Living Along The Thames January/February 2017 by Living Along theThames

January - February 2017

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Happy New Year and Welcome to 2017

MARLOW | HENLEY | MAIDENHEAD | COOKHAM | BOURNE END

FA C E +B O D Y MARLOW

Marlow’s private luxury medi-spa

High-end face & body treatments at affordable prices Fillers & Wrinkle relaxing injections from £180

CoolTech® Fat Freezing £395

Free Consult with Dr. Mariette Grant Email:

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Clinically proven to eliminate 25%-40% of fat Tel. 01628 30 20 28 *See our clients’ results in our Gallery at www.marlow.clinic 24 Meadow View, Marlow SL7 3PA REVIV® IV Vitamin Infusions More treatments on our website: Sesderma® Chemimcal Peels £60 NEW Alma Accent PrimeTM - Cellulite reduction, 2face | & body skin tightening & body contouring Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

www.marlow.clinic

The Power of Non-Surgical Aesthetic Treatments Marlow Face & Body offers a variety of high-end treatments and when combined, complement each other, achieve more dramatic results, help prolong the benefits and ultimately are more cost effective. FACE

Common Goal: Prolonging a youthful look without looking frozen and overdone. Aging of skin and facial structure starts to become visible in our 20’s. Wrinkles begin forming, skin starts to sag and our bones lose density which changes the shape of our face. To achieve and maintain a youthful look, we need to rejuvenate the skin, prevent the muscle movement from causing deeper wrinkles and restore the structure. “A low dose of micro-injections of botulinum toxin gently relaxes facial muscles, prevents deep wrinkles from forming while maintaining a natural look. This also ensures you don’t look frozen or overdone; just relaxed and refreshed. Combining that with hyaluronic acid fillers in the right areas (almost like you would use a highlighter in your make-up regime) and no one really notices you had a little medical help. People will just comment on how well you look!” Dr. Mariette Grant, MBChB, MRCGP, MBCAM Common Goal: Tightening & lifting the skin with a youthful glow Alma Accent radiofrequency is renowned for skin tightening and lifting. It’s used in Harrods’s Urban Retreat and Selfridges Medi-Spa as well as by plastic surgeons. It stimulates collagen production at TM

the Dermis to help prevent and treat formation of jowls and saggy skin while lifting the face naturally. To achieve a natural youthful glow, you also need to repair & protect the skin at the superficial layer and Epidermis. One option is medical microneedling (Dermaroller ) which breaks up old scar tissue and stimulates collagen and elastin production. ®

Alma Accent Prime is used to tighten and smooth skin, reduce cellulite and contour. It combines cold ultrasound (causing Lypolysis and drains fatty acids from fat cells) with deep radio frequency & lymphatic massage to tighten and smooth the skin as well as help your lymphatic system metabolise the free fatty acids. TM

Marlow Face & Body Client CryosculptingTM Case Study

Second option is a course of Sesderma Chemical Peels which are a very effective way of helping to repair sun damage and sun spots. These peels will also assist in preventing further sun damage and can be used to treat Acne and Rosacea as well. TM

BODY

Marlow Face & Body uses clinically proven and FDA approved technology to achieve the best results possible. Cryosculpting is a program which combines technology to reduce fat, contour shapes, reduce cellulite and lumpiness and tighten and smooth skin. TM

CoolTech is clinically proven to eliminate 25%-40% of the treated fat. It’s a safe & non-invasive method that freezes and destroys fat cells. It has the same results as Coolsculpting but is around a 1/3 of the cost. ®

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

This image shows the results, before and after, being treated with Cryosculpting . The client wanted a flatter and smoother stomach, but like a lot of women who’ve had children, had some saggy skin and was at risk of developing even more saggy skin if she lost volume. The after image shows the results after completing a Cryosculpting program. TM

For more information, to see other images or a free consultation: Email: info@marlow.clinic 01628 30 20 28 Website: www.marlow.clinic

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Amazing solutions for modern outdoor living space Today’s lifestyle is the motivation behind The Tree & Hedge Company, set up and led by father and son team, Alan and Ben Jones who provide a modern approach to this innovative part of the industry by inspiring and creating amazing solutions for outdoor living space. The largest and tallest trees and hedges that can be lifted, transported and planted are used by The Tree & Hedge Company to create instant gardens. Alan has over 30 years’ experience consulting and implementing numerous schemes and successfully creating instant impact working in this industry in the form of instant hedges, privacy screens, majestic trees and fine topiary. Started out as a 16-year-old apprentice in West London he has since been and continues to work throughout the UK and Europe and retains an enthusiasm and passion for finding the best possible solutions for his customers. Alan regularly writes articles and editorials for horticulture and gardening magazines. He was instrumental in pioneering the very first instant hedge projects in the UK; working together with the famous Elveden estate in Thetford, Norfolk. He was first invited then helped them to launch their outstanding instant hedges in 2001, and continues today by using their excellent instant hedges in The Tree & Hedge Company projects. Alan: “We simply supply the best instant hedges and screens available within the UK bar none and our planting teams consist of the most experienced people available to carry out this work.” Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Ben “We want our gardens to make a real difference, a private retreat or oasis, a vista of beauty for relaxing, entertaining or simply for standing back and admiring.” The Tree & Hedge Company have creative consultants and designers backed up by three professional landscape teams of trained horticulturalists experienced in the handling and planting of trees, instant hedges and privacy screening. Lauren (Horticultural Consultant); “We love to create outdoor spaces for our customers who appreciate an escape from the strains and stresses of everyday life, a composite of motivations that reflects how we feel”. “The testimonials we receive on the completion of our projects are wonderful and inspiring, they drive us on”. The busiest time of the year is between October and April, known in the trade as the planting season. Ben “We already have work booked in for the new season and enquiries are regular and ongoing. We have also had our fair share of work during the summer, planting container grown trees, instant hedges and shrubs.” “We invest in the latest and most up to date machinery and equipment”. The Tree & Hedge Company were contracted by a landscape architect practice on a large, new build site in Hampshire Our specialist team who are trained in the safe handling of large trees, crane lifted in a selection of plants that included 70cm girth beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees weighing 2,500kg each and 4.5-metre-high, beech instant hedging, privacy screens. www.treeandhedge.com

Welcome

a l on g t h e t h a m es

Welcome to 2017, a new year and a new beginning

Serena Edwards Editor ADVERTISING: 01628 627 488

Happy New year

CONTACT US: Living Along the Thames Magazine Studio 108, 5 High Street, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 1JN Tel: 01628 627 488 Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk

It’s at this time of year that I realise that the time has flown by at an alarming rate and I just wonder where did the year go! I am sure this will be the same for many getting the work/life balance as best as you can and enjoying time with family and friends. Do you make new year resolutions and if so do you keep them? I came across an interesting concept form one of the many networking emails I receive where an Australian woman chooses an inspirational word for the year rather than a resolution and uses that to help shape the year ahead. Do you have an inspirational word that would suit you and how you would like your year to pan out? For me this year my word is ‘courage’ as I embark on building my marketing communications business at the same time as running the magazine. So if I can help you improve your communications both either internally or externally through the many channels now available to us (Website, social media, newsletters, branding etc) then do get in touch and see how I can help you improve your business. This edition includes all our usual features including diary dates, fashion, winter beauty, horoscopes and motoring to name a few. Also featured is an interview with Michelin starred chef Marcus Wareing and we are off to the wine growing region of Cape Town in our travel article. As always Happy Reading January -

CONTRIBUTORS: Dru Ross, Jenny Allan, Arzu Kara, Christine Chalklin, Karine Jackson, Jacky & Mark Bloomfield ACCOUNTS: Office@AlongTheThames.co.uk DESIGNED BY: Digital Bear Design Tel: 01949 839206 LOVE MAGAZINES?: subscribe to 6 copies for £18 a year www.VividTitles.co.uk/magazine/ View our recent editions online at: www.VIVIDTITLES.co.uk FOLLOW US: @AlongtheThames LIKE US: LivingAlongTheThames FOLLOW US: AlongtheThamesUK

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Living Along the Thames is hand delivered into 12,000 ABC1 homes every two months in Henley, Maidenhead, Marlow, Cookham and Bourne End. Magazines can be picked up in Marlow at D&J newsagents, Swish Boutique, Information centre, Cedar café, Quad Club. Henley at the Library, Regal Theatre. Maidenhead at the Library, Council Office, U-Want, Temple Golf Club. Cookham at the Library. Bourne End at The Library and Community Centre

Happy New Year

and Welcom e to 2017 MARLOW

| HENLEY

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Produced by Living Along The Thames Magazines. All Rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Publisher and is protected by copyright. The views expressed in Living Along the Thames magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor/publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure quality and content, the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors in articles, advertisements and photographs. Living Along The Thames is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact 01628 627488. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

M A C D O N A L D C O M P L E AT A N G L E R

AWARD-WINNING FOOD. SPECTACULAR LOCATION. 25% discount on lunch and dinner reservations in the Riverside Restaurant. Join us throughout January to March 2017 to enjoy this offer. To reserve your table, call 01628 405406. The Riverside Restaurant, Macdonald Compleat Angler, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 1RG Terms and conditions: excludes Jazz Lunch, Jazz Dinner, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Valid from 2nd January 2017 to 31st March 2017 inclusive. Maximum table size of eight guests.

VALENTINE’S SPECIALS AT CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW ROSES ARE RED…

Saturday 11th - Tuesday 14th from 7pm Enjoy a sumptuous 4 course meal, with a glass of Prosecco, half a bottle of wine each and a gift for your special one. £45.00 per person

VIOLETS ARE BLUE...

Fridays and Saturdays throughout February Treat the one you love to a luxurious overnight stay, including breakfast and a delicious 4 course meal with a glass of Prosecco and a gift for your special one.

SUGAR IS SWEET

Fridays and Saturdays throughout February A night of decadence at Crowne Plaza Marlow with a bottle of sparkling wine, flowers and chocolate dipped strawberries in your room on arrival. A luxurious King Room and sumptuous breakfast, as well as a 4 course dinner with a glass of Prosecco and a gift for your special one. £119.00 per person* Upgrade to a Club Room for only £40.00 Based on two people sharing

£99.00 per person* Based on two people sharing

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T: 01628 496 860 | E: enquiries@cpmarlow.co.uk | W: cpmarlow.co.uk CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW, FIELDHOUSE LANE, MARLOW, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, SL7 1GJ.

‘Cooking With Kids Can Be Hell’

Marcus Wareing with his daughter Jessie

Marcus Wareing is a serious a chef Whether you’ve watched him on MasterChef, Great British Menu, or in one of his three restaurants, it’s a word you’d definitely use to describe him. And he wouldn’t disagree. “I am serious,” says the 46-year-old. “I’m serious because I need to take my job seriously, and because there is a lot at stake. I take everything I do seriously, but I also now enjoy a lot more and am a little more open-minded.” It’s perhaps this new, (slightly) more relaxed persona that has brought about his latest release, Marcus At Home, which is fit to burst with recipes that very normal folk can try their hand at. And it’s all been inspired by family cooking. “I love watching my family enjoy food that we’ve made together and my wife makes a brilliant lasagne,” says the father-of-three, who’s married to Jane, 45. “I think now, because the children are more aware of food and are trying more, we as a family are starting to diverge

into bigger flavours, spicier food, and just a lot more variety. The kids are not so young any more - they love their food and are growing up. It’s really challenged me to do something I’ve never done before, which is focus on food at home.” Wareing - who describes himself as “driven, precise and friendly” - is a lot more easygoing than you might imagine. He’s perfectly polished (his shirt is impeccably ironed and his beard is as neatly shaved as you’d expect his Parmesan to be), but calm and keen to put me at ease. “When I think of ‘home’, it’s all about the kitchen, the family, laughing and arguing,” says the chef, who hails from Southport, but now resides in Wimbledon (he recommends a deli there called Bayley And Sage, if you’re ever in the area, for the “best fresh fruit and produce”). And now the kids are growing up, cooking together is something that’s happening more often. “It can be hell at times, but it is mostly fun,” he says, eyes twinkling and a smile spreading across his face. “What annoys me about cooking with children - even though I do love it - is the mess. Jess always wants to cook cakes, Archie will get involved in cookery with his mum and he makes a mean salad sandwich. But Jake is all about fry-ups, and he hates cleaning up.” Don’t we all? Though I can imagine this is one Michelin-starred chef who won’t stand for anyone not clearing up after themselves, even if they are his children. Fancy some relaxed, homely family food created by one of the best in the business? Tuck into these...

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Peel and quarter the pumpkin, reserving the skin and seeds. Cut the pumpkin flesh into rough 2cm chunks, and set aside. Put the skin, seeds, trimmings, bay leaf and rosemary in a large saucepan. Cover with about 2.5 litres water, bring to the boil and simmer for one hour. Strain and reserve the stock. While the stock is simmering, preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the seeds, mix together the pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, olive oil and salt. Scatter evenly on a baking tray and bake for eight to 10 minutes, until golden. Remove and allow to cool, then roughly chop. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat, and add the pumpkin chunks and one teaspoon of salt. Cook for about five minutes, until the pumpkin starts to soften.

Pumpkin Soup With Maple-Toasted Seeds (Serves 8)

1 pumpkin, preferably with blue/grey skin, 2kg approx 1 bay leaf 1 sprig of rosemary 125g butter 1tsp sea salt 250ml milk Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the maple-toasted seeds: 60g pumpkin seeds 1tbsp maple syrup 1/2tbsp olive oil, plus extra to serve 1/4tsp sea salt

Pour in about half of the pumpkin stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, until the pumpkin is completely soft and starting to break down. Stir in the milk, remove the rosemary sprig and bay leaf. Using a stick blender (or transfer to a food processor), blitz until completely smooth, adding more stock as required. Season to taste. Serve the soup hot, scattered with the maple-toasted pumpkin seeds and drizzled with oil.

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lightly butter six ramekin dishes and sprinkle evenly with the two tablespoons of sugar.

Lemon Fudge Puddings (Makes 6)

To make the lemon fudge, combine the lemon zest and juice and condensed milk. Set aside.

100g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing 150g caster sugar, plus 2tbsp extra 2 eggs Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons 125g plain flour 1tsp baking powder Creme fraiche or vanilla ice cream, to serve

For the puddings, put the eggs and 150g caster sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk on high speed until light and fluffy.

For the fudge: Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 200g condensed milk

Smooth over the surface with a palette knife.

Stir the butter, lemon zest and juice into the eggs and sugar, then fold in the flour and baking powder. Put a good spoonful of the pudding mixture into the bottom of the ramekins. Spoon the lemon fudge on top. Finish by spooning the remaining lemon pudding mix over the fudge.

Sit on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, until the puddings puff up and become golden. Leave to rest for a minute or two and serve with a spoonful of creme fraiche or ice cream spooned over the top.

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Braised Cod With Herb Vinaigrette, Toasted Broccoli, Sprouts and Chestnuts (Serves 4)

4tbsp olive oil 4 thick skin-on cod fillets 250ml chicken or vegetable stock 1 head of broccoli, broken into florets 12 Brussels sprouts, quartered 2 garlic cloves, crushed 100g fresh or vacuum-packed chestnuts, finely chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the vinaigrette: 1/4 bunch of tarragon, leaves picked and finely sliced 1/4 bunch of parsley, leaves picked and finely sliced 2tbsp capers, chopped 1/2 red onion, finely chopped 4tbsp white wine vinegar 150ml extra virgin olive oil 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped To make the vinaigrette, mix all the ingredients together and set aside. Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over high heat. Season the cod well with salt and pepper and carefully place in the pan, skin-side down. Cook for a couple of minutes until the base of the cod is nicely browned, then turn over. Pour in 200ml of stock and cover the pan loosely with foil. Reduce the heat and simmer for a maximum of five minutes, until the cod is just cooked through.

Heat the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil in a wide frying pan, over high heat until almost smoking. Add the

broccoli and sprouts and fry until browned. Pour in the remaining 50ml of stock and add the crushed garlic, then reduce the heat slightly. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables are just tender, then stir in the chestnuts. To serve, divide the vegetables between plates and sit the cod on top. Drizzle generously with the herbed vinaigrette and serve straight away. Marcus At Home by Marcus Wareing is published by HarperCollins, priced ÂŁ20. Available now

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Wine Allergy Is No Joke

It’s party season - but while hangovers are an inevitable punishment if you overdo it with the vino, sometimes unpleasant side-effects from a glass or two are down to something a bit more unusual.

We’d all sometimes like to blame our sickly morning-after-the-night-before state on a ‘wine allergy’, but for a very small amount of people, an allergy to wine is a real (and inconvenient) truth. Unlike a sensitivity or intolerance, an allergy is when the immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance. In this case, that normally harmless, though tasty, substance is wine. Fortunately, a true allergy to wine is extremely rare, though as anyone who has ever had a bit of a session will attest, it’s entirely possible to display symptoms of it without being allergic.

What Are The Signs? While many of us suffer diarrhoea, headaches and skin flushes after too many drinks, for some, these may be signs of an underlying intolerance to wine and the grapes involved in the production (though the jury is still out on whether skin flushing is indicative of an allergy).

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Those with the allergy may suffer cramps and difficulty breathing when they drink certain wines - though they may drink others and not have any reactions.

What Causes It? It’s bad news for fans of red, as researchers found that those with the allergy tend to suffer more when they drink it as opposed to white wines or roses. Rarely is the reaction caused by alcohol, more often it is the chemicals used in the wine-making process - that’s the sulphites and histamines - to keep bacteria at bay and stop the plonk from going sour which are the culprits (though, again, it is very rare to be allergic to sulphites). If you suffer from this allergy, you may also have a similar reaction to certain products that contain sulphites, like dried fruits, cider and pickled food. And while it is very uncommon, allergyuk.org reports that some

people with asthma, urticaria and rhinitis might be more prone to allergies to alcohol than others.

What Can You Do? Short of corking your bottles, if you think you might be sensitive to wine, look out for those made using less of the preservative sulphites and histamines. Bear in mind that white wines and roses generally have higher levels of sulphites - as do some light-bodied reds - while reds tend to have higher levels of histamine. Organic wines and biodynamic wines are a good starting point as these tend to be made with fewer chemicals, though many bottles do not display this info. Make a note of any drinks you’ve had - including the type of wine, as well as what you’ve eaten, so you can pinpoint the problem bottles, and as always, it’s best to check with your GP if you have any concerns.

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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E: linda@optimumdigestion.com W: www.optimumdigestion.com T: 07746 663196 Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Reboot Your Digestive System and Get 2017 off to a Great Start What we eat and drink every day has an impact on our overall health and wellbeing. Not looking after our digestive system and gut – denying it the nutrients it needs, overloading it with heavy, rich, difficult to digest foods – can lead to digestive issues, tiredness and other health problems, so it’s little wonder that the festive season leaves an aftermath of new year tummy troubles. The combined excesses of rich food and alcohol can not only over-tax the digestive system, gut and liver, exacerbating symptoms of IBS, bloating, painful trapped intestinal gases, constipation, indigestion and heartburn, but also lead to weight gain, skin issues (acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea), headaches, fatigue and mood swings. With the party season behind us, it’s time to start thinking about getting our digestive health back on track, and cleansing the body can help kick-start a healthier routine. There are a variety of ways to do this. With so many of us leading busy, fast-paced lives, we don’t all have the time to plan out, prepare for and stick to a strict detox plan. I know that I fall into this category, which is why I developed a range of probiotics and digestive health supplements that offer effective solutions to digestive and gut issues and support simple dietary and lifestyle tweaks. Cleansing and healing an overworked digestive system is possible for the busiest of us. The key is to keep it simple – aim to add more water and nutritious foods to your diet and cut out all processed foods, then follow this up by adding certain natural health supplements to your daily routine. When you decide to detox and restore balance in your body, there are so many products for this purpose that it can become overwhelming, so I’ve simplified it! Your go-to products are Live Bacteria probiotic capsules to re-colonise the gut with ‘friendly’ bacteria, Digestive Enzyme tablets to support the digestive system and

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promote regular bowel movements, Omega 3 capsules to regulate inflammation in the gut, and Garlic tablets to inhibit the growth of any unfriendly bacteria. For an additional boost, Milk Thistle tablets will support the liver in the detoxification process, as well as reducing any inflammation. For effective cleansing to take place, our bodies need to remove impurities from the liver, as this is where toxins are processed. Allowing toxins to be removed from the body boosts the immune system, increases energy levels and helps improve the health of our skin, hair and nails. By taking the harsh toxins such as alcohol, coffee, refined sugars and saturated fats out of your diet and replacing them with fibre-rich foods to cleanse your digestive tract, using the supplements mentioned to support the process, you will notice changes almost immediately. Before you know it, your sluggish digestion will get the kick-start it needs, you’ll stop craving unhealthy snacks, you’ll have more energy, your skin will glow, and your body will be able to get the most from the nutritious foods you’re consuming. Nourish and balance the body from the inside out…

About the Author

Linda Booth has been a complementary health practitioner for almost 25 years. She is qualified in a number of natural health disciplines and set up her successful IBS, Digestive Health & Gut Disorders clinic in 2005. Having seen first-hand how many people are struggling with digestive and gut disorders, Linda founded her Just For Tummies business in 2015. For more information visit: www.justfortummies.co.uk Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Carbohydrates.

Friend or Foe?

We know that a healthy, balanced diet is the key to a healthy body, but it can be tough knowing exactly which foods are the healthiest for us, with the constant barrage of new studies and research branding certain foods as either hero or villain when it comes to our health. One food group that has been given a pretty bad rep over the past few years is carbohydrates. The common perception now is that the fewer carbs we eat the better, with some of us avoiding carbs altogether… but is this really a healthy option for our bodies? Well, frankly, no.

Wishing all our reader’s and advertisers a Happy New Year Congratulations to the winners of our Competitions in the November/December 2016 edition Copas Traditional Feast: Roger Brown Crow Black Litelok: Phil Sharp

Of course, we know that starchy, refined carbs aren’t great for us – and we do eat far too much of them, so cutting back is a definitely a good thing. But cutting carbs out altogether? Carbs can help us feel full and provide us with a lot of healthy nutrients and essential fibre – we just need to make sure we are eating the right sort. Vegetables are a great source, and another particular group that is getting seriously neglected is wholegrains. A study from the British Journal of Nutrition found that 80% of us are simply not eating a healthy level of wholegrains – and one in five may not be eating any at all! Not that I’m surprised, with so many people demonising all carbs, or, when they do indulge, choosing the more popular, starchy white carbs. So what’s the difference between the two, and why does it matter? Grains are made up of an inedible, protective husk and a kernel which has three layers – bran, germ and endosperm. Wholegrains contain all three parts of the kernel – and so keep the maximum nutrients. Processing these grains to make refined carbohydrates means removing the bran and the germ, which contain a whole host of antioxidants, B vitamins, protein, minerals, healthy fats and fibre, leaving only the endosperm. Refining means that about 25% of protein is lost, along with at least seventeen key nutrients! It is possible to add back some vitamins and minerals to enrich these refined grains. But why not stick to the unadulterated and healthier wholegrain in the first place?! What’s more, products made from refined white carbs are more likely to contain higher levels of fat and sugar, but, because they’re refined, they’re not as filling, meaning we eat larger portions in order to feel full. Which doesn’t help our weight-loss attempts and explains why so many of us will feel bloated, or sluggish after eating a huge bowl of white pasta or rice. In contrast, wholegrains are higher in fibre -meaning we will feel fuller for longer, with smaller amounts. Importantly, though, wholegrains have been linked to all kinds of health benefits, including lower body weight, BMI and cholesterol levels, as well as reduced risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers too. What’s not to like?! How much should you be eating? The minimum recommended is 48g. This equates to around… • 3 slices of wholemeal bread or • A bowl of porridge or wholegrain breakfast cereal and a slice of wholemeal toast or • A portion of whole grain rice/pasta/quinoa or other whole grains Swapping refined carbs for wholegrain ones is a great place to start and try to hit the 48g minimum if you can. Watch out though – some manufacturers try to dupe us into thinking a product is healthier than it is. For example, the breads that are just coloured brown to make them look healthier, and seeded and malted loaves made from white flour with small amounts of bran added in afterwards. www.vavistalife.com

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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‘Climbing Stairs Feels Like Climbing Everest’

It’s easy to dismiss a condition no one really talks about as no big deal. But in the case of pulmonary hypertension (PH), it really is a big deal - so big, in fact, that if left untreated, the condition can kill within two years. It’s something not many people are aware of, just like the fact that the slow progression of the condition can damage the heart and lungs so badly that many PH patients can barely wash or dress themselves, or even contemplate doing things like walking upstairs. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK (PHA UK) hopes to tackle the lack of awareness and understanding surrounding the disease - which is thought to affect around 7,500 people in the UK during the first ever PH Awareness Week (November 19-27). “Lots of people tell us they feel very frustrated about how little some of the people closest to them know and understand about what living with PH means - and how they never seem to get around to having a conversation about it,” says Iain Armstrong, chair of PHA UK. “That’s what PH Awareness Week is all about, reaching out to everyone and helping people seize the opportunity to ‘Talk about PH’.”

WORRY FOR WOMEN The condition can affect people of any age, including children, but it’s three times more common in females although it’s not known why - and symptoms typically start to present around 45-55 years of age. Grammy-winning singer and actress Natalie Cole died from heart failure last New Year’s Eve aged 65, after struggling with pulmonary hypertension for six years. The daughter of legendary jazz singer Nat King Cole had idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, the form of the illness unrelated to other contributory diseases. In a third of cases, the condition develops spontaneously like this, and it’s not known what the triggers are. The rest of the time, for two-thirds of cases, PH is related to another condition, such as congenital heart disease, or connective tissue disorders and other autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis - though it’s important to note that lots of people with these conditions do not develop PH. Having a family member with pulmonary hypertension also increases the risk of developing the disease.

MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

WHAT IS PH?

PH can develop slowly, with early symptoms easily dismissed. These include shortness of breath during routine activity, fatigue, chest pain, a racing heartbeat, pain in the upper-right abdomen, and a decreased appetite.

Hypertension means high blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension occurs when the arteries in the lungs narrow and thicken, slowing the flow of blood through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs.

Later, as the heart begins to fail, further symptoms may include feeling light-headed - especially during exercise, fainting, swelling in the ankles or legs, and blue-tinged lips or skin.

As a result, pressure in the arteries rises as the heart works harder to force the blood through. This can eventually lead to heart failure, when the heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs.

In the later stages, day-to-day life can become very difficult, says Armstrong, a nurse consultant with the Pulmonary Hypertension Service at Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital, one of nine specialist PH centres in the UK.

“The back pressure puts lots of stress on the heart, and that’s when you start to run into problems,” explains Armstrong.

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“Climbing a flight of stairs can be like climbing Everest, and it can take half an hour to get your breath back,” he explains. “The devastating thing about pulmonary hypertension is that often, doing simple things like getting washed and dressed is sometimes just not possible.” Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

“Welcome to 2017! The New Year is the perfect time to shake up your look. Experiment with that new colour you’ve always wanted, be brave and go for that cool cut or just perfect your styling skills. This edition I’m talking about my three new trends which are sure to take off this year, from a fun take on the usual ponytail, a reinvention of a classic cut and a cool colour technique”, says Karine Jackson. Bubble Ponytail Upgrade your pony with the bubble ponytail. Pull your hair into a standard pony and then secure bands in intervals down the hair. You could use bands that match your colour or something bright and contrastings – it’s completely up to you. To finish, tease each section out slightly to create little ‘bubbles’ down the hair. It’s sure to be a standout style this season.

The Mo-Mu I’m championing the evolution of the mullet as the cut to covet in 2017. The Mo-Mu (modern mullet) takes a classic mullet shape and reinvents it for the modern day with A-listers like Zendaya and Edie Campbell being the earliest adopters of the trend, while Gracie Hartzel also rocks Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

one in the New American Vogue Freedom Video for S/S 17. The Mo-Mu is ever-evolving and can be adapted to suit any face shape and hair textures, from a subtle nod with curls to a statement cut when paired with contrasting colours. Being an eighties girl I liked the original style – I’m a closet lover of the mullet! The Mo-Mu represents a change of shape, which we haven’t had for a while but it must be done well – it can’t be like the old fashioned mullet. It’s a nod to the shape but with the glamour we love today.

Tie-Dye Give your colour an overhaul this season with my brand new Tie Dye technique. We created it by placing ponytails around the nape of the neck and tied the bands at 2” intervals. We then massaged colour in the hair to create that relaxed tie-dye effect. www.karinejackson.co.uk

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Oh yes!

We are doing it again.

I know it’s a cliche but we are all either back at the gym, detoxing, or giving up alcohol for a bit. We do it every year and why should this one be any different. I have chosen outfits to get you started and won’t break the bank you’ll still look uber stylish. For everyday attire, all you need is a super chic cardigan and well fitted jeans. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Arzu Kara

Moda in Pelle Anacia GBP 75.95

Littlewoods.com Under Armour Mid Bra GBP 32.00

Littlewoods Ireland Zip Pocket Skinny Jeans Eur 39.00 GettingPersonal.co.uk After This We’re Getting Pizza Water Bottle GBP 19.99

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Red Herring Active Debenhams GBP 26.00

F&F F&F Active Striped Leggings GBP 14.00

arzukara.com Melody Cardigan Anthracite/Taupe GBP 120.00

Red Herring Active Debenhams GBP 18.00 Apricot White Double Layered Asymmetric Hem Blouse GBP 19.00

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Katherine Daniels Nurturing Night Balm | £35 (30ml) | www.katherinedanielscosmetics.com

Winter can wreak havoc on skin, causing dryness, redness and dullness, so we’ve put together a selection of products to keep your skin happy, hydrated and revitalised.

Yesto Coconut Naturally Smooth Lip Balm | £3.75 | www.beautybay.com

Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Mask for hair | £36 (200ml) | www.phto-haircare.co.uk

Blistex to nourish your lips | £2.30 | www.blistex.co.uk

Caudalie Beauty Elixir | £10 (30ml) | £31 (100ml) | www.caudalie.com

Girls Night Tin | £27.50 | www.thevintagecosmeticcompany.com

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Tropic Skincare | Super Greens Nutrient boost serum 30ml (£42) | Tamanu Healing Balm £32 | Body Smooth Refreshing Polish 200ml (£24) | www.tropicskincare.com

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Anti-Aging Face Treatment | £129 (30ml) | addresses 10 visible signs of aging | www.perriconemd.co.uk

Goldfaden MD | Wake Up call 50ml (£75) | Doctors Scrub 100ml (£65) & Doctors Scrub Advanced 100ml (£85) | www.spacenk.com

Comvita Medihoney Skintensive Cream | £8.99 | www.comvita.co.uk

Vitage Age Defence Peptide Cream | £36 (50ml) | www.skinbrands.co.uk

DermaEraze Miracle Oil | Lorena Öberg skincare from £14 | www.lorenaoberg.co.uk

Moa Aphrodite Facial Oil | £20 (30ml) | www.moa.london

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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in January 2017 Aquarius: January 20 - February 19 The Sun challenges your ruler, unpredictable Uranus around the 10th, bringing communication and negotiation into the spotlight. Confidence and intuition are at an all-time high, indicating a significant turning point concerning any groups and organisations that you belong to. Your new moon on the 28th brings a fresh start. Pisces: February 20 - March 20 Enthusiastic Mars is traveling through your sign and is joined by the love planet Venus on the 3rd. This move indicates that this is the month for new friendships and some passionate romance. You’ll feel that your energies at an all-time high as the need for radical change becomes top of your agenda. Aries: March 21 - April 20 January starts out with a rather introspective mood as your ruler, the normally feisty Mars, journeys through watery Pisces. Plans for turning dreams into reality are in the spotlight this month as the practicality of the Capricorn sun and analytical Mercury appear at the highest point in your chart. Taurus: April 21 - May 21 Venus, your ruling planet, moves into the gentle and imaginative sign of Pisces on the 3rd; use this well-balanced energy in practical ways to bring creativity, beauty and pleasure into areas that may have been tense and stressful. The full moon in Cancer on the 12th highlights successful communication. Gemini: May 22 - June 22 This month’s focus on the sign of Pisces draws your attention to balancing your inner needs with your work and daily routines. Both Venus and Mercury urge you to reconnect with creative endeavours that give you joy. The Cancerian full moon on the 12th highlights your finances. Cancer: June 23 - July 23 The Sun, Mercury and transformational Pluto are in your opposite sign of Capricorn this month. With the Cancer full moon on the 12th there could be some radical changes on the cards. Clarity and composure are vital as you review those areas where you feel restricted and unappreciated. Leo: July 24 - August 23 Make the most of the practical Capricorn energy in the work and daily routine sector of your chart; increased stamina and drive are at your disposal, particularly around the 7th as the Sun aligns with powerful and transformational Pluto. Some prioritising and re-structuring needs your focused attention. Virgo: August 24 - September 23 With your ruler, the curious and versatile Mercury, illuminating all forms of selfexpression and creativity, this could turn out to be the best time to achieve anything that you earnestly desire. Mars remains in dreamy and idealistic Pisces, joined by the love planet on the 3rd. Romance could well be on the cards! Libra: September 24 - October 23 Your ruler, relationship minded Venus, changes signs from analytical Aquarius to imaginative and mystical Pisces on the 3rd. You might not have to look too hard for new love – it will find you. Career is also in the spotlight around the 12th, use your creativity and humour to get your message across. Scorpio: October 24 - November 22 Transformational Pluto, your ruling planet, is joined by the Sun on the 7th. This powerful alignment illuminates all forms of learning and communication, particularly anything concerning long term goals is looking very promising now. Prepare the ground well before you move into action. Sagittarius: November 23 - December 22 Responsible down-to-earth Saturn joins forces with innovative and unpredictable Uranus in the creative sector of your chart. As your home life is stirred up by fiery Mars and then joined by harmonious Venus after the 3rd, you may feel that some radical changes are now necessary. Capricorn: December 23 - January 19 The Sun, Mercury and powerful Pluto are energising your sign for most of the month, ensuring that your stamina, drive and confidence batteries are fully charged. Saturn remains connected with Uranus and continues to bring interesting opportunities and challenges to your door. You need to apply your willpower to achieve.

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A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all! The down-to-earth and practical sign of Capricorn steps forward this month as we head into 2017. The intuitive Sun joins up with powerful Pluto on the 7th prompting some serious soul searching. It’s that time of year when the universe invites you to ponder some big questions and most importantly to ask: what do I want to be different for this year? This is a passionate time loaded with creative potential; energetic Mars, currently travelling through the visionary sign of Pisces highlights your imagination and practical Capricorn can help to make those long held dreams come true. The energy shifts big time as Mars enters its own sign of Aries on the 28th; the new moon in quirky Aquarius that same day enhances intuition and opens minds to exciting new possibilities. Be ready for love and romance to blossom as Venus, the love planet, enters soft and gentle Pisces on the 3rd. Mercury’s forward motion and arrival into Capricorn after the 13th should assist with sticking to those New Year’s resolutions.

Visit www.VividTitles.co.uk to see how you can navigate your way to success in February

What does 2017 hold in store for you? How can you make this year your best year ever? Navigate your way to succes with in-depth knowledge and cosmic awareness. Insights gained by having your unique birth chart explained to you will help you to work with the planetary cycles and maximise your potential for the year ahead. Consultations are available in person, by telephone or Skype. Please contact me for more information Inspirational Astrologer and Life Coach, www.restyleyourlife.co.uk Christine@restyleyourlife.co.uk Telephone: 07813 483549

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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• Full back treatment in only 20 minutes • Diode Laser is currently the most effective laser hair removal technology • It is relatively painless & Safe and effective for all skin types • Dermatologists recommend this system as it prevents folliculitis

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Transform your sleep with a little help from The Wool Room Sleep. Something that everyone does every night and many of us don’t put a great deal of thought in to. In fact, we often forget how important sleep is and the effect it has on our lives. We spend a third of our lives in bed, so it’s just as important as diet and exercise to ensure you have a healthy lifestyle. So, when we spend a third of our lives doing something, shouldn’t we ensure that we’re doing it well? The Wool Room are a company dedicated to transforming sleep. How? Another mobile phone app, a new diet or funky bed-side gadget, perhaps? No. The Wool Room isn’t changing anything that we do, but offering us the tools to make sure we get the best natural healthy sleep. All you must do is change your sleeping environment. As specialists in using wool to create a healthy home environment, The Wool Room offers a simple solution to the age-old problem of poor slumber; bedding that helps you sleep better naturally. They do this by using carefully selected British wools and natural cotton to create sleep enhancing bedding and mattresses. By why wool? For centuries wool has been used around the world because it was known for being a great insulator – perfect for

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keeping you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s not – but over time has been replaced with other textiles like synthetics and feather or down. Now The Wool Room is bringing wool back, and it’s making a huge difference. The key to better sleep relies heavily on temperature and humidity in our beds. The beauty of wool bedding is that it removes humidity from your bed by removing moisture and heat while you sleep, but also ensuring that a comfortable sleeping temperature is maintained throughout the night. Simple! You may be thinking, “doesn’t my bedding do this anyway?”. Sadly, no. Research by The University of Leeds showed that wool was 67% more effective at reducing humidity VS feather or down and 46% more effective VS synthetics. But it doesn’t end there as wool can retain or release heat making it far more flexible throughout the night, which is especially useful for young children with immature temperature regulation and, ahem, “women of a certain age”! The other major advantage of wool bedding is that it’s also naturally hypoallergenic. If you suffer with poor sleep because of night-time allergies, then this bedding is for you. No more boiling and freezing your duvet and pillows! The Wool Room’s entire bedding range also holds the Allergy UK seal of approval and is the only complete natural bedding solution to date that has achieved this. If you want to know how you can transform your sleep you can visit the Marlow store and speak to a sleep expert who can help you get the right bedding to suit your sleeping habits. 38 West Street, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 2NB , 01628 472287 www.thewoolroom.com

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

the woolroomÂŽ The home of natural healthy sleep

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26 |cole maintenance15.indd

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / 18/08/2015 FEBRUARY09:51 2017

5 Tips For PROBLEM WALLS Painting over wallpaper is an easy way to transform walls, and using a basecoat emulsion makes it even easier. Basecoats are designed to cover patterns and strong colours in fewer coats than it would take with standard emulsion, saving you time and effort. The problem with painting over wallpaper, especially if it’s been up for years, is that it will eventually start to come away from the wall, usually at the seams. If it’s already doing this, you can sometimes cut out the unadhered sections with a craft knife and then cover and blend with filler, but it isn’t a great long-term solution. You can also, of course, paint textured wallpaper, but this only works if you like the texture. Textured wallpaper is often used to cover less-than-perfect walls, so be prepared to replaster if you want to get

rid of the wallpaper. Plaster can come away with the wallpaper when you strip it off and it’s usually in a poor state underneath. If you can’t face the cost and mess of replastering, filler (or, if the wall’s really bad, DIY plaster repair and skim products) can work wonders, but filling and sanding walls in a poor state can be very time-consuming and will only go so far. Some walls are beyond repair and must be replastered, but even this has its problems. Newly plastered walls and ceilings can develop hairline cracks, especially over lath and plaster or if the plaster is ‘force’ dried too quickly. However much you fill them, cracks have a habit of reappearing and if this happens and you can’t live with them, lining paper or wallpaper should do the trick, but it’s a shame to wallpaper newly plastered walls.

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Blown plaster (plaster that’s spongy and moves slightly when pressed on) can also be held in place with lining paper, as long as you don’t put any weight on it, such as tiles, shelves or coat hooks. However, removing the plaster and replastering (see my How-to tip) is a much better and longer-term solution. Blown plaster can be skimmed over (by a plasterer), but this isn’t a good idea because the blown plaster isn’t adhered properly and may fall off. If you don’t mind the fact your walls have seen better days, it’s important to use the right type of paint on them. The best way to disguise uneven walls is to paint them with a chalky or flat-matt emulsion. Paint with any kind of sheen, such as silk emulsion, will emphasise the flaws, so avoid at all costs.

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kitchen, bedroom or home office Ashford Kitchens & Interiors offer complete design, supply and a fully project-managed installation service. Being established for over 30 years, with a large showroom in Ashford, Middlesex and a newly opened showroom in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors can provide you with a hassle-free and individual service which will exceed your expectations. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors will design and meet your budget in a timely manner.

The family run business are proud to have completed over several thousand installations in and around the local area – In the photos you can see some of these completed kitchens. Customers travel from far and wide for the expert advice provided by the family-run, KBSA registered business. ‘We heavily rely on recommendations – in fact, over 70% of our business is from recommendations alone’ says company director, Stephen Flower ‘We are very proud of this and recognise the importance of it.’ Offering high standards of quality and attention to detail, it’s no wonder Ashford Interiors has built up such a loyal clientèle. The company offer a free, no-obligation, design visit and planning service with computer aided design software, which helps client’s visualise their renovation project and make adjustments right for them. Our skilled designers can plan a kitchen to suit different budgets, style requirements and spaces. We make every effort to make things right from day one, so that you will be delighted with the end result.

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Ashford Kitchens & Interiors pride themselves on facilitating a fully project managed service, as not many companies take on the job as a whole. By providing this service, customers can feel at ease that their project is in safe hands; not having to worry about going elsewhere to search for appliances or flooring. The company provide expert knowledge and excellent prices on their high quality cabinetry from leading British manufacturers and a vast range of appliances, specialised worktops, flooring, tiles and lighting - all of which can be viewed in one of our spacious showrooms. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors has been a specialist member of the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) since 1984. We are one of 300 fully accredited, UK based, independent retailers recognised for providing the highest quality advice about key home improvements. Therefore, you can be double assured that we will always offer a highly professional and cost effective service from design to installation. Being a local, family run business Ashford Kitchens & Interiors genuinely care that their customers receive the best possible service and are happy with their experience from the moment they step into the showroom. We welcome you to visit our spacious showrooms in Ashford, Middlesex & Farnham Common, Bucks where you will be able to experience the variety and quality of our extensive displays that will inspire you to create your dream kitchen, bedroom or home office. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors is at The Parade, The Broadway, Farnham Common, and 85, Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex. www.ashfordinteriors.co.uk | info@ashfordinteriors.co.uk Ashford 01784 245964 or Farnham Common 01753 642362 Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Thinking of replacing your kitchen, bedroom, or home ofďŹ ce? Visit one of our large showrooms for inspiration & to book your FREE design visit.

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1-2 The Parade, Farnham Common, Bucks SL2 3QJ Tel: 01753 642362

Ashford Showroom

85 Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2PE Tel: 01784 245964 Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Healthy Habits

Get your taste buds tingling with a AquaZinger | Infuse your water with a range of natural, fresh flavours, making your two litres of water tastier and more exciting. A stainless Steel padded outer to keep your water colder for longer and a grinder in the bottom section, where you can add your own fruit combination. The pulp is held in the bottom section making it easier to clean up when you’ve finished. The Aqauzinger holds 568ml of water ensuring you get at least two of your required eight glasses of water a day. For a cheeky alternative why not use your favourite spirit, twist and shake it all up in a Vodka Zinger | £25 | www.root7.com

Swifty Scooters | Scooters made in Britain that can be folded down in less than five seconds. Scooting increases your core strength as you need to keep yourself well balanced as you turn, using the muscles around your stomach and back, protecting yourself against back problems. Scooting on flat ground also has benefits, as it has been proven to provide you with gentle aerobic exercises which helps to increase the heart rate. Propelling yourself along off the ground gives you a powerful work out in itself, not forgetting a great conditioning exercise for the glute and thigh muscles. Comes in a variety of colours | polished aluminium, metallic black, blue and vibrant orange | from £599 (incl VAT) | www.swiftyscooters.com/stockists

Spire | a small device that resembles a pebble that you can clip onto your bra strap, belt or pop in your pocket. It measures your breathing and tell when you are stressed. Spire will send your vital signs to the accompanying app which will then give you meditation or breathing exercises to help remedy your stress levels, reduce tension, discover your state of mind and boost your calm and focus, allowing you to reach “mindfulness” wherever you are | £99.95 | www.apple.com | www.amazon.co.uk | www.spire.io Vitamix S30 | High powered blender, perfect for smoothies, nut butters, snacks, soups and sorbets. As the Vitamix S30 is so versatile, it comes with its own recipe book to get you started and give you inspiration to create a healthy start to your new year | £299 | www.vitamix.co.uk

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The Healthy Home Coach | Netatmo’s smart indoor climate monitor enabling the user to create a healthier home environment. The monitor tracks air quality, humidity, temperature and noise and send notifications when a rooms atmosphere in unhealthy. It comes with three profiles with settings determined by the EPA: General Room, Baby’s Room and Asmathic Childs room | £99.99 | www.netatmo.com

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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19/08/2015 13:16

Rhubarb

Winter Pruning why do it?

Rhubarb is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. This long-lived perennial needs little attention and can also look spectacular in herbaceous borders, with its huge leaves and bright-red leaf stalks. Grow it in a sunny spot in moist but not waterlogged soil. Plant dormant crowns in late autumn or early spring in richly manured soil, allowing 90cm (3ft) between plants. Remove any flowering stems which develop in summer - these are the strong, upright ones growing through the centre of the plant - cutting them out as close to the base as you can. When the foliage dies down in autumn, remove the dead leaves, sprinkle fertiliser around the plants and mulch generously. For early stems, force rhubarb by covering a well-established crown with an upturned dustbin in mid-January or early February. When you see long stems with pale yellow leaves appearing, pull as many as you want until the end of March, uncovering the plant to allow it to grow naturally.

DAVID BRAY DOMESTIC PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS

The team at Calibra Tree Surgeons looks at why dormant pruning has many positive characteristics.

One Benefit is that dormant pruning enables us to correct disease problems which would be more risky during the summer season. For example, it is very difficult to prune fire blight from trees or shrubs during the highly infectious spring and early summer times without spreading the disease to other limbs or plants. During the winter, bacterial populations in cankered branches are lower and dormant, and hence, less likely to be transmitted via pruning tools. Proper pruning of trees can make them more storm resistant, whether the storm threat is from ice damage or from high winds. Pruning is often regarded as a proactive, health maintenance insurance plan to guard against potentially serious problems, analogous to the ever more popular and wise preventative care in human health plans. So if you have deadwood or would like to know about pruning your trees in the winter, don’t forget to contact you local tree surgeon.

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19/08/2015 13:14

Calibra Calibra Tree Surgeons

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Next Edition March/April Deadline 3rd February 34 |

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Hot, Hot

Energy Savings The clocks have gone back and the days are getting colder, so if you’re worried about a chill on your finances this winter, now’s the time to do something about it. Firstly, you’re likely to be reaching to turn on the heating as temperatures fall, but when was the last time you switched energy deals? Even if the last time you switched was only last winter, now might be a good time to switch again, as many people are only on a one-year fix. A recent survey conducted to mark Big Energy Saving Week suggested millions of households are paying more for their energy than they need to, because they mistakenly believe they’re on the cheapest tariff. Even if you have switched recently, it may be worth checking whether your old energy supplier still owes you some cash if you were in credit when you switched. Consumer help website MoneySavingExpert.com has a reclaiming guide on its website that can help with this. If you can stand to be a bit chillier, it may also be worth bearing in mind that lowering your thermostat by just 1C can potentially add up to savings of £80 to £85 per year. You can also save by preparing your home for the winter months. More than three quarters of people (77%) having experienced a seasonal problem in their home previously, according to research from E.ON Energy.

Insulating hot water pipes with foam insulation sleeves can save energy by cutting the need to reheat water and preventing pipes from freezing.

The typical bill for emergency call-outs comes to £114. Yet many of us seem to push previous memories of burst pipes and faulty heating aside - as more than half (58%) of us don’t prepare for winter. Some people may be entitled to free help with saving energy, thanks to the many schemes available.

CRAIG’S TOP TIPS E.ON Energy has teamed up with DIY expert and former Big Brother winner Craig Phillips to offer tips on how to save money by saving energy during the darker months: Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Loft insulation is one of the most effective ways to help contain heat and reduce energy costs. DIY loft insulation can cost between £50 and £350 depending on the amount of work required, but people on certain income related-benefits may qualify for free installation. A home can lose about a third of its heat through uninsulated walls. An estimated £290 a year could be saved with wall insulation. Insulating hot water pipes with foam insulation sleeves can save energy by cutting the need to reheat water and preventing pipes from freezing. Fitting a cylinder jacket on the water tank can reduce heat loss and cut a household’s gas bill by around 5%. By filling gaps around windows, doors, pipes, loft hatches, and even keyholes and letterboxes, with draught-proofing supplies from local DIY stores, you’ll prevent warm air escaping. It’s a good idea to also ensure all doors and windows are closing properly and have the correct draft excluding strips fitted. The potential saving from sealing floorboard gaps is estimated at up to £20 per year. Insulating under floorboards could save a household an estimated £80 per year. If radiators feel cold at the top and hot at the bottom, this could be a sign that your radiators need bleeding to let trapped air escape.

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Where has all our wildlife gone? This year we have seen the publication of the State of Nature 2016 report. The report compiled by more than 50 leading wildlife charities, research organisations, is an assessment of the status of wildlife in the UK. When the report was published, its appearance was somewhat low key as the media were otherwise engaged. Brexit and the election of a USA president, dominated the headlines. Many probably missed a report that has serious repercussions and after all it’s only about nature, it’s certainly not as important as politics.

another world. Every living thing, shares this blue marble spinning in the black void of space. Therefore we are in serious trouble.

We and a lot of other people take a different view. Someone as important as Sir David Attenborough wrote in the report’s foreword: “The natural world is in serious trouble and it needs our help as never before”.

Due to changes in the way we live, once common species, like Hedgehogs have declined. Once our gardens once havens for wildlife; now have become just like our countryside, a monoculture of grass surrounded by concrete and fences. Our gardens are no longer “wildlife corridors” they are wildlife deserts.

The report highlights over the last 50 years, 56% of our UK species have declined; while 15% are at risk of disappearing from our shores altogether. Research published in the journal Science, revealed that the UK lost significantly more of its nature, than the global average. 218 countries were assessed for ‘biodiversity intactness’ in other words how they look after nature. The UK managed to scrape in at 189th, not a great result. Let’s face it; we’re just not good at nature.

So what if we lose Hedgehogs, who cares? Well what if we couldn’t grow our food. Almost all pollination relies on bees, wasps, ants, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, birds, rodents, and reptiles. They just like the Hedgehog are all in decline. No pollination, no food. It has taken just 50 years to change the ecosystem we inhabit. In another 50 years the world will be very different. Will global warming and food shortages drive us to the edge of extinction or will the conflicts they produce have removed Homo sapiens from the planet?

It isn’t often we take issue with such a great naturalist, but on this occasion, we will. What is the natural world? As far as we know, there is only one world. No one has yet discovered, to our knowledge

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How can you help? Well for a start; consider how you consume the natural world and try and live more sustainably. Rather than spending a fortune on a gym membership volunteer at your local Wildlife Trust. It’s a great way to keep fit and it’s free and doing good. Doing your bit, encouraging others to get involved, we need to get people to care about nature. Don’t forget to get out and enjoy nature first hand. Experiencing nature is good for you. Jackie and Mark Bloomfield Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

A winter walk with a

National Trust Ranger

By Katy Dunn

As we head down the hill, the red kites wheel and shriek overhead like prehistoric creatures. People feed them, but Jerry would rather they didn’t. They’re mostly carrion feeders and get plenty of food throughout the year, and feeding them can make them lose their fear of humans. ‘They’re a very big bird with sharp claws and we wouldn’t want them to start stealing picnics like seagulls at the coast,’ he says. There are also buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks hunting the grassland in winter. When there’s one close by it sets the redwings chattering noisily in the thorn trees. You can also see bullfinches and waxwings if you’re lucky. One of Jerry’s favourite birds to watch at Watlington Hill is the raven. ‘You’ll see them most days,’ says Jerry. ‘Sometimes singly, or in twos or three. You’ll see them close their wings, then tumble and sweep on the thermals like a falcon, sometimes turning 180 degrees in flight in an extraordinary air display. They have this wonderful deep, throaty call they make whilst they’re flying, like they’re really enjoying themselves.’

Watlington Hill I’m standing on the very edge of the Chilterns overlooking the Vale of Oxford at Watlington Hill. It’s one of those magical winter days with a bright blue sky, melting frost underfoot and a steely sun that you can’t help turning towards, even though it hurts your eyes. There’s the tiny market town of Watlington nestling below and a patchwork of fields in infinite shades of grey, brown and green unfurling into the distance. The M40 snakes through the landscape to the right. It’s so peaceful here, it’s hard to believe we’re only minutes from the M40 cut-through at Stokenchurch. I’m here to meet Jerry Page, who has been a National Trust Ranger for 32 years in the Chilterns and knows these hills like his own back garden. We’re doing the ‘Watlington Hill short walk’ downloadable from the National Trust website. There are longer hikes for when you’ve more time, but the short walk is great for a blast of winter fresh air, big skies and awesome views. On the second half of the walk, we head into dense yew woods with their intricately twisted trunks, evergreen needles and bright red berries before returning to the car park. At the moment we’re on the chalk grassland. It’s been cropped golf-course short by grazing rabbits. That’s not a bad thing, as their grazing keeps down the dominant coarse grasses, which allows a wealth of wild flowers to bloom in summer. They’ve shut up shop for the moment, but there’s a stark, architectural beauty to the gnarly yew and thorn trees clinging to the slope. Jerry and his fantastic team of volunteers, Friends of Watlington Hill and the Green Gym, look after the hill by keeping down the scrub. ‘Scrub is valuable as a habitat for a few species, but the chalk grassland we have at Watlington Hill is the British equivalent of tropical rainforest. It supports a huge range of wild and rare flowers, butterflies and invertebrates, but it’s under threat and would be lost if we didn’t manage the scrub,’ says Jerry. You might see Jerry and the volunteers in the wintertime, pulling birch seedlings or digging out larger trees and shrubs with mattocks. Work slows down in the spring so as not to disturb nesting birds. Next on their list is a hazel copse that they’d like to bring into a coppicing cycle again. Coppicing is when you cut young trees back to a short stump above the ground. The following spring, the tree sprouts a mass of new shoots which quickly reaches head height. ‘Coppicing was done in the past to produce poles for fencing, hedge laying, firewood and charcoal,’ says Jerry. ‘From a conservation point of view, it also opens up the ground around the tree, letting in the light. You’ll always see a mass of new flowers arrive as if from nowhere when you coppice.’ The coppice will have to be protected from deer who love nibbling the new shoots. At Watlington Hill you might see any one of three types of deer on a winter walk. The most common are fallow, but there are also little muntjac and roe. ‘Their territories range far and wide,’ says Jerry, ‘You can see their tracks in winter and they’ll easily cross roads and jump fences.’

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

I’m enjoying myself too. There’s something pure about a winter walk, no distractions from picnics or pretty flowers, just the cold air refreshing your lungs and a real appreciation of the form of the landscape and the shapes within it. Soon we’re off the grassland and plunged into the spooky gloom of the yew wood. Yews are a slow-growing, long-lived tree and their trunks develop wonderful furrows and ridges as they age. The wood has been sought out throughout the ages for bows and tool handles and is prized by furniture makes today for its interesting grain, durability and water-resistance. Whilst almost all of the yew tree is toxic if eaten, the berries, or arils as they’re more correctly termed, are not. They’re a valuable source of food for birds through the winter and the black seeds pass through without harming the bird and so get distributed to start a new tree. There’s a sunken path – probably an old drovers’ track that runs along the edge of the yew wood at Watlington hill. There are shades of Hansel and Gretel about a dark, dense yew woodland and it’s reassuring to have the open landscape close by. Soon we’re climbing the hill through more familiar and friendly beech woodland back to the car park. I thank Jerry for his time and insights into what to see in winter at Watlington Hill. He reminds me that there are similar habitats with chalk grassland and amazing, steep sloped views at Maidenhead and Cookham Commons with downloadable trails on the National Trust website. I’ll certainly be giving those a try. Nationaltrust.org.uk/chilterns-countryside Nationaltrust.org.uk/maidenhead-andcookham-commons Images © Hugh Mothersole

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STOKE PARK WEDDING SHOWCASE

Sunday 26th February 2017 - 10:30am - 3:00pm Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting an intimate Wedding Showcase, displaying Stoke Park as a Wedding Venue. Our beautiful rooms will be dressed and our team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about holding your special day, here at Stoke Park. Join us from 10:30am until 3:00pm on Sunday 26th February, for a glass of bubbles and a chance to enjoy Stoke Park as a potential wedding venue.

All visitors will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast stay at Stoke Park. Appointments will be available throughout the day with our Wedding and Events Co-ordinators, please note it is advisable to book these before the day to avoid disappointment. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01753 717188 or email weddings@stokepark.com Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG www.stokepark.com info@stokepark.com 01753 717171

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www.stokepark.com

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

A TASTE of the Cape

Awards aren’t the be all and end all, of course, but when it comes to gourmet gongs, the metropolis that lies at the foot of Table Mountain sure has garnered a lot recently. The readers of Conde Nast Traveller voted Cape Town the number one food destination in the world this year; the revered annual Eat Out rankings state that 17 of the country’s 20 best restaurants are found within the city limits; and it’s home to the best coffee shop on the planet, bar none. And with BA’s new direct overnight flight from Gatwick, a long weekend of non-stop scoffing is now a viable option.

Hermanus - South Africa’s most famous wine producing region

cup of Joe it peddles, but also its expansive industrial-chic cafe. The open-front space, peppered with quirky curios, is ridiculously cool. When I stop by, actor Johnny Knoxville is chatting with a friend at the ornate chrome bar. Yet it’s not at all pretentious - and the house Resurrection blend is extraordinarily smooth and satisfying. Unbeatable bean juice is just one of many reasons foodies are flocking to the city. “We have a lot of talented chefs. It’s where people come if they want to establish themselves,” Truth’s assistant general manager Samantha Long tells me. “And we all support each other,” she says of the burgeoning scene, citing toasted sandwich shop Melt on Long Street as her current favourite hotspot.

Another bonus? The time difference is only two hours, so jet lag won’t rear its ugly head.

A couple of blocks away, where Bree and Shortmarket Streets intersect, is the epicurean epicentre, where new eateries are springing up at such a rate, even those in the know are struggling to keep up.

In need of a quick post-flight pickme-up, I make the aforementioned coffee mecca my first port of call when I land.

Want to lunch like a local? Take a stroll along Bree to pick up the ingredients for a DIY feast.

Truth Coffee Roasting on Buitenkant Street was declared the world’s number one coffee shop by the Telegraph last year, testament not only to the anything-but-average

“Get your bread from Jason’s, your cheese from Culture Club, and your meat from Bacon on Bree, then go and have a picnic in Kirstenbosch gardens,” recommends Matt Fuller, who leads food-themed tours around the tastiest suburbs. Over on Shortmarket Street, the third opening from celebrated chef Luke Dale-Roberts is one of the latest jewels in the city’s culinary crown.

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Capetonians flock to the Shortmarket Club for tart crispy octopus, daily changing fish specials and orgasmic desserts (as a pudding-worshipper, the gooey chocolate souffle is nothing short of a religious experience). Brit Dale-Roberts isn’t the only out-of-towner who recognises the Cape’s potential. “A lot of people are watching the city,” Chef Nobu Matsuhisa tells me over lunch. “Since I’ve been here, people are looking for good food, the city is growing.” The Godfather of sushi is visiting Africa’s only outpost of his wildly successful upscale Japanese chain, housed in the plush One&Only resort. Nobu’s sushi is second to none, which is why his two starry London branches command a pretty penny. But a visit here, thanks to the favourable exchange rate, costs about a third of what it would back in Blighty. It’s not all high-end and haute, however, in this urban jungle. I’m treated to a taste of home-cooked Cape Town when I venture into the Nyanga township to experience Theatre In The Backyard, which takes place

in a house borrowed from a local dweller. Following an outdoor performance of Is He Mad? - a moving one-man monologue brought to life with boundless energy by actor Lamla Ntsakub - I sit down in the home’s cosy living room with the star and his director, George Mhlanguli, to chat over a hearty dinner of chicken wings, spicy chakalaka stew and savoury doughnut-like vetkoeks, washed down with tangy home-made ginger beer. I’m ashamed to admit the only South African delicacy I could name before my trip was billtong, but there’s far more to the nation’s repertoire than that leathery dried meat, as I learn when I visit the suburb of Bo-kaap, where houses painted pea green, cyan, lemon and aqua are luminous in the fierce midday sun. In the kitchen of a violet two-storey property on Wale Street, Faldela Tolker, who’s lived here for 26 years, teaches classes specialising in the melting-pot cuisine known as Cape Malay. “You’ll find a little bit of Asian Malay influence in all our dishes,” she explains, flitting between motherly advice and delightfully cantankerous banter as we get to work whipping up a fragrant

Nobu Matsuhisa - founder of Nobu restaurant chain in South Africa

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

seven-spice chicken curry and stuffing samosas.

Camps Bay, Cape Town the twelve apostles mountain range in background

We kneed, twist and flatten a stretchy dough to make roti flatbreads, which Faldela fries to flaky, golden perfection. Since we’re in a Muslim household, there’s no booze served when we sit down to sample the fruits of our labour. But you’re never far from a tasty tipple in the country famed for its world-class viticulture. Hermanus, a 90-minute drive south-east, is home to the so-called Wine Road, an 18km stretch where rolling hills patchworked with rows of verdant vines are framed in the distance by craggy terracotta peaks and an astonishingly vivid cloudless sky. And just outside Cape Town proper, you’ll find Constantia, with its 10 vineyards and yet more tempting restaurants. Truth be told, if you’re serious about hunting down the best eats South Africa has to offer, you’d do better to skip the Table Mountain tour and take your place at one of the city’s fine-dining tables instead. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Five Of The Best:

WHERE TO DINE AND DRINK IN CAPE TOWN Best for: Food theatrics

The Test Kitchen, www.thetestkitchen.co.za The first seven courses of the spectacular Test Kitchen tasting menu take place in the sumptuous wood-panelled Dark Room, before guests move to the airy Light Room for the remainder of Brit star chef Luke Dale-Roberts’ award-winning offering. HOW MUCH?: Taster menu is R1500 (£91)pp.

Best for: Cracking cocktails The Secret Gin Bar, www.honestchocolate.co.za/ the-gin-bar. Knock on the door of the Honest Chocolate shop after hours and you’ll discover a secret gin bar where just five varieties of G&T are served in a candlelit courtyard. HOW MUCH?: G&Ts are around R65 (£3.70) each.

Best for: Authentic South African flavours

Greenhouse, www.greenhouserestaurant.co.za Overlooking the vineyards at the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel, Greenhouse focuses on traditional South African dishes made modern. Choose from Hunter (meat) or Gatherer (veggie) tasting menus. HOW MUCH?: From R900 (£51)pp.

Best for: Beer lovers

The Taproom, www.devilspeakbrewing.co.za The craft beer scene is booming in Cape Town. Sample the Devil’s Peak Brewing Company’s finest ales in its trendy Woodstock bar while enjoying views of Devil’s Peak through the floor to ceiling windows. HOW MUCH?: From R25 (£1.60) for a bottle of beer.

Best for: Date-night dining

Chef’s Warehouse, www.chefswarehouse.co.za ‘Tapas for 2’ is the only main course on the menu at this relaxed restaurant, which will get you a selection of small pates served in three courses with dishes changing daily. They don’t take bookings though, so arrive early. HOW MUCH?: R620 (about £35) for two.

TRAVEL FACTS British Airways flies from Gatwick to Cape Town twice a week (ba.com/capetown; 0344 493 0787). Prices start from £535 return, including all taxes and charges. For more information on South Africa and Cape Town, visit uk.southafrica.net. Katie Wright

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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In The Same Boat With ‘Dad’s Boats’ Uniquely designed Pedal Boats for two, perfect for the UK’s inland waterways, will be on view at the 2017 London Boat Show. A Norfolk Pedal Boat maker is set to exhibit their uniquely designed boats at the iconic London Boat Show in January. David Williams (Dad) build his first Pedal Boat in the 1950s. Ludham based Dad’s Boats is a family run business manufacturing and selling their latest unique design which allows two people to face each other and pedal forwards in comfort. The sophisticated gearbox makes it efficient, easy to use and environmentally friendly so you can just sit back, sip a drink, chat and take some gentle exercise while enjoying the water. David’s first Pedal Boat was a single seater and was designed as a way of following his remote controlled yacht while keeping his hands free for the controls. The drive mechanism was an old hand drill! ‘The Sieve’, as it was affectionately called, was moth balled in the garden not long after when National Service got in the way. By the time David got back two years later ‘The Sieve’ had deteriorated so much all he could do was cut it up for firewood. So, the next generation of Pedal Boat started to form in his mind - this time a more sociable two-seater. This boat accompanied David on his honeymoon around the Norfolk Broads in the 1960s and has also been pedaled around the Isle of Wight (don’t try this at home). Designed also with the Scottish Lochs, Windermere and The Thames in mind, The Pedal Boat provides a perfect way to enjoy the water hands free. Since 2012 Dad’s Boats has been developing and testing a commercial model based on David’s original Pedal Boat. Dad’s Boats will be exhibiting a production model of The Pedal Boat at the Show as well as their hand crafted ornamental wooden propellers. David William’s sonin-law, Stephen Pitkethly of Dad’s Boats says, “Being at the 2017 London Boat Show is important for us because we are a new company with a unique product and we need to let people know we exist and raise awareness of The Pedal Boat. London is a great place to do that.” For more information visit the Dad’s Boats stand at DO24 or their website www.dadsboats.com

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Owned by

a Dog? We’ve covered a lot of dog related topics during 2016 which hopefully you have found informative and possibly even helpful. Identifying the topic for the start of a new year has proved quite difficult as there is so much doggie chat out there.

To avoid staring at a blank page, I decided to scroll through a local dog group page on Facebook and a frequent theme seemed to be the problems associated with owning a dog, or maybe being owned by a dog would be a better description. Common topics were people not picking up after their dog, meeting other dogs and their owners when out walking and the encounter not being a good one for whatever reason, dogs destroying household items, difficulty with recall or chasing cats, jumping up, stealing food, and so the list goes on. These are people who are obviously dog oriented enough to be a member of a dog group on social media. There were both positive and negative posts, but really someone who wasn’t a dog owner could conclude that the balance between the comments expressed was very fine when it comes to owning a dog.

So why do we do it? It’s not cheap A dog will easily cost around £1000 a year to keep, and certainly more if you have a large one or go for high end foods, use professional groomers or day care, and the Dogs can be very tying so no decision can be made without considering what you are going to do with your dog(s) as spur of the moment invitations or opportunities can be severely limited. You typically spend 1-2 hours in your

busy day walking in all weathers. The house never feels fully clean and there are always dog hairs on the floor, on your clothes, on the dinner plate as you are serving…… The guilt you perpetually live with when you go out to work, the cinema or just visiting friends. Ok, there is an easy solution to that one, ditch the friends! So to compensate you do a ‘proper long walk’ at the weekend or you might take up agility, scenting or rally.

So I ask the question again. Why do we do it? Because dogs are the only creatures that are always pleased to see you. Because their capacity to forgive even terrible actions against them is incredible. Because they are hugely entertaining – owning a dog guarantees that you will laugh at least once a day – and laughter is, after all, the best medicine. Because dogs create community. You will meet your neighbours because you are out with your dog. You will talk to strangers because of your dog. You will visit places that you may not have gone to otherwise because they have good dog walking. You will be fitter, even if you are only walking round the block. You are more aware of the seasons and changes to the natural environment. You will have a better work life balance because you have to get back for the dog. So yes, there are certainly downsides to being a ‘dog parent’, but from my perspective, the positives definitely outweigh them. Taking on a dog is a big commitment that will last for 10 plus years. Don’t do it lightly, you can’t just hand them to someone when circumstances change. They will never give up on you so you need to be as equally committed! Dru Ross

www.bigdogbedcompany.co.uk Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

• Waterproof • Antibacterial • Hardwearing • Comfortable

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FIRST DRIVE: Maserati Levante WHAT’S NEW? Despite having been presenting 4×4 concepts since the early 2000s, Maserati has taken its time in coming to the ever-growing SUV market. The Levante, though, has finally arrived in the UK, ready to wade into battle with the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne.

Underneath the rather attractive bodywork, it’s essentially a jacked-up Ghibli, albeit with some clever four-wheel-drive gubbins and a few other choice modifications. Maserati freely admits the Levante is no match for the Range Rover on the rough stuff, but instead pitches this as a sportier alternative that’s still more than capable when the going gets muddy.

LOOKS AND IMAGE

It seems the Levante is a divisive thing to look at. Some love its combination of sleek lines, taut haunches and aggressive grille, but others seem less than impressed. Either way, it’s a striking thing, but we’re very much in the love camp. We’re particular fans of the long bonnet, the rakish rear window and the narrowed lights, which give it a purposeful, forward-set stance. Inside, the cabin feels as you’d expect from a £54,000 SUV. Even if you don’t go for the extended leather pack, which adds smart upholstery to the dash, you’ll be surrounded by high-quality plastics and soft leather seats.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY There’s a lot of space in the Levante, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the car’s enormity. At a touch over five metres in length, the Maserati is six inches longer than a Range Rover Sport and just as wide. It is, however, around 10cm shorter than the Range Rover in terms of height, but this doesn’t cause any problems in terms of practicality. There’s bags of headroom in the rear for even tall adults, and legroom is decent, too. The 580-litre boot is also highly competitive, offering 91 litres more capacity than the Range Rover’s 489-litre load bay.

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BEHIND THE WHEEL

Maserati claims the Levante has been designed with handling firmly in mind, so it gets a 50/50 weight distribution, some lightweight magnesium components and the lowest centre of gravity of any of its rivals. All that supercar stuff is very promising, but when you get the car on the road, even that can’t hide the fact this is a five-metre-long, two-metre-wide 4×4. The steering is beautifully weighted and precise, body roll is well contained, and the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine serves up a pleasant shove in the back when you put your foot down, but it always feels big and substantial - not quite heavy, but certainly chunky. It’s still an impressively agile car for its size, though. Just don’t go expecting GranTurismo levels of handling prowess. If you’ve come to the Levante in search of a transcontinental cruiser with lashings of all-terrain capability, however, you’ve come to the right place. The suspension is tuned to provide feedback and tells you exactly what the wheels are encountering beneath you, but it never jolts or lurches over potholes. The seats are comfortable, too, and though Maserati doesn’t pretend to offer class-leading technology, there’s more than enough infotainment kit to keep passengers entertained. If you do encounter snow or mud on your travels, you can lift the suspension and tune the fourwheel-drive system to reduce its inherent rearward bias and split the power more evenly between the axles. This doesn’t quite turn it into an expeditionary mud-plugger, but it does make it capable enough to

tackle terrain far more challenging than the average owner will ever show it.

VALUE FOR MONEY

As standard, the Levante comes with a plentiful kit list, including full leather upholstery, satellite navigation and air suspension, as well as other niceties such as a Harman Kardon sound system. You can add more gizmos with a range of packs, chief among which is the Luxury Pack, which provides a powered steering column, a 360degree parking camera and heated front seats. Alternatively, you can go for the Sport Pack, which provides aluminium gear shift paddles, larger 20-inch alloys and sportier seats. There’s a Driver Assistance Pack, too, which offers a horde of safety gadgets, including lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring. Prices start from £54,335, which is about £9,000 cheaper than the 3.0-litre V6 diesel-engined Range Rover Sport. It isn’t quite that simple, thanks to differences in specification and all the rest of it, but the upshot is that the Levante is no more expensive than any of its rivals.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE?

The Levante will probably always stay a niche offering compared with the Range Rover Sports and Porsche Cayennes of this world, but it seems Maserati is quite content with that. The Levante, then, takes its place as a likeable, characterful alternative to those segment leaders - a way of standing out from the crowd without sacrificing luxury, performance or capability.

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

ACROSS

1. Remains of a soft lever perhaps (9) 8. Have to concede (3) 9. He tells you to raise your glasses to a saint and teacher (11) 9 11. Shop Reg set up for animals (7) 12. Awfully inane girl (5) 13. Out to boo the first musician (6) 15. Bed in a ship for a girl (6) 11 17. Money container that boxers fight for (5) 18. Piece of drapery Victoria and Albert clean up (7) 20. Post pinmen to Pat perhaps (11) 13 22. Establish a group (3) 23. Perceived that the screen did get taken out (9)

Martin adaMs

MARTIN ADAMS:MARTIN ADAMS.qxd 13/04/2010 10:31 Page 1

VEHICLE SERVICING

8 10

15 16

22 23

Across: 1 Leftovers; 8 Own; 9 Toastmaster; 11 Gophers; 12 Annie; 13 Oboist; 15 Bertha; 17 Purse; 18 Valance; 20 Appointment; 22 Set; 23 Discerned.

2. The English go for a self-image (3) 3. Unusual new route (5) 4. Pass by when asleep, possibly (6) 5. Fill beyond capacity on the day I eat out (7) 6. E.g., in favour of taking a fashionable posture (3,8) 7. You find a new grave in one, usually (2,7) 10. Apt to take illegally (11) 11. Favourable reviews will make clothes look smart (4,5) 14. Soaked an unreasonable journalist (7) 16. Keeps out of the way when around an empty place (6) 19. Being drunk, he was supple (5) 21. Born in Bourne End? (3)

Down: 2 Ego; 3 Outre; 4 Elapse; 5 Satiate; 6 For instance; 7 On average; 10 Appropriate; 11 Good press; 14 Steeped; 16 Avoids; 19 Lithe; 21 Nee.

DOWN

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Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Met Opera: Romeo & Juliet (12A) The electrifying team of Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau reunites for a new production of Gounod’s opera based on the Shakespeare play. Live: Sat 21 Jan, 5.55 Encore: Mon 23 Jan, 12.00 Bolshoi Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty (12A) In the purest style of classical ballet, the Bolshoi’s peerlessly sumptuous staging with luxurious sets and costumes brings Perrault’s tale to life. Sun 22 Jan, 3.00 Dementia Friendly Screening: An American In Paris (U) Open to all but especially for people with dementia and their family, friends and carers. Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits will be on offer before the screening and there will be a 20-minute interval halfway through the film. Wed 1 Feb, 11.00

ROGUE ONE: A Star Wars Story (12A, 134 mins) Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Thriller. Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yu, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed and the voice of James Earl Jones. Director: Gareth Edwards. The harsh realities of war - for the warriors on the battleground and those waiting nervously back home - are brought into sharp focus in the first spin-off anthology film from the Star Wars saga, which enriches the history of the universe created by George Lucas, before the arrival of Star Wars Episode VIII next December. Since Rogue One is a standalone storyline, Gareth Edwards’ film will not opening with the iconic title credits crawl accompanied by a deafening blast of John Williams’ theme music. However, we are promised plenty of teasing references to the Star Wars universe and might there be a fleeting cameo for Alden Ehrenreich as the young Han Solo, who will headline his own spin-off film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, due for release in May 2018? Based on an original script by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, Rogue One unfolds in a galaxy far, far away, shortly before the events of the blockbusting 1977 picture Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. The Galactic Empire begins construction of a new superweapon called the Death Star under the watchful eye of Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) and weapons research director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). If this behemoth becomes fully operational, the Imperial Military will be able to destroy entire planets and crush all resistance to its relentless power-hungry onslaught. The Rebel Alliance launches a decisive response and recruits Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), whose estranged father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) is somehow linked to the project. Jyn must steal the design schematics as part of a crack team including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and an enforcer droid called K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), whose memory has been wiped. Clone Wars veteran Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) and skilled assassins Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yu) and Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen) become embroiled in this titanic battle between good and evil, that could determine the fate of the Rebel Alliance.

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National Theatre: Amadeus (12A) Lucian Msamati plays Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s iconic play, broadcast from the National Theatre with live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia. Live: Thu 2 Feb, 7.00 Encore: Thu 9 Feb, 7.00 Bolshoi Ballet: Swan Lake (12A) A ballet of ultimate beauty, and a score of unparalleled perfection, born at the Bolshoi in 1877. Sun 5 Feb, 3.00 ROH: Woolf Works (12A) The pioneering literary work of Virginia Woolf is the inspiration for multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor’s brilliant triptych for The Royal Ballet. Wed 8 Feb, 7.15 National Theatre: Saint Joan (12A) Gemma Arterton is Joan of Arc, broadcast live from the Donmar Warehouse. Thu 16 Feb, 7.00 Met Opera: Rusalka (12A) Kristine Opolais stars in a new production of the opera that first won her international acclaim, Dvořák’s fairy tale about the tragic water nymph Rusalka. Live: Sat 25 Feb, 5.55 ROH: The Sleeping Beauty (12A) The Royal Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty combines the best of classical ballet, with all its charms and virtuosity, splendid music and talented dancers. Tue 28 Feb, 7.00 Regal Picturehouse, 2 Boroma Way, Henley RG9 2BZ 0871 902 5738 | www.picturehouses.co.uk

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

January

Diary Dates

09: ‘Come and Sing’ with Marlow Choral Society We meet on Mondays at 20.00 in Marlow Methodist Church Hall, Spittal Street, we shall be singing John Stainer’s Crucifixion, first term free for new members – 01628 478345 or 07724 563495.

10 Jan - 21 Mar: WEA Marlow Branch ‘The Arts of China’ This course aims to give an introduction to the artistic products of an ancient culture that is very different from our own at Liston Hall, Chapel Street, on Tuesdays 10:30-12:30, £86.10, course tutor Charles Tyzack to book call Sue Mahoney on 01628 810341 or susan.m.mahoney@googlemail.com

11: The Four Seasons Club Meeting At Liston Hall, Chapel Street, 10:30.

13-28: Lane End Players present Ali Baba & The Forty Thieves By David Swan at Lane End Village Hall: Fridays at 7.30pm, Saturdays at 1pm and 5.30pm. Tickets £6 - £10. Book on 01494 880662.

15: ‘Oakley Court Wedding Showcase’

23: ‘Boutique Cinema ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ At Clayton’s Marlow, 20:00, booking advisable 01628 488404.

23: ‘Chinese New Year’ - Year of the Dragon 25: ‘Burns Night’ 26: ‘Feeling Stressed?’ want to change your life in 2017?

16: ‘Boutique Cinema ‘BFG’

New goals, new you! Join us for an evening of talks, £10 for wristband for talks go to one or all of them 18:30-21:00 at Wycombe Museum – 01494 957210.

At Clayton’s Marlow, 20:00, booking advisable 01628 488404.

26: ‘Behind the Scenes Manor Tour’

Water Oakley, Windsor SL4 5UR

19: ‘A Causewayed Enclosure and other Discoveries at Thame’ Ken Welsh – Regional Manager, Oxford Archaeology South for Marlow Archaeology Society at Liston Hall, 20:00, £4, members £3, students £1.50 – 01628 523896.

19: The Four Seasons Club – ‘A Judgement in Stone’

Join a member of the house team for a 45 minute tour behind the scenes, see our conservation in action and get a sneak peep into some of our store rooms at Hughenden Manor, 11:00-12:00, £4 plus normal admission, to book call 01494 755573.

28: ‘Marlow Community Market’

At Windsor Theatre, £40, 10:30

Local crafts and produce, refreshments available at Liston Hall, 09:30-13:00.

20: “Ploughmans and Puds”

28: ‘Coppicing’,

Rotary Club Bridge Drive at Liston Hall. Doors open at 19.00, play will commence at 19.30, bring your own cloth, pens and playing cards, £56 per table. Phone Peter Bailey on 01628 476610.

9:30-16:00, Maidenhead & Cookham Commons. Learn one of the oldest woodland crafts in this practical introduction with the rangers Light lunch and hot drinks included. £45 0344 249 1895.

20: ‘Yoga & Vegan Food Pop-Up’,

28-29: ‘RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch Weekend’

19.30-21:30, Windsor Youth & Community Centre, Windsor, SL4 3HD - booking in advance yogific@gmail.com

29: ‘Bisham Abbey Wedding Fair’

22: ‘Windsor Fun Run: 5km | 10km | 15km | 20km’, 12:30-15:30, Eton College Rowing Centre, Dorney Lake, Windsor, SL41 6QP 07909 915444

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Marlow Road, Bisham, SL7 1RR, 11:00-15:00, free amission.

30: ‘Boutique Cinema ‘Bad Moms’ At Clayton’s Marlow, 20:00, booking advisable 01628 488404.

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Diary Dates 14:15 & 15:15 buy timed ticket on the day 01494 957210.

14-16: ‘Top Secret Map Making’ Create your own top secret map to take home and learn about Second World War Code Breaking at Hughenden Manor, £3 plus normal admission, suitable for children aged 5-12 years, 10:00-15:00 – 01494 755573.

15: ‘Roman Banquet Workshop’ By Explore Learning at Wycombe Museum, for 7+ years, pretend to be a chief cook to the Emperor and make a last minute banquet at the Colosseum using your best mathematical skills, 13:30 – 14:30, free but please book on 01494 957210.

February

16-18: Fourways Theatre Company presents ‘A Few Good Men’

Come along and see the blanket of white. 01628 605069

By Aaron Sorkin at Lancaster Arts Centre, Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe, 19:45, tickets £14, concessions £12 at www.fourways.org.uk or 01494 522722.

01: ‘Get Crafty in the Café’

19: ‘Windsor Fun Run’

Feb & Mar: ‘Snowdrop Walk at Cliveden’

Adults’ join us for a drop-in paper-crafting and mixed media session with Sue Dunnett Boxcrazy at Wycombe Museum, 10:30-12:00, £10 book in advance at 01494 957210.

5km | 10km | 15km | 20km’, 12:30-15:30, Eton College Rowing Centre, Dorney Lake, Windsor, SL41 6QP 07909 915444.

04: ‘Hedge-Laying’

19: ‘Down at the Bottom of the Garden: amongst the birds and the bees’

9:30-16:00. Discover the craft of hedge management using traditional tools and techniques. Light lunch and hot drinks included. £45 - 0344 249 1895

All ales currently being brewed available on the night. Talks also given on brewing history and methods, 19.00-21.30, Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3LT. All welcome, £12.50pp, BBQ all year round!

Join us for an afternoon of insect fun including story-telling, crafts and den-making, free drop-in 12:00-17:00, ‘Bug Bonanza’ are you brave enough to hold the ugliest bug, £3 12:15, 15:15, 14:15 15:15 + 16:15. ‘Happy Homes for Bees’ learn more about the humble bumble andmake a fuzy bee, £5 book in advance 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15 +16:15 at Wycombe Museum 01494 957210.

14: Valentine’s Day

21: Shrove Tuesday

11-19: ‘Top Secret Hillside Trail’

23: ‘Joining the Dots’

07: ‘Rebellion Brewery Open Night’

Follow the trail and find out about the secret Second World War map making facility code named Hillside at Hughenden Manor, 10:00-16:00 free event but normal admission applies, (suitable for children 2-12) 01494 755573.

13-17: ‘Wild Week’ Get muddy, wet or crafty at Cliveden this half term, fun outdoors whatever the weather, drop-in sessions 10:0015:00 last session 14:30, children must be accompanied, £2 plus admission suitable for ages 4-11 years, £2 plus admission 01628 605069.

14+16: ‘Mosaic Madness’ At Wycombe Museum get inspired by real Roman designs and make your own mosaic coaster, £3 drop-in 10:30, 11:30

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Recent research on the late Iron Age and Roman landscapes around Aylesbury by Eliza Alqassar, MA MCifA joint talk with MAS at the Garden Room, Liston Hall, £3 members, non members £4.50, 20:00 - 01628 481792

25+26: ‘Game of Clues Murder Mystery’ A new game around the gardens of Cliveden, band together with your family and friends to solve the murder of Lord Mucke, seek out clues, solve puzzles and unravel the mystery, £5 per group, 8+ years, between 10:00-15:00.

26: ‘Taplow House Wedding Fair’ 12noon – 15:30, free entry, SL6 0DA.

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Diary

Dates

March 01: St David’s Day 04/11/18/25: Adult Workshops ‘Photographs not Snaps’ A course for Digital SLR Cameras, this popular four-week course, led by members of Wycombe Photographic Society will help you get to know your Digital SLR camera and learn various techniques to produce quality images, at Wycombe Museum, 09:30-13:00, £80 – to book in advance call 01494 957210.

09: ‘My work as a Dendrochronologist’ By Dr Martin Bridge joint talk with MAS at the Main Hall, Liston Hall, £3 members, non members £4.50, 20:00 – 01628 481792

ONGOING EVENT

Markets

Maidenhead Produce Market 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month on Maidenhead High Street The Farmers Market 2nd Sunday of the month from 10:00, Grove Street Car Park Bourne End Country Market Small Hall 10 - 12, Every Friday Henley Farmers Market every 4th Thursday in Falaise Square, Henley, 8:30-14:00 Bourne End Community Market second Saturday of every month 10:00 13:00 in the Jackson Room of Bourne End Library. Transition Town Marlow last Saturday of every month | 9:30 - 13:00 | Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow | 07904 369829

At time of print all dates are correct. For more information/changes to schedules as listed or information please call Marlow Information Centre on 01628 483597 or Maidenhead Library on 01628 796969 or Henley Library on 01491 575278. To add an event: office@alongthethames.co.uk

ONGOING EVENTS Marlow Art & Craft Society 1st Thursday in month | 19:30 Marlow Bottom Village Hall Marlow Antique bric-a-brac fair 1st Saturday of the month at Liston Hall | 9:00 - 16:00 Marlow Museum Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays | 1pm to 5pm | www.marlowmuseum.org | Pound Lane - opposite the Leisure Club Marlow Camera Club every Tuesday | 19:45 - 20:00 | The Methodist Church Hall, Spittal Street, Marlow, SL7 3HJ Henley Photographic Club every Tuesday evening | 20:00 - 22:00 | YMCA Hall, off Waterman’s Road, Henley www.henleyphotoclub.com Stanley Spencer Gallery 3rd November - 26th March 2017 - Celebration Exhibiton | 10:30 - 17:30 daily Speak Spanish in Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield High School Wednesdays | 19:30 | Suitable for all levels except beginners | Tony on 07947 508755 | anthony.mitchelmore@sky.com Maidenhead Camera Club every Tuesday, Cox Green Community Centre | 01628 630861 The East Berks RSPB Group monthly | 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursdays High Street Methodist Church Hall, Maidenhead www.eastberksrspb.org.uk Maidenhead Heritage Centre last Wednesday of the month | WRVS, Maidenhead | 780555 Colenorton Dragon Boat Club Sunday 10.00 - 12.30 | Bray Lake Water Sports, Maidenhead SL6 2EB | www.colenorton.co.uk South Bucks Walking Group Regular walks programme + club weekends, coach rambles, and other social walking events | Di Olden - 01494 714486 | www.southbuckshfwalkingclub.co.uk Cookham & Cookham Dean Horticultural Society last Wednesday of the month from January - May & September November | 19:30 | Cookham Dean Village Hall | clairephillpot@btinternet.com Maidenhead National Trust second Thursday every month but August | 19:45 | Altwood School, Maidenhead | 01753 516502 Jazz Every Thursday | 20:30| Hedsor Social Club, Hedsor Rod, Bourne End, SL8 5ES | £6 Henley & Goring Ramblers No need to book, just turn up, we are a friendly group and new walkers and non members are always welcome | www.ramblers-oxon.org.uk

Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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Useful Numbers CLUBS: MAIDENHEAD Rotary Club of Maidenhead 632797 The Maidenhead Players 07879 476301 Maidenhead Drama Guild 635017 Maidenhead Operatic Society 671589 Maidenhead Musical Comedy Society 07813 979894 Grimm Players 820429 Maidenhead Concert Band 624514 Maidenhead Folk Club 448268 Tuesday Singers 629012 Athletics 522797 Maidenhead & Bray CC 07885 240209 North Maid enhead Cricket Club 624137 Rugby 629663 Hockey 622669 Desborough Bowls Club 629403 Rowing 622664 SportsAble 627690 Maidenhead Tennis 623785 Thames Valley Cycling Club 638984 East Berks Badminton 636283 Maidenhead Camera Club 630861 East Berkshire Ramblers 634561 Lions Club of Maidenhead 634333 Maidenhead Golf Club 624693 Five Aces Duplicate Bridge Club 625663 River Thames Society 624025 Belmont Badminton Club 638844 Scottish Dancing Club 628372 Stanley Spencer Gallery

471885

COOKHAM Tennis & Croquet 07968 173757 Line Dancing 486362 Petanque 417453 Cookham Bridge Rotary Club 07724 042708 Cookham & Bourne End Inner Wheel Club 07715 441713 Bourne End & Cookham Rotary 810967 HENLEY Rotary Club of Henley Bridge Henley Rowing Club Henley Players Henley Hawks Rugby Club Henley Cricket Club Lions Club of Henley Henley Bowling Club Henley Tennis Club Henley Hockey Club Henley Wednesday Bridge Club Henley Choral Society HADISC Badminton Club Henley Music School Henley Henley-on-Thames U3A

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01491 628284 01491 573943 01491 636253 01491 574499 01491 577743 01491 576717 01491 579271 01491 572230 01491 576988 01491 573958 01491 576929 01491 577909 07989 396210 07901 674779

MARLOW Liston Hall 472558 Archaeology in Marlow 481792 Marlow Archaeological Society 523896 Bowls 485274 Boxing 01494 532826 Crafts 473872/473539 Football 483970 Hockey 521830 Plants (Orchids) 486640 Petanque 521783 Photography 483030 Rugby 483911/477054 Marlow Striders 475548 Four Seasons Club 484528 Tennis 483638 New Marlow Tennis Academy 488438 Rifle & Pistol Club 01494 676676 ALF (Longridge) 486595 Marlow & District Wine Society 483294 Marlow Museum 01628 482515 Marlow Society/History 476140 MOAS 07899 867757 Rotary Club 01494 530952 LETS 01494 523978 U3A 485220/488865 Community Choir 602581/661182 Railway Society 01494 488283 Choral Society 472998 Marlow Orators 07738 540287 COUNCIL SERVICES MARLOW Bus Services 0871 2002233 Marlow Information centre 483597/481717 Library 0845 2303232 Town Council 484024 Neighbourhood Watch - Nic Martin 01895 837220 Wycombe Council 01494 461000 RBWM Bus Services 0871 2002233 CIS 507587 Council Tax 683850 Library - Cox Green 673942 Library - Holyport Container 796555 Library - Maidenhead 796969 Library - Cookham 526147 Recycling 796474 Town Hall 683800 Youth & Community Centre 685999 Thames Valley Adventure Playground 628599 HENLEY Henley Library Henley Town Council

01491 575278 01491 576982

BOURNE END Library 524814 Community Centre 527502 Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

NEW L O O H SC

Stagecoach High Wycombe, Henley and Marlow.

DISCOVERY DAY WED 11th JAN 2017

is delighted to be opening a new school near you Our fun and engaging weekly classes are for 4 - 18 year olds. Children are given both structure and freedom as they learn how to sing, dance and act.

Age: 4 - 6 year olds Time: Wed 4:30 - 6:00pm Age: 6 - 18 year olds Time: Wed 4:30 - 7:30pm

ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

Location: High Wycombe

stagecoach.co.uk/highwycombe 01494 533203 Living Along The Thames | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

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