Along the Thames Marlow edition for Decembre/January 2012 by Living Along theThames

FREE T TM

Connecting Communities

INANDAROUND MARLOW and BOURNE END

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012

Victoria House Day Nursery Now Open Victoria Road, Marlow, SL7 1DL

01628 488548

“delivering high quality care to your child”

3Ages 6 weeks to 5 years 3Open 52 weeks a year 3Large outdoor provision 3Private car park

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The award winning nursery group with 45% of our nurseries achieving Ofsted Outstanding ALONG THE THAMES

Welcome Here we are Christmas only a few weeks away, the night’s drawing in and the days getting colder. The children are getting more excited at the prospect of Santa and presents which draws ever closer. As parents we get more stressed thinking of all the gifts to buy, the food to get in and the numbers of people we are entertaining. What a wonderful time of year it is as you see the excitement on children’s faces, you get together with family and get the chance to have some well-deserved time off. We have some new writers joining us this issue- Tony Silver, who will be taking us through the mind field, that is social media. Emma Filtness, who will be looking at what is on inandaround London and our local area for you to visit. In this issues we have listed some of the outdoor skating rinks available to visit. Jacky and Mark Bloomfield are starting a new series on what you can see in our beautiful countryside at different times of the year. We have all of our usual features, including gardening, beauty, travel, business and fashion. Christine Chalkin, our local astrologer tells you what you have in store for the new year. We’d like to thank all our Advertisers and writers for their support through 2011 and you the residents for supporting them. We also like to thank you for supporting our locally owned Along The Thames, as we turn 5 years old this issue. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we look forward to being with you all again in February. Until next time, Happy Reading..........

Contents 6.

Last Posting Dates It’s my Job - Vanessa Woolley 11. Kick Start your fitness 12 Recipe - Vanilla Pod, Marlow 18. Lighting works - Niki Schäfer 21. Thinking of extending? 25. Last minute Gadget gifts 26. Sally’s Smalltalk 27. Readers Corner 28. Travel - Venture into the unknown 29. Country Wise

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Serena Edwards ADVERTISING For all enquiries please call t: 01628 771419 f: 01628 421501 e: office@AlongTheThames.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Harriet Subramanian, Alexander Parsons, Michele Axisa Christine Chalkin, Kasia Cole, Jill Coleby, David Rhys Price Tony Silver, Sally Todd, Emma Filtness, Vanessa Woolley, Niki Schäfer, Jacky & Mark Bloomfield © Along the Thames 2011

30. Fashion 32. Beauty: Through the Festive season and New Year 34. Hair by Alexander 36. Garden 38. Property Investment The good, the bad and the ugly 39. Advertising Feature: A slower day is coming 40. Business 42. Pets

Along the Thames Magazine 1 Bell Street, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 1BU t: 01628 771419 m: 07711 887107 e: office@AlongTheThames.co.uk www.AlongTheThames.co.uk FRONT COVER: Robin in Winter ACCOUNTS Accounts@AlongTheThames.co.uk Along the Thames Magazine ISSN 2047-3370

Proud Sponsor of Along the Thames Creative Writing Prize at

44. Motoring 48. Community events and information 49. Top tips on how to create a beautiful & long lasting festive arrangement 50. Outdoor Skating 52. Out and About 54. Horoscopes 56. Useful Numbers 57. Services

Along the Thames Magazine Marlow is the sister title to Along the Thames Maidenhead. and prints and distributes 16,200 copies bi-monthly and hand delivers copies into ABC homes inandaround Marlow, Bourne End, Maidenhead, Cookham and Bray, as well as in bedrooms and reception rooms of hotels, golf clubs, coffee shops, hairdressers, libraries and local information centres. It has an estimated readership of 64,800 The views expressed in Along the Thames magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor/publisher. While all reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy of our content, the publisher cannot accept liability for errors/ omissions relating to the editorial/advertising in this publication or for loss rising as a result. No part of the contents of this publication can be reproduced without the express permission of the authors and is protected by copyright.

The House that Jack Built 59/61 Marlow Bottom Marlow Bottom Bucks SL7 3NA 56 Place purpose built children’s nursery

For more information Visit www.thtjb-daynursery.co.uk call Claire on 01628 481601 or email info@thtjb-daynursery.co.uk Are you looking for exceptional childcare? The House that Jack Built (Day Nursery) Limited has just been awarded “Outstanding” at one of their nurseries and is amongst one of the few nursery chains to have an Early Years Professional within its dedicated team of staff. We strive to offer: A loving and homely environment where young babies feel safe and secure High quality childcare providing an environment of rich learning experiences Caring, committed and enthusiastic staff A strong partnership with parents Registered to care for children aged from 0 to 5 years Open 51 weeks of the year Monday to Friday Opening times are 7.30am – 6.30pm Breakfast, lunch and tea all provided and freshly prepared by our dedicated chef Are you looking for a career in childcare? please call us for more information and an informal chat

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FREEery ov Disc sion Ses n 2012

The original, largest and STILL the best network of performing arts schools in the world.

a 7th J

Nurturing and developing young peoples potential al through dance, drama and singing. For 4-18 year olds, after school, at weekends and d holiday workshops.

Stagecoach High Wycombe and Marlow is holding an Discovery Session on 7th January. Now taking bookings for spring term.

Call: 01494 533203 to book a place email: highwycombe@stagecoach.co.uk h www.sta agecoach.co.uk/highwycombeandmarlow w

Theatre Arts Schools

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It’s My Job The other day I was helping my Eldest Son prepare some kind of CV. It made me decide to dust off my own one and take a look. Boy was I something back then. Or at least my ability to sell myself was. Either way I had done some pretty impressive things. That got me wondering what my CV would say now. What kind of job could I apply for? I compiled a list and was pleasantly surprised to see that I was in fact qualified for many things. If anyone was looking for an experienced chauffeur – I was their man. I can drive miles whilst maintaining professional silence or if required, give appropriate responses. I can easily apply for a job as a short order chef – it’s not a problem to cook individual dishes at different times and to maintain a level of cheerfulness and creativity. I could also be a personal shopper – I just love whizzing up and down the aisles searching for bargains. I would have no problem working in a large commercial laundry. Surrounding myself with piles of washing and sorting through odd socks is my specialty. And as for ironing – well – give me a good steam iron and I could press forever. I would also be very good working in politics. I am particularly good at arbitration and may even be able to apply for a position with the Peace Corps. Working in a financial organisation may not be such a good idea as I often find it difficult to get money back that I have lent. Perhaps I could be a counsellor? Sorting out emotional issues is a regular occurrence for me. Or even an event organiser? Planning parties is a great skill of mine. What a brilliant CV. I must print it out now - if only I could get the printer to work. Vanessa Woolley

Last Posting

1st Class - Tuesday 20th December 2nd Class - Friday 16th December Special Delivery - Friday 23rd December

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Christmas at Westmount Music In our final feature on Westmount Music this year, we checked in to see what they have in store for us now that Christmas is fast approaching… We also asked them about the theme of their adverts after a positive response from the last edition of Along The Thames. Paul Coombes continues, “We had a mini surge on Accordians after the last ad we placed…something we don’t usually stock day-to-day! This time we’ve chosen a Ukulele, which without doubt is the most popular thing for Christmas this year for children and adults alike and something we have plenty of (at the moment!)” As well as a variety of ukuleles, the shop have stocked up on a range of instruments as they prepare for what will be their first Christmas proper, “We’re all excited in the shop about Christmas this year. We’re going to be staying open until 7pm during the week all through December and have some great deals on most things, including keyboards, drum kits and a variety of guitars. The music book shelves have also been stocked up with lots of Christmas themed ideas and popular bands.” The shop recently sent out their newly launched club card, which gives rewards points to customers and local participating schools. It is free and easy to join and offers members some great benefits,

“Its great to have the club card in full swing now… it’s been a long time in the making, but the automated system is all up and running and earning loyalty points for our customers and local schools. We have also launched the member website which has some extra exclusive deals on there, especially for Christmas, where members can enjoy further big discounts with their reward points on top! ” With Christmas only weeks away we can hear the jingle bells ringing at the door of Westmount Music already, so get down there to beat Santa to all the best deals! Join the Westmount Music Club www.westmount-music.co.uk or visit the shop for further details. Shop Opening times: Mon-Fri: 10am – 7pm, Saturdays 10am – 6pm, Sun: TBC

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Te m p l e G o l f C l u b Henley Road, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LH

Membership options include: • Full and Weekday • Flexible 10 • Associate (preferred green fees with membership benefits) • Intermediate (Ages 25 - 29) • Colt (19 - 24) • Forces • Corporate • Junior (14 - 18) • Junior (10 - 14) • Starter Membership

Built on chalk Temple is an excellent autumn and winter golf venue with play to main greens in all but the very worst of ground conditions. Excellent value for money winter packages are available from 1 November - 31 March, but please book early to avoid disappointment, especially if you are interested in one of our renowned golf and festive lunch packages during December. With prices starting from as little as £30, you cannot afford not to visit Temple during the Winter season. For more details about membership, group packages or to book a round of golf, please contact us. Tel: 01628 824795

Fax: 01628 828119

Email: enquiries@templegolfclub.co.uk

www.templegolfclub.co.uk

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MONDAY Flackwell Heath Community Centre (Main Hall), Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, HP10 9LS 09:30 - 10:45 am

MONDAY Longburrow Hall Park Lane, Stokenchurch, HP14 3TQ 6:30 - 8:00 pm

TUESDAY St Dunstans Church Hall Cores End Road, Bourne End, SL8 5AR 1:00 - 2:30 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

TUESDAY Liston Hall - New starts 10/1/12 Chapel Street, Marlow, SL7 1DD 09:45 - 11:00 am (Slim & Zumba®) 11:00 - 12:15 pm

WEDNESDAY Carrington Infants School Chapel Road, Flackwell Heath, HP10 9AA 6:15 - 7:30 pm 7:30 - 8:45 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

Call Rachel on 01494 452286

email: rachel.burton @rosemaryconley.com

WEDNESDAY Foxes Piece Combined School Newﬁeld Road, Marlow, SL7 1JW 6:15 - 7:45 pm 7:45 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

Call Adele on 01494 538929

email: adele.howlett @rosemaryconley.com

ZUMBA®, ZUMBA FITNESS®; and the Zumba Fitness Logo are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC, used with permission.

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Kick start your fitness & lifestyle change

With winter celebrations already in full swing, the festive fun and over indulgence mean those best intended New Year’s resolutions won’t be far behind! Drop a dress size? Climb Kilimanjaro? Take your performance to the next level? Unfortunately the truth is that often our resolutions and aspirations never come to fruition. Why? Lack of consistent, quality advice on how to commit to real, long term change and not rely on a quick fix or fad. So we thought we would keep things simple and let you into our secret for simple lifestyle change;

Exercise – With countless activities available and no definitive right and wrong choices, keep in mind these basics. Your exercise should be realistic. It’s pointless committing to six sessions a week if it’s never going to happen. More importantly, for most this really isn’t necessary. 2/3 45 minute sessions a week is more than enough for most to succeed. Specific; the activity needs to be in line with your goals. It is commonly thought that for weight loss cardio is the way forward. No! Get lifting! Lastly have fun and smile! Attitude –positivity is half the battle. Be specific about what you really want, and then believe you are going to succeed. Balance your goal - Is the amount you can gain from something equal to the amount you put in; If you are half hearted in your performance then results are unlikely to match your expectations. Stop worrying what your friends or celebrities are doing and focus on what you’re doing. Hydration –important, underrated and often overlooked. Here’s a rough guide. Multiplying your bodyweight in kilograms by 0.033 equals how many litres of water a day you should be drinking. This is a guide, a little trial and

error is necessary. If you find you need more frequent trips to the loo then a simple solution is to add a pinch of unrefined rock salt to each litre. Again, trial and error as everyone is different. You shouldn’t taste the salt! Sleep – Generally speaking, people wake up because of an alarm clock and admit to feeling tired needing more sleep. A lack of quality sleep will seriously hamper fat loss, cause weight gain, illness, aches and age you faster! These are some important reasons for getting quality sleep. 7-9 hours sleep a night, in a blacked out room with no electrical appliances on is recommended. Nutrition –Don’t get hung up on “this or that diet”, ” this” supplement or your friend said “this” definitely works, get the basics right. What are the basics? Eat real food. This generally means one ingredient; an apple’s an apple, a chicken a chicken, see where this is going? Eat protein AND fat, No argument, this is vital to success regardless of your goals. Eat regularly and don’t skip meals. Finally 80% of the time, give yourself a break, nothings perfect. The most important advice, DO! Stop stalling and looking for excuses. Follow these tips and you will feel better and start succeeding in whatever your aspirations are. Stay Healthy.

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info@apsĮtness.co.uk ALONG THE THAMES

Scallops with Vanilla Gastrique & Vanilla Pear Compote Serves 6 Ingredients: 18 fresh scallops Vanilla gastrique: zest of one orange 1 cinnamon stick 3 star anise 100g sugar 60g white wine vinegar 150g orange juice 1 vanilla pod Pear compote: 4 firm pears, peeled and sliced 200ml Madeira 1 vanilla pod 60g sugar

The accompaniments can be made in advance with the scallops only taking a few seconds to pan fry just before serving. The preparation is very simple and the results are stunning. Vanilla gastrique: Combine all ingredients apart from orange juice in a pan and simmer until a light caramel colour. Add the orange juice and reduce until syrupy. Pear compote: Gently heat the Madeira and sugar with the vanilla pod in pan to create a syrup. Add the sliced pears, cover and simmer gently until all the liquid is absorbed. Allow to cool, remove the vanilla pod and blend until smooth.

Scallops: Allow three scallops per person. Slice in half and season lightly with an equal balance of curry powder and sea salt. Sear in a lightly oiled non-stick frying pan until just golden on each side. To serve arrange the scallops on a plate, drizzle with the compote and the gastrique and garnish with baby salad leaves and fine slivers of vanilla pod. Chefs tip: only buy hand dived scallops with a firmly closed shell measuring about 15cm in diameter. A good fishmonger will be happy to open and clean them in front of you. Our thanks to Michael Macdonald

Awarded 2010 Regional Winner of the Good Food Guide Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant of the Year Award. 12

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Christmas Fayre Luxury Cheese Straws with Chilli & Paprika Makes 30 Straws INGREDIENTS: 500g Pack of puff pastry 2 Egg yolks 1 Dessertspoon Dijon French mustard 1 Tablespoon powdered garlic 150g Grated Gruyere 1 Teaspoon chilli powder 1 Dessert spoon paprika 2 Tablespoons fresh Rosemary leaves 2 Tablespoons finely grated Parmesan Sea Salt for sprinkling. METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 180C, and mix egg yolk and mustard in a bowl until smooth. Set aside. 2. Lightly flour the work surface, and roll out the pastry to 10cm thickness. Prick all over and brush on egg and mustard paste on both sides 3. Evenly sprinkle both sides of the pastry with the cheese rosemary, garlic powder, chilli and paprika. Lightly press into the pastry. 4. Cut the pastry in half and cut into 2cm wide strips, and approximately 15cm lengths. Twist each strip holding each end until resembling a rope 5. Place on a non stick baking tray, and sprinkle with sea salt and grated parmesan. 6. Bake in oven for around fifteen minutes. 7. Transfer to wire rack and allow to cool a little before serving

Gammon with Plum and Hoi Sin Glaze There are many ways of serving gammon, and this particular recipe uses a truly scrumptious hoi sin and spicy plum sauce glaze Serves 8-10 INGREDIENTS 3kg Gammon joint 5 Tablespoons Hoi sin sauce 5 Tablespoons of plum sauce 2 Tablespoon of rice wine/medium sherry 2 Tablespoons light soy sauce 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar 1 Dessertspoon Chinese five spice powder 10 Star anise for decoration.

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Cranberry Punch(Non alcoholic) Makes 4 -6 Tumbler glasses

INGREDIENTS: 500ml Chilled cranberry juice 500ml Chilled red grape juice 500ml Chilled dry ginger ale 1 Large lime cut into wedges Ice cubes from tray Sprig of mint to decorate each glass. METHOD 1. Put above ingredients (omitting the mint), into a large jug, and stir well. 2. Pour into individual glasses and decorate each one with a sprig of mint. I am a Maidenhead based cookery writer, and Internet Chef. I am passionate about all aspects of cooking, and through my’ spiced up’ recipes, I aim to bring the enjoyment and beneﬁts of spicy food, to a wider readership. David Rhys Price -The ‘Spicy Chef ’

Gammon with Plum and Hoi Sin Glaze

METHOD 1. Place gammon in baking tray in preheated oven on 180c,and roast for approximately 2 hours. 2. Take gammon from oven and remove string and the rind (this can be used for gammon scratchings) 3. Score the white fat on top of the joint with a sharp knife to form a diamond pattern. 4. Put gammon on rack in roasting tin. Pour 400ml water in to roasting tin to stop glaze sticking. 5. In a bowl mix the five spice, soy sauce, hoi sin and plum sauce ,rice wine/ sherry and sugar. Mix into paste 6. Brush mixture over the top of the gammon, so that the fat is covered and put star anise over the joint for decoration. 7. Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes, and then remove. 8. Put on platter and serve hot immediately or allow to cool completely.

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Bathroom checklist

Consider all these points when planning a bathroom: • How much space is available? • Who will use the room and when? • What fittings would you like to install and, if there isn’t room for all of them, what is the best way to compromise? • What is your budget? • What style would you like overall? • What type of hot-water system do you have? • Where will you place the water pipes, the soil pipe and the air extraction? • What are your lighting and heating requirements? • How much storage do you need, and do you prefer the fitted or unfitted look? • How will you buy and fit the bathroom – purchase from the internet and do it yourself, co-ordinate the various tradespeople (electrician, plumber, carpenter, plasterer, tiler, painter etc), use a local fitter, or buy an all-in-one package from a showroom? • Bear in mind that delivery times can be up to six weeks.

The Labours of Lemons We all know they go nicely with a G&T, but did you know that lemons contain enough acid to ruin the lives of most bacteria found in our kitchens? So, whether you want to sanitise a chopping board, disinfect a counter top or mop the floor, lemons are a great way to keep our homes clean and healthy. Lemons also make it easy to clean a microwave, simply place a bowl of water and lemon juice in the 16

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appliance and warm for a few minutes. The steam acts on any stains or lingering smells and once you’ve removed the bowl, you can simply wipe the microwave clean. When it comes to laundry, lemon juice is also brilliant for brightening your faded whites. You can either add it to your washing cycle, or soak delicates in a solution of lemon juice and water to create a mild bleach effect. What’s more, tough food or blood stains stand little chance against this wonder product – simply squeeze the juice from half a lemon over the stain and let it soak in for around 20 minutes, before rinsing with water. And the benefits don’t stop there, as lemon juice is well known for helping to keep us clean and healthy too. Sore throat? Mix lemon juice with honey and warm water to make a soothing drink. Garlicky and onion-smelling fingers can also be thoroughly cleaned by rubbing over with half a lemon and rinsing your hair in lemon juice can even help to combat chlorine-green hair after swimming. So, why not swap your harsh chemical products for the natural and economical power of lemons?

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Lighting Works Lighting can make or break the atmosphere of a home, so how do you get it right? Lighting is an incredibly hard working element of interior design as every room has different lighting needs dictated by the activities that take place there - be it a romantic dinner for two or a 13th birthday party. A hardy multi-tasker, not only does lighting illumine, set atmosphere and create ambience, it also performs the role of decoration – whether decorative itself, or highlighting something even more fabulous. Kitchen Before the dinner party, the kitchen is ablaze with light to make sure everything looks perfect, but once the food is served it is very soothing to leave the kitchen in the dark (where the dishes and the earlier stresses remain perfectly hidden). However, a few minimal lights, perhaps over the kitchen cupboards, will give a warm glow and relaxed mood – ideal if your home is open plan and the kitchen remains in view. The same effect can also be achieved at a lower level with floor washers installed into the centre island or in cupboards designed to display beautiful vases and glassware. Bathroom The bathroom lighting has to work equally hard – in full flood light for applying fake tan but a little subtler for the relaxing soak in the tub. Bathroom lighting today has made huge leaps of progress, as the industry has not only accommodated the rigorous safety regulations, but has done so with style and cuttingedge design. Chandeliers, Art Deco wall lights or LED star-lit showers are all now available for the bathroom – just as long as you have a qualified electrician to check the safety zones and of course, install the fixtures professionally. 18

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Bedroom You might well think that bedroom lighting would be less complex but here there is lighting for dressing (to assist in the sock matching battle in the morning) and lighting for reading (so eyes don’t strain on one side of the bed but where less literary partners can sleep without disturbance). A dimmer is an incredibly useful device for most rooms, and they work particularly well in babies’ bedrooms where you want to peek in to check on a sleeping child without disturbing them. They are equally necessary in the living room when the bright lights of late afternoon can be dimmed to a relaxing evening glow. Architectural Where lights were once the firm domain of the ceiling by way of swinging pendant, they can now be found in most parts of the structure of the house – walls, floors, niches. Lights set into steps are not only safety conscious, they are also beautifully decorative, and floor washers will give our much-ignored flooring a hint of the spotlight. For this type of lighting it is worth getting guidance from a lighting expert or a good quality electrician, as the right bulb and the perfectly angled shade will make all the difference. Fortunately there is a wealth of choice and a style of lighting for everyone - chandelier devotees, retro lighting fans, uber industrial enthusiasts and chintzy tasselled lamp lovers, from Moroccan lanterns that throw colours in every direction to lights that come with a world of button-pushing and timer-setting that will keep the techie you know and love happy forever. Niki Schäfer dwell-being designs

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Thinking of extending? As the year draws to a close and we consider our plans for the coming year, what better time to commence planning the promised extension. This month sees the start of a series on making the most of your home or buildings with professional assistance. So, whether you need more space for the family? Need additional bedrooms? Want to remodel to allow better use of space for all the family? Add a sustainable heat source? Much as this is often daunting, however, in safe hands this can be an engaging and enhancing experience. An architectural consultant will assist and empower you and can make this a reality as you are steered and guided through the steps. An Architect as defined by Harris, Cyril M., ed., Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, “Architect” is also a legal term usable only by a registered, licensed architect. Architects are “trained and experienced in the design of buildings and the coordination and supervision of all aspects of the construction of buildings. … A designation reserved, usually by law, for a person … professionally qualified and duly licensed to perform architectural services, including analysis of project requirements, creation and development of the project design, preparation of drawings, specifications, and bidding requirements, and general administration of the construction contract.” McGraw-Hill, 1975 Initially you should discuss your aspirations for your home and the life

style you want within it, together with your budget. Following a measured survey the project will become real as options are drawn up and developed. This assembled information allows the professional practitioner to grasp a fuller understanding of the way you could best utilise your space by exploring the available opportunities which you may never have thought of. This exciting stage enables dynamic thinking from the professionals; to question and tease out the essence of the home, not only for current use but for the future. This creative opportunity is to be relished, therefore be encouraged to search out samples, pictures, childhood notions and images which capture and encapsulate the home you want for your family……. Once this has been researched your architectural consultant can provide the choices for your remodelled home and fine tune the final design before making the statutory applications for planning and building approvals on your behalf while carefully specifying each detail they are then able to instruct your chosen builder as they develop your aspirations into reality.

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‘Deck the halls with boughs of holly, tis the season to be jolly’. Christmas is the one time of year when we can really go a little crazy with our creativity in the home. The inner child is allowed out: sparkle, glitz, bright lights, gaudy colours and fairies are all okay! I love popping in to see friends over the Christmas period. Apart from enjoying the offer of a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine (or two) I’m interested and inspired by their decorations. No household is ever the same, and I frequently come away from homes with a new idea to incorporate into my own Christmas decoration scheme. I’ve had the pleasure of going to an ‘uber trendy’ apartment in London, where they’ve opted for one decoration only: a minimalist ice white fibre optic tree which took centre stage in a large hall: so effective and strikingly simple. Then, the pungent scent of a real oversized Christmas tree in a friend’s cottage, with more traditional red and gold baubles, and the tinsel sparingly but tastefully draped on it. On one tree I saw an assortment of charming hand crafted German wooden figurines (reindeers, snowmen, soldiers, cherubs...); on another an array of Eastern colours in the form of baubles; or simply gold or silver, using different materials and textures such as beading, glass, ribbon, feathers or felt, with clear fairy lights intertwined

through the decorations: a real feast for the eye! The choice these days in artificial Christmas trees is extensive and can be somewhat overwhelming! LED, upside down trees, white, purple or black trees. Gain inspiration from the cushions in your living room, for example, in deciding on your choice of tree colour, then match the decorations to the tree. As for the gifts under the tree, you don’t need to dig deep into your pocket and spend a fortune on wrapping paper or gift cards. Gifts wrapped in newspaper or brown paper tied with red ribbon can look really great; and why not recycle last year’s Christmas cards by cutting out miniature gift tags from their illustrations. A large bowl containing an assortment of baubles makes an attractive centre piece for your dining table or side board. Poinsettia plants in pots scattered around your home bring instant colour and add to the Christmas theme. Christmas wreaths should not only look, but smell good too! Use juniper berries, cinnamon sticks and pine cones for maximum effect in stimulating this sense. As ‘our home is our castle’, and the door tends to be open to friends and family, indulge in, and enjoy this time of year with colour, glamour and lots of fun too: Happy decorating, and a very happy Christmas! Michele Axisa.........Feelance Interiors Writer

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Buying presents for gadget fans can be tricky, because in many cases they already have what they need. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with USB lava lamps and iPod socks, though: there are lots of great gifts to choose from - and your present won’t end up stuck in a desk drawer somewhere.

Last minute gadget gifts

If you’re buying for an iPod, iPad or iPhone owner - or owners of other smartphones or tablets - accessories make particularly good presents. Firms such as Proporta and Griffin make very high quality cases to keep precious gadgets safe. You can also buy cases for devices such as Amazon’s Kindle - although the best such case is Amazon’s own, rather pricey, Kindle leather cover with built-in reading light. If you can’t or don’t want to spend £50 on a Kindle case, you’ll be pleased to discover that there are lots of perfectly good alternatives for considerably less cash on Amazon.co.uk. We particularly like Diabloskinz’ Kindle “skins”, which cover the Kindle’s dull plastic with something considerably more colourful.

There’s a great selection of useful accessories for iPod and iPhone owners too, many of which are compatible with other music players and smartphones: for example, Belkin’s Tunecast 2

plugs into a headphone socket and transmits sound over FM radio frequencies, which is handy for in-car listening or broadcasting to multiple radios in the house. For fitness fans Gear4 and Adidas make armbands for iPhones and iPods, and for audiophiles there’s a dizzying range of headphones and speaker docks. If you’re buying for a frequent flyer, look out for noise-cancelling headphones: they’re superb for air travel. There are lots of gift ideas for photography fans too. The superb GorillaPod range of portable tripods are guaranteed to make snappers happy, while serious photographers might be chuffed to receive a Hama Lens Cleaning Pen or an infrared remote control for their particular model. Alternatively, Photojojo.com has a great range of coffee mugs that look identical to iconic camera lenses, and

there are plenty of UK stockists including Amazon.co.uk, offering delivery in plenty of time for Christmas. Other great gifts for tech fans include the precision of Logitech’s G500 Gaming Mouse (£60) or a portable, wire-free mouse (around £30). Console owners needn’t be left out, either: an official wireless headset for Sony’s PlayStation 3 is around £23. If you’re looking for something more off the wall,

how about a flying shark?

Iwantoneofthose.com has Air Swimmers, which are remote controlled balloons shaped like sharks, clownfish and so on. Air Swimmers have been a YouTube sensation, racking up more than 3 million hits from amused gadget fans. If you’re feeling flush, you could also invest in a pair of Tramp-it Jumping Shoes (from £89) for some truly eye-popping outdoor fun. You don’t need to spend a fortune to find a decent gadgety gift, however. You can pick up no pun intended - a set of Star Wars Chop Sabers, chopsticks designed to look like lightsabers, for around £11, while the awardwinning FroliCat BOLT promises to drive your cat crazy with a high-tech, laser-powered take on a ball of wool for around £19. The completely ridiculous Condiment Gun is a £16 pistol for spraying mustard or ketchup on your lunch, while the slightly more grown-up Tovolo TeaGo is a £12 press that promises perfect tea from your favourite tea leaves.

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Sally’s Smalltalk OCD - Opening Curtains Dilema!! I have been blogging and writing articles for Along The Thames for some time now but my husband thinks I am nuts and is perpetually bemused by my new “online life” and the fact that I attend “tweet ups” with strangers, and disappear into a bubble of social media at any given opportunity. Clearly he hasn’t yet come to terms with the power of Twitter! He now reluctantly finds himself having to help out around the house rather more than he would perhaps like. I am hugely grateful for this as my house proud qualities seem to have gone off the boil, to say the least, lately. This is mainly due to the hideous mess our house is in as a result of some minor renovations we are having done. I say minor, you would think we had bulldozed the house and taken on a complete re-build based on the extent of the mess and epically long time it is taking! So with that, trying to establish a career in writing and all things PR related, taking on work experience and training courses, I have neither the time nor inclination for domestics. I am therefore extremely lucky and grateful for a one in a million husband who takes on the washing, ironing, vacuuming, picking up of doggy poo, bathroom cleaning, tidying and every now and then, cooking! There was a time where he would rather go hungry than have to cook dinner, but he has let his façade of not being able to cook slip, by producing quite an amazing roast dinner! Silly boy! We are now happy muddling along sharing the jobs, which my husband is carrying out almost to my exacting standards. Well, you know what I mean? There’s clean, and there is “Sally clean.” But on the whole I am simply grateful for the help. Apart from, that is, the curtains. The other morning I came down the stairs at stupid o’clock to feed the Beagles. Before getting to the computer for my early morning social media fix, I swung past the lounge and popped in to open the curtains. I did so carefully and gently making sure that each pleat was the same size as the next and that I had not opened the curtain too much, revealing wall space. I like my curtains to hang straight with no creases or crumples, and if I have to move furniture for this I will. In the meantime my husband appeared and thinking he is helping, quickly, in what can only be described as a “yank,” flings back the other curtain. The dreaded wall has been revealed with the bottom of the curtain 26

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awkwardly sitting on top of the sofa, all crumpled up in a heap! He walks out of the leaving me speechless and verging on a fit of apoplexy at the sight which resembles a teenagers bedroom! Clearly my husband has heard my protestations and muttering as he re-appeared in the doorway chuckling. “Ha ha, there’s something for you to write about!” He thinks he is so funny. OK so I am a bit over the top but am I alone? Surely I am not the only person in the world who neatly draws the curtains, or am I? Part of my reason for being so pernickety about the curtains goes back to an old article of mine that I wrote for Along The Thames a few months back “Does your home have kerb appeal?” People can see your curtains from outside your home. Neatly hanging curtains, evenly spaced, gives the outsider the illusion of a neat and immaculate home. You notice I used the word “illusion?” Clearly you all know now that my home is far from immaculate at the moment, but that’s not to say I want everyone who walks past to think we live in a dump. So I shall continue to neatly draw my curtains in the belief that I am maintaining the illusion of a tranquil home where not a thing is out of place and that it resembles a show home. How about you? To yank or not to yank? :o) If you would like to share your ideas with Sally, please contact us at and we will pass on all comments office@AlongTheThames.co.uk

Why not curl up with one of these books over the Winter Months..? Magic City.. By Michael Dean Magic City is a comedy of errors set in West Germany in 1971. Marcus Himmelfahrt, unable to come to terms with his Jewish heritage and his sexual impotence, has no idea what to do with his life. He takes a job as an English teacher in Ludwigsburg, the Magic City of the title, intending to re-invent himself under a false name. On day one, he does something he shouldn’t in a graveyard and the police are called. His personal habits repeatedly upset his highly strung landlord. He is nevertheless a hit at the language school, and fast establishes a reputation as a ladies’ man. But can he live up to it?Meanwhile, as he wanders around unaware in dreamy innocence, he is framed, followed and shot at. He finally finds love only to be wrongly accused of rampant womanising. Against a background of retribution against a former Nazi and a robbery by the Baader-Meinhof gang, our still oblivious hero is hunted by drug dealers, by his terrifying employer, and by both the East and West German intelligence services. As the forces against him gain momentum and menace, even the Magic City may not be enough to save him. For your chance to win one of 3 copies of “Magic City ” by Michael Dean, please send your name and address to competition@AlongtheThames.co.uk by 13th January, 2011..

Harry Potter – A Christian Chronicle By Sonia Falschi-Ray Ever since their earliest publication, controversy has surrounded the Harry Potter books in religious circles, with many believing that they promote un-Christian values and might encourage children to explore and even become involved with the occult.Church of England priest Sonia Falaschi-Ray believes quite the opposite to be true, and in Harry Potter: A Christian Chronicle she makes a compelling case for the books as enshrining, upholding and promoting Christian morality and spiritual truth.The book includes a comprehensive study guide, which allows readers to delve deeper into the Christian parallels and symbolism contained in Harry Potter, and by doing so deepen their own knowledge of the Bible and themselves.Whether you are a practising Christian, a Harry Potter fan, or both, this absorbing little book guarantees to entertain and provoke valuable debate.

A Journey of Ascent By Andy P Weller This is a gripping family saga tracing nine generations of a family from the sixteenth century to the Great War: 350 years of social revolution, agricultural and industrial transformation.Andy Weller has masterfully rewrought the known facts of his long family history into a sweeping historical novel embracing the Reformation, the English Civil War and the Industrial Revolution, populated by novelists, landowners, smugglers, highwaymen, farmers and industrialists, all with one aim in mind: survival in turbulent times. Weller has not rewritten history here: he has brought the reality of times past to vibrant life in a novel with huge appeal for anyone with an interest in English history from the perspective of the common man.

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Venture into the unknown in 2012 If cold winter nights have you already planning your 2012 summer holiday then read on. For this edition of Along the Thames we have gone further afield for some holiday inspiration to feature the Azores Archipelago which includes nine islands. The nine volcanic islands are; Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo. The Archipelago of Azores is located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean and can be reached by direct weekly SATA International flights run from 7 April to 20 October to Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel and depart from Gatwick (not Manchester) in 2012. Alternatively, TAP Portugal offers flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to Ponta Delgada via Lisbon. An overnight stay in Lisbon may be advisable, depending on flight times. To help you plan your trip Sunvil Discovery, the UK’s leading specialist to the beautiful, mid-Atlantic Azores, has launched its enticing 2012 real Azores brochure. The brochure features carefully-selected small hotels, pousadas, apartments and self-catering cottages across all nine islands of the Azores. According to Sunvil Discovery the emerald islands are scattered with a range of extraordinary attractions that make these isles all the more enticing. Highlights include: 33 Blue Flag beaches and natural swimming pools. Long stretches of silky black sand, and little coves of golden sand, in stark contrast to the deep blue of the sea. Plus, all of the islands have natural rock pools meaning many a private swimming opportunity. Around 24 of the planet’s 80 whale and dolphin species are seen in Azorean waters, with at least four - the Sperm whale, Bottlenose, Common and Risso’s dolphins - making these Gulf-stream-warmed waters their home. Prices from £50 pp for a half-day whale watching trip. Sao Miguel is home to one of Europe’s most endangered species. The Azores Bullfinch is only found in a few square kilometres of woodland in the eastern region of the island. Food for thought. Delicious soups, superb fish and seafood, locally sourced beef, spicy sausages, good bread and an abundance of vegetables. On Corvo – The Black Island, home to just 400 people – try fresh turbot, sword fish, sea bream, grouper, moray and conger. In Faja de Baixo on Sao Miguel you’ll see the fruit at different stages of its greenhouse-bound growth and learn the labour-intensive method used to make them so sweet. Taste the very palatable pineapple liqueur, try the boiled sweets or enjoy it, freshly sliced, for dessert. Each of the islands produces its own cheese – and, paired with good Portuguese wine, it makes for wonderful postdinner indulgence. On Sao Jorge, the famous namesake cheese is still made in the traditional way and aged for 120 days. Visit the cheese makers, sample their wares and buy if you wish. Producing black, green and oolong tea since 1883, the Gorreana Tea Factory on Sao Miguel is the only tea-producing factory in Europe. Learn how tea is harvested and enjoy the sweeping ocean views. Botanical bliss. Sao Miguel has a profusion of public gardens. The Jardim Antonio Borges in Ponta Delgada 28

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is especially remarkable, and the stunning 30-acre Terra Nostra Park in Furnas - with its giant araucarias, tree ferns and geothermal bathing pool - boasts an internationally significant collection of plants. *A seven-night stay at new property Cantinho das Buganvilias costs from £906 pp (two sharing). The price includes return direct scheduled flights on Saturdays (Gatwick to Sao Miguel) with SATA International, return inter-island flights, two nights’ B&B on Sao Miguel with transfers (first and last night) and five nights’ selfcatering with car hire on Sao Jorge. Prices for the Casa do Ouvidor start at £1,002 pp on a similar basis. The lead-in price of a week in the Azores is from just £582 pp (two sharing), staying at the Hotel Talisman on Sao Miguel. It includes direct scheduled flights on Saturdays (Gatwick) with SATA International, transfers and seven nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis. A £20 reduction per person applies to all bookings made before 29th February 2012 (when flying direct with SATA). To order the new 2012 Sunvil Discovery Real Azores brochure, call 020 8758 4747. For further information, call 020 8758 4722 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk. Harriet Subramanian - Freelance Writer

Country Wise Winter, time to look out of the window and watch the world go by. After all, it is too wet and cold to go out, it’ll be dark soon, and the fire could do with another log. We dream up a list of reasons why we should not go out. Oh and let’s not forget the number one favourite there is nothing to see, its winter. We can sympathise, days are short, dark mornings and evenings make it difficult to get out and enjoy the countryside. Yes we did say enjoy and you would be surprised at just how much is going on out there. We know it’s cold and wet but a good friend of ours has a saying it’s not the wrong type of weather; just you are wearing the wrong type of clothes. Our summer bird visitors have done the sensible thing and gone south to warmer climes for the winter. If only we could follow them. But hang on. Don’t forget that a lot for birds think that winter in the UK, is like us spending the winter in the Mediterranean, which gives us some wonderful opportunities to get close to nature. Robins are associated with the festive season and are one of the few woodland birds to be heard singing at this time of year. Males and females maintain territories during the winter for feeding. Singing helps the pair to warn intruders that this is their patch, keep out. By mid-January, Robins have paired for the coming spring and the females stop singing. Look out for flocks of small birds, most commonly Tits and Chaffinches. By forming small flocks at the start of winter, these species form a feeding co-operative. Searching as a flock, increases the chances of disturbing insects, a single bird might miss. If watching all this activity means that you are in the woods after dark, listen out for the ‘twit-twooo’ of Tawny owls. Tawny Owls pair for life and maintain a territory together. The ‘twit-twooo’ you hear in broadleaf woodland is a duet between a pair of Owls defending their territory. During the day, you may disturb a roosting bird as you walk through the woods as they sit in cover on a branch close to the trunk of the tree. Water is a good place to see

wildlife during the winter. We are blessed with rivers and lakes aplenty. Ducks, geese, and other water birds, such as Widgeon, identified by their highpitched whistling calls. Duck numbers are at their highest at this time of year. We are lucky in this area, we can boast one of the rarest visiting birds to the UK the Bittern. Bitterns from the near continent flock over winter ito the milder climate of the UK. Two local hot spots for seeing these iconic birds are Lavell’s Lake in Reading and the WWT Wetlands Centre at Barnes. . Look out for both Redwings and Waxwings. These migrants to our shores normally breed in northern Europe, but come to the UK looking for berries, their winter food source. In early winter, the flocks confine themselves to the east coast, but as the supply of berries runs out they move slowly west wards. An interesting fact, about as many Redwings and Waxwings migrate to the UK in winter as Swallows do in the summer. Another mass migrant to our lands are Starlings. Now this bit of winter spotting will require a bit of travel, so if you only do local, you can skip this bit. I know what you are thinking, Starlings are resident all year round and you are correct. However, at this time of year many millions of migrants join our resident populations. In some places, these resident and migrant birds form very large roosting flocks. If you are up for a bit of travelling try the Somerset Level, Brighton Pier or the Seven Estuary, they have some of the best Starling roosts in the country. Try to time your visit on a still, sunny day. Be at the roosting site just before dusk. We promise you will witness a spectacle that is the equal of anything in the world. As perhaps, a million or two birds wheel and dance in the air

above you before diving into the roost. It is well worth the journey. Early in the New Year is a busy time for our fox populations, this is the mating season. Last year’s cubs, are pushed out of their parents territories and have to make it under their own skills. Meanwhile, dog foxes will be trying to find a mate. This time of year is when you are most likely to hear foxes barking or that haunting scream as male and females try to get together. The dog fox follows the vixen, trying to make sure that it is his cubs that are born later in the year. Competition with other males can also lead to many a fight, which may wake you up in the middle of the night. Don’t forget the plant life. In the south of England, late January can see the first Snowdrops poking their heads above the soil. This white carpet of flowers brings a much needed decoration and hope of the spring to our woods. Look out for the showiest tree in the hedgerow. In Chalky areas the Spindle-tree stands out, because of its bright orange fruits and red capsules. The seeds are poisonous to humans but not to birds, who eat the seed and digesting the fleshy covering and spread the undigested seeds over wide areas. Hopefully we have given you a few ideas to get you started and about what you can see and do at this time of year. There are many more we could mention but we will leave you to find them for yourself. So switch off the television and go for a walk. We both wish you all the compliments of the season. Mark and Jacky Bloomfield

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Dress up any outfit with these fabulous gilets, available in a range of colours

Gorgeous winter essentials 8

THE CLASSIC SHIFT DRESS Since its first appearance on the catwalk in 1957 the shift dress has become a staple of every woman's wardrobe. It's a versatile piece that can be dressed up or dressed down and that's why it's such a perfect garment for day-to-night dressing. Here are some ideas how to transform your simple shift into a glitzy party number:

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Wear your shift dress with fashion tights e.g. fishnet or lace for the evening look

Add a splash of colour by wearing bright shoes - works great with dark colour dresses - or a nice, colourful clutch bag Jazz it up with statement jewellery Swap your office jacket for a sequinned cape or velvet box jacket to get that dramatic party look

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Full on glam - Frank Lyman Purple evening dress, Swish Boutique, Marlow Little Black Dress with net and crystal neckline, Swish Boutique, Marlow No. 25 of Bourne End Catwalk, MaidenheadSwish Boutique, Marlow Swish Boutique, Marlow accessories from Dents, No. 25 of Bourne End Catwalk, Maidenhead No. 25 of Bourne End ASOS www.asos.com Swish Boutique, Marlow No. 25 of Bourne End stylish Faux Fur coats from Marble, No. 25 of Bourne End Get glamourous this season with tops/dresses from Marble and Gina Bacconi, No.25 of Bourne End No. 25 of Bourne End

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ACCESSORIES FOR PARTY SEASON If you can't splash out on a new party outfit there are many ways to bring your Little Black Dress, that you had in the wardrobe for ages, to life or turn your work suit into a sophisticated piece of eveningwear. Look out for:

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Fashion tights e.g. lace, studs, pattern Sequinned evening clutch bags Skinny belts in patent leather Sparkle encrusted heels Large cocktail rings Fashionable chokers Oversized cuffs 13

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CATWALK TRENDS FOR EVENING WEAR One thing that every Christmas wardrobe requires is a knock-out party dress. Whether you are attending an office party, a glamourous ball at the Ritz or Christmas dinner at friends' a house we've found the inspiration and ideas to help you make this festive season your most fashionable yet.

Eye Catching Glitter 19

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We all come in different shapes and sizes. Just because the catalogue models look great in something it doesn't mean you will too. It's important to dress according to your shape and accentuate everything that you love about your figure instead of trying to hide the faults. Be proud of your shape and celebrate it in a truly Christmas spirit!

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It’s that time of year again. The annual office get-together and accepting more invites to nights out with the girls than you could ever possibly attend. Christmas is great, but all that socialising can become stressful and a packed diary means less time to prepare for those all important dates. So, what you really need is an easy, effective and wellplanned beauty routine that’s going to save you hours getting ready, guarantee you’ll look gorgeous and ensure that you’re the centre of attention - for all the right reasons. Being transformed from dingy to dazzling doesn’t have to take long, but preparation is certainly essential. Book hair appointments well in advance; it’s the busiest time of year for stylists and a marvellous mane is a must-have accessory. As great as it is to try out a new look, be cautious around the holiday season - hair disasters are sure to kill party spirit! Instead stick to a look that you know suits you and that’s easy to manage leave the re-styles until the new year. Cold winter days, centrally heated rooms and the usual bouts of seasonal flu can play havoc with your skin, leaving it dull, dry and lifeless. So it’s a good time to take notice of your skin type and invest in a routine that will leave it glowing. Dry, sensitive types suffer more in the winter and need to be regularly moisturised. Apply a day cream in the morning and a ‘heavier’ night cream in the evening to keep moisture levels topped up. Oily skin shouldn’t be neglected. It too needs moisturising - a ‘light’ product works best, and should be used twice daily. Combination skin must be managed using a specially formulated range, in order to balance the dry and oily sections of the face. Don’t forget the delicate eye area too - use an eye cream daily to avoid wrinkles. With hair styled and skin 32 ALONG THE THAMES

prepped, its time to find your perfect party make-up look. It’s a good idea to take advantage of the free makeovers offered by most of the top beauty brands at your local department store. Having a specialist consultant offer their expertise when it comes to the way you apply your make-up can result in a great new look for you. After all, it’s so easy to become stuck in a make-up rut. And you get to try out the products before you buy. Take notice of professional application tips and invest in the right tools - quality make-up brushes leave a great finish. Establishing what you want from your cosmetics means that you can find the right ones for you. Long lasting foundations, lengthening mascaras and vibrant lipsticks work wonders for evening, and will help keep you looking great into the small hours. And finally, get your nails looking as polished as you are. Repair breakage and reinforce damage to the nail surface with a strengthening treatment. File and shape before applying lashings of colour. Or, for a really fashionforward look, try the latest trend - nail wraps. They’re cute, creative, fun and perfect for a party. With everything now in place to make you look fabulous, all that’s left to do is enjoy every minute of the best time of year and make this Christmas one to remember. You’ve had a fantastic Christmas and a fabulous New Year but as great as all those champagne-filled parties were, the late nights, weeks of socialising and care-free indulgence will have taken its toll on your skin, hair and, not to mention, your waist line. The seasonal vacation from watching the calories, skipping the daily skin-care routine and using heat styling tools excessively on your hair, leaves us all crying out in January for some products and a routine that will put back what the partying took out. So, it’s definitely the right time to detox. Firstly, getting rid of the

telltale dark circles that have emerged after countless late nights will immediately create a fresher looking face. Use a specialised eye cream and remember to apply lightly, not rubbing or pulling at the delicate eye area. Putting much needed moisture back in to dried-out skin, instantly reveals a more youthful and refreshed look. Alcohol consumption, harsh winter weather and centrally-heated rooms sap essential oils from the skin - with all three combining at this time of year, fine lines and wrinkles are sure to appear. Refreshing the skin with a detoxifying and cleansing face mask is the first stage for post-party pampering. Thoroughly removing deeply ingrained make-up, lurking in the pores, will ensure a blemishfree complexion and a perfect base to absorb much needed moisture. Gentle exfoliation removes blackheads and prevents the on-set of blemishes, but can be harsh on sensitive skin, so use a fine grain and apply carefully. It’s easy to assume that oily skin doesn’t need to be moisturised, but it certainly does. Always choose specially formulated products that won’t be too rich for greasy skin. Typically defined by having dry and oily parts, combination skin has a greasy T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), combined with flaky, dry cheeks and needs to be treated with special care. It’s worth investing in quality products that will address this problem without exacerbating either part of the skin. In extreme cases though, the only real solution is to treat sections separately. Always speak to a specialist skin care consultant to find out what will work best for you. Expert advice and free samples that you can try at home will be sure to save you money in the long term. It takes time to improve the look of tired, battered or blemished skin, but with perseverance you’re sure to look glowing. Helen Taylor

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Alexander’s Hair Surgery Dear Santa.

Alexander Parsons

has been in the hairdressing industry for 30 years and has worked for a variety of major local salons, including hair salon manager for the “Champneys Health Resort” group for twelve of those years. During his varied career, Alexander has taken care of clients from all over the world with many different professions and lifestyles. “I think that I have just about seen or heard it all! However, from time to time, there are a few surprises!” Alexander is currently employed by Stoke Park Salon in Stoke Poges (www..stokepark. com) and his unique take on all matters hairdressing makes him very popular with his clientele.

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We are now in party season and, invitations are coming in thick and fast. It’s time to get organised. You’ve just managed to bag the latest “must have” dress, waited in line for a Shamballa bracelet together with Jessica’s “Street Swagger” nail polish and a set of Mac lashes and you think you’re good to go, but, haven’t you forgotten something? .......OMG! That’s right, YOUR HAIR! How do you look fabulous in a flash? Well, luckily for you, help is at hand. One of the best ways to create a quick “up do” is to use clip in hair pieces. Balmain’s “Hair Make Up” range (available in selected hair salons) is ideal for this. Can you fit most of your hair into a pony tail? Then you can use these versatile “clip-ins” and, voila, job done! Other useful gadgets to create the latest “on trend” styles are; the Patrick Cameron “Halo” pad, (for very high chignons) and the “bouffant pad” (it looks like a croissant, only don’t eat it!) which gives just the right amount of lift without having to back-comb. Amazing! Actually, wedding/prom/up do styles are very often quite similar. It’s usually how they are accessorised that makes it wedding or prom/party style. (Add a tiara, and its wedding, add a silk flower, and its prom/party.) This season “on trend” styles for parties are; 1. gravity defying “up do’s” for long hair where the sides, back and front are kept close to the head and then, as high as you can get on top! For this to look good, the style must follow the 45 degree rule. (An angle which forms a line from your chin to your ear, and then onto your crown). The overall look is then finished in a “not too neat” way. 2. for longer hair worn down, try crimping or waving. Babyliss make irons especially designed for this. However, if you use any form of direct heat, then you MUST

use a heat defence product and, up the number of conditioning treatments you have in order to keep your hair in tip top condition. 3. there is of-course, my personal favourite. Bouncy, wavy, flippy, curled styles which I find extremely sexy, but that’s another story! 4. for shorter styles, again think big! Texture and movement is the key here. Add a contrasting coloured clip in fringe hairpiece or accent hairpieces which can be cut to blend in with the length of your own hair. You could keep a collection of different colours to accessorise any outfit. Try and keep the “bling” to a minimum though. Overdoing this can make you look a bit too much like a Christmas decoration! Not good! Also, please, please do not use those awful glitter spays. They get EVERYWHERE and are extremely annoying and difficult to get rid of, and no, he won’t think it’s attractive, especially when the glitter ends up on him! So, there you have it. A simple guide to looking glamorous for any occasion. Oh, by the way, while we are on the subject of glamour, you may want to include a set of the latest GHD Scarlet stylers to your Christmas wish list. You could even go out with the bag it comes in! Only, don’t forget to leave your stylers at home! Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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M: 07791 987527 ALONG THE THAMES

Garden Design as a Career in conversation with Jill and Vanessa

How did you get into gardening/ garden design? Jill - my mother is a keen gardener so as soon as I had my own garden it felt natural to have a go. The design course followed a long buying career with Habitat I wanted to combine my design eye with my love of gardens. Vanessa – I followed my passion for gardening and plants into a horticultural career, running my own small maintenance company before moving into design. How did you meet? At Berkshire College of Agriculture on a garden design course. When we found out we lived only a few streets from each other in Marlow we decided it would be better to go into business together rather than to compete with one another!

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Do you ever fall out with each other? Luckily we have a very similar approach to design and have complimentary skills. We regularly say how great it is to be in a partnership where we can benefit from 2 heads to solve problems, it could be a lonely job otherwise. What has been the most difficult part of running your own business? We both feel the work life balance is the hardest thing, separating business from family & leisure time is hard when you work from home ... it’s too easy to end up working all the time. Also working outside in bad weather has it’s challenges ! What is the most satisfying part of the job? Happy clients, seeing a beautiful finished garden, working with plants and being outside enjoying the seasons in all their glory ... even winter What makes you different from other garden designers? We really work hard to understand what the client wants from their garden; not taking over, we involve them at every stage. We don’t over engineer the hard landscaping, understanding and using plants as an equally important part of a design. Very hands on, we plant our own projects whatever the weather and often incorporate existing plants that need to be moved !

Are you finding it difficult to weather the recession? We are very lucky that a lot of our business comes from recommendation. There seems to be a trend to extend and improve housing rather than move which has brought us a lot of work as building inevitably wrecks the garden! We do work quite closely with local architects Bowen Evans Where do you go from here? Maybe one day we’ll do a garden at Chelsea although we both know how much time and effort that requires having been involved in a medal winning College Show Garden at Hampton Court. We would love to do some workshop days to help people get involved with designing their own gardens if we manage to find some time in the diary!

A Ve

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Aphids are one of the commonest and most troublesome of all garden insect pests. They attack a large number of garden plants through out the country and recently have been causing much disfigurement to ornamental conifer hedges. Commonly referred to as Greenfly or Blackfly these aphids feed on hedges, sucking the sap of the plant and spreading several varieties of virus, causing severe die back. The Current troublesome aphid is the Cypress Aphid, which predominantly affects conifer hedging. The damage inflicted on conifer hedges by the aphid Cinara Cupressi is severe and can lead to large brown patches on the hedge, which leads to localised foliage death, reducing the aesthetic look of the hedge. As the aphid is active from May to October it is important to catch this problem early and apply treatments

to stop its spread. The Cypress Aphid causes damage to Western Red Cedar, Lawsons Cypress, Leylandii and Monterey Cypress. Aphids also indirectly damage car paintwork, patios and drives with honeydew, this a sugar rich sticky substance secreted by the aphids. Control of aphids on woody and non-woody plants is easy, additionally good cultural techniques help to reduce exploding populations. Techniques that can be employed are ensuring that overwintering aphids do not survive during the winter, cleaning dead plant material and encouraging natural predators will help. In terms of treatments the old horticultural practice of applying a winter oil wash to fruit trees to kill overwintering eggs and young insects is still a very sound practice. Many aphid control products now exist for applying systemically to trees and hedges, these have proven very effective.

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www.bartlett.com ALONG THE THAMES

Property Investment is it good, bad or ugly? Property investment is one of those topics that seems to be talked about constantly. Most of us know someone with a property success story. People with a good portfolio, built up over time, all set to retire to a sun drenched Costa without a care in the world. Fantastic, where do I sign up? But unfortunately we’ve also heard of the “buy to let horror stories”. So is the real question.... “is property investment, a fast road to riches or a short cut to stress and misery?” The short answer is it’s neither. Property investment is like most worthwhile things in life, rewarding when done well. But only if you take the time and care to get it right. So what is important? Location: This may seem obvious, but location is King. Buying in the right place is hugely important if you want to ensure growth in value. This is key to a successful investment strategy. I would rather have a one bedroom flat on the river front in Docklands than a couple of three bedroom flats in Hull. The value of the Docklands property will always be more stable, and the prospect of capital growth is much more likely. These are important

criteria for successful investing. Forget the idea that you would never consider living in Central London, millions of other people do. So demand in specific locations will always be high. Infrastructure and communications links are important when considering investment. Proximity to the nearest train stations or motorway junctions are paramount. Suitability: It’s important to remember that you are not buying a home. Tenants have different priorities to owner occupiers. For example, gardens are not always attractive to tenants. “Will you be expecting me to mow that?” is a question I have often been asked, usually followed by “I’ll need you to supply a mower then, we haven’t got one”. However, new build flats with public areas maintained by service contractors can make excellent investments. Letting & Management: On completion you will be looking for good tenants who will pay the rent on time, keep your place nice, and won’t cause a nuisance. The four keys to this are: • • • •

Referencing Inventory Inspection Planning.

Referencing should always be done through a professional agency. An inventory is essential, preferably a video inventory. If you do have a problem tenant, anything other than visual evidence is your word against theirs. Inspections and evidence are essential. I once saw a rental property where a leaking washing machine went unrepaired for 18 months. The kitchen floor beneath the machine was non existent, it had just rotted away. Regular visits will avoid this sort of problem. When signing an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement as a landlord, consider the end date carefully. A six month agreement that starts in the second half of June will end near Christmas, not an easy time to find new tenants. This could result in a void period, and lost income. Retaining a diligent managing agent will cut out stress and pay for itself over time. The Ten Year Plan: Once you have achieved your first successful investment, why stop? By continuing to leverage your equity it is possible to grow your portfolio. Early retirement then becomes an achievable option. Mike Beckley

For details of the next free Midas Property Schools in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire please contact Mike on 07961 825814 or mike.beckley@midasestates.com 38

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Advertising Feature

A slower day is coming... We all dream of the time when we have no mortgage, the kids are off our hands and our current pace of life (pressure punctuated by periods of panic) eventually eases to a slow, steady pace. We imagine the long holidays we will be able to take, at last avoiding the extortionately-priced school holiday periods, of spoiling the grandchildren with treats and days out, and of the ‘lunchtime deals’ of which we’ve always hankered to take advantage. The to-do list will be completed, the garden will be beautifully tended; we will be ‘retired’. The trouble with dreams like these is that they require money, and quite a bit of it, to turn them into reality. Some reports make scary reading; the suggestion that we need a pension pot of £326,700 if we plan to live out our retirement in comfort (Life Trust Insurance); the estimate that almost half the nation is not saving enough to fund a pension (Scottish Widows); and the calculation that seven million over-50s admit to confusion about their retirement planning (LV). In addition to this the State Pension will be paid at increasingly later ages; those born after 6th April 1978 will be 68 before they receive their State Pension, and many experts believe this will reach over 70 years of age, in line with increasing life expectancy. “Search www.direct.gov.uk for the State pension age ‘calculator’ to find out at what age you will receive your State Pension”

It is a well reported fact that average life expectancy has increased to 80 years old, eight years more than in the 1970s, and so our pension pots need to pay out for longer than ever before. But pension pots also need to work harder than ever before because the amount of income we can get from them has dramatically reduced due to the current economic climate. At their peak in 1990, the best annuity rates (a male aged 65 with no inflation- proofing or widows benefit) were just under 16% (ThisisMoney. co.uk). Today, a similar gentleman would receive around 6% from an annuity. In stark terms, a £300,000 pension pot today might give £18,000, compared to £45,000 in 1990. It sounds like bad news all round, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Some people will be willing and able to work for longer, and therefore pay into their pension pot for longer. Others will change career in their last few working years in order to keep the pennies trickling in but without the pressure of a highly demanding job. But for some, there may be problems ahead. So it is now essential, more than ever before, to make comprehensive financial plans for our retirement. This means fixing a retirement date, working out how much money we will need each year to enjoy the lifestyle of which we dream, and therefore the size of pension pot we will need at the point of retirement. Once we know the amount we need in the pension pot, we must look at how much we should be saving now to achieve this.

Don’t stop reading... Many of us have been putting off thinking or doing anything about saving for our retirement. If this is you, you’re not alone. Whether you’re in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s, don’t be tempted to bury your head in the sand any longer, or our slower day – our dreams for retirement - won’t ever come. Now is the time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for some expert financial advice; help in understanding options, making plans and putting them in place. For those of us who do, a slower day is coming. Most people are looking for financial help which, as well as being highly regarded and well-established, is personal, impartial and face-to-face. As a thriving Marlow business, many of our clients come to us as a result of personal recommendations and for 30 years we have grown solely by word of mouth. We have a friendly team of experienced and qualified independent financial planners, investment managers, researchers and administrators. If you need help with making the most of your pension pot, have savings or investments that you want to work harder for you or are in the process of any financial change such as moving house or a growing family, please contact us at our Chapel Street offices (between Waitrose and Jolliffes) via phone 01628 479832 or email wealthmanagement@merchantsecurities.com,

or simply call in at the office.

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44-46 Chapel Street, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 1GG T: 01628 473298 E: wealthmanagement@merchantsecurities.com Disclaimer: No responsibility is accepted for the content of external websites

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One in three workers puts in nine to eleven hours every day It comes as no surprise this month that almost half of workers in the UK work well over eight hours every day, over a third put in nine to eleven hours and a tenth work over eleven hours. This evidence of long working hours is revealed by the latest global survey findings from Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, canvassing the opinions of over 2700 business people across the UK. It appears that pressure on working hours has become more acute because of the economic downturn and growing concerns over job security, with staff eager to get the job done whatever the personal cost and be seen as productive by their employer. For many, the working day is not over when they leave the office. Over two-fifths of workers (43%) take work home to finish in the evening at least three times a week. Celia Donne, Regional Director at Regus said: “As the UK struggles with ongoing economic difficulties, firms of all sizes are under immense pressure in a difficult market and this often leads to staff working even longer hours than usual. However, the CIPD reports that workload is the top cause for stress, and our new report finds that the distinction between work and home life is becoming increasingly blurred. The long-term effects of over-work could be damaging both to workers’ health and to overall productivity as workers drive themselves too hard and become disaffected, depressed or even physically ill.” It is quite common to meet many local residents who work remotely, often bumping into each other at the local coffee shop. Interestingly, the Regus report shows that remote workers tend to work longer than employees who are based in a fixed office location, suggesting that the benefit of a shorter commute often translates into higher productivity. 14% of remote workers put in over eleven hours per day and two-thirds (62%) take work home regularly. The upside of this is that it is widely recognised that flexible and 40

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remote working also leads to increased job satisfaction, commitment and improved work-life balance, so it seems that avoiding a lengthy and stressful commute delivers multiple advantages for employer and employee alike. Dr Clare Kelliher, Professor of Work and Organisation at Cranfield School of Management, adds: “Our research at Cranfield has also found that work has become more intense for many workers in recent years, and that in particular those that work remotely often put in longer hours. In some cases, workloads are such that staff have no choice but to work extra hours to get the job done. In the case of remote workers, who are working either at home or from a location closer to home, their days are more productive because they have avoided what may be a long and stressful commute but also because they are removed from the day-to-day distractions of the workplace which allows them to be more focused. We have also found that many workers from the flexible and remote workforce are grateful to their employers for allowing them a degree of choice in where and when they do their work, and so reciprocate by putting in extra effort.” Despite another economic downturn looming it appears that British workers do pull their weight. If you are struggling with stress there are many places where you can seek support. One of the more recently publicised is a meditation programme, called Mindfulness, run by The Mental Health Foundation. For more information visit www.bemindful.co.uk . Harriet Subramanian - Freelance Writer CIPD, Absence Management, 2011

Hi my name is Tony Silver and over the last 16 months I have discovered the power of both Social media and networking. I found myself both banging on the door of 50 and out of work, not a good combination. Like a lot of people in business I had a LinkedIn profile but rarely used it, Thought Twitter was a “Yoof culture” thing, and had no idea what blogging was. Now I use LinkedIn and twitter in my job and having regularly done a blog before finding work. I aim to reestablish it in the coming weeks. Using the above social media outlets and networking kept me involved in the local business community despite having no job, in fact it got me a reputation which increased across the area, lead to various opportunities, and ultimately a job. This job is enhanced by use of networking and social media, so those months of learning have paid off. So if I can learn how to use Social Media and Networking to help me then I am sure that people in similar situations can do the same. I was promoting myself, but that could just as well have been a company. I aim in this column to help where I can, with hints and tips and examples, so that the readers can see where it may help them. Social media and networking is fun but before we are ready to get out and change things, we must plan first. This is one of the many mistakes I made and learnt from my journey, that I hope I can prevent you from copying. There can be costs related to both these activities and both certainly involve time, so let’s not waste time or money. If you are in business then these activities need to go into your marketing plan and be budgeted for.

Social Media continued....... So the big question is why are you doing it? I have often asked people at networking events why they are there. Many have an idea but can be vague, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to meet someone.., to meet anyone whoâ&#x20AC;Ś, these are not good reasons. A simple Networking plan is as follows 1. Talk to 10 people 2. Collect 7 cards 3. Arrange 1-2-1 meetings with 2 or 3 people 4. Get the relationship to a point where you may do business or they are happy to send people in your direction Oh yes I forgot to mention, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about relationship building, both social media (online) and networking (face to face), so start that conversation but do LISTEN

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Have a doggy friendly Christmas Presents wrapped and underneath the tree, relatives and friends a-plenty and lots of special food – that’s certainly what Christmas looks like in our house. For many households, there is also a fair pinch of extra stress, too! For households with dogs it’s worth sparing a thought for our canine friends as Christmas can be an extremely stressful and anxious time for them, often going unnoticed by owners. Ensure that presents wrapped and left underneath the tree aren’t harmful to dogs: avoid leaving chocolate there or scented items such as beauty products. A wrapped object with scent is a very tempting opportunity for the dog to use their nose to sniff it out and then their teeth to rip it open – what fun! It’s advisable, where possible, to keep your dog away from the Christmas tree when not supervised. As enjoyable as Christmas food is to us, it really is not appropriate for dogs. It’s okay to feed a small amount of turkey fat or perhaps dilute some stock in a KONG chew toy and place in the freezer as an extra special treat, however, rich

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human foods often found on the Christmas table can be dangerous to dogs, causing bloat, hyperactivity and diarrhoea. They have no concept of the time of year so won’t miss not having their own Christmas dinner and you’ll avoid a smelly dog, too! Many dogs are afraid of loud noises such as fireworks so think twice about crackers on the table. There are dog-friendly crackers available, without the snap and with dog toys inside, which make a useful alternative to keyrings and plastic tie clips! Alternatively, simply remove the snap from your regular crackers so as not to startle the dog. Christmas is an ideal time to go through your dog’s toys and throw out any worn or damaged ones, invest in some new ones and wrap these up especially for your dog to unwrap on the big day. There are plenty of Christmas products available especially for dogs such as rawhide Christmas cards and advent calendars, so even your dog can enjoy in the festivities! If your dog is not used to lots of people or children, a house full of people may not be the dog’s idea of a very happy Christmas. You can help your dog by asking visitors not to pet or fuss the dog when they first arrive and ask them to throw a few tasty treats towards the dog. This

will help teach the dog that visitors bring good things. To prevent your dog getting over excited, put them in a quiet area or room with a foodstuffed chew toy and classical music playing to help them remain calm. Finally, try not to spend excessive amounts of time with your dog during the Christmas season. For many owners who normally work during the week, Christmas sees them spending long periods of time with the dog, which is great fun, however, when you return to work the dog is left alone again. Many dogs find this difficult to readjust to. Keep your daily routines: your dog still needs exercise, stimulation, play and attention even on Christmas day. Spend some time perhaps visiting friends away from your house or exploring the Christmas sales so that the dog gets used to being on their own. With a little thought, having a dog does not need to add to the stresses of Christmas and can indeed help make it a time to remember. Jez Rose For more information on dog training and behaviour www.JezRose.co.uk

Winter Wonderland: walking & travelling in safety As the evenings draw in, and the temperature drops – it is clear that winter is fast approaching. Many of us will be taking time away from work at some point over the festive period, and what better way to escape than to enjoy some time together with your dog in the great outdoors. We are lucky here at The Real Dog Company as we spend days searching out the best places to walk and run with your dogs around Berkshire, so here are our top places to visit and our favourite items to take with us:

Top Places “Along the Thames” River Walking from Maidenhead to Cookham – this is a delightful stretch along the Thames that takes in one of the widest parts of the river around our area, and allows stunning views of Cliveden House. If you fancy seeing Cliveden at a closer vantage point then hop across the river and park in the National Trust car park and walk amongst the grounds. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Ornamental Gardens. There are also no “Dog Bins” so make sure you take some bags and something to carry them in – just in case. Marlow – from the town centre out toward Henley offers a great walk that hugs the river. Heading from the town centre towards Bourne End allows for more open fields for the dogs to dash around. Both routes, if you double back allow for some great coffee shops with outside seating to be hunted out afterwards in Marlow’s High Street. Henley to Shiplake – As you exit the main strip in Henley and over the

weir the path opens up into fields and makes for a great walk to Shiplake. A little further and Sonning appears with some quaint little pubs that serve coffee, and ale. Leave plenty of time if you are walking back to Henley!

Top Kit Winter days are still lots of fun so we always carry with us a collapsible water bowl – this can be used along the trail or if you stumble into a Pub and the dog also needs a refreshing drink in the warmth. You can carry this or let the dog carry it with their own little harness rucksack….that way they keep fit & healthy for a little Christmas dinner treat with the family! safety light – we always connect this to our dogs as dusk falls so we

can keep close tabs – if you want that extra little warmth then a high viz jacket makes them really stand out! Not one for the trail but a real life saver are the boot liners and seat covers that we use as the going under foot gets that little muddier. Until they reach the shower at home, our best friends carry a lot of mud into the cars! When travelling make sure that your dogs are always safe, secure and not wandering around in the car – and make sure your interior is safe from all that mud! Any questions on the routes, or safety of your dog on the trail or car contact us and for more details of walks and to download maps visit www.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/leisure/

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MDM Technik

MDM Technik was born in 2009, Mark David McManus started the business when he was faced with the unpleasantness of redundancy from Bentley. After getting over the initial shock of being out of work, Marks get up and go attitude proved to be a key ingredient to starting his own business. With over 11 years of experience working for Audi & Bentley it was without question that MDM Technik would specialise

in the VAG range of cars. MDM Technik started as a mobile business forging a reputation of quality & building a client base for 2 years, from that MDM Technik has grown, become Ltd and is now based in Medmenham, Near Marlow for over 1 year with 2,500 sqft of premises. MDM Technik Ltd prides itself in honesty and quality without main dealer prices. MDM Technik Ltd use main dealer diagnostic equipment which enables them to offer the same service as main dealers but

not with the same price tag. Since starting the company MDM Technik Ltd has branched into other avenues such as being authorised agents for Revo (performance engine remapping), Milltek (performance exhaust systems) and Forge (performance components) to supply and fit their products. Telephone 01491 412416 or mobile 07883 475336 Save money on motoring

Spot the Difference

Answers page 56

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YOUR car is likely the second biggest purchase you ever make – so it’s vital you protect that investment. Just as you wouldn’t let a leaky roof or broken guttering fester on your house, you need to pay regular attention to your car to keep it in good working order too. And it’s not just about a bucket and sponge. Simple maintenance tasks can preserve your car’s life and its value at resale time. The difference between a car in ‘excellent’ and ‘below average’ condition can be £1,000, according to trade valuation experts, so it really pays to look after your motor. Here are some practical tips to help you save money in the long run. Well Oil Be : It’s amazing how many motorists don’t even know how to check their oil, let alone remember to top it up. However, failing to do so will have dire consequences. Check it fortnightly, making sure the car is on level ground, engine cold and the level is between minimum and maximum. Check coolant levels too and get any abnormal noises or poor performance problems checked by an expert. Air We Go: Air-conditioning needs regular attention. Topping up the system with gas and lubricating it will cost around £70 at a garage and should be done every two years. This will stop unpleasant smells and bacteria forming. Poorly serviced systems have to work harder, putting undue strain on the engine. At Your Service: The recession saw many motorists skip servicing to try and save money. This really is a false economy. Sticking to your car’s maintenance schedule will ensure it’s working properly, prevent failures and prove it’s been looked after at resale time. Keep every receipt and old MOT, as well as a stamped-up service book for the next owner. Fuel’s gold: It might look like a costly alternative to regular fuel, but the AA says a few tanks of super unleaded can help preserve your engine. Using three tanks of super in succession will clean injectors and allow the engine to run more efficiently, helping preserve its working life. Tyred Out: The penalty for driving on illegal tyres (under 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters) is a fine and three points. Inspect your car’s boots weekly for damage, remove stones in the tread and look for signs of uneven 46

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wear. Pressures should be checked monthly too preserving the tyre’s life, and your fuel economy. Easy Does It: The way you drive can dramatically affect how long your car will last. Driving with care, avoiding harsh acceleration and hard braking will reduce wear on components. It’s also worth thinking, do you need to make that trip? Lower mileage cars are worth more. Polished off: Cleaning your car regularly with quality products is the best way to preserve its value. Glass’s Guide says a comprehensive clean can add £600 to a car’s value. Hose Down: A vital part of the car cleaning procedure is to hose the car down before washing. This removes fine particles of grit that can scratch the paintwork as you wash. These scratches will make your paint look dull and hazy, putting off future buyers. Wheel-ie good idea: Invest in a quality wheel cleaning brush and wheel cleaner to shift stubborn stains. Apply a coat of wheel wax which will stop future grime taking hold. Used car buyers love alloy wheels, but only if they’re in good condition. By James Baggott, editor of Car Dealer Magazine (CarDealerMag.co.uk)

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Policing matters Display and you will pay As the dark evenings are upon us I

am using this opportunity to reiterate how important car security is. Only yesterday one of my officers walked around a local car park and found three sat nav’s and several other items on display. Theft from vehicles is still a problem in this area and I would like to offer the following advice: Trust locks not luck – double check that your vehicle is secure. Keep the keys safe – and out of sight especially in your home. Perfect parking – if you have a garage then use it - or try to park in a well lit location. Display and you will pay – don’t tempt thieves – take your belongings with you. Be alarmed – this could deter thieves. Sat Nav – would you be lost without it? – Remove it and don’t just hide it in the vehicle – also make sure you wipe the sucker mark off the windscreen. Your number’s up – number plates can easily be removed – secure them with security screws. If you would like to know more about vehicle security or your local neighbourhood team then you can visit us at www.thamesvalley.police.uk. Inspector Ray Wilks

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Thames Valley Police

Stokenchurch Dog Rescue “Giving a home to an abandoned or unwanted rescue dog is one of life’s most rewarding experiences – but you’re taking on a serious commitment, and your dog will depend on you for a lifetime – often up to 15 years. A happy moment is collecting your new wet nosed, waggy tailed pet from the kennels at the start of a new chapter in their lives – and yours. Stokenchurch Dog Rescue (SDR) always has dogs of all ages, sizes and shapes, and they have different personalities, temperaments and needs. Some may need a special new home, others may need owners with experience of a particular breed and some may not be suitable to share their new home with small children. SDR staff do their best to match the right owner with the right dog. Anyone considering taking a new companion into their home and family must consider that they will need time and patience for the dog to settle in, as well as time on training. If there are small children in the family, they should be supervised around a new dog. A dog you see, or a breed you may have set your heart on, may not be the most suitable dog for your circumstances. You will first be asked to fill in a form detailing who you are etc. as it will help assess which dog would be most suitable. You can see round the kennels, and hopefully choose the right dog, in consultation with Alan Durrant, Dog Welfare Manager, or Alison Ling, his Deputy. When you choose a dog, SDR strongly recommends that all the family the dog will be living with come to meet the potential new family member and, of course, vice versa. Also, if you already have a dog, it will need to meet its possible companion to see if they get on. If all is well, a check is carried out by SDR to ensure that the potential home is suitable for the dog. Your garden must be secure, for instance. Once this has been done, you can formally adopt your dog. SDR asks for a minimum adoption donation of £120, which helps towards the dog’s medical welfare, and cost of micro-chipping. The charity’s telephone number is 01494 482695. It needs donations and people to help fund raising and ensure that the welfare work continues.” CAMEO CLUB MARLOW. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED URGENTLY CAMEO stands for “Come and meet each other” and is intended to provide monthly lunches for the elderly, housebound, disabled and lonely. The Club has been in existence for many years and relies on volunteers to organise and cook the lunches for the invited guests which are prepared by a team consisting of a cook and helpers. Transport is also provided for the guests if necessary. CAMEO now urgently needs to find volunteers who are interested in cooking. The club also needs drivers. CAMEO volunteer members pay a small annual subscription and raise money for the lunches by organising coffee mornings, lunches etc. General meetings for volunteer members take place on the second Wednesday of the month in the Garden Room, Liston Hall at 11 a.m. If anyone is interested in helping with CAMEO in any way at all, kindly telephone 01628 473577

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Brunel University gives Love In A Box this Christmas

Top Tips on how to create beautiful & longlasting festive arrangements

Staff and students at Brunel University have been frantically wrapping shoeboxes in festive paper and generously gathering gifts with which to fill them, then sending them to underprivileged children through Mustard Seed Relief Mission’s Love In A Box campaign. Simple gifts that most children take for granted will help put a smile on the face of many children this Christmas – skipping ropes, dolls and crayons, hats, scarves and gloves, soap, toothbrushes and flannels, picturebooks, notebooks and pens. No flashy mobile phones or expensive games consoles on Christmas wish lists here, but simply the things that every child should have the right to – warmth, hygiene, education and happiness. Mustard Seed Relief Mission has been running the Love In A Box campaign for around 20 years now and distribute on average 42,000 boxes to children each year, especially to those in orphanages in the Ukraine and Moldova. “To see a child who has nothing enjoy opening their one and only present is priceless,” said Lisa Smart, the charity’s Director. “The warmth, gratitude and love they show us is wonderful. The charity will continue to grow and with kind, considerate and continued support from many organisations such as Brunel University, we will work as hard as we can to improve the lives of many children.” Brunel has been supporting Mustard Seed since 2004, with Sue Hepworth of The Chaplaincy co-ordinating the University’s efforts in conjunction with the Students’ Union. Last year Brunel amassed a record number of 268 filled boxes, and hope to collect even more this year. “The amassing of the boxes is of course great fun,” said Sue, “but what moves me most is people’s engagement with the vision. We know that the children we are thinking of have nothing, by our standards. Their pains and losses are in some ways unimaginable to us. Yet people do imagine, and empathise, and reach out in this most practical and tangible of ways. Both staff and students are consistently so generous.” To find out more about the charity, visit www.msrm.org.uk

Neil Shaw, ex-florist and house steward at historic National Trust property, Basildon Park, reveals his top tips for festive foliage arrangements, as he commences his December ‘dressing’ of the house’s magnificent show rooms. Many of the natural materials that Neil works with can be found in the average garden, which makes this aspect of Christmas preparation extremely easy on the pocket! Neil says: ‘When decorating the home for Christmas with fresh foliage, many people think of using just the traditional favourites of holly and ivy. I always include these in my own arrangements, but there are many other evergreens that make delightful compositions, such as laurel which is very glossy, yew, evergreen oak, and winter flowering shrubs such as Vibernum tinus with its star-shaped white flowers and small blue-black fruits, which are just beginning to bloom now. Popular variegated garden shrub Euonymus with its dark leaves and white/pink stripes also looks fabulous in any arrangement. You can even make use of the smaller branches you trim off your Christmas tree, thus avoiding any waste, and introducing a fragrant pine aroma to wreaths and table displays. Add splashes of colour with holly berries, rose hips, and one of my favourites, the denselypacked fiery red fruits and foliage of Pyrancantha, which looks really stunning in the home. If the birds haven’t already eaten all the Cotoneaster, then this too is an excellent choice, as its slim berryladen branches are very pliable, and easy to work with. To get the best out of any arrangement, make sure all foliage is cut at the very last minute before using it. Cut all stems with a sharp knife, on a slanting angle; this will expose a larger surface

area of stem, allowing the foliage and flowers to absorb more water. Then ‘condition’ the stems by plunging them into buckets of water for between 12 and 24 hours. If you’re using flowers bought from a florist, make sure these too are re-cut as above and ‘conditioned’, because the stems will probably have sealed themselves since they were first trimmed. If using carnations, remember to cut the stems between the knobbly woody nodes. If you cut or break on the node itself, the water cannot be drawn up into the stem. If you are using water absorbent floral foam to create your arrangements, make sure that the foam is well soaked. To do this simply fill a washing up bowl with water and allow your foam to float on the surface until it starts to sink. When the top of the foam block is level with the water, take it out. This sounds rather arduous, but in fact only take a couple of minutes. Place the foam in water-proof trays, and don’t forget to check it daily, adding water to prevent it drying out completely. Never be tempted to speed up the process of soaking the foam by pushing it under water, as this only creates air locks and the foam will remain dry in the centre. Don’t reuse foam either as bacteria builds up in the holes left by a previous arrangement which will be harmful to future arrangements! Finally, I’d just like to say: Be Bold! Don’t hold back, but experiment with the different leaves and flowers in your garden. Don’t just dress your front door, but think about placing arrangements on window sills, mantelpieces, dining room tables and the backs of chairs. By tying stems onto twine or rope using florist’s wire, you can decorate your staircase too, which will look terrific!

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FAM MILLY FUN THIS WINTER EXPEERIEENCE THE MAGICC OF OUTDOOR SKATIN NG Fancy a fun family day out this winter? Want to try something a little bit different? Then why not experience the magic and beauty of outdoor ice-skating in some of London’s most spectacular surroundings? It’s festive, fun and good for you! Outdoor ice-skating is proving increasingly popular in London and the surrounding areas with more and more outdoor rinks springing up in different locations each year during the festive season. Take the kids to visit the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, treat yourself to tea and cake in the café, then head on out front for a spot of skating before heading home, exhilarated, exhausted and content. Alternatively, take the family for a relaxing stroll around royal formal gardens, have a late lunch in the palace cafe then skate as dusk descends. Outdoor rinks are generally open from November to January. Ticket prices vary, with peak, off-peak and family ticket sales available. It is generally recommended that you buy your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Skate hire is included in the ticket price, with some places offering bob skates for toddlers (special skates for small children with two blades that strap onto the shoe), and at some venues wheelchairs are welcome on the ice. Take a look at some of the best outdoor ice-skating locations below: Hyde Park Winter Wonderlan nd

Winter Wonderland has celebrated its 5th year with the opening of a new ice rink surrounding the Victorian bandstand. Not only is it the biggest in the UK, but at night there are no less than 108,000 pea50

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lights illuminating the ice, creating a magical atmosphere for skaters. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, the Wonderland has so much more to offer – there really is something for everyone! Take young children to explore Santa Land and to meet the man himself; for teens there’s the largest array of rides in the capital; find the perfect handmade gift at the Angel Christmas Market; and stop to refuel at the English food market or the Bavarian Village. The Wonderland is free to enter but tickets and entrance fees apply to many of the attractions, rides and activities within. For the ice rink family tickets and concessions are available – visit www.hydeparkwinterwonderland/ tickets for more information. Natural Hisstory Museum Marshals are around to offer you a helping hand and you can even book a session with an experienced ice marshal to improve your skills. If you don’t want to skate you can warm up with a hot chocolate or mulled wine in the Café bar, watch your family and friends from the balcony or take a ride on the fairground carousel. Before or after your skating session why not take a look around the museum? There is plenty to see and do inside! The museum offers a range of daily activities and events, including film screenings. The museum and café are free to enter. Ticket prices for skating start from £8. This rink also runs sessions for wheelchair users. Visit http://www. nhm.ac.uk/ for further information. Win ndsor On Ice The Windsor ice rink is set in the stuning surroundings of Alexandra Gardens which offer wonderful views up to Windsor Castle. Make a day out of a visit to Windsor ice rink with refreshments at the rink-side Cafe, which serves hot drinks, mulled wine and seasonal, festive snacks, followed by a bout of sight-seeing. This rink is covered to protect you from the unpredictable British elements and is open from December

– January. Family tickets available from £20 (off peak) – visit www. windsor.gov.uk/whats-on/windsoron-ice for more information. Hampton Court Palace

Listen to music and take in the magnificent surroundings as you glide (gracefully or not so) around the rink in front of the attractive West Front of Henry’s Tudor Palace. Family tickets available from £32. Advanced booking is recommended. Wheelchairs are welcome on the ice. You could also get enjoyably lost in the famous puzzle maze with its many twists, turns and dead ends or go for a stroll through the famous formal gardens. Visit www. hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/ Default.aspx for further details. Emma Filtness

Tips for beginners • Wear appropriate clothing – the rinks operate in most weather conditions so you may get wet! Gloves are good, too. • Keep your knees bent and your weight forward – this helps you keep your balance. • First, take small steps with your skates, then try gliding with each step. • Keep your head up! • If you are having difficulty, stay near the edge so you can hold on if you need to, or skate with a friend/family member until you feel more confident.

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LOCAL CLUB EVENTS: Marlow Camera Club 13th December, 7.45 for 8pm Church Hall, Methodist Church, Spittal St, Marlow Christmas Social Marlow Camera Club 17th January, 7.30pm Church Hall, Methodist Church, Spittal St, Marlow Wildlife digitally illustrated - Colin Humphrey Marlow Archaeology Society 19th January, 8pm Garden Room, Liston Hall, Marlow Excavations at Goldciff when the tide goes out - Jennifer Foster, www.marlow-archaeology.org/ Archaeology in Marlow 24th January, 8pm Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow Into the Iron Age - 15 years of Silchester Roman Town www.archaeologyinmarlow.org.uk, 01628 481792 Marlow Camera Club 31st January 7.30pm Church Hall, Methodist Church, Spittal St, Marlow How to cheat at photography - Steven Galvin WEDDING FAIRS/OPEN DAYS MacDonald Compleat Angler Guides for Brides Wedding Fair 8th January, 11am - 3pm Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, www.crowneplazamarlow.co.uk/, 01628 496800

BUSINESS/NETWORKING EVENTS Business Biscotti - Marlow Every second Thursday 9.30 - 11.30am Danesfield House Hotel, Marlow www.businessbiscotti.co.uk Thames Valley Business Womens Group Every second Monday 7pm for 7.30pm start CIM, Cookham, www.TVBWG.com Business Biscotti - Maidenhead Every third Thursday 9 - 11am Temple Golf Club, Maidenhead www.businessbiscotti.co.uk SPECIAL EVENTS Carols on the Causeway, Marlow 19th December, 6.30pm

ICE RINKS Hyde Park Winter Wonderland until 3rd January, 10am - 10pm www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/ Natural History Museum until 8th January, 11am - 10pm weekdays, 10am - 10pm weekends www.nhm.ac.uk/

Bisham Abbey Weddng Fair 22nd January, 11am

Hampton Court Palace until 8th January www.londonicerinks.com/

CROWNE PLAZA, MARLOW 01628 496800, www.crowneplazamarlow.co.uk/,

Midas Antique Fairs Every 4th Sunday, 10 - 4pm Comedy Club 15th December Get together with our other party goers in our stunning Winterlake Suite and enjoy a two course fork buffet, followed by live Comedy Club entertainment. £30pp. Christmas Day Lunch Served 1-3pm Celebrate Christmas Day in style and enjoy a delicious 3 course buffet lunch, including arrival glass of bubbles. Plus Santa with presents for all the little ones - £69 pp, £32.50 per child aged 3-12; under 3s eat free. Boxing Day Bubbly Brunch 11.30am - 1.30pm, £19.95 pp; £9.95 per child aged 3-12; under 3s eat free. FLASH Don’t forget: Kids’ Corner and Movie Club available.

New Year’s Strictly Crowne Plaza Ball Welcome in the New Year in a sea of sequins! Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival, followed by a sumptuous 5 course dinner. Then tango, salsa and foxtrot the night away, Countdown to midnight, with a firework finale over the lake, £85pp Dress Code is Black Tie.

Tower of London until 8th January www.londonicerinks.com/ Somerset House until 22nd January, 10am -10.30pm www.somersethouse.org.uk THEATRE AND MUSICAL EVENTS The Forum Players - The Tooth Fairy by Anthony Deacon 21st, 22nd and 28th January, info@forumplayers.com or Leigh on 01628 523291 to order tickets

Windsor on ice until 6th January, Alexandria Gardens www.viewlondon.co.uk

Charity Events

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Weddings

Marlow Bridge, Marlow 0844 879 9128 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/compleatangler

Jazz dinners 24th and 30th December “Vegas” Join-A-Parties Festive Nights

13th December, 14th December, 19th December, 20th December

Kenton Theatre - See adjoining page www.kentontheatre.co.uk Key to Events:

MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER, MARLOW

One-off events

Clubs for Adults

Theatre & Music

Business Meetings

The Tooth Fairy.

When: 21st January – 2.30pm and 6.30pm 22nd January – 2.30pm 28th January – 2.30pm and 6.30pm Costs: £9 adults, £7 concessions, £27 family (2 adults and 2 children), discount for group bookings Venue: Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End Forum Players is proud to present a fantastic original pantomime written by Anthony Deacon encompassing all the traditional panto features but within a new storyline. Following the fairies responsible for collecting children’s milk teeth and explaining what they are all used for. Joining them on this adventure is their very special pet dinosaur along with Ma Wisdom, the evil Queen Veneer, Colonel Canine, not one but two comedy duos and the Tooth Guru, Dentures. For more information or to order tickets. info@forumplayers.com Leigh on 01628 523291 Marlow Music Makers Choir are looking for young talented musicians to perform at their Christmas concert. MMM’s founder and Musical Director Barbara Whitehead said: “We were very fortunate in having Robin Jacob-Owens, a pupil at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, delight our summer concert audiences with his saxophone solos. This fulfilled one of the objects of the Choir’s Constitution which is to encourage and support young talented musicians resident in or near Marlow. So I’d be delighted to hear from school-age individuals or groups who would like to gain valuable experience of performing to an appreciative audience and help to support the valuable work of a local charity”. Barbara can be contacted on 01628 484937. This year the Choir is raising funds for Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, a charity which is held in high regard in Marlow and beyond. Founded two years ago, Marlow Music Makers offers programmes of lively music which may include popular songs from around the 1920s up to the present day along with appropriate musical numbers played by their own musicians and guest players. For more information or changes to the schedules as listed please call Marlow Information Centre on 01628 483597 Longridge in Marlow t: 483252 - e:bookings@longridge-uk.org Many clubs meet regularly at Liston Court, Chapel Street. For more information contact them directly on t 472 558 Marlow Antique bric-a-brac fair meets on 1st Saturday of the month at Liston Hall from 9-4pm The Farmers Market, in Marlow Dean Street Car Park every Sunday, 10am - 2pm Bourne End Country Market product Small Hall 10 - 12 , Every Friday

Kenton Theatre Wednesday 14th December 11am and 2pm. Blunderbus Theatre Company presents THE VERY SNOWY CHRISTMAS It’s the night before Christmas and Big Mouse and Little Mouse are putting up decorations. Little Mouse scampers out to search for holly, but finds big white flakes falling from the sky. “Goodness me!” he cries. “The sky is coming undone!” Suitable for children from 3-7 years old. Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd December 2pm. Friday 23rd December 6.30pm. and Saturday 24th December 2pm. OXFORDSHIRE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS JUNGLE BOOK. Adapted from the Rudyard Kipling Stories By Neil Duffield A Family Show of the thrilling and heart- warming story of Mowgli, the boy brought up by wolves. Educated by Baloo, the bear and Bagheera, the panther, and hunted by the great tiger, Shere Khan, Mowgli must learn the laws of the jungle and become a young man with the confidence to walk alone. Thursday 12th January 2012 8pm. HENRY BLOFELD – SHAKEN, Not STIRRED Henry Blofeld is one of the world’s best loved cricket commentators. He enjoyed an aristocratic upbringing, including an Eton and Cambridge education, during which he displayed exceptional cricketing skills. Following a near-fatal accident he took up sports journalism and is best known for his descriptive performances on BBC Radio 4’s Test Match Specia Monday 30th January 7.30pm THEATRE UNLIMITED PRESENTS ‘STALIN’S FAVOURITE’ DIRECT FROM THE NATIONAL THEATRE In 1941, the huge popularity of his poem, ‘Wait For Me’, projected Konstantin Simonov into the literary stratosphere of the Soviet Union. But what price becoming Stalin’s favourite writer? Years later, now ageing and unwell, Simonov looks back on a lifetime as part of Stalin’s Soviet elite and confronts his demons. ‘Theatre Unlimited’s production premieres at the National Theatre in November and this will be its first tour. Friday, 3rd February 8pm. Shappi Korsandi Me and My Bother In Our Pants, Holding Hands Stand –up comedy. Shappi is one of the hottest young comedians in the country and has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Have I Got News for You. Fresh from her Edinburgh Fringe Success, the Kenton is pleased to welcome Shappi back. All tickets £16. Please mention Along the Thames Magazine when booking.

PLEASE CONTACT THE BOX OFFICE MONDAY TO FRIDAY 11AM - 5PM, SATURDAY 10AM - 1PM

01491 575698

If you would like your event advertised contact 01628 771 419 / 07711 887107 or e: office@ AlongTheThames.co.uk

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL PRODUCTIONS AT

Use the QR code (with your phone) opposite to go straight to our website.

New Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2BP

www.kentontheatre.co.uk Free Parking available in Waitrose car park after 6pm ALONG THE THAMES

Horoscopes

Would you like to know how you can make the most of your personal journey through life? Would you like to know how you can get in touch with your personal power and be the very best version of yourself? I can help you to achieve personal transformation, discover your purpose and work towards achieving your dreams. I am also a trained life coach and a practitioner of Bach flower essence therapy and I offer a full motivational and transformational coaching programme. Using cosmic wisdom and awareness you can plan your year ahead by tuning into productive planetary cycles and gaining the clarity and insight needed for optimal abundance and success. Overcome fears and anxiety and replace them with assertiveness and selfconfidence. Consultations are available in person, on the telephone or Skype. Gift vouchers are also available. Please contact me for more information. Special offer – Your year ahead, a new and creative look at your life and your work, a one hour consultation for £55.

Christine Chalklin

Inspirational Astrologer, Life Coach and Business Consultant, www.RestyleYourLife.co.uk - christine@RestyleYourLife.co.uk

Telephone: 07813 483549

Aries

March 21 - April 20

Your ruler, the energetic and fiery Mars is in practical Virgo and is now travelling through the work, fitness and wellness sector of your chart. You feel inspired and motivated to take better care of yourself. Adventure beckons and the eclipse on the 10th gets you to view the future with much broader vision. Assertive Mars, your ruling planet, stays in hard working Virgo all month demanding that you review all your projects and goals. Now is the time to finish off what needs finishing and discard what is no longer current. While this new pace may seem unsettling at first, you’ll soon get used to it.

Taurus April 21 - May 21

December will be a transformational month for Taurus. Venus, your ruler, is in practical Capricorn where powerful Pluto resides. Several areas of your life will come under intense scrutiny now. The eclipse on the 10th brings your finances into the spotlight and new ways of earning money may come to light. The New Year starts with good fortune, as abundant Jupiter remains in your sign for another five months. You’ll also be longing to broaden your horizons, open your mind and examine things you never imagined. Travel to far away places will be on the agenda and creativity is also in focus this month.

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Gemini May 22 - June 22

Your ruling planet Mercury will turn direct on the 14th, this is good news as all communications and plans that have been delayed can now start moving again. Energetic Mars in practical Virgo is stirring up your home and domestic life and new and creative ways of working can now emerge. The New Year begins with Mercury, your ruler, in open minded Sagittarius. Relationships are your focus for this month and as the winged messenger moves into down to earth Capricorn on the 8th things could get serious! You really can make constructive changes that should benefit your year ahead.

Cancer June 23 - July 23

Uranus, planet of surprises, is on the move again and after the 10th your Solar house of ambition and career is in the spotlight. An exciting opportunity may come your way, be prepared to have a broader perspective on all areas of your life. Communication works well and confidence is high. January puts all your communications in the spotlight and gets you questioning if you are really using all of your talents. Relationships are still an important issue and transformational change is the agenda. After the full moon in your sign on the 9th you should have more courage to say exactly what needs to be said.

Leo

July 24 - August 23

The Sun and Mercury light up the playful area of your chart and you’re ready for excitement and adventure. People that you meet tend to stir you into new ways of thinking and new opportunities to travel and to further your education could arise. Demonstrating the perfect balance of self-assertion and cooperation is vital. With energetic Mars in Virgo now in the financial area of your chart, an in-depth review of money matters is on the agenda. It’s time to find some new and creative ways of increasing your income. This becomes much easier after the 8th as quick thinking Mercury moves into no-nonsense Capricorn.

Virgo

August 24 - September 23

The Sun and Mercury warm the domestic area of your chart. During this cycle, you are especially fond of life at home and with family. You’ll feel more receptive and gentle on a romantic level, and tend to be sentimental or nostalgic now. The eclipse on the 10th brings vibrant new energy. January brings hard work and reorganisation to the very top of your agenda. Energetic Mars is in your sign all month and urges you to use your time wisely. Mercury, your ruler, is in the domestic area of your chart, home improvements should go well as there’s a new sense of originality to all creative projects..

Libra

September 24 - October 23

You are accustomed to making everyone else in your life happy, but this month you can tend to your own needs without guilt. Venus, your ruling planet, is in practical, hard working Capricorn and it’s a time for pushing your own personal projects and interests ahead. Domestic matters are in the spotlight for most of January, and normally indecisive Libra will have to make some decisions on the home front. Stern Saturn is still in your sign and gives a sound base for all new projects. Use this productive cycle for planning and then follow up with decisive action

Scorpio

October 24 - November 22

Three planets light up two very personal areas of your chart bringing your values, your communication and your self-expression to the forefront. Powerful Pluto, your ruler, is strong in ambitious Capricorn. You are in the position to make an impression on others, and to assert your personal influence. The New Year begins with some deep introspection concerning your ambitions and your career. You’ll be questioning many things that you started in 2011. Your ruler, transformational Pluto, demands that you to find innovative ways to communicate your needs and wants so that you can obtain the necessary balance

THE COSMOS

DURING

DECEMBER

The Sun and communicative Mercury are in adventurous Sagittarius, broader vision and openness are the flavours of the month as Sagittarius seeks the truth, sometimes at all costs. An energetic month as we now feel our minds are open to new and exciting things that we never thought possible. Retrograde Mercury finally starts to move forward on the 14th when communications and travel plans run much more smoothly and this sets the tone for energetic and sparkling Christmas festivities. An important total lunar eclipse, the last of the year, falls in Gemini/Sagittarius on the 10th. Globally, commerce and the economy come into focus and the Euro problems may come to a head around this time. The New moon in Capricorn on Christmas Eve brings a reflective tone to the celebrations. This has been a turbulent year and things will never be the same again, maybe we can all think of people who might need our help around this time. And January 2012 What’s happening in the heavens during the first month of 2012? This is the last year that was recorded in the ancient Mayan calendar, some believe it heralds the end of the World, I’m sure that isn’t the case and what the wise Mayans probably meant was that many old and defunct systems are ending now and we are at the dawn of a new beginning for mankind. With all the amazing challenges and changes we have seen during 2011 and will continue see this year, we must all hope for better things to come. We’ll all need to look at more creative ways of working and bringing more fairness, kindness and compassion into the way things are done. This month the Sun and transformational Pluto are both in ambitious Capricorn, assisting new projects to really get of the ground and with abundant Jupiter in fellow earth sign Taurus, there’s plenty of scope for successful outcomes. Swim with the cosmic tides rather than against them!

Sagittarius

Aquarius

Mars continues to animate and energize the most pivotal point in your chart. Jupiter highlights your work and your energy levels and sense of timing are good during this cycle. Others find you easy to be around, even inspiring and energizing, and are attracted to your assertiveness and courage. Your work and your career are brought into question this month, as innovative Uranus pushes for you to question if you are using all of your talents. You want excitement and something new is in the air. With Jupiter, your ruler, moving favourably this should not prove too much of a problem.

The Sun and Mercury are travelling through the social sector of your chart, bringing new friends and colleagues on to the scene. Then after the 14th as Mercury turns direct, you should experience positive motivation to further your business goals and professional interests which improve your income. The love planet Venus is in your sign until the 13th and then she moves into sensitive and caring Pisces. You may question your values and also matters concerning your income. Your ruler, the innovative Uranus, is forging ahead in fiery Aries. This could prove very beneficial for new opportunities.

November 23 - December 22

Capricorn December 23 - January 19

December is a strong month for creative pursuits and love matters. Romantic Venus is in your sign until the 21st. Your ambition is also heightened and opportunities may emerge from unexpected quarters. Your ruler is in Libra and you’ll need to find a balance when it comes to family matters. It’s your birthday month and you should be feeling increased confidence in all that you do. Intellectual Mercury moves into your sign on the 8th and brings with it brilliant new ideas for all your long term plans. Saturn, your ruler, is still in well balanced Libra enabling you to build some solid foundations.

January 20 - February 19

Pisces

February 20 - March 20

Financial matters need careful attention this month as Uranus moves forward in the money sector of your chart. You have all of the necessary tools at your disposal to make important changes to your spending and borrowing habits. Work can be demanding but also motivating. January begins with a whirlwind of activity, as the Sun lights up the social area of your chart. The new moon on the 23rd is in a deeply introspective part of your chart and you’ll know that this is going to be a pivotal year. Mars is in your opposite sign of Virgo gives you the courage to make changes.

ALONG THE THAMES

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