE a look at the car pictured here, consider the overall size and dimensions and then take a wild stab at the engine size. Two litre diesel? 1.6 diesel? Wrong. Under the bonnet of one of the neatest machines to arrive on the drive in recent months is just 1198cc of propulsion. And despite the fact its also mated to an automatic gearbox, it works. And works well. The motor industry is having a pretty good stab at proving size isn’t everything, and Peugeot’s 308 SW – sampled here in its new GT Line trim – makes a strong statement before the house as a car that’s got the lot. GT Line denotes it’s near the top of the range but Peugeot aficionados will be happy to note they’ve not tinkered overmuch with the smart exterior design, the i-Cockpit cabin, its very useable interior nor the quality feel you get as you slip behind the wheel. And smart it is, a big step in the right direction compared to Peugeots of old, where I can recall haphazard build quality and styling that merely ticked the ‘OK’ box. This is a much better proposition to anyone in the market for a

PEUGEOT 308 SW GT Line

Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

Rob Auchterlonie

ON The Road

sassy looking estate packed with equipment and offering practicality, decent economy (more of this later) and a decent driving experience. Quick walk round the outside will highlight sleek shape and the 18 inch Diamant wheels, and the lacquered black diffuser and stylish twin tail pipes, and if the car in question is in Magnetic Blue as my

one, then it’ll stand out even more. And so to the petrol engine – all 1.2 litres of it and with just three cylinders to do the work. It’s a lusty little unit and refreshingly efficient at moving the SW around, and quite quickly when the need arises. Its 230Nm of torque gives it enough grunt to accelerate past traffic when required, and it’ll hit 62mph in just over 11 seconds, which is more than adequate in my book. I’m not so convinced about the

economy side of the equation though, as Peugeot claim a combined 54.3 whereas I never saw better than a figure some 22mpg LESS than that – and that included a very leisurely Sunday country drive. A tad disappointing, but happy to report that the six speed automatic gearbox works well, with fairly seamless shifting adding to the overall good ride quality that the SW offers. The driving position is good – there’s plenty of interior space in the cabin – and you’re always well located and comfortable in the half-Alcantara trimmed sports seats. Ahead of you is that neat little steering wheel, with the main instruments located above its top edge so they’re always in sight. The centrally located main screen mops up most of the functions, and helps keep the dash area clear and tidy, but for me there’s one big fault with this. Each time you want to alter the temperature of the cabin or the fan speed, you have to tap into the control location on the screen to do it, rather than merely adjust a handily located dial or rotary switch on the dash. It’s all very 21st century, but it means your concentration is momentarily on something other than the road ahead, and that can’t be good. Extras to consider on top of an already high spec which includes rear view camera and park sensors – the panoramic glass roof at £500 which lets light flood into the

A ll makes serviced & R epaired

BMW & MINI specialist

T ired of M a i n De aler P ri ce s ? We can service your car and m aint ain your warranty by using genuin e par ts and oil and working to your m anufacturer’s guidelin es.

PEUGEOT 308 SW GT Line cabin (clouds permitting) and that metallic blue paint (£525)... FASTFACTS: Peugeot 308 SW GT Line PureTech; £23,345; three cylinder 1198cc petrol engine,

130bhp, 230Nm; six speed manual gearbox; top speed 123mph, 0-62mph 11.1secs; fuel – urban 43.5, extra urban 64.2, combined 54.3; CO2 119g/km; will it fit the garage: 4253/2043/1457 (l/w/h).

l l l l l l

Labour rate more than 50% less than m ain dealers Quality service and repairs Adv anced diagnostics Local collection and deliver y / Loan car av ailable MOTs/Windscreens/AirCon Recover y av ailable ProTechCars Ltd, Unit 20 Fleet Marston Farm, Fleet Marston, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0PZ Tel: 01296 655799 / Mobile: 07774 604149 Email: service@protechcars.com Website: www.protechcars.com

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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2015

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