Families Thames Velley East 67 july & aug

Thames Valley East July/August 2013 - Issue 67

Try before you buy!

Tel: 01628 828258 Email: montessorischool@aol.com School Lane, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 3QY We are a very well-established Montessori Nursery set in a once Victorian primary school at the heart of the picturesque village of Littlewick Green.

Ages 12 months - 5 years After School & Holiday Club for children 1 to 8 years.

Operating a 43 and 48 week year Open 8am-6pm Full days or morning and afternoon sessions Covering the EYFS & Montessori curriculum Quality day care in a warm and friendly environment Football & Multi Sport coaching available for ages 3-5 Mouse Wizards (I.C.T.) for the 3-5 year olds Drama, Music & Movement Classes Free funded sessions for 3-5 year olds

01628 660 893

www.justoutdoortoys.co.uk BIGGEST Display in the Thames Valley (just 5 mins from M4 J7) Abbey Rose Nursery, Nashdom Lane, Burnham SL1 8NJ

The really useful magazine for parents of children between 0 and 12 Packed with information and fun things to do with the family in Maidenhead - Windsor - Marlow - Ascot - Slough - Egham

“ New membership tennis Club @ St Piran’s Maidenhead

DELGADO TENNIS CLUB 7 weeks of summer camps available @ St Piran’s school and Great Marlow School SIGN UP NOW!

or call 07818 052 206 In partnership with

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

in this

issue 3 6 7 8 10 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 27 28 29

News & Info Education News Getting ready for school Clubs & Classes News 21 things to do this summer Tips for travellers On the Road to Rouen Camping with kids Interview with Luke Thomas Thames Walk Competitions Time Out What is autism?

Ed's Reading Room Complementary therapies and pregnancy 30 Mums Who Mean Business 31 Classifieds

web: FamiliesTVEast.co.uk tel: 01628 627586 fax: 08717 146 305 (calls cost 10p/min) e-mail: Editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk editor: Claire Winter circulation: 19,000 next issue: Sept/Oct 2013 due out: September 3, featuring: Back to School; Clubs & Classes Special copy/advertising deadline: July 23

Welcome back to our Summer Holiday Special! I now have my feet firmly back on the ground after my tandem parachute jump with the Red Devils last month. It was a truly terrifying but amazing experience. Falling at 120mph was my least favourite part and the parachute opening was the best bit, it was beautifully quiet and the closest I’ll ever get to flying! I raised over £1000 for the Thames Valley Hospice. I also did it in memory of my wonderful Dad, who we lost to cancer in May. Thanks for all the support and here is a picture as promised (I was assured by the photographer that nobody looks glamorous in these shots and more like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit).

Four other marvellous women, Becca Wright, Maria Ashby-Giles, Jackie Paice and Niki Kitt also jumped with me and big thank you to them too, in total we raised over £7000.

I hope you enjoy this issue and your summer holiday and we’ll see you back in September for our bumper Back to School and Clubs and Classes issue.

First ever Maidenhead Festival in July The first ever Maidenhead Festival will be taking place on July 26 and 27, and will replace the Carnival, which has traditionally taken place in June. Alongside a beach and children’s entertainment, such as Sima’s Action Kids in Kidwells Park, the town is going to be buzzing with live music in local pubs, street markets, fairground rides and fireworks.

“We thought it was time for something fresh and different and hope that the whole town will embrace the Festival. With the range of activities on offer, there will be something to suit all ages. It’s definitely not an event to be missed!” said Maidenhead town manager, Steph James. “Why trek all the way to Brighton when you can enjoy a beach on your doorstep as well as some of Berkshire’s best entertainers and musicians?

Having recently appeared on stage alongside celebrity, Dave Benson Phillips at Let’s Rock the Moor in Cookham, Sima Stannage, the founder of Sima’s Action Kids will be providing her highenergy children’s entertainment at the Maidenhead Festival: "I am incredibly excited about being involved in the festival,” said Ms Stannage. “To play a small part in celebrating our wonderful beautiful town by helping our children enjoy the beginning of the summer holidays means so much to me.”

The Maidenhead Festival will run from 11am -10pm on Friday, 26th July and from 10am -10.30am on Saturday, 27th July. For further information, please go to: http://www.enjoymaidenhead.com/events-andoffers/events.aspx

Eczema support group in Farnham Common

Cover Photo: www.bigstock.com

Telephone: 01628 627 586

A local mum is setting up an Eczema Support group on behalf of the National Eczema Society. Their monthly meetings will take place on the second Monday of every month at Farnham Common Village hall from 10 to 11.30am.

Organiser, Rachel James says, “I have a 17 month old son who suffers with eczema,

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and it's certainly been hard-going, If you too would you like to meet other people who also suffer from eczema, get advice from occasional key speakers, advice on creams, sun and water exposure. Please pop in for a cuppa and a chat.” To contact Rachel James call 07930 993651 or email rachaeleczema@hotmail.co.uk.

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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One hundred years young

Cupcake Decora ng Par es Making Cupcake Decora on fun for children aged between 6 and 16 • 1 demonstrated themed cupcake • 3 free design cupcakes star ng with piped bu ercream swirls • 1 cupcake to eat decorated by Cakin' Faerie

Many happy returns to Holy Trinity CE (A) School, Marlow, which will be celebrating its centenary on Sunday 15th September. In honour of the event the school will be opening to the public between 10am and 4pm, offering visitors the chance to tour the school and see how it has changed over the years. Former pupils are also invited to have their handprint painted on a tile to join the ‘Helping Hands’ wall, which now features generations of families who have attended the school.

The school is opening as part of the English Heritage Open Day, which will also see other local buildings throwing their doors open to the public, including nearby Old Trinity Church and the Cemetery Chapel.

Each guest will receive a cer ficate of a endance and take home 4 vanilla cupcakes that they have decorated in a presenta on box.

All equipment is provided and demonstrated along with a selec on of decora ons and sprinkles. All that Cakin' Faerie asks is that you can provide sufficient tables and chairs for all of your guests.

Unique baby show in Windsor After a fabulous debut at Pinewood Film Studios in June this year, The Baby Spectacular is back and bringing its unique baby show to the Windsor Castle Hotel on Sunday September 8, from 10am-4pm. With an array of unique, exclusive, handmade and vintage inspired products there is something for all your little ones… and toddlers at this event. The Baby Spectacular prides itself on high quality items for baby, toddlers and pregnancy with items not to be found in the high street. Join them in September for what promises to be yet another fantastic event.

For information or bookings contact Samantha thebabyspectacular@gmail.com 07880 531958.You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

World Breastfeeding Week 10 Almond Road, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8HA

Tel: 01628 543963 or 07979 807553 Email: suzanne@readmantcs.co.uk www.facebook.com/cakinfaerie

Blossom Ballet

For a FREE taster class or for further information please contact Lucy: 07813084283 lucy@blossomballet.com www.blossomballet.com

• Enrolling now for the Summer School and Autumn Term.

• Magical Summer School classes for 18months - 8 years are Tuesday 6th - Thursday 8th August.

• Workshops by the English National Ballet for 5-8 years are Friday 9th August.

Blossom Ballet is about having lots of fun and making new friends.

Classes throughout the week, including weekends, in Windsor, Birch Hill and Maidenhead.

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Summer nannies at Smileys Looking for some summer childcare but not sure where to turn? Smileys will be able to help you out. Established for 26 years, Smileys have a number of nannies available to work during the summer for families who just require childcare during the holidays. All nannies are personally interviewed, references and qualifications are checked. The nannies are also Ofsted registered. Afterschool nannies who can help school drop off and pick up are also available, as are evening babysitters. To register, please email enquiries@smileyschildcare.co.uk, visit www.smileyschildcare.co.uk or call on 01628 675442.

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World Breastfeeding Week takes place in the first week of August, with the theme of Breastfeeding Support. The week concentrates on Breastfeeding Peer Counseling, highlighting the fact that even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in the weeks or months after delivery there is a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates, particularly in exclusive breastfeeding. Continued support to sustain breastfeeding can be provided in a variety of ways, including Peer Counselors who are trained to support mothers. World Breastfeeding Week aims to draw attention to the importance of Peer Support, as well as training breastfeeding supporters, identifying local community support contacts for breastfeeding mothers and calling on governments globally to implement steps to improve the duration and rates of breastfeeding. Submit your pledge for World Breastfeeding Week 2013 at www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org.

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

News & Info Babies and toddlers needed for Splashathon

Pooches in the Park comes to Marlow Helen & Douglas House, the children’s and young adults’ hospice in Oxford are holding a new “Pooches in the Park” event in Higginson Park in Marlow on Sunday July 28 10am-4pm for you to bring your dog along to. Entrance to this event is free. There are lots of fun things to take part in on the day. An agility course will put energetic dogs and their owners to the test and you can enter your dog into the ‘Which dog looks most like its owner?’ and ‘Waggiest Tail’ competitions. There will also be stalls selling pet paraphernalia, to raise money for the charity.

To find out more contact Poppy Hanbury at phanbury@helenanddouglas.org.uk or phone 01865 799150. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

1000 mile bike ride for Rosie’s Rainbow Fund Local personal trainer Matt Wadie, from Focusing on You is going on an amazing 1000 mile journey across Britain to raise money for Rosie's Rainbow Fund, set up in the memory of 11 year old Rosie Mayling.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the fund which supports sick and disabled children in hospital, school and the community through music therapy, and also offers much needed bereavement support to families after the loss of a child.

He is setting off on August 22 with Rosie’s uncle Phil Oswestry and you can sponsor them by following this link https://www.justgiving.com/rosiesrideathon You can also join them for a shorter 200km ride from Bristol to Oswestry over two days over the August bank holiday on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25, leaving the Bank Holiday Monday for a rest day. www.rosiesrainbowfund.co.uk/

Telephone: 01628 627 586

Turtle Tots swimmers and local parents go to extra lengths to fundraise for local midwives. From the delivery suite to the deep-end, local mum of two Jodi O’Connor, owner of baby swimming business, Turtle Tots and Debra Jonckers, founder of antenatal group Baby Matters, have joined forces to run a fund raising Splashathon for local babies and toddlers to attend.

The Splashathon is being held to try and raise over £3,500 for a specialist piece of equipment, urgently needed by local community midwives.

The money raised will buy a Draeger Jaundice Meter, which measures the Jaundice levels of newborn babies.

This piece of equipment will help prevent new parents making a possibly unnecessary journey to hospital, as the midwives will be able to measure the babies jaundice levels at home.

The event is being run at local Turtle Tots classes at the end of June and the highlight will be a day of fun and beach-themed Turtle Tots sessions open to the general public on Saturday July 6 at Claires Court Schools, Ridgeway pool in Maidenhead. Each session will last half an hour and a small minimum donation of £10.00 is required. Every baby and toddler that takes part will receive a certificate to take home with them.

Numbers are limited at each session, so to book your space please contact splashathon2013@gmail.com or call 07823 885328 or 07005 803693. www.turtletots.com. www.babymatters-uk.co.uk

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Pre & Post Natal Body Coaching Regain your pre-pregnancy stomach strength Six one hour workshops during term-time.

Incontinence and back pain are not a necessary side-effect of being pregnant and giving birth.

Fully understand your ‘core’ group muscles and their function.

Learn how to recognise appropriate engagement of these muscles and how to apply that knowledge when lifting, carrying, exercising and anything else motherhood cares to throw your way.

Next workshops start September 2013 Cookham & Marlow Babies welcome Call: 07876237367 or email: sharon@spmusclecare.co.uk to book your space or arrange your own private workshop www.spmusclecare.co.uk

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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Education News

At Herries, ...... every child is an individual and every child is known and loved.

Come and visit the school at one of our monthly Open Mornings or arrange an individual appointment.

See our website for full details:

www.herries.org.uk Herries Preparatory School, Dean Lane, Cookham Dean, Berkshire SL6 9BD Tel: 01628 483350 Email: office@herries.org.uk

School shoes and uniform at Goyals in Maidenhead Goyals uniform shop in Maidenhead is now stocking black and brown school shoes and trainers, including brands Startrite, Asics, and Terra Plana Vivobarefoot.

They provide a professional uniform fitting service for schools in Maidenhead, Windsor and Slough. If you need ballet shoes, they sell a wide range of dance wear. They also have Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides uniforms. Car parking facilities are available on 26-28 Forlease Road. To find our more go to goyalmaidenhead.co.uk or call 01628 639725.

Name your child's 'stuff' The summer holidays offer a wonderful chance for children to kick off their shoes and enjoy carefree days - which is great until they mislay their shoes, outer layers, swimming goggles etc.

Ann-Maree, founder of Labels4Kids, advises parents to label everything - "because kids lose stuff!

Better still, label it twice - once inside a pocket or on the care label, and once on the collar so there is no doubt who things belong to."

Ann-Maree was recently invited to be a member of No10 Downing Street EU E-Commerce task force along with ASOS to give her advice on e-commerce. Labels4Kids' own relauched website makes it easier for you to find your way to the right products. Choose from brilliant, named stick-on clothing labels, easy iron-on labels and woven iron-on labels, vinyl labels for hard surfaces and selection packs.

READER OFFER: Families readers can save 10% when using the code 'families' at the checkout: www.labels4kids.com/fam.

Explore learning summer discounts Looking for a way of keeping your kids’ brains busy over the long holiday? This summer Explore Learning are offering families joining in July a 25% discount off their first full month of tuition at participating centres – and you can also book a free trial to see whether their programme is right for your family.

Explore Learning has centres across the UK providing maths and English tuition for ages 5–14 of all abilities, and they also run special 11+ exam preparation courses. Centres are open seven days a week and are Ofsted registered, so you can use Childcare Vouchers to pay for membership.

Children attend up to twice a week on a drop-in basis, working with tutors who serve as educational role models and motivators. Each child is given a personalized learning programme tailored to their needs, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum – a combination of benefits which has led to the company being named Supplementary Education Provider of the Year at the prestigious Education Investor Awards for the past two years running. For more information or to book a trial, visit www.explorelearning.co.uk or call your local centre.

Work starts at Holyport College site Building work has started at the site of the new free school Holyport College in June. The existing buildings are being refurbished and construction of new classrooms and boarding accommodation has also begun. The £15million free school is set to open to students in September 2014.

Holyport College governor and Eton College headmaster Tony Little added: “We are delighted with the progress so far. The application for a free school went to the Department for Education on 23 February last year and less than 16 months later the builders are moving onto site. We look forward to working with Willmott Dixon, the Department for Education and the Royal Borough for a September 2014 opening.”

STARTRITE, ASICS AND VIVOBAREFOOT The school, which will provide up to 500 places for 11to 19-year-old coSchool Uniform & Sportswear Custom Clothing Solutions educational day and boarding pupils, will be sponsored by Eton College.

• School Uniforms for most schools in Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough & Burnham area • Complete Design, Embroidery, Screen printing & alteration services • Stockists of all official scouting and girlguiding organisations & dancewear • School Shoes - black & brown

01628 639725 • sales@goyals.co.uk www.goyalmaidenhead.co.uk 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead Berkshire, SL6 8BJ

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New primary school for Maidenhead too Bray Free Primary School has also been approved by Ministers as one of 102 new free schools, like Holyport College, to open across England from September 2014 and beyond. The school plans to open on the site of the former Winbury Preparatory School in Bray in September 2014. It will be a non-fee paying, non-selective, non-denominational, co-educational school.

Initially opening in 2014 with 28 in the Reception Year, the school will grow organically to a full capacity of 196 pupils.

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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

OFF TO BIG SCHOOL! Your child is starting school in September and the big day is drawing even closer… we take a look at some of the things you can do to make sure it all goes swimmingly. f your child is starting school this year, they probably feel excited, nervous and unsure. Everyone keeps talking to them about it, but really they have no idea what ‘big school’ is all about. School is a big deal to children and parents – it’s the place where they’ll change and learn a lot, and it’s all takes place without parents having much impact.

Although a lot of how they settle in during the first few weeks is to do with their character, you can help make the transition easier. It’s also important to remember that kids will feed off you – if you seem nervous, anxious or worried, they will register this and might react with anxiety, reluctance and hesitancy.

Hopefully in the last few weeks of the summer term a visit to their new school will have taken place – they’ll have met their

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Telephone: 01628 627 586

School matters

teacher, seen their classroom and maybe know where they are sitting. Try to build on this by talking about it over the next few weeks, maybe drive past and talk about the school, plan your journey there and, if you can, set up a few playdates with some children in the class.

Try and prepare your child about what will happen when they get to school. Explain where they’ll be going, what they’ll be doing and for how long, and emphasise the things they’ll enjoy doing – if children have a good idea of what school is going to be like, they’re less likely to find the experience stressful.

Games and role-plays can really help so this might be a good time to play schools – any siblings, grand-parents and dolls are welcome.

You can call the register; practise sitting quietly and putting up your hand to answer a question; have storytime; and maybe even practise hanging up your coat. Reading books

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about school can also help your child get into the right frame of mind and boost their confidence, try Starting School by Janet Ahlberg (Puffin, £5.99) and I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child (Orchard, £5.99).

During the holidays, involve your child in choosing things they need for school, like school bags, lunch boxes (make sure they can open it easily) and pencil cases. Check they can go to the toilet without help, know how to wash their hands, and are confident enough to tell the teacher when they need to go to the loo. Name everything and tell your child where the label is.

Make the school ritual relaxed by laying out the school clothes or making the sandwiches the night before and getting your child involved. The first day is always hectic – there are more parents than usual in the playground as everyone comes to see kids off on ‘the big day’, try and find out where you need to be, and keep smiling. If you can, try and find a friend for your child to go in with.

And when the time comes to say goodbye, wait until the teacher calls the class together before leaving with a big smile and a wave. If they’re crying when you leave, try not to worry. Most kids stop about two minutes after their parents disappear and by the time you collect them later they’ll probably be full of things to tell you and have had a great time.

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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Clubs & Classes News New tennis club opens in Maidenhead

New netball classes to encourage youngsters to play If you are planning for your daughter’s future – plan for her to start Netball Nippers as soon as possible! Netball Nippers is now available across the area for girls aged 3-7 years. With new classes starting every term, more and more girls are getting on the court. Girls that join Netball Nippers quickly learn the power of sport and their confidence builds. Joining Netball Nippers, your daughter will learn to move, catch, throw and play a team sport from an early age in a safe, positive and girl-friendly environment. Join the fun at any time - contact them for a free taster class.Visit www.netball-nippers.co.uk or call 07881 337241 to find a class near you (or if you would like a class near you!)

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Delgado Tennis Club in Maidenhead officially opened their new tennis club at St Piran’s school The Delgados with Jamie Murray on Sunday June 9 and over 700 people attended coaching at these venues and will be running seven the day with over 250 lucky individuals enjoying weeks of summer camps. free coaching sessions and a chance to play Coaching and membership of Delgado Tennis current and former Wimbledon players. club is now available for as little as £30 a year! If Defending Wimbledon Champion Jonny Marray you are interested in joining the club, booking cut the ribbon and Jamie Murray, Wimbledon summer courses or coaching in Marlow or mixed doubles champion and Andy’s Brother also Maidenhead please contact Paul Delgado on coached on the day. pdelgado@livingtennis.co.uk or call 07818052206.

An exhibition match was also played in front of Full details can also be found on a large crown between Living Tennis directors Paul www.livingtennis.co.uk Delgado and Martin Lee (former Wimbledon player) and Jamie Delgado (Current Wimbledon player) and Johnny Delgado (director of Play a Pro for Living tennis).

Delgado Tennis with the support of Living Tennis are offering all year round coaching at St Piran’s school and the new facility at Great Marlow School. They are currently running after school and weekend

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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Clubs & Classes News

Spend the happiest summer of your life at Redroofs!

REDROOFS THEATRE SCHOOL in Maidenhead offers an exciting programme of summer holiday courses, fulfilling your child’s performing ambitions under the experienced eye of their amazing team of directors and performing arts teachers.

They run courses for all ages from total beginners to experienced performers for children aged 6-16. All the courses run from 10am to 4pm but wraparound care is available (for an additional cost).

Through the Wardrobe Door (ages 612+), It’s a Hard Knock Week (ages 7-13) and Name In Lights week (7-13+) are all based at their Littlewick Green venue. Each week culminates in a lively show on stage, and alongside all the showbiz fun, kids can cool off in our heated pool set in beautiful gardens.

Lights Camera Action! (ages 10-16) at Bath Road offers an ideal experience for young actors to expand their experience in front of a camera with countless film making possibilities. A trip to Harry Potter studios

make this a week that a keen, young creative must not miss.

Golden Ticket Week (ages 7-14+) at Bath Road, is a chocolaty show week, where everyone is a lucky winner. Act, sing and dance in a performance based on the famous Roald Dahl stories in their own 160 seat proscenium theatre in Ascot. Plus an amazing trip to Cadbury World. Tempting for all stage struck chocolate lovers!

To find out more and to download booking forms go to www.redroofs.co.uk or call 01628 674092.

Redroofs September timetable offers an exciting choice of part-time classes, productions and workshops now on the website. From baby ballet through to adults.

Evening and Saturday morning and afternoon theatre school acting schools, musical and acting productions your child can take part in, dance, singing, acting and media classes for everyone.

Principal Carolyn Mayling says, “Redroofs is the place to learn from the very best in the business, to grow in confidence and to discover and achieve your child’s potential in a friendly atmosphere, in our own purpose built studios and two theatres. We offer agency representation to all our pupils and currently have children appearing in West End shows, and on TV and in films.” www.redroofs.co.uk

New Spanish class for mums and babies Baby Loves Spanish for mums, babies and toddlers is launching classes in Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead this September. It’s a new exciting class for mums and babies to learn a new language in an exciting way.

They are also doing summer drop-in sessions.

The class will use bilingual nursery rhymes, mum and baby yoga, massage, reflexology and lovely flamenco rhythms to make a unique and magical class.

According to Ellie the class teacher, “Early language classes are effective

because infants are able to distinguish among sounds used in all languages best before six months. It also helps children achieve a natural sounding accent. Other benefits include: Better and more advanced reading skills; greater confidence; and a greater grasp on their first language, including a richer vocabulary.”

To find out more call Ellie on 07868 711581or email ellie@babylovesspanish.co.uk. you can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/babylovesspanish

Get energised for the Summer!

Join an Energy Kidz, Ofsted registered Holiday Club for an action packed school holiday. Energy Kidz will revolutionise your child’s school holiday, helping to ensure every moment is an enjoyable one. Their action packed days and fun filled activities for children aged 4-12 include: treasure hunts, dodge ball, tennis, cooking, Xbox Kinect and much, much more.

Simply choose between individual days or a week at an Energy Kidz Holiday Club. Children will enjoy the day’s programme in groups of similar ages where they can spend time with existing friends or make new ones. Running in: Crowthorne, Windsor, Spencers Wood, Wargrave/Twyford, Slough, Winnersh, Wokingham and Caversham.

Call Energy Kidz on 0845 519 4470, email info@energy-kidz.co.uk or visit www.Energy-Kidz.co.uk to book your child a place.

Fun art sessions for preschoolers comes to Windsor Messy Monets, the childrens arts and crafts company, is launching a new term time class for under-5’s in Windsor. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 9.30am at Clewer Youth & Community Centre, Parsonage Lane SL4 5EW. As with all Messy Monets classes, children will take home two works of art every session – a paint based project and another made from various materials. Parents & carers can enjoy tea or coffee too. Classes are £6.00 a session and you can also benefit with a loyalty card buy five sessions and get your sixth free!

You can still join Messy Monets on Mondays in Maidenhead and Thursdays in Marlow. For more information go to www.messymonets.co.uk

Action packed days of fun filled activities for children aged 4-11 years old, all delivered within a safe and supervised environment at the following schools: Hatch Ride School – Crowthorne Lambs Lane – Spencers Wood The Piggott School – Wargrave Hilltop First School – Windsor Winnersh Primary – Wokingham The Coombes School – Arborfield St Paul’s Junior – Wokingham Emmer Green Primary – nr Caversham

Running 8am – 6pm

Telephone: 01628 627 586

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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Make this summer a sizzler!

21 THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

Schools out and let’s hope that this summer’s drier and hotter than last year! Whatever the weather, the holidays are a great chance to break with routine and do something new. If you’re short on inspiration, check out our ideas to get you started.

Climb a tree There’s nothing like clambering up a tree! Just look for a big tree with strong branches, preferably nicely spaced out to make sure you don’t have to stretch too far. Some of our favourite places for releasing your inner monkey are the Wendover Woods (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/wendoverwoods), and Black Country Park, near Slough. This was the location of the Forbidden Forest in the first four Harry Potter films, including home to Hagrid’s hut and the spot where Harry tamed the Hippogriff in The Prisoner of Azkaban, see if you can spot the exact location, but watch out for any friends of Aragaog!

Where your little ones will blossom into independent confident learners in a wonderful environment, cared for by dedicated and qualified practitioners.

Come and meet our team and see what makes Poppies Day Nurseries different.

Bourne End Marlow Beaconsfield 01628 521522 01628 487772 01494 677116 www.poppiesdaynursery.com

Thames Valley East

Need childcare in the Summer?

Go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/summercamps2013 for our directory of summer camps and courses.

So your kids can have fun all summer long!

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

Discover Forgotten Metro-Land London Transport Museum and Buckinghamshire Railway Centre present family days out in early August on Saturday 3, Sunday 4 and Wednesday 7. Set in the beautiful Vale of Aylesbury, the special open days will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground and a forgotten part of what was once known as Metroland.

Family fun activities include rides in vintage carriages pulled by real steam trains, miniature railway rides, The Runaway Train storytelling sessions and make-and-take craft workshops. Children can also climb on board the red travelling Night Mail carriage, which was used by the Post Office to sort and deliver post, and explore the old Quainton Road station and Museum.

Family tickets, early-bird discount, and group discounts available. Free car parking and free vintage bus service from Aylesbury Vale Parkway station on 3 and 4 August. Booking: www.ltmuseum.co.uk or phone 0207 565 7298.

Celebrate 2012 all over again Remember last year’s Olympic spirit and cycle or scoot around Dorney Lake, near Maidenhead. It’s car-free and the 5km circuit is fairly flat – a great place to wear out all ages. Do check at www.dorneylake.com before visiting as the site can sometimes be closed for major sporting events.

Make slime Mix cornflour, water and food colouring to concoct a gungey slime that children will love running their fingers through. Make it into a game by hiding tiny dinosaurs in it.

Just make sure you put down plenty of newspaper!

Go wild in the woods Head off to Burnham Beeches and let the kids run wild in the woods.You’ll find lots of shady woodlands and open spaces, as well as a café, information point and loos. It’s also an ideal spot for youngsters to learn to cycle with plenty of tarmaced, car-free paths. Download the nature trails and maps before you

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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

go from www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnham.

Or go to the Look Out Discovery Centre in Bracknell, they have 1000 hectares of woodland to explore. If the weather turns, they also have a a handson science exhibition, the brand new Build It! Visitors can become a member of the construction crew by building the unfinished house. They also have a gift shop, coffee shop and adventure play area. www.bracknellforest.govuk/be. See page 23 for special offer.

Go to the library Children's reading can 'dip' during the summer and research shows that taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library can help children keep up their reading skills during the holidays. Children are encouraged to read six books from whatever genre they like - just as long as they are borrowed from the library. This year’s theme is ‘Creepy House’ and all children can register at their library from Saturday July 13, if you want to know more visit www.creepyhouse.co.uk

www.cambridgetouringtheatre.co.uk

Experience theatre in the great outdoors The Cambridge Touring Theatre is performing a swashbuckling version of Treasure Island in the beautiful setting of The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park on the 26 to 27 July. The show will have live music, dancing, audience participation and comedy galore keeping the audience entertained throughout.

Before each performance there will be a Drama Workshop for five to 10 year olds, which costs £3 per child, booking is essential. Adults £14, Children/Senior/Student £10, Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £40. To book call 01784 435544; www.theroyallandscape.co.uk Come Dine With Me Get the children to plan and create a meal. This can be as simple (think baked potatoes with various toppings) or elaborate (three courses with menus and after-dinner entertainment) as they like. Get the whole family involved and have a Come Dine With Me type competition spread over the holidays. Older children can film the process and make score cards for marking the meals. Give help to little ones and make sure the film-maker is the only person to know the result until the final film is shown.

Meet Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly and Mike the Knight There are lots of special visitors coming to Odds Farm this summer, Peppa Pig, Mike the Knight, Ben & Holly are just some of the favourite characters visiting every Wednesday during the summer holidays (www.oddsfarm.co.uk). There’s plenty more going on, too, including the popular sheep racing. With a specially built mini race track with jumps and bends, and eager sheep with miniature jockeys, the sheep will be racing (weather permitting) until October. Plus don’t miss the tractor and trailer rides, race some go-karts and make some furry friends in the large undercover animal barns. And if the weather isn’t so good, check out the giant indoor playbarn, where you’ll find a massive adventure play area including four-lane Astra Slide, two large drop slides, a netted area with zig-zag chicanes and tunnels, swinging ropes and much more. Go to WWW.FAMILIESTVEAST.CO.UK/COMPETITIONS for your chance to win a family ticket to the park.

Have a treasure hunt Provide some treasure, a bag of chocolate coins always go down well, and let your children hide it in as cunning a place as possible. Then get them to plan a treasure hunt for you to follow with each clue leading to the location of the next. Clues could be simple pictures drawn by younger children, or cryptic rhymes concocted by crafty older ones. Alternatively, they might prefer to draw a treasure map or hide individual letters around the house which, when found and re-arranged, spell the treasure’s location. Just make sure you share out the treasure when you find it!

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Make this summer a sizzler!

Mess about on the river Nothing beats a few hours punting up or down the Cherwell River in Oxford, which winds its way around the city centre. Learning how to handle a punt is half the fun, guaranteed to keep the kids entertained – at best you’ll end up stuck in the mud or losing your pole, at worse capsizing! There are several places to rent punts (pedaloes or rowing boats), try Magdalen Bridge boathouse (www.oxfordpunting.co.uk) or the Thames boat station at Folly Bridge (www.salterssteamers.co.uk/punting).

Take to the stage Write and perform a play – get your children to write a script, create the costumes, make posters and refreshments and invite family and friends to the grand performance. If dancing is more their thing, invent a dance routine. Or hold a Britain’s Got Talent style competition with all the kids on the street.

Get on your bike

Dust off your helmet, pump up your tyres and head off for a spin. If you’re worried about traffic, try a circular route round Windsor that includes Windsor Castle, Eton College, Dorney Lake the Jubilee River and the River Thames, most of the route traffic free and you can download a leaflet from the Sustrans website, which highlights long and short routes to take.

They also offer a free information pack about great places to cycle near you, as well as a cycling with children booklet. They also have an online mapping programme to find out where to walk and cycle from your home.Visit www.sustrans.org.uk to find out more.

Enter the world of Roald Dahl Crawl along Fantastic Mr Fox’s burrow and take a ride in the Great Glass Elevator at the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery in Aylesbury (www.buckscc.gov.uk/museum). Step into the magical world of Roald Dahl in this exciting hands-on gallery with lots of exhibits inspired by

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Dahl’s stories – go inside the Giant Peach, see the Twits’ upside-down room and dress up in Victorian school clothes under the watchful eye of Miss Trunchball. Why not combine your visit with a trip to the next-door Bucks County Museum, which will be running lots of family craft activities throughout the summer holidays, see what’s on pages 24–27 for more info. The gallery is open Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm from 20 July to 5 September, entry to the Museum is free, there’s an admission charge for the Children’s Gallery and activity programme.

Explore Hughenden Visit the home of one of Britain’s most famous prime minsters, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived at Hughenden Manor near High Wycombe from

1848 to 1881. Browse his personal memorabilia in the house, there are hands-on activities for children as well as a trail to complete, before heading down to the cellars, where Hughenden’s secret wartime past is revealed with interactive exhibits and eye-witness accounts. Then let the kids run around in the formal garden or explore the Walled Garden where there’s often another trail for children to do – finding bugs or birds.

The woods behind Hughenden are full of good walks, there are a variety of lengths – walk up to the Monument for fantastic views over the valley or explore Woodcock Wood and look for the old air-raid shelter. Further info is available online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden, there are also lots of activities planned for the holidays, including Bushcraft, Moth Trapping and Victorian games.

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Ride the rails Take a trip on a train at Chinnor and Princes Risborough railway. There are lots of special steaming days coming up over the summer, including the Annual Gala Day on August 4, when all available steam and diesel locomotives are in operation with a special timetable, and free vintage bus service available between Princes Risborough and Chinnor stations. August 25 and 26 are Teddy Bear Days, when every child carrying a teddy bear can travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult; there’ll also be a hunt the bear quiz to enjoy. The railway is also open every Sunday and Bank Holiday through the holiday season, with cream teas available on the Sunday afternoon trains on July 14th, 28th and August 11th. For more info and to book call 07979 055366 or visit www.cprra.co.uk.

Have an indoor picnic Who says picnics have to be outdoors? Get the children to draw some pictures of a sun and some fluffy clouds to stick on the wall while you pack the picnic basket. Then just lay your rugs on the floor and enjoy your sandwiches- perfect for a rainy day!

Make your own museum Instead of boring old holiday photos, why not start a collection of unusual items collected on your travels? Items can be varied as you like – a stone from the beach, entry tickets, maps, an interesting leaf, small souvenirs. Label and number each item, then make a catalogue to go with the display. In this, each entry can be drawn (or perhaps photographed) and a description written – again as elaborately or simply as you like! Old fashioned print trays are great for these kind of collections and you can also get display picture frames from Ikea.

Take a trip to London A trip to the big smoke doesn’t have to blow your budget, three of our favourite museums are free. Don’t miss the Natural History Museum (SW7) with its dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy-crawlies this is a must on your summer ‘to do’ list. Children of all ages will be fascinated and amazed by the diversity of the natural world.Visit their website (www.nhm.ac.uk) before you go – it’s a big place and there are lots of events and activities running over the summer. The Tate Modern (SE1, www.tate.org.uk) has activities specifically for kids every Thursday and Friday throughout the holidays, as well as interactive activities. Children under 12 can also visit any special exhibition for free if they are with an adult. Don’t forget to take a quick walk over the ‘wobbly bridge’

Make this summer a sizzler! afterwards for fantastic views up and down the Thames. The Museum of London (EC2) is one of our favourites – telling the story of the city of London and its people, the museum is full of surprises. Experience the fire of London, walk along a Victorian street or visit a Georgian jail.

There are lots of free activities over the summer, too; take a look online at www.museumoflondon.org.uk for more info. If you are travelling by National rail, check to see if the place you want to visit is covered by their 2for1 deal, over 150 attractions are in the scheme. www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london Meet the wolves For a day trip with a difference, check out the UK Wolf Conservation Trust near Reading (www.ukwolf.org) who is holding an open day on 26 August. The Trust was established in 1995

to help wolves in the wild throughout the world, and especially Europe. See the wolves and photograph them from the viewing platform, there’s lots more going on including dog agility displays, animal roadshow, birds of prey, nature trail, archery, pond dipping, face-painting, bouncy castle and more. Refreshments and picnic areas available. 11am-5pm. For more info, visit www.ukwct.org.uk.

Head to the beach – in the middle of Maidenhead Norden Farm in Maidenhead is bringing back their popular seaside themed activities this summer, including their very own manmade beach.You can book for craft activities in the morning (£5 per child), listen to free storytelling during lunch and watch a beach themed movie in the afternoon (£5). To book and find out more go to www.nordenfarm.org For more ideas to keep the kids busy, visit www.familiestveast.co.uk/activities Don’t forget to check out our Time Out pages for lots more going on in the local area.

CALL TO BOOK NOW for advertising in our Sept/Oct clubs and classes special issue Due out September 3rd

Call: 01628 627586 Telephone: 01628 627 586

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The Great Escape

Tips for Travellers

By Robina Cowan

Yippee! This year’s summer holiday is just around the corner.

Hands up who remembers when it was just you and your beloved, grabbing a cheap deal, filling a backpack at the last minute and heading for the sun? Those were the good old days... Now you’re a family, there’s a third ‘p’ to add to ‘passport and packing’ – ‘planning’. ere at Families (now a mighty group of 40 local magazines), the editors have children spanning all ages from three months to the early twenties, have put our heads together to give you their top tips for travelling.

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BEFORE YOU GO • Label your child’s clothes, towels and backpacks, especially if you will be using kids’ clubs – they WILL go missing. Labels 4 Kids (www.labels4kids.com/fam) and Easy 2 Name (www.easy2name.com) both stock packs of instant labels so the job’s a breeze and it’s a much cheaper solution than replacing lost items. They also have ID wristbands so you can label the children with your contact details • Use Google Street View with the children to look round your planned location and help get familiarised with the landscape, ‘foreign’ signs and local attractions.You can also use it to create a list of places to visit • Photocopy everyone's passport and keep the copies in a different place. If the originals go missing, proof that you had passports will make it much easier to tussle with overseas authorities when it's time to come home • Have up to date pictures of your children on your phone - if they go missing you can show authorities what they look like • Freeze food to await your return - even fresh milk can be frozen - so you don't come home to an empty kitchen. Some very organised mothers even do an online shop towards the end of their holiday, for delivery on their first day home. Now, that's organisation!

• Lost luggage is a nightmare. Rather than filling one suitcase per person, pack a couple of daytime and evening outfits for everyone in each case so you can all get started while the hotel/airline tracks down the missing bag • Involve your children in the packing even if just a small part is their responsibility. It occupies them while you are busy and gets them into the holiday mood. Then check their choices: you may find fancy dress costumes and nothing sensible (OK, I admit this is from experience!)

• Add a small ‘emergency bag’ to your hand luggage, with plasters, tissues, sachets of paracetamol, cotton wool, needle and thread, safety pins, wetwipes and a few sweets (for bribing and wiping away tears). Oh the satisfying feeling to have what you need just at the right time!

• Pack spare clothes in your hand luggage in case of ‘accidents’ • Leave a spare set of keys with a friendly neighbour in case of home emergencies, losing yours or locking yourself out (I’ve done that just when we were about to leave!)

• Cancel the newspapers and ask your friendly neighbour to return the wheelie bins to your property on collection day, so you’re not advertising an empty home.

ON THE WAY • Long car journeys are not all about being plugged into gadgets. Try stories on CD or on the ipod - as a family, we are all totally addicted to the ‘How to Train your Dragon’ series. The ‘Michelin I-Spy’ activity books are great fun, as are the free downloads from www.rac.co.uk/advice/car-knowledge/topten/car-games/.

• For flights, Usborne’s ’50 Things do on a Plane’ will keep them occupied, while the Top Trumps range is great for older children, especially if you're willing to join in. Also, carddies are great for younger kids, they are card people that come in a box with their own colouring pencils and scenery and can be played with for hours once they are coloured in. www.carddies.com • Flying is the one time I am relaxed about screen time - if you have electrical gadgets, use them. Make sure you have some child friendly

headphones to hand so as not to 'share' your child's love of Peppa Pig with the entire plane • Sucky sweets (as they are known in our house) are great for little ones who struggle with their ears on take off. Give babies a bottle (or breastfeed) to stop their ears popping • Pack an extra layer for the flight even if you're flying from a warm UK to a tropical destination. Planes can be chilly and children won't relax if they're not cosy • If your child is crying on the flight, don't panic. Most of passengers on board will be either parents or grandparents and will have sympathy for you. If your child has a favourite teddy or comfort blanket, make sure it's in your hand luggage. It may help calm them and that in turn will calm you.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE • Resist the temptation to Facebook your day's antics - you're advertising that you are away and your home's empty. Not a good idea • Don’t forget to turn off your voicemail and internet data on your mobile phone or tablet you can get huge data roaming charges when abroad. Wait until you can access wifi at a café or your hotel to download any emails or surf the web.

• When packing to come home, check the back of every drawer, cupboard and even under the beds for favourite toys that might be lurking unseen. Have a quick rifle through the hotel/resort Lost Property box for mislaid hats/t-shirts etc (patting yourself on the back for labelling them beforehand).

WHEN YOU RETURN • Take your holiday laundry for a service wash - it's a small price to pay for not having to sort, wash and dry all those gritty beach towels and sunscreen covered t-shirts.

AND FINALLY...

Work on a 70:30 ratio. Holidays are not be effortless when you have children, just as life at home is not effortless. If you can enjoy 70% of the time you are away together, that's a result. 30% will be about tantrums, tiredness and bad moods. But if you come home knowing that for most of the time, you relaxed, laughed and enjoyed the time spent together as a family,

Play sessions for under-5s at the Phoenix Gymnastics Club Have fun in this fully equipped gym with your kids.

Sessions Monday: 10.30-11.30 Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 -10.30 & 11.00–12.00 Tuesday & Thursday: 1.00-2.00pm Cost just £3.50 per child (must be accompanied by adult)

Refreshments available Phoenix Gymnastics Club Unit 1, Water Oakley Farm, Maidenhead Road, Windsor Tel:01628 778881 www.phoenixgym.co.uk

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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

The Great Escape

Road to Rouen Ben Hatch, best-selling author of Are We Nearly There Yet?, is back – and this time he and his family are travelling in France. Here he tells us how it went…

Ben, Dinah, Phoebe and Charlie on the Cirque du Garvarnie walk in the France Pyrenees Road to Rouen is published by Headline, £11.99.

It’s available online at Amazon as both a paperback and Kindle.

hen I took my family – Dinah, Phoebe, three, and Charlie, one – on an 8000 mile drive round the UK to write a guidebook about family-friendly attractions my daughter was almost blown up taking a nature wee in a field of live ordnance in Otterburn. I also wrote our Astra off in Wales and I spent time in a Leeds hospital with a kidney stone.

Afterwards Dinah swore never again, but then she decided she wanted to retrain as a French teacher and I saw my opportunity. Suggesting a France guidebook, I persuaded her it’d be good for the kids – they’d return food sophisticates and be able to go on to run the Arts Council in later life after all the museums we’d visit.

We started in Normandy, followed the Atlantic coast to the Spanish border, skirted along the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean and took in Provence, before coming up through the Alps and snaking home via Disneyland Paris.

We slept in chalets, hotels, tents, caravans, a chateau and even the car.Though what I probably should have done beforehand was work out just how large France was.The moment I realised the mileage was too much was when I looked into the rear-view mirror and saw Charlie, now four, playing Temple Run on my phone – with his nose – while Phoebe was so bored she was trying to touch her own eyeball.

We’d sold them on the amazing attractions. But the French have a funny idea about what an attraction is.They have a theme park in Angers called Terra Botanica dedicated not to pirates or Disney characters, but to vegetables. Only the French would spent £70 million attempting to entertain children… with ingredients!

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Telephone: 01628 627 586

Also, in France child friendliness doesn’t exist. Basically kids are seen as just slightly smaller adults. At Château Chenonceau in the Loire Valley this sign wasn’t atypical: ‘Visitors, it’s forbidden to move around noisily, to run, push, climb or shout. It’s forbidden to sit or lean against furniture, touch objects, touch flowers, make things dirty, spit and draw graffiti. It’s forbidden to relieve oneself. Or to change young children anywhere other than the toilets. It’s forbidden to climb up trees, bring balls on to the site and walk on the lawns.

It’s forbidden to upset the circulation of visitors. Mobile phones must be switched off. Failure to adhere to the rules will lead to expulsion from the domain.Thank you for your cooperation.This place is under surveillance.

Decree Jan 22, 2009.’ To be any more unfriendly would involve Dobermans.

And France is expensive.We’d emerge from supermarkets reeling after spending nine euros on a deodorant stick.The kids’ fussiness and refusal to eat baguette (‘too sharp’) and French cheese (‘it stinks’) or to entertain any bean that wasn’t orange or eat a burger (‘They don’t have buns.That’s not a burger.That’s meat’) meant in supermarkets we were often restricted to the ruinously expensive Brit aisle selling Jacob’s crackers or tiny tubs of Marmite for around the price per ounce of myrrh.

And things kept going wrong. On a donkey trek in Brittany the animal dragged the kids through a bramble hedge and stamped my toe black. In St Nazaire I knocked my wife into the Atlantic with a kayak paddle. Dinah argued over my ‘mosquito obsession’. I couldn’t sleep if one was in the room and I’d hunt them through the night with my phone torch on like a US Navy Seal slapping walls and waking the kids. Equally she hated sneaking onto mini-golf courses with the putters and balls I’d brought from home to save money. But slowly a routine developed.We took the sting out of the mileage by convincing the kids there was an actual distinction between the length of a French minute and an English one. ‘But you said 20 minutes.’ ‘French minutes Phoebe.’ ‘I hate French minutes.’

Further south it became hotter.We took longer lunches, became more French.We yacht-spotted in Antibes.We went on Picasso walks,Van Gogh trails.We saw the wild horses of the Camargue.We sang ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’ on the eponymous bridge and swam in rivers at Bize-Minervois and rolled down the Dune du Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe.We notched up our fiftieth château and visited so many aquariums I was on firstname terms with every giant turtle in France. Claude, Kiki, Pierre,Yvette, Mo, Ghislaine. By Paris, veterans of saving money, we taped baguettes to the kids’ legs to avoid the airport scanning machine at the park entrance to Disneyland to mule in our own lunch.We’d moved from homesickness to wanting to carry on. By now Phoebe was declaring Roquefort the best cheese in the world and Charlie had a tantrum the day we ran out of Dijon mustard.This summer we’re doing a similar trip round Italy although how far away they still are from running the Arts Council is best demonstrated by Phoebe’s answer the other day when I asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. ‘A rabbit,’ she said.

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Camping with Kids Kids love camping – sleeping under canvas, being outdoors all day, running wild, getting muddy and socializing with new and old friends. If you want to stay sane as a camping parent however, then preparation is key. Your inner perfectionist will be your friend, and your family will thank you for your extensive campsite research and copious list making. Well, they probably won’t actually thank you, but you’ll feel smug and much more relaxed when everything goes smoothly.

If you’re a first-time camper, you need to think about your camping comfort zone. Would you be happiest out in a field on your own, or prefer to arrive to a ready–pitched fully equipped tent, with activities provided for the children. It works really well if you can borrow a tent and have a trial run in your garden, when the kids can learn how to set up a tent, do some cooking outdoors and you can all get familiar with the camping equipment.

If you buy a tent, buy the biggest you can afford/fit in your car – a berth is equivalent to a person or their luggage, so if there is four of you, you’ll need an eight-berth tent.

Photo: Coolingcamping.co.uk

Top tips for happy camping: 1. Pitch on a slight incline so if it rains you won’t get flooded.

2. Open the vents so you don’t get condensation overnight.

3. Don’t waste money on cheap sleeping bags or cooking equipment if you intend to go more than once – they just aren’t as good as their cheaper counterparts 4. Get the kids involved in setting up camp 5. Be BBQ safe - never light a barbecue in an enclosed space barbecues can give off deadly carbon monoxide fumes when not properly ventilated.

6. Plan wet and dry activities – it seems obvious, but you don’t want to be constantly hanging around the tent in bad weather.

Photo: Coolingcamping.co.uk

By Hannah Hunter

What to take Beyond the tent and sleeping bags/mat, make sure to add these to your list: Extra blankets – cheap fleece ones are great as sleeping bag liners - it’s always colder at night than you think!

Thermal sleeping mat – cold comes upwards so they will keep the heat in all night.

Glow sticks – as many as you can get your hands on, a fun mini torches that make kids easier to find in the dark!

Headtorch – no small child will fail to be delighted by one of these.

A few outdoor/indoor toys – facepaints, bubbles, water pistols, playing cards.

Drawing stuff – for scavenger hunts, drawing contests and general colouring.

Binoculars – for stargazing, watching wildlife or spying on other campers Battery-powered pump – you don’t want to be stuck late at night inflating a child’s airbed with foot-pump (trust me, I’ve been there, it wasn’t pretty!)

Portable toilet – euphemistic title for a bucket with a loo seat and lid, the toilet block is always too far away in the middle of the night.

Wet boot/clothes storage Clothes line/string Gaffer tape – miracle sticky stuff that fixes almost anything.

Eyemask/earplugs – after the first morning of dawn waking, the kids will (in theory) sleep more soundly, so these are essential.

Finding your campsite For your first camping trip it is always good to go close to home.

Longridge Activity Centre near Marlow runs Family Activity shortbreaks, where you can stay on site and try out some of the activities, such as climbing or kayaking. You can camp or stay in a bunk house and can even use the café instead of cooking for yourselves. Go to longridge.org.uk/families for more information.

Another local site to try is Hurley Riverside Park (hurleyriversidepark.co.uk) in Hurley, which has ready tents for hire, as well as camping and touring pitches.

For Little Kickers & Little Rugby classes in Maidenhead, Bourne End, Henley, Marlow & Stokenchurch. Call 01628 526 584 or email bevans@littlekickers.co.uk.

For Little Kickers classes in Ascot, Langley, Windsor & Eton call 07412 166 686 or email sleslie@littlekickers.co.uk.

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E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

If you’re planning to go further afield, there is a confusing array of different guidebooks and online guides to finding the best campsite – here are a few of the best.

Cool Camping (coolcamping.co.uk) With an excellent selection of guidebooks, including “Cool Camping: Kids” as well as an easy to use website full of wonderful suggestions, this group really lives up to it’s name. You can tailor your web-search by amenities as well as location (campsites range across the UK and France) with the option to save a ‘favourites’ list .The results have a star rating, and are independently reviewed to make your choice easier. We have one of their great books, Cool Camping Kids to give away. Go to www. familiestveast.co.uk/competitions to enter.

Hillcrest Park, Richmond, North Yorkshire pitchup.com

Camping with Kids

Pitchup (pitchup.com) A great booking website, including over 5,000 sites across the UK, Ireland and France. There are no booking fees and you can book all kinds of pitches, from woodland camping in Sussex to wigwams in Wales, with plenty of user reviews. Their handy search includes date, region, and the type of camping you require.

Camping and Caravanning Club (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk) The club website hosts a simple, wide-ranging UK site search, and for £41 annual membership you will get discounted stays at member campsites from Forestry Commission woodland sites to larger caravan parks.

haven.com

Haven Holidays (haven.com) If you want a little more luxury than a standard campsite, 23 of Haven’s seaside holiday parks offer camping and touring pitches, from where you can explore their swimming pools, sports, kids clubs and restaurants.

The AA (theaa.com/travel) In addition to their printed guides, the AA have a search for campsites on their website, as well as a camping and caravanning app.

Canopy and Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk) A booking site with a wide-ranging guide to glamping across the UK and Europe from treehouses to yurts.

UKcampsite.co.uk This website provides one of the most comprehensive and simple to use searches for UK camping, with lots of independent reviews to help you decide on the perfect site. © AA Media Ltd.

Telephone: 01628 627 586

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Eating Out

By Claire Winter

THE YOUNG CHEF WHO CAN’T STAND STILL Driving in to the Sanctum on the Green on a sunny day in April, I am closely followed by a young man in a very fast white sports car. I soon realize that this is Britain’s youngest head chef, Luke Thomas, who I am here to interview. e comes in and we say hello and I say “nice car”, He explains that he is test-driving the Audi, as he needs to commute from Chester down to London and back to the restaurant here in Cookham Dean.

19 year-old Luke has become a media sensation and his official title at the restaurant is Chef Patron of Luke’s Dining Room. He’s had an amazing year. Not only has he appeared on the Great British Menu and had a documentary about him on BBC3, he is also just about to open another pop-up restaurant in London at the Embassy in Mayfair, called Retro Feasts.

I asked him about the BBC3 documentary that aired earlier this year.

“It didn’t portray me in the best light, they can do a lot in an editing room. But at the end of the day it increased the top line in the restaurant.”

“The industry didn’t like it, they think because of my age that I shouldn’t be opinionated but I have got two more restaurants in the pipeline and a book deal secured with Penguin. I am also planning to do a TV series.”

I point out that he sounds incredibly busy and this is when I realise I want to mother him - my eldest child is only nine years younger than him. I find myself asking him in a mother hen kind of way, isn’t he worried he’ll burn out?

“When I stop enjoying it I will stop. I’m having great fun working with amazing people – learning so much but also teaching people who work for me too.”

“Food, like fashion, changes all the time

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and I love to be part of that. I like to have control over everything, ordering the napkins, the vegetables, the meat. What ever is going on in this restaurant”, he gestures around, “reflects on me, my name is on the door. I want the staff and everyone who works with me to be invested in making it the best it can be. I want the service and food to be the best.”

His phone rings, and it is someone at the Embassy, he is telling them in detail where to place pictures and lighting, proving how involved he is. He shows me excitedly on

his phone the design of the restaurant and a new dessert that they had just come up with. He really is across every aspect of the business but also admits that dealing with 50 staff at the restaurant in London is a challenge.

He also reflects that the last year has been a big learning curve.

“I realise now you say the wrong thing and it’s a headline.” He also says that he’s taken twitter and facebook off his phone as it is hard to cope with the criticism, showing a more vulnerable side.

Specialist Baby & Toddler Swimming Classes Aqua-Natal Yoga Classes Come out of your shell and learn to swim the Turtle Tots Way! For more information call Jodi on: 07823 885328 / 01628 785236 or email: Jodi.oconnor@turtletots.com www.turtletots.com

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Eating Out The publicity and the sensation around Luke may seem a bit like the Emperor’s New Clothes and that most of the media interest in him is do with his age - it certainly was for me.

But he is incredibly confident and knowledgeable about what he wants and also endearingly quite innocent. He’s very open in the interview and talks candidly about his life during his rollercoaster year so far.

He has finally had to employ a PA, but you can tell that she won’t be able to keep up. He answers all his calls and emails with lightening speed and works incredibly long hours.

I ask him what his parents think about his success.

“My parents are really supportive but they struggle to understand why I work all the time. Sunday nights are my nights off, it’s the one night I know I am going to get at least eight hours sleep. But they think that when we are having dinner that I should turn my phone off. That I need to rest and to take a holiday, they are worried about me.”

It was the first thing I had thought as we talked about all the new ventures he was taking on and the break neck speed of his success. I felt like clucking around him and telling him to take a holiday to the Maldives, hire a secretary to deal with his meetings and to forward his interview requests to his agent (who would tell nosy journalists like me to get lost).

But his response is, “If I was worried about burning out I would stop. Every day is a new challenge and I get offered new opportunities. Why would I stop when I am having so much fun?”

Are you worried about all the criticism about your age?

“I understand why I have critics because I am so young. I completely understand.

But at the same time I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m very ambitious, I want to do lots of things. People don’t think I work very hard to achieve this (he gestures around). But I do.”

“They think that I have achieved all this success because of my age is a novelty but I do all my own business negotiations and restaurant deals.”

Not surprisingly Luke’s favourite chef is Jamie Oliver- he is aspiring to follow his business model and quite frankly who wouldn’t. A young ambitious chef is discovered, makes his own TV series, sells loads of cookery books and has a successful restaurant chain across the world not.

He says the highlight of his career so far has been opening Luke’s Dining Room.

“Getting the deal to open a restaurant here was amazing but it was really tough setting the restaurant up and getting it right.”

“But late last year it really came together, the restaurant was packed, foodies and critics started to eat here. And after Christmas, it just went crazy with loads of offers and deals coming in, it has been so much fun.”

As he coolly sips on orange juice, he does looks like he is having a lot of fun. He admits that the whole kitchen and the restaurant manger had been out with him until the early hours. Whist he looked as fresh as a daisy the rest of the staff seemed to be struggling.

Right at the end of the interview I ask him if he is going to get the car he test drove, “no” he says, “I think I am going to get an Aston Martin”.

And that says it all…I admire his youth, ambition and desire to succeed. Why run a mediocre restaurant when it can be excellent and why buy any car, when you can have an Aston Martin?

In other countries his triumphs would be celebrated rather then criticised. I think he will prove all the doubters wrong, and build a ‘Jamie-style’ empire the Luke way, and I for one will applaud him….

GYMTOTS!

BODY CONTROL PILATES in Maidenhead

PRE-SCHOOL GYMNASTICS

Wednesday day time 12.30 - 1.30, 4 Marlow Rd, Community Centre SL6 7YR Wednesday even 7.30 -8.30pm All Saints Parish Church, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, SL6 4HE

FUN + SAFE + CHALLENGING Classes for Children walking to 3 years plus.

Thursday drop - in pay as you go sessions 6.45 - 7.45pm 4 Marlow Rd, Community Centre, Maidenhead, SL6 7YR Saturday 11.30 - 12.30 Newlands girls school, Farm Rd, Maidenhead SL6 5JB £ 7.50 per session for group Mat and pay as you go— Classes run in blocks 6 weeks( £45) Private Pilates: 1:1 offered in the comfort of your HOME. All you need is a space and we will provide the equipment. You can also share the cost with another person or you come to us.

www.Pilateswithraj.co.uk 07963834297 info@pilateswithraj.co.uk.

Telephone: 01628 627 586

We went to Luke’s Dining Room to have Sunday lunch, the food is reasonably priced with a set menu of 3 courses for £19.95 and 2 courses for 19.95 and a children’s menu for £9.95. We had delicious bread and butter to start, which always cheers up a hungry child (and mum) and our starters were great too. I had Cornish Crab on Toast, Pink Grapefruit and Soused Fennel and my husband had Golden Cross Goats Cheese Honey Comb with Marinated Beetroot.

The kids food came out along with our starters and was a yummy portion of fish and chips but I was surprised to see that there were no vegetables with it.

Our main courses were also very good my husband had the vegetarian option which was Pan Fried Gnocchi, Wild Mushroom Ragu and Sunblushed tomatoes which was really tasty. Often a pasta option is disappointing but this really hit the mark. I had Haddock and Shrimp Fishcake, Sauteed Spinach with Tartar Sauce, which was light and delicious.

The staff were really nice to the children but the service was slow, when my main course came out I ordered another glass of wine, I had to ask for it again, and it didn’t come out until my dessert had arrived.

Our puddings were unusual and also good, I had Mango Parfait, Passion Fruit and Popcorn and my husband had Whipped Chocolate Mousse with Poached Cherries.

The kids had ice cream, which they also enjoyed.

The restaurant was really busy and had a nice buzz. If they can get the service up to scratch, it would be a great place to have a relaxed Sunday lunch with the family.

Enjoy participating with your child in our safe indoor environment with its exciting up-to-date play equpment, based within the Altwood School, Maidenhead. Every day at 10am from Wednesday to Saturday. Our programme has been developed through more than 29 years’ experience with young children and their parents. Gymtots will enable your child to gain confidence by expanding their physical ability, coordination and social skills, with your involvement and under the guidance of our experienced staff. Our advanced class for 3 to 4 years plus, without parent participation, on Wednesdays at 3pm, is more structured and builds upon the earlier classes.

Telephone

JULY/AUGUST 2013

07 957 223 124 for details FAMILIES Thames Valley East

19

Make the most of Summer This circular 12-mile walk explores Cookham, Maidenhead and Bray, five nature reserves and the Thames. It’s also possible to just do bits of the walk, or a shorter loop if you have smaller children. he walk starts at the car park at Cookham Moor [SU892854]. Look at the signboard that describes the Green Way that is the foundation of this walk. Green Way goes to Maidenhead (about three miles) and Bray (five miles). The other component of the walk is the Thames Path, for the return journey.

Green Way and the Thames Path are well signposted, and this account focuses on a few tricky places.

Start on the south side of the road, where there are signs for the east and west routes of Green Way. Choose the east route because it will take you to Wildbrook Common, the first reserve. At Wildbrook Common [SU893838], you can rest on the wayside seat and look eastwards to Cliveden on the wooded ridge, which is above the Thames. Continuing on Green Way east, you cross a field to a gravel pit with a sailing club. Turn right and then left around the gravel pit and you come to a meadow, which leads you to North Town Moor [SU890824], about 2 miles from Cookham.

For the shortest walk, take a path going east to Summerleaze Road. At the far (east) end of Summerleaze Road, turn right and first left into Ray Mill Road East, which takes you to Boulters Lock [SU903824] and the Thames Path for your return journey.

Get Walking...

T

Eva Winter Osteopathy BSc (Hons), DPO • Providing safe and effective hands-on treatment for adults, children and babies • Clinic Marlow, 11 Liston Court, High Street, Bucks For more information T: 07776448700 E: evaosteopathy@gmail.com W: evawinter.co.uk Registered with the General Osteopathic Council, British Osteopathic Association and Alumni for Paediatric Osteopathy

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

To enjoy a longer walk, continue along the Green Way by the pond at North Town Moor. This brings you to Town Moor [SU 892818], a park near the centre of Maidenhead.

A second shorter route is to veer leftwards (southeast) at Town Moor to get to Bridge Street where you turn left and go onto the Thames Path at Maidenhead Bridge.

The Green Way route leaves Town Moor on the west side after crossing a ditch, and twists and turns through central Maidenhead until it runs beside a stream.

Green Way passes under the railway [SU891808], only a short distance from Maidenhead Station. This would be where to start if using public transport, instead of parking at Cookham. It runs with National Cycle Network Route 4 from Maidenhead to Bray. Soon you reach Braywick Nature Park, where you can go straight along the Green Way, or wander off to the left to find a path beside the Cut, a sizeable stream that was once navigable. At the far (southern) end of Braywick Park [SU895795], Green Way crosses Hibberts Lane, and veers diagonally left to the centre of the village of Bray. Walk through the centre to find Ferry Lane [SU903796]. A short distance down Ferry Lane, turn right into Monkey Island Lane.You may like to go further down Ferry Lane to the hotel/inn by the river but there is no ferry service across to the Thames Path that is on the other (northeast) bank of the Thames.

Follow Monkey Island Lane towards the increasing sound of the M4. About 200 yards before the lane crosses the M4 motorway, there’s a footpath on the left [SU909793]. This path is on the level of the motorway where it goes across the Thames. On the far side, there are steps down to the Thames Path. This is 51/2 miles from the start (or longer if you have wandered around the reserves on the way). If you want to add a further mile to make an even longer route, stay on Monkey Island Lane to cross the M4 and find a footbridge across the Thames which is close to the northwest corner of Dorney Lake, yet another reserve, and return by the Thames Path.

JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Make the most of Summer

The Thames Path winds around the church before emerging by the river. A short distance further beside the river, passing Cookham sailing club, and you are on Cookham Moor with a variety of paths across and around the meadows. If you still have the energy, walk further north to visit Cock Marsh before returning home.

Extract taken from Exploring The Thames Wilderness by Richard Mayon-White and Wendy Yorke (Bloomsbury Publishing, £14.99).

The route back to Cookham along the Thames Path is well signposted.You pass Bray Lock, which is often busy with boats on a summer’s weekend. After passing beneath the magnificent railway bridge at Maidenhead, cross the Thames on Maidenhead road bridge. There is a small riverside park, and the Thames Path is diverted behind a block of flats before resuming its riverside route past Boulters Lock, and opposite the upper entrance of the Jubilee River and the whole of the Cliveden Estate. As you approach Cookham, the Thames Path is diverted away from the river behind houses and then emerges near the middle of the village. Depending on how you feel, you can stop for refreshment in one of the pubs or café, visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery, walk back to your car (completing nearly 12 miles) or go further along the Thames Path.

Telephone: 01628 627 586

JULY/AUGUST 2013

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

21

Great Competitions with WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP AT ASCOT The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday August 10 at Ascot Racecourse is Britain's premier jockeys' competition – not only that it’s the perfect family day out at the Berkshire based racecourse. A unique event where four teams of top jockeys battle against each other in a thrilling six-race showdown, the four teams are: Great Britain and Ireland; Europe; the Rest of the World; and The Girls team.

There will also be an array of activities to keep the whole family entertained, from fairground rides to urban display workshops. After racing, there will be a concert for the whole family on the Old Paddock Lawns including appearances from Blue, Atomic Kitten, Go West and D-ream. All entertainment will take place within the Grandstand Admission area.

Gates open at 11am and the last race is at 15.50. Under-18s are free and Premier Admission is £42.30 and Grandstand Admission is £24.30.

For more information go to www.ascot.co.uk We have 3 sets of family tickets (two adults and up to four children) to give away.To be in with a chance of winning, just go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions.

Entries by 1 August.

WIN A WEEK AT STAR HOTSHOTS MULTI SPORTS CAMPS Families has four places to win for a week at Star Hotshots multi sports camp this summer.

The camps are OFSTED registered. During a recent inspection the inspector was ‘highly impressed’ with the level of childcare provided.

Their multi activity sports camps are for children aged 4 – 14 years old and being run from July 15th – August 31st.

Star Hotshots was created in 2003 by Harvey Grout, a qualified PE teacher and co author of ‘Improving Teaching and Learning in Physical Education’. Their philosophy is to provide activities for children that are enjoyable and offer maximum participation.

This summer they have launched a new camp for 11 to 14 year olds. Star Hotshots understand they have ‘out grown’ the holiday camp childcare and are looking for alternative, fun activities to participate in with their friends.

Participants will be able to experience a range of different sports and activities that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in. Activities include Archery, Handball, Street Dance, Rock It Ball, Street Surfing, Parkour, Ultimate Frisbee and many more.

Camps are open from 8am – 6pm and are at Reading Blue Coat School, Sonning, St Piran’s School, Maidenhead, St Josephs College, Reading and Newbury College, Newbury.

WIN A PAIR OF SCHOOL SHOES FROM THE CHILDREN’S SHOE COMPANY The Children’s Shoe Company knows just what children put their school shoes through, so you need them to be hardwearing and to fit well for as long as they can. They have a great selection of comfortable, durable shoes from child size 7 to adult size 9 (in styles that you and your child will like!). To save you precious time they even have trainers ideal for PE bags, dancewear and swimwear for those after school activities.

The fully-trained team looks forward to seeing you at their new Marlow store or visit them at www.thechildrensshoecompany.co.uk to see their selection, to make an appointment, to click and collect in store or to buy online.

For more news check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thechildrensshoecompany We have two pairs of school shoes to give away.

To enter go to familiestveast.co.uk/competitions.

For more details please visit www.star-hotshots.co.uk or call 0845 301 0450.

To enter go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions.

Entries by July 14.

WIN AN EASY2NAME OFF TO SCHOOL SET We have 5 Easy2Name Off to School sets to give away, each set is worth £18.90 and contains 30 waterproof stickers, 30 iron on name tapes, 1 set of shoe covers, 1 bag tag and 1 shoe bag.

Please state clearly the name of your child and whether you require the shoe bag in red, lilac or blue.

The full Easy2Name range can be seen at www.easy2name.com To enter go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions.

Entries by August 1.

Entries by August 1.

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JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Telephone: 01628 627 586

JULY/AUGUST 2013

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

23

Time Out

Compiled by Sarah Rodi Event times and dates to change. Please try and check that an event is still going ahead, before you set out.

Open Air Cinema at Ascot Racecourse July19 - 21

The Magical Playroom, Norden Farm July 21

JULY

Recreation Ground. Special guest, arena events, competitions, displays, entertainments, stalls, funfair, licensed bar, barbecue and pig roast. Flackwellheath.net.

Wednesday July 10, Sunday July 14, Wednesday July 17, Saturday July 27, Wednesday August 14 and Wednesday August 21. THEMED WALKS through Burnham Beeches, at Burnham Beeches, Lord Mayors Drive. 01753 647358; cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnham.

Thursday July 11 and Tuesday July 16. NATURE TOTS at Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre, Maidenhead. 9.30-11.30am. Activities include bug-hunting, mud-painting and mask-making. Games, story time and refreshments included. For children from 18 months to 3 years. Please dress for the weather. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. bbowt.org.uk.

Saturday July 13. THE ROYAL WINDSOR ROSE AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SUMMER SHOW at St George's School, Windsor Castle, Windsor.

11am-5pm. Competitions, demonstrations, attractions and fun for all the family based around the great outdoors. Punch & Judy show, petting farm animals, bouncy castle, beer tent, garden jazz and birds of prey display. £4 per ticket. 2 adults and 2 children £10. rwrhs.com.

Saturday July 13. LANGLEY CARNIVAL at Langley Memorial Ground. 12-4.30pm. Dog show, football, scout competition, bouncy castle, stalls, classic cars, Harley Davidson bikes, ponies. For more details call 01753539024.

Saturday July 13. BURNHAM CARNIVAL in Burnham Park, Windsor Lane, Burnham. From 12pm. Stalls, rides, a parade, main show area events and more.

Saturday July 13. CRAFT COOP High Street craft market and Big Gig live music event in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead. craftcoop.co.uk.

Saturday July 13 to Sunday July 14 and Saturday July 20 to Sunday July 21. FAMILY CAMPING, MOTHS AND MOONLIGHT at Cliveden, Taplow. Join the rangers for this overnight camp in the woods at Cliveden.

Spend the evening under the stars watching bats, moth-trapping, bug hunts, toasting marshmallows over the fire and story-telling. Bring your tent and a picnic for dinner, then wake up to a delicious breakfast. Adult £27, child £17.

Booking essential. 0844 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Sunday July 14 MAGIC, SUPERSTITION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDFLOWER MEADOWS at Runnymede, between Old Windsor and Egham. Meet at 11am at Runnymede Memorials Car Park.

Adult £5, child £2, concession £4. 01784 432891; nationaltrust.org.uk/Runnymede.

Sunday July 14. CARRINGTON SUMMER FAYRE at Carrington Junior School, Chapel Road. 1-5pm. flackwellheath.net.

Thursday July 19 to Saturday July 21. OPEN AIR CINEMA at Ascot Racecourse. Three films across three nights. Casablanca, Back to the Future and Mamma Mia. thelunacinema.com. ascot.co.uk.

Saturday July 20. FREE ARTS AND CRAFTS in the Nicholson’s Shopping Centre, Maidenhead. 11am-3pm. Plus Maidenhead High Street Produce Market. 01628 783746.

Saturday July 20. DOG SHOW at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 10.30am-4pm. There will be Pedigree and Novelty classes, plus a variety of stalls to browse around. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Saturday July 20. MILKSHAKE LIVE! at The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading. 1pm and 3.30pm. The all-singing, all-dancing live stage show starring milkshake! favourites Little Princess and Scruff, Noddy and Tessie Bear, Roary and Big Chris, Fifi and Bumble and B1 & B2 – the Bananas in Pyjamas.

New songs, classic favourites and funky dance moves. Adult £12, child £10. Family of 4 (max 2 adults) £42. 0118 960 6060; www.readingarts.com/thehexagon.

Every Saturday and Sunday in July and August.

WINDSOR TOWN WALKS starting at the Royal Windsor Information Centre at 11.30am on Saturday and 2.30pm on Sunday. Themed walks led by professional Blue Badge Tourist Guides. Book at the Information Centre, 01753 743900.

Every weekend and every day during school holidays till Sunday September 1. PARTY SCIENCE SHOW at the Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3.15pm. Discover the science behind parties – learn how to make fun decorations including balloon kebabs, paper chains, special party music, fun party tricks, a birthday cake with a difference and more! The show is suitable for children over 4. £1.85 plus entrance fee. 01344 354400; bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Wednesday July 3. BURNHAM CONCERT BAND SUMMER CONCERT at Burnham Park, Windsor Lane, Burnham. 8pm. 01628 605330; burnhamconcertband.co.uk.

Friday July 5 to Friday August 30. SPECIAL INTEREST DAYS at Waltham Place, Church Hill, White Waltham. Friday July 5 – ANCIENT TREE WALK, 2pm, £5. Friday July 26 – ONE DAY SCYTHING COURSE, 9.30am-4.30pm, £65. Friday August 9 – THE ART OF COMPOSTING, 9.30am-1pm. Friday August 9 – NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT, 9.15-11.30pm, £6.

Friday August 30 – EVENING BAT WALK AND TALK, 7pm, £6.

Saturday 6 July. THAMES HOSPICECARE SUMMER FAIR at Windsor Girls School, Imperial Road, Windsor. 01753 848947; thameshospicecare.org.uk.

Saturday July 6. PARTY IN THE PARK at the Recreation Ground, Iver. 2pm-late. A return of 'Iver's Got Talent' competition and lots more activities, stalls and entertainment. Iverparishcouncil.gov.uk.

Saturday July 6. ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL AND CHURCH FETE at St Michael’s School, Easthampstead, Bracknell. A traditional fete with a few extras.

Stmichaelseasthampstead.com.

Saturday July 6 and Sunday July 7. TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN at Black Park Visitor Centre, Black Park Road, Wexham. 3.30pm on both days. Adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s 1950s children’s classic by the Outline Theatre Group. Suitable for all the family. £4.50 each or 4 for £15 from outlinetheatre.co.uk. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk/countryparks.

Sunday July 7. WINDSOR EMPORIUM in the Guildhall, above the Windsor Museum, High Street, Windsor.

10am-4pm. Arts, crafts and antiques fair, every first Sunday of the month. Beautiful surroundings, beautiful crafts, lovely vintage tea room serving home-made refreshments. £1 admission, children free. 07900 285919; windsoremporium.co.uk.

Sunday July 7. GREASE! THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street.

Performed by Berkshire Theatre School. 7pm. 01753 853888; theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk.

Sunday July 7 and Sunday August 4. TAPLOW COURT OPEN DAY. 2.30-5pm. Free admission. Picnic in the 85 acres or take a guided tour of the house. Cream teas available. 01628 773163; sgi-uk.org.

Sunday July 7 and Wednesday 28 August.

DIPPING INTO THE WATER WORLD at Herschel Park, Upton Close, Slough. 2-4pm. Join in the hunt for pond creatures and find out about water scorpions, saucer bugs and water beetles. Equipment will be provided. Meet by the kiosk in the Heritage Park. 01753 875209; slough.gov.uk/herschelpark.

Sunday July 7. FOX HILL SCHOOL SUMMER FAIR at Pondmoor Road, Easthampstead, Bracknell. 1-4pm.

Sunday July 7. FLACKWELL HEATH CHERRY FAYRE on the Recreation Ground, Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath. 11.30am-5pm. This year’s theme is ‘Kings and Queens’.

Grand Parade at 11.30am from Highlea Avenue to the

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JULY/AUGUST 2013

Holiday Activity Days at Longridge July 25 to September 2 Sunday July 21. CRAFT FAYRE AND FAMILY FUN DAY at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Marlow Road, Marlow. Buy gifts and crafts, with family fun to be had outside. bishamabbeynsc.co.uk.

Sunday July 21. THE MAGICAL PLAYROOM SHOW at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead.

11.30am-2pm. Seabright Productions presents the story of Liberty Rose, who dreams of becoming a ballerina like her mum. Written and performed by Cerrie Burnell from CBeebies. Suitable for ages 3 and over. £8.50, or family of 4 people £31. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Monday July 22 to Tuesday July 23. FAMILY SHORT BREAK at Longridge, Quarry Wood Road, Marlow. Take part in two activities on the first day, camp overnight and do two activities the next day. Children must be over 8. £20 per person. longridge-uk.org.

THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS Every weekday in the summer holidays from Thursday July 25 to Monday September 2.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITY DAYS at Longridge, Quarry Wood Road, Marlow. From 8.30am-4pm or 5.30pm (£40 for shorter day and £50 for longer day). Children take part in a surprise selection of activities and are provided with lunch.

Suitable for children aged 8 to 14 years old. longridge-uk.org.

Thursday July 25 to Tuesday September 3.

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER! Fun and games on the terrace (every Thursday) at Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham Court Drive.

11am-4pm. Sumo wrestling suits, giant Jenga, skittles, badminton and many more games. £2.50 to park. Saturday July 28. COLNE VALLEY FESTIVAL. 11am-4pm. Fun for all the family – canal boat trips, face painting, crafts, ferret racing, mini petting zoo, funfair, model airplanes, wildlife groups and more. Tuesday July 30 and Tuesday August 27. RIVER DIPPING WORKSHOP. 11am-12.30pm. £2.50 per child. Tuesday August 6.

EXPLORE THE PARK. 11am-12.30pm. Ages 5 to 8. Hunt for discs hidden in the park. £3 per child. ORIENTEER IN THE PARK. 1-2.30pm. Ages 8 and over. Tuesday August 20. DEN BUILDING WORKSHOP. 11am-12.30pm. 7 to 11 years. £2.50 per child. Tuesday August 13. MINI BEAST MADNESS. 11am-12.30pm.

Create a bug hotel and search for creepy-crawlies. £2.50 per child. Booking essential. 01895 833375; colnevalleypark.org.uk.

Friday July 26 and Saturday July 27.

MAIDENHEAD FESTIVAL in Kidwells Park and the town centre – live music, stalls, entertainment, a beach and fireworks. www.enjoymaidenhead.co.uk Friday July 26 and Saturday July 27. TREASURE ISLAND at the open air theatre, Savill Gardens, Wick Lane, Englefield Green, Surrey. 7pm. Performed by Cambridge Touring Theatre. Theatre ticket holders can picnic in the Savill Garden from 5pm. Also, at 5.30pm, there will be a children’s theatre workshop on The Lawns, suitable for children aged 5 to 10. Cost £3 per child. Booking required. 01784 435544; theroyallandscape.co.uk.

Friday July 26, Saturday July 27 and August 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 22, 30, 31. ARCHERY SESSIONS at Beale Park, Lower Basildon, Reading.

10am-4pm. £1.50 per person. A minimum height restriction of 1 metre applies.

0844 826 1761; bealepark.co.uk.

Friday July 26 to Sunday July 28. BETFAIR WEEKEND at Ascot Racecourse. The Friday has a corporate feel, the Saturday, King George Day, is a day of racing with a British picnic theme, and the Sunday Family Fun day hosts something for kids of all ages. 0844 346 3000; ascot.co.uk.

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Time Out

PLEASE EMAIL WHATSON@FAMILIESTVEAST.CO.UK

Treasure Island at Savill Gardens July 26 - 27

Family Funday at Ascot Racecourse July 26 - 28

Family Activities at Windsor Castle August 3 - 24

Saturday July 27. BUTTERFLIES FOR BEGINNERS at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 10.30am-12.30pm. Walk Langley Park’s glades and woodlands in search of butterflies. Booking essential. Adult £4, child £2, concessions £3, family £10 (max 2 adults and 3 children). 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Saturday July 27. MILKSHAKE LIVE! at the Wycombe Sawn, St Mary Street, High Wycombe. 1pm and 3.30pm. Starring Milkshake! favourites Little Princess and Scruff, Noddy and Tessie Bear, Roary and Big Chris, Fifi and Bumble and B1 & B2 – the Bananas in Pyjamas. £12-£13.

Family ticket £44. 01494 512000; wycombeswan.co.uk.

Saturday July 27 and Saturday August 24. MEET THE BEEKEEPERS at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe.

11am-4pm. Get buzzing! Free. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Saturday July 27. 120TH ANNUAL SHOW from the Stoke Poges, Wexham and Fulmer Horticultural Society at Stoke Poges School, Rogers Lane. Classic car display, stalls, plants, band, lunches, barbecue, cream teas, Rebellion beer tent, Pimms, games, competitions, face painting and bouncy castle. Grounds open at 12.30pm. Free parking in Bells Hill Recreation Ground. Adults £3, concessions £2, children £1.

07720 289522; hortsoc.org.

Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28. FAIRY AND PIXIE PARTY in Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley, Hampshire. Wednesday July 31. TEDDY BEARS PICNIC. Friday August 2 to Sunday August 4. SUPERHERO SCHOOL. Tuesday August 6, Monday August 13, Tuesday August 20 and Wednesday August 28. SHIRE HORSE AND CART RIDES. 11am-4pm. Friday August 9. PEPPA PIG VISIT. Saturday August 10. MIKE THE KNIGHT VISIT. Sunday August 11. FIREMAN SAM VISIT. 0118 932 6444; wellington-country-park.co.uk.

Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28. VICTORIAN WEEKEND at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe. 11am 5pm. Enjoy living history and entertainment set in the picturesque gardens. Meet redcoat soldiers and hear tales of the ferocious Zulu War, see the heroic Charge of the Light Brigade and cheer as Mr Punch battles the Czar of Russia.

Free, with normal admission. Also fun Victorian games for all the family, everyday in the summer holidays. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28. THE TALES OF PETER RABBIT AND BENJAMIN BUNNY at St George's School, Windsor Castle. Performances will commence regardless of the weather. 2.30pm on both days. £10. Family and group rates are available. 01753 866865; firestationartscentre.com.

Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28. SWEETS AND TREATS at Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Goreland Lane, Chalfont St Giles. Make peppermint creams and medieval marzipan. Discover the history of chocolate – and taste some too! 01494 871117; coam.org.uk.

Monday July 29 to Friday August 2. KIDS WOODLAND WILDLIFE WEEK at Burnham Beeches, Lord Mayors Drive. Five fun-filled days of children’s activities and games. Suitable for children over 5. Paths should be suitable for buggies. Subject to weather conditions on the day.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is compulsory. No charge but donations are welcome. 01753 647358; cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnham.

Monday July 29, Wednesday July 31, Tuesday August 6, Monday August 12, Wednesday August 28. ARCHERY at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe. Have a go at this ancient sport on the beautiful surrounds of the South Lawn. £1.50. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Tuesday July 30 to Friday August 30. THE MAIDENHEAD BEACH at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. Make sandcastles, hide out in the den or enjoy lunch while your little ones play. Morning beach-craft sessions

and lunchtime storytelling. Every day (except Mondays) 10.30am-12.30pm, £5 per person. Beach themed films at 2pm, £5 per person. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Tuesday July 30 to Thursday August 1.

ANIMATION CLUB at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 10am-4pm. Led by Creative Workshop, get involved in all aspects of making an animated film. Create storyboards, make scenery and characters, and use stop motion software. The end result will be a short film to download from the internet. Suitable for children over 8. £85 (£80 with Advantage Card). 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer holidays, starting on Tuesday July 30.

HOLIDAY DROP-IN SESSIONS at the Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe. Sessions start at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. July 30 and August 1. PUPPET FUN. August 6 and 8.

BUTTERFLIES, BUGS AND BEES T-SHIRT PAINTING. August 13 and 15. AVIATION ANTICS. August 20 and 22. FARMYARD FUN IN CLAY. August 27 and 29. CARNIVAL STYLE FLYING BIRDS. £2.50. 01494 421 895; wycombe.gov.uk/museum.

Wednesday July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 28. BEASTS AND BUTTERFLIES at Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe. 11am-12.30pm. Kids can be nature detectives on this walk with the rangers. £4 child. 01494 755573; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Wednesday July 31 and Wednesday August 7, 14, 21 and 28. WILD WEDNESDAYS at Cliveden, Taplow.

11am-3pm or 4pm. These fun outdoor adventure days have a different theme each week and are designed for families with children aged 4 to 11. £2 plus usual admission. No booking required. 0844 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Wednesday July 31. FUN IN THE PARK at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 12-4pm. Free entertainment, including a fire juggler and sword swallower, Punch and Judy shows, balloon modelling, falconry displays, storytelling and much more. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Wednesday July 31 to Wednesday August 28.

MEET AND GREETS at Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common Road, High Wycombe. There will be several opportunities for children to see these popular characters at intervals between 11am and 4pm on each day. Wednesday July 31 – PEPPA PIG. Wednesday August 7 – SCOOBY-DOO. Wednesday August 14 – BEN AND HOLLY. Wednesday August 21 – MIKE THE KNIGHT. Wednesday August 28 – FIREMAN SAM. 01628 520188; oddsfarm.co.uk.

7pm – Utter Madness and Queen B. Sunday August 4 CLIVEDEN SWINGS!, 7pm – The Rat Pack is Back. Don't miss out on the chance to join the Kings of Cool with their fabulous Big Band for a unique night – Vegas style! Advance tickets £27, on the gate £32. Booking advised. 0844 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Saturday August 3 to Saturday August 24.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES at Windsor Castle. 11am-4pm.

Discover what life was really like for the knights who lived at Windsor Castle in medieval times. Follow a special themed activity trail and take part in an art workshop. Also, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, have fun trying on some replica armour in the State Apartments. 020 7766 7302; royalcollection.org.uk/event/fair-ladies-and-noble-knights.

Saturday August 3. FAMILY CRAFT DAY at Hands-on Art Adventures, St Lukes Road, Old Windsor.

10am-3pm. Children will add pre-cut mosaic pieces onto their choice of ready-made base shapes; adults will decorate a pot in mosaic style. Take your projects home on the day. £65 fee for one adult and one child, includes lunch and one mosaic project each. Additional children £25 each; additional adults £30 each. Minimum age 7 years. 01753 206265; hands-onartadventures.co.uk.

Saturday August 3. BERKSHIRE BIOBLITZ at Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre, Maidenhead.

12-3pm, 4-7pm, 7.30-10.30pm, 9-12pm. The scientists aim to find, identify and record as many species as possible over 24 hours – can you help them? Get up close to the animals you find using microscopes. Have fun with arts and crafts. Please book. bbowt.org.uk.

Saturday August 3, Sunday August 4 and Wednesday August 7. FORGOTTEN METROLAND at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, near Aylesbury. The London Transport Museum and Buckinghamshire Railway centre present special open days to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground.To book call 0207 565 7298; www.ltmuseum.co.uk Monday August 5. BUSHCRAFT WALKS at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham. Learn the secrets of the forest, uses for plants, natural materials and wood lore finishing at Black Pine’s Camp. Maximum ratio of 1 adult to 2 children. Not suitable for children under 12. 2-6pm. £20 adult, £15 child. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Monday August 5 and Tuesday August 6.

NICKELODEON’S DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE: SEARCH FOR THE CITY OF LOST TOYS at The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading. Monday 4pm and Tuesday 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Dora has lost her teddy, and the search is on to retrieve him. Explorer Seats £18, general seating £16, U16s £14. Groups 10+ £12 with 1 in 10 free (excludes Explorer Seats), family of 4 £65 for Explorer Seats, £55 for general seating. 0118 960 6060; readingarts.com/thehexagon.

Monday August 5 to Friday August 9. SUMMER THEATRE WEEK at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 10am- 4pm (6pm Fri), £110 (£95 Advantage Card holders). Create an entire show from idea to performance, led by Troublemaker Theatre Company.

Experience all aspects of stage production, from lighting to stage blocking to acting with the help of professional directors. Suitable for ages 10 to 18. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Tuesday August 6. ORIENTEERING OPEN EVENT at Lily Hill Park, Lily Hill Road, Bracknell. Read maps, find points and solve the puzzles. 1-3pm. bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Tuesday August 6 and Wednesday August 7.

BABE THE SHEEP PIG at Cliveden, Taplow. Illyria return to Cliveden with David Wood’s adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s popular tale. Tuesday 2.30-4.30pm and 6.30-8.30pm. Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm. Adults £13, children (3-16 years) £10, under 3s free. 0844 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden.

Wednesday August 7. THE BIG SUMMER BUG HUNT AND BEE WATCH at the Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe. 1-4pm. Explore the Museum

Telephone: 01628 627 586

AUGUST Thursday August 1. MAKE A MINI MOTOR BOAT at the River and Rowing Museum, Mill Lane, Henley-on-Thames. 10.30am–2.30pm. Age 9–13. £15 including all materials. Tuesday August 6. TEDDIES IN TOGAS. 10.30am-12.30pm. Ages 4 to 7. £8.50.

Wednesdays August 7, 14 and 21. TAYLOR TUGS HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS. 11am-12.30pm. Make, sing and play the morning away. Age 18 months to 5 years. £8.50.

Thursday August 8. ALL UP! SWAN UPPING FAMILY DAY. 10.30am-4pm. Tuesday August 13.

FAIRYTALE ON THE THAMES. 10.30am-12.30pm.

Age 4-7. £8.50. Wednesday August 14. TERRIFIC THAMES TEES. Ages 7 to 11. £8.50. Tuesday August 20. HERE BE DRAGONS: MAKE A CLAY TILE. 10.30am-12.30pm. Ages 7 to 11. £8.50. Wednesday August 21. POOL OF LONDON – PLASTERCASTS, CONSTRUCTION AND MODELLING. 2-4pm. For ages 7 to 11. £8.50. Thursday August 22. TOAD’S SUMMER FETE. 10.30am-4pm.

Please book. 01491 415600; rrm.co.uk.

Friday August 2 to Saturday August 3.

CLIVEDEN ROCKS! at Cliveden, Taplow. Open-air concerts with firework finale. Friday, 7pm – He's The One (Robbie Williams Tribute) and The Magic of Abba. Saturday,

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Time Out

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Babe the Sheep Pig at Cliveden August 6 - 7

River and Rowing Museum,Teddies in Togas August 6

Longridge Holiday Water Activity Days August 19 - 23

gardens on a minibeast safari. Also meet Wycombe beekeepers and find out about the wonderful world of bees.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free. 01494 421 895; wycombe.gov.uk/museum.

Wednesday August 7. SUMMER NIGHT WALK at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 8.30-10pm.

Thursday August 29. NIGHT WALK at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road. 8-9.30pm. Take an evening walk looking and listening for signs of nocturnal animals. Not suitable for very young children due to 3 or 4-mile walk. £4 adult, £2 child, £3 concessions, £10 family (max 2 adults and 3 children). 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Thursday August 8. MINI BEAST HUNT at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. Hunt for creepy crawlies living in the park. 1-2pm and 3-4pm. £4 per kit to hire per family (max 2 adults and 3 children). Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Friday August 9. SUMMER OF FUN DAY at Westmorland Park, Westmorland Drive, Warfield. Free activities for young people, including a climbing wall, bouncy castle, birds of prey and farm animals. 11am-3pm. Wednesday August 14. SUMMER OF FUN DAY – OUT WITH A BANG at South Hill Park, North Lake, off Ringmead.

11am-3pm. Wednesday August 28. SUMMER OF FUN DAY at Jocks Lane Recreation Ground, off Binfield Road, Bracknell. 11am-3pm.

Saturday August 10. SHERGAR CUP WEEKEND at Ascot Racecourse. Celebrate a family day of racing with an evening concert showcasing reunion bands from Blue to Atomic Kitten! Plus fairground rides to urban display workshops.

0844 346 3000; ascot.co.uk.

Saturday August 10. FREE CRAFT WORKSHOPS at the Nicholson’s Centre, Maidenhead. 11am-3pm. 01628 783746; enjoymaidenhead.com.

Saturday August 10. ORIENTEERING at Wycombe Abbey School and woods, Abbey Way, High Wycombe.

10-11.30am. £5 adults, £2 juniors, students and family groups.

01494 895582; tvoc.org.uk.

Saturday August 10 and Sunday August 11. MAIL RAIL WEEKEND at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, near Aylesbury. Postman Pat and our Travelling Post Office coaches will be en-fete to mark the anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, which happened locally. Try your hand at sorting mail against the clock. bucksrailwaycentre.org.

Saturday August 10 and Sunday August 11.

TEDDY BEARS WEEKEND at Cholsey & Wallingford Railway. Free travel for all children under 8 who bring a teddy. cholsey-wallingford-railway.com.

Sunday August 11. ENCHANTING DRAGONFLIES at Runnymede, between Old Windsor and Egham. Meet at 11am at Runnymede Memorials Car Park.

Adult £5, child £2, concession £4. 01784 432891; nationaltrust.org.uk/Runnymede.

Sunday August 11. FAMILY FUN DAY at the Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor. First race 2pm. Racing for the adults to watch while the kids enjoy free fun activities. Rastamouse will also be making personal appearances at intervals throughout the afternoon! Free for race goers under the age of 18 when accompanied by an adult. 01753 498400; windsor-racecourse.co.uk.

Monday August 12 to Friday August 16.

SUMMER CIRCUS WEEK at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. Led by Albert and Friends, you can learn to walk on stilts, ride a unicycle, walk the tightrope and perform on a trapeze. Suitable for ages 7 to 13. 10am-4pm, £115 (£110 Advantage Card holders). 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Tuesday August 13. WILD ONES: THE GREAT OUTDOORS at Lily Hill Park, Lily Hill Road, Bracknell.

1-3pm. Learn about the wonder of trees and plants, and have a go at camp-fire cookery. Suitable for 6 years and over. £2.

Booking required. Thursday August 15. WILD ONES: FLYING IN THE WIND at Westmorland Park, Westmorland Drive, Warfield. 2-4pm. Tuesday August 20. WILD ONES: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT at Lily Hill Park. 8-9.30pm. bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Tuesday August 13. LETTERBOX TRAIL at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. Family-friendly self-led trail. Explore the parklands, hunt for clues and find the rubber stamps. Turn up at the Tea Room between 1pm and 2pm to start your trail. Takes 1 hour to complete. £4 per trail guide.

01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Tuesday August 13 to Thursday August 29. GO WILD at Braywick Nature Centre, Hibbert Road, Maidenhead. Tuesday August 13 (10am-12pm), Thursday August 22 (2-4pm), Tuesday August 27 (2-4pm) MINIBEAST SAFARIS. Thursday August 15 (2-4pm), Tuesday August 20 (10am-12pm) and Thursday August 29 (2-4pm) POND DIPPING. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 01628 777440; rbwm.gov.uk.

Tuesday August 13, Tuesday August 20 and Wednesday August 21. RANGER ROADSHOW – ALL ABOUT BIRDS at Maidenhead (August 13), Windsor (August 20) and Datchet (August 21) Library.

2.30-3.30pm.

Wednesday August 14. FILM WALK at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham. 2-3.30pm. Black Park has played host to a number of film, music and TV productions, such as Harry Potter and James Bond. Stroll around some of the more popular locations and take a look as screen shots from the productions. £4 adult, £2 child, £3 concessions, £10 family (max 2 adults and 3 children).

Advance booking required. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Wednesday August 14. CRAFTY KITES at Herschel Park, Upton Close, Slough. 2-4pm. Have a go at making your own kite. Bring along a reel of cotton and some string. Please book. Thursday August 15. LET’S GO WILD WITH ANIMALS 11am-3.30pm. Meet the animals from Basil and Crew’s mobile farm, join in the treasure hunt around the park and make an animal hat. There may be a charge for grooming and feeding the animals. 01753 875209.

Thursday August 15, Friday August 16 and Saturday August 17. MAIDENHEAD AT THE MOVIES. Free outdoor cinema in Kidwells Park.

Enjoymaidenhead.com.

Saturday August 17 and Sunday August 18. A VICTORIAN COUNTRY DAY OUT at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, near Aylesbury. bucksrailwaycentre.org.

Sunday August 18. JUST US THREE AND THE SEA at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 11.30am and 2pm. Sedrick the Seagull finds himself lost in a forest with an injured wing. He wonders how he will ever find his way home. But then he meets Gerry the Giraffe and Bernard the Bear. He soon discovers what real friends are for as they set off on an adventure together to find the sea. By Artful Playground. Suitable for children over 3. All family shows £8.50, family (4 people) £31. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Monday August 19. DEN BUILDING WORKSHOP at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 10am-12pm.

Have a go at building your own den and bring a picnic to eat in it. This event is weather dependant. Booking essential. £15 per family (max 2 adults and 3 children). 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Monday August 19. ICE CREAM FESTIVAL at the Royal Windsor racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor. First race at 5.30pm. Entrance is free for race goers under 18 when accompanied by an adult. 01753 498400; windsor-racecourse.co.uk

Monday August 19 to Friday August 23.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITY DAYS at Longridge, Quarry Wood Road, Marlow. For 13-18 years. From 8.30am- 4pm or 5.30pm. £40 for shorter day and £50 for longer day. Children take part in a surprise selection of activities and are given lunch. longridge-uk.org.

Monday August 19 to Friday August 23.

SUMMER ART WEEK at Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead. 10am-4pm, £115 (£110 Advantage Card holders).

Craft activities, messy materials and a group art project.

Suitable for children over 8. 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org.

Wednesday August 21. MINIBEAST HUNT at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road. 1pm and 3pm.

Hunt for creepy crawlies living in Black Park. Booking Essential. £4 per kit to hire per family (max 2 adults and 3 children). 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Wednesday August 21. JUMPERS AND LUMPERS Herschel Park, Upton Close, Slough. 2-4pm. A bug hunt and guided walk with a difference. Meet outside the kiosk.

01753 875209.

Saturday August 24. BAFFLING BATS at Runnymede, between Old Windsor and Egham. Meet at 8pm at the Riverside car park near North Lodge, Windsor Road, Old Windsor. Become a bat detective for an evening. Adult £6, child £2, concessions £4. 01784 432891; nationaltrust.org.uk/Runnymede.

Sunday August 25 and Monday August 26.

SHERLOCK HOLMES – THE BEST BITS at the open-air theatre, Savill Gardens. 7.30pm. Performed by The Pantaloons. Theatre ticket holders can picnic in the Savill Garden from 5.30pm. Booking is essential. 01784 435544; theroyallandscape.co.uk.

Sunday August 25 and Monday August 26.

TEDDY BEAR DAYS at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Each child carrying a teddy bear will travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Chinnorrailway.co.uk.

Tuesday August 27. NATURE SAFARI at Langley Park Country Park, Billet Lane, Iver. 1-2pm. Follow the trail and search for clues that will help you learn about the fascinating animals that live in the park. £4 per trail guide.

Wednesday August 28. FUN IN THE PARK at Langley Country Park, Iver. 12-4pm. Free family entertainment includes a fire juggler and sword swallower, Punch and Judy performances, balloon modelling, falconry displays, storytelling and more. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Wednesday August 28. SUMMER OF FUN DAY at Jocks Lane Recreation Ground, off Binfield Road, Bracknell.

11am-3pm.

Thursday August 29 and Friday August 30. TREE CLIMBING at Cliveden, Taplow. 10am-5pm. A tree-top adventure provided by The Big Tree Climbing Company. £17.50 per person for a 30-minute session, plus normal admission charges. Booking essential. 0844 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk.

Friday August 30. BAT WALK at Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham. 7.45-9pm. Watch bats hunt for food over the lake. Book early and bring a torch! £4 adult, £2 child, £3 concessions, £10 family (max 2 adults and 3 children). Saturday August 31. FAMILY BUSHCRAFT. 9.30am-1.30pm. Learn, explore and enjoy a wide range of exciting new skills. This course is knife-free.

Minimum age 8 years. £20 per adult, £15 per child. Advance booking required. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

Saturday August 31. THE FIRESTATION’S BIG PICNIC at Alexandra Gardens, Windsor. 12-7pm. DJs, stalls, food and drink, arts and crafts, and a bouncy castle. Free.

01753 866865; firestationartscentre.com.

Sunday September 1. SAILING DISPLAY at Black Park Model Boat Club, Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham. 10.30am-4pm. There will be a hire fleet so you can see if you have the sea legs to captain your own boat.

Free. 01753 511060; buckscc.gov.uk.

JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

Parenting

What is autism?

Can healthcare professionals help after diagnosis?

Absolutely. There are lots of things that can be done to help your child with their difficulties. For instance an occupational therapist can support your child with any sensory issues (such as dislike of noisy or bright places). A clinical psychologist can support the child therapeutically in areas such as social skills, anxiety or obsessions. The aim of therapy will be to reduce the impact of your child’s difficulties. With help your child should be able to learn how to cope and adapt to minimise the difficulties. This can have a very positive knock on effect on how they build friendships and their general happiness.

Dr Lucy Russell takes a looks at how autism can affect children and what a diagnosis will entail. utism is a developmental disability that affects children and how they communicate and relate to others around them. Autism can’t be cured, but there is lots of support that can help children learn to cope with their difficulties.

Autism is also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The spectrum part of ASD means that, while all people with autism share certain areas of difficulty, their condition will affect them in different ways.

Autism brings strengths If your child has autism, it’s important to remember that it also brings strengths. Many people with autism like to focus in on very small details of things in great depth. Channelled in the right way this could make them brilliant artists, mathematicians or computer programmers.

Autism brings difficulties There are difficulties with autism, generally they are in three main areas.

Communication: Development of language is often delayed in children with an ASD. Both verbal and non-verbal (i.e. gestures) communication can appear unusual. Children may make fewer gestures than ‘normal’ children, such as pointing. They often struggle to make eye contact with others.

Conversation with a child on the autistic spectrum may feel disjointed and not synchronised with the person they are talking to or with. Such children may struggle with the ‘to and fro’ nature of a two-way conversation, and may dominate or avoid conversations. People on the autistic spectrum tend to be ‘black and white thinkers’, and struggle to understand phrases that are not concrete, or where the meaning is not obvious.

Social interaction: Every environment has social rules, such as turn-taking and good manners. People with ASD can struggle to see others’ perspectives, so rules like turn-taking are often difficult to grasp. Some rules may seem illogical and confusing to a child with ASD. Why would you use different words when you’re talking to a child as opposed to an adult? Why are there rules about who you can play with in the playground and who you can’t? Why do I have to wait my turn?

Obsessions and rituals: Because they often find the world unpredictable and scary, and are good at focusing on fine detail, people with ASD often develop intense and specialist interests. These interests may become obsessions. Common ones are trains/ Thomas the Tank Engine, and science fiction, but they can be almost anything. An obsession can be positive as it gives a child a ‘specialist subject’ which they can be expert on. They can help build a child’s self-esteem as well as being enjoyable. If an obsession begins to take over a child’s life in a negative way, however, and other things get pushed out, it’s important to seek help.

Asperger’s syndrome One autism spectrum disorder is Asperger’s syndrome. Children with this syndrome can have significant difficulties in social interaction, and sometimes repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. Children with Asperger’s can have highly functioning speech and ability. Physical clumsiness and peculiar use of language are also frequently seen.

Are there any quick tests?

Unfortunately not. Every child with autism is different and so diagnosing takes input from different professionals and different assessments. There are a couple of useful tools which you may wish to try. The national autistic society website (www.autism.org.uk/) provides information on The Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) and The Australian Scale for Asperger’s Syndrome (Garnett and Attwood 1998). By no means should these tools ever be considered as a diagnosis.

Will a diagnosis help my child?

This is understandably a big step for parents. On one hand, having a formal diagnosis can enable the family to move forward and plan how best to support the child’s strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, parents are often worried that having a ‘label’ will be a negative thing for their child.

There is no easy answer to this dilemma, however, a diagnosis is often a positive thing for the family.

How is a diagnosis made?

Assessments are conducted with input from a multi-disciplinary team. There are usually multiple parts to the assessment including a structured parent interview with a psychologist, a cognitive assessment, occupational therapist assessment and school/nursery observation. The range of assessments is designed to ensure accuracy of diagnosis.

A

Telephone: 01628 627 586

What getting a diagnosis can mean ‘A few months ago our daughter was assessed and diagnosed with mild Asperger’s. Having the assessments conducted privately meant the process took about a month. It was, however, a difficult time, worrying if we had done the right thing and what would a diagnosis mean. How would being labelled affect the way she was treated? I realise now that she would have been labelled anyway as being different.

‘Now we know and understand more about the condition life is easier, so many battles have just disappeared. The fact she will eat cheese and bread but not a cheese sandwich is no longer an issue. We have found a social skills programme to follow, and are able to explain to friends that she is not being rude when she makes factual, honest comments. We have been able to find great resources that will help her learn the rules that she cannot pick up naturally. School reinforces these rules and teachers can now make allowances for the long detailed explanations she likes to give.

‘We have been able to see some of the positive aspects of her condition and build on these and access systems to help manage the negatives. We feel that the more she is understood by those around her the more able she will be to cope with the demands of growing up.’

Dr Lucy Russell, is a Clinical Psychologist and leads the autism service at Everlief Child Psychology in West Wycombe. For an informal discussion, or to make an appointment, call 01494 521332 or email contactus@everlief.co.uk , or visit www.everlief.co.uk.

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Ed’s Reading Room Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere!

I’m Ed and here is my Summer book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online from Ed’s Reading Room at www.edontheweb.com.

Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools.

For Ages 5 to 7 years

For Ages 7 years plus

Monty Wins the Cup by Jake Sparks (Egmont £4.99)

My Funny Family on Holiday by Chris Higgins (Hodder £4.99)

The Abominators

by J L Smith (Little, Brown £4.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Danny’s birthday begins with an amazing surprise. He receives a shiny silver key for his very own racing car – a car that runs on chocolate milkshake!

Danny is very excited and enters Monty in the Tooting Wallop Road Race. Although a shadow is cast over the race when the sneering Hugo de Horrible arrives on the scene, Danny is determined to show what Monty can do.

ED SAYS: ‘Hooray! It’s holiday time and Mattie’s family are going to Cornwall. As usual Mattie has lots of things on her Worry List – worst of all, what if they forgot somebody? When they arrive at Sunset Farm there so many new things to see and do. Camping is great fun and when it gets dark after the barbecue on the beach, it is absolutely magical sitting by the fire under the night sky. But who is Mattie’s new friend? And what is the story behind the old photograph?

ED SAYS: ‘The Abominators are top of the class for mischief.

When Cecil Trumpington-Potts starts Grimely East there is nothing more he would like than to be in the gang. But they have other ideas – they don’t want to be friends with someone they regard as a namby-pamby toff.

They set Cecil three tasks that they think he has no chance whatsoever of doing. But what if Cecil succeeded? Would they have to let him become a member of the gang?

‘This is a delightful story for young readers. It is an exciting adventure with colourful characters complemented by fantastic illustrations throughout.’

‘This story about Mattie’s family holiday is beautifully told.

It can be enjoyed by boys and girls alike, on their own or reading together.’

‘This is a hilarious story that will have boys and girls laughing out loud at Cecil’s attempts to be cool enough to be one of the Abominators. The book is packed full of brilliant illustrations.’

The Mystery of Wickworth Manor by Elen Caldecott (Bloomsbury £5.99) ED SAYS: ‘Curtis and Paige are two very different people who are thrown together on a school trip. They are supposed to be mixing with all the other children while canoeing, climbing and taking part in Art projects.

However, when they find an old painting at the top of Wickworth Manor, they become involved in solving a mystery from years ago to do with the family at the manor. Could dreadful deeds to do with the slave trade have taken place? And can Curtis and Paige solve the mystery using their own different methods?

‘This is a brilliantly written book. There is an underlying serious tone but the story reads as a fun, action-packed adventure.’

Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI award-winning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating.You are very welcome to contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at maggiehumphreys@aol.com.

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JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

A JOURNEY TO NORMAL BIRTH AND BEYOND WITH COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AND NATURAL REMEDIES

ore than 80% of pregnant women use complementary therapies or natural remedies. They present an additional choice for coping with the symptoms and preparation for birth as well as providing relaxation and stress relief by reducing stress hormones.

Some women worry about the ability to cope with the pain of childbirth. They are also concerned about the potential risk of childbirth and wish to avoid unnecessary medical intervention and by using complementary therapies they can strengthen their ability to cope. The holistic nature of the treatments reduces fear and promotes relaxation.

Fear and stress can have a negative impact on the outcomes of pregnancy, such as a lack of confidence in the ability to give birth naturally and an increased risk of preterm labour, prolonged labour, forceps delivery and caesarean section.

The following therapies can be particularly useful in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

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Aromatherapy Pregnancy brings natural physiological and psychological changes in women. However, pregnancy discomforts have been experienced for centuries. Aromatherapy is the use of plant essences for therapeutic purposes. It aids relaxation in pregnancy and can even promote normal birth, provided it is used correctly. Essential oils, mixed with carrier oil such as grape seed oil, can be inhaled or applied directly to the skin through massage and compress. The oils have effects at the psychological, physiological and cellular level.

Telephone: 01628 627 586

Bumps ‘n’ Babes Jolanta Hill is a practicing midwife who has recently completed a Diploma in Complementary Therapies in Childbirth. She frequently meets women wishing to use complementary therapies and natural remedies, highlighting an urgent need to enrich modern maternity care. Here she looks at the different treatments she has successfully used to treat women pre and post partum.

Reflexology Reflexology is an ancient healing art that uses reflex points on the feet, where each point corresponds to specific organs or functions of the body. It is helping to alleviate stress and tension, improving circulation to restore the sense of well being. There are well known limitations in the use of the conventional drugs due to the potential unwanted side effects on the unborn child.

Reflexology is a safer option available for women to help with some symptoms such as morning sickness, anxieties and back pain or symphysis pubis dysfunction pain.

A typical reflexology session involves taking a detailed health history before examining the bare feet systematically, with the client lying on a coach or semireclining in a chair. The whole session usually lasts 45-60 minutes. Treatments are offered weekly for a course of 6-8 sessions.

Pre-birth reflexology offers a safe and effective treatment to enhance natural labour and reduce the incidence of medical induction and long labour. Pre-birth reflexology is recommended around 35 weeks pregnancy up until delivery.

While reflexology has its own merits and values in helping with start of labour, it also works extremely well for an overdue woman who is planning to be medically induced. However, to use it to initiate spontaneous onset of labour, the pregnancy must be healthy with no contraindications to perform treatment.

Reflexology can also help with miscarriages, sub fertility, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica pain and tension.

Moxibustion If your baby has been confirmed as being breech, one of the ways to encourage a change of position to head first, is moxibustion. This traditional Chinese technique using moxa sticks (made from dried mugworth, a herb) as a heat source that are applied to specific points on your feet. It is thought to stimulate hormones to increase your baby’s heart rate and

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movements and to relax your uterus slightly, enabling your baby to turn to headfirst. There is a success rate of around 57% and it can be done at any time after 35 weeks of pregnancy.

Bach Flower Remedies To balance physical and emotional disturbances you can use a therapeutic system that uses specially prepared plant infusions called Bach Flower Remedies.

There are 38 remedies divided into seven therapeutic groups according to the following emotions: depression, fear, lack of interest in the present, loneliness, over concern for the welfare of others, oversensitivity, and uncertainty. For example, if working through your pregnancy leaves you short of rest and tired, Olive flower essence may help.

Apprehension when you think about going into labour can be alleviated with Mimulus.

If you experience baby blues, Gentian could help.

Complementary Therapies can promote normal birth, reduce unnecessary surgical interventions and present effective, gentle ways of treating any discomforts. Like any intervention, the therapies should only be used after consultation with a midwife or qualified practitioner.

If you would like more information, or an individual consultation, please contact Jolanta Hill via email jholistic@outlook.com or call 0792 352 3930. https://www.facebook.com/JHolistic7

Music with Mummy Themed, fun music classes for children aged up to 5 years in small groups Jolly Babies – specially designed for babies under one year Jackie @ Windsor: 01344 301954 Caroline @ Ascot: 01753 850772 www.musicwithmummy.co.uk

FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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Mums Who Mean Business

Love of literacy inspires new pre-school class Two local mums have set up a new pre-school literacy class called Little Literates, which will launch this September in Windsor.

1. Who are you and where do you live?

We are Catherine Stopp and Kathryn Murfitt living in Windsor and Marlow respectively and met at the school gate when our daughters started Upton House nursery together.

2. Why you set up the business/or why have you changed career?

We both felt that the experience of having children really calls into question what is important in life. We both have a passion for literacy and language and only wanted to go back to work in a way that would

allow us to work in this area and without compromising the time we could spend with our families.

3. What did you used to do?

Whilst Catherine had a successful international marketing career the move to teaching literacy classes was natural to her given her language degree and postgraduate studies. Having volunteered as a literacy and reading mentor in several schools in Surrey and Merseyside over the years, she found she had a talent for encouraging young children. She began to teach the literacy classes in their current form when called upon by the headteacher of her daughters’ Kindergarden in Moscow, Russia.

Kathryn has 15 years teaching experience in schools in Britain, Australia and Canada and has even found the time to have a textbook published and complete a masters degree in that time. Her desire to focus now on teaching pre-school children comes from the experiences gained from being a full-time mother.

4. What inspired you to set up the business?

We believe literacy and in the first instance the love of independent reading and writing is one of the greatest gifts you can

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

give to a child. Before children start school it can be difficult to know how to support your child in this area even if they seem ready.

We know from experience that parents and young children enjoy learning and socialising within a class dynamic but there are no classes locally that are designed to teach literacy in a fun and effective way and give those parents and children confidence before they enter mainstream education.

We decided it was time to bring Little Literates to our home town!

5. What are your plans for the future?

We are now taking bookings for our Owlet (2-3 years) and Owls (3-4 years) classes for the Autumn term in Windsor.

(More details can be found on our website www.littleliterates.org.) From January we will also offer classes in Marlow and will also be taking bookings for special holiday programmes.

Our aspiration is that successive generations of parents and children have fond memories of their Little Literates classes. We believe they will credit them in part to their children’s love of reading and writing irrespective of the children’s abillities or learning styles when they first walk through our door.

JULY/AUGUST 2013

E-mail: editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk

Classifieds

Passion for design and ‘upcycling’ leads to career change

Family passion for vintage china leads to new business This new mother and daughter business shows how an interest can transform itself in to a business idea. Sheila Campbell and daughters Bella Campbell and Lisa Dodwell have been avid collectors of floral china from the 40’s and 50’s and set up their own business China Time Vintage hire, so local businesses and customers can hire china for a celebratory event.

1. Who you are and where do you live?

We are Sheila Campbell from Bourne End, Lisa Dodwell from Watford and Bella Campbell from Marlow.

2. Why you set up the business or why have you changed career?

We adore anything vintage, especially china, my mum has always had a large collection and over the last few years we have been adding to the collection for people to enjoy the nostalgic afternoon tea experience we bring.

3. What did you used to do?

Lisa is a full-time very busy mum, Sheila is retired and makes all the bunting for the business, Bella is a full-time mummy working as a marketing consultant and organising bookings for China Time Vintage Hire.

4. What inspired you to set up the business?

The love of vintage china.

5. What are your plans for the future?

We are taking each day as it comes and since our launch in May we have had a steady flow of enquiries. We aim to add to our collection in the next three years so we can provide for larger events and celebrations.

For more information see www.chinatimevintagehire.com

Telephone: 01628 627 586

Local Maidenhead mum Kate Lovejoy’s love of design has led her to make a career change from a demanding job in the art department on feature films to running an interior design business from home. A recent feature in Ideal Home magazine has been a career highlight so far.

1. Who are you and where do you live?

I am Kate Lovejoy and I live in Maidenhead with my husband and two children.

2. Why you set up the business/or why have you changed career?

After the birth of my daughter I decided to leave an exciting but all encompassing career in the Art Department on feature films and focus on setting up a business that would better work around my family.

3. What did you used to do?

The work I did in film varied from research and designing anything from Georgian houses to spaceships, to building scale models and technical drawing, as well as location surveys and set dressing.

No film was ever the same and I enjoyed the travel opportunities it gave me. I also got together with my husband whilst working on ‘102 Dalmatians’ so I owe a lot to it!

One of my favourite memories was actually designing my graduation film at the Royal College of Art; I loved heading up a team and feeling influential and connected with the final results on screen. That, and Brad Pitt walking through the Art department on ‘Troy’!

4. What inspired you to set up the business?

When the children were small, I began to make soft furnishings and bags but realized that Interior Design encompassed many of the aspects that I had enjoyed in film and I could use various skills that I already had.

I decided to get a formal qualification in Interior Design, so I remotely studied at KLC in Chelsea and was awarded a Diploma. I felt that this, together with my previous design experience, gave me everything I needed to set up my business.

I realized that many of my friends, like me, have reached a point where they are settled and want to make their house their long term home and when they extend or decorate, they want to know that they are spending their money wisely.

I’ve learnt that having the help of an interior designer doesn’t have to be a luxury undertaking.

One of my passions is to upcycle furniture and quite often this will be the client’s existing pieces of furniture or something unusual found on eBay and for that reason I think I am probably not your typical interior designer!

5. What are your plans for the future?

More of the same really! I would love to be able to take on bigger projects but this job really is giving me everything I could want - I am able to indulge in my love of colour, design and fabric on a daily basis and I get a real buzz from the feeling of fulfillment when a client is really happy with the end result.

To find out more go to www.katelovejoy.com

JULY/AUGUST 2013

Children’s Swimming Lessons Lessons at the weekends at Eton College pool Also Monday & Tuesday after school.

Lambrook school (Winkfield Row) Saturday 12 – 2pm Sunday 9.30am – 11am Also Monday 5.30pm – 7pm For more information about the above lessons & prices contact: a.price@etoncollege.org.uk There are also children’s intensive swimming lessons in the summer holidays

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Candle-making parties for children and grown-ups! www.candlebyparties.co.uk

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Would you like to be a qualified Lifeguard NPLQ? You must be over 16 years old, able to swim 100m We run courses throughout the year at Eton College pool For more information e-mail:

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Bookings being taken for September Pop along for a summer drop-in session!

A new and exciting class for mums and babies to learn Spanish together in a fun and engaging way.

Bilingual nursery rhymes, mum and baby yoga, massage, reflexology and lovely flamenco rhythms all combine to make a unique and magical class.

ellie@babylovesspanish.co.uk

07868 711581

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FAMILIES Thames Valley East

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Do you frequently feel exasperated, stressed, or embarrassed by your child’s behaviour?

Do you often get irritated by your child?

Do you have to threaten and shout to get your child to cooperate?

Do you frequently argue with your partner about how to handle your child’s behaviour?