Village Eye Apr 17 by immags

VILLAGE

Issue 57 April 2017 Circulation 11,000

FREE Lifestyle magazine

for the RG7 area and beyond

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page 6

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TRIBUTE NIGHTS GIMME GIMME GIMME BAGGY TROUSERS!

LAMBING DAYS AT AMNERS FARM...

THINGS TO DO THIS EASTER!

at Lâ€™Ortolan

4 20 34

OUR APRIL COVER SPONSOR

Parkway’s

Easter Egg Laboratory

Don’t miss James & The Giant Peach Experience, Sat 22 April at Parkway

12 - 19 April 11am - 4pm (Closed Easter Sunday)

East Street

(Opposite Costa, next to Pandora)

Create & decorate your own Easter Eggs, enjoy face-painting, chocolate treats & embark on Newbury Bid’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt.

and more

Circulation 11,000

VILLAGE

Issue 57 April 2017

he long-awaited change of season is evident as we bring you AprilĘźs issue of Village Eye magazine. At last, we have actually spotted the sun now and again - hurrah! Now weĘźre all more than ready to come out of hibernation and ďŹ ll our weekends with some fun, arenĘźt we? You will ďŹ nd lots of ideas between the pages this month from shopping events to festivals, from lambs to Easter Egg hunts! So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy a ďŹ‚ick through the mag.

FREE

Lifestyle magazine and beyond for the RG7 area

eye

If youĘźre looking to shape up for the summer there are tons of top tips on pages 10-11 to help you get started. From what to eat, how to exercise and what to wear, youĘźll ďŹ nd everything you need to look and feel great ready for summer.

u in it

Are yo

page 6

yet?

at Lâ€™Ortolan

TRIBUTE NIGHTS GIMME GIMME GIMME

BAGGY TROUSERS!

LAMBING DAYS AT AMNERS FARM...

THINGS TO DO THIS EASTER!

4 20 34

OUR APRIL COVER

News | Business | Sport KEEPING IT LOCAL

SPONSOR

| Health | Homes | Enterta

inment1 20/03/2017 18:19

1 Issue 57 April B 2017.indd

Make sure you turn to pages 36-37 to make your Easter weekend a really ĘťcrackingĘź one this year! There are lots of events for all the family and competitions galore! The jewel in the local crown is the Mortimer Easter Egg Hunt which takes place on Easter Saturday around the village and Mortimer Common and is coupled with a fantastic competition from Budgens. Take a look to ďŹ nd out more.

For a real spring treat, you may want to book in to sample the delights at ReadingĘźs only Michelin starred restaurant, LĘźOrtolan who are our cover sponsors this month. Find out all about the dining experiences LĘźOrtolan offers - including their new Taste of Spring menu - on pages 4 and 5.

10 SLIM FOR SUMMER

BRINGING BACK SNAKE!

YouĘźll ďŹ nd all our regular columnists within the magazine this month, too. Rowberry Morris Solicitors in Tadley give us some more insight into the Residential Nil Rate Band and how that could affect inheritance tax. Rob Starling, our ďŹ nancial advisor, can be found on p.14 with this monthĘźs advice on LISAs - lifetime ISAs - something we should all know a bit more about. Jack Worboys is back this month with a review of the Ford Mondeo - a car which has come in for some stick over the years. Find out what Jack thinks about its latest incarnation on page 29.

Are you turning your back on your ĘťSmartĘź devices? Eye Tech this month is all about the return of the Nokia 3310 which has been all over the news as the phone which is simply that - a phone which just makes calls! Well...and texts...and has the odd game. But is simplicity we overloaded users are yearning for now? See what you think on p12.

LOGAN

Megan our beauty editor brings us her favourite skin care products this month. ItĘźs all on page 7 for you to see and it may inspire you to give your skin a pamper. This monthĘźs ďŹ lm review is of Logan, the latest Marvel movie which has made a few waves on its release, being a lot more ĘťgrittyĘź than its predecessors. Our ďŹ lm reviewer, Rob Barnes, shares his thoughts on page 35.

E X C L U S I V E

Helle n & the Team xx

Community News - 2 Box Kart Bash Update - 4 Skincare Packs a Punch! - 5 Making the Perfect Pint - 9 Property Spotlight - 16-19

Keep up to date & like us on facebook! /villageeyemagazine

Lurking in your Larder? - 21 Trades & Services - 22-29 Jack Drives, Mondeo - 30 Smarter Shopping - 32 Play Away - 38

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A huge thank you to all our contributors this month: Bridget Hart, Karen Brogan,, Aileen Crawford, Ryan Suanders, Christian Frankum, Ellie Nichols, Davis Santos, Helen Greenwood, Angela Plank, Harmeet Nandra & Archie Brewer. 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.

HOP ALONG!

Editor: Sub Editor: Advertising: Beauty Editor: Motoring: Finance: Film Buff:

Hellen Shaw Jackie Stuart Zahra Willis Megan Curtis Jack Worboys Mark Penston & Rob Starling Rob Barnes

CLIMBING KILI! 40

Lov aď›€ gly th d viď›€vd ! to

April

EYE

CRAZY FOOL

As ever, we extend a huge thank you to all of our advertisers and contributors for helping to make Village Eye the areaĘźs favourite local magazine, and please - if you are responding to any advert or feature, donĘźt forget to mention the magazine to them! Until next time...

Registered Address: Butlers Lands Farm Mortimer, RG7 2AG

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Well Done

Does your life feel out of control?

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Our local service is all about giving you back your precious time. We work through your to do list so you can get on with the important things in life. Whether it's a one oﬀ project or regular help, we're here to listen and tailor our service to your needs. What are you waiting for? To ﬁnd out more, please call Fiona on

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BRIDGEWOOD LANDSCAPE SERVICES

Congratulations to local business woman Melanie Meads, Director of Q1 Care, who was recently shortlisted for the 2017 Sue Ryder ‘Woman of Achievement in Business’ Award. These awards, now in their ninth year have gained momentum since their inception and always uncover some inspirational stories from the

and make history!

How would you like to be part of history? The Vyne, our local National Trust treasure, is putting on a new roof to rescue this former Tudor palace once visited by Henry VIII. You can be part of this amazing project by personalising a tile with a message or drawing to go on the new roof. For a suggested donation of £5, you can put your own message on the underside of one of the handmade tiles that will go on the new roof. The event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue. You don’t even need to book and children are most welcome. Dogs on leads are also welcome. What an interesting day out! The Tag-a-Tile workshop will be located between the shop and the Brewhouse tearoom. For more details please phone The Vyne, Running until Tuesday 18 Apr 2017

Seasoned Hard Wood - By the Load or Bags, cut to your requirement - also Kindling Wood. FREE bag with first order when you mention this advert. All types - Close Board – Post and Rail – Gates

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POLICE HQ MAY SOON SHIFT TO SPENCERS WOOD

t has been proposed that Three Mile Cross could become the new base for Reading Police Station. The current town centre base could be moved 2.5 miles out of town, possibly in just two years.

The police would keep a desk for contact in the town centre although a final site is not yet known.The police force would make around £5m from selling the Castle Street base as well as reduce running costs by around £327,000 every year. The Three Mile Cross site is currently the base for the Roads Policing Unit but would be redeveloped to create a new joint facility next to Whitley Wood fire station. A spokesman said: “Thames Valley Police is focused on the replacement of Reading police station and relocating to Three Mile Cross is the preferred option. “Reading police station is too big for the Force’s needs and the building requires up to £9m worth of maintenance. Replacing the station with a smaller more efficient building will save the Force an estimated £327,000 a year. “Any such relocation is unlikely to take place before 2019/20 and all staff and officers affected by any change would be consulted. Despite the relocation of most teams, we are committed to retaining a front counter and local facing Operational team presence in Reading town centre.” If released the old police station along with the former council Civic Centre and Hexagon Theatre would create a major regeneration opportunity for central Reading.

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

nominees. Melanie is the founder of Q1 Care with a background in nursing. She has a team based in Theale who deliver home care to the elderly and vulnerable in their home environment across Berkshire. Their mantra is ‘taking time to care’ and it seems that they really do deliver on this. Well done, Melanie!

TAG A TILE

LOGS

FENCING

Melanie

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ot many of us non-farmers will be aware that there is an imminent ban on farmers using commonly used herbicides. According to the UK’s agriculture and horticulture development board (AHDB) this ban could cost UK farmers and growers from €100million to €1billion a year across Europe. Although better for the environment, it will also make it difficult to grow crops such as onions, carrots and leafy salads on an industrial scale.

However, a Tadley inventor has created a solution for producing organic crops on an industrial scale. David Holloway has invented a BioSeedMat

eye

and is confident this could eradicate the problem. He said: “The withdrawal of herbicides is a very serious issue and could make it very difficult for farmers worldwide, which will ultimately lead to poor quality crops. “The BioSeedMat is a reliable alternative to herbicides and after years of product development, we are nearly ready to launch.” David’s solution uses biodegradable paper and starch-based adhesives combined with a unique gel. Field trials have been planned at Folly Farm in Tadley, with the product due to go to market, if successful, in around six months’ time. Exciting stuff!

ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEUR

Wanted – Scarecrow Makers! It will soon be time for the annual Burghfield Scarecrow Trail, organised by Girlguiding in Burghfield. Now in its 6th year, the trail will run over May half term from Saturday 27th May until Saturday 3rd June. It makes a great day out for families to follow the trail and perhaps win some prizes! But, what they really need now is scarecrows! One of the best parts is deciding on a scarecrow and planning how to make it. This year’s theme is “Fairytales and Fables”.

When we spotted that Bridget Hart of Burley Lodge Equestrian Centre had raised over £6000 in sponsorship for running the London Marathon, we just had to find out more! It turns out that Bridget used to enjoy running as a child - and was quite good at it - but hadn’t run at as much as she’d have liked since. In more recent years, Bridget has made a return to running and having pledged to raise £10,000 in sponsorship for Cancer research [no mean feat], has secured a place in this year’s London Marathon! At time of writing, Bridget has raised £6507 through a variety of fundraisers working with the team and customers at Burley Lodge. These have included a JustGiving page, raffles and quizzes. All monies will be donated to Cancer Research

If you would like to get involved and enter a Scarecrow, all you need to do is go along to the website www.scarecrowtrail.org and download the application form. Or if you prefer, you can e-mail bcscarecrowtrail@ btinternet.com. Entry costs just ten pounds and this year’s prizes are £100 first prize, £50 second prize and £25 third prize. All prizes are Sponsored by Davis Tate, FX Live, The Post Office and Nisa store, The Forge Garage and Joelle Webb, Foot Practitioner. Closing date for entries is 28th April so choose your Scarecrow and get them entered, then it’s all hands to the pumps to get them made for 27th May. Happy Scarecrow making!

who have 1800 other people running and raising money. Special training days have been laid on by Cancer Research so that all the runners can get to know each other and create a team spirit, as well as wearing the Cancer Research T-Shirt, though Bridget shall be complementing hers with a pink tutu! Her training schedule is pretty punishing right now in the lead up to the event. It includes a 20 mile run three times a week - she’s also enduring pre-breakfast runs too - to get her body used to running on zero energy. And, when she’s not running, every bit of spare time is being spent either at Nuffield Gym at Green Park or at local interval training classes... We’d like to wish Bridget all the very best for the London Marathon (and extend a big shout out to all of the other dedicated local runners who are taking part in it too good luck to you all!) If you can help Bridget to reach her fundraising target, just visit her Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Bridget-Hart

Run Bridget, Run! 3

SUNDAY 25th JUNE

MADNESS & ABBA OOH LA LA The RG7 area has gone tributetastic this summer for its live music events and we can't wait! The Burghfield May Fayre takes place across the weekend of 5th - 7th May. Following a family night on the Friday and before the BakeOff Challenge on the Sunday, the May Fayre always rounds off the Saturday night with a band or two and this year is no different. You could be dancing the night away to… drum roll please…Madness! Yes, headlining tribute act Los Palmas 6 will be performing all the favourite hits of Madness

from the early days right through to their more recent hits on this – hopefully – balmy summer’s evening in May. Tickets are just £15 each. Why not get your family and friends together for a smashing night out? To book your tickets just fer A very special of email tricia. ng ri hipwell@ for teams ente ! btinternet. wn Jimmy & the team do ng com.

In similar fashion, the Mortimer Fun Day has always ended with a musical treat for party go-ers to enjoy in the evening. Taking place on Saturday 1st July this year, it has recently been revealed that the Mortimer Fun Day’s grand finale will be none other than Abba! Yes, Planet Abba, following their previous appearance at the Fun Day in 2014 will be performing once again. So if you're a Dancing Queen, get out your Money, Money, Money, buy a ticket and enjoy the tribute act Planet Abba for a great night out. You can get your tickets for just £15 from Wellers of Burghfield, Dads Shop, Budgens or online at mortimermusiclive. co.uk. 4

READING METAL RECYCLING

cli at Reading Metal Recyhave e idg Br eld hﬁ rg by Bu lity extended the hospita ms tea to rd ya ir of the ent! entering this years ev Simply take your conﬁrmation email to to lp them, and they will he ials ter ma th wi u provide yo rt from to help build your ka es, bik of n tio their selec rted wheels and other asso ! rk wo metal ! Now that is great news

BOX KART BASH GATHERS PACE Road closure approval secures proposed route Since we announced plans of the first ever Burghfield Box Kart Bash in January’s issue, the organisers emails have been pinging, phones ringing and facebook page has gone into overdrive... It seems that this might be one of the most popular event ideas yet proposed by the Santas of Burghfield. So far, there have been team entries from families, businesses and groups of friends, supporting some amazing charities. These include Thames Valley Air Ambulance, The Brain Tumour Charity, Blasma, BIBS (Babies in Buscot Supports @ RBH, Burghfield Area responders, Guide Dogs and Newbury Royal British Legion. Many of you have been wondering where the Box Kart Bash will be - and what the route is! We can now confirm that West Berkshire Council have agreed to close the Reading Road at Hermits Hill on the 25th June! Starting at Guide Dogs HQ, karts will meander down the hill to the Hatch. The amazing people at the Guide Dogs HQ are opening to allow the use their grounds for spectators pits & staging - The Rose Lawn Hotel has agreed that its land can be used as the mid-way refreshment area - and of course, no santa event would be complete with a bar... which you’ll find on the Hatch. AT the time of writing, the BKB Team is looking into how it can broadcast the event onto giant screens along the route too - exciting stuff eh.

Margarita Mocktail

There are a only a handful of team places left - so this message is especially for you... If you have been thinking about entering a team but are yet to pay your deposit - now is the time to do it - remember, no payment, no place! Entry forms can be found at www.burghfieldsantas.org.uk/ boxkart or ping them an email to burghfieldsantas@outlook.com facebook.com/BurghfieldBoxKart

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' If you fancy a great evening out; On Saturday 29th at the Burghfield CSA, there wil be live music from ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’, a 6-piece jive band, plus a disco and a raffle, to support Epilepsy Research UK. Fun, frolics and dancing starts at 8pm! Tickets available on the door priced £10. For further infrmatuon call Karen Brogan on 07738 008528

Regular readers of this page will know that I am obsessed with skincare!

here’s nothing I love more than taking all of my makeup off at the end of the day and spending 15 minutes (or maybe a few hours) to properly pamper my face. But there are sometimes when my skin needs a little extra love and these are the products I turn to in my hour of need.

Megs xx

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil is talked about countless times by every blogger and magazine going but it’s a great product that is 100% worth every penny. The fab thing about this product is that you need such a small amount to make a large difference. It comes with a pipette and I use around 3-4 tiny drops and pat into my skin after moisturising to see most difference. To me, when I wake up the morning after my skin has such a warm

Cut and Blow Dry £44 Restyle £49 Blow Dry £24 Gents Haircut £22 Clipper Haircut £14 Children Under 10 £14 Children Under 15 £18 Semi Permanent £30-£35 Regrowth Tint £35 Full Head Tint Short £40 Long £46 Tint and Foils Short £48 Long £54 1/2 Highlights Short £48 Long £54 Full Highlights Short £68 Long £74 Couture Colour by Quotation Colour Correction by Quotation Hair Up and Bridal Work by Quotation.

healthy glow - I am obsessed. On the same topic of oil’s, another favourite of mine is Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate Oil For Night. This smells incredible, it’s the most relaxing and soothing scent ever. It’s full to the brim of amazing ingredients such as rosehip and argan oil, which give off the spa-like smell and feel. It’s much heavier in consistency than Kiehl’s oil, which makes it feel slightly more like a treatment on the skin. Despite it being fairly thick, my skin absorbs this within an instant and any slight dryness has completely disappeared. My mum can’t rave about this product enough and actually bought me one for my birthday as she loved it so much! I adore First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads as they are a quick and easy way to boost the texture and appearance of my skin. They come in a medium sized pot and each pad is soaked through with liquid. I simply take one and spread it across

my face until the pad feels like it is starting to dry. What I love about this is that the pad itself has one side that exfoliates the skin as you rub the product in, meaning it leaves a dewy, bright complexion - who doesn’t want that? Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster certainly packs a punch in the glow department! As soon as I do two pumps of this, the smell of oranges hits me like a train and it is such a treat to tap this into the skin. There’s something about this product that is a little bit magic… As soon as I have blended this into my skin my face looks brighter and my skin looks more plump and bouncy. I am very nearly at the end of my bottle of this, which I am not happy about! Out of all of these products, this one is deﬁnitely my favourite.

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

Meg’s Momʦ

Elizabeth Kempson Hairdressing 07748 922615

/Elizabeth-Kempson-Hairdressing www.elizabethkempsonhairdressing.co.uk

18-20 West End Road | Mortimer Common

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Since taking over the role of head chef at L’Ortolan in January 2015, Tom Clarke’s artistic talent and signature style have shone through in bundles. His roots are in classical French cuisine having trained with Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons and Jean-André Charial in France at Le Strato’ hotel in Courchevel and the legendary ‘L’Oustau de Baumanière’, all 2 Michelin starred. Tom’s dishes are packed full of exquisite ﬂavours and beautifully presented with a contemporary edge – and often an element of surprise! Sharing the knowledge and passion for food is very much part of the culture at L’Ortolan. The restaurant offers guests a whole host of different ways to experience the restaurant and the superb cuisine.

id you know that Reading only has one Michelin starred restaurant and, even better, it’s right on our doorstep in Shinfield? Whether or not you’ve already sampled the delights that L’Ortolan has to offer, you may want to consider planning a visit over the next few weeks because L’Ortolan has recently launched its spring menu. The ‘Taste of Spring’ menu is a stunning six course tasting menu for two. It promises to be a real fine dining experience and for a pleasing price, too. Enjoy lunch for two for just £89 Tuesday to Saturday throughout April, or dinner for two for £119 from Tuesday to Thursday throughout April. You can expect some really interesting flavours and ingredients that will delight your tastebuds, all with attentive and charming service. The L’Ortolan team work hard to ensure that passion is as integral to the wine selection, the service and the style of the environment as it is to the food.

For more adventurous diners the Chef’s Table seats up to 4 people right in the heart of the kitchen where you can soak up the atmosphere during a busy service and enjoy a succession of exquisite food and wine pairings. There’s no need to choose from the menu or wine list - the team will simply ask your likes and dislikes and Tom and his talented team will take you on a culinary journey featuring L’Ortolan’s signature dishes, each accompanied by a glass of wine carefully selected by their Sommelier. For budding chefs, there is a chance to enhance your cookery skills with the team at L’Ortolan, too. They run a number of masterclasses across the year covering everything from a chocolate masterclass which will teach you how to make home-made Easter eggs to a masterclass on a 3 course meal to impress! During the demonstration there is ample opportunity to ask all the questions you have and take home plenty of practical tips and ideas. Each masterclass generally starts with a morning cookery demonstration, followed by Champagne, canapés and a sumptuous three course lunch.

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

L’Ortolan has also recently launched its brand new dining concept ‘The Kitchen Table’. The Kitchen Table is a bespoke dining experience, catering for 6 diners around the heart of the stove with unique access to your own personal chef. You can be among the first to taste L’Ortolan’s brand new dishes. Running on the first Friday of the month, Kitchen Table experiences are currently available on selected dates in July, August, September, October and December. There are full details on the dining experiences available at L’Ortolan on their website as well as a full list of masterclasses across the year, but if you’d just like to pop along to enjoy some splendid spring food, then why not take advantage of our Reader Offer? All you need to do is book a Taste of Spring lunch or dinner, mention Village Eye and you will enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival. Bon appetit! To find our more about the Masterclasses, Chef’s & Kitchen table Experiences or to make a reservation, call 0118 988 8500.

Top left: Chef, Tom Clarke doing what he does best. Top: Straight to the Chef’s Table. Bottom: Culinary Masterclass in action

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APRIL Wednesday 19th - Chocolate Masterclass Hand made Easter eggs & more… Wednesday 26th - Perfect Sunday Lunch MAY Saturday 6th - Three Course Dinner Party Wednesday 24th - The Humble Chicken, bring the most out of Britain’s favourite meat. JUNE Saturday 3rd - Flavours of Italy Thursday 15th - Perfect Steak Masterclass A great gift for Fathers day!

COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF SPARKLING WINE FOR EVERY READER *

All you need to do is book a Taste of Spring lunch or dinner, mention Village Eye and you will enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival. offer expires 30th April 2017

*Taste of Spring Dinner for two £119 Tuesday - Thursday | Lunch for two £89 Tuesday - Saturday. Max 6 per booking. A discretionary service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill. Offer runs until 30th April. Excludes 26th March.

Spratley’s

Your local WHILE-U-WAIT MOT (by appointment) Testing Station

MOTs only £40 Having your car MOT’d every year can be a bit of a ‘faff’... At Spratley’s, for your convenience, we can do this for you whilst you wait on one of our comfy chairs enjoying a nice cup of tea or coffee whilst catching up on-line using our complimentary WiFi or watching the latest ‘what’s on’ TV in our showroom. Or, if you don’t have time to wait, and subject to availability, you might prefer to take advantage of our free courtesy car offer. Just ask us for details.

0118 933 2338

w: www.spratleys.co.uk e: service@spratleys.co.uk

Service | MOT | Repairs | Car Sales 8

60/62 Victoria Road | Mortimer | Reading | RG7 3SG

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Making The Perfect Pint CURRY SUNDAYS Get together with family and friends at Burghfield Spices on Sundays from 1pm to 10pm For just £9.95 for adults and children* & concessions £6.95 we’ll treat you to a selection of 15 popular dishes, sides and pappadoms - and you can leave the washing up to us! We’d also like to invite you to join us every first Thursday of each month for our live music evenings.

0118 983 4040

www.burghfieldspices.co.uk

Our full menu is just a click away. You can now order online for collection/delivery!

Burghﬁeld

Spices

The Hatchgate, Burghfield Common

tarting my foray into home made beer I had visions of having to convert the family ‘wagon into the General Lee as the ‘Feds’ chased me down the Reading Road in Burghfield, running moonshine around to all my friends houses. Thankfully I awoke and started to be a little more sensible... If like me, your memory of home brew beer is of something rather unpalatable making its way from the airing cupboard and best forgotten, then the good news is that home brew has come a very long way since the 70’s. I became interested in home brew beer on a trip to Tesco following Burghfest last year. I know it’s strange, but I got bored of following the clan around comparing bananas and looking for the best deal on toilet paper... and as most men do - I wandered off. What’s this ? ... Near the DIY aisle was all manner of home brew equipment and ingredients. It was an impulse purchase, and what was of particular interest to me was how the ingredients all seemed to be pre-made in a can. All I’d have to do is add water (sometimes sugar) and hey presto BEER. Having followed the instructions to the letter and waiting for a couple of weeks, I am delighted to tell you that my homebrew masterpiece was indeed a very passable tipple and very reminiscent of BEER! Here is what I bought on my outing: A container to create the initial mix and

by David Santos

fermentation with a cover on it, Sterilizer tablets (apparently Milton is just fine) , a plastic tube to syphon, a pressure vessel with CO2 cylinders, beer ingredients in a can - They have quite a lot just take your pick - I went for Yorkshire Bitter. You can get all this in the Brew Buddy starter kit. This includes bottles so you will need to pay extra for a pressure vessel which I highly recommend. Amazon sell them for around £38

The process is remarkably simple. First ensure that everything is very clean and sterile, if you don’t you will have a terrible result. Then follow the instructions on the can, warm water and mix all in the initial fermentation container. Then find a warm (but not too hot) place for the fermentation. Popping it in the airing cupboard is not normally a great spot, basically its too warm. I found that a great place is next to the fridge, as it’s around room temperature and fermentation seems to happen at the right speed. You can purchase thermometers, heating belts, all sorts of things. Now you wait, and wait some more. Patience is what you

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need. After around 10 days to two weeks the initial fermentation will stop. You can get into measuring specific gravity if you want to be a little more scientific. The next part of the process is to use the pipe and syphon it off into the pressure vessel (or bottles) but avoid the very bottom of the fermentation container when doing so. At this time you need to add a little sugar, around half a teaspoon per pint. Be careful not to add too much as you are kick starting the fermentation again and don’t want a beer explosion as everything from this point is airtight. After around 10 days you will end up with a really creamy and silky pint. I tried bottling the beer but found that for bitters and ales the pressure vessel was the key - the CO2 drives the beer out and creates a perfect pint and also keeps out the air so your beer keeps for much longer. I guess the proof is in the drinking. Well I have made beer now around 10 times with the kit I bought in Tesco and every time it’s been fantastic. Its a struggle to tell it from the beer in some of the pubs, fun to do and much cheaper too. I admit to being a novice but banish any thoughts of nasty home brew and if you want to have some beer ready for summer start now with some kit from the local stores or online. I promise you will be in for a real beer treat.

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Eat Fat First! If you have a little of the right kind of fats in your system before you eat, youʼll send “Iʼm full” messages to your brain before you eat too much. Try eating some good healthy omega 3 fats 20 minutes before you eat your main meal. Go for a a couple of oatcakes with nut butter, a tin of sardines, a bundle of crunchy veg with hummus or some ﬁngers of rye bread toasted and dipped in a dish of nut and seed oils mixed with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Nothing Tastes as Good Eat Little and Often Now, this is a phrase which is often overlooked. Those dieting - often make the mistake of eating too little. Interestingly, when you eat too little your body enters a kind of starvation mode which more often than not has an adverse affect on weight loss, with the body hanging onto the nutrients of your last meal with a vice-like grip, storing the energy as fat instead of being burnt off.

Do it with a friend Like many activities in life, when we do them with a friend, we are more likely to succeed. Whether youʼve decided to take up jogging, attend a class or simply follow a healthier eating plan statistics prove that going it alone often means we will give up doing them quicker. Having another person rooting for you to support (and be supported by you) will spur you on.

as slim feels

Mind Over Matter Your mind and body are in constant communication with each other. What your mind believes your body believes too so it is important that you are aware of the subtle beliefs that might be impacting your weight. If you truly believe it is possible to lose weight. or believe that itʼs natural to gain weight as you age - your body will follow. Now we are not saying that you can ʻthink yourself slimʼ, but rather, if you believe you ʻcan do itʼ, you are more likely to maintain a sense of will power along the way.

Experts recommend that you should eat a small healthy snack at least every three hours to get your body used to a regular calorie intake. Never skip breakfast either - As its name suggests - this break from the nightly fast will kick start your metabolism in the mornings... Remember Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen and Dinner like a Peasant!

Dieting Blues! Now this little tip is rather an unusual one - but it might just work! If you swap the light in your fridge to a blue bulb and only eat from a blue plate - your appetite may decrease. The though process behind this bizarre ritual is that in nature, there are very few foods [except say, blueberries which are a great source of ﬁbre and are jam-packed with Vitamin C] which are naturally blue and our species has evolved not to crave ʻblue things - you know, just in case they are poisonous!

A green & fruity tea time Switching from your regular cuppa or Chocca Mocha Latte (which often comes with biscuits and sugary snacks) - to green or herbal teas with a handful of nuts or seeds. Not only will this switch save you calories but the herbal tea will keep you hydrated and the nuts will keep your blood sugar levels stable so youʼll be less likely to want that hob nob or jaffa cake bar. There are some fabulous teas out there at the moment. In the VE ofﬁce, we have recently been enjoying the odd cup of salted caramel, cherry bakewell and gingerbread tea from Twinings!

Distractify Carrying a tube of your favourite hand cream, a nail ﬁle or buffer in your bag might be all you need to give your mind a little distraction when a craving strikes.. Instead of reaching in for a custard cream or the half eaten packet of crisps at

Stop the Sugar! Many of us have a penchant for all things sweet and will swap refined sugars for artificial ones when trying to lose weight. But according to experts artificial sweeteners are exactly that - artificial! If you seriously want to lose weight - then it might be a good idea to try and kick the sugar fix altogether. By regularly using artificial sugars, all we do is satisfy our craving for sweet things instead of training our palate to need less sugar. So forget diet drinks and snacks, try eating fresh fruits instead - after a few weeks you should notice your need for less sugar. If you are still stuck, try this.... Eat green beans. Green beans can and will kill the craving almost instantly. The next time youʼre craving sugar – trust me – green beans will stop your sugar craving in seconds.

the bottom of your bag - pull out your distraction kit and ﬁle, smooth and buff away. Your hand will look and smell gorgeous at all times and youʼll have saved yourself from the evil unwanted calorie intake!

Fresh green beans are the best choice for killing cravings but, frozen work well too, and you donʼt have to worry about prepping them. Keep some frozen green beans in your freezer. When a craving strikes, microwave a cup of beans with a few tablespoons of water until theyʼre done.

Rehearse your acceptance speech! As your body shrinks - your conﬁdence may well do the opposite. Quite often, we are not very good a receiving compliments and tend to shrink into our shell when

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people openly say nice things about us. It is inevitable that as you lose weight, those around you will start to notice and will say things like ʻWow, you look great, have you lost weight?ʼ Of course, the answer to this is a BIG FAT YES I HAVE! Learn to accept these compliments, and use them as a boost to keep on going.

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BRING BACK SNAKE!

TECH eye by Eye Geek

If you are under 30 then the chances are that you have never seen one of these. It was ﬁrst launched in 2000 and became pretty much an instant success. We have an original sitting in a dusty drawer at the ofﬁce. Now the iconic Nokia 3310 is back. Kids ask your parents they probably had one! Seventeen years ago Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp were not around and what people wanted was a phone that had a battery that would last for a huge amount of talk time, and text messages. Thatʼs right people used to have verbal conversations where they would talk to each other. I know thatʼs odd ! Nokia wanted to put in some fun too - and so arrived Snake. A completely addictive simple game that you could waste hours on. There was also primitive internet viewing via a WAP browser, yes we do mean primitive compared to todayʼs smart phones and tablets. Back then it was about selling you talk time, text packages and simple java based games and ringtones that were to come later in the naughties. Just to keep the article balanced ... “HelloMoto”. Jump forward seventeen years in your time machine and the Nokia 3310 is back, so we took a look at one at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The rebooted Nokia 3310 is still a small phone with a long battery life just like its great, great grandfather. But now it comes with a colour screen and an updated version of ʻSnakeʼ. It has a very similar form factor and also has a replaceable battery. There are buttons too, yes, real buttons, that you press to interact and anyone that had the original will feel that they have been blasted back in time.

It comes in a variety of colours but at launch we believe there will no twitter, Whatsapp or Facebook. Maybe youʼll be able to download them later... No matter how hard you press the screen though, itʼs not going to do anything as itʼs not a touch screen. It doesnʼt have Wiﬁ, and only a 2MB camera.. Oh yes and its only 2.5G so the browsing experience will be somewhat slower. And it has t9 predictive text -- So do be careful what you send. But forget what it doesnʼt have -- you have a Smartphone for all that ..!

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What it does have is bucket loads of nostalgia, and itʼs going to be as cheap as a bad Naughties hair do. We have heard (unconﬁrmed) rumours that itʼll be in stack at Carphone Warehouse but the release date isnʼt yet known. We know itʼs not going to replace a Smartphone, but as a second device that you can use or when some messaging gets added in there you can use on a night out it has to be a winner. Come on Motorola, where is your RAZR reboot?

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Business & Finance

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LISA WHO? by Rob Starling

Independent Financial Advice • Investments • Pensions & Retirement Planning • Inheritance Tax Planning • Long Term Care For an initial consultation call Mark Penston on:

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3 Chalfont Court, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks, RG6 5SY BlueSKY Independent Financial Advisers LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on your mortgage or other loans secured on it.

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Prior to the 2016 Budget, all the talk centred around Pensions and whether they would continue to exist in their current form. We were also introduced to the Lifetime ISA (LISA), touted as a potential replacement to the traditional Pension. Well, thankfully, the Pension remains (for now at least). But so does the LISA. So what is a LISA and how does it interact with other forms of tax efficient savings? From 6th April 2017, the overall ISA limit will increase from £15,240 to £20,000. You can allocate your subscription of £20,000 to a Cash or Stocks & Shares ISA in any combination. The LISA has a maximum annual subscription of £4,000. Where it differs from the traditional ISA is that it enjoys a top-up from the Government of 25% (e.g. £1,000 on a £4,000 contribution). Therefore, an individual who maximises their LISA allowance could also contribute a further £15,000 to a traditional ISA. However, the LISA is not open to everyone. Applicants must be aged between 18 & 40 and the LISA must ultimately be used for either home purchase or retirement, anything else and the Government will reclaim the top-up.

up front), with an overall maximum of £12,000 which, if paid, would enjoy a £3,000 bonus from the Government. It is probably better suited to the individual who is looking to purchase a property in the relatively short term. Those with a longer time horizon might be better suited to the LISA, where larger contributions can be made and a wider investment choice is available. Comparison with a Pension is more complex. Based on current rules, the LISA appears to be a good complement to a pension. For those facing caps on pension contributions, a LISA may be a good option (although most of these people will not be under 40). An individual can make a higher contribution to a pension and their employer may also pay into the pension scheme, so it is unlikely to be advantageous to cease Pension contributions in favour of LISA. Both receive a Government top up and both enjoy virtually taxfree growth. You can access pension benefits from age 55 compared to LISA at age 60 (traditional ISAs allow access at any time). In retirement, LISA could provide tax-free income whereas Pension income (over the 25% tax-free cash) is subject to Income Tax. Pension benefits can be passed on inheritance tax free whereas funds left in LISA would be subject to IHT. So, the debate is not ‘cut and dried’ and the appropriateness of pension or LISA (or traditional ISA) will depend on an individual’s circumstances and objectives.

So is the LISA stepping on the toes of two other already established savings vehicles – namely the Help to Buy ISA and the Pension? The Help to Buy ISA can only invest in Cash and contributions are restricted to £200/month (plus £1,000

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local

The Residential Nil Rate Band - Will my estate benefit? The definition of a direct descendant is wide and includes:

By Helen Greenwood

• A child, grandchild, great grandchild, and so on down the family line.

Last month we looked at how, from April 2017, the new Residential Nil Rate Band introduces a higher threshold for Inheritance Tax if you leave your home (or a share) to your direct descendants. Initially worth £100,000, it rises to £175,000 in 2020, and is in addition to the normal Nil Rate Band for individuals (currently £325,000)

• A spouse of a direct descendant, or civil partner, even if they are widowed. • A step-child, adopted child, foster child, or child where the person who has died was their legally appointed guardian. A child does not have to be under 18 when they inherit and the allowance can be shared between several people. Importantly, direct descendant does not include cohabitees, children of cohabitees (as they are not step-children), brothers and

PART TWO sisters, nephews, nieces, and other relatives. Gifts of your home to these people will not benefit from the new RNRB at all. Further, only a limited range of Trusts will attract the RNRB. The estate may still qualify for the normal Nil Rate Band (£325,000) to offset against any tax due. What if I sell my home and move somewhere smaller? If you downsize or move into a nursing home, you may still qualify for the additional allowance after your death if some of your estate is inherited by direct descendants. A special “downsizing addition” applies if your sale was after 8 July

2015 calculated on the value of the home you sold. The rules are complex, so it is important to keep paperwork after a sale, ideally with your Will, to help your Executors work out if this will apply after your death. As before, this article is only an abbreviated summary of a complicated area. If you would like further guidance, please contact the Private Client Team at Rowberry Morris. Rowberry Morris can be contacted on 0118 981 2992

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

Property of the Month Lambﬁelds Theale Village 3 bedroom rural home

Theale Ofﬁce

Situated in the coveted village of Theale and positioned on a small peaceful close and overlooking the local cricket pitch, is this 3 bedroom semi detached family home. The property sits on a good sized plot and offers the ability to be considerably extended to the side and rear, subject to the usual planning constraints. It has: a front aspect living room, impressive rear aspect kitchen/ breakfast room, and a conservatory that is currently being used as a dining room which provides views of, and access to, the back garden. There is also a downstairs cloakroom and utility room. On the first floor there are three bedrooms (inclusing two doubles) and a family bathroom. Outside and to the rear is a good sized garden. The property benefits from a driveway that could accommodate 5 cars off-road if required and a detached garage. This property represents an incredibly rare opportunity that is full of latent potential.

£435,000 £400,000

£475,000

Theale ofﬁce

Theale Burghﬁeld Common

• 4 Bedroom semi detached property

• 3 bedroom detached

• Desirable village location

• Ensuite bathroom

• Rural outlook

• Close to canal walks

• 3 Reception rooms

• Garage and driveway parking

• Large rear garden

• Reﬁtted kitchen/dining room

• Extension potential

Aldermaston

£375,000

£360,000

Theale ofﬁce

• Three bedroom semi detached

• Three bedroom Victorian home

• Desirable village location

• Two double bedrooms

• 19’ Reﬁtted kitchen

• Conversion potential

• 17’ Conservatory with underﬂoor heating

• Enclosed rear garden

• Extension Potential

Stanford Dingley

• Uninterrupted country views to rear

• Desirable village location

Theale

£325,000

• Short walk to mainline station

£280,000

Theale ofﬁce

Theale Burghﬁ Burghﬁ eldeld Common

• Close to mainline station

Theale ofﬁce

• 2 Bedroom Semidetached

• 2 bedroom cottage

• Downstairs W/C & Utility Room

• No onward chain

• Coversion Potential

• Driveway parking

• Extension Potential

• Wood burner

• Driveway Parking

• Village location

• Good sized garden

Beenham Burghﬁ Burghﬁ eldeld Common

• Garage with ofﬁce potential

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 16

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

Property of the Month Island Farm Road Ufton Nervet 4 bedroom bungalow

£600,000

Offered to the market with no onward chain this four bedroom bungalow is centered within a generous plot. The property beneﬁts from four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, utility room, lounge, dining room and kitchen. There is also a double garage and ample parking to the front. Located in a popular semi-rural location, viewings are highly recommended. Situated in the semi-rural Ufton Nervet, to the front of the property you have acres of woodlands on your doorstep and open ﬁelds surrounding this hamlet. With many properties in the immediate area having extended, this bungalow is an exciting opportunity to update or further develop (subject to the usual planning permissions).

£780,000

£579,000

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

Riseley

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

• Modernised Westbuild home

• Charles Church detached house

• Four double bedrooms

• Cul-de-sac location

• Reﬁtted kitchen and bathrooms

• En-suite, and cloakroom

• Feature Inglenook ﬁreplace

• Five bedrooms

• Double garage & driveway parking

• Fitted kitchen/breakfast room

• Three reception rooms

Burghﬁeld Common

£530,000

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

• Four bedroom new build

• Immaculately presented

• 10 Year NHBC Warranty

• Modern bathroom

• En-suite to master bedroom

• Ample storage throughout

• Detached garage

• Upvc double glazed

• Private gardens • Finished to the highest standard

Burghﬁ Burghﬁeld eldCommon Common

• Separate utility

£465,000

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

• Garden with new decking

Burghﬁeld Common

• Garage

£335,000

£325,000

• Immaculately presented

• Three bedrooms

• Open-plan kitchen/diner

• Reﬁtted bathroom

• Modern reﬁtted bathroom

• Single garage

• Generous sized rooms

• South east facing garden

• Open ﬁreplace

• Backing on to woodland

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

Mortimer

Burghﬁeld Common Ofﬁce

• Three bedrooms

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

Burghﬁeld Common

• Quiet cul-de-sac location

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

Property of the Month Knollys Road Pamber Heath Spacious Family Home

Tadley Ofﬁce

Having been tastefully redecorated by the current owners, this detached property is located within a quiet cul-de-sac in the highly sought after village of Pamber Heath. This spacious family home is conveniently positioned within short driving distance of Tadley centre with its range of schools, amenities, shopping facilities and public transport links to Reading and Basingstoke. Internally the ground floor accommodation has been extended to the side and comprises of storm porch, entrance hall with storage, large modern fitted kitchen with various integrated appliances and underfloor heating, dining room, utility room, 17’ lounge with feature fireplace, study and cloakroom. With UPVC double glazing and gas radiator central heating throughout the house, the first-floor accommodation comprises 4 bedrooms with en-suite shower room to the master and separate family bathroom. Externally this well presented home offers ample off road parking and double garage to the front and well-proportioned private rear garden to the rear.

£525,000 £475,000

£675,000

Tadley ofﬁce

• 5 Bedrooms

• 3 Bedrooms

• 4 Receptions

• 3 Receptions

• 3 Bathrooms

• 1 Bathroom

• Kitchen/Breakfast room

• Kitchen

• Double garage

• Private garden

• External Gym

Tadley Burghﬁeld Common

T SS

£385,000

Tadley ofﬁce

• Similar Urgently Required

• 4 Bedrooms

• 2 Bedrooms

• 2 Receptions

• 1 Reception

• 2 Bathrooms

• Kitchen

• Kitchen • Allocated Parking

2 Bedroom Terrace

£290,000

TC SS

£270,000

• INVESTORS Only

• Driveway parking

3 Burghﬁ Bedroom Terrace Burghﬁ eldeld Common

Tadley ofﬁce

Baughurst

• Garage & parking

Pamber Heath

Tadley ofﬁce

£350,000

Tadley ofﬁce

• Similar Urgently Required

• 3 Bedrooms

• 2 Receptions

• Bathroom

• 2 Bathrooms

• Garden, Garage

• Kitchen

3 Burghﬁ Bedroom Semi Detached Burghﬁ eldeld Common

• Driveway & Parking

Rtals

www.parkersproperties.co.uk

Property of the Month Clay Lane Beenham Two bedroom apartment

Located in the much coveted village of Beenham and available immediately is this incredibly spacious, unique two bedroom apartment.The property is surrounded by countryside and offers panoramic views all around. With many miles of walks being on the doorstep and the regions excellent transport infrastructure, with both Junction 12 of the M4 and Theale mainline station, with direct services to London and strategically positioned to connect with Cross rail, being a 6 minute drive away.

£995pcm £1170pcm Theale ofﬁce

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Offered unfurnished, the property comprises of: a 30ft lounge/diner, kitchen, two double bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom. It further beneﬁts with off road parking for multiple cars.

£1295pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce • Four bedroomed detached

• 3 Bedroom Mid Terrace

• Recently decorated

• Well Presented Throughout

• Double glazed

• Allocated Parking

• Private garden

• Close to J12 of M4

• Convenient cul-de-sac

• Offered Unfurnished

Theale

• Available Immediately

£975pcm

Burghﬁeld Common (Tenant’s fees apply)

Burghﬁeld Common ofﬁce

• First Floor Modern Apartment • Two Double Bedrooms

• Reﬁtted kitchen

• Two Bathrooms

• Unfurnished

• Allocated Parking

• No pets No children

• Available April

• Available now.

Tadley ofﬁce

Theale (Tenant’s fees apply)

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Tadley ofﬁce • 2 Bedrooms

• Reception

• Bathroom

• 2 Bathrooms

• Kitchen

• Unfurnished • Available now.

• Offered Unfurnished

£925pcm

• Bedroom

Tadley

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Theale ofﬁce

• Two bedrooms

£795pcm

• Easy access to AWE and Reading

£950pcm

• Immaculately presented

Burghﬁ Burghﬁeld eldCommon Common

Theale Ofﬁce

• Available Now

Tadley Burghﬁeld Common

• Unfurnished

Amners Farm Lambing Days

.50* 7 £ / 6 £ : s t Adul / £5* 0 5 . 4 £ : n Childre 23* £ / 0 2 £ : y Famil

Sat 29th, Sun 30th April & Mon 1st May. Sat 6th & Sun 7th May.

11am-6pm (last entry 5pm)

rices Pre-sale P e day ren) sed on th s, 2 Child *If purcha t includes 2 Adult cke (Family ti

• See lambs being born • Steam train rides • Pets Corner • Straw play barn • Crafts & refreshments • Archery • Tractor and trailer rides • Pony rides • Falconry and more...

Find us between Junction 11 and 12 south of the M4. Follow the signs on the day.

t a e r AG t! u o y da

n go to o i t a m r o f in For more .co.uk m r a f s r e n www.am 33 437 8 9 8 1 1 0 on or call us

Amners Farm, Burghﬁeld, Reading, Berkshire RG30 3UE 20

Pregnant women are advised not to attend the Lambing Days. No dogs allowed.

Be honest. When was the last time you went through your store cupboard? Do you carry out an organised annual clearout? Or is an adhoc blitz (when you spot something past its shelf-life) more your style? Perhaps sticking your head in the sand and ignoring those lesser-used items in your cupboard is more your style? And we all have them. The ingredients we bought for a particular recipe - or school cooking lesson - that we are never going to use again. Items like soba noodles, mustard powder, artichoke hearts; healthy foods bought with good intentions such

as pearl barley, lentils and nuts. And so there they sit, gathering dust and going stale, being pushed ever more further to the back of the cupboard until they are long forgotten. It’s well-known that we’re a nation of food wasters and there are many campaigns and organisations trying to help us change our habits, so why not have a clear out this spring, remove the outof-date or stale items in your store cupboard and start again with a clean sheet. First of all, what needs to go? Check through your cans and packets, checking the ‘Use By’ date. ‘Use By’ is the important date. Eating things beyond their ‘Use By‘ date could do you harm, whereas the ‘Best Before‘ date will give you an idea of when an item is past its best, but is unlikely to do you any damage. Secondly, there could be some items in your larder that need to go even if they’re still in date. Here are just some of the no-no’s which may be lurking in your larder...

Homes & Leisure

eye

What’s Lurking in Your Larder? Dried herbs & stock cubes

These usually have a shelf life of around a year, as they lose their potency after that, but you can get the most out of them by making sure the lid’s always screwed on tight or stock cubes are in an airtight container.

Peanut butter

Nut oil starts to smell rancid when it’s past its best, so a simple sniff test will sufﬁce! Once opened, natural peanut butter usually lasts around three months, with processed lasting up to a year..

Nuts.

Handy to have around the house as a healthy snack, nuts might give you a tummy ache if left open for more than a month, as they tend to grow mould.

Dried fruit

Shelf life for dried fruit is about three months because once opened currants, raisins and sultanas tend to go rock hard.

Honey

Honey has a reputation for lasting forever, but should be good for around two years. Once opened, make sure it’s kept out of direct sun, keep the lid clean and use a separate knife or spoon to serve, so you don’t end up with butter (and bacteria) in it.

Pasta

So hard you’d think it could survive anything, but no, pasta softens over time if not kept in an airtight container after opening. Bin after a year.

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And ﬁnally, why not try the Store Cupboard Challenge? Most of us are guilty of going to the supermarket when we have a freezer full or cupboard full of ingredients that we could use to make a meal. Here’s the challenge: once a week, make a meal using those lesser-used ingredients in your cupboard or the unidentiﬁed items in your freezer (!) In the spirit of the challenge, the ingredients should be those just ‘sitting there waiting’ or fresh food which is ‘on the turn’. As well as changing up your every day meals, the store cupboard challenge will save on waste as well as save you money. Why buy more when you have plenty? All it needs is a little imagination For more ideas, visit www. lovefoodhatewaste.com

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Contact Toby on 07737 784 244

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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.

We will pay you top ££s for your scrap!

Demolition Site Clearances We can come and collect your scrap from site or you can bring your scrap to us and use our 50 ton weighbridge!

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Residential Scrap Metal Drop in your scrap metal old copper pipes, washing machines, power cables etc.

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Weirside, Green Lane Burghfield Bridge Industrial Estate

Need a Solicitor? Contact John L Banky Solicitors

Taking Time to Care

A traditional and friendly law firm based in Theale, just off Junction 12 of the M4 offering a professional approach over a comprehensive range of Legal Services.

Helping your loved ones to remain in their own homes Does your loved one need some help each day, getting up and dressed, preparing meals or getting settled in the evening? We offer daily visits to homes across Berkshire ensuring both you and your loved one are getting the support you need. We never rush, we don’t believe in 10 minute visits – we believe in helping your loved ones to feel safe, cared for and independent. Contact us today for a no obligation discussion about your needs. Melanie.Meads@q1care.co.uk

Tel. 01189 323 865 www.q1care.co.uk

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ORDER OVER THE PHONE OR ONLINE & WE”LL DELIVER TO YOUR DOOR

We stock a wide selection raw food, horse feed, plus horse bedding, small animal food and bedding, wild bird foods, cage and aviary bird foods, chicken food and bedding, cat food and cat litter, fish food for cold water, tropical and marine, reptile food and also many exotic foods. You name it, we stock and sell it and probably for the best prices in the area. We provide FREE DELIVERY, have some great promotions and guarantee friendly service.

0118 981 9996

www.tadleypetsupplies.co.uk 4-5 THE FORGE (next to Tesco’s) HEATH END ROAD, BAUGHURST

Lunar Dog Listening

Learn to communicate with your dog the natural way using a language that your dog understands.

I would love to share with you the knowledge I have learned through graduating as a Preliminary Dog Listener, using the proven method known as Amichen Bonding that was designed by Jan Fennell the Dog Listener. All consultations take place in the owner’s home. The reason for the home consultation is because this is where the dog and the owners feel most relaxed and comfortable. Therefore making it easier to learn. I then discuss a program of advice and help, using four simple techniques, at a very reasonable rate. Please get in touch if you would like some further information of how Amichen Bonding can work for you and your dog and to discuss any issues you are having with your dog. This method works for big, small and any breed of dog! Call: Samantha Moon

01189 331907 sammoon1@hotmail.com www.lunardoglistening.co.uk

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Full safety training given Servicing/Repairs Batteries/Tyres

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Stairlifts

pictures for illustration purposes only

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Keep it local ! Trades & Services Pages. Don’t forget to mention Village Eye when calling!

Clean House Services

Regular & One-Off Cleaning Home & Office Cleaning Curtain Alteration Service Domestic Carpet Cleaning Ironing (free collection & delivery)

Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

With our professional carpet cleaning service we make your carpets and rugs look and feel like new again with brighter colours and softer feel. No colour runs or shrinkage, woolsafe aprpoved chemicals, rapid drying times.

Before & After Party Cleaning End of Tenancy Cleaning Spring Cleaning Pre/Post Holiday Cleaning

Upholstery cleaning: Professional upholstery cleaning of your curtains, cushions, sofas, chairs, mattresses and pet bedding.

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Helping you achieve the lawn you’ve always wanted.

Lawn Fertilising

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Lawn Mowing

Phil Adshead runs Supagrass in the Hampshire and West Berks area. He has helped over 1000 customers improve their lawns, and has looked after the greens at two of the top 10 golf courses in the world including Augusta National. For a FREE lawn assessment and quote with Phil call 01256 461388 or email rbf@supagrass.co.uk

www.supagrass.co.uk

ws & Doors Windo With over 20 years experience serving local customers, we take pride in offering quality & Doors doors replacement windows, Windows and conservatories with all of our products meeting British standards. We provide a personal touch and Windows & Doors - Berkshire competitive pricing that only a local independent company like ourselves can offer.

For a friendly, no obligation chat about your windows, please call:

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UPVC: Windows - Doors - Conservatories - Facias - Soffits & Guttering

Registered in England: Tailormade Windows & Doors of Berkshire Ltd. 6 Valley Road Burghfield Reading RG7 3NF

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& tel: 0118 983 4164 or mob: 07836 751 072

email: davidling007@sky.com | 9 Chervil Way, Burghfield Common, RG7 3XY

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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 982 0788 e: tadley@barn-store.co.uk

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Berkshire Design Build Ltd

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18 Chestnut Close | Theale| RG7 5DF

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Windows Windows -- Doors Doors -Conservatories -Conservatories UPVC UPVC or or Timber Timber

One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in Berkshire, One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in Berkshire, offering free quotations and advice from a company with a formidable 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 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. and finish which will suit your budget and needs, we are only a phone call away.

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

Kite

Garden Services

What can I do for your Garden this spring?

No Job too Large or Small If you don’t have the time or experience to take care of your garden and have it looking the way you would like, let this local, experienced gardener take the strain so you can sit back and relax this spring! Spring lawncare, mowing, digging, sowing, planting, weeding, pruning, hedge-cutting, tree management, sympathetic makeovers and soft & hard landscaping.

Plenty still needs doing during the spring!

For a friendly chat and advice, please call Tim Sillince:

0118 988 7590 or 07768 764908 tim.sillince@gmail.com

Quality tuition at affordable prices Fun and exciting dance classes from 2 - yrs to adults Musical Theatre Course from 5 yrs

Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street, Gymnastic Dance 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

Mortimer St. John’s CE Infant School

Would you like your child to attend a warm, welcoming school where nurturing and learning are key to educating your child? A school set in the heart of the village A well-resourced, bright learning environment Creative, fun curriculum

An education based on Christian principles Warm, caring staﬀ

“We Learn Together, Grow Together and Shine Together”

We foster a love of learning Visit us anytime.

Please contact the Headteacher: Nicola Sumner 0118 933 2242

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Handy L OCAL Andy Man!

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If you want to promote your product or service in the coming months, and would like us to help your business to grow, please call us for a chat. hello@villageeye.co.uk

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FORD MONDEO

Jack worboys

Drives...

The Mondeo is one of Ford’s top models behind the extremely successful Fiesta and has proven particularly popular with business fleets. Being a critical model, a lot of effort has gone into creating a technologically advanced car that can hold a candle to the best in this sector. The first impressions of the styling are good. Ford’s sharp, bold styling creates a distinctive look, but for me the design looks out of place combined with the smaller alloys. The interior is an update on the old design; drivers of the last Mondeo will feel at home, although the design is crisper than before.

Ford is known for creating class leading engines, especially its 1.0L EcoBoost unit, famous for being the same size as an A4 sheet of paper. That is an option here alongside the 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost petrol and 1.5L and 2.0L DuraTorq Diesel units. Petrol power ranges from 125hp to 240hp and diesels from 120hp up to 150hp. Fuel economy reaches a claimed 78.5mpg in the 1.5L ECOnetic diesel and 55.4mpg for the 1.0L EcoBoost petrol. The 1.5L diesel is the only engine to dip below 100g/km of CO2, although most of the range is fairly clean. Ford has invested a lot in the technology for this car and has brought some really interesting features. As is always the case the body is stiffer and lighter, but also underbody shielding, external design tweaks and electronically controlled shutters in the front grille reduce drag, increasing fuel efficiency. Road noise has been reduced through a new rear suspension design and the aerodynamic improvements. Comfort has been enhanced though electronically controlled dampers, 10 way adjustable seats and a very powerful climate control system.

One very interesting safety feature is that in a collision the rear seatbelts inflate like an airbag to increase the contact area, reducing the force concentration on the passengers. Another piece of technology that sounds very interesting is the MyKey system. It allows owners to program one or more keys to enable certain features. For example if a key is given to a Son or Daughter, their key may initiate set restrictions on speed, radio volume, block incoming phone calls, prevent the deactivation of driver assistance systems and deactivate the car altogether without the use of seat belts. However when the main key is used all these changes reset. The driving experience is positive with a refined, quality cabin letting in very little noise. The handling is responsive and predictable while still offering a very smooth, controlled ride. Ford are known for great

handling dynamics and the Mondeo doesn’t disappoint. The Mondeo line is split into six models, Style, Zetec, ST, Titanium, ST-LineX and Vignale. Prices start at £21,395 and reach £35,315 for the top Vignale. Great driving dynamics, good looks, strong levels of tech, efficient engines, a spacious interior and great value for money make this a car with a lot going for it. The Mondeo remains an extremely strong option in the competitive mid-size executive market, particularly for the buyers looking for something different from the sometimes boring German alternatives.

Try something new this spring at The Hurst Name of Course

Dressmaking for Beginners Sewing with Confidence Creative Drawing Painting with Watercolours Get to Know your IPAD Photo Editing Ballroom for Beginners Line Dancing for Beginners Get to Know your Computer Make, Take & Bake Cooking Counts Understanding Behaviour Learning Through Play Safer Lives, Safer Homes Newborn to Parenting

Day

Monday Wednesday Friday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Thursday Wednesday Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday Tuesday Friday Friday

Start Date

24th April & 5th June 26th April & 7th June 29th April & 9th June 26th April & 7th June 11th May TBC* 27th April 26th April 26th April & 7th June 25th April & 6th June 7th June 25th April 6th June 21st April 28th April & 9th June

No. of Wks 5wks 5wks 5wks 5wks 1wks 2 wks 10wks 10wks 5wks 5wks 5wks 5wks 5wks 2wks 5wks

Please call or email for more information on any of our courses. Concessions available for those in receipt of their state pensions or any means tested benefits. * cost of materials not included *please register your interest

Time

19:00-21:00 19:00-21:00 19:00-21:00 19:00-21:00 10:00-14:00 10:00-15:00 19:00-20:00 20:00-21:00 10:00-12:00 13:30-14:30 10:00-11:30 09:30-11:30 09:30-11:30 19:00-21:00 09:30-11:30

Fee

£50* £50* £50* £50* £15 £50 £50 £50 £50 £30 FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

The Hurst Leisure Centre Brimpton Road, Baughurst, RG26 5NL 0118 981 1611 aded@hurst.hants.sch.uk www.hurstcentre.co.uk

DON’T PANIC!

ERROR. SYSTEM OVERLOAD....

Exam season is here and you don’t know where to begin with remembering everything. You aren’t alone – here are our top tips to help see you through it.

Visual aids

Take regular breaks

Concise notes

Cut down your notes bit by bit until eventually you only have the real important stuff. Focus on keywords and remove any mumbo jumbo.

Taking regular breaks is important. Your brain can only take so much in at a time. So, stop what you are doing, boil the kettle then repeat. By the end of all this revision you may well turn into a cup of tea! Don’t eat too many biscuits with your tea though - your prom outfit might not fit!

If you have a photographic memory then drag out your felt tip pens because creating lots of visual aids may be useful – it is also the more fun way of revising. Make it colorful and easy on the eye.

Compare notes with classmates

Teach others

Teaching family and friends – whether they are on the same course or not – is really beneficial. It doesn’t teach you anything new but it allows you to verbally go over what you know and practise how to word things for the real exam.

Practice exam Questions

Practise writing exam questions as though it is the real thing. The internet should have past papers that you can steal questions from. Sit in a quiet room with no interruptions and time yourself. Break yourself in slowly – practice an exam question with notes at first and then try another time without. Practicing will not only help you with the content but will help you get quicker at writing if you struggle with time.

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Tell each other what you have to add to each others notes. This cuts down revision time as your friends have done it for you – as long as what they have makes sense to you.

Final tip!

Don’t panic, revise lots and shine! Good luck in your exams!

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eye

Summer Festivals! time to think about the fun So, spring is officially here, and it’esof the great festivals we are in the sun you can have at som our doorstep. lucky to have on

SHOP

On L

smarter!

HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN THE SUPERMARKET, WITHOUT BUYING MORE THAN YOU NEED

SATURDAY 28TH MAY The Tadley Tea Party returns for their third year in the beautiful blooming countryside of North Hampshire in May. From noon until midnight, Tea Party-goers are in for a marathon 12hrs of sheer musical bliss with a festival feeling that has never been witnessed in the area before. It is being dubbed as the festival that has something for

everyone, for everyone that loves festivals! The organisers have used traditional festival favourites and blended them with modern technology to bring you one of the best festivals around. If last years efforts are anything to go by, this year is going to be a lot of fun - for everyone! For tickets, check out tadleyteaparty.com

hen you’re in the supermarket about to do a shop, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you not only complete your shopping successfully, with some savings, but avoid the potential for waste. Buying bulk is often encouraged for those who want to save, but this often means that much of the purchase does go to waste – after all, there’s only so much you can use at a time! Shop with a sense of purpose: A successful shopping trip starts the moment you get in the door. Having a shopping list is super helpful, and there is good evidence to suggest you will buy more than you need if you go in to the store feeling hungry! Having a meal ﬁrst and a list in hand will mean that you don’t get too distracted by an extra pack of doughnuts that you don’t need, or those perfectly-placed impulse items on your way to the check out. Purchase own-brand items: Sometimes ownbrand items look less ﬂashy on the shelves. But the reality is that

29th-30th JULY Now established in their new home at Dinton Pastures, we are very excited to tell you that this year, Marvellous Festival takes place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July with masses of live music across two stages. This year, acts include tributes to: Queen, Adele, Motown, Coldplay, Elton John, Madness, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, James Brown, Abba, Foo Fighters, Take That, The Beatles & Bryan Adams. We hope youʼll agree that this is a fabulous lineup - with something for all ages. Whether you choose to camp, glamp or simply visit for the day, as usual, there will be tons of activities to keep the whole family amused! For information and tickets visit www. marvellousfestivals.com or call the ticket hotline on 0118 977 4350.

these products are more affordable, and they normally don’t sacrifice much quality. You can make huge savings by picking up the own-brand items from your local supermarket. Pick up loose items, instead of pre-packaged or pre-cut: There’s a very good reason that convenient, pre-cut and pre-packaged items cost a little more: someone (or something) had to prep them and package them for your benefit. Save yourself a little here and there and select the loose fruit and vegetables, or those that are not already pre-cut. Remember this at the deli counter, where the selection of processed meats will be a lot cheaper than those conveniently packaged in the other aisles. Don’t be fooled by Buy One Get One Free: BOGOF deals are always marked out in flashy, brightly coloured tabs on the shelves. But check the value per pence according to the weight or size of the item first, before you get too excited. It might actually not be such a great deal, as these offers

5th-9th JULY Henley Festival is a boutique cultural experience which takes place over ﬁve days in July, celebrating the best of international

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

are sometimes applied to items that are hard to shift from the shelves or close to going out of date. Look for better deals online: If you search online before you hit the supermarket, you can always find great offers from grocery store chains, particularly if you are a first-time online shopper. Take advantage of the coupons and cost-cutting offers of your favourite grocery store chain. Be loyal: Loyalty cards can often help augment your purchasing power on single items. But use these carefully – sometimes, competing grocery stores will offer cheaper prices that outweigh the benefits of building up points. With just a few simple strategies, you too can save without cramming your cupboard full of extras. Shop smart and you can save on your next outing to the supermarket! For more ideas on how you can become a smarter shopper, visit www. lovefoodhatewaste.com

and UK music, art, food and comedy. Itʼs a place to soak up the atmosphere and be entertained whilst experiencing a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz, blues to cutting edge new musicians, where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music. This year sees artists such as Chaka Khan and Jess Glynn take to the stage alongside The Pet Shop Boys and Ruby Turner! For a full line up of events and guests please visit www.henley-festival.co.uk

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Could you go Zero Waste? If you want to try and reduce the amount of rubbish you produce, give these simple steps a go.

SHOP SMARTER

Most of our rubbish comes from shopping, so the less you bring home the less waste youâ€™ll have to deal with.

3 Make a list before you go shopping reusable bags (keep them handy 3 Take in the car or folded in your bag) items in recyclable packaging 3 Buy (glass jars, tins), avoid plastic where possible

3 Look to buy bulk to minimise packaging disposables for reusables 3 Swap (refillable bottles, cloths instead

FED UP WITH JUNK MAIL?

17.5 BILLION PIECES OF JUNK MAIL ARE PRODUCED EACH YEAR IN THE UK. To reduce the amount you receive visit:

www.veolia.co.uk/westberkshire/ say-no-junk-mail

8 MILLION DISPOSABLE NAPPIES ARE THROWN AWAY EVERY DAY

of paper towels)

3 Use up and eat the food you buy For ideas to use leftover food visit

www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Changing to real nappies is the clever choice. Save money and waste, why not give real nappies a try? To register for one of our free sample packs go online:

www.westberks.gov.uk/nappies

working in partnership 33

Grown-up

Rock School strikes chord in BURGHFIELD

Berkshireʼs fastest growing music school is once again running rock sessions, but itʼs not just for kids! The Rock Project Berkshire already has nine schools across the county, including Burghﬁeld, and since extending its offering to grown-ups in the form of an adult ʻRock Schoolʼ back in January, the popularity of this was so great - they are running the courses again. Starting at the end of April, bookings are now being taken! Harmeet Nandra who runs The Rock Project Berkshire said: “We had been inundated with requests from parents and adults saying ʻI wish there was something like this for meʼ. “The childrenʼs session in Burghﬁeld has been running for more than a year, so the time seemed right to start a rock school for adults.” Like the sessions for 7-18-year-olds, the adult classes take place at St Maryʼs C of E Primary School in Theale Road, focussing on drums, bass, guitar and vocals.

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

The adult sessions, which are aptly called ʻEncoreʼ, are 90 minutes long and tutored by professional working musicians. “We are very excited to be running the sessions for adults at Burghﬁeld again” Harmeet added. “Encore is an opportunity for adults to do something for themselves, pick up a new skill or re-invigorate an old hobby thatʼs been put aside for too long. Itʼs also a great opportunity to make new friends with a similar interest.” Childrenʼs sessions are two hours long and split into two, with primary schoolaged students taking part in the junior session, while the senior group is for those in secondary school. The Rock Project Berkshire already has an Encore session at its Windsor and Woodley schools. A number of bands have developed from both schools.

For more information go to www.berkshire. therockproject.com, email Berkshire@ therockproject.com or call 0118 334 5562

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eye

Film of the MONTH

on Leisure

by ROB BARNES

arvel grows up in this gritty comic book western with Hugh Jackman making his final outing as the X-Men’s Wolverine. Although the language is far from clean, this is no Deadpool. Instead Fox have dispensed with the potty-mouthed humour and delivered a raw and gruesome character study of a broken man. Set in a dystopian 2029 the mutants are all but wiped-out and Logan is living in hiding on the Mexican border, earning a living as a Chauffeur. We meet him as a dead-on-his-feet drunk provoked into a savage street fight that leaves few limbs in tact...and we’re off. The destination is a secret desert hideout where he is caring for Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) who is suffering from a degenerative disease. He’s now become a liability, frequently afflicted by brain seizures that cause minor earthquakes and paralyze everyone around him. Logan comes and goes with black-market meds to keep his seizures at bay, but he himself is in decline. His powers are weakening, his ageing body is suffering from muscle aches and his blade claws are causing him arthritic pain that he medicates with booze. Things go further South when he meets Gabriela, a desperate woman who fears for the safety of Laura (Dafne Keen), a girl in her care who appears to have mutant-like abilities of her own. Logan gets sucked in and finds himself at the centre of manhunt led by the supervillain cyborg Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and Dr. Rice (Richard E. Grant).

wayward, yet devoted carer determined to maintain Charles’s dignity and keep him from death’s door. The vast majority of the movie follows our three fugitives, Logan, Charles and Laura, on the road set against the stunning backdrop of desert wastelands and rugged mountains. It’s inevitable then that Logan has all the hallmarks of a modern day western, we even get a scene of the runaways watching the classic western Shane whilst holed up in a hotel. It’s a nice touch in a movie happy to play on mythology. Logan delivers one of the best lines in the movie when ridiculing one of Laura’s original X-Men comic books, “Only about a quarter of this is true...”.

There’s a lot to like about James Mangold’s story of what happens when superheroes get old. It’s also a charming Father-and-Son tale with Logan the

Logan’s great strength is that it manages to engage you with the characters as human first and superhero second. In the harsh reality of this life Wolverine is the

Children's book of the MONTH

Radio Boy

unwanted alter-ego of a battle scarred man who is tired and weary, Logan says it best: “Nature made me a freak. Man made me a weapon. And God made it last too long”. Even when Wolverine does unleash his rage it’s with a reluctance that gives the action sequences terrifying power and poignancy. Jackman and Stewart give stellar performances to match the movies’ maturity and class, and a nod should also be given for Stephen Merchant who delivers some rare laughs as the gooky albino mutant Caliban. Although I think Mangold could have taken Logan to even darker depths Wolverine fans have finally got a film they’ve longed for - a rare and honest anti-hero blockbuster that is brutal, bloody and packs an emotional punch. A good watch

4/5

by Christian O'Connell

This is a really good story about 11 year old Spike, who starts a secret radio station after getting the sack from his hospital radio job. The story tells all the problems that he gets into with his friends Holly and Artie. This book is similar to ‘Diary Of A Wimpy Kid’ as Spike and Greg both feel like losers. The plot leads you through disastrous karate lessons, horrible head teachers - Mr Fish Face Harris - and homework strikes. This book is genius! I could not stop laughing. I give it 10/10 because when I was reading it I kept wanting to read the next chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good laugh and exciting adventure because it is funny, funny, funny and has a brilliant plot.

Ages 8+

Review by Archie Brewer (10) 35

eye on Leisure

WIN A 3KG EGG Budgens of Mortimer will be adding to the excitement of Easter weekend by offering an egg-citing - ʻscuse the pun! - competition to win one of 10 prizes, with the top prize being a massive 3kg handdecorated chocolate egg! This 3kg egg is a truly impressive work of art that will surely satisfy the cravings of the most dedicated chocaholic - they might even have to share it! Weʼd love to see some pictures from the winner! The other 9 Easter Egg prizes cannot hope to compare in weight to the ﬁrst prize but they are equally delicious! All you need to do to enter the competition is ʻLikeʼ the Budgens Facebook page and share the Easter Facebook post. To ﬁnd the winners, Budgens will draw a name from those who have Liked and Shared and announce them on their Facebook page. What a cracking competition! And donʼt forget, Budgens will be stocking a wide range of chocolate eggs, from the kidsʼ favourite brands to some rather special Baileys and Guiness eggs. If youʼre on a gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan diet, donʼt miss out on the fun, Budgens have something for you, too!

Want to win a 3kg chocolate Egg?

HOP ALONG Mortimer Easter Egg Hunt

and then scouring the Common and Mortimer village for the Golden Eggs. Look out for the Easter Chick, too, who will make appearances throughout the day offering great photo opportunities for all the family!

Now in its fourth year, the eagerly anticipated Mortimer Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Easter Saturday 15th April around the village of Mortimer and on the Common. Following in the footsteps of the renowned Mortimer Scarecrow Trail, Mortimer Preschool has successfully made this charity event an annual feature on our calendars.

Easter Egg Hunt trail maps will be on sale from April 1st in Budgens, Dads Shop and The Baobab in Mortimer. Trail maps cost just £2 each or 3 for £5.

Mortimer Pre-School was started in 1964 and is based in the heart of the village. It has seen many of our local children - many now adults through its doors over the years and is at the heart of the community. The Easter Egg Hunt promises to be great fun and we look forward to seeing our little - and not-so-little people finding the clues around the village to decode the Easter phrase 36

The trail can be completed at any time on the day and there will be chocolate Easter treats for all maps and 'golden eggs' returned to Hunt HQ - at the Mortimer Community Centre between 10:00 and 16:00. We’d advise giving yourself at least two hours to finish. Happy Hunting!

Burghfield Annual Bunny Hop Meanwhile, over in Burghfield, we see the return of The Burghfield Bunny Hop! This event ,which is run annually on Easter Saturday, raises money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) The Burghfield Bunny Hop is best described as a ‘Treasure Beer Hunt’, with participants dressed as Easter Bunnies! It all starts at the Horse and Groom in Mortimer, moving through Burghfield Common, Burghfield Village, Southcote and finishing in Reading town centre. Most of the bunnies ‘hop on’ the bus, though some travel on foot. How does it work? Well, each pub has an Easter Egg that the Bunnies - working in teams of 4 - must open to find a quiz or a challenge, but the landlord will only hand it over in return for the purchase of a hop-based product (in pint form!) or a glass of wine! There will be a prize for the winning Quiz Team. There is also a

prize for the most money raised as each team will be given a tin to rattle on their travels. The Thames Valley Air Ambulance provides life-saving medical care across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Each day, an average of three people will find themselves in a life-threatening situation that requires urgent, high-quality medical treatment. It costs £2.2 million to keep them flying every year. They receive no Government funding and are not supported by the National Lottery. Your support will help them to keep flying so that the TVAA are able to deliver this unique lifesaving service to patients where and when it is most needed. The entry fee is £10 per bunny which includes a Bus pass for each team of 4. To enter your team, all you need to do is contact the organisers via facebook.com/ BurghfieldBunnyHop

The Vyne Cadbury Hunt Don’t worry if you’re not around over the Easter weekend, as our local National Trust property, The Vyne is running a Cadbury Egg Hunt from 8th - 23rd April. The Vyne is a beautiful 16th-century country house outside Sherborne St John. If you're as clever as the Easter Bunny then you might just be the folks they need to uncover hidden clues dotted across The Vyne. Take your wellies and a coat and collect your £3 activity sheet from the gazebo by Visitor Reception. (Normal admission applies) From then on, it's up to you to find 100 characters and collect your prize! Please note that The Vyne is currently having its roof restored, but the house, tea room and gardens are all open for business. Dogs on leads welcome. For further information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

any of us have joyful memories from childhood of playing for hours with friends during the school holidays, riding bikes, playing in the woods and climbing trees. With ever-increasing distractions from the digital world and fewer opportunities for the freedom to play in the same way, it’s more important than ever for children today to enjoy such play in the natural world. Jubilee Cadets is a holiday club for primary school aged children with a difference, promising fun-fuelled adventures on a daily basis. Set in beautiful woodland in Padworth and run by Bella and her caring team, it gives children the opportunity to interact with each other in the natural environment; to run, jump, climb and make their own decisions. Lots of unstructured play is critical to children’s physical health and mental well-being. Like its highly successful sister club, Jubilee Jets who also have the same ‘free play’ philosophy, Jubilee Cadets promotes contact with nature which can help reduce stress levels and positively impact conditions such as anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Playing outdoors all day also allows social development to flourish. Children learn valuable skills in teambuilding and continue to enhance their creativity, selfbelief and confidence. Splashing through the stream, building dens, team games, adventure play equipment and a variety of activities including arts and crafts using natural based materials are all part of the daily fabric of Jubilee Cadets. Toasting marshmallows and hot chocolate around the campfire is always a highlight! Recently returned from and invigorated by bespoke Forest Schools training which will enhance the Cadets’ journey, Bella says, “the great thing about our club is that we obviously have boundaries but it is a relaxed approach and children don’t feel like it is an extension of school. We create a happy, healthy environment and children genuinely don’t want to go home. Parents say that their children come home full of stories and having enjoyed the fresh air and exercise they are ready for their bath and bedtime!” Bella goes on to say, “We’re not just for working parents either. It’s a great opportunity for any child to come along and just enjoy a day in nature.” Parent James Tallett says “my child loves Jubilee Cadets and begged to be first to be dropped off and last to be picked up. The Cadets crew are amazing - so caring and put 100% into ensuring the kids have a truly amazing time. I can’t recommend the childcare enough; the kids are guaranteed to be cared for and have an amazing time.” Jubilee Cadets is unique in that it opens across both state and independent

Play Away!

Jubilee Cadets - the school holiday club for all budding woodland warriors

school holidays from MondayFriday, 8am-6pm (full or half day sessions available). Jubilee Cadets is Ofsted registered and accepts childcare vouchers. For more information or to book for the Easter holidays, Spring half-term or the summer holidays, visit www.jubileecadets.co.uk

Families & Leisure

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ns on lophaned loo seats and super glued coi cel to es tre tti ghe spa and ns hio cus From whoopie the mischievousness in us all! pavements, April 1st seems to bring out

Newswise, over the past year or so you could have been fooled into thinking that any number of the days might have been April 1st. But there is only one real April Fools Day - and once again, when the clock strikes midnight after 31st March, the frolicking gloves will be well and truly off. Be prepared for our newsfeeds and screens to be ﬂooded with pranks, from the cringeworthy to the hilarious (but most of all - for some bizarre reason, and not normally a politically minded bunch - we are especially looking forward to seeing what the press have up their sleeves when it comes to bringing us news of a certain Mega rich Ex-Apprecntice presentercome-chief-in-charge of the soon to be “Greatest Nation on Earthʼ.

But as we well know at Village Eye HQ, April Foolsʼ Day pranks can sometimes backﬁre. *Hangs head in shame* Yes, one year we posted on Facebook that we were expecting a visit from a young [soon to be married] royal couple in recognition of the Community Champions Awards that we were running at the time. We hadnʼt anticipated the extent of royal fervour in the Village Eye region and the excitement that it would create and so, received a number of complaints from real royal fans who had genuinely got excited and had taken the afternoon off work so that they could pay us a visit. Oops. As technology moves on, so do the April Fools pranks, with Google often a leading player. Last year the internet giant added a “Mic Drop” button to its Gmail service, situating it right next to the send button. According to Google, it allowed you to have “the last word on any email” by replying

with a Minions gif and ensuring you donʼt receive any replies in return. What a jolly jape...except some people were accidentally hitting the Mic Drop button. “I just sent off an email with my CV to the ﬁrst person who wanted to interview me in months,” Justin Boxill posted in a Google Help forum. “ I

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clicked the wrong button and sent it with the mic drop. Well, I guess Iʼm not getting that job.” The feature was quickly taken down. One of the best known April Fools pranks happened during an interview on BBC Radio 2, on the morning of 1 April 1976, the astronomer Patrick Moore announced that at 9:47 AM a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event was going to take place. The planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would reduce the Earthʼs own gravity. Moore told his listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment this planetary alignment occurred, they would experience a strange ﬂoating sensation.

The BBC received hundreds of phone calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman even reported she and her 11 friends had risen from their chairs and ﬂoated around the room! So what did you spot on April 1st this year? Weʼd love to hear from you.

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d ntre: Glyn an Top left & Ce nd. Bottom : Owen Townse ing a well joy Glyn & Tim en beer! earned ‘Kili’

Getting to the top of

KILIMANJARO

and raising a stash of cash for charity too... This momentous challenge is known for its gruelling challenges and is not to be taken on lightly, but our intrepid locals where ready for it.

Last month a small, merry crew from Village Eye territory joined an expedition to climb the infamous Mount Kilimanjaro. The group included a couple of the ‘Burghfield Santas’ notorious for their impressive fundraising for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance - Glyn Townsend and Tim Ansell (Rudolph!) as well as children, Kat Ansell and Owen Townsend - just 14 and a local Willink student!

There was a great deal of preparation involved. There was kit to plan and organise, a training regime to undergo as well as the usual ‘holiday arrangements’ of passports, visas, vaccinations, itineraries, flights, money and insurance. All made a bit more complicated because of the nature of the trip! The climb itself started with a lush walk through rainforest which, although hot and humid, was a pretty gentle start (knowing what they know now!) As the climb went on, the climbers had to look out for boulders, conquer slippery rocks, withstand blazing sunshine, suffer the altitude sickness and, of course overcome the privacy and toilet challenges!

When the group reached the summit on day 6 it really was worth it. They had conquered the highest freestanding mountain in the world. They stood on the roof of Africa and had seen the curvature of the earth while watching the sun rise. Amazing. Glyn says of reaching the summit, “OK, so all done. Summit reached! It was a bit harder than expected on summit night, and more than once did I question why I was doing it! The worst part was after summit - when you suddenly realise you have another 6 hours of walking to do back down!” Glyn and Owen had set up a fundraising page for this trip on everydayhero.com to raise money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. They labelled themselves the “Kili Killers” and have raised - at time of writing - an impressive £12,730. What an amazing achievement. Congratulations to all of you!

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SEPTEMBER SOLOS AT TRIANGLE TRAVEL SAINT LUCIA

E X C L U S I V E Following the continued success of our September Solos holidays at Triangle Travel we are doing it again in 2017... And we’d love to see you there..! From 27 August – 30 September 2017 BodyHoliday in Saint Lucia is dedicated to the solo traveller. Whether you’re travelling alone, with a friend or as part of a larger group, you’ll be able to mix with new friends during the sunset cruises, nightly dinners and evening receptions. The Standard Garden View Rooms and the Luxury Rooms are available exclusively through Caribtours at Triangle Travel: For more information, call our friendly team on 0118 933 1177, visit our website: www.triangletravel.co.uk or pop in for a friendly chat at our Mortimer Branch.

What’s included: • Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner daily • Unlimited premium brand drinks, selected wines and Champagne by the glass • Personalised schedule of daily spa treatments • All watersports and land sports including tuition • All holistic and exercise classes • Hosted cocktail party at Cariblue Pool • Weekly hosted dinner in Cariblue • Weekly hosted dinner in TAO • Master classes • Fun sports 7 nights • Tournaments • Group ﬁtness classes £2075 • Group Pilates classes per person • Weekly sunset cruise

Triangle Travel Ltd. 12 West End Road, Mortimer, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3SY

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