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Issue 63 November 2017 Circulation 11,000

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2. Community News

Find out whatâ€™s been going on in your village this month. Spot anyone you know? Tell them theyâ€™re in it!

5. Wrapping up with Megan

Megs shares her pick of best-buy coats ready for the winter sesaon.

6. Win Peter Pan tickets!

12. Snuggle Up

Weâ€™re spreading some Scandinavian love this autumn with some cosy ideas to make you happy...VĂŚr glad

If youâ€™re already in the Christmas spirit, we have a guide to local shopping evenings and Christmas fairs in this issue, too. You will also ďŹ nd some local eateries in the magazine, tempting you with their festive fayre. What are your plans for Christmas celebrations?

18. Property Spotlight

Looking to Buy, Sell or Rent? Our Parkers Property Pages may just â€˜houseâ€™ your dream home!

But before we turn our attention to all that Christmas brings, letâ€™s not forget that itâ€™s Guy Fawkesâ€™ Night on November 5th. There are plenty of ďŹ reworks events happening in the local area, so if you fancy a night out, our guide will tell you all you need to know.

22.. Trades & Services

Need a plasterer, builder, gardener, solicitor, roofer... you get the gist. Look no further than our pink trades and services pages to ďŹ nd local, reliable professionals.

34. Whizz Bang Flash

Wrap up warm and have a great family night at one of the many organised ďŹ reworks and bonďŹ res nights planned in this area.

40. Tadley RFC in TV Fame!

A real treat for local grassroots rugby fans...

2017 Circulation 11,000

Check out our top picks of the best pet tech to monitor your petâ€™s health and ďŹ tness, make daily life easier, and to just have fun with your furry friends.

Our front cover sponsor this month is The Anvil, Basingstoke who bring us a fantastic competition to win a family ticket to this yearâ€™s pantomime, Peter Pan with its all-star cast. Find out how to enter the competition on pages 6 & 7.

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Editor: Hellen Shaw Sub Editor: Jackie Stuart Advertising: Zahra Willis Beauty Editor: Megan Curtis Motoring: Jack Worboys

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The Village Eye 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, URLĘźs and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. *Not including stock images - advert release fee charged. Registered Address: Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, RG7 2AG

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10. Cool Pet Tech

he weather is turning colder, the evenings are getting darker and the leaves are falling from the trees but at Village Eye HQ we are very excited to bring you the November issue of Village Eye.

Issue 63 November

Oh yes you can! One of our most popular competitions makes itâ€™s annual return this month. Remember, youâ€™ve got to be in it to win it - and that winner could very well be you!

Novemb Contents

OCTOBER EYE

Lov aď›€ gly th d viď›€vd ! to

Like us on facebook to keep up to date in your area!

News | Business | Sport

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| Health | Homes | Entertainm

Rob Barnes Mark Penston & Rob Starling Claire Desai

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

Youâ€™ll ďŹ nd all our regular columnists in the magazine, but this month Megan is taking a dive into fashion, rather than her usual beauty column. If you need to ďŹ nd that perfect autumn/ winter coat, she can tell you everything you need to know to get you all wrapped up, ready for the festive season..

Helle n & the Team xx 1

T EACHER CO N QU E R S

National Dance Champions!

Last month saw the ISTDs Dance, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll (DFR) National Grand Finals Day at The Guildford Spectrum. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is a highly respected dance teaching and examination board and they run this competition to a very high standard.

d ev gs a 9 l word! Ben Leyburn, a teacher at Garland Junior School in Burghfield Common, has been inspiring a love of English and Maths in his pupils in a rather unconventional way. Ben was lucky enough to be picked to appear on the popular TV Quiz Show ‘Countdown’ and managed to stay ‘in’, appearing on no less than 6 episodes. He is pleased to have achieved a nine-letter word in his second round and brought home the coveted teapot! He managed to guess the crucial conundrum in the first five episodes - a massive achievement in itself - but he was eventually knocked out by the word ‘bamboozle’.

the school, have been enjoying playing along at home, watching him tackle maths challenges and the Countdown conundrum! It’s clear that his appearance has encouraged the students to become more passionate about Literacy and Numeracy. No-one is more delighted about that then Ben himself.

Although the episodes were filmed back in May, they have only recently been shown on TV. To his delight, his pupils, and other students at

Ben could be appearing on the show again if he makes it through to the finals as part of the top eight players from the series, so watch this space!

A whole troupe of local dancers from Mortimer, Sulhamstead, Burghfield and Ufton Nervet had qualified through the regional heats and were there on National Grand Finals Day to compete as pairs and individuals for the Set Dance and Rock ‘n’ Roll titles. The dancers enjoyed a great day and their hard work really paid off as the team came away with 6 first-place titles across the age categories. Congratulations!

George’s Swim

He said: “It is a really vibrant school. The kids are great and this is the perfect opportunity to enthuse them about learning. Parents are watching it at home with the children. I would love to pretend it was the plan all along, but it has just been a positive side effect.”

Brimpton Primary School pupil George Winslet has taken on a five-mile swim to raise funds for vital life-prolonging treatment for his grandfather who was recently diagnosed with Erdhein Chester Disease (ECD), a rare and incurable condition. George’s family have discovered that the disease is believed to respond to a certain drug that is not available on the NHS, so they have set themselves a target of £35,000 to fund the potentially life-prolonging treatment. George undertook the 320-length Swimathon over a number of sessions at Willink Leisure Centre last month to support

the family’s fundraising efforts. His older brother, Joe Hubbard, is also planning to do a 15-mile sponsored swim and his tutor group at The Willink School will be holding a cake sale to help add to the funds. This driven family has organised other fundraising events, too, which have included a bowling evening and a fundraiser at the Old London Apprentice pub in Newbury. At time of writing, the family has already raised over £4,500 and the figure continues to climb. George’s grandfather, Nigel Hubbard, must be so proud of his family’s efforts and we all wish him well with his treatment. You can donate by visiting: www. gofundme.com/nigels-medicaltreatment-fund

Photo’s courtesy of L. Adams

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Burghfest Raises Burghfest was not just a beer festival for men with tankards. It was a fabulous community party with loads of different beer, beautiful wines, scrumptious ciders, posh prosecco, delicious foods (including veggie) a fairground, a big wheel and the best music this side of Berkshire. Beer lovers poured in - excuse the pun - from all the surrounding local villages including Ufton Nervet, Mortimer, Theale and, of course, Burghfield itself! And it wasn’t just locals who enjoyed the event. We heard tales of beer-lovers traveling from as far as Yorkshire, Nottingham, Portsmouth and Coventry to enjoy the range of ales at Burghfest. In the two days full of fun, approximately 3,000 people of all ages came along and consumed a huge amount for a great cause. The Burghfest

On Community

Over £ 20,000!

ell, what a weekend Burghfest turned out to be! Late September saw the return of the Burghfield beer & music festival,now in its second year. Real ale, live music and great fun was delivered by the Burghfield Santas, a local community fundraising group, responsible for the Burghfield Box Kart Bash and the Santa Cruise, to name but two!

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go-ers are reported to have drunk 68 casks of beer, plus some mini kegs ( 4,830 pints), 51 boxes of cider (1,785 pints), 228 bottles of wine, 251 bottles of Prosecco and 670 cans of Fosters. The event included 11 fabulous bands and was run by 117 volunteers! Best of all, the community raised an astonishing £20,500 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. AMAZING! The Santas couldn’t have done this without the support of the houses in the area for putting up with the disruption, nor without the army of local people who gave up their time to make it happen. That’s it for now. Look out for the Santa Cruise, the Bunny Hop and the Box Kart Bash coming soon and all in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and other local charities!

TADLEY PRIDE Launches TADLEY is launching its first gay Pride event in Basingstoke this month. This first event will gauge interest for larger events planned for Tadley next spring. The free event will be held on November 30 at The Tea Bar from 6pm - 1am for over 18s. It will have a Bonnie Tyler/Dolly Parton theme with a DJ and live entertainment. Tadley Pride chief executive Anthony Alder said: “We decided to set up Tadley Pride because there are not many things in Tadley in place to support the LGBT community.” Right now Tadley Pride is run by just two volunteers and they are looking for more volunteers to make things better and bigger when Tadley Pride is hosted in Tadley next summer.”

Win a £250 voucher from Aspire Clinic! All you need to do is Like and Share their page on Facebook using the hashtag #LoveAspire. T's & C's apply

Tadley events are scheduled for March 17 and July 14 next year. For details, visit www.tadleypride.weebly.com/

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

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WRAPPED This year, the high street is bursting with fab coats & jackets, so much so I have bought 3 this season already (you can never have enough!). I’ve rounded up my top favourite styles that are a must-have from the high street! The longline collared coat from New Look - I am totally in love with this style of coat, so much so that I have this in three colours! I think that this style is ﬂattering on anyone and can easily be dressed up or dressed down. It’s sleek, chic and a timeless coat that will work for years to come. I have this in pink, grey & mustard and it literally goes with everything! You can easily wear this coat with a black skirt, jumper and boots

or dressed down with a pair of jeans, t-shirt and trainers. It’s also such a great quality coat with a very purse-friendly price (£34.99) - it’s a deﬁnite must have!

Another coat which I have seen everywhere is the leather biker jacket. The difference between a normal biker jacket and this one is that the lapels and the inside of the jacket is completely faux fur-lined - it’s gorgeous! It’s the perfect jacket to keep you warm all winter. Honestly, I would deﬁnitely recommend going out and getting one before they’re all gone! The best quality version that I found is from Zara for £89.99 but if you want a budget-friendly option, I saw an exact copy of the Zara jacket in Primark! My last favourite is the Alicia Boucle Textured Slouch Coat from Topshop. Not only is it pink (my favourite colour ever) but it’s so warm

Z £89 ara .99

Ne w £34 Loo .99 k

o if you know me, then you know that I am literally obsessed with coats! I can’t get enough! For me, nothing signiﬁes the start of winter more than purchasing a good quality coat - much to my mum’s dismay…

Giorgio Armani

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“Elegance is not standing out but being remembered.”

and cosy perfect for the cold winter nights! It’s one of those coats that looks effortlessly stylish and looks great paired over jeans, a cream jumper and Converse. I would definitely recommend it if you’re on the lookout for a slouchy coat that’s not fitted as it easily fits over the top of

a thick jumper (or two!). It’s £85 and available in brown, lavender, pink and navy.

Megs xx

Meg’s Momʦ

If there is anything you would like to see me review or any ideas for which beauty topics I should cover next, then feel free to contact me: megan@villageeye.co.uk

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DON’T MISS OUT ON To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email info@villageeye.co.uk THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS Be a part of their memories and never miss a thing. Make your work life fit around you and your family, not the other way around.

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One of the most famous and best-loved childrenʼs stories, Peter Pan is an unforgettable, enchanting and timeless tale that has been enjoyed by generations for over one hundred years. Fly far away to Neverland with Peter Pan, Wendy, John and Michael. Cheer the Lost Boys and Tinker Bell, and boo the wicked Captain Hook and his motley crew. But beware of the ticking crocodile! This swashbuckling adventure for the whole family, complete with everything you would expect of a traditional pantomime - spectacle, laughter, magic and music, plus a big sprinkle of fairy dust! Running from 14th December 2017 to Sunday 7th January 2018 this yearʼs production stars Andrew Agnew, best known for playing one of CBeebiesʼ most-loved characters - PC Plum in Balamory - as Smee, Jessica Punch, star of the West End as Peter Pan and Gary Turner (aka Carlos Diaz from Emmerdale) as Captain Hook. They are joined on-stage by comedy acrobats The Nitwits as the Pirate Crew. Village Eye were lucky enough to catch up with Andrew and Gary during rehearsals at The Anvil and this is what they had to say:

Welcome back to The Anvil, Andrew! What do you think makes it so special? Thank you. Yes, I was last here back in 2010 and itʼs really good to be back - and this time Iʼm directing the Pantomime as well as performing as Smee! I love the Anvil. Itʼs a great venue. It doesnʼt matter where you sit, you really feel a part of the show. Itʼs the same when you stand on the stage, too, everyone feels close, which is fantastic for pantomime! There are lots of crazy antics on stage - lots of slapstick comedy and working with acrobats - have you ever hurt yourself? Yes! A lot of roles Iʼve played involve falling over, falling off bicycles and tripping up, so I am generally quite good at doing it in a way that doesnʼt hurt, but there was one night when the stage was wet and I slipped. I wasnʼt expecting it and I hurt my shoulder, but you know what they say, ʻThe show must go on!ʼ You have appeared in panto a lot over the years, why do you enjoy it so much? Thereʼs nothing quite like it, is there? I love the fact that for many kids itʼs their ﬁrst experience of a theatre and with all the shouting out, singing and storytelling, I truly hope that we send them - and their families - out buzzing!

Rumour has it that you are pretty familiar with the role of Captain Hook..? Yes, friends of mine start to joke around October that I will have to get my hook out of the cabinet and dust it off! This year will be my tenth year as Hook and my third time at The Anvil. The good news is, I get better every year! (evil laugh) In a former TV life, you played a chef (Carlos from Emmerdale) what would you cook up for the rest of the cast? Hmmm, good question. I would start with breaded Peter Pan nuggets with a chilli dip, followed by a delicious crocodile steak, ﬁnished with chocolate Peter Pan ﬁngers... With a sprinkling of fairy dust! (evil laugh) As you know, weʼre running a competition in this issue for one lucky reader to come and see you perform this yearʼs show. Have you ever won a competition and what did you win? Well, itʼs going back a bit but I did win a radio phone-in to win tickets and a tent to Reading Festival once. I had to beg for the tickets over the phone. You can imagine the performance - it was very over the top! Sadly, I got an acting job so I couldnʼt go, so I gave the tent and the tickets to a friend!

ENTER TO WIN!

Enter our great competition to win a family ticket (4 people) to see PETER PAN at The Anvil on Saturday 16th December at 6pm. And you will also have the chance to meet Andrew Agnew & Gary Turner themselves before the performance! To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, go to villageeye.co.uk, click the Panto Competition tab and ﬁll in your answer. Remember - someone will win - and that someone might be you!

What animal features in Peter Pan? a) Horse b) Cow c) Crocodile The closing date for entries is midnight on Thursday 30th November. All entries will be put into a ‘hat’ and the winner selected at random. The lucky winner will be notiﬁed on Friday 1st December.

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As we’ve already established (check out the first of the diary instalments), my Greek heritage didn’t bless me with the long, lithe limbs and dark sultry looks of a glamorous Goddess. I’m more of the apron-wearing, donkeyriding, large-bottomed ilk. Okay, so I exaggerate – I am Greek after all – there isn’t much call to ride a donkey whilst wearing an apron in Berkshire, however, at just 5 feet tall and despite having a little waist, my postbaby tummy and my good childbearing hips make me look and feel rather dumpy and a bit lumpy in places. So back to Aspire Clinic I went to try a bit of CoolSculpting, a non-surgical, fat freezing treatment that claims to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat permanently with no downtime. Could this be the answer I was looking for? At my consultation, Aspire’s CoolSculpting expert, Sarah Archer explained that CoolSculpting works by freezing fat cells underneath the skin, which are then permanently destroyed. Over the next few weeks, the body naturally processes the fat and eliminates the treated fat cells for good, leaving you with a slimmer shapely body.

At the end of the suctioning part of the treatment, Sarah removed the CoolSculpting applicator and vigorously massaged the area to ‘push the frozen fat cells over’ to enable the body to naturally eliminate them. For me, this was the most uncomfortable part of the treatment, but it lasted exactly two minutes, so even I was able to cope with it. Fast-forward 12 weeks and I head back to Aspire for my follow-up to see if the treatment has worked. Standing in front of the mirror I feel like things have changed a bit, and then when I compare the before and after photos, I realise there’s been quite a dramatic reduction. What was great about this treatment was it was fast and I could return to normal activities straight away without resting or treating the areas with creams or massage. But most of all, that little pouch hanging over the top of my jeans has gone…for good!

Having nothing to lose (apart from some really stubborn fat) I decided to give CoolSculpting a go. Lying on the treatment bed, a protective gel pad was placed on my skin, followed by the applicator, which gave a suctioning sensation. And then things started to get cold. Very cold. Now, I detest the cold, and as the area being treated got colder, so did my mood! Luckily the freezing sensation only lasted five minutes before the area went completely numb. So there I was, snuggled under a ﬂeecy blanket, i-pad in hand, with 35 minutes to myself.

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Let Aspire help you to be the bride you really want to be on your wedding day with our bespoke bridal package...

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All eyes will be on you, but don’t sweat it! With Aspire’s quick and simple Hyperhidrosis treatment that prevents sweat glands in the underarm area from producing excess levels of sweat, there will be no worries about nervous sweat patches on your big day.

The tailor-made packages offer brides, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride a full range of non-surgical treatments from skin rejuvenation and wrinkle-smoothing to permanent fat-reduction for a perfect wedding dress fit with no tell-tale bulges.

Look flawless with Aspire’s skin rejuvenation treatments. Whether you want to smooth wrinkles, reduce pigmentation, resolve problem skin or remove moles and skin tags, there are treatments to suit every skin type, leaving your skin looking unblemished, smooth and soft.

What to expect… Bridal parties are invited into Aspire Clinic for a free consultation evening with the clinic’s qualified medical aesthetics practitioners and will enjoy a glass of bubbles and fabulous nibbles, as well as amazing discounts. Whilst being guided through the treatment package details, attendees will experience some taster treatments on the night. Your treatment programme will then be planned for the months and weeks leading up to the wedding, and everyone will take away an Aspire bridal goody bag. Aspire offers treatments to suit every bride, including… You’ve chosen your fairytale dress, now let Aspire help you get your fairytale body with CoolSculpting, the World’s number one permanent, non-surgical fat-removal treatment. You may kiss the bride...Enhance your first kiss as a married couple with Aspire’s lip treatments, designed to restore the natural hydration of your lips adding softness and smoothness and building subtle volume.

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Pet TECH Animals play a big part in our lives, especially our much-loved domestic pets. Whether you are looking to entertain, trim down, train up or spy on your pet, thereʼs now a growing offering of tech products for our cats and dogs. Here are my top picks of the best pet tech to monitor your pet's health and ﬁtness, make daily life easier, and to just have fun with our furry friends.

iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher

Itʼs hard to resist those puppy-dog eyes which beg for you to throw the ball ʻjust one more timeʼ. But now thereʼs the iFetch - an interactive, on demand ball launcher that provides hours of fun for dogs. iFetch throws a ball when itʼs placed in the funnel by the dog or person and batteries will last more than 30 hours, so no more achey arm! £89.99 www.goifetch.co.uk

Dyson VacuumAssist Dog Groomer

There are times of the year where some dogs start moulting like crazy. For some breeds, those times never seem to end. So keep on top of that with some grooming, and this gizmo will make it much easier. It's a nozzle for Dyson vacuum cleaners that sucks up the excess fur as it's brushed away - genius! £39.99 John Lewis

10 10

Furbo Pet & Treat Tossing Camera

The Furbo is a treat-tossing camera for pet owners who suffer separation anxiety when leaving their beloved pooch at home – or donʼt quite trust them to not cause wanton mayhem when left unsupervised. Packing an impressive 720p resolution camera with night vision mode, two-way audio for remote cutesy pet communication, and that aforementioned treat-tossing cannon, the Furbo makes for an impressive, albeit expensive, Wi-Fi-connected pet gadget. £239.00 www.furbo.com

G-Paws Pet GPS Tracker System

If youʼve ever wondered where your cat explores, or if your dog has a habit of escaping and running off, this GPS tracker will put your mind at ease. The GPaws tracks how far your pet has roamed and monitors their speed, showing you all the information on a map in the smartphone app. £32.95 www.iwantoneofthose.com

Tractive MOTION Pet Activity Tracker

We all love our ﬁtness trackers, so why not get your pet involved too? There are quite a few pet activity trackers on the market, but this is one of the smallest and lightest you can currently get so it suits both cats and dogs. It is 100% waterproof and will monitor your petʼs daily movements and reward them with pet points, at the end of the day categorising your pet as ʻlazyʼ, ʻmoderately activeʼ or ʻactiveʼ, so you know if you need to be taking longer walks or not. Great for keeping your dog or cat healthy! £59 from Amazon

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OUR

2O18

CHARITY CALENDAR IS NOW COMPLETE !

Pooches ORDER YOUR 2018 LOCAL CALENDAR NOW!

emember the Superstar Pooches competition that we ran earlier in the year? Well, we were inundated with snapshots of your canine cuties and finally selected 12 winners to become the Charity Poster Pooches for 2018. The winning dogs were recently treated to their very own studio photo shoot (courtesy of Digifocus in Mortimer) and once the pups were papped, they were turned into local Canine

Superstars, now appearing in this new, local charity ‘doggy’ calendar for 2018! The charity that the calendar supports is Bucket List Wishes, run by local lady Gini Blesky. Bucket List Wishes arranges and organises end of life ‘wishes’ for terminally ill adults. You can pre-order your copy from the Superstar Pooches Facebook page from 1st November and get your hands

on this limited edition calendar for just £12! The calendar will then be available to buy from local outlets in December for £15 and include Rachel’s Boutique and Digifocus in Mortimer, Tadley Pet Supplies in Tadley, Marshall’s Pet Store and Nisa in Burghfield Common. You can also order online at www.digifocus.com & www.bucketlistwishes.org.uk but remember, when they’re gone, they’re gone!

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Wintering the Danish way

Create the Atmosphere

Cosy lighting is key to creating a warm atmosphere and hygge lighting focuses on comforting lighting instead of a harsh, bright light. Invest in some small lamps and use warm white bulbs. Fairy lights are also great for creating warmer light and can be brought out well before Christmas to create some hygge. Candle light is always a winner, so dig out that scented candle youʼve been saving and bring out the tea lights, too. If youʼre lucky enough to have a wood burner, light it up and gather the family round to create the perfect hygge atmosphere.

What is Hygge? If you find the autumn and winter seasons hard going, you may well benefit from a little bit of Scandinavian Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga). The Danes have a longer, darker winter than we do here in the UK, but are consistently ranked one of the happiest nations in the world. Is Hygge their secret? There is no direct translation for the word Hygge. It can be roughly translated as ʻcosinessʼ but behind the word is a whole culture of cosiness, warmth, wellbeing and togetherness. From slipping into a warm bath, to cosying up with a good book. From enjoying a meal with friends, to enjoying a winter walk... Let us show you how to inject some elements of Hygge into your everyday life and overcome some seasonal glumness. (Please note, weʼre not suggesting that depression is something which will disappear by having a warm drink and by lighting a candle, hence the term ʻseasonal glumnessʼ.) At the root of all of the following suggestions is finding joy in simple pleasures, being in nature, connecting with loved ones and gratitude. These are all powerful things and can make a huge difference to how you feel. So letʼs go and find some happy!

Scent-sational

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Certain scents can conjure up a real feeling of warmth and cosiness, even good memories and nostalgia. Some of these will be created from hygge activities you do in the home, such as baking bread, baking cakes or brewing fresh coffee, but other can be created. Fragrances associated with this time of year are typically cinnamon, clove and cedar wood. Why not get some essential oils and use a diffuser to ﬁll your home with these lovely fragrances and increase the cosiness factor. You will ﬁnd that they will also relax you and improve your mood.

When a family or group of friends get together these days, you can guarantee that one or all of them will be on their phones, tablets or laptops. These solo bubbles we ﬂoat about in, even when in company, does nothing for a feeling of togetherness which, it is proven, does wonders for our mental health and happiness. So why not try setting some times to put away phones? Or if youʼre meeting with friends, make an agreement to keep phones in pockets - and set a forfeit for whoever caves ﬁrst! Conversation, laughter and support are at the very core of our human needs, so letʼs start connecting.

Connect with Nature Many people claim to feel an inner peace when they are close to nature. Whether itʼs cycling alongside the river or canal, stomping through the woods, exploring local footpaths or walking on the beach. Where does that sense of calm come from? When we engage in these activities we are usually free from the clutches of technology and duties, with phones in pockets and the cleaning ignored. Perhaps, because of this we are in a more mindful and relaxed state. Why not plan some trips to local nature reserves - or even go down to the coast which can have a stark beauty at this time of year and breathe in the natural beauty. But donʼt forget to wrap up warm and have that hot chocolate with all the trimmings waiting for your return! 12

on Leisure

Get Together A hygge tradition is cooking together with others. Danish families will often visit each otherʼs houses to eat, not expecting to be waited on, as per a ʻdinner partyʼ type scenario. No, they get stuck in and help to prepare the food. The

Indulge Yourself Hygge is all about indulging yourself, pampering yourself and really looking after yourself. This doesnʼt necessarily mean eating cake, pastries and cookies. Think comfort food, warm food, cosy food. And the same goes for drinks. Take time to cosy up with a hot

preparation is done while the families chat, catching up on life and usually enjoy a drink or two. Cooking with children can be a joy, too. Children love to cook - cakes, biscuits, scones - and to spend a rainy afternoon making goodies will really create a shared connection. And eating it will create its own joy!

chocolate or enjoy a glass of wine after work. Make time for you. Of course, indulgence doesnʼt need to be all about food and drink. Take a long bath or cosy up with a good book when you would normally be doing chores. Put life on hold for an hour and pamper your soul.

Cosy Exercise! Instead of working out in a gym with stark lighting and air conditioning, make your exercise more cosy during these darker days. Pilates or yoga in front of the wood burner, perhaps? Or maybe candles would work well? If you go for a run, make sure you come back to a warm house and enjoy a long hot shower and a mug or bowl of something warm...oh, so good!

Get Comfy Create a hygge corner in your home. It can be anywhere - in your living room, study or bedroom. Make a space in your house which feels like the perfect little cosy nook. Use low lighting and add your favourite cushions and snuggly blankets. Make time to use it alone, for reading, journalling or meditating. Or make it a family space for bedtime stories and cosy chats.

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Using lifetime gifts to reduce inheritance tax

n previous issues we have looked at the main inheritance tax allowances available when someone dies. If you are concerned about inheritance tax, you may have thought about how you can reduce the value of your estate while you are still alive. One of the simplest ways is by giving assets to one or more individuals - you can give any amount and provided you outlive the gift by seven years and do not retain an interest in the gift, the value won’t be included in your estate. The drawback is that if you don’t survive the gift by seven years, the value will be added back to your estate on your death when working out whether inheritance tax is due. However, there are four exemptions available for lifetime gifts. If one of these applies, the value of the gift is ignored: Annual exemption – you can give up to £3,000 every tax year. If you haven’t used the previous year’s allowance, you can carry it forward to the current year. Small gifts – you can give up to £250 in total per recipient

to any number of different people in any tax year. Normal expenditure out of income – you can give away any spare income and it will be exempt from inheritance tax, provided it is usual for you to give away that income. Gifts in consideration of marriage or civil partnership – a parent can give up to £5,000 to a child on or shortly before the child marries or registers a civil partnership. A grandparent can give up to £2,500. If you are considering making a gift, check you can afford to make the gift and won’t need whatever you are planning to give for your own needs. If you give away investments or property, you may be liable to pay capital gains tax on the gift. It’s also important to keep a record of any gifts so that your executors can work out whether it is relevant for inheritance tax on your eventual death.

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

This advice is only an abbreviated summary of a complicated area. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Mary Collyer.

Personalised Financial Planning

For an initial consultation call us on:

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

Mary Collyer Rowberry Morris Solicitors Mulfords Hill | Tadley | RG26 3XJ | T: 0118 981 2992

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

Jack worboys

Drives...

Toyota Auris to drive, but they get the job done and keep the running costs down. In terms of acceleration you have two options, 0-62mph in 10 or 12 seconds. Unsurprisingly the handling is much of the same story, pleasing enough, but nothing to write home about.

he Toyota Auris sits towards the premium end of the hatchback sector with the trim levels starting between £16,000.00 up to £23,500.00. At this level you are taking on some very accomplished and desirable cars, including well equipped Audi A3’s and VW Golfs. So does the Auris stack up well against this opposition? The Auris starts at £16,000.00, but you only get steel wheels with plastic wheel covers and no electric rear windows, which at this price is just not good enough.

Upgrade to the Icon model for £20,115.00 and the spec level jumps up to include all the driver safety aids such as collision warning and lane departure assist, bluetooth, the infotainment system, leather wheel and reversing camera. Thankfully this model has alloy wheels and all round electric windows. Toyota are big on efficiency, so the Auris mixes small, efficient turbo petrols, diesels and petrol hybrids. The base spec car with a hybrid drivetrain starts from £21,000.00. The engines are nothing exciting or thrilling

The feel of the interior is a problem area for me. The design isn’t unattractive or particularly cheap, but it just can’t match up to cars like the Golf or A3 mentioned earlier. The plastics aren’t as premium and the design is a lot less neat. The overall usability of the cabin is still good, with plenty of space in the front and improved boot space achieved by moving the batteries from the boot ﬂoor to under the rear seats. For those looking for more space there is also an estate version called the Touring Sports.

with very sharp lines, clear plastic that extends across the front end containing the badge in a ‘bubble’. It, once again, is not upsetting and is a well proportioned car, but fails to show any character that could compete against the much smarter looking Germans. So this car is clearly not for those who really love driving. However, it is a good fit for those who like to have an unassuming car which will service their needs, but need nothing more. Toyota have a reputation for reliability and efficiency and that will be a big draw for a lot of people. If those are your main tick boxes then this will likely be a great option for you. Unfortunately, for me the driving tick box is much bigger so I would have to pick one of the German cars.

The exterior styling has been brought into the modern age

Jack

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Eye on Finance

Mortimer

Pension Freedoms

Physiotherapy practice

two years on... By Rob Starling

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n 6th April 2015 some of the most important changes ever to impact on the world of pensions took effect. Back then, George Osborne referred to it as ʻfreedom and choice in pensionsʼ. You may recall soundbites such as being able to ʻcash-in your annuityʼ and to ʻtreat your pension like a bank account and withdraw cash from it via an ATMʼ. Perhaps the biggest ʻgame changerʼ was that you were no longer compelled to purchase an annuity and that you could even draw the pension fund in one lump sum if you fancied. Alas, some of Georgeʼs grand plans (including becoming PM) have fallen by the wayside. The ability to cash-in your annuity never materialised and no pension provider has yet to launch a contract that comes with a debit card that you can use in an ATM. So, what did happen next? The Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have both issued reports over the last month on what savers are doing with their pension funds at retirement. The reports cover the 6 months to the end of March 2017, in which 276,761 pension funds were ʻaccessedʼ. The headlines are as follows:

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Annuity purchases continue to fall. Whilst providing a guaranteed income for life the continued impact of a low interest rate means sales fell by 16% over the same 6-month period when compared to 2016.

March 2017. Up 9% from the same period 12 months earlier. Drawdown schemes are ever popular. The FCA reports that the sale of Drawdown Pensions, (whereby your pension fund remains invested whilst you extract an income to meet your expenditure needs), rose by 4% when compared to the same period last year. It also highlighted that more than twice as many pensions move into drawdown compared to annuity purchase. The FCAʼs report broke the figures down even further, highlighting that those with pots of less than £30k were most likely to ʻcash-inʼ. Meanwhile, those lucky enough to have funds over £250k were more likely to move into drawdown. I would certainly agree with the findings of these reports based upon our experiences with our clients. Youʼll no doubt have picked up in our previous articles how Bluesky firmly believe that good financial planning is the key to long term success. Whilst pensions are likely to be a very important part of your income when you stop working, good planning is about how all your financial resources can be aligned to meet your goals and aspirations during retirement.

Rob

People are ʻcashing-inʼ. 150,806 pension pots were taken entirely as cash in the 6 months prior to Rob Starling is Partner and Chartered Financial Planner with Bluesky Chartered Financial Planners

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1717

Theale 0118 930 3133 Burghfield Common 0118 983 3897 Tadley 0118 981 0494 www.parkersproperties.co.uk

Property of the Month Kestrels Mead Tadley Detached Family Home

Tadley Office

Constructed circa 2004 by David Wilson Homes, this well presented detached home has been well maintained by the current owners and is presented in good decorative order throughout. Set within easy reach of Tadley centre offering a range of shopping facilities, amenities, various schools and regular bus routes to the larger towns of Reading and Basingstoke, both Aldermaston and Mortimer train stations with service links to London are also accessible within short driving distance. Benefitting from gas radiator central heating and double-glazed windows, this spacious home comprises of large entrance hall, cloakroom, bay fronted lounge with feature gas fireplace, separate dining room, recently refurnished kitchen, utility room, family bathroom and four double bedrooms, all with fitted wardrobes and en-suite shower room to master. Externally the landscaped garden has been well secluded to the rear and single garage with driveway offers off road parking for two vehicles to the front.

£450,000 £250,000

£375,000

Tadley office

• Terraced House

• 2 Bedrooms

• 3 Bedrooms

• 1 Reception Room

• 1 Bathroom

• 3 Bathrooms

• Kitchen

Aldermaston

• Allocated Parking

Tadley

£350,000

£375,000

Tadley office

Pamber Heath

Tadley office

• Semi-Detached House

• Link-detached House

• 3 Bedrooms

• 3/4 Bedrooms

• 2 Reception Rooms

• 2/3 Reception Rooms

• 2 Bathrooms

• Kitchen

• Driveway Parking

Tadley

Tadley office

• Detached house

• Semi-Detached House

• 4 Bedrooms

• 2 Bedrooms

• 2 Reception Rooms

• 1 Reception Room

• 3 Bathrooms

• 1 Bathroom

• Kitchen

• Driveway Parking

£425,000

£270,000

Tadley Burghfield Common

• Allocated Parking

Tadley

• Garage & Driveway parking

Burghfield Common Mortimer Burghfield Village Aldermaston Wharf Beenham Midgham Woolhampton Sulhamstead Beech Hill Aldermaston Theale Bradfield Stanford Dingley Baughurst Tadley Ufton Nervet Spencers Wood Little London Brimpton Padworth Silchester Tutts Clump Tidmarsh Bradfield Southend Englefield Pamber Heath

Rentals“Lafford & Leavey, experts in

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bringing the outside - inside”

Property of the Month Church Street Theale

Three bedroom semi-detached home

£1250pcm £800pcm Theale office

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Located in a desirable area of the village of Theale is this three bedroom semi-detached home. The property is presented to a high standard with the owners having carried out a large number of improvements. Downstairs accommodation is comprised of an entrance hall that leads to a front aspect living room with feature bay window and a functioning log burner. To the rear is a large kitchen/dining room that feels like the heart of this family home. There is also a downstairs w/c. On the first floor there are two double bedrooms and a single room along with a family bathroom. Outside and to the rear there is a private garden. The property further benefits from a driveway that can accommodate two cars off road.

£1,895pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Burghfield Common office

• Character Property

• Two Bedroom Apartment

• Four bedrooms

• Newly Refurbished

• In easy reach of excellent schools

• Allocated Parking Spaces

• Excellent condition

• Excellent Transport Links Nearby

• Rural views to front and back

• Offered Unfurnished • Available Immediately

Beenham

Burghfield

£1,100pcm

Theale Office

(Tenant’s fees apply)

• Large mature gardens

£695pcm

Burghfield Common office

Theale office

• Two bedroomed apartment

(Tenant’s fees apply)

• One Bedroom Maisonette

• Grade II listed period property

• Off Road Parking

• Spacious living space

• Close To J12 of M4

• Close to railway station

• Close To Theale Train Station

• Fully refurbished

• Offered unfurnished

Windows - Doors -Conservatories UPVC or Timber

Mortimer Burghfield Common

• Unfurnished. Available now

Theale

• Available Now

£1,100pcm One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in£925pcm Berkshire, Tadley office Tadley office offering free quotations and advice from a company with a formidable • 3 Bedrooms • 2 Bedrooms 2 Reception Rooms reputation spanning 50 •years. Choose from a wide range of products inRoom a style • 1 Reception • 1 Bathroom • 2 Bathrooms and finish which will suit• Kitchen your budget and needs, we are only a phone call away. • Kitchen (Tenant’s fees apply)

(Tenant’s fees apply)

• Unfurnished

Tadley

• Available immediately.

• Unfurnished

LAFFORD & LEAVEY LTD Aldermaston Burghfield Common

• Available immediately.

ARROWHEAD ROAD, THEALE, READING, RG7 4AZ Burghfield Common Mortimer Burghfield Village Aldermaston Wharf Beenham Midgham Woolhampton Sulhamstead Tel: Reading (0118) 9303333 Fax: (0118) 9323707 Beech Hill Aldermaston Theale Bradfield Stanford Dingley Baughurst Tadley Ufton Nervet Spencers Wood Email: lafford.leavey@btconnect.com Little London Brimpton Padworth Silchester Tutts Clump Tidmarsh Bradfield Southend Englefield Pamber Heath

Theale 0118 930 3133 Burghfield Common 0118 983 3897 Tadley 0118 981 0494 www.parkersproperties.co.uk

Property of the Month Southend Road Bradfield Southend 5 bedroom detached family home

Theale Office

Located in the aspirational village of Bradfield Southend is this rarely available five bedroom detached family home with far reaching views. Providing over 2300 sq. ft. of accommodation, the property has been in its current ownership for the last 14 years and has been lovingly cared for and extended during this time. The property is finished to a good standard and has the potential to be further enlarged, subject to the usual planning constraints. Outside and to the front there is a private garden, secured by a five bar gate, that provides off road parking for up to 7 cars. Outside and to the rear there is a generous South facing garden that enjoys far reaching views and that provides rear access to miles of public footpaths.

£735,000 £500,000

£400,000

Theale office

Padworth Burghfield Common

• 3 bedroom Semi Detached family home

• 3 Bedroom Semi Detached Character Cottage

• 34ft lounge

• Desirable Village Location

• Separate dining room

• Comprehensively Refurbished

• Study

• Outbuildings

• South facing garden

• Off Road Parking

• Refitted kitchen, granite surfaces

Bradfield Southend

£340,000

£539,000

Theale office

Theale

Theale office

• Three bedroom victorian home

• Truly Unique Property

• Two double bedrooms

• Two Bedrooms

• Conversion potential

• Large study

• Enclosed rear garden

• Open Plan Living Space

• Desirable village location

• Internal Courtyard

• Walking distance to Train Station

Theale

£440,000

• Off Road Parking

£280,000

Theale office

Theale Burghfield Common Burghfield

• Extension Potential

Theale office

• 4 Bed Semi Detached House

• Three Bedroom Family Home

• 2 Reception Rooms

• No Onward Chain

• Conservatory

• Two Double Bedrooms

• 3 Bathrooms

• Good Size Garden

• Conversion Potential

• Walking Distance to Town Centre

• Close to village Centre

Thatcham Burghfield Common Burghfield

• Double Glazing

Theale 0118 930 3133 Burghfield Common 0118 983 3897 Tadley 0118 981 0494 www.parkersproperties.co.uk

Property of the Month St Mary’s Road Mortimer 4 bedroom family home

Burghfield Common Office

Parkers are pleased to offer to the market this character bay fronted detached property with period features throughout, set within a popular cul-de-sac in the sought after village of Mortimer. The accommodation comprises a front aspect lounge, dining room, 19’ kitchen/breakfast room with French doors to the garden, utility room, wc, four bedrooms, two en-suites and family bathrooms.

£820,000

The generous corner plot offers the potential to extend STPC and has off road parking, as well as a triple, oak framed car port with flexible annex accommodation.

£525,000

£495,000

Burghfield Common office

Burghfield Common

Burghfield Common office

• Lounge, dining room & study

• Heart of Mortimer village

• Four double bedrooms

• Ample driveway parking

• Two bathrooms

• Immaculate condition throughout

• Integral garage & driveway parking

• Master with wardrobes and en-suite

• Quiet cul-de-sac location

• Home office, play area & conservatory

• Heart of the village

Mortimer

£382,000

£575,000

Burghfield Common office

• Situated in the heart of Burghfield

• Modern kitchen and bathrooms

• Cul-de-sac location

• Two reception rooms

• Three bedrooms

• En-suite to master bedroom

• South West facing garden

• Ample off road parking

• Ample off road parking • Refitted bathroom

Burghfield BurghfieldCommon Common

• Generous gardens

Burghfield Common

• Centre of village location

£325,000

£223,000

• 10 min walk to train station

• Ground floor apartment

• Immaculate throughout

• Direct access to communal garden

• Master bedroom with en-suite

• Two bedrooms

• Driveway parking with two spaces to front

• Ample built in storage

Burghfield Common office

Bramley

• Newly built in 2011

• Enclosed private garden • Three double bedrooms

Burghfield Common office

• Upvc double glazing

Aldermaston

• Minutes walk from train station

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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 23

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Experts in metal recycling We accept everything from small domestic jobs to full factory clear outs. We are a Licensed waste carrier based in Burghfield.

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Alloy. Batteries. Braisery. Brass.Copper. Copper Tanks. Car Radiators. Dirty/Irony Alley. Electric Motors.Elements. Gun Metal. Household Wire. Lead. Iron. Low Amoured. Old Rolled/Clean Alloy. Stainless Steel.

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What can I do for your Garden this autumn?

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The RainbowMontessori MontessoriNursery Nursery The Rainbow

Did you know there’s a great s to theawood y nextthere’s children’s Didnurser you know great ush lane? on hollyb children’s nursery next to the woods on Hollybush Lane? Thebest best thing thing you your child nextnext The youcan cangive give your child to values, are great memories.Fun and to values, are great memories. Fun and learning, in a safe caring environment. learning, in a safe andand caring environment. Free entitlements available with no hidden costs

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Rainbow Montessori Nursery www.rainbowmontessorinursery.co.uk 30

CALLING MINI SANTAS Saturday 16th December

To celebrate an amazing year for the Burghfield Santas, this years Santa cruise looks set to be ‘awesome’! This year, they would like to invite families to join them on a ‘mini cruise’ around the village before the main event. The plan is simple, they will depart from the Rec (home of the outstanding Burghfest) and head out on an all-ability (pedal) cycle ride around the village, stopping at their friends’ shops for drinks and snacks on the way! You will need to register in advance so they can make sure the mini Santas have enough sacks to fill with goodies on the route! The mini santas will be back at the Rec for hot drinks and mulled wine (for the adults) - and maybe a surprise before waving the ‘Grown up’ Burghfield Santa’s off on their annual adventure.

Mini Santa sign up ! The Santas are using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize their upcoming SignUps. It’s Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com. Go to SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/mZqvjWv Review the SignUps listed and choose the one(s) you like. Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please email burghﬁeldsantas@ outlook.com and they will sign you up manually.

eye

Christmas Fairs & Shopping E vents

There are plenty of festiv e shopping opportunities approach ing , so why not go along for some stress-free Ch ristmas shopping, an op portunity to enjoy a trip out with fri ends and family to brows e and buy, as well as enjoying some coffee and cake!

Tadley School PTA Wint

er Fair

Friday 24th November 20

17, 5:00-7:30pm A wonderful start to the festive season, for the whole family. Musical entertainment , art and crafts, games, seasonal shopping opportunities and much more. With free entry for everyone, a BBQ, cake stall and an incred ible raffle with super priz es to appeal to all ages. A warm winter we lcome for all.

Mistletoe Fayre at Br

Saturday 25th November amley Village Hall , 12-4pm. This

year’s annual Bramley Village Mistletoe Fayre will be showcasing another fantastic array of locally produced arts , crafts, gifts and foods. This popular ann ual event is attended by over 300 people and all products are eith er homemade or hand finished. Free entry.

Silchester Christmas Ma

Friday 1st December, 4-7

rket

You will find this specia l Christmas market at Silc hester Village Hall. There is no admittance charge and in a nutshe ll you will find great food alongside beautif ul craft and gift stalls, plu s copious amounts of Christmas cheer!

Mortimer St John’s Sc

hool Christmas Fair Saturday 2nd December , 2-4pm Mo

rtimer St John’s Christm as Fair is a busy marke t with a wide variety of stalls as well as a good selection of act ivities for children. Refreshments are availab le in our ‘cafe’ too. Go alo them for the afternoon and find some stocking-fi ng and join llers and presents for family and friends! Free entry.

Calleva WI Christmas Ba

Saturday 9th December

zaar

12-30pm Why not pop along to Pamber Heath Memorial Hall and enjoy the annual WI Christmas Bazaar? There will be Art and Craft stalls, hand bags, jams and mustards - all making per fect festive gifts. Of course, there will be the usual WI raffle, tombola and the muchanticipated cake stall.

Trunkwell House Christm

Saturday 4th and Sunda

as Gift & Food Market

5th November 10am - 4p Trunkwell House Hotel’s m. popular event is back! ! Come along to shop sho p shop on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th November. We have a huge selection of crafts stalls, gift ideas and tasty food market for you to enjoy!! Entrance is pa yable on the day and you can even me et Santa & his Elves!!!

SUN Christmas Bazaar

with free entry, 2-4pm at Sulhamstead and Primary School. Come Ufton Nervet and join us for some fes tive cheer with Santa’s grotto, winter crafts, refr eshments and much mo re! Please support the children in their que st to raise money to buy much-needed equipment!

Saturday 2nd December

Coach Trip to Bath Christmas Market s

Tuesday 5th December

Enjoy a festive day out with Triangle Travel to Bath Christmas Markets. Shop, wander and exp lore. Just £35 return coach from Mortimer. For more information cal l Triangle Travel on 0118 933 1177

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

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eye on Community

Road Safety Week 20th - 26th November 2017

Road Safety Week is the UKʼs biggest road nated safety event, coordi the annually by Brake, road safety charity. ent Brake works to prev ry, road death and inju make streets and d communities safer, an of suppor ts the victims road crashes.

ROAD RULES! t First find the safes ss. cro to ce pla u Stop just before yo get to the kerb. r Look all around fo n te lis d an traffic g, If traffic is comin let it pass When it is safe, go e straight across th road... Do not run!

unity Road safety is a comm as h issue. Dangers suc fast drivers and lack ght of safe crossings bli the UK. ss ro ac s itie un comm le ab Driving is unpredict ng and if somethi s on unexpected happen h as suc – d ea ah ad the ro m fro t a child stepping ou it – rs ca d between parke t tha d ee sp is a driverʼs er will determine wheth and, e tim in p sto n ca y the w ho p, if they canʼt sto e all hard they will hit. W re the d an es liv sy live bu eed sp to n tio pta tem a is ving up in the hope of sa we t fac in time, where . Breaking the could be costing lives g too fast for llin speed limit or trave by police at d de or conditions is rec ntributor y factor crash scenes as a co ) fatal crashes in in one in four (23% Great Britain. to inspire The campaign aims organisations thousands of schools, e action tak and communities to ote lifeom pr d on road safety an Week the g rin du s ge saving messa e for tim al ide and beyond. It is the d an er eth tog local people to get s, itie tiv ac ing ais run awareness-r

To help the homeless they built an ARK!

32 32

We all see the plight of the homeless as we walk through the town centre. Do you ever wish you could help?

into a mobile resource centre, doubling up as place for the homeless to sleep and get the help they need.

Well, now you can. The Ark Project is a bus that has been converted

The vision is to run the bus 365 days a year, but this is dependable on continued financial support from corporate sponsors, personal donations and charity funding grants. Without volunteers none of this is possible.

Do you want to get on board? There are lots of ways that you can help. First of all, the team needs donations of Tshirts, jumpers, gloves, hats and toiletries. If you have items you can donate, please email s.longsmith@caap.org. uk to arrange drop off or collection. Can you do more? Perhaps you or your company can sponsor a bed pod? It is just £25

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

If you havenʼt campaigns or events. but want to got involved this year, ke by Bra rt po help, you can sup to 09 99 55 calling 01484 rd. donate by credit ca

BE SAFE BE SEEN er are Spratleyʼs of Mor tim eness ar aw ise helping to ra well As . too y fet sa of road s erʼ as supporting Mor tim ing giv by Fireworks event, dy away these cute ted al loc to s tor ec bear reﬂ d, en att o wh ren child ing they will also be giv who ne yo an them away to m in oo wr sho ir the stops by s ck November (whilst sto llect co d an last). Just pop in yours!

www.communityactionarkproject.org

per week to do this and the donation covers the cost of food, laundry and other running cost of bus/showers facilities.

If you have time rather then money to offer, why not join their team of volunteers? Make a real difference in someones life. Email your interest to ceo@ caap.org.uk

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@villageeyemag

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eye on Community

F i re rew ewo works Guide

Wrap up warm and have a great family night out at one of the many FIrework displays in the Village Eye region Come and enjoy all the thrills watching one of the organised displays that are on at some great venues for all the family to enjoy

MORTIMER Mortimer is pulling out all the stops this year with the annual charity bonfire in aid of Mortimer St John’s Infant school. This year, the event will take place on Saturday 4th November, in the field behind the Horse and Groom, The Street, Mortimer RG7 3RD. Gates will open at 4.30pm and the entertainment will begin at 4.45pm. The bonfire will be lit at 6pm. Last year, the event attracted the biggest crowd ever, almost 3,000 people. Not bad for an event which started in the school playground to a much smaller crowd 30 years ago! Alongside the licensed bar and flashing novelties, this year will see wider food choices - a direct result of feedback from last year. The team has also hired toilets for the first time this year and the fireworks will be played to classical music which is another first! There is a great team spirit involved in organising the day and lots of Dads get involved on Saturday morning in building the bonfire. The whole event is run by volunteers. No one gets paid for their time. It’s a real community event involving lots of local businesses, mums, dads and parents of children who have long left the school (Andy Bell has been leading the firework team for 17 years). The local Scouts always play an integral role too. Last years’ funds were used towards the building of outdoor classrooms and an extended playground. Funds raised from this year’s Bonfire night will pay for coaches for the entire school to see ‘The Snowman’ in London and for an ipad replacement scheme. Advice from the team is to buy Advance tickets, come early, take the Advance Ticket queue and enjoy the music, food stalls and beer tent! There is no parking on site, so please park in village car parks and remember, a torch will come in handy! Adults £4, Children £3 in advance. Tickets available from the School Office, Dads Shop, The Baobab, Budgens, McColls, Parkers, Nisa and Wellers in Burghfield. Tickets on the gate £5 adults £4 children. For safety reasons, no sparklers please.

34 34

SWALLOWFIELD

SILCHESTER

Sparks In The Park takes place at Swallowfield Park on Saturday 4th November. Enjoy a huge bonfire, professional firework display, live music, food and drink. The event is in aid of Farley Hill School PTA and is always a winner. Try the hog roast, fish & chips, snacks, mulled wine, soft drinks and beer. Gates will be closed prior to the fireworks display at 7.30pm due to Health & Safety Regulations. Sparklers are not permitted. Please use signposted designated parking. Tickets available from www.sparksinthepark.net

Silchester Association is hosting a magnificent evening of fireworks this year on 4th November at Silchester House. Gates will open at 6:00pm. The first event is the Pumpkin Carving Competition and everyone is encouraged to bring their pumpkins from Halloween. Judging is at 6:30pm. The bonfire will be lit at 7:00pm and the fireworks start at 7:30pm. There will be a hog roast and burgers, mulled wine and other drinks available for sale. The price on the night is £8 per adult, half price for children and discounts for family ticket and seniors. Further discount is available for pre-purchased tickets which are available at the Calleva Arms and Pamber Heath Stores. It promises to be a great evening for all!

BAUGHURST 4th November sees the return of Baughurst Scout and Guide Group’s long running, annual, professional firework display. As well as the fireworks display, there’s always a great range of hot food and drinks, bar, tombola, glow sticks, a large fire as well as toilet facilities and first aid cover provided by the Red Cross. Held at Adams Field, Baughurst, the bonfire will be lit at 6:45pm and fireworks starting at 7pm.

ALDERMASTON Friday 3rd November Aldermaston PTA presents a Firework Display at Padworth Village Hall. Gates open 6.30pm. Licensed Bar, Hot Food, Snacks, Glow Stall. Tickets are £4 in advance from Aldermaston CofE School, The Butt Inn, Aldermaston Wharf and Aldermaston Stores or £6 on the gate. All stalls on the night are cash only. NO SPARKLERS PLEASE.

PANGBOURNE Pangbourne Fireworks Fiesta is taking place on Saturday 4th November at Pangbourne Primary school on Kennedy Drive, RG8 7LB. Gates open at 5.30pm. Why not go along and enjoy the BBQ and a licensed bar selling West Berkshire beer and mulled wine, hot and cold drinks and snacks. Stalls will be selling glow toys and you can try your luck on the chocolate tombola. Visitors can also enjoy music from Pangbourne’s Silver Band. Tickets can be purchased online at www.fopps.co.uk or in selected shops in Pangbourne.

TADLEY This year will see the 35th annual Firework Fiesta staged on Saturday 4th November at Barlows Park, Tadley. This annual event is a major fundraiser for the Loddon Valley Lions Club whose charity work around the area is very well respected. The fireworks event is completed by a funfair and refreshments. There will be two firework displays; an earlier one for the younger audience and a later one for older children and adults. There will also be a “Best Guy” competition which will give free entry to each child who brings a Guy. Gates open at 5pm. The Fireworks used in these displays will be under the control of fully trained and licensed professional technicians. Free Car Parking will be available, although we encourage as many people as possible to walk, thus minimising congestion. All Cars must be removed from the Car Park by 10pm. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FIREWORKS, INCLUDING SPARKLERS, TO THE EVENT OR YOU MAY BE REFUSED ADMISSION.

Tickets available from www.loddonvalleylions.org

eye 35

ComeCome and join us, see and visit us. how See how Steiner Waldof Education is your localalternative. alternative. Steiner-Waldorf Education is your local

how w ocal alternative. al alternative. alternative. KINDERGARTEN NOW TAKING ADMISSIONS

We are taking admissions for 3-6 year olds in our second Kindergarten where we cater for your child’s individual needs.. in our very special early years environment.

ERGARTEN NOW RGARTEN ARTEN NOW NOW NG ADMISSIONS G DMISSIONS ADMISSIONS

“When I look back at my time at Alder Bridge as a student I remember days filled with creativity, nature, beauty and wonder. Today I am a parent of a class 1 child who comes home every day Our SIS (School Inspection Service) is with a smile on her face and joyful stories of her day.”

taking admissions g king admissions admissions for forfor ar olds in our second s olds in our in our second second 0118we 971 4471 arten where cater for where en where we we cater cater for for Alder Bridge School, Mill Lane, Padworth, Berkshire, RG7 4JU. Find us at www.alderbridge.org.uk and on Facebook. ild’s individual needs.. ndividual ’s individual needs.. needs.. ery special early years Mortimer St Maryʼs y ecial special early early years Mortimer St. John’s CEyears CE Junior School Infant School environment. Believe, Achieve nvironment. onment. & Together Good with aspects of Outstanding.

Would you like your child to attend a warm, welcoming school where nurturing and learning are key to educating your child?

Alder Bridge aI student ICan Succeed der ridge Bridge as a as student aas student I We ity, nature, beauty wonder. re, nature, beauty beauty and wonder. andand wonder. 1ild child who comes home every ho who comes comes home home every every day dayday • A school set in the of • An education based ul stories her day.” s tories of her of day.” her day.” heart of the village on Christian principles A two form entry junior school for children aged 7 to 11 providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice.

• A well-resourced, bright learning environment • Creative, fun curriculum

• Warm, caring staff • We foster a love of learning • Visit us anytime.

“We Learn Together, Grow 4JU. hire, RG7 G7 e, RG7 4JU. 4JU. Together and Shine Together” Facebook. ook. cebook.

Children are taught in their classes for Literacy and in ability groups for Mathematics. Foundation subjects are taught within the International Primary Curriculum providing a crosscurricular, thematic, rigorous approach, designed to engage children of all abilities in todayʼs world. Rated Outstanding by SIAMS, March 2017 Rated Good by Ofsted, December 2016

Please contact the Headteacher: Nicola Sumner 0118 933 2242

*Under 4’s FREE

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

For more information contact us on 0118 9332491 or visit our website: www.msm.westberks.dbprimary.com

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eye on Education

Hello Autumn!

Fun things to do this autumn

Out and about during this magical season with Jubilee Day Nursery and Jubilee Gems

t’s that time of year when the leaves are changing colour, acorns are falling, conkers are appearing and the days are getting colder. The children at Jubilee Day Nursery and Jubilee Gems have all been enjoying seasonal activities, observing the changes and connecting with nature.

and about whatever the weather and are passionate about outdoor play and learning. We are fortunate to have 60 acres of open countryside, private woodland and our own working farm for the children to enjoy. Our ethos of ‘learning by doing’ – both inside and out, every day is evident through all that we do. It’s essential that children explore, learn and play - safely and freely. With the support of a highly experienced and caring team, children gain an understanding and respect for nature through our outdoor learning programme which links directly to the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Autumn is a magnificent season and one that is filled with wonder for young children. It provides a whole host of learning opportunities which we take full advantage of within our nurseries and there are many opportunities for children to make the most of the seasonal changes at home too.

If you would like to find out more about our full-time or term-time provision, please do come and visit us.

The Jubilee name has become synonymous with high quality outdoor learning while providing a caring, safe learning environment where your child will be happy, nurtured and encouraged to develop and achieve their potential. We enjoy getting out

For Jubilee Day Nursery (full-time), Tel: 0118 970 1600 Email: info@jubileedaynursery.co.uk visit www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk

Enjoy a welly walk together. Kick through the autumn leaves and study all the different colours. Observe all the changing signs of the season and with older children, record them. Go on a bug hunt and see what you can find under logs. Create a home for a hedgehog or a bird feeder (don’t forget to leave water for them in the winter months). Enjoy creating bonfire and firework pictures together. Make a clay tealight holder for Diwali and decorate. Make seasonal, warming soups and talk about the autumn vegetables you see on your weekly shop. Scooping out the contents of pumpkins leads to some fun sensory activities for young children. Leaf sorting encourages early maths skills – get children to sort by shape, colour size etc. Leaf threading is excellent for fine motor skills. Create an autumn crown using a piece of card and add double-sided tape to the outside so your child can collect and stick to their crown. Make the most of the misty mornings and study the morning dew on spiders’ webs.

For Jubilee Gems, our term-time Nursery, Tel: 0118 983 4018 Email: info@jubileegems.co.uk visit www.jubileegems.co.uk

Choices Career

Clare Desai Offering guidance and information for your Career Journey

Volunteering for your Future Must have experience… The shared benefits of volunteering your time.

experience of customer support and stock checking.

We have all looked at adverts for our perfect job and felt that sinking feeling when we see the words “experience needed”, “must have experience in”, “previous experience in xyz is essential” – but not having the experience should never put you off following that particular path. Transferable skills and experience are transferable for a reason – you can bring them from anywhere.

Volunteer your time to support a local business eg a café As well as supporting your local community you will gain skills in the food industry, knowledge of hygiene and health and safety, food preparation and waiting skills.

Volunteering your time is an excellent way to support your community whilst building your portfolio of those transferable skills and shows determination and dedication to the role you want. For example, if a job states that you must have customer facing experience and you don’t have any, find yourself a role that is customer facing. Examples of voluntary support you can give: Charity Shops Volunteering your time to support a charity can also gain you sales experience, retail experience, experience of using the till and handling cash,

Volunteer at a local school If you want a career working with children, then volunteering to support with reading at a school or as a lunch time controller (often a paid role) can really support your application.

Quality tuition at affordable prices Fun and exciting dance classes Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street, from 2 - yrs to adults Gymnastic Dance Musical Theatre Course from 5 yrs

Singing, Drama, Street Dance

Free trial lessons available To find out more, please contact Louise on 01189 868000

info@allstardance.co.uk www.allstardance.co.uk

Want to work in Healthcare but lack experience? Volunteer your time in a care home or look to volunteer at a local hospital – some hospitals run patient survey schemes that volunteers are involved in. A lack of experience should never put you off You can always gain experience in any field as long as you are prepared to put in the time and effort and support your local community. Charities depend upon volunteers so do your bit locally whilst you build up those transferable skills.

• Lessons on Drums, Guitar, Bass, Vocals & Keyboard • One hour Professional Lesson • Perform at our end of year Rock Concert

At the Flicks

eye on Leisure

with ROB BARNES

o, there was an overwhelming sense of relief when just fifteen minutes into Blade Runner 2049 I realised that director Denis Villeneuve hasn’t screwed it up. More than this, he has managed to produce a stunning movie that is not only faithful to the original, but is a near-masterful piece of cinema in its own right.

We open thirty years on from the first instalment. Once produced for slave labour, bio-engineered humanoids known as replicants are now being used to lead LAPDs Blade Runner unit. Designed to obey, their task is to hunt down and ‘retire’ early-model replicants who have gone rogue. On a routine assignment agent ‘K’ (Ryan Gosling) unearths the skeletal remains of a pregnant woman, and in turn exposes a dark secret that threatens the outbreak of war between the replicants and humans. Charged by his icy superior (Robin Wright) with locating the child, his mission leads him to ex Blade Runner Deckard (Harrison Ford), a meeting that brings his own past and very existence into question. So often long-awaited sequels of classic movies cut ties with their predecessors in an attempt to attract a new wider audience. Blade Runner 2049 is quite the opposite, with its roots firmly set in the past, but despite this it still manages to retain its own unique identity. Although inevitable, it’s simply too easy to

judge this movie against the original. For this to be a success Villeneuve was always going to have to be bold and break free from Ridley Scott’s dazzling and dystopian LA cityscapes that so defined the cult classic. The biggest challenge then was to reimagine that world and dream up a new vision of his own, and the result is startling. From cold lifeless tundra to industrial wastelands and sun-scorched desert ruins, Villeneuve’s futuristic backdrop is breath-taking and completely immersive. But most importantly it is utterly believable as an expansion from the claustrophobic and rainsoaked streets of LA. Ryan Gosling’s naval gazing tendencies can be an unwanted distraction in his previous roles, but it serves him well here as a sullen and emotionally numb cold-blooded cop. His only outlet to escape the monotony of this life is a holographic companion Joi (Ana de Armas), whose attempt to stir his emotions only reinforce his inability to feel true empathy. Behind his lifeless eyes simmer a conscience and sensibility that is desperate to cut loose, and it’s this pent-up frustration that draws you in. We’re kept waiting for Harrison Ford’s appearance, but when it does eventually arrive – unlike in The Force Awakens – it’s incredibly rewarding and for me he turns in one of the best performances of his career. The only misstep is Jared Leto’s overly dramatic portrayal of Neandar Wallace, the god-like creationist of the new model replicants but this really is a minor gripe.

Children's book of the MONTH

CORALINE

By way of a taster and to fully appreciate all the nuances of Villeneuve’s sequel I would first recommend a viewing of Blade Runner: The Final Cut. You’ll then get all the trimmings of this intoxicating and epic visual feast that more than lives up to the hype. "Bold, brave and beautiful

Not since Star Wars: The Force Awakens has a sci-fi sequel been so eagerly anticipated.

4.5/5

by Neil Gairman

Coraline is a brilliant book. The genre is dark fantasy and i would say that it’s perfect if you’re age 9 or above. Coraline Jones and her parents move into an old house that has been divided into flats. She goes to meet her neighbours upstairs who are really old and quirky. There’s two old ladies and also an old man that trains mice. The flat beside Coraline’s is unoccupied however she discovers a small door in the wall. Coralines’s neighbours warn her not to go through the door. Coraline ignores her neighbours warning and decides to open the door anyway. She enters a scary looking flat that looks just like her own. There are even adults living in there that look exactly like her parents but, they have buttons for eyes. At first they are really nice to her and give her toys, which Coraline likes. She even thinks that she might like to stay with this “other mother and father” Coralines other mother and father give her the chance to stay in this new but creepy world if she stitches buttons onto her eyes. Coraline becomes horrified and very scared! When Coraline then returns home she discovers her parents have gone missing and may well have been kidnapped. The people with buttons for eyes are definitely not as they seem!

by Lucy Holmes age 11 To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email info@villageeye.co.uk

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picture: Twitter

Families & Leisure

Đ°sro gby

TADLEY RFC IN TV FAME!

T Sport rugby is on tour this season to meet grassroots rugby fans, and community clubs and London Irish brought the TV cameras to see our very own close-knit community rugby club, Tadley RFC. On Monday 25th September, BT Sport Rugby ďŹ lmed their weekly round-up of news and action from the weekĘźs domestic and European matches. This popular rugby programme, presented by Sarra Elgan and former England player, ex British and Irish Lions and exHarlequins player, Ugo Monye, was recorded and broadcast on Wednesday 27th September.

London Irish premiership rugby player Topsy Ojo was also there to meet players and supporters from senior to junior and the mini members of Tadley RFC.

and brought London Irish mascot, Digger along to enjoy the event, which the kids loved.

Senior players were luck enough to take part in a specialist coaching session which focused on high ball catches, and BT Sport also brought their popular smash-o-meter challenging players to show their strength on hitting a tackle bag! The rugby stars were great interacting with the crowd, meeting the players, founder members, and signing articles of memorabilia in between ďŹ lming. The London Irish Community team who worked with the Tadley RFC committee to make this event happen, were also on hand to watch proceedings, throw the ball around with the younger members,

After the ďŹ lming was over, Ugo Monye and Topsy Ojo took the time for a Question and Answer session with the Tadley RFC crowd, and UgoĘźs advice to the youngsters was to â€œback yourself, believe in yourself. DonĘźt let anyone ever tell you you canĘźt do somethingâ€?. Simon Lapham, Junior Chairman said â€œThis was a great opportunity to showcase our rural community rugby club which draws players and supporters from all surrounding towns, and local primary and secondary schools. We work closely with London Irish and the RFU and are pleased that London Irish chose us as their representation of grass roots rugbyâ€?.

New members always welcome Contact Tracey Tatam on 07813 622886 or tracey_neilson@hotmail.com Seniors Training; Tuesday and Thursday nights â€“ 7:00pm, Colts Training; Wednesday nights - 7:00pm and Sundays, Mini/Midi (Ages U6 to U12) Training; Sundays 9:00am, Junior (Ages 13 to U16) Training; Sundays 11:15am

Learn to Ride â€˘ â€˘ â€˘

CHILDREN RIDE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Â˝ PRICE! (ÂŁ128.50 when you book a block of 8 lessons - was ÂŁ257!) ADULTS RIDE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Â˝ PRICE! (153.50 when you book a block of 8 lessons - was ÂŁ307!) Beginner lessons to advanced level, including BHS exams Owner: Manager: Office hours:

* new clients

25% off all lessons and Gift Vouchers in November!* Bridget Hart Jenny MacArthur Tues-Sun, 9am-5pm

0118 988 6936 www.burleylodge.co.uk enquiries@burleylodge.co.uk

Burley Lodge Equestrian Centre | Hyde End Road, Shinfield |Berkshire | RG2 9EP

The Village Eye is a privately owned magazine and bought to you by Pinktomato Limited, a local 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, URLâ€™s and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. To feature your business in this publication please call 0118 933 3311

Proud to sponsor the Mortimer Bonf ire Night &Firework Display! Burghfield Common 0118 983 3897 Theale 0118 930 3133 Tadley 0118 981 0494

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Published on Oct 17, 2017

Village Eye Issue 63 Nov 17

Published on Oct 17, 2017

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