Eye Magazines - September 2021 - Mortimer, Burghfield, Theale and surrounds Edition

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VILLAGE

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We’ve been connecting local people to local businesses for 10 years!

Issue 104 September 2021 reaching 11,500 households

o t k c Ba l o o h Sc ! s b u l C Daniel Craig WIN!

A Cupcake Bouquet A Mini-Break for 2 at DeVere Wokefield Estate A Term of Dance Classes for your child

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EACH MONTH WE DELIVER DOOR TO DOOR TO 11,500 HOMES & BUSINESSES IN:

Burghfield Common | Burghfield Village | Beech Hill | Mortimer | Theale | Spencers Wood | Silchester | Sulhamstead Ufton Nervet | Aldermaston | Padworth | Pamber Heath | Tadley | Baughurst | Three Mile Cross | Bramley

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Daniel

Craig

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Find out more about the man behind one of film’s iconic characters

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FOLLOW US TODAY & STAY UPDATED LOCALLY

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What’s inside

Hello September!

4. Community News Who do you know in our Community News round-up?

We’ve been finding out all the news to make sure we keep you up-to-date!

Welcome to the September issue of Eye magazine! You’ll find a real mix of themes within the pages as we try to squeeze out the last drops of the summer, but at the same time, bringing you some ‘Back to School’ advice and news. There’s lots to enjoy!

6-7. The Oaks is Branching Out! If you’re looking for breakfast clubs, after-school clubs or preschool, see what The Oaks has to offer.

14. Eye on Celebrity Bond, James Bond…and so much more! Read all about Daniel Craig and the man behind the characters he plays.

16. Mouth-watering Mexican Delights!

If you’re looking for an easyto-make dinner for the family which is just bursting with flavour and a real crowd pleaser, look no further!

20. Eye on Style September is a great time for refreshing the look of your home. Take a look at Holly’s top styling tips this month.

22-23. On The Move Are you planning a home move in 2021? Perhaps your dream home is right here. Take a look at what’s on offer…

24-32 Pink Pages Find your local trusted trades within our Pink Pages. If you’re an electrician, a roofer, a windows installer or providing any other trade to our local community, get listed! Give our friendly team a call on 0118 933 33 11.

36. How do you Find your Way? Google vs Waze…which is your go-to and what are the pros and cons?

41. At the Flicks Our regular Movies and TV columnist, Rob Barnes, brings us his thoughts on three new releases this month: Old, Jungle Cruise and Suicide Squad. If you’re planning a trip to the cinema, read this first!

42. The Runner’s Dilemma This month, Steve Shreeve gives us some tips on avoiding common running injuries by introducing some strength training. Read on for his recommendations!

Eye Magazines is brought to you by Pinktomato Ltd, a local, independent creative design and marketing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Village Eye. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers.

All dates, times, URLs and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. Registered Address: Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, RG7 2AG

keep it local!

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If you have little ones and are planning a return to the office, take a look at the pre-school, breakfast and after-school clubs on offer from this month’s cover sponsor, The Oaks. They are ‘branching out’ following the pandemic and you can find out about everything they offer on pages 6 and 7.

It’s a fantastic month for competitions. We have no less than three competitions for you to enter this month. Our first competition gives you the chance to win a ‘cupcake bouquet’ from The Mortimer Cake Co. We defy you to read page 9 without licking your lips! The cakes look delicious and - from personal experience taste great too!

Our second fabulous competition gives you the

Gold Member

opportunity to win a romantic autumn break for two people at the delightful Wokefield Estate. If you turn to page 10 you can read all about it and find out how to enter. The building and the grounds make Wokefield Estate a beautiful place to spend your leisure time, so do check it out.

Our final competition will be right up your street if you have a child who loves to dance.

All Stars Theatre Academy is offering a full term of dance classes absolutely free to one lucky winner. From ballet to tap and everything in between, your child is going to absolutely love being part of this wonderful dance academy.

Turn to page 10 for all the details.

We’d like to extend a big thank you to our readers, our advertisers and our contributors. Please mention Eye magazines when contacting our advertisers. See you in October!

Hellen & the Team x

Editor: Hellen Shaw Sub Editor: Jackie Stuart Advertising: Lindsey Barker Social/Design: Holly Chrisp PINKTOMATO Beauty: Amelia Baird Motoring: Adam Tudor-Lane

Film Buff: Gardening: Finance: Travel: Wellbeing: Fitness:

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news - please call the team 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk

Rob Barnes Jordan Curtis Mark Penston Michelle Goulding Karen Hartshorn Steve Shreeve

3

F

ECO WARRIORS

ollowing the recent IPCC Climate Change Report telling us that it is ‘Code Red’ for humanity, many of us have been looking at how we live and trying to become more aware of our impact on the environment. Others have been working hard on making these changes for quite some time already. Among them are the Eco Warriors at The Mortimer Federation of St John’s and St Mary’s.

They are continuing their brilliant work on making their schools as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. During Eco-week last term, each child made 3 personal eco-pledges as well as a super-sized class pledge.

This has enabled them to apply for Blue Peter Green badges!

To help reduce plastic consumption St John’s has also

switched from having their milk delivered in plastic bottles to glass bottles. The children are encouraging other local schools to do the same by writing letters to them. If your school is making the change, please let the team here at Eye Magazines know, we’d love to give your school a shout-out too!

The children have also written letters to Boris Johnson, Mortimer Parish Council and other West Berkshire schools to encourage them to recycle, re-use and care more for the environment.

As well as this, the infant school pupils created designs for a living roof and this has been installed on the roof of their friendship bench. They have also planted up some living walls to increase biodiversity and the two projects have already attracted lots of butterflies and beetles.

At St Mary’s the children and staff worked hard to achieve the Silver Eco School Award and this year they aim to achieve the coveted Green Flag status. They hope to install a Ridan composting system and prepare a composting area. They are currently fundraising for this with second-hand uniform sales and pen recycling.

Pen recycling earns money for the schools via Terracycle and this funding can be used for eco projects. If you have any biros or felt-tip pens that have run out, please don’t throw them away – put them in the blue hippo bin outside the main gates of St John’s.

SUMMER IN SILCHESTER

WHO WILL YOU NOMINATE?

Who do you know in your local community who goes ‘over and above’ to help their local community?

Any group of three or more people doing volunteering work can be nominated for the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). To be eligible to be nominated the group should do work that provides a service that meets a need of people living in the local community, is supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it. All nominations can be completed online via the QAVS website: https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/ And while you’re at it, drop our team at Eye Magazines a note about the group too. We love to hear about our local community volunteers and will try to support their work as much as possible in the magazine.

Nominations for the 2022 Awards need to be submitted by midnight on Wednesday 15 September so get nominating!

4

Church fetes are one of the hallmarks of English village life and Silchester’s Fete and Dog Show is a prime example, with so many people from all over the village involved in it - both church goers and non church goers.

It is a real community event. Its strength reflects the strength of the community and the combined efforts of hundreds of hours of work put in by so many people.

This year, Silchester Village Market is officially joining the fun and so the event this year is now “Silchester Fete, Dog Show and Village Market” and will run from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday September 4th. The village market has over 30 confirmed stalls attending the day of the Fete which will be brimming with locally produced items, fresh produce, crafts, plants

and flowers.

The wonderful stallholders have provided an ever growing selection of great raffle prizes.

Sustainable Silchester is a new group in the village and is planning to have a big launch event at the village fete.

They will have advice on recycling, composting and community energy projects as well as a stall selling eco-friendly products.

Silchester’s local pub, The Calleva Arms, will be providing ales, lager and cider to quench your thirst while the talented Tadley Concert Brass will be at the Fete to provide the soundtrack to your fun family day out!

This year’s ever-popular Dog Show, sponsored by GP Vets, will take place at 12 noon and is just £2 per class.

See you there!

eye

PLEDGE

Community News

TO CHECK

C

heck your prostate health with the Reading Lions Club at its Free Prostate PSA test event on 18th September.

All local men aged between 50 and 75 years of age are invited to the Rutherford Cancer Centre, Thames Valley to learn more about prostate cancer and take a free PSA blood test.

Local resident, Andrea Hall has been involved with this campaign since it began back in 2013 and, for her, it’s as personal as it could be. Her dad was refused a PSA test by his GP. He was over 70 and told that his urinary problems were to be expected.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and more than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – that’s 129 men every day. 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Andrea invited him to take a PSA test at her event. His was the first life they saved. There have been many since.

The cancer was aggressive and he died in 2018 but the family enjoyed another 5 years with him.

The aim of this event is to make the local community aware of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and to offer free PSA blood screening tests, as early detection and treatment can vastly increase

the chances of survival. In 2019 free PSA tests were given to 1,600 men in the region.

The event will run all day on 18th September (8am-6pm), and there are half hour time slots available to choose from. Please book your appointment online at

www.therutherford.com/readinglions-free-prostate-psa-testevent-2021

An Afternoon of Jazz!

Save the Children Kennet Branch invite you to ‘September Songtime’ on Sunday September 5th with Clive Fortune Big Band and interval support from singer songwriter Liza Marsall and storyteller Joe Driver. They are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the beautiful setting of Little Manor, Burghfield Village, RG30 3TG for a late summer celebration of music, entertainment and food. Tickets are £12.50 or just £10 in advance and, as always, accompanied under 16s free. This will be a lunchtime event with doors opening at 12 noon. A hog roast and bar will be available or take a picnic. 2020 was a difficult year for fundraising so we hope you can join them.

For tickets please call 0118 9832569 or text 07971241222.

8 GIFTS FOR 8 YEARS! Local charity Bucket List Wishes recently marked their 8th Birthday by delivering 8 boxes of delicious treats to our local Community First Responders to say thank you for their life-saving work within our community. Bucket List Wishes was established in 2013 by Gini Hackett after losing her own mother to cancer. The charity grants wishes to terminally ill adults and makes memories for their family to cherish forever.

The treats were baked and wrapped by the Gourmet Queens who run their cafe in Pamber Heath, have a catering van which attends numerous local events and will soon be setting up residence at The Six Bells, Burghfield.

The Community First Responders posted on their Facebook page that they “would like to send a huge thanks to the local Burghfield & Mortimer Charity - Bucket List Wishes and to The Gourmet Queens for the delightful surprise of supper & dessert for all of us. We are really humbled (and fuller).

Thank you so much for supporting us.”

To find out more about Bucket List Wishes, just visit bucketlistwishes.org.uk

DON’T MISS OUT! FOLLOW US NOW

5

k c a B l o o h c S o t ! s b u Cl The Oaks started as one club run by parents in Mortimer St John’s School, nearly 20 years ago. Since then, we have grown to a group of 8 breakfast and after school clubs in Mortimer, Burghfield and Silchester, with our first preschool opening in September.

Every day during term-time a team of highly experienced staff set up activities, games and crafts to help children have fun, relax and play together at the start and the end of the day, with a healthy breakfast or snack along the way. Our staff are trained in ‘child-led play’, a method which develops children’s confidence and imagination as well as their friendships.

The children get to choose whether to play inside or outside in almost any weather! Children have a say in how the clubs are run and, as a Community Interest Company (CIC), so do our staff, parents, schools and wider community. We became a CIC in 2015, which has protected our not-for-profit status and our commitment to serving and supporting the local community.

We have the most wonderful team of staff who love seeing your children having fun. (Do get in touch with us if you enjoy working with children, as part of a team.) It won’t be long now before you start to see us in our purple uniforms again - we are all looking forward to getting back to school.

/

/ TheOaksChildcare

TERM TIME PRESCHOOL Mini Oaks, Burghfield For children aged 2 - 4. Spaces Available!

Our new preschool, based at The Parish Centre, Burghfield St Mary’s Church, opens on 2nd September 2021. We offer excellent play and learning in a safe and caring environment for 2-4 year old children.

Mini Oaks will be run by a highly qualified and caring team, experienced in child-led play and Early Years Education. Your child will enjoy Forest School sessions, learning to grow fruit and vegetables at our local allotment

OPENING SEPTEMBER 2021

and many other indoor and outdoor activities while they are with us. Morning, afternoon or full-day sessions are available between 8.30am and 4.00pm each weekday during term-time. We accept childcare vouchers, offer funded places in line with government schemes, and sibling and full-time discounts are available. Lily and the team can’t wait to welcome your child to preschool.

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS The Oaks runs breakfast and after school clubs offering child-led play at four schools in West Berkshire and Hampshire. Breakfast clubs open at 7.30am and after school clubs close at 6.00pm (or 6.30pm for Big Oaks at Mortimer St Mary’s). We provide a healthy snack, plenty of indoor and outdoor play, and lots of fun.

Mortimer St John’s

Early Little Oaks & Little Oaks

Mortimer St Mary’s Early Big Oaks & Big Oaks

Burghfield St Mary’s

Early Burghfield Oaks & Burghfield Oaks

Silchester CofE

Early Silchester Oaks & Silchester Oaks All clubs are registered with Ofsted and on the Early Years Register.

Our latest Ofsted inspection at Little Oaks rated us Outstanding and reports of all of our inspections are available online.

SPACES AVAILABLE For more information please visit our website or call 0118 933 2960 10am-2pm weekdays. office@theoakschildcare.co.uk

www.theoakschildcare.co.uk

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@villageeye.co.uk

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@villageeyemag

SELF LOVE CLUB Step One What’s more relaxing than a hot steamy bath or shower?

To start our self care evening off right, shower up and use those lush bath bombs that you still haven’t used from Christmas!

Step Three Ditch the baggy tee for tonight and get yourself into you comfiest jammies ready for your chill evening.

Step Two Give your skin some lovin’ and pampering.

Treat yourself to a soothing face mask, use that special serum you’ve been saving for an extra glow.

You won’t regret and it’ll make you feel amazing.

Step Five Time to crack out the nail varnish and give yourself a fun new colour, or muted colour, depending on your preferences.

Maybe even get artsy and paint some funky patterns on your nails!

Step Four Candles and incense sticks are everything and make your house smell lovely, Put your favourite candle on and allow the scent to fill your home with positive vibes.

Step Six Finally... It’s time to get on the couch or even into bed with a good movie or book. If you’re wanting to push the boat out further you could even go down to the shop and get yourself some of your favourite snacks.

Enjoy!

Bug’s Beauty 8

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eye Win!

Win a Cupcake Bouquet

or celebration cake!

W

hat do you get if you take two local ladies who have an obvious talent for baking, sprinkle on some entrepreneurial spirit and then mix it up a little..? The answer: Delicious wowfactor show-stopping incredible cakes!

Since starting up their Mortimer-based kitchen during lockdown, Gayle Wilson and Caroline Brandwood have been crafting truly scrumptioustasting, bespoke homemade cakes for all occasions, all beautifully decorated by hand. From stunning cupcake bouquets to tiered occasion masterpieces and novelty children’s cakes, if it can be made into a cake, chances are, they can do it!

of flavoured sponges, each encasing sublimely irresistible fillings! Yum. All their cakes are made from fresh, responsibly sourced high quality ingredients and are made to order.

If you have a special occasion coming up, contact them today on 07887 608958.

After a short consultation to discuss the kind of thing you are looking for, the ladies will then design your cake to your specification. All you need to do is choose from a delicious range

Search Mortimer Cake Company

Enter Now to win!

Courtesy of Mortimer Cake Co, we have secured a made-to-order Cupcake Bouquet or Celebration Cake (to the value of £100) to give away to one lucky reader this month.

Enter our competition now and this prize could be yours!

To enter, either open your camera and hover over the QR code here or visit eyemagazines.co.uk and answer the following question: Q: Mortimer Cake Company is run by Gayle & ? a: Catherine b: Carla c: Caroline

Closing date for entries is midnight Thursday 30th September.

Full prize terms and conditions available at www.eyemagazines.co.uk

To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk Follow us to keep updated, locally

9

Win A Romantic Autumn Break for two people!

at De Vere Wokefield Estate!

We are giving away an overnight stay with breakfast in the Mansion House with dinner in Restaurant 1560 for 2 people!

To enter, either ooint your camera at the QR code or visit www.eyemagazines.co.uk click on the competition tab and answer the following question: What is the name of Wokefield Estate’s restaurant?

Set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland, Wokefield Estate is a truly stunning mansion house hotel originally built in the 1560s. Of course, there have been many renovations over the years, including a £20 million restoration just recently, but you can still feel and see the history all around.

Complete with a 6,996-yard, par 72 championship course, bars and various dining options, Wokefield Estate provides the perfect place to escape to for a mini break without the travel time !

Closing date for entries is midnight Thursday 30th September.

Full prize terms and conditions available at www.eyemagazines.co.uk

Win!

WIN A TERM OF DANCE CLASSES FOR YOUR CHILD! To celebrate the opening of their new Spencer’s Wood Class on Thursday’s at 4 this September, All Stars are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a term of dance classes for their child. To be in with a chance of winning, head over to eyemagazines.co.uk or scan the QR code here and answer the following question:

Magical dance classes for energetic 2yr olds & over Classes run 6 days a week across the following areas:

Lower Earley Mortimer Burghfield Silchester

All Stars run classes for how many days a week? a:4 b:5 c: 6

Bookings now open for new classes in Sept for:

Closing date for entries is midnight Thursday 30th September. Full prize terms and conditions available at www.eyemagazines.co.uk

Free Trial Class!

A place where dreams come true and imagination is everything!

Spencers Wood Shinfield For times and days for each location, please visit our website, facebook or insta.

To book your free trial class, visit:

www.allstardance.co.uk/registration To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email info@villageeye.co.uk

facebook.com/eyemagazines

/AllStarsTheatreAcademy /allstars_theatreacademy

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What can we

?

order you in for

PRELOVED VEHICLES SOURCED TO ORDER

Whether you already know what you’re looking for or need some guidance, call us for a chat about your requirements and we’ll do our best to help:

0118 933 2338

sales@spratleys.co.uk

Service | MOT | Repairs | Car Sales www.spratleys.co.uk

60/62 Victoria Road | Mortimer | RG7 3SG

Time to

Guide to Autumn Bulb Planting If you have not planted bulbs before do not be daunted. Just follow our straightforward tips.

WHERE TO PLANT Most hardy bulbs, including tulips and daffodils, prefer a warm, sunny site with good drainage as they come from areas with dry summer climates.

HOW TO PLANT In borders - aim to plant in groups of at least six to make a great display.

Typically, 25-50 bulbs may be needed to make an impressive show.

If you want a beautiful spring garden in 2022, it’s time to plant your favourite bulbs...

Nature’s natural planting time!

Whilst it might not be obvious, autumn is nature’s natural planting time. The soil is warm after the summer and this helps plants and bulbs establish excellent root systems for stronger growth.

There is nothing more uplifting than the sight of colourful spring flowers emerging following the dark winter months. This is easy to achieve by planting bulbs between September and November (before the first frosts) to ensure a vibrant display of colour in the garden throughout spring and into summer.

• Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs. Plant most bulbs at two to three times their depth.

• Place the bulbs with their ‘nose’ or shoot facing upwards. Space them at least twice the bulb’s own width apart.

• Replace the soil and gently firm with the back of a rake.

IN CONTAINERS

Most bulbs are ideal for growing in containers, but this especially suits those with large showy flowers such as tulips, arum lilies and alliums.

• Fill a third of your container with Taylors Peat Fre e Bulb Fibre.

• Plant bulbs at three times their depth and one bulb width apart.

• Water bulbs once after planting then regularly when in active growth. Reduce watering when the leaves die down but check in winter to make sure pots don’t dry out.

• To promote good flowering next year, feed the bulbs every seven to ten days with a highpotassium fertiliser such as a liquid tomato feed. Begin feeding as soon as shoots appear and stop feeding once the foliage starts to die down.

BULB BONANZA

Come along and see our extensive bulb collection instore – everything from daffodils and tulips to hyacinths and alliums. New for 2021 you can fill a box of either daffodil or tulip bulbs – selecting the varieties that you wish to try. Also available are easy to carry packs as well as value nets for those wanting to make a real splash of colour in their garden.

We also have everything you need for successful planting from peat free bulb fibre, kneeling mats, containers and bulb planter tools and trowels.

HAVE A GO AT LASAGNE PLANTING!

For a real splash of long lasting colour next spring why not try lasagne planting. This involves planting layers of bulbs in pots, just like making lasagne.

By planting different types of bulbs at their correct depths you will end up with a pot brimming with wave after wave of flowers, providing you with colour right through spring. You could also plant some bedding on top to give some instant colour.

01189 712123 Rosebourne, Basingstoke Road, Aldermaston, RG7 4LD info.aldermaston@rosebourne.co.uk www.rosebourne.co.uk

STORE OPENING TIMES Monday: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm.

Tuesday to Saturday: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm.

Sunday: 10.00 am – 4.30 pm.

(10.00 am – 10.30 am browse time)

Help is always on hand from our knowledgeable team. We hope to see you soon!

Celebrity

Daniel

Craig 14

THE NAME’S BOND… BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER. AS HE BIDS FAREWELL TO EVERY ACTOR’S DREAM ROLE, WE LOOK AT THE LEGACY DANIEL CRAIG’S JAMES BOND HAS LEFT BEHIND. To equate his Bond experiment to the process of the average gym goer, Daniel Craig is showered, moisturised, halfway towards being dressed and grateful for the occasional glimpse in the changing room mirror… one which flashes back reflections that his 007 persona might casually approve of with a muttered, “good job”.

Speculation that the actor was saying his farewell to James Bond has been circling for some years, but now, unequivocally, he is done.

And as the furore builds towards the deafening crescendo that is the somewhat bland and clumsily named No Time To Die, the 53-yearold emerges with a few things – a life-defining imprint on the CV, a multimillion-pound war chest, and the knowledge that he has influenced a generation of cinema goers in refining the definition of the modern-day hero… a warrior, a sleuth, but more and more now someone inspired by health, fitness, vitality and self-improvement.

“I’ve always thought the image of a good actor is someone who leaves the big gestures and sweeping statements for when the cameras are rolling,” he begins. “That should really be the beginning and the end of what we expect of our actors.

“I don’t want to be the type who puts himself on a pedestal away from that. What right do I have to comment at length on politics or society or the environment? And why should anyone take any notice of me anyway? I’m an actor!”

Back on screen, it has been interesting to see how far removed the modern version of Bond is compared to his immediate predecessors Brosnan and Dalton. And while Connery and Moore never strayed into dadbod mode, they represented an era where Bond smoked, drank and copulated his way through problems.

At the heart of what defines Bond is, according to Daniel Craig, a good yarn, purely and simply. “Just stick to the old adage that a good story goes a long way… and blow stuff up every few minutes,” he laughs heartily. “That’s how it’s done.”

Yet what makes the man himself is something rather more complex. It begins with 007’s fear and loathing, yet ends in physical prowess that is so reflective of our wider changed attitudes towards health and fitness.

“Health, wellbeing… call it what you want – it’s not something influenced by age or access or even the amount of spare time you have in your schedule, because an hour a day should be more than enough.

Mostly it’s about state of mind. You either want this thing or you don’t.

“I equate it in much the same as I do when auditioning for a role,” he says, before pausing and adding with a sultry smirk, “back in the days when I had to”, and laughing.

“If you want it too little – a great body, a great film role, a beautiful

girl – you won’t get it. The same thing will happen if you want something too much - you’ll go too far the other way, burn out, overdo it, get injured.

The secret is ensuring you do enough without going overboard, and that takes a little while to work out.”

Daniel Craig, the UK’s highest paid actor, has impressed at every turn.

It’s a long way from his breakthrough television performance in the critically-acclaimed BBC series Our Friends in the North. Compelling performances as Ted Hughes in Sylvia, a stalking victim in Enduring Love and work with future Bond director, Sam Mendes, as Paul Newman’s embittered son in Road to Perdition, increased his stock further.

The husband of actress Rachel Weisz has certainly perfected the art of keeping it all in check.

“Bond has always been a combination of so many things,” he says.

“He has managed to combine brute warfare with effervescent charm. It’s fair to say I have thoroughly enjoyed it… I only wish I could be more like him in real life!”

15

MEXICAN-STYLE MEXICAN-STYLE LOADED SWEET LOADED SWEET POTATOES POTATOES Flavoursome, nutritious and oh so simple, these filling sweet potatoes bring all the joy of your favourite nacho platter, with none of the guilt.

METHOD Step One Preheat the oven to 200 degrees (180 in a fan-assisted oven), prick your potatoes with a knife and rub with oil before placing directly onto the oven shelf to bake for 50 minutes.

Step Two Heat a large frying pan to a medium heat with a drizzle of vegetable oil. Add the garlic and smoked paprika and fry till fragrant (one minute) before adding half of the red onion. Once the onion has softened add the black beans and cook for around ten minutes on a low heat until the beans start breaking up.

Step Three Meanwhile, remove the avocado flesh from the skin and gently mash before adding the remainder of the red onion, the chopped chilli and the juice from the lime.

Step Four Slice open your sweet potatoes and spoon in your black bean mixture before topping with your guacamole, sour cream and grated cheese. Garnish with coriander and serve while hot.

Recipes

INGREDIENTS (serves four) 4 large sweet potatoes 1 red onion (diced) 2 cloves of garlic (minced) 1 red chilli (deseeded and chopped) 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tin of black beans (rinsed) 2 avocados 1 lime Grated cheese Sour cream Coriander to garnish

TOP TIPS

sty

ed cheese for a ta

eam and grat •Omit the sour cr vegan supper.

microwave before t potatoes in the •Steam the swee tion. for a speedier op crisping in the oven ans for a more ef to the black be •Add minced be substantial meal.

SPICE LOUNGE TAKEAWAY AND CONTACT-FREE DELIVERY Monday: 17:00 - 22:00

Tuesday:

17:00 - 22:00

Wednesday:

Friday:

17:00 - 22:00

Saturday: 17:00 - 22:00

Sunday:

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17:00 - 22:00

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Book online or give us a call:

Thursday:

spicelounge-theale.co.uk

0118 930 6248 0118 930 6798 20 High St, Theale, Reading, RG7 5AN

Burghfield Dental Care

Missing Something?

Dental Implants

at affordable prices Free assessments are available, just ask.

Also available:

Teeth Whitening Teeth Straightening Facial Rejuvenation 0118 983 3563 www.burghfielddental.co.uk

Burghfield Dental Care Teeth Whitening | Veneers | Crowns | Bridges | Dentures Botox | Fillers | lmplants | Invisible Orthodontic Braces

Tarragon Way, Burghfield Common Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YU

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AVAILABLE NOW Physiotherapy practice

BACK OR NECK PAIN? SPORTS INJURIES? MUSCLE/TENDON STRAIN?

Alcohol isn’t exactly considered a healthy lifestyle choice. More often than not, it’s associated with empty calories and bad decisions. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few benefits to drinking in moderation. In fact, gin is a spirit with a wealth of potential benefits to offer. So read on and discover five ways in which gin might actually be a good drink for you!

Fight Off Illness

Juniper berries are an incredibly healthy fruit that carry a multitude of medicinal benefits. These super berries are also — you guessed it — the main ingredient in gin. Used for centuries as an topical antiseptic, juniper berries can also help fight off coughs and lung congestion. The oils contained in juniper berries agitate bronchial passages and expel mucus.

Calm your Joint Woes

Try a bit of gin if your joints are aching or if you suffer from arthritis. According to online sources, gin’s makeup allegedly helps to relieve the pain caused by achy joints, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, some arthritis sufferers even use gin-soaked raisins to reduce joint inflammation.

Keep Your Skin Young

You’ve heard of red wine’s anti-aging benefits, but did you know that gin offers a comparable effect?

This drink, once again thanks to its natural ingredients, is packed with antioxidants that work to keep your skin fresh, dewy, and youthful. Have a gin martini and you may be aiding in encouraging cellular restoration and overall skin restoration. Note: While juniper berries do have a lot of antioxidant properties, regular gin is relatively devoid of antioxidants, so you need barrel-aged gin to get any antioxidants (the lengthy aging process in wooden barrels produces polyphenols and furans that are leeched out from the casks).

POST OPERATIVE REHABILITATION? * NHS referrals are accepted from all West Berkshire GPs - just ask!

ONLINE & VIDEO CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE NOW

Tel: 0118 933 3896 Text: 07951 840643

www.mortimerphysio.co.uk info@mortimerphysio.co.uk

ESTABLISHED FOR 20 YEARS, YOUR LOCAL PRIVATE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC.

Need Dentures? we can help!

H A V om va is e ila its bl e

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Paul has over 39 years of experience in providing new dentures and denture repairs.

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Extend Your Life Span

Okay, so heavy drinking won’t exactly lead you to more birthdays but, in moderation, gin may help your blood circulation as you get older, which can prolong life. Juniper berries also contain flavonoids, which have a whole slew of benefits for cardiovascular health: prevention of atherosclerosis and clogged arteries are just some of the amazing things they can aid in preventing.

Manage Your Weight

In addition to potentially warding off obesity and weight gain, gin is a relatively low calorie alcoholic drink. A shot of gin weighs in at 97 calories... We’ll drink to that!

To make an appointment please call:

0118 930 3965

www.abacusdentalstudio.co.uk

Abacus Dental Studio | Ground Floor | 15 High Street | Theale | RG7 5AH

Student

e z o Bo

t e g d u B

How to get your child ‘money-minded’ as they head off to university.

Six tips for helping your young ones adapt to looking after their own finances at university.

Enforce budgeting and planning ahead Work with your child to create a month-by-month budget, preferably on a shared document, that will cover the whole of the academic year. Add all expected income and expenses, remembering to include a significant contingency amount for unexpected events. This will give them an insight into the realities of costs over a period of time that extends well beyond ‘the next pay day’.

Consider necessity over excess A great trick for teaching financial smartness is to ask your son or daughter to decide whether each thing they spend money on is a necessity (such as rent, bills, food, study materials) or an excess (which might include clothes, technology, a surfboard!). That’s not to say they cannot treat themselves to special items from time to time, but knowing the difference and adopting a sensible ratio is a positive step towards money mastery.

Promote paid-for work There is no better connector to the true value of money than when you have to earn it. These days that can be much easier with online employment not necessitating late night or antisocial work that may impact on studies or put youngsters into potentially hazardous situations.

Retaining that need to work reinforces a grip on the true value of money, as well as creating a reward mechanism by which your youngster will feel they can treat themselves.

Be realistic If your university-bound son or daughter has a history of reckless spending and has been coming to you for years ‘cap in hand’, exercise caution with their finances, perhaps by staggering any agreed payments and taking shared responsibility over a bank account.

If, on the other hand, your dependent has a propensity to save rather than spend, you know you can leave them to their own financial devices that much sooner.

Practise what your preach Our children’s spending habits are a direct mirror of our own, so exercise temperance in your own spending, no matter how tempting it might be to throw off the shackles with one less mouth to feed at home!

Be open and honest Financial responsibility only works with honesty and openness, and that can be achieved when the pathway is there for loved ones to turn to you for support.

The much discussed ‘bank of mum and dad’ may be a modern-day cliché, but it’s been visited by the vast majority of us over the years… sometimes frequently!

19

in September

home styling

Hello SEPTEMBER September already? The months are just flying by and we’re asking what styles, trends and crafts you can try for this month. September is a nice time to wind down from summer and start preparing for those autumnal vibes.

What is Wainscoting?

Wainscoting is a great way to add a little something extra to a plain Jane wall whilst also guarding against bumps and scratches. This technique is also an affordable way to add a vintage feel to your home.

The great thing about wainscoting is you can be in control of the compositions and have an artistic play around with aesthetically pleasing lines to add depth to your wall.

Home

with Holly

20

Wainscoting can be dated back to the 1300’s, and was originally used by the Dutch to protect their walls from day to day hazards such as moving furniture and footwear.

As time progressed, this technique went from being a functional necessity to an artistic choice. Solid wood is the traditional material for this; however, other materials have been used just as successfully.

Materials that can be used include plywood, plastic and mediumdensity fibreboard.

This method can be a good DIY project if you are familiar with using a chop saw, but fortunately precut wainscoting can be ordered and delivered to your doorstep just as easily if you don’t want the hassle of chopping.

Vintage card hunting We all love a bit of a collage art project, right? Old vintage cards, stamps, letters and even photographs can all be used to make beautiful artistic creations. To avoid upsetting grandma by using her sentimental mementos in the loft, get yourself down to the charity shops for a vintage hunt. You can often find good quality frames in the charity shops too, which is perfect for using as a basis of your collage creation.

Test tube propagation Do you have lots of little pots and jars floating around your house with plant cuttings? Or are you interested in growing your own plants from cuttings? Investing in your own test tube propagation station is a great way to have your little babies all growing in one place… and is also a fabulous accessory in your home. Test tube are cheap and easy to order online and you can either make your own test tube holder or purchase one.

Happy Growing!

Box Shelves Standard wood shelves are useful, but if you’re looking to change it up with something different, wooden boxes can be styled in many ways to give you a unique shelf. Crates such as the ones pictured can be found very easily online and can be a cheaper way to store your special items. The beauty of this technique is that you can change up the order, stack them however fits best in your home, or even paint/decorate your crates. With a little added greenery, these crates can create a beautiful feature in the home. eyemagazines.co.uk

hello@eyemagazines.co.uk 21

Mortimer Fantastic opportunity This detached 4 bedroom, 3 reception home is situated in a fantastic tucked away location at the end of a no through road. Mature gardens surround the property and there is the potential to extend or indeed create an additional building plot subject to the usual planning permissions. Offered for sale with no onward chain and offering excellent family accommodation.

• • • • • • •

Private location Large gardens Potential building plot 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 3 receptions Double garage EPC Rating D

OIEO £850,000 Mortimer Priced to sell with no onward chain Exceptional three-bedroom top floor apartment within a converted country residence. This light and airy property benefits from high ceilings, 3 spacious double bedrooms offering fantastic scope for the ideal home/work space (900 MBPS Fibre broadband available), working fire place, two private parking spaces, generous balcony with views over the stunning communal grounds (circa 4 acres) and surrounding countryside.

• • • • • • •

3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Open plan living/dining Fitted kitchen Parking and storage shed No onward chain EPC rating E

OIEO £392,000 Contact our Mortimer office: Phone: 0118 467 7999 Email: mortimer@davidcliff.com Visit: davidcliff.com A selected member of The Guild of Property Professionals

Offices also at Wokingham, Binfield and Park Lane, London

what’s

property of the month

new Mortimer

Westbuild 4 bedroom home with office/flexi room

Situated on one of the most desirable private roads in the village is this beautiful detached family home, constructed circa 12 years ago. The quality and presentation is fantastic and the flexible accommodation is set over 3 floors.

• • • • • • •

Superb village location 2 separate receptions Fitted kitchen/breakfast room Utility and cloakroom Private southerly gardens Additional leased garden available EPC rating C

Mortimer Chalet style detached bungalow

Mortimer Experience village life

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Mortimer Exclusive edge of village location

£695,000 • Corner plot gardens • 4 double bedrooms • 2 bathrooms

• kitchen/dining room • conservatory + study • EPC Rating B

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Pink Pages: Trades & Services

James W Fisher Property Maintenance

PAINTING & DECORATING All interior and exterior decorating, carpentry and small building work.

25 years experience.

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Short & long term secure storage for home or business Open 7 days a week 8am – 8pm Easy access, all on one level Security alarms, CCTV cameras and 24 hr surveillance 0118 988 0788 e: tadley@barn-store.co.uk

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MTJ Plastering

Village 105x148.indd 1

30/11/2020 08:02

We’ll get rid of unsightly ceilings & walls

Before

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With more than 18 years of experience in plastering, you can expect the highest standards and an excellent finish every time.

After To request a free quote, or to discuss your requirements, contact us today. We'll be happy to help.

11 New Street | Strafield Saye | RG7 2EN

www.mtjplastering.co.uk info@mtjplastering.co.uk

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CRAWLING PESTS RODENTS Bed Bug Control Mice Control Flea Treatment Rat Control Cockroach Control Squirrel Control Ant Treatment Spider Control OUR SERVICES Silverfish Treatment Woodworm Treatment COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

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Please mention Eye Magazine when responding to adverts.

Pink Pages: Trades & Services Contact Toby on 07737 784 244

for a free quotation or email: info@bluebanana.tv

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Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors Serving Tadley and surrounding areas Class IV Testing Station

Servicing • Repairs • 4 Wheel Alignment 4 Better Fuel • Tyres• Safety

Operating Throughout Lockdown FREE Collection & Delivery All Makes & Models

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Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors are here to support and guide you.

We offer a friendly, professional service to families.

Tadley

0118 391 3575 5 Old Forge, Heath End Road, Baughurst, RG26 5LX

Call us for immediate support, advice or to arrange a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day.

Geoff Church, Business Principal & Funeral Director

• 24-hour service • Bereavement advice • Transparent pricing • Private chapel of rest • Floral tributes • Memorial masonry • Home visits • Prepaid funeral plans

www.milesfunerals.com Funeral homes also in Winnersh, Reading, Twyford, Binfield, Crowthorne & Maidenhead.

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UPVC & Aluminium: Windows - Doors Conservatories - Fascias - Soffits & Guttering For a friendly, no obligation chat about your windows, please call:

0118 930 5757

Windows & Doors www.tailormadewindows.co.uk Windows & Doors

Registered in England: Tailormade Windows & Doors of Berkshire Ltd. Unit 2 James Lane, Burghfield, RG7 1NB

Windows & Doors - Berkshire

Please mention Eye Magazine when responding to adverts.

“Lafford & Leavey, experts in bringing the outside - inside”

Windows - Doors -Conservatories UPVC or Timber

One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in Berkshire, offering free quotations and advice from a company with a formidable reputation spanning 50 years. Choose from a wide range of products in a style and finish which will suit your budget and needs, we are only a phone call away.

LAFFORD & LEAVEY LTD ARROWHEAD ROAD, THEALE, READING, RG7 4AZ Tel: Reading (0118) 9303333 Fax: (0118) 9323707 Email: lafford.leavey@btconnect.com

TADLEY HEATING SERVICES

B

adly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot see it, taste it or smell it. By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. After a long year in the grip of COVID, make sure you’re keeping on top of your gas safety checks!

We got in touch with a local Gas Safe registered engineer, Phil Capel of Tadley Heating Services, to ask him for his advice on how to keep your gas appliances safe. Here’s Phil’s top tips for staying Gas Safe: Check your gas appliances every year. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants – make sure your landlord arranges this. You can even set a reminder so you don’t forget at StayGasSafe.co.uk.

Check for warning signs that could indicate your (or others) appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow /orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out and too much condensation in the room.

Know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm and make sure your friends and relatives have one too. Check they are marked EN50291 and display the British Standards’ Kitemark.

Help your loved ones by ensuring that they have their appliances checked and serviced regularly.

Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. You can find or check an engineer at GasSafeRegister. co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

Check your engineer is qualified for the type of gas work you need doing e.g. natural gas, domestic boiler. You can find this information on the back of their Gas Safe ID card and on the Gas Safe Register.

Tadley Heating Services cover a wide range of gas services, from new domestic boiler supply and installations to boiler and central heating repair and boiler servicing. As you would expect, Phil and his team use the latest state of the art combustion analysers and you can be sure that they will help you to comply with all the necessary regulations. With over 15 years of experience, Phil really is a safe pair of hands, so if you are thinking of replacing your boiler or you would like your boiler serviced, contact Tadley Heating Services for some Gas Safe advice.

Look out for friends and relatives. Some people may be unable to arrange their own gas safety check or may be unaware of what they need to do to keep safe.

10 YEAR

NEED A NEW BOILER?

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If your boiler or central heating is not working we can assess and repair it using top quality branded parts and components.

New Boiler Supply & Installation

All new gas boiler installations performed to the manufacturers instructions.

Boiler Servicing

Using state of the art combustion analysers we can service your boiler and help you comply with all necessary gas safety regulations.

Call Phil Capel on:

07760 759318 0118 466 1235

/tadleyheatingservices www.tadleyheatingservices.co.uk 19 Hamble Drive , Tadley, RG26 3UN

Pink Pages: Trades & Services

Call us today!

ADVERTISE IN, OR SEND FLYERS OUT WITH THIS MAGAZINE IN AUGUST.

FROM £55 Our two magazines cover 29,500 homes with an estimated readership of 47,000 each month.

To find out more please get in touch!

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OKEElectrical

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18,000 copies, with an estimated 48,000 readers - monthly!

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Please mention Eye Magazine when responding to adverts.

Pink Pages: Trades & Services

Complete Bathroom & Kitchen Installation An independent family owned and run business with almost 30 years of experience of delivering the highest level of craftmanship for the supply, installation and design of quality kitchens,bathrooms, ensuite bathrooms and wet rooms in North Hampshire and West Berkshire.

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LET’S UP THE PACE New classes now added for September!

No Joining Fee

Fl exible Membership

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email: frontdesk@bradfieldcollege.org.uk tel: 0118 964 4600 www.bradfieldsportscomplex.co.uk

WILL MY INHERITANCE STILL BE MINE IF WE GET DIVORCED?

F

or unmarried couples, the answer is usually straightforward. In most cases it will belong to the person who received it and they will not be under any legal obligation to share it.

For married couples and civil partners, the answer is more complicated. Firstly, there is an obligation to disclose the extent of the inheritance so it can be taken into account by the Court. Secondly, the Court will need to assess to what extent, if any, the inheritance should be shared.

Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 sets out the factors that are taken into account on divorce, including the income, earning capacity and age of each party. The Court will focus particular attention on the financial needs of each party and whether the other resources are sufficient to meet those needs. If there are insufficient resources, the Court is likely to include some or all of the inheritance for division.

If you are unmarried and want to ring-fence an inheritance, you should consider a cohabitation agreement. This can confirm how you want to treat the inheritance in the event of a separation, including any expected future inheritance. This is particularly important if you intend to buy or adapt a property together or have children.

If you are planning to get married, you should consider a pre-nuptial agreement, as this can protect your inheritance from any future claims on divorce. If you are already married, you should consider a post-nuptial agreement for the same reasons.

If you do separate in years to come, an agreement can make the separation

Make provision for the things you love (with a little help from us)

or divorce process easier and the outcome more certain, without costly negotiations about finances. The very act of discussing and trying to come to an agreement will help to reveal what you have in common and where you are apart. It can also provide reassurance to parents who may be nervous about passing on family wealth without any protective measures in place.

For more information on this subject, please contact Stuart Duncan of Rowberry Morris Solicitors on 0118 982 3774 or stuart. duncan@rowberrymorris. co.uk. Stuart advises on all aspects of family law and specialises in the issues arising from relationship breakdown. He has a particular expertise in complex financial matters, nuptial agreements and cases involving unmarried couples.

Personalised Financial Planning

For an initial consultation call us on:

0118 987 6655 info@blueskyifas.co.uk www.blueskyifas.co.uk

BLUESKY Chartered Financial Planners is a trading style of BLUESKY Independent Financial Advisers LLP which is authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.’

DO YOU NEED LEGAL ADVICE?

Tadley Office

Sherfield House, Mulfords Hill, Tadley RG26 3XJ 0118 981 2992 info-tadley@ rowberrymorris.co.uk FREE car park at rear of office

Reading Office

17 Castle Street, Reading, RG1 7SB 0118 958 5611 info-reading@ rowberrymorris.co.uk

WE ARE A NICHE LAW FIRM SPECIALISING IN WILLS, INHERITANCE TAX ADVICE, POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND DEEDS OF VARIATION

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU: • Expert advice from an experienced practitioner & technical writer.

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• Appointments in the comfort of your own home or via video conferencing.

• Evening and weekend appointments available.

• Friendly and professional service.

Offices also at Richmond and Staines www.rowberrymorris.co.uk

catherine@legacy-law.co.uk 0118 40 50 131 www.legacy-law.co.uk

PROTECTING YOUR LEGACY

Plan for the

Expected,

Prepare for

the Unexpected

S

adly, both my parents passed away during the COVID pandemic. Their demise came about due to old age rather than COVID and I’m grateful that Dad (92) was conscious of his own mortality and had organised his affairs well.

This is in some contrast to one of our long-term 60 year old clients who sadly and unexpectedly recently passed away while hill walking. It was tragic and unforeseen. There are so many pieces that his family are now having to pick up.

As Benjamin Franklin said, ‘The only two certainties in life are death and taxes’. We should plan for both and as the timing of our demise is rarely predictable it makes sense to always have a plan.

Planning for when you are not here can be a big task. But it is important to have a plan. From my recent experiences here are a few thoughts: Will – Have one and make sure that your family know where it is. If it is in anyway ‘unusual’ ask your solicitor about a ‘Letter of Intent’ to go alongside

your Will which can help your beneficiaries understand the thinking behind it.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – If you are still alive but incapable of making a decision for yourself a LPA will give those you trust the power to make decisions for you and to administer your affairs. Everyone should have one, not just your aged parents. Again, ask your solicitor about this.

Savings and Investments – Will those who you leave behind know what you have and where it is? A well-ordered filing cabinet or list can be of enormous benefit. Your financial planner may well have much of this information so leave their details too.

Log-on details and passwords – A bit of a tricky area as there are risks in storing passwords anywhere (including in your head). However, due to the vast array of usernames and passwords that most of us have many people do write them down somewhere. Does a trusted partner know where? If they are stored on your computer make sure someone knows how to get into it.

Tell us once - The government has a ‘Tell us once’ service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one place. This can be very helpful but can also lead to the deceased’s bank accounts being frozen, so beware.

Pension benefits – Most pension schemes allow you to detail who you would like to benefit from the pension on your death. This ‘Expression of Wish’ is a simple document to complete but can allow benefits to be distributed quickly and in a tax efficient manner.

Ask your scheme administrator for more detail.

As ever, each situation is different so always talk to a suitably qualified professional before taking action. As financial planners we can help with much of this and take away some of the pain at a very stressful time for the family.

Mark Penston is a director and Chartered Financial Planner at Bluesky Chartered Financial Planners

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To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email hello@eyemagazines.co.uk Follow us to keep updated, locally

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FOR OUR OPEN MORNINGS Whole College | Saturday 18 September Year 7 | Saturday 16 October

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O

f all the apps in circulation to assist us with navigating the highways, Google Maps and Waze are perhaps most popular because they both consistently deliver accurate directions and are straightforward to use. Interestingly, since 2013, these rival apps are both owned by Google. Personal preference often dictates whether you choose Google Maps or Waze but it does bring up the question: Which one is actually better?

Waze: As the world’s largest communitybased GPS navigation app, Waze functions like a crowd sourced social network, one that provides direction in tandem with community feedback.

Users can inform other users and update routes live to inform others of accidents, alternative routes, road closures, police officer sightings and other such impediments. Users can also use Waze to arrange carpools.

Drivers can use the basic Waze app to offer lifts, while riders are directed to the Waze Carpool app to find people to carpool with.

WAZE Vs GOOGLE MAPS Google: Google’s offering is more of a standard navigation app, albeit one that provides navigation for those walking, biking, or using public transport in addition to driving. The maps also show the location of various businesses and points of interest, making it useful for getting an overview of a region or part of town, seeing what else is near your destination, and other traditional static map functions.

So, which app is better?

The answer isn’t that cut and dried.

If it’s just about driving, Waze’s clean maps, live traffic reports, and parking notifications give it an advantage.

But for all-round features, Google Maps takes the crown. Last year, it incorporated incident reporting and voice-control functionality via Google Assistant, and will soon add a host of augmented-reality features. The ‘For You’ tab also provides information about local restaurants and events,

as well as nearby charging stations helpful if you happen to own an electric vehicle. The ability to pull up biking and walking directions — as well as those for using public transport — also gives it a notable edge over Waze, even if they can clutter the display at times.

So for me it’s Google Maps everyday, but one thing I do love about Waze is the Speed camera identification and location setting on the app. GOOGLE MAPS….for now!

TECH

• Live traffic reporting provided by users • A plethora of voice navigation options, including celebrity voices and even the ability to record commands in your own voice!

• Monitors your current speed and lets you know when you are going too fast!

• Remembers commonly used routes, frequent destinations, and commute times • One-button access to a map of car parks near your destination • Aggressive rerouting saves time • Motorcycle mode • Traffic jam time countdown • Police notifications • Spotify integration • Advertisement supported

• Offers directions for driving, biking, walking, and using public transport • Voice navigation choices for driving, biking, and walking • Google Street View integration • Turn-by-turn directions still offered in offline mode • Google Assistant integration • Built-in Google search provides information on businesses • Lane designation lets drivers know which lane they should be in before turns • Add another stop on your way to the final destination • Drivers can find their parked cars easily since the app saves parking locations • Navigation backlit change based on day/nighttime • Real-time location sharing • Spotify integration • Offline functionality

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Now taking registrations

Fun is an essential ingredient at Green Park Day Nursery and Preschool where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them.

FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS

OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM

2021

SATURDAY 4 TH SEPTEMBER FETE 12.00 - 3.30 PM on the playing field

the village market starts at 10:00 AM

“Excellent nursery. Attentive and caring staff. Lots of activities. Fabulous menu. My 1-year-old son has a blast and I have absolute confidence in the staff and the quality of care to leave him at the nursery full time.”

Parent, www.daynurseries.co.uk

Please call 0118 931 3115 or email greenpark.nursery@childbase.com Green Park Day Nursery and Preschool, Green Park Business Park, 200 South Oak Way, Lime Square, Green Park, Reading, RG2 6UQ

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU www.childbasepartnership.com

Free Trial Class!

A place where dreams come true and imagination is everything!

Magical dance classes for energetic 2yr olds & over Classes run 6 days a week across the following areas:

Lower Earley Mortimer Burghfield Silchester Bookings now open for new classes in Sept for:

Spencers Wood Shinfield

For times and days for each location, please visit our website, facebook or insta. /AllStarsTheatreAcademy

To book your free trial class, visit:

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Jubilee Gems’ class of 2021 have graduated!

Pre-school children at Jubilee Gems Nursery celebrated finishing the final term of the year with their very own sports day and graduation ceremony.

The event was set in the nursery’s 60 acres of beautiful private land in Padworth, and it was a gloriously sunny day!

Every child looked incredibly smart in their graduation gowns and hats as they went up to collect a personalised framed graduation picture from the nursery manager Sian. Cheers from their family and friends could be heard all across West Berkshire!

The celebrations then continued with a Sports Day. They had all the traditional races, a relay race, egg and spoon, and obstacle course.

However, with it being such a hot day, the fastest race must have been to the box of ice creams.

The staff at Jubilee Gems wish them all the best at their new schools and hope they have made lots of magical childhood memories!

Jubilee Gems is a term-time nursery, located in the heart of the countryside in rural West Berkshire, offering a flexible range of sessions to suit you and your child and care is available for babies and children from three months to five years of age.

Gems are all about ‘learning by doing’ through real experiences, giving all children the time and space to explore, discover and use their imagination both indoors and outdoors in a language-rich environment with our caring and highly skilled practitioners.

To contact Jubilee Gems, please telephone: 0118 983 4018 Email: info@jubileegems.co.uk or visit www.jubileegems.co.uk

d a e t s m a h l u S a Once upon Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet have long and fascinating histories.

There’s evidence of people living in the area since the Stone Age.

The house has many hidden priest holes (used to conceal the Catholic priest from the king’s inspectors) which are cunningly concealed behind moving walls and under floorboards.

St Mary’s Church has a font that dates back to the original Norman church which was on the site. The church was originally dedicated to St Bartholomew, but it was re-named after the “Mother of Our Lord” some 300 years later as a desperate plea by villagers to save them from the Black Death. The villages really suffered during the plague of the Black Death in the 1300s.

The only remaining pub within the two villages lies on the Bath Road and was once a busy coaching inn. It is now known as The Spring Inn, but was originally named Three Kings Jack’s Booth after a wealthy cloth merchant, Jack of Newbury, who used it to rest on his travels from Newbury to London.

Ufton Court is a Tudor manor house and was a Catholic household during the reign of Henry VIII in the 1500s when the King forced the country to become Protestant. If you did not reform, your life was in danger.

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The villages really did prosper through the growth of agriculture, the industrial revolution and the eventual introduction of the railways in the 19th century.

To view more pictures and information about Sulhamstead, visit www.sulhamstead community.org.uk

At the

Flicks

with ROB BARNES

Old M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller sees a group of holidaying families at an exclusive resort stranded on a beach for the day that is somehow causing them to rapidly age.

times borders on comedy, it’s the tones of psychological horror that keep you hooked until the final denouement.

Like all of Shyamalan’s genre bending movies it’s an intriguing and curious watch, and the sheer audacity to take the audience on such a left field journey make this an oddity well worth investigating.

With a character ensemble trying desperately to solve the mystery as those around them are in peril it’s more than reminiscent of an Agatha Christie plot. But what begins as mystery that veers into melodrama, that at

Jungle Cruise What happens if you take a classic Disneyland theme park ride, mix in some of Humphrey Bogart’s The African Queen with Spielberg’s Indiana Jones, and then throw in two of Hollywood’s brightest shining stars in Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt...Jungle Cruise!

Feisty botanist Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) heads to the Amazon to track down the mythical Tears of the Moon whose petals cure illness and curses, with the help of roguish

Puzzle Page Answers

riverboat skipper Frank (Dwayne Johnson).

Although the chemistry doesn’t quite fizz off the screen, Blunt and Johnson are clearly having a blast, and the comedy moments from Lily’s sidekick brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) and the evil German aristocrat Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) are priceless. With all the essential ingredients of a nostalgic throwback action adventure there’s little not to like about this supernatural swashbuckling romp.

The Squad SUDOKUWEB SukoSuicide #007 Solution

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PuzzlePage PageAnswers Answers Puzzle

Name: ___________________________________________

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M L I V E A N D L E T D I E W N Q F T N I R W M

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James Bond D N A T O J C A S I N O R O Y A L E G R R O B T

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James Bond Wordseach 28 20 Solution 28 20

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20 10 15 James15Bond 20 10

ANSWERS: (PICK, PACK, PACE, PALE, KALE)

Agent Casino Royale Daniel Craig Espionage For Your Eyes Only Gadget Goldfinger Licence to Kill Live and Let Die Moonraker No Time to Die Octopussy Quantum of Solace Roger Moore Sean Connery Shoot Skyfall Spectre Thunderball Tomorrow Never Dies M S Y K I F You only Live Twice

James Bond D B E V U Q U C U S

Sudoku Solution Sudoku Solution #007 #007 5 8 1 6 4 7 9 3 2 5 48 31 76 4 23 97 69 2 69 76 98 6 87 29 8 12 54

27 19 51 38 55 13 87 45 31 68 94 33 26 79 41

1 35 43 82 3 94 18 57 9 71 65 24 7 6 2

94 82

83 76

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13 86 52 37 98 4 1 8 5 3 9 4 Date: ___________________

Date: ___________________

• First select a number/operator and than apply it to a sudoku cell.

• First select a number/operator and than apply it to a sudoku cell.

D T A S W Y T T M S L Y J K O I L F R D C B N E L V L U XQ Y U UC DUM S S D L T U A F S MWB Y P T F T E O I J U L R D A N L R O A H C B D Z B U I D N G O

James

u look ....

Suko #007 Solution Suko #007 Solution

The Runners‘

Dilemma...

A

s fitness fads come and go, research continues to show that running is one of the best things someone can do for their health. Recent studies have even shown that running helps to reduce the risk of age-related memory decline and causes our brain to produce new cells!

However, many runners are running through pain, so I’d like to discuss how runners can make their bodies more resilient for their activity.

Before I proceed though, a plea: If you’re running through pain, please stop and get that pain checked out by a relevant professional and make sure you’re not risking long term issues.

The strength-endurance connection: It can be easy to think that because running uses your legs so much, you don’t need to do any extra strength work for them. After the age of 30, we start losing muscle, and most of this comes from fast twitch muscle fibres-the ones not used by running.

As you lose these fast twitch fibres, you’ll become slower, and your joints will have less support. Running is an endurance exercise, which means it uses mostly slow twitch muscle fibres.

Strength training though, builds all of your muscle fibres, which means your joints will be better supported reducing your risk of pain.

Putting your backside into it: When the muscles in your backside (your glutes) are weak, other areas try to pick up the slack-mainly your lower back or hamstrings, which can result in these muscles becoming over-worked or strained. When we sit, we reduce the blood-flow to the glutes, which makes them weaker.

Performing specific exercises for your glutes helps to keep the blood flowing into them, keep them strong, and reduce strain in other areas. This can also help with knee alignment and IT band issues.

Balancing squats and lunges: If the muscles around your joints are imbalanced, it can lead to pain, particularly knee pain. Many runners who are already strength training are performing squats and lunges. These are what we call “knee dominant exercises”. This means that your quads, on the front of your thigh are working harder than your hamstrings.

If the quads get continually worked more than the hamstrings, this imbalance can cause issues with the knees and/or hamstrings. The solution is to perform “hip dominant exercises” that work the hamstrings more than the quads as well as your squats and lunges.

Stay strong, so you can stay healthy.

Steve

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Childcare, at the heart of the community Free Registration until 30th September Chosen by many parents because of our homely environment, we pride ourselves on being able to offer a very personal service ensuring your child receives the best possible care.

Places available for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

www.tigersdaynurseries.co.uk | 0118 930 3000 16 Church Street, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 5BZ Tigers Nurseries also located at: Thatcham & Swindon

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think pink!

SOLD

other agent

other agent

contact our Mortimer office: phone: 0118 467 7999 email: mortimer@davidcliff.com visit: davidcliff.com Offices also at Wokingham, Binfield and Park Lane, London