Watford Flea Issue 3 No 6_Flea 22 09/12/2013 18:30 Page 1
FREE to pick up!
Volume 3 : Issue 6
A Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Watford Flea Issue 3 No 6_Flea 22 09/12/2013 18:30 Page 2
cafe loco mad about coffee…
Situated between Watford and Northwood on the exclusive Moor Park estate, Cafe Loco is aptly named, being situated right opposite Moor Park Station. (Metropolitan Line)
mad about food… Cafe Loco offers a wide range of exotic sandwiches, toasties and paninis to complement our delicious coffees. At lunchtime, a great selection of speciality dishes awaits you, each cooked to perfection. Finish off with one of our indulgent desserts. Just hop on the train to Moor Park!
01923 842 500
14 Main Avenue, Moor Park, Northwood HA6 2HJ Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 9am-4pm
For all your Christmas Transport needs ✶ Clean and comfortable vehicles ✶ Friendly drivers ✶ Prompt, reliable safe & affordable ✶ 24 hour taxi service every day of the year ✶ Executive cars available
✶ 6 to 8-seater & 16-seat executive minibuses ✶ Wheelchair accessible vehicles available ✶ Book on line or by phone ✶ Any distance
A-ONE TAXIS
WATFORD 01923
22 22 22
Web: www.a1taxiswatford.co.uk Email: info@a1taxiswatford.co.uk
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Courtesy of Debris2008
The Watford flea magazine is published by: Flea Ltd., 58 Vicarage Road, Watford WD18 0EW. Views expressed in this magazine are those of the respective contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of flea ltd. Advertising: 01923 731160/1
http://bit.ly/1e0YMOP
A Christmas Message from your editor… In our individual lifetimes there are just a few events of global significance that become embedded in our memories. For me, those events include the launch of Sputnik 1, the first space satellite in 1957; the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961; the Cuban missile crisis a year later when the world was on the brink of nuclear war; the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in 1963; the first Apollo moon landing of 1969 and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. Since the new millennium, we have witnessed the tragedies of 9/11/2001 and the London bombings of 2005. As we were about to go to press, another event is sadly added to my list – the death on 5th December of Nelson Mandela. Variously described in his lifetime as terrorist, leader, diplomat, statesman, President and Nobel laureate, his greatest achievements, beyond surviving incredible hardship to reach the age of 95, were the abolition of Apart-heid, devising the subsequent Truth and Reconciliation Commis-sion and ultimately leading the peaceful transition of South Africa into a multi-racial state. His beliefs were encapsulated in his address to the judges during his trial for sabotage in 1964.
“I have fought against white domination… and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Christmas is traditionally a time of peace and goodwill, forgiveness and, for some, reconciliation. It’s a time when we remember and renew acquaintance with friends and family, especially those who may be far away from us. It is also a time to set aside differences of culture, race and belief and instead to embrace our common humanity. This Christmas especially, let us be guided by Nelson Mandela’s philosophy as we plan to make our world a better and more peaceful place in 2014. We hope you will have a joyful and peaceful Christmas and send you our wishes for a healthy, happy and successful New Year.
For Muslims too! Many Christians may be unaware of the similarities of their religion to that of Islam.
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Both the Bible and the Quran trace the ancestry of their key figures from Adam and Eve through to Abraham; both tell the story of Noah and the great flood; both record the virgin birth of Jesus, although the Quran maintains he was born under a desert palm tree while the Bible locates the nativity in a Bethlehem stable. Islam holds that he was God’s prophet while Christians believe he was the son of God. Both accounts of the nativity are based on ancient texts written hundreds of years after the event, being previously passed down verbally through many generations. Whatever you believe, Christmas should be a time of peace and goodwill to all!
editor: paul walling contributors: bolly binyakob jane bird tania clarke david degen richard doughty sam ellard harsha moore michael morgan steven parker josh watkins
images edwin marcow finlay wade design ab graphic print apkl special thanks ian st.peters (w. herts college)
www.watford.theflea.co.uk
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Property Maintenance, Repairs, Refurbishment, Insurance work welcome.
THE COMPLETE PROPERTY SERVICE OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 01923 662183 or 07968 054915 www.insideoutherts.co.uk info@insideoutherts.co.uk
Less welcome guests can arrive from the roof area!
Inside many lofts there are water tanks and pipe work. Before the really cold weather arrives, make sure every pipe is well-insulated and that tanks are covered on the top and sides, but never underneath. A loft freeze-up is one of the most common emergency problems in winter and, if it happens to you, water may well start pouring through your ceilings leading them to collapse and making the house potentially uninhabitable at the worst possible time of year! If you’re away when it happens, the problem may go unnoticed and the damage is likely to be far worse! If you are going away, remember that ‘turning everything off’ is not a good idea. Insulation can only slow down the rate at which heat is lost, so if it’s freezing outside, over time it will do the same inside unless you provide some warmth! Leave the heating and hot water on a low setting or timed to come on a few times over each 24 period and, unless you’re ‘all electric’, don’t turn the water supply off as this could be dangerous. If you have pipes that run to the garage or to external taps, you should isolate and drain off just the supplies to those areas. 4
Winter weather can play havoc with your home. The biggest enemy is water. Rain will seep into cracks wherever it finds them – into damaged roof tiles, cracked bricks or rendering, faulty pointing and failed flashings. Even minor water ingress, if not spotted and repaired quickly, can lead to rotting of the roof timbers – and a huge bill to put it right. Heavy snow puts additional stress on all elements of the roof structure too. When water freezes, it expands. What were small gaps become more serious cracks or breaks. Roof tiles are then more prone to leakage and movement. Water can get behind rendering, destroying its adhesion to the brickwork and causing areas to detach from the wall. In houses with solid walls, water penetration leads to internal dampness, mould growth and plaster detachment. So the sooner you get them fixed, the better! A Building Surveyor can advise you.
SRP Property Survey Solutions T.01923 680570 M. 07985 534483 E. help@srps.co www.srp-propertysurveysolutions.com
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Maths
Moving house? Extending your home?
for Christmas?
Full building surveys Planning applications Building control applications Party wall matters Project management
Maths is a bit like Marmite – while some may love it and find it exciting, even enjoyable, many hate it with a passion. Yet basic mathematics is an essential requirement in today’s world and is rightly a ‘core subject’. Despite that, according to the OECD, out of 24 developed countries, UK now ranks fourth from bottom in numeracy and is the only country in which today’s young people have less ability in the subject than their grandparents! That’s serious! However, if it’s made more interesting with a blend of games, quizzes and puzzles, maths is as much fun as any subject. Add a pinch of enthusiasm and a splash of humour and most will lap it up and learn it in no time! Whatever the reason for our country’s failure in this area of education, your child’s future is at stake. Perhaps a bit of inspired tuition would make a far more valuable Christmas gift for your child than the latest Xbox or PS2?
07958 945 056 info@montotte.co.uk www.montotte.co.uk
Individual
Parv Walling ADI
Maths Tuition
Driving Instructor
DSA approved, fully insured
up to A-level
Help your child discover the joy of Mathematics
david_degen2001@yahoo.co.uk
tel: 01923 244486 email: parv@parv.co.uk web: http://parv.co.uk
07902 891 892 making maths fun!
Pass with Parv!
Watford’s premier independent business forum
The Weekly Business @
People buy from people
Watford Indoor Bowls Club, rear of Woodside Leisure, Horseshoe Lane, Watford WD25 7HH Michael Morgan 07836 517127 Matthew Bashford-Hayes 07789 620825 www.theweeklybusiness.co.uk info@theweeklybusiness.co.uk https://twitter.com/TheWatfordFlea
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Issue 3 No 6_Flea 09/12/2013 Watford Flea 22 18:31 Page 6
Muscle tightness or pain? Stressed, injured or tired? FREE Assessment !!! and RII \RXU ÀUVW PDVVDJH
Lucas Massage Therapy 07981 396 184 The Pump Gym, Greenhill Crescent, WATFORD, WD18 8PH
www.lucasmassagetherapy.com
Sporting
Highlights of 2013
Sam Ellard shares his favourite moments… Christmas is upon us and that means only one thing, a mad Christmas sport schedule! It’s the festive season – so we eat, drink and, most importantly, sit back and watch sport! It’s also a time to reflect on some of the sporting achievements in 2013. Here’s my favourites. Manchester United – Champions of England In May, Manchester United regained the Premier League title from rivals Manchester City. United made the signing of the summer as they bought in Robin Van Persie from Arsenal. Rivals Manchester City also wanted the Dutchman’s signature but the Red Devils beat them to it. United played exciting football and their deserved victory was the best send off for Paul Scholes and Sir Alex Ferguson Andy Murray wins Wimbledon: The first British winner since Fred Perry 77 years ago. The weight of the nation lifted off Andy’s shoulders when he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to raise the Wimbledon trophy – a fitting but magical follow-up to his Olympic Gold in 2012. England regain the Ashes: England kept the Ashes for the third consecutive time as they destroyed Australia on home soil. England won the first test by 14 runs – how different things would have been if Australia could have seen the game out. The second test at Lords was much more comfortable for Andy Flowers’s men, winning by 384 runs. Australia dominated the third test by but were robbed by rain. Normality was resumed in the fourth test as England won by 74 runs to go 3-0 up in the series with only one match to go. Nothing was riding on the last test at the Oval which ended in a draw. www.watford.theflea.co.uk 6
Football – the ones to watch over Christmas: The standout fixture is Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City on Boxing Day. Liverpool started the season well and are vying for a top four spot. Manuel Pellegrini’s side has a 100% win record at home so far. Three days later Liverpool travel to London to take on Chelsea. Then, on New Year’s Day, we’re being treated to another box office game as Manchester United host Tottenham.
Cycle for the wildlife! Imagine a wood with no trees, a sky with no birds or a world with no bees. But for them, the human race would not be here! House sparrow numbers in urban areas have nose-dived by 70% since the mid 1970’s. The cause of the decline is thought to be a carcinogen in car fumes. Bee numbers have plummeted so seriously that a ministerial post has been created. Add to that the recently reported fact that Watford has the worst air pollution levels in Hertfordshire and the message is clear – we need to stop polluting with our cars and the easiest way to do that is by leaving the car at home and cycling instead! It’s good to know that cycling is booming with ridden miles up by well over 20% since the millennium. The Watford Cycle Hub has made great strides in its first year of operation and is a worthwhile visit if you’re considering getting back in the saddle! And of course there’s Sky Rides Watford, giving you the chance to go on ‘buddie rides’ and learn more about your bike. Both these organisations provide a social network for bikers, as well as lots of expert help and advice. Search for ‘cycling’ on our website to find out more. What a great choice of New Year Resolution!
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Pick of Everything To see a wide range of Watford events including regular clubs meetings, visit the What’s On section of Watford flea online. If you’ve got something happening that you want Watford people to know about, just let us know and we’ll include it in our online listings.
Jay Matthews Live singer, DJ & videographer
www.jayonvocals.com
07533 740 345
matthews_jay@hotmail.com
Christmas Entertainment Pick of the Pantos
Pick of the Reads
Watford Palace Theatre Robin Hood until 28 Dec 2013
Christmas is Murder! Two Hertfordshire authors have released new crime novels ready for Christmas, both of which are a great read. They’d make great little stocking fillers too!
The Radlett Centre Aladdin until 31st Dec 2013 The Pump House Peter Pan II ...The Return until 22nd Jan 2014 St Albans Arena Cinderella until 5th Jan 2014 Watersmeet Rickmansworth Sleeping Beauty Until 31st Dec 2013
Pick of the Music The Horns Xmas Eve Party (Free!) Dec 24th 2013 from 9pm Watford Colosseum Christmas Concert Watford Philharmonic 18th Dec 2013 Watford Colosseum A Christmas Carol (musical) 24th December 2013
Leigh Russell Cold Sacrifice No Exit Press
Renowned local author Leigh Russell launched ‘Cold Sacrifice’, the first in her new series of books featuring Detective Superintendent Ian Peterson at Waterstones, Harrow during November. With five top-selling crime novels under her belt already, all featuring female D.I. Geraldine Steel, teacher Leigh has been consistently hitting the heights on the Amazon and other bestseller charts since she published her first crime novel ‘Road Closed’ back in 2010. Since then, she released ‘Dead End’ in 2011 to be swiftly followed by ‘Cut Short’ and ‘Death Bed’ last year. Her most recent and last Geraldine Steel murder, ‘Stop Dead’, arrived on the bookshelves in May this year.
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‘Cold Sacrifice’ looks set to be yet another sure-fire success for this prolific writer. Alastair Gunn The Advent Killer Penguin Books
From the other end of Hertfordshire – Bishops Stortford to be precise, comes a new addition to the literary scene in the form of crime writer Alastair Gunn. Alastair, previously a magazine journalist decided, like Leigh, to launch his crime writing career with a female detective, in this case DCI Antonia Hawkins. At some 450 pages, it’s a heavyweight entry described as a “terrifying debut thriller” that will keep you guessing for a long time! Set in the run up to Christmas, hence the title, three women are murdered at exactly 1:00pm on consecutive Sundays. The cold-blooded killer appears to choose his victims at random and tension mounts as Sunday lunchtime approaches in week four…. We wish Alastair every success and look forward to reading his second crime novel which is scheduled for publication in 2014. www.watford.theflea.co.uk
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Get the right look this Bolly Binyakob talks to Beauty Blogger and Vlogger Jeannie Aininger who shares some tips to help you look your very best this Christmas and into the New Year. SKIN: Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12-hr Brightening Primer Revlon Colour stay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin in ‘180 Sand Beige’ Mac Studio Fix Powder in ‘NC 30’ Elf Cool Bronzer BROWS: Tarte EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse in ‘Medium Brown’ EYES: Kiko Cosmetics Colour Impact Eye shadow Palette in ‘Lounge Warm Tones’ Sheene Long Extreme Mascara/Eyeliner Duo Catrice Kohl Kajal in ‘010 Ultra Black’ Clarins Be Long Mascara in ‘01 Intense Black’ LIPS: Catrice Long Lasting Lip Pencil in ‘040 And The Cherry On Top’ Elf Lipstick in ‘Sociable’
1. Start by applying face primer, foundation and powder to create an even and flawless base. 2. Because there will be a lot of bold colours on the eyes, your eyebrows may disappear, so don't forget to fill those bad boys in! 3. Apply eye shadow primer and a cream coloured eye shadow to the eyelids and inner corners. This will help to make the eye shadow colours last longer and appear more vibrant. 4. Sweep a wash of golden eye shadow all over your eyelid, the inner corner and the lower lash line to brighten up your eyes. 5. Blend a burgundy red colour into the outer half of the eye and create a sharp edge. 6. Create a long Cleopatra-like cat eye using liquid eyeliner. 7. Line your upper and bottom waterline with a black kohl eye pencil. (If you’re uncomfortable with putting on eyeliner on your upper waterline, just put it on your lower waterline www.watford.theflea.co.uk 8
and squeeze your eyes shut. The eyeliner will transfer to the upper waterline!) 8. Put on some fake eyelashes to make the eyes even more glamorous and finish off with mascara on the top and bottom lashes. 9. Whenever you go with bold eyes and/or lips, it’s best to leave out the blush and only go with bronzer to bring some colour and shape to the face. Otherwise there will be too much going on and it will end up looking like a hot mess. 10. Line your lips using a lip liner which is the same shade as the lipstick you are going to use. Lip liner will act as a base and prevent the lipstick from smudging onto your face. 11. Apply the lipstick colour of your choice. For more control I recommend using a lip brush, especially if you want to change the shape of your lips! 12. Take a small brush and apply concealer around your lips to create a crisp, perfect edge and voilà, you’re done! https://www.facebook.com/fleamagazine
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Christmas Getting to know the Beauty Blogger & Vlogger JEANNIE AININGER What inspired you towards the look? Poinsettias were my main inspirations for this look. I’ve loved them since I was a little girl, because they remind me of the winter, wearing fuzzy socks, drinking hot chocolate and most importantly, Christmas. They are red and green, which are the colours people usually associate with Christmas, but sometimes you can find them with gold glitter sprinkled all over them, which makes them look more festive. That’s why I chose red and gold to be my main colours of the look.
beautiful heart and mind. To be totally honest, even I am uncomfortable when I leave the house without anything on because I am insecure about my acne scars, so I always wear at least some concealer and powder. It’s a paradox how we are told that a woman is beautiful just the way she is: real and natural. But still, those women who are considered ‘beautiful’ went through hour-long makeup and hair sessions and Photoshop. We are presented with a false reality and that is something our society definitely needs to work on.
What made you start being involved in the YouTube beauty community? I’d been watching beauty videos on YouTube for about three years before I finally decided to get a camera and upload my own videos. During this time I imagined what it would be like to have my own channel and while I was watching other peoples’ videos I thought about how they could have done things differently. I hesitated for so long because I was scared of what people in school might think about me. But then I realised that I’m probably never going to see 99% of them in my life anymore, so I set up my camera and pressed ‘record’.
Would you ever leave the house without make up? The funny thing is that it depends on where I am. During the summer when I was in Thailand, I went out without anything but sunscreen on my face and I was comfortable with my bare face. But as soon as I came back to Austria, I started putting on makeup again.
How important is it for you to leave the house with make up on? I try to teach my viewers that makeup alone doesn't make you beautiful – you need a
Tell us more about yourself, life, education, and hobby: I am horrible when it comes to introducing myself, but my name is Jeannie Aininger and I’m an 18-year-old student living in Vienna, Austria. I currently study English and American Studies at the University of Vienna and I am considering starting to do psychology as well. I am a perfectionist with major anxiety who procrastinates and spends too much time on the net and probably the meanest nice person ever to exist.
Jeannie’s web site: www.misselectraheart.com YouTube: www.YouTube.com/Misselectraheart https://twitter.com/TheWatfordFlea
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Why can’t I have that
dream Christmas?
Stress is not an illness... ...but how often do you hear someone saying ‘I’m stressed out’ – especially around this time of year? You might suffer a stress symptom such as anxiety or irritable bowel syndrome and someone tells you to RELAX! ‘How?’ is probably your irritated response! A colleague of mine says that telling anyone to relax when they’re stressed out is cruel, because it doesn’t help and usually worsens the symptoms. If you’re feeling stressed out, why not call me for a chat? Autogenic Training (AT) teaches life skills to bring the feelings and symptoms of excessive stress under control. It’s a therapeutic process that helps you switch off the ‘fight-flight’ response. It takes 9 weeks to learn AT: short-term therapy in a package! If you‘d like to find out more, visit my website or read my series of articles in the watford flea online by going to http://watford.theflea.co.uk and searching for “autogenics” using the search box at top right of every page. Jane Bird Autogenic Training
tel: 01923 675501 email: jane@autogenic-therapist.co.uk www.autogenic-therapist.co.uk
Christmas Safety Tips Christmas is a time to remember some basic safety tips to ensure that everyone has fun and there are no accidents in the home. With many more people in the house, don’t assume they will be keeping an eye on any children. When you’re celebrating, it’s easy to forget that they’re around! The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reminds us that many accidents happen, but with a little forethought many can easily be prevented. Good 10
Last year on the news I saw on TV the joy on the faces of 50 homeless people in Dewsbury when Gracie McNulty, her 3 siblings and her mum, Sharon opened up their café to feed the local homeless people on Christmas Day. That was Gracie’s dream. What’s YOUR dream Christmas? Given a completely free rein, what would YOU do on Christmas Day? Life can be a series of compromises and in making those compromises we can lose sight of what we really want. So here and now, take a moment to dream... ...what do YOU want for Christmas? And instead of stopping yourself, “Oh, Mum would hate that” or “I can’t do that because…” Be Brave! This is the season of goodwill. Have a little goodwill towards yourself. All you have to do is make YOUR happy Christmas happen. That’s what we mean when we wish you:
Happy Christmas.
Tania x
07717 410 910 www.taniaclarke.co.uk hello@taniaclarke.co.uk
preparation will help ensure that everyone is kept safe and well. Please help prevent your festivities being cut short by a trip to casualty – check their 12 safety tips which are posted in full on our website. You can find them by searching for “ROSPA” using the flea search box at the top of every page on www.watford.theflea.co.uk – but here’s a brief summary:
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but need flexible Recently I was discussing work/life balance with a conference delegate. As a mother of two young boys, it isn’t easy to work the traditional 9 to 5 unless I place my boys with a childminder before and after school. My answer is to work flexibly! As I work for myself it’s easy to fit my work around family commitments, although that may mean working some evenings to compensate. Many parents would love to have more time with the children but they are employed.
Because you’re relaxed knowing you’ve spent that special time with your child, you’ll probably be more productive! Making it happen Have you made a request for flexible working or are you thinking of doing so in the New Year? I can help – so please call me today for a chat. I cover all areas of Employment Law.
Did you know that ANY parent with a young child can seek to work flexible hours while maintaining their employment?
Solving work related problems
01923 238 427 or 07930 968 788
So what is flexible working? It could be a slight change in hours so you can do the school run, or have a day off to spend time with your child before they start full time school.
Meridien House, 69-71 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1DS harsha@mooresolicitors.co.uk
www.mooresolicitors.co.uk þ
– we all give a toast to ‘absent friends’ just after the Queen’s speech. It’s a simple act which acknowledges all those who have passed on and reinforces the invisible bond of friendship and family wherever we all are in the world. Planet Wills is a Watford based business and we wish all our friends and clients a Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.
Your Safety Checklist! ✶ Are gifts suitable for age and from reputable sources? ✶ Don’t borrow batteries from the smoke alarms! ✶ Look out for watch batteries, burst balloons and other small items that could choke. ✶ Avoid fire hazards like paper near light fittings or flames.
hours?
þ þ þ
Looking for help and advice you can trust on Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney? Want an experienced, professionally qualified Adviser? Don’t want to pay extra for a home visit? Want fixed cost with no hidden extras?
Planet Wills ticks all the right boxes
PLANET Wills 01923 460011 www.planetwills.co.uk
Never leave a candle unattended and never light them on a tree. ✶ Buy low voltage LED lights – safer and no removable bulbs. Don’t leave decorative lights on overnight or when you’re out. ✶ Keep small novelties and sharp items away from young hands. ✶ Take care in the kitchen with hot fat, boiling water and knives. Wipe up spills and keep non-
cooks out! ✶ Use safe scissors to open packaging. Put them away afterwards. ✶ Don’t permit trailing cables and wires ✶ Minimise clutter and keep stairs well-lit and obstacle-free. ✶ Plan well & follow the fireworks code for any fireworks parties. ✶ Don’t drink and drive, plan long journeys so you won’t drive tired. 11
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Swims with sharks – works with wolves
For details of menus, options and prices, call Matthew Bashford-Hayes on 01923 351421 or 0778 620825 or Email: matthew@mjtcatering.co.uk
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020 8201 7567
www.mjtcateringwatford.co.uk
International award-winning photographer, Edwin Marcow, has seen it all – from underwater photography of great white sharks off Africa to close up work with timber wolves in the Canadian wilderness. His clients include Nigella Lawson, Gok Wan and Jerry Hall. His talents are in frequent demand for weddings, fashion magazines and commercial photography. As a Christmas gift to flea readers, Edwin offers some basic tips for getting the best out of your yuletide snaps: First, keep it simple! When you see something you like, don’t shoot lots of pictures. Look for that special moment and take one or two pictures instead. You will always take better pictures when you slow down, shoot less and think more! To capture the best images: ✶ The sharpest point in your frame should always be the eyes – the windows to the soul and where our own eyes naturally focus. ✶ Keep the composition and subject placement simple; this will give you a more elegant result. ✶ Capture the ‘decisive moments’ – these may only last for a split second, so always be ready to capture them. A good example could be your child’s expression when opening a gift under the tree. ✶ Learn by your mistakes! You will learn more from the pictures you get wrong than from the good ones. So always review your pictures and be your own harshest critic. Most important of all, have fun and enjoy! Have a wonderful Christmas Edwin
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Online
networking in an interconnected virtual world
Social media, or virtual networking, is instant group communication without need for true human interaction. Some may question whether the inherent absence of tangible feeling and expression defeats the purpose of our basic nature but arguably, easy access to an online global community is perhaps one of the latest and greatest developments of our time. The opportunities appear endless; businesses can expand their market horizons, information is potentially limitless and the younger generation secure friendships with like-minded people. Indeed, it’s a positive change that poses many obvious benefits to our fastpaced way of life. But there are drawbacks! Online deception is perhaps the most worrying problem, especially given the seemingly popular use of social media amongst vulnerable teenagers who may naïvely agree to meet strangers in person. The film Catfish and its spin-off TV documentary Catfish: The TV Show, expose the deceit behind prolonged online relationships and stress that extra care needed when networking. There are less extreme hitches that sit on a more fundamental problem; the internet may connect similar people together but does so by reinforcing the development of rivalling cultures, like the ‘cool kids’ versus ‘the geeks’ – ridiculous but true nonetheless. A bucket load of misconceptions are wrapped in the thread of our western philosophy, fuelled by conglomerate advertisers that manipulate our aspirations like a kind of hypnotism. We’re not encouraging any rebellious crusade, quite the contrary; enjoy the internet, have fun – but have a healthy respect for your safety and never openly accept something you’re told. Josh Watkins https://twitter.com/TheWatfordFlea
How to
increase your
web traffic Share your expertise! Q: If a local newspaper asked you to write an advice column on a subject of your choice, what would it be? A: Something you are confident you know enough about to interest the average reader. Yet surprisingly few people think they do have anything interesting to share, least of all expertise in the area they know best – their work. Everyone is a mini expert in something and can offer advice to the public based on their experience. A ‘tip of the week’, Q&A session, or a controversial blog are the sort of items that can keep casual browsers – and thus potential customers – focused on your website for more than the 10-second average. It’s all about making your site entertaining, encouraging people to visit because they like the content – as in a newspaper. Your prime purpose is to sell your product or service but sales will only increase if your site holds people’s attention. This is the art of good content marketing – building up genuine, unbiased interest in what your site has to say and then converting that interest into a sale at a later date. Richard Doughty For web content, advice and ideas, please contact Richard Doughty – content marketing, press and media specialist and (former Guardian) journalist. Tel: 07902 188408 Rich1.doughty@gmail.com www.richarddoughty.co.uk Based in Croxley, Hertfordshire www.watford.theflea.co.uk
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Watford flea Gloword competition crossword Sponsored by Gloworm Autocentre. The first five correct entries win a FREE Winter Safety Check for their car at Gloworm Autocentre. All correct entries received will qualify for a keyring. How to enter: Either use the grid from your free flea magazine or download a full size one from www.watford.theflea.co.uk just put “gloword3” in the flea searchbox at top right of any page on the website. You can post your completed Gloword puzzle to Watford flea magazine, Watford Printers Building, 58 Vicarage Road, Watford. WD18 0EW. For other methods of entry see website. Please include a phone number and email address with your entry. Latest entry is midnight, Tuesday 31st December 2013. Winners will be notified as soon as their correct entries are received. The prizes will be available to entrants at the Gloworm Autocentre anytime up to midday on Friday 31st January 2014. General rules for all flea competitions apply – see www.fleawin.com
Across 1 Blowpipe for tired engine? (7,6) 6 Jackets for nerds (7) 9 Famous Indonesian island (4) 11 Name for royal birds’ home? (6) 13 Slow down with these (6) 14 Newton’s inspiration (5) 16 Dieters cut down on these mixers (5) 17 Backward vehicle maker creates a trend (3) 18 Criminal deception (3)
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21 Addicts’ recovery service? (2) 22 Mechanic’s essentials (7) 23 Negative doctor? (2) 25 Directional controller (8,5) Down 1 Car’s main energy converter (6) 2 Runs for ash pots (4) 3 These stick to the road (5) 4 Frame for carrying (4) 5 Dancing car marque? (6)
7 8 9 10 12 14 15 19 20 24
Top royal axle swivel (7) Asian bovid (3) Bland and vapid (5) Greek island dweller (7) American viscosity measure (3) Get into electric waste pit? (6) Impudence on a measure? (6) Uplift by convection (4) Opinion (4) Essential for 1 down (3)
www.glowormautocentre.co.uk
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Watford Flea Issue 3 No 6_Flea 22 09/12/2013 18:31 Page 15
Accountant AKS Accounting Services Ltd 01727 827 222
Cleaning Services Divine Services Ltd 01923 238269
Pet Sitting Different Strokes Pet Sitting 07506 429 631
achensunnassee@hotmail.com
www.divineservicesuk.co.uk
www.differentstrokespetsitting.co.uk
Alterations and Repairs Jenny Young 01923 443740
Coaching, Hypnotherapy Tania Clarke 07717 410910
Photography Studiou 07956 898 800
jen.wren31@gmail.com
www.taniaclarke.co.uk
www.studiou.co.uk
Anxiety Management Jane Bird Autogenic Therapist 01923 675501
Design & Project Management LN Projects Limited 07956 828590
Plumbing & Heating Services Taylor Made Services Ltd 07973 542618, 01923 270998
www.autogenic-therapist.co.uk
www.imaginativeprojectmanagement.com
dontaylormade@gmail.com
Book Keeping & Admin ArborVS 01923 537970
Electrical Appliance Testing Day & Night Pat Testing 07804 865894
Printing Watford Printers Ltd 01923 223885
www.arborvs.co.uk
www.daynightpat-testing.co.uk
www.watford-printers.co.uk
Building Surveyor Montotte Property Services 07958 945056
Electrician Brett Electrical Services Ltd 01923 270071
Property Services Inside Out 01923 662183
www.montotte.co.uk
www.brett-electrical.co.uk
www.insideoutherts.co.uk
Business Marketing Go! Publicity.Me 07804 038570
Golf Clubs Phil Gomme 0773 405 2392
Signs & Vehicle Lettering Signwise 01923 250 850
charlie@gopublicity.me
www.perfectfitgolf.co.uk
www.signwise.info
Business Networking The Weekly Business 07836 517127
Hypnotherapist Cynthia Marsh, DCH 0777 051 5377
Solicitor – Employment Law Moore Solicitors 01923 238427
www.theweeklybusiness.co.uk
www.cmhypnotherapy.co.uk
www.mooresolicitors.co.uk
Cakes for Occasions Cakes by Dimples 07763 570508
IT Support & Repair Nixuss Computer Repair Centre 01923 350255
Tyres, Brakes & Exhausts Gloworm Autocentre 01923 240599
www.cakesbydimples.com
www.nixuss.co.uk
www.glowormautocentre.co.uk
Catering – any occasion MJT Catering 01923 351421
Keyholding & Security Watford Keyholding 01923 801476
Wedding Dresses Dream Dresses of Watford 07818 004070
www.mjtcateringwatford.co.uk
www.watfordkeyholding.com
www.weddingdresseswatford.co.uk
Chartered Accountants Derek Skinner FCA 01923 777338
Optician WildEyes Vision Clinic 01923 227858
Will Writer Planet Wills 01923 460011
www.skinnerandcompany.co.uk
www.wildeyesvisionclinic.com
www.planetwills.co.uk
watford@theflea.co.uk
Watford Flea Issue 3 No 6_Flea 22 09/12/2013 18:31 Page 16 divineservicesuk@yahoo.co.uk www.divineservicesuk.co.uk Telephone : 01923 238269 Fax : 01923 239749 Mobile : 07875 698324 58 Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0EW
Divine Services (uk) Limited Continuing enhancement of security systems Detailed analysis of security needs Environmental security risk assessment Free initial consultation, assessment and inspection of clients’ premises
CCTV Monitoring Events Security alarms systems Setting and isolating Checking equipment Challenging suspicious persons Locking & Unlocking Professionally trained operatives
Security
Timely emergency responses Secure doorways Property Regulation compliance Incident reporting Internal & external patrols Issuing passes – 24/7 Monitoring Recording visitors’ details Checking Identification
Concierge
Proficient and discreet one-off services Scheduled contracts or Fully trained Professional uniformed cleaners
Cleaning
Cleaning Concierge Security
Services Divine
Divine Services
Security Concierge Cleaning
Security
Concierge
Cleaning
Professionally trained operatives Locking & Unlocking Challenging suspicious persons Checking equipment Setting and isolating alarms systems Events Security CCTV Monitoring
Checking Identification Recording visitors’ details Issuing passes – 24/7 Monitoring Internal & external patrols Incident reporting Property Regulation compliance Secure doorways Timely emergency responses
Professional uniformed cleaners Fully trained Scheduled contracts or one-off services Proficient and discreet
Free initial consultation, assessment and inspection of clients’ premises Environmental security risk assessment Detailed analysis of security needs Continuing enhancement of security systems
Divine Services (uk) Limited 58 Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0EW Telephone : 01923 238269 Fax : 01923 239749 Mobile : 07875 698324 divineservicesuk@yahoo.co.uk www.divineservicesuk.co.uk