Village Eye Issue 65 Jan-Feb 18

VILLAGE

Issue 65 January/February 2018 Circulation 11,000

FREE

Lifestyle magazine

for the RG7 area and beyond

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A you it y

WIN LUNCH FOR TWO AT L’ORTOLAN LET’S GO TO SAINT LUCIA

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ASPIRE to be your most fabulous self THIS YEAR p.6

clinic

This months cover sponsor.

KEEPING IT LOCAL News | Business | Sport | Health | Homes | Entertainment1

Find the perfect gift this Valentine’s from our superb selection of high street & boutique stores.

Join us on Saturday 10th Feb for an incredible performance from the Opera Boys.

(From 11am)

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T s MĐžth...

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4 8 12 19

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

14. Love thy money Mark Penston gets all romantic this month with some very sound and heart-felt ideas for investing your well-earned cash. Aww

2. Community news Find out

what’s been going on in your village this month. Spot anyone you know?

Tell them they’re in it!

15. Where there’s a will... Around a third of UK adults still haven’t written a will, and one in four people over 55 have no will in place either. We ďŹ nd out why this causes a headache for those left behind.

3. Get your Glad Rags on With

20. Homes, Trades & Services

tickets now ying out of the door for the ďŹ rst Bling & Bellini Valentine’s Charity Ball, we ask... Have you got yours yet?

6. Aspiring to be your fabulous self If sticking to the diet, doing an

40. Family ďŹ tness - it’s a thing

What some ideas for ďŹ tness classes the whole family can do? Look no further.

11,000 bruary 2018 Circulation

Round, heart, triangular, oval or square face shape...

What type of glasses should you be wearing?

for Boxkart Bash II set and tickets now on sale, we ask: Which team will you be cheering on in the area’s most popular community event to date?

As well as beauty, this issue includes articles on healthy-eating and ďŹ tness ideas to inspire you in these colder months. And if that isn’t enough to help you make a step-change, there are also suggestions for de-cluttering and changing careers in 2018...we’ve got it all!

WIN LUNCH FOR TWO AT L’ORTOLAN

PINKTOMATO

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

Film Buff: Finance: Careers:

Rob Barnes Mark Penston & Rob Starling Claire Desai

for the RG7 area

PIRE AS to be your most fabulous self THIS YEAR p.6

it yet?

LET’S GO TO SAINT LUCIA

The Village Eye is brought to you by Pinktomato Ltd, a local, independent creative design and marketing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Village Eye. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLĘźs and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. *Not including stock images - advert release fee charged. Registered Address: Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, RG7 2AG

Lifestyle magazine and beyond

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KEEPING IT LOCAL

And there’s more online, too. Why not visit our Village Eye Facebook page where we endeavour to list everything we hear about. ‘Like’ us now and be sure not to miss a thing. www.facebook.com/ VillageEyeMagazine

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VILLAGE

10. Groovy Glasses

36. BurghďŹ eld is going downhill....

Rapidly! With the date

Our cover sponsor this month is Aspire Clinic who provide a number of game-changing treatments to make the best of yourself this year - without going under the knife. Their non-invasive treatments for skin, eyes, lips and tummies could be what you’re looking for, so do take a look at what Aspire can offer.

Issue 65 January/Fe

hour’s exercise daily, and getting eight hours sleep a night is proving a little more difďŹ cult than anticipated – Aspire Clinic gives us the lowdown on some of the latest game-changing treatments for 2018.

Need a plasterer, builder, gardener, solicitor, roofer... or even a house to use them in? Look no further than our pink trades and services pages to ďŹ nd local, reliable professionals.

OCTOBER EYE

Lov a gly th d vi v d ! to

J /F Contents

Happy New Year! Welcome to our ďŹ rst issue of 2018 - and what an issue it is! We have pulled together an array of features and articles for you, looking at the New Year, New You theme that we all embrace in January.

The team at VE are all desperately trying to keep up with the New Year resolutions, but it’s always tough. How are you getting on with yours? If you’re doing well, that’s fabulous! Keep going. If you’ve already fallen off the wagon and are back on the crisps, perhaps you’ll ďŹ nd inspiration to try again right here in the magazine.

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News | Business | Sport

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

clinic This months cover sponsor.

ment1

| Health | Homes | Entertain

Helle n & the Team xx 1

Feel the

Love

at Parkway, Newbury This Valentine’s

A Barkingly Good Pub The Fox and Hounds pub in Theale has been celebrating after winning a national award. The pub has been named Britain’s most dog-friendly pub in 2017. The competition, run by DogBuddy, judges how receptive pubs are to the pooches of Britain.

Now in their second year, the awards recognise the deserving pubs across the UK that truly embrace ‘paw power’ and welcome not just two, but also four legged customers. It makes good business sense, too as, according to the RSPCA, there are 8.5 million dogs in the UK. The equivalent of every one in two households owning a dog.

At the Fox and Hounds, dogs are permitted to sit at the bar, where free treats are on offer. Dog ice-cream and dog towels are also available as well as special dog beds. The judges found that there was good access to water bowls, shade in the warm weather, an outside area for owner and canine, as well as going that extra mile by having dog-loving staff!

Jayne Tilsley, general manager of The Fox and Hounds, said: “Dogs are not pets, they are family, and to us this means that they should join you everywhere, be it just for a drink or dinner too." Richard Setterwall, founder and CEO of DogBuddy, added: "The superb service demonstrated shows a real consideration for dog welfare and happiness, which we at DogBuddy.com value above all.

"The whole DogBuddy pack is proud to congratulate The Fox and Hounds Theale on their achievement, and hopes that the Dog-friendly Pub Awards will inspire dog owners country-wide to discover and support their local pubs. What really makes the Fox & Hounds stand out though, is their community-led feel.

Parkway Shopping Newbury is looking to brighten the hearts of shoppers this Valentines with a surprise performance from the sensational “Opera Boys” as seen on ITV, on Saturday 10th February inside The Debenhams Piazza.

The Operatic Trio (on the day) currently on a UK tour have been especially invited in b the centre for the day to spring from the crowd for a series of three incredible live performances – including all time classic songs such as “Time To Say Goodbye, Nessum Dorma, Thatʼs Amore” and many more. Performances will be from midday on Saturday 10th Feb.

to be an incredible set of live performances while shopping for the perfect gift for a loved one!

If you need any inspiration on what to buy your Valentine this year, visit www. shopaptparkway.com or their Facebook page @shopatparkway to view some of their specially selected gift guides, highlighting some of the best gifts from a number of stores including Hotel Chocolat, Pandora, Joules, LʼOccitane, Mint Velvet, Jigsaw, Jack Wills and many more.

Parkway invites you to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy what is sure

From their annual dog show to their doggy calendars, they involve the entire community in raising money for local dog charities (and have lots of fun with it too!)." Congratulations to Jayne and her team!

A LUCKY WIN! Congratulations to Hayley Tulett and her family who won a family ticket to see Peter Pan at The Anvil in Basingstoke in our recent Pantomime competition.

The family from Tadley thoroughly enjoyed the show and Village Eye had arranged for them to meet the cast after the performance, too. The cast included Andrew Agnew (PC Plum from Balamory) & Gary Turner (Emmerdale’s Carlos Diaz).

Hayley told us “We all had a wonderful time. The cast were lovely. They were very welcoming and made us all feel very welcome and the show was great too! Thank you for running the competition.

Hayley with Frankie (5) hiding! Lily (4) with Smee and Carla with Captain Hook!

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We’re so pleased that the Tulett family enjoyed their competition win. Look out for another exciting competition in this month’s issue too. We’ve got a meal for two at L’Ortolan (p.5) up for grabs. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it - and the winner could be you..!

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ity

un on comm

Well done Santas!

On a Saturday just before Christmas, Burghfield Common was awash with men in red suits and white beards as ‘The Burghfield Santas’ gathered at Auclum Green for the 14th annual Santa Cruise. Each year, this team of Santas mount their reindeer and cycle around Burghfield and the surrounding villages collecting money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Perhaps you spotted them as they took to the streets?

and, to top it all, to witness the landing of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance itself!

The Santa Cruise is growing year-on-year and, for the first time this year, the Santas invited local children to join them on a Mini Santa Cruise. Each child received their own Santa sack as well as a specially written story book, ‘The Boy Who Nearly Wrecked Christmas’, which was specially written for the event by aspiring author, Davinia Ridgwell and The Burghfield Santas. The mini santas cycled the route, stopping at local businesses who gave them little gifts for their Santa sacks, before returning to Auclum Green for mulled wine (big Santas only), hot drinks, mince pies

And it’s not just the Santa Cruise that the Burghfield Santas organise to raise money. They have become prolific fundraisers in the local area of late, organising the now infamous Burghfest, a beer and music festival which has been held in September for the last two years to great acclaim, as well as the inaugural Burghfield BoxKart Bash - the epic downhill box kart event held last June. A date for your diary too - Sunday 24th June 2018 - Box Kar Bash II. If you’d like to find out more or to enter a team visit facebook.com/Burghfi eldBoxKart Between these events, they have raised over £40,000 for the Air Ambulance this year alone, which is why the TVAA sent their helicopter to the village to say thank you to all the locals who support the Santas with their fundraising efforts.

Bellilinngi & Have you got your tickets yet for

B

all ne's Beb i t n e l Va 7th F Sat 1 eld Park fi h Hig

the Bling & Bellini Ball?

The lovely team at Burghfield-based charity Bucket List Wishes are now working hard to finalise plans for the firstt Bling & Bellini Charity Ball being held at Highfield Park on Saturday 17th February. Have you got your tickets yet?

The organisers have pulled out all the stops too... The low ticket price of £45 includes Cocktails on Arrival, a Hot Fork Buffet, Celebrity Auction, Raffle & Entertainment by the area’s local favourite Party Band, The Vibe (who are playing at the Ball for the last time ever before hanging up their microphones for the very last time).

The organisers have even laid on free coaches for those travelling from Burghfield, Mortimer, Spencers Wood, Silchester & Pamber Heath* too! And, for the romantics among you thinking ”What can I do to celebrate Valentine’s?”, the hotel has reserved all of

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

their rooms at a special rate for Ball Guests - meaning that locals can make a full night (or weekend) away from the children without travelling too far!

The dress code is dress to impress.... So grab your friends, dig out your glad-rags and get your dancing shoes ready - never has there been such an excuse to party (since Christmas!) *limited free coach places

For further information and tickets visit

www.bucketlistwishes.org.uk

facebook.com/villageeyemagazine

@villageeyemag

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Bucket List Wishes presents

THE BEST EXCUSE TO GET YOUR GLAD RAGS ON AT THE

the

Bling& Bellini BALL

Free Carriages* Cocktails on Arrival Hot Fork Buffet Entertainment by Celebrity Auction Raffle Dress to Impress!

Courtesy of Weaverway Travel

Book your tickets now at

Saturday 17th Feb Highfield Park 8 til late

www.bucketlistwishes.org.uk *There will be coaches running from Burghfield, Mortimer, Spencers Wood, Silchester & Pamber Heath.

Pick up points and time to be confirmed. 120 seats available.

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£45 per ticket

eye

WIN

LUNCH FOR TWO AT

NEW YEAR DELIGHT

We know the New Year can be a tough one to settle into, so we are offering Head Chef Tom Clarke’s exquisite 6 course tasting lunch or dinner to help you adjust to 2018 for just £95 for two.

LʼOrtolan E ver thought about relaxing in stylish and comfortable surroundings and enjoying exquisite contemporary French cuisine, exceptional service and a warm welcome?

As proud holders of a Michelin star and three AA rosettes, L’Ortolan is now credited as being one of the top restaurants in the UK. Conveniently located just down the road in Shinfield, L’Ortolan is housed in a beautiful listed building and offers a tempting variety of dining options for both business entertaining and social occasions.

This winter, they are offering Head Chef Tom Clarke’s exquisite 6 course tasting lunch or dinner to help you adjust to 2018 for just £95 for two. Full details of their award winning menus can be found at www.lortolan.com Village Eye and L’Ortolan have teamed up to give one lucky reader the chance of winning one of these mouth watering tasting menus... Entry to the competition is free and remember, one of you WILL WIN! Please see the entry details below.

In addition to their regular fine dining experience, diners can also enjoy a Chef’s Table experience – where 2-4 guests get to dine in the kitchen opposite the pass, choose a Private Dining option in one of their 3 private dining rooms, and even offer budding chefs the opportunity to ‘train’ in their kitchen for the day with their exclusive Chef’s Experience Package (Always a great gift, for someone special!)

Dining at L’Ortolan costs less than you’d expect too!

£95

Two People 6 courses

Max 6 per booking.

Available Tuesday to Thursday from 3rd January until 31st March 2018. Excludes 14th February.

For more details, please call 01189 888 500 or e-mail info@lortolan.com L’Ortolan, Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9BY www.lortolan.com

MICHELIN STAR

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

Competition Entry To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply go to villageeye.co.uk, click the LʼOrtolan tab and answer the following question:

How many AA rosettes do LʼOrtolan now have?

Entries must be made by midnight on Friday 27th Feb. The winner will be notified on Monday 2nd March. The New Year Delight Tasting menu for 2, can be taken Tues to Thurs, expiry 31st March 2018.

facebook.com/villageeyemagazine

@villageeyemag

5

Aspire

verb: direct one’s hopes or ambitions towards achieving something.

to be your most fabulous self in 2018

New Year New You…Four Game-Changing Face, Body and Mind Treatments for you.

You’ve rung in the New Year, over indulged, felt a little worse for wear, and you’re now ready to start afresh. So how are those New Year resolutions going? If sticking to the diet, doing an hour’s exercise daily, and getting eight hours sleep a night is proving a little more difficult than anticipated – because let’s face it life is still as busy as it was last year – then let Aspire help with their game-changing treatments for 2018…

Face…Aspire to reverse the signs of ageing Another New Year means another year older. Ageing causes the skin to lose elasticity and become saggy and baggy. Skin becomes less contoured, particularly around the jaw line (jowls).

Aspire has an amazing, brand new solution to all of this in the form of its non-surgical thread lift therapy, known as the Sweetheart Facelift.

Non-surgical facelifts using fine thread contour therapy involve the use of fine sutures or threads (made from the same material used in cardiac surgery, so very safe and long lasting), to gently lift and tighten loose skin, reduce jowliness and create a lovely facial arc, giving you back a youthful heart-shaped face. Gently placed under the skin, the threads will lift and provide a supportive structure that defies the effects of gravity and aging.

The Sweetheart Facelift is a real game-changer in the anti-ageing market due to the safe, simple and comfortable nature of the procedure, with minimal downtime. It requires no general anesthetic, no hospitalisation or long recovery. Results can be seen immediately, and will continue to improve over the following three months, with the results lasting up to two years. The Sweetheart Facelift is also great for brows, cheeks, jowls and neck area.

Body…Aspire to have a fabulous body shape It goes without saying that the most popular of all resolutions every year is the one about losing weight. Whilst committing to a strict diet and exercise can have great results, there are stubborn pockets of fat that sometimes just refuse to shift, no matter how hard you try.

That’s where CoolSculpting is a game-changer. With over five million treatments carried out worldwide, CoolSculpting has become the number one permanent, non-surgical fat removal treatment in the World. It is the only FDA-cleared Cryolipolysis® (the science bit) treatment that effectively reduces diet- and exercise-resistant fat, and is clinically proven to work.

The CoolSculpting procedure works by delivering controlled cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin while leaving the skin itself unaffected. The treated fat cells are cooled to -10 degrees centigrade, resulting in them being permanently destroyed. Over the next few weeks, the body naturally processes the destroyed fat cells and excretes them through the normal body processes, leaving a slimmer more shapely body. The great news is that the results are permanent and so the fat is gone for good!

Because Coolsculpting permanently removes stubborn fat and reshapes the body, it’s ideal if you want to target your tummy, love handles, waist, inner

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and outer thighs, bingo wings, back fat, and even small areas like chin, knees and the area around your bra.

Mind…Aspire to look radiant and rejuvenated and be confident with healthy, glowing skin…always January blues and a freezing February do not make for a great rejuvenation recipe. Keeping ourselves, particularly our skin, looking fresh at this time of year can prove difficult. However, with Aspire’s game-changer in rejuvenation treatments – EDS Rejuvenate and Platelet Rich Plasma therapy - you can transform your skin to achieve a younger, smoother and brighter look.

EDS Rejuvenate is professional

skin needling that stimulates the skin to naturally regenerate and repair itself, making it an ideal way to tackle fine lines, a dull complexion, acne scars and stretch marks. Micro needles penetrate the skin to kick-start the skin into naturally forming new collagen and generate new skin cells.

Before treatment, a topical anesthetic is applied, making the EDS Rejuvenate a comfortable treatment. The actual treatment takes around 20 minutes, and the recommended treatment course usually consists of three treatments six weeks apart, with minimum downtime.

The results are smoother, brighter, radiant and rejuvenated skin.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

therapy is a treatment that has become increasingly popular amongst celebrities such as the Kardashians and Angelina Jolie. Derived from one’s own blood, PRP therapy has been used extensively to speed up the healing process after surgery, to treat sports injuries and to alleviate chronic pain. It is also ideal as a facial rejuvenation therapy.

The process starts by taking a small sample of the patient’s own blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate out the plasma from the red blood cells.

The section of the plasma that contains the growth factor and platelets is then reintroduced into the skin via a painless ‘magic-needle’ technique (giving the same benefits of micro needling). Because the patient’s own plasma is used, treatment is very safe, with no risk of side effects, just long-lasting improvement to the skin’s condition.

For optimum results, a course of three treatments is recommended, a month apart and then an annual maintenance treatment. PRP therapy produces a rejuvenating and tightening effect on the skin, and is perfect for full-face rejuvenation, tightening a crepey neck, restoring sun-damaged and lined décolletage and rejuvenating the backs of hands.

Reader Offer Look and feel radiant with EDS Rejuvenate micro needling treatment.

Whether you want to tackle fine lines and wrinkles, acne scaring or stretch marks, Aspire Clinic is offering Village Eye readers a fabulous discount on its EDS treatment course. Book a course of three treatments for £750. Normal price £900. Call 0118 931 3575 for your free consultation and quote Village Eye to receive your discount.

Aspire Clinic offers free consultations as part of its ‘red carpet’ patient experience ahead of all potential treatments. Client satisfaction is paramount, so the clinic’s expert medical and aesthetic practitioners meet with patients individually to ensure treatment pathways are just right.

To book your free consultation contact Aspire on 0118 931 3575 or info@ aspireclinic.com.

clinic

www.aspireclinic.com

3rd Floor, Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire

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Valentine’s Day

So I know that traditionally valentine’s day is all about the colour red (I’m definitely partial to a red lipstick or two) but this year I want to shake it up with a bit of pink - adventurous, I know!

If you’ve read my articles for a while, you probably know that I am obsessed with the Sephora lip creams. Whenever I travel abroad, I instantly Google to see if they have a Sephora nearby, just so I can grab one! Particularly with Valentine’s day where a lot of eating is involved, you need a lipstick that is going to last throughout the day and evening and this is definitely my go-to. The colour that I am obsessed with is ‘pink tea’, which is the perfect ‘your lips but better’ shade. Paired with the pink eyeshadow, I think this would make a perfect Valentine’s day look! You can order this online as Sephora (finally) ship to the UK!

Megan’s Moments On Beauty

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 at megan@villageeye.co.uk xx

�

An obsession of pink for this

However, if you’re wanting a lipstick that you can grab whilst in town, the one I would very highly recommend would be Revlon’s Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry for £7.99 from Boots or Superdrug.

The formula is matte but it’s not drying in the slightest! It really glides onto your lips and because it’s like a large pencil, there’s no need for lip liner and it instantly makes your lips look plumper. Out of the majority of my lipsticks, this is my go-to when I want pigmented colour and longevity. Revlon offer so many colours and they regularly have offers on for 3 for 2, so make sure you check them out!

Another key makeup item for Valentine’s day is a pink blush and if I had to choose one, it would be Rimmel’s Kate Sculpting Palette In the Buff for £6.99 from Boots and Superdrug. It’s a great palette with three pink blush shades to choose from, making it the perfect palette to take you from day to night! I think the quality of these blushes are amazing, the longevity is great and they perform just as well as any high end blush! The shades are a really lovely pink shade that complement any skin tone, I’m so impressed with the quality and value for money.

If I think of the colour pink in my makeup collection, my mind is instantly drawn to one item - the Naked 3 eyeshadow palette. It’s a cult classic so I’m sure everyone and their dog has heard of it, but I love it so much because it contains the most beautiful pink shades.

It also has a great mix of matte and shimmer shades, meaning it’s a palette that can take you from your day date to night.

If you love the look of this palette, you should definitely take a look on YouTube for some tutorials, it’s where I get all of my inspiration from!

Available from Debenhams or House of Fraser and retails at £39.50.

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

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@villageeyemag

Virgin

Diary of an aesthetic

Now Open!

with Christina Cullen

Love The Skin You’re In With A Little Help Lash Extensions Russian Lashes Lash Lifting Nail Treatments

Hair Removal Spray Tanning Facials Microblading

Find us at 18-20 West End Road, Mortimer, RG7 3TF (Opposite the Mortimer Methodist Church)

www.ajbeautyandtraining.com 07990 013 946

Well it has to be said, with each tried and tested new treatment, I’m getting more and more into this newfound world of aesthetics. Like many, I had preconceived ideas about aesthetics and people’s motivations for being treated; but I’ve experienced first-hand the feelings of confidence and happiness following many compliments about my glowing, line-free skin.

Aesthetics is not just about reversing the signs of ageing. There are treatments out there that tackle skin conditions, those of which, for many, can have a very real, emotionally damaging effect.

When I was about 28, I suffered from acne for the first time in my life. I recently found out that this is a really common complaint in women at that age due to the influence of hormonal changes. It lasted for about a year, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the scarring it left me with on one side of my face; something that almost 20 years later, I still feel self-conscious about.

I headed to Aspire Clinic at the Madejski Stadium to try out a professional skin needling treatment - EDS Rejuvenate - that stimulates the skin to regenerate and repair itself. As an established clinically proven treatment, EDS Rejuvenate claims remarkable results in significantly improving the appearance of acne scars, photo-damaged and ageing skin, lines and wrinkles, and stretch marks by stimulating the skin to rejuvenate itself and become plumper and smoother To make me comfortable, my lovely practitioner, Georgina applied a topical anesthetic to my face, making this an easy to tolerate procedure. Then with a medical grade eDermastamp device (looked pretty much like a chunky pen), Georgina penetrated my face with micro needles to kick-start the skin into naturally forming new collagen and generate new skin cells. The actual treatment took around 20 minutes, and the recommended treatment course usually consists of three treatments six weeks apart.

Immediately following the treatment, my skin was pink for about 24 hours, but easy to cover with make-up. I then had to (and still am as it’s now become my moisturiser of choice and there’s no need for foundation!) apply Heliocare SPF 50 tinted moisturiser daily to protect my skin from damaging UV rays.

The Forever Program can help you jumpstart your journey to a slimmer, healthier you. This effective, easy-to-follow cleansing program will give you the tools you need to start transforming your body today.

If you’d like to find out more, please contact in confidence: Melanie Marshall 07972 032166 or email foreverbe22@gmail.com

Because skin needling stimulates natural responses in the skin, the results are really natural looking too.

Within days my skin definitely looked smoother and brighter, particularly on my scarred cheek. And as an added bonus, the darker pigmentation spots caused by my love of the sun had faded too!

I’ve got two more treatments, and with a little help, I’m finally looking forward to loving the skin I’m in.

eye Be ty

9

being

geek

eye Hea hty& Be

Chic For a trend to emerge, it usually appears on the catwalk runways in London, Paris and New York collections.

A few trends, however, have been born out of popular culture and, in this case perhaps, social media. We’re talking glasses and the geek chic phenomenon (think Ugly Betty). This year can officially be named the year of the nerd.

Not that the intellects of the world need more adulation - you’ll already find them holding all the top jobs in our techcentric society.

Those bullied at school for their unconventional interests are now the world’s most renowned and admired people.

According to the College of Optometrists, 69% of people in the UK are reported to wear glasses.

With this in mind, perhaps the fashion world has been quite slow to embrace the quirky style that comes in the nerd package. Until now.

The educated appearance of the unpopular, quiet cornered soul has become a craze with celebs and designers alike.

The popularity of Geek Chic has soared to such a degree that eyewear is now, it seems, no

longer just a necessity (you know, so people can see) but instead an opportunity to accessorise! Lots of Insta-girls and YouTubers like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and KSI now proudly rock decidedly nerdy-chic styles like horn-rimmed frames and round wire lenses. From artsy allclear frames to candycoloured retro cat-eyes, there’s a style for everyone. Geek chic has never looked so cool - but what would suit your face shape..?

There are five basic face shapes, and not every glasses frame will suit the same shape. Here are some tips to help you when choosing your new glasses from the wide range available.

Round Face If you have a round

face look for narrow, geometric frames which make your face look longer.

Heart shaped For those with a heartshaped face, squarer frames will work best with your face’s proportions. Avoid teardrop lenses and frames with too much detailing at the top.

TriIf your anglefaceFace shape is

triangular and wider at the bottom, go for square, angular frames with deep lenses.

Top-heavy frames and teardrop lenses will also

Bridle Eye Care your local independent Optician Looking after all of your Eye Care needs.

A frame for every face, and a price for every pocket...

0118 930 2312

Contact us today!

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www.bridleeyecare.co.uk

find us on THEALE High Street Eye Tests | Children’s Eye Tests | Glasses & Sunglasses | Designer Frames | Contact Lenses

help to balance the shape of your face.

Oval Face If you are one of the

lucky ones with an oval face, you should be able to wear any shape of frame provided that it is wider than your face is at its widest point.

Square Face Finally, for those with

a square face, rounded, slightly curved frames will help to balance your face’s strong lines.

So go on, embrace Geek Chic and upgrade your frames!

What Happens In The Hour After You Drink Kale Juice?

We saw it online, so it must be true

tain en juice can con re g vy a e -h ie g g ve d 20% A store-bought, d potassium an e d n e m m co re y il gar, 36% of your da ms of natural su ra g 12 h it w , A fresh of daily vitamin icing your own Ju . in te ro p f o s m . no fat and 4 gra more nutrients.. n e ev t e n ly e k bled glass will li r-juice, we stum e d n o w is th g in can When research account of what ) k e e ch in e u g tuff in across this (ton ss of the green-s la g a k n ri d o h w re! happen to those pting not to sha m te o to s a w It the first hour.

First 10 minutes

You are overcome with a sense of smug satisfaction.

You didn’t just make a healthier choice than those caffeinated, sugary beverages, you’re a better person.

20 minutes

Self-righteousness begins to affect the left half of your brain, suppressing logic and stored memory. “This organic kale was grown without pesticides”, you say, forgetting that ‘organic’ doesn’t mean pesticide-free.

Highly toxic pyrethins, rotnone, and copper sulphate are all approved pesticides.

30 minutes

The smug begins to affect your hippocampus, a part of the brain essential to rational thought. “That food-babe woman on the internet says you shouldn’t eat ingredients you can’t pronounce”, you think.

Except, kale naturally contains hard to pronounce isothiocyanate, neochlogenic acid and other stuff we can’t say. It does taste good though.

40 minutes

Sanctimony seeps into your pre-frontal cortex, resulting in impaired reasoning. “Thank goodness there’s no such thing as ‘Genetically Modified’ Kale! Who cares that every reputable scientific body has found GMOs to be safe.

You learned how bad they are from a clever facebook infographic. Also, you now understand how NASA faked the moon landing.

50 minutes

Damage to your frontal lobe causes you to start making some absurd claims. You’ve updated your social media telling everyone about how this miraculous wonder juice has already changed your life. You are convincing yourself by the minute that you can actually feel the forces of the ‘green stuff’ cleansing your soul. Moreover, you are also very sure that you feel slimmer.

60 Minutes Later

And so, the first hour is up - and you are in true kale enlightenment. You’re proud to be a freethinking nonconformist, like all your friends who believe exactly the same things you do. Now you have an insatiable desire to force everyone to drink local, organic kale juice too just like you.

Per 30 ml Calories 17 Total fat Og Cholesterol 0 Sodium 17mg g Potassium 174 m Total Carbs 4g Sugars 0g

No kale or kale-eaters (including one of the authors) were harmed in the creation of this article.

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

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11

My stay at

by Sue Dunbar, Triangle Travel

WHERE THE SPIRIT OF SAINT LUCIA COMES ALIVE

D

iscover Saint Lucia’s best kept secret and immerse yourself in true Caribbean luxury. East Winds is set in a breathtaking tropical garden by the sea, planted on a beautiful secluded beach with 30 cottage-style suites.

This boutique-style hotel is ideal for couples and families looking for an elegant allinclusive experience. Many of our expert team have had the pleasure of staying at East Winds. Here is a diary of when Sue Dunbar recently spent her holiday there back in November.

East Winds Oceanfront Room

12

DAY ONE

Every morning we would start the day with an early morning cup of tea on our own private terrace, watching the tropical gardens come alive with the sights and sounds of local bird life.

Today we discovered Saint Lucia and its famous Piton mountains by sea - a ‘must experience’ day trip encountering a drive-in volcano, Toraille Falls, a delicious lunch and, to end, a swim-and-snorkel tour in the south of the island.

DAY TWO

The full body stretch from Nikita’s morning Pilates class and a healthy smoothie had us feeling spritely and ready to go, but first we headed to Paula’s corner for a cooked breakfast on the open grill.

My travelling companion then opted for the ‘Breathtaking Views’ tour, exclusively for East Winds guests, while I headed for the beach to try my hand at paddle boarding.

Later that day we met up and

joined the bar team for a rum tasting class - Saint Lucia has a wealth of fantastic rums to sample - it would be rude not to try them all!

DAY THREE Today we spent the day relaxing around the newly refurbished pool and selfserving swim-up bar! We skipped lunch in the main restaurant, but instead ordered from the hotel’s Lite Bites menu: a delicious choice

To find out more or to make a booking at East Winds, Saint Lucia call Triangle Travel on 0118 933 1177

eye Trav

DAY FIVE

Today started with a Yoga class with Jill in the Garden Studio. Shortly after breakfast, we took the ‘A Taste of St Lucia Tour’ where we learned how to prepare a Lucian meal using garden herbs and seasoning. Tonight dinner was a little less formal as we experienced a pre-dinner beach party followed by the Land and Sea BBQ with a local island band.

DAY SIX

of tapas to enjoy at the fabulous new beach bar.

That afternoon we spent time with Chef Harry learning to cook a local Saint Lucian dish - one I cannot wait to try at home! The evening was an elegant affair as we chose the Bamboo Lounge for Champagne cocktails and an exquisite 4-course dinning experience, each dish paired with the finest wines.

DAY FOUR

We didn’t need much persuasion to get up and out on day four, as we had a trip to Howelton Estate to make our own chocolate bar at the Bean to Bar Chocolate Making class. We returned in time for a relaxed BBQ and the Head Gardeners Garden Tour! Following a rest in a beach hammock we enjoyed the hotel’s Exclusive Sunset Cruise.

Our trip wouldn’t have been complete without seeing and buying the fantastic local artwork during the Saturday morning ‘Exclusive Shopping Trip’. The highlight had to be the Pink Plantation House for some of the island’s most sought-after handmade pottery. We both decide to take it easy in the afternoon and enjoyed a rejuvenating massage in the Garden Spa but still managed to make it to the ‘Island Cocktail Class’ at 4:30pm! Sipping on our drinks and listening to the live Steel Band really made the trip!

DAY SEVEN

There was no need to be too active this morning as the sea gently lapped the beach. We sat and ‘sun watched’ for an hour or two before dabbling in a little snorkelling and yoga.

As we said our goodbyes to the wonderful East Winds team, including Stanley the new puppy, we knew that it wouldn’t be too long before we book another stay at this superb resort!

FLIGHTS

Flying time from the UK is approximately 9 hours nonstop. British Airways operates a daily service from Gatwick and Virgin operate 5 times a week. Upgrades to World traveller plus, Business, First with British Airways and Premium economy and Upper class with Virgin are available.

Please ask for further details.

Exclusive Offer: Book your holiday to East Winds with Triangle Travel between 1st January and 28th February 2018 for travel anytime in 2018 and you will receive a Sunset Cruise for two. Cruise is exclusive to East Winds guests only.

To book and for full terms and conditions contact 0118 933 1177 or visit www.triangletravel.co.uk

East Winds Garden Studio

13

eye

Business & Finance

Financial

by Mark Penston

RAPID COMPUTER SUPPORT

Love

T

his month we’ve been asked to write something with a Valentine’s theme. Romance and finance aren’t two things I’d normally put together, but I’ve had a go. My apologies if you feel that some of the items are a bit tenuous.

To start with, have you written your Will? Have you made sure that your wealth and any treasured belongings will be passed on to those you care about when you are no longer around?

Life cover

Not very romantic, but nor is the situation you might leave behind if you haven’t thought this one through. A 40-year-old earning £45,000 a year is worth over £1.5 million in earnings up to age 65. If that person dies today, financially they are worth nothing. If they have left behind a spouse and children who were depending on that income, what happens now?

While life cover isn’t the only solution, it does offer a quick and simple way of ensuring that those you love will be financially secure if you die too soon.

Nominating beneficiaries

If you are in employment, the chances are that you will be in a workplace pension scheme and your employer may also provide life cover for you (known as ‘death in service’). In both

your local mobile IT helpdesk!

If you have computer problems, we can help you with:

instances you will be able to nominate who the funds should go to if you die, and you should ask your employer to provide you with the necessary nomination forms.

Saving

On a happier note, how about saving for your loved ones if you can afford it?

For example, Help-to-Buy savings schemes can help your kids get onto the property ladder in a tax efficient manner. Equally, putting some money aside for your future can mean that you might be able to treat yourself too. Consider saving now for that big holiday or romantic break, or maybe just an emergency fund that you can dip in to when you need to make life just that little bit easier.

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Gifting

If you can afford to, giving money to family members, charities or those in need can be a loving gesture.

As an alternative, if your wealth is significant and you love the Taxman, don’t do any Inheritance Tax planning at all!! If you can think of others you love more who you would want to receive your worldly goods, then start the planning process now so that your loved ones don’t end up paying HMRC anymore than they need to.

See - money can be romantic! Happy Valentine’s Day

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

Mark

Mark Penston is Partner and Chartered Financial Planner with Bluesky Chartered Financial Planners

Personalised Financial Planning

For an initial consultation call us on:

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

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

14

Why we should all write a will

witnessed correctly. If your situation is more complex, either in terms of family relationships or the assets owned by you, it is even more important to have a Will and to obtain legal advice on how to provide for your family members and with regard to Inheritance Tax planning.

If you die without a Will, the intestacy rules set out how your property will be shared out. Whatever the size of your ‘estate’, there is a set order of distribution. This may not accord with your wishes and makes no provision for partners who are not married.

If you have a Will, have you reviewed the same recently? A Will should be reviewed every 3-5 years or earlier on a life-changing event. Any major changes in your life may affect your Will and it is important to always check that your Will still reflects your wishes following that change.

If you started 2017 with the intention to make a Will or review an existing Will but found yourself ending the year without having done so, make this your New Year’s Resolution for 2018. Our team of experts at Rowberry Morris will be happy to help you.

A

Will is one of those things that everyone should have and yet only a third of people bother. Writing a Will puts you in control of what will happen to your assets when you die. It will also give your family certainty, and make what can be a difficult time for them significantly easier.

A common misconception is that a Will is just for people who are very wealthy; this is not the case. Many people own their own house or have investments, accounts and shares. Your Will states who you would like those assets to pass to on your death.

Most Wills are straightforward but it is important to ensure that your Will reflects your wishes and is valid, having been signed and

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

Citroen C3

T

he C3, for years has been a rather bland small hatchback that failed to stand out from the crowd. This time though, the new C3 has taken the styling cues of the C4 Cactus, leading it on a much more distinctive path. The most striking feature is the rubber padding that made the C4 Cactus so famous. The new car takes on a whole new personality, however the platform that sits underneath the C3 is not new. Is the lack of new engineering going to hold back the dramatic styling update?

The range of engines consists of 1.2l petrols and 1.6l diesels that range between 67bhp and 108bhp, applied to the front wheels. These are combined with 5 speed manual, semi-automatic or 6 speed torque converter automatic gearboxes. Contrary to the common tradition with cars these days, Citroen have softened and increased the suspension travel for the new

car. After all it’s not a sports car, so why sacrifice comfort for a slight improvement in the handling dynamics at speeds the car will hardly ever be driven? The result is a comfortable riding car, however, the damping could still be improved to really make the most of the softer suspension.

The main theme of the styling is squares, but not in such an extreme way as the Fiat Panda or the C4 Cactus. All the squares are nicely rounded at the corners to make them more subtle and easier on the eye. This is echoed between the interior and exterior with the shape of lights matching that of air vents and cubby holes inside. The interior styling is very tasteful and uncluttered by putting many of the controls for features such as climate control within the touch screen system. It would be worth considering whether you would become irritated by having to fish around in touch screen menus to reach

features that would normally be used with the flick of a finger without taking your eyes off the road.

One large problem with the C3 is that the features that make this car so good are only available on higher models.

Go lower in the range and the interior will lose it’s colour accents and you won’t get the distinctive air bumps on the exterior. This is made all the more of a problem given that this is not a particularly cheap car. The range starts at £11,555.00, but that doesn’t include the air bumps or the plastic wheel arch edging which makes the car look a little tall and ungainly. For both features you will be paying at least £15,645.00

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

and that puts it up against tough competition. That is a lot of money for a car with some poor material choices in places and a slightly cramped interior.

So should you get one? Well it’s definitely not the best value car around when spec’d up, but if you really like the styling then the rest of the car shouldn’t disappoint you.

I’d recommend going to see one and seeing what you think of it’s feel. For me, I like the styling and approach, but I’m not sure it’s quite as polished as I’d expect for a £15,000 car.

Jack worboys

Drives...

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15

eye TECH

Sensible disposal of

E-WASTE

by Eye Geek

Out with the old and in with the new tech for 2018 According to a recent BBC report, many of the PC’s found for sale in Lagos, Africa were tracked back to UK Council re-cycling facilities. There is nothing wrong with them being sold down a chain like this, however as the originator of the computer it’s up to you to ensure that there is no important info left behind. So if you take your PC down to one of these or indeed anywhere that you don’t have control over, it’s vital to destroy any personal information.

Over previous editions we have covered many different aspects of technology from tablets to music and some of the latest gadgets. But with Christmas just gone many of you may have upgraded your computers and are thinking about what to do with the old one.

There are a couple of things you could do, such as passing it down the family but many people now opt to re-cycle their old computer. However, a small note of caution.

You probably have lots of information that is potentially very useful to a fraudster sitting on the hard drive of your computer. If you don’t want to have it getting into the wrong hands then before you re-cycle you have to take some action.

Thousands of UK bank records have been found for sale, and the source was Nigeria. Many people think that just deleting the file or indeed formatting the hard drive is enough to delete the information. But even with these actions it’s surprisingly easy to recover the data that is on the hard drive. Just deleting or formatting isn’t good enough, it can be recovered.

Don’t let me dissuade you from re-cycling your old computer, but do let me persuade you that you should destroy the personal information on it beforehand.

In essence if the machine has really only the value of the gold on the chips then destroy the drive completely.

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16

If you plan on keeping the drive intact then to delete the information on the drive it needs to be wiped (Apps like McAfee Quickclean, or Acronis Drive Cleanser will do this).

If you don’t want to take to the local recycling centre there are also companies out there that will collect it from you – (just google IT recycling), greenlink Berkshire for example - but again delete the info first.

It is also worth noting that if you are recycling an office computer then as a company you have a legal obligation under data protection to safeguard personal information on any computer you have. In our case we go one step further, we actually remove the hard drive and store it in a firesafe, OR in the past we have put a drill right through the drive to completely ensure no data is outside our control. Perhaps that’s the most drastic action, but at the end of the day the physical hard drive of an old computer really isn’t worth much compared to the value of the data on it.

Happy re-cycling!

Eye Geek

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Spratley’s

Your local “Lafford & Leavey, experts in WHILE-U-WAIT MOT (by appointment) bringing the outside - inside” 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.

Windows - Doors -Conservatories UPVC or Timber

One of the leading window, door and conservatory installers in Berkshire, offering free quotations and advice from a company with a formidable reputation spanning 0118 933 2338 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. w: www.spratleys.co.uk e: service@spratleys.co.uk

LAFFORD & LEAVEY LTD ARROWHEAD ROAD, THEALE, READING, RG7 4AZ Tel: Reading (0118) 9303333 Fax: (0118) 9323707 Email: lafford.leavey@btconnect.com 60/62 Victoria Road | Mortimer | Reading | RG7 3SG

Service | MOT | Repairs | Car Sales

17

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

Let’s talk

CLEAN

Let’s talk

The Key to Hope. Change. Empowerment.

TheWhoever Keyyouto Hope.

Empowerment. are, whatever you do,Change. however you are feeling, talking through what’s

going on withare, a professional can help.

Whoever you whatever you do, however you are feeling, talking throughWewhat’s going on with a professional can help. We are a dedicated are a dedicated team of counsellors, cognitive behavioural therapists, team ofpsychologists counsellors, cognitive behavioural psychologists and and psychotherapists.

Whatever you’dtherapists, like to talk about, we are here to listen. psychotherapists.

Whatever you’d like to talk about, we are here to listen.

Property of the Month • • • • • •

We are a small friendly company offering high standard domestic and commercial cleaning services, ironing and curtain fitting services, using professional equipment and products.

We are also offering carpet cleaning service, and cleaning of furniture, windows and ovens.

Adults, young people and children Couples and families Workshops and therapy groups Trainees and supervision Range of prices £35.00 – £90.00 per session Open 7 days a week including evenings

• Adults, young people and children • Couples and families • Workshops and therapy groups • Trainees and supervision you’d like to book an appointment or have any questions, please call on •If07544 Range ofemail prices £35.00 – £90.00 per session 752 667 or us at enquiries@keytherapyassociates.co.uk We• areOpen also happy7todays set up ana initial free consultation. week including evenings

Heron Way Aldermaston Wharf You can find out more about us and our services at If you’d like to book an appointment www.keytherapyassociates.co.uk

Regular & One-Off Cleaning Home & Office Cleaning End of Tenancy Cleaning Before & After Party Cleaning Pre/Post Holiday Cleaning Spring Cleaning

or have any questions,

callhome or email us on 4 bedroom detachedplease family

Theale Office

THERAPY LTD 07544KEY 752 667ASSOCIATES enquiries@keytherapyassociates.co.uk Thatcham House, Suiteto 18aacquire and 18b, Turners Drive, Thatcham, RG19 4QDfamily home, in Rarely available opportunity detached We are happy to set up aan4 bedroom initial consultation. the desirable Aldermaston Wharf development.

Builtfree in 1998 the property has

been comprehensively improved and reconfigured by its current owners; the result of which is a modern family home that strikes the perfect balance between modern livingTrauma and entertaining.

Improvements include,Phobias but are not limited to, Self-esteem Low mood OCD the creation Self-esteem of an open plan kitchen with quartz worktops, comprehensive Divorce Eating disorders Bereavement Panic attacks redecorationAnxiety throughout including carpets and new radiators.

On the first floor Family issues issues DivorceBereavement there are four bedrooms and an en-suite master. OutsideDepression andFamily to theInfertility rear there thoughts Emotional & Suicidal is a privateSuicidal garden thatthoughts is laid to patio, lawn and herbaceous borders physical abuse Traumaand that Relationships Depression benefits from side access.

To the front there is a small garden laid to lawn and Infertility Addiction Anxiety Stress Gender & Sexuality off road parking for twoRelationships cars.The property represents a great opportunity to Stress Addiction Self harm Self harm Eating disorders Gender acquire a detached family home that isCareer within a short walk of a mainline station.

Anger management Anger Phobias OCD Career & Sexuality

Physical abuse

management

Low mood

Curtain Alteration Service Domestic Carpet Cleaning Ironing (free collection & delivery)

Panic attacks

Emotional abuse

HOUSE SERVICES

Call: 0759 362 7139 £525,000 Theale office info@cleanhouseservices.co.uk

£1,250,000

Theale office KEY THERAPY ASSOCIATES LTD Thatcham House, Suite 18a and 18b, Turners Drive, Thatcham, RG19 4QD

• Detached 5 bed Character Barn

of over (January 2600 sq.ftCreative).qxp_Layout 1 21/12/2017 10:26 Page 1 F_BAR_15684 Village Eye - Cherry Blossom Manor - Conversion 148mm x 210mm • Desirable Semi-Rural Location

• Truly Unique Property • Two Bedrooms • Large study

• 1.5 acres of land including Equestrian Facilities

• Open Plan Living Space • Internal Courtyard

• Breath-Taking Country views

Beenham Burghfield Common Burghfield

£445,000

Road Parking AreTheale you thinking about• Offcare Burghfield Common for a loved one this winter?

• 1372 sq. ft. 6 Car garage with annex potential

£440,000 This time of year is full of joyous occasions, Theale office but can also be a time for reflection – 3 Bed Semi Detached Home • 4 Bed Semi Detached House the realisation that an older person• 2close Extension Potential Reception Rooms to you may be struggling to cope at home.

300’ South West Facing Garden • Conservatory

£475,000 Theale office

• • •

• Fronting onto the Village Cricket Green

Bradfield Southend

• Off Road Parking • Desirable Village Location

• 3 feeling Bathrooms Whether it’s the challenges of age, the • Conversion Potential of loneliness or the pressures of winter, • Close to village Centre Theale Cherry Blossom Manor Care Home could be the new beginning that’s needed.

£245,000 £350,000 Theale office Theale office COME ALONG TO OUR OPEN DAY: SATURDAY 27TH JANUARY • 12PM–4PM • 2 bedroom detached bungalow

If you need urgent care or some our friendly team at • Southadvice, facing rear garden • 28ft kitchen/dining room when you need them.

Cherry Blossom Manor Care Home are here • Large workshop

Call: 01256 442 699 Padworth • Extension potential

• Ample driveway parking

German Road, Bramley Green, RG26 5GF

• Two Bedroom Maisonette • First Floor • Additional Loft Room • No Onward Chain • Garden

• Walking Distance To Theale Burghfield Commonwww.barchester.com Burghfield Mainline Station

Nursing • Residential CareAldermaston • Dementia • Respite & Short Sulhamstead Breaks Burghfield Common Care Mortimer Burghfield Village Wharf Care Beenham Midgham Care Woolhampton 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 18

eye es on Hom e Gard ns

&

As one year comes to an end and another begins many people are inspired to start afresh and declutter the home...

Declutter

Time off work over Christmas can often mean that it’s easier to find the time to sort out the toy shelves, the wardrobe or the back of the kitchen cupboards. But then you find yourself with a big pile of ‘stuff’. All of a sudden you’re back at work and your good intentions to hand-medown kids‘ clothes to friends, drop stuff to the charity shop and sell the rest on Ebay go by the wayside. There just isn’t time!

But did you know about the rise of the Ebay Trader? Yes, all over the country Ebay Traders are springing up, ready to sell your clutter, for a commission of course! Nonetheless you can still make money from your old belongings without lifting a finger. It’s easy to find one too.

Just type ‘find a trading assistant on Ebay’ into Google to find the link. You can enter your postcode and the type of item you’re selling and a list of registered traders will appear.

the buyer. They also have experience selling on eBay and specialise in certain categories so they know how to sell your type of item for maximum value. Please note, however, that Ebay Traders are not approved or endorsed by Ebay so you will still need to check out their profile and their rating and make sure you’re happy with that, though all Trading Assistants in the directory have experience selling on eBay, a feedback score of at least 50, and at least 97% positive feedback.

Some also offer a pick-up service and/ or a drop-off point for goods to be sold, though many are by appointment only.

Make sure that you agree fees in advance.

Commission can vary greatly depending on the item and the value of what you are selling. Keep in mind that a Trading

The Trading Assistant handles every aspect of selling your item on eBay, from listing the item to shipping it to

A Man’s Whole Life!

A Brit living in Australia sold his whole life for £192,000 after splitting up with his wife. The auction included his house and its contents, car, job, motorcycle, jet ski and friends, in an effort to make a fresh start.

Afterwards, he launched a book all about his experience and made shed-loads more...

A suit of armour for a guinea pig A woman sold a piece of

Britney Spears’ bubble gum that Britney Spears had chewed and spat Bubble Gum out at a concert at Wembley Arena in 2000. The winning bid was £10,500!

A suit of armour for a guinea pig fetched $1,150 in 2013. The creator promised that the tiny hand-made suit (and matching helmet) would keep a “guinea pig protected and secure in all situations.”

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

Assistant will pick and choose the items they will sell for you. They’ll generally be looking for an item in excellent condition and likely to sell for more than £50. If you're not sure about your item's value or chances of being sold, most Trading Assistants will be happy to make an assessment for you. You can also do a little research of your own by searching for similar items on eBay and seeing how they perform. Some items are prohibited or restricted from being sold on Ebay.

These include alcohol, credit cards (!) and tobacco. If you’re unsure there is a list of these items on Ebay for you to check before you sell. Despite the guidelines there have been some pretty surprising Ebay listings over the years. Here are just a few that made us chuckle...

A lock of Biebers hair fetched $40,668 in 2011. The pop star had gifted his hair to Ellen DeGeneres, who decided to put them up for auction.

The proceeds went to an animal rescue charity.

in Clippings of Just Bieber’s hair

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19

Rentals

www.parkersproperties.co.uk

Property of the Month Reading Road Burghfield Common

Burghfield Common Office

Three bedroom semi-detached home

£1,500pcm £2,500pcm Theale office

(Tenant’s fees apply)

A beautifully presented three bedroom detached home situated close to local amenities and located in the heart of Burghfield Common. The property comprises lounge with feature fireplace, a spacious re-fitted 27ft kitchen/diner, conservatory and a cloakroom. Upstairs the property has three bedrooms and a refitted bathroom. Externally, there are good sized front and rear gardens, garage and parking to the rear also. The property backs onto Wokefield Common. Unfurnished. Available now. Must be viewed to avoid disappointment.

£1,100pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

(Tenant’s fees apply)

Burghfield Common office • Two bedrooms

• 4 Bedroom Detached Family Home

• Lounge/Diner

• In excess 2400 sqft Accommodation

• Kitchen

• Three Reception Rooms

• Gas central heating

• Substantial gardens

• Cul-de-sac location

• Pets Allowed

Pangbourne

• Available Immediately

£1,250pcm

Burghfield Common (Tenant’s fees apply)

£1,495pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

Burghfield Common office

Theale office

• 3 bedroom semi-detached

• Four Bedroom Detached

• 2 Reception rooms

• Pets Considered

• Good sized front and rear gardens

• Close to Aldermaston Station

• Cul-de-sac location

• Driveway Parking

• Driveway parking and garage

Burghfield BurghfieldCommon Common

• SUN School catchment

• Offered Furnished Or Unfurnished

Aldermaston Wharf

£1,100pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

Tadley office

• 3 bedroom mid terrace

• 3 bedroom end terrace

• Quiet cul de sac

• Backing on to parkland

• Within walking distance of local amenities

• Lounge, separate dining room and study

• Upvc double glazing

• Gas radiator central heating

• Gas radiator central heating • 2 allocated parking spaces

• Available Immediately

£1,095pcm (Tenant’s fees apply)

Tadley office

Tadley

• Garage and parking

Tadley Burghfield Common

• UPVC double glazing • Close to local amenities

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

20

Make the with Parkers Tadley Thinking of selling?

Did you know that in 2017, 1 in 5 houses with the RG26 postcode was sold by Parkers?

Interestingly, we’ve just received figures from Rightmove which reveal we sold more properties than any other of the other 33 agents serving the same area. The figures also reveal that we had fewer price reductions on our properties too - with 50% fewer price reductions in asking price than other agents*. This meant that our vendors were more likely to achieve sales closer to their original asking price.

Thinking of buying?

With record numbers of new instructions on our books too, the chances are - if you are looking for a new property - statistically, you are more likely to find one with us. If you are thinking of buying or selling in 2018, give us a call. P.S. Happy New Year to you all!

If you live in RG26, we would love to hear from you.

0118 981 0494 Tadley@parkersproperties.co.uk www.parkersproperties.co.uk

* Data received from rightmove, closest comparable agent.

21

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

Property of the Month Heron Way Aldermaston Wharf 4 bedroom detached family home

Theale Office

Rarely available opportunity to acquire a 4 bedroom detached family home, in the desirable Aldermaston Wharf development. Built in 1998 the property has been comprehensively improved and reconfigured by its current owners; the result of which is a modern family home that strikes the perfect balance between modern living and entertaining. Improvements include, but are not limited to, the creation of an open plan kitchen with quartz worktops, comprehensive redecoration throughout including carpets and new radiators. On the first floor there are four bedrooms and an en-suite master. Outside and to the rear there is a private garden that is laid to patio, lawn and herbaceous borders and that benefits from side access. To the front there is a small garden laid to lawn and off road parking for two cars.The property represents a great opportunity to acquire a detached family home that is within a short walk of a mainline station.

£445,000

£1,250,000

£525,000

Theale office

Theale office

• Truly Unique Property

• Detached 5 bed Character Barn Conversion of over 2600 sq.ft

• Two Bedrooms

• Desirable Semi-Rural Location

• Large study

• 1.5 acres of land including Equestrian Facilities

• Open Plan Living Space • Internal Courtyard

• Breath-Taking Country views

Beenham Burghfield Common Burghfield

• 1372 sq. ft. 6 Car garage with annex potential

Theale Burghfield Common

£440,000

£475,000

Theale office

Theale office

Bradfield Southend

• 3 Bed Semi Detached Home

• 4 Bed Semi Detached House

• Extension Potential

• 2 Reception Rooms

• 300’ South West Facing Garden

• Conservatory

• Fronting onto the Village Cricket Green

• 3 Bathrooms

• Off Road Parking • Desirable Village Location

• Conversion Potential

Theale

Theale office

Theale office

• 2 bedroom detached bungalow

• Two Bedroom Maisonette

• South facing rear garden

• First Floor

• 28ft kitchen/dining room

• Additional Loft Room

• Large workshop

• No Onward Chain

• Extension potential • Ample driveway parking

• Close to village Centre

£245,000

£350,000

Padworth

• Off Road Parking

• Garden

Theale Burghfield Common Burghfield

• Walking Distance To Mainline Station

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 22

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

Property of the Month The Avenue Mortimer Spacious 4 bed family home

£775,000

This spacious four bedroom detached house is situated in the sought after village of Mortimer. Accommodation includes 20’ kitchen/breakfast room, 19’ conservatory, two further reception rooms, study and utility, master bedroom with en-suite and separate family bathroom. With ample off road parking, double garage and a larger than average garden to the rear, viewings are highly recommended.

£599,950

£765,000

Burghfield Common office

Burghfield Common office

• 5 bedrooms

• Four bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

• 18ft lounge, sep Dining room

• Over 2000 sq ft

• Study & 14ft Conservatory

• Large fully refitted kitchen

• 21ft kitchen/ breakfast room & utility room

• 22’ conservatory & study • Double garage & parking

• Three bathrooms & cloakroom

Burghfield Common

• Double garage & driveway parking

Burghfield Common

£495,000

Burghfield Common office

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

• Three bedrooms

• 21ft Lounge and separate Dining room

• Three reception rooms • Aluminium double glazed

• 25’9 Conservatory

• Garage and driveway parking

• En-suite & family bathroom

• Gas central heating

• Gas heating, Upvc double glazing • Landscaped Garden

Three Mile Cross

• Immaculate throughout

£435,000

£329,950

• Three bed detached

• Three bedroomed end town house

• Fitted kitchen, two bathrooms

• Spacious accommodation

• Immaculate condition

• Large detached garage

• Excellent location

• Backing on to school playing fields

• Burghfield St Marys catchment

• Catchment for SUN School

Burghfield Common office

Burghfield

• Private garden backing on to woodland

£455,000

Burghfield Common office

Burghfield Common

Burghfield Common Office

• Local rail station nearby

Burghfield Common office

Burghfield Common

• No onward chain

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 23

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

Kite

Garden Services

What can I do for your Garden this winter?

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 winter!

Winter lawncare, mowing, digging, sowing, planting, weeding, pruning, hedge-cutting, tree management, sympathetic makeovers and soft & hard landscaping.

Plenty still needs doing during the winter!

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

0118 988 7590 or 07768 764908

RELIABLE DOMESTIC CLEANING & HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES Fitting Garage Doors Since 1995 Visit our showroom or request a home visit We provide our own professional engineers Fully insulated Custom made & British built Free no obligation quotations Price guarantee R O L L G A R AG E D O O R S Free 7 year warranty A huge range of styles and colours Police secured by design and insurance approved option available

E

4 Domestic cleaning 4 End of tenancy cleaning

R

CENTRE

4 One-off cleaning 4 Office cleaning

T: 0118 981 7300 Roller Garage Doors Centre (Part of Access and Security Systems Ltd)

Secured by Design

For quotes please phone Lucy on

07768 639762

Unit 7 Bacchus House Calleva Park, Reading RG7 8EN

POLICE PREFERRED SPECIFICATION

Police Recommended and Insurance Approved

www.rollergaragedoorscentre.co.uk

www.tidytimeservices.com Williams provide the complete service for keeping you warm this winter.

Coal & Local Seasoned Firewood Competitive Prices Free local delivery Chimney sweeps by a qualified guild of master chimney sweeps Stove installations by HETAS approved installers

LOGS SOLID FUELS COAL

www.williamshomeheat.co.uk

0118 971 0201

BPS Plus Ltd t/a Williams Home Heat Units 1-2 Padworth Saw Mill, Rag Hill, Padworth RG7 4NU

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

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

Windows - Doors -Conservatories UPVC or Timber

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

LAFFORD & LEAVEY LTD ARROWHEAD ROAD, THEALE, READING, RG7 4AZ Tel: Reading (0118) 9303333 Fax: (0118) 9323707 Email: lafford.leavey@btconnect.com 25

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

• FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY SERVICE • • • • • •

MOT TESTING While-you-wait testing available (by prior appointment) SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Great discounts and helpful advice MECHANICAL REPAIRS FREE SHOCK ABSORBER TESTING BULBS & BATTERIES FITTED FREE WHILE YOU WAIT* VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND SPECIAL OFFERS

FREE VEHICLE HEALTH CHECK! FREE BATTERY & ALTERNATOR TEST, CHECK LIGHTS, CONDITION OF TYRES & FLUID LEVELS, COOLANT LEVELS & WIPER BLADE CHECKS

We’re a LASSA Tyre Agent!

BOOK YOURS TODAY!

With our extensive range of facilities and FREE services can you afford to go anywhere else for your vehicle maintenance needs?

3D Wheel alignment computer system

Mobility Specialists | Delivering Your Independence Fully reconditioned All with new batteries

Used Mobility Scooters

Please contact SERVICE RECEPTION on

0118 970 2222 www.mendemmotors.co.uk

New In Stock! The Amazing Super Lite Supa Scoota

Free assesment & delivery for all chairs

Electric Riser-recliners

Use your mobility allowance to lease a scooter from £13 pw with insurance & servicing included

Mobility Scooter Lease Scheme

Large range in stock

Showroom demonstrations available

Extensive range

Wheelchairs

Walkers

Toilet Incontinence & Bathing

Full safety training given Servicing/Repairs Batteries/Tyres

New Mobility Scooters

Unit E4 Grafton Way, West Ham Ind Est, Basingstoke 01256 335900 Open 9.30 - 4.00pm Mon - fri 9.30 - 12.30 Sat

With you every step of the way

Stairlifts

pictures for illustration purposes only

24 26

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

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@villageeyemag

Expert advice for individuals, families and businesses.

Call 0118 951 6800 or email law@blandy.co.uk

BLANDY & BLANDY solicitors

www.blandy.co.uk Reading | Henley-on-Thames | London

Providing exceptional healthcare for your pets

Get new windows from us in 2018

big smiles Your local vets in Tadley give

appointments available throughout the day TADLEY

BASINGSTOKE

0118 981 3668

01256 465409

17 West Street, Tadley, RG26 3ST

65 Worting Road, Basingstoke, RG21 8YX

e: tadley@gpvets.com

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

One of the Thames Valley’s leading law firms.

e: basingsoke@gpvets.com

www.gpvets.com

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

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27

Plasterer ?

Want to rid your home of your old Artex ceilings?

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

Need a Good, Local

Whether you're looking for a newly plastered ceiling or external rendering, we provide a wide range of plastering services.

To request a free quote, or to discuss your requirements, contact us today.

With more than 10 years of experience in plastering, you can expect the highest standards and an excellent finish every time.

• • • •

info@mtjplastering.co.uk

www.mtjplastering.co.uk

Experienced team of specialist plasterers

07789 902 091 0118 933 2121

Friendly and professional service Free quotes Will take on any plastering job, domestic and commercial

MTJ

Plastering Services

Before

After

New Street, Strafield Saye

OKEElectrical

All aspects of electr ical work from a light switc h to a complete rewire

Fully insured • Fully qualified • Pa rt P complia nt

d . o k e @ m e . c o m w w w. o ke e l e c t ri c a l . c o . u k

0 7 7 6 9 0 1 1 8 9

5 5 6 8 5 2 3 3 2 8 6 7

Berkshire Design Build Ltd

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

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

www.trustedtraders.which.co.uk/businesses/berkshire-design-build-ltd

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

28

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@villageeyemag

Open 7 Days a week

01256 883 237

Vi t our sh room daily

James W Fisher Property Maintenance

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

25 years experience.

N ! о

CONTACT JAMES TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTATION. No job too small:

OFFICE: 01189 831246 Mobile: 07766 646430 Email: info@jwfisher.co.uk www.jameswfisher.co.uk

• Log Cabins • Sheds • Pavillions • Play Houses

The Forge, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3BL

• Garages • Hot Tub Hire • Summer Houses

Turgis Green, Basingstoke Road, Basingstoke, RG27 0AG

Need a Solicitor?

Contact John L Banky Solicitors

Designs of Aldermaston

Designs of Aldermaston Designs of Aldermaston

Supplythroughout throughoutBerkshire, Berkshire, Supply North Hampshire SupplyHampshire throughout Berkshire, North SouthHampshire Oxfordshire North && South Oxfordshire & South Oxfordshire

Doors Doors

•

All areas of conveyancing

•

Commercial Property

•

Wills and Probate

•

Contested Probate/Inheritance Claims

•

General Litigation

For advice please call:

0118 930 4630 john@johnlbankysolicitors.co.uk

Windows Windows

Soffi Soffits ts Balconies Balconies Balconies

Fascias Fascias Verandas Verandas Verandas

Porches Soffi ts

Car Ports

Car Ports Fascias

Solid Roofs

Solid Roofs Garage Doors

Garage Doors Conversions &&Conversions

&Garage Doors Conversions

Experienced legal consultancy

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm 18a High Street, Theale Berkshire, RG7 5AN www.johnlbankysolicitors.co.uk

Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 538444)

Conservatories Conservatories

Conservatories Windows Car Solid Ports Roofs

Porches

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.

Doors Porches

Call Roy Ward or Dermot O’Sullivan Call Roy Ward or Dermot O’Sullivan Contact Roy Ward or Dermot O’Sullivan

01189 820300 01189 820300 0118 982 0300

email: office@amberwooddesigns.co.uk www.amberwooddesigns.co.uk email: office@amberwooddesigns.co.uk office@amberwooddesigns.co.uk www.amberwooddesigns.co.uk Youngs Industrial Estate, Paices Hill, Aldermaston, RG7 4PW Youngs Industrial Estate, Paices Hill, Aldermaston, RG7 4PW www.amberwooddesigns.co.uk Where quality, professionalism and value count Youngs Industrial Estate, Paices Hill, Aldermaston 4PW Where quality, professionalism and valueRG7 count

Where quality, professionalism and value count

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

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

Keep it local ! !Trades && Services Pages. forget toto mention Village Eye when calling!

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

sales@countrygardenbuildings.com www.countrygardenbuildings.com

@villageeyemag

29

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

Windows Doors Bifold doors Conservatories & Orangeries Porches Soffits Fascia Guttering & Repair Service

• • • • •

Established 1990 Over 33,000 installations Quality Products Competitive Prices Excellent Service

Up to

30%

discount quote VE1

Atkinson & Sons

• • • • • •

Contact us for a free, no obligation quotation

Tel 0118 971 1960

Email: sales@castlewindowsnewbury.co.uk www.castlewindowsnewbury.co.uk

• • • • • •

UPVc Fascia Soffits Guttering Lead Work Chimney Work Fully Insured

For local friendly help, advice or a quote, please contact us

info@atkinsonandsons.co.uk www.atkinsonandsons.co.uk

Castle Windows, Black Barn, Unit C, Fronds Park, Frouds Lane, Woolhampton, Berkshire RG7 4LH

0118 983 5924 07568 330034

registered office: Field Close, Burghfield Common

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

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

30

New Roofs Re Roofs Tiling Slating Flat Roof Moss Removal

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

aFree Design & Consultation aDisability Bathrooms - Our speciality a Highly trained, qualified craftsmen a VAT paid on all goods Call in or contact us, we are happy to help and give our expert advice

18b Mulfords Hill, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 3JE

0118 981 3777 tadleybathrooms@aol.com www.tadleybathrooms.co.uk

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@villageeyemag

TADLEY PET SUPPLIES We Deliver!

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.

You name it we sell it.Just call and ask!

0118 981 9996

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

READING

Alloy. Batteries. Braisery. Brass.Copper. Copper Tanks. Car Radiators.

Dirty/Irony Alley. Electric Motors.Elements. Gun Metal. Household Wire.

Lead. Iron. Low Amoured. Old Rolled/Clean Alloy. Stainless Steel.

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.

Recycling

WANTS YOUR METAL

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!

Residential Scrap Metal Drop in your scrap metal from home, old copper pipes, washing machines, power cables etc. We will pay you top prices.

0118 950 0470 / 0781 3443 763 Weirside, Green Lane, Burghfield Bridge Industrial Estate, RG30 3XN

WE’ll buy your SCRAP METAL! Mon-Sat 8am-6pm

www.readingmetalrecycling.co.uk

(Opposite the Cunning Man)

Contact Toby on 07737 784 244

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

• • •

No Signal? we’ll fix it

www.bluebanana.tv

• Digital Television Aerials • Radio Aerials, (DAB and FM) • Sky HD & Freesat

Helping you achieve the lawn you’ve always wanted.

Lawn Fertilising

Moss Control

Weed Killing

Scarification

Aeration

Lawn Mowing

Home cinema systems IRS Systems Hidden cables

• Multiroom systems • Repairs to existing systems, • European satellites • Domestic and Commercial Work undertaken • TVs mounted on walls

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

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

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Keep it local ! Trades & Services to mention Eye when calling!

Keep it local ! Trades & Services Pages.Pages.

Don’tDon’t forgetforget to mention VillageVillage Eye when calling!

Free local delivery service!

@villageeyemag

31

eyeĐž On Educa

Jubilee Day Nursery Choosing the right childcare setting Recent research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their long-term learning and development and early years settings play an important role. There are many options to choose from in the area and it’s important to think carefully about your choice of nursery. If you are looking for your first child it can often be a daunting experience.

Jubilee Day Nursery are extremely good at helping first-time parents navigate their way through this exciting next step! As well as a highly qualified Early Years teaches for preschool children and caring, experienced practitioners Jubilee Day Nursery places great emphasis on the outdoors and a wellrounded learning experience encompassing a child’s physical, personal, social and emotional development.

It has an enviable reputation in the region and children leave as confident and independent learners.

Senior Manager for

Jubilee Day Nursery Lesley Thompson says, “It’s important to get a feel for each nursery and what is important to you as parents. ‘Gut feelings’ and first impressions play a vital part in your decision.

However some key points to look out for include whether staff are friendly, caring and welcoming; is the environment pleasant and does the nursery offer plenty of scope for your child’s development? Most importantly, are children happy and occupied? Why not book another visit if you want to get a better feel for a setting. Jubilee has its own private woodland and farm and we like to be able to show parents the facilities on offer to the children for outdoor learning in a second visit so they can come along in their wellies and really get a feel for what we are about. “It’s also important to make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute. Popular nurseries like Jubilee book up very quickly and ensuring you reserve your place well in advance is important.

Tel: 0118 970 1600 Email: info@jubileedaynursery.co.uk 32

“Go armed with lots of questions (the National Day Nurseries Association have sample questions for parents online). A good nursery will be pleased to answer these and give you honest answers and advice.

They will have your child’s best interests at heart.�

To receive a prospectus, find out more and book a visit with Lesley or one of the team – call Jubilee on 0118 970 1600.

Jubilee offers a range of childcare options – from full time and term time nursery care for babies and children from 3 months to five years of age and two holiday clubs for primary school children – Jubilee Jets and Jubilee Cadets.

Located in Padworth (Just a few minutes’ drive from Mortimer) Jubilee offers a range of packages including full-time, term-time* and flexible sessions. (*Jubilee Gems only).

Visit www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk Follow us on Facebook @JubileeDayNursery

Luckle HOUSE SCHOOL

Excellent Coeducational Day and Boarding School for 11 to 18 year olds

OPEN MORNING Tuesday 13 March 2018, 9am

OPEN HOUSE most Friday mornings, 9.30am Luckley House School, Wokingham

Tel: 0118 978 4175 Email: Registrar@luckleyhouseschool.org

www.luckleyhouseschool.org School transport available from RG7 area 33

eye On L

abbing s so ST Y ruh Many playground trends transcend time, while others come and go; however, the undisputed mark of a good craze was how long it took to be banned.

34

onkers Bonkers inCg. This fad is as old as

Po

trees. From the beginn Let’s start at ugh the horse-chestnut e perfect th ro r th fo and the wind hing them e local woodl exploring th hing, baking and varnispion conker as s conkers, to stbat, and carrying a cham atus, conker m ready for co legendary playground sta well-meaning e to through , ever sinc ty ld wear safe ng. However has everythi her decided pupils shou , subsequently ck in 2007 conkers on head teac ay conkers ba ed goggles to plols appear to have bann children wear some scho fety’ grounds or made tically the risk ‘health & sa en padded gloves! Realis and just not w goggles, or evg conkers is incredibly loerately hit each from playin ing about. If kids delib at ’s a discipline worth bothere head with conkers, th ty. fe other over thissue, not health and sa

YoYo

Most crazes seem to fade and reappear on a cycle; yo-yos first really came to prominence on the playground in the 1960s. Reintroduced to captive audiences in the following years – and still popular today – the yo-yo now incorporates ball bearings and transaxles, allowing the yo-yo to ‘sleep’, making tricks such as ‘rock the baby’ possible.

kemon Car We all want ds was. To catch to be the very best, like no ki ds w ith Po kémon cards one ever real quest, to might have be stash them is their cause.is teacher’s The craze we still live inen superseded by Pokémon a world of Po kémon card fa Go, but natics.

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Bogies

Who remembers this playing this one? Played on now defunct children’s’ TV sho Dick and Dom in da Bungalow,w Bogeys involved going into a pub place, and taking it in turns to lic say the word “Bogeys.”

Each time it has to be a little louder than the time before. The winner is the one who is louder shows most courage... Bottling it disqualified you.

The Floor Every few mon is L th challenge. In s, the internet graces us wava 20 16 , w e ha challenges d the Runn ith a funny and ridicul sweeping the . Last year, ot was The Flooing Man and Mannequin ous lik does what it es of Facebook, Snapchatr is Lava - the latest craze says on the ti shout “the floo n - a simple and Instagram. It basica higher ground r is lava” before others game which sees someonelly ha . hopping on toThis could mean climbing ve five seconds to get to onto, or into p of a bi n or restaurant. N ot hygienic, or jumping on the counter , a store shelf, of safe. We are glad that this a fast-food one is over.

Tamagotchi

Did you know the inventor of the Tamagotchi won the 1997 LG Nobel prize for economics? Ok, so not the ‘real Nobel prize’ but this ‘mock’ award was given ‘for diverting millions of person-hours of work into the husbandry of virtual pets’. Aki Yokoi, we are eternally grateful.

It ’s easy toTop Trumps what ab find out the best best fighteout the best TV cha conker. But What if yo r jet? The best his racter? The to u Trumps. didn’t have intern rical figure? educationTense, competitive et? Enter Top , fame in thal! Since they rose and vaguely e e a rl y late 70s & to playground company e h world-wid ave sold over 30 marly 80s, the e has made . Over the years, Toillion packs Spidey to friends with every p Trumps to Bart S Doctor Who, from one from Koala beaimpson and from H SpongeBob rs e friends wit … Top Trumps has llo Kitty to it is now a h space. Now, enteeven made mobile lso available digit rprisingly, software aor tablet device. Thally for your are thinkinvailable to make yoere is even Mortimer, g of putting some ur own. We together fo Burghfield , The r Shall we? ale and Tadley.

est dance Dabbing ssibly the bigg

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35

TEAM ENTRY NOW OPEN !

BOX KART BASH Sunday 24th June

With only 30 places available for competing karts, now it’s time to get your team signed up!

After last year’s huge success of the Burghfield Box Kart Bash, we are very excited to announce that it will back , bigger and better for 2018.

Last year saw 29 teams enter, 80 volunteers keeping everyone safe, fed and watered, 4000+ spectators lining Hermits Hill and a whopping £24,200 raised for good causes, surely it can’t be beaten…

But this year’s event is promising to be incredible!

The second Burghfield Box-kart Bash will be held on Sunday 24th June in Burghfield. The course will meander down Hermits Hill into Burghfield Village, improved to test the karts with more obstacles and more jumps which will mean lots of fun for those cheering on the teams.

Entries for teams are now open… With only 30 places available for competing karts, now it’s time to get your team signed up!

From superhero automobiles to a racing recycling bin, anything goes, the wackier the better. The Burghfield Box-kart Bash is a family fun day for the benefit of local residents - from all the local villages.

It is being held at the beginning of the summer so that it gives families, friends and individuals a project throughout the spring.

What will your team come up with? Who knows... But one thing is for certain – together we will raise more money for good causes.

The entry fee is £50 per kart for individuals or £100 for a company

kart. Company entered karts can have their own banner displayed along the course and will be mentioned many times by the event commentator. Entering a company team is a great team building exercise for all. To help with the fundraising, in addition to the entry fee, we ask each kart team to set themselves a minimum sponsorship target of £200.

Traditionally, the Santas have raised money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, but recognising that there are so many other worthy causes out there, the organisers have decided as last year, that the charity prize money can be donated to the charity of choice for each winning team.

HOW TO ENTER A TEAM For the rules and technical design criteria visit:

www.burghfieldsantas.org.uk e: burghfieldsantas@outlook.com or like the facebook page facebook.com/BurghfieldBoxKart

There will be four charity prizes for: Fastest single time Best engineered kart Best novelty kart Spirit of the event - This prize will be awarded by the organisers to the team which in their opinion best reflects the fun and sporting nature of the event. Who will be your chosen charity?

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Charities who benefitted from last year’s incredible fundraising effort included: • • • • • •

TVAA Guide Dogs Local Scout Groups Women’s Institute Firefighters Trust Teenage Depression

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

• • • •

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on BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support at RBH) Blesma (Limbless Veterans) Cancer Research UK The Brain Tumour Charity

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ity

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Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out Quality tuition at affordable prices Fun and exciting dance classes Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street, from 2 - yrs to adults Gymnastic Dance Singing, Drama, Street Dance

Musical Theatre Course from 5 yrs

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

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

Classesin:Burghfield|Theale|Mortimer|Silchester|Thatcham|Tadley|LowerEarley

Stage school, StageAbility is approaching its 10th birthday and has been offering after-school drama classes in Burghfield Common for 6 years now. Operating in Tilehurst, Wokingham, Earley, Pangbourne and on the doorstep here in Burghfield Common. The local drama classes continue to go from strength to strength, opening the doors of Burghfield Village Hall on a Monday night from 5pm to young actors looking to build their confidence, their self-esteem and their stage skills. The classes cater for all ages, from as young as 5, right through to 16 and, just for the record, there’s very little dancing! This thriving class is always looking to welcome new members, so if your child has shown a love of acting, or just needs to build their confidence, perhaps this drama class could offer the answer?

More recently, due to popular demand, the StageAbility team started a brand new class, this time in Mortimer on a Tuesday. The class is called Mad 4 Musicals and

Jackie, StageAbility Principal, if your child would like to come along in January or February. jackie@berkshire. stageability.co.uk But if week-night activities aren’t an option for you, you can still get involved – if you’re quick! Yes, on Sunday 28th January, StageAbility will be holding open auditions for their next show Seussical, the Cat in the Hat musical.

Those of you who know the Dr Seuss books will be able to imagine the fun they will have with this! The show is open to children aged 7 and above and they don’t need to

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

An education based on Christian principles

A well-resourced, bright learning environment

Warm, caring sta

Creative, fun curriculum

We foster a love of learning

Visit us anytime.

“We Learn Together, Grow Together and Shine Together�

does what it says on the tin!

The sessions are taught by Bernadette Vanderkar who has appeared in the West End as a child and is now inspiring other young people. This class involves acting, singing and dancing. Working on classic scenes and songs from wellknown musicals, they teach technique and skills in all three disciplines.

attend StageAbility classes.

Rehearsals will take place on Sunday afternoons in Lower Earley, with the show taking place on Sunday 6th May at The Whitty Theatre, Wokingham. Everyone welcome!

Free taster sessions are available for both classes.

Please get in touch with

Please contact the Headteacher: Nicola Sumner 0118 933 2242

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

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37

Clare Desai

Choices Career

New Year

New Beginnings January can be cold, wet and miserable and it is easy to lose steam half way through any big Job or Career plans.

The best way to successfully approach any new Job or Career Beginnings is to plan, plan and plan some more. So, use the Christmas excitement and organise your January strategy. Make lists, draw diagrams, use spreadsheets, create job boards, create charts – make planning exciting and then in January, you can start to work through your ideas.

Things to think about with any career change: What do you want to do? If you could choose any career move, with no doubts or outside influence, what would you be doing?

What do you love? What is your passion? If possible, you should always love what you do.

What skills do you want to use in your Career? Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you need to use it in your job.

Do you want to retrain?

There are lots of different free courses that you can undertake, most of which can be done online, in your own time. Whilst free courses might not give you the official qualification you need for a

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For ideas, check out: www.open.edu/openlearn/freecourses/full-catalogue www.futurelearn.com/courses Groupon also do some great deals on courses so keep an eye out for any that might interest you. www.groupon.co.uk

job, taking a course shows dedication and commitment to your chosen profession and looks great on any application.

Would undertaking work experience or volunteering give you the experience that a potential employer is looking for? Start to look at the local volunteering sites, mentoring opportunities etc.

Need childcare? Start to look at local childminders and nurseries? What hours do they offer? Does your school offer Breakfast Club and After School Club facilities?

Not up to date on rights at work? Read up on the laws about flexible working, time off for children and part time working. www.acas.org.uk www.citizensadvice.org. www.gov.uk/part-timeworker-rights

At the Flicks

eye on Leisure

with ROB BARNES

A rip-roaring reboot smouldering with charm, adventure and a belly full of laughs!

N

o original movie is safe from a reboot or sequel these days, so the prospect of a Jumanji makeover more than 20 years after the original left me a little cold. However, my fears were completely blown away.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a good old fashioned fantasy romp stuffed with action, adventure and a belly full of laughs.

Part Tropic Thunder and part Indiana Jones, the premise of the film is a roll reversal of its predecessor when a fantasy gameworld is released into the real world. This time four young school teenagers get sucked into a video game and find themselves in the roll of their avatars, who in turn are played by a star studded lineup.

The dweeby nerd Spencer ends up in the body of Dr Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), the equally shy and reserved Martha becomes kick-ass biologist Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) and the humongous football star Fridge is shrunk down to pint-sized zoologist Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Kevin Hart). The most inspired transformation though is left till last as the selfie-obsessed school babe Bethany ends up as Professor Shelly Oberon, played by Jack Black.

It really is a simple hook but it completely reels you in, and just like

a classic joke it keeps on delivering throughout the entire film. As our unlikely heroes discover their game mission (to return a stolen magic jewel to an occult statue) so too must they come to terms with their powers and weaknesses ranging from cryptography and cranial assault to dance fighting to and cake. The plot is flimsy and the story is a simple one but it’s the performances director Jake Kasdan gets out of all of his cast that make this such a enjoyable watch.

scaredy cat robbed of his height and strength. And Jack Black turns in one of his best performances in years as the traumatised princess trapped in middle aged man’s body, the scenes where she has to work out how to urinate for the first time is priceless.

Dwayne Johnson has an absolute ball playing the all-out action man with a flair for smouldering intensity, but who at heart thinks of himself as a sevenstone weakling. Kevin Hart delivers laugh after laugh and is perfectly cast as the diminutive panic-prone

Children's book of the MONTH

Rarely these days do you find an action comedy movie that delivers such warm and wholesome fun for all audiences, so much so that I’d be surprised if anyone could find a reason to dislike it. For me Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was one of the warmest and most welcome surprises at the cinema I’ve had in a long time. Go see it!

3.5/5

The Tale of Emily Windsnap

by Liz Kessler

This book is about a girl, Emily, her mum, a man called Mr Beeston and the hunt for Emily’s dad. Emily has grown up all of her life without her Dad - so far. Her mum seems to not want to talk about Emily’s father, so she knows nothing about him. Her mother also seems to not want to go into water. When Emily finally tries swimming lessons she makes an interesting discovery about herself – she has a tail! She sneaks off her boathouse and dives down into the sea. Whilst she is swimming, she meets a mermaid called Shona.

Together they discover more secrets about her dad. He is being held in a prison just beyond the Great Mermer Reef. Will they rescue her?

This is a heart-warming book about finding the loved ones you have lost, making friendships and learning that memories are one of the most precious things you can have. I would recommend this book to readers 8 years +, as it is not too hard-going. This is one book from a series about the characters - the Emily Windsnap trilogy. I would also recommend some of Liz Kessler’s other books as she is an amazing author.

by Maya Hillier age 10 To contribute, advertise or let us know your news please call 0118 933 3311 or email info@villageeye.co.uk

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eye

Keep it in the

On L

Family Fitness experts are putting their bets on Family Fitness classes as the emerging trend for 2018.

W

ith parents battling each other to ‘babysit’ the kids so each can get out to a group fitness class or a gym session (or two) across the week, you can see how it makes perfect sense that a family fitness session would work – just take the kids along with you! And, of course, it doesn’t just benefit you, it will benefit your kids to spend more time as a family, get moving from an early age and embrace a good attitude to fitness and exercise, with fun being key.

play an important role in shaping a child’s attitude to exercise, and families that exercise together form healthy habits that last a lifetime. It really is a win-win situation.

The Chief Medical Officer in England recommends that children do at least 60 minutes of activity every day but, according to Sport England, nearly four in five kids aren’t doing enough. Parents

With parents constantly on the look-out for ways to distract children from screen time, a growing trend for family workout classes is strongly predicted.

The trend for family workout classes is slowly working its way out of London and families have been surprised how well the combination works. Most sessions stipulate that children need to be over a certain age (usually 8 or 9) and, of course, exercises are modified to give both parents and children a challenging fitness experience.

WhatĘźs near you?

David Lloyd clubs is rolling out a range of classes including Family Circuits, Family Synergy 360 (like a playground in the gym) and even Battlebox Play (an outdoor bootcamp). www.davidlloyd.co.uk Ricardo Fitness Fusion will be running sessions in the Burghfield/ Mortimer area in the New Year. Email ricardofitnessfusion@hotmail.com for more information

Mortimer

Physiotherapy practice MUSCLE/TENDON STRAIN?

BACK OR NECK PAIN?

POST OPERATIVE REHABILITATION?

SPORTS INJURIES?

ESTABLISHED FOR 15 YEARS, YOUR LOCAL PRIVATE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC. NOW ACCEPTING NHS REFERRALS (NHS REFERRALS ACCEPTED FROM WEST BERKSHIRE GPs)

Tel: 0118 933 3896 Text: 07951 840643

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

* NHS referrals are accepted from all West Berkshire GPs - just ask!

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The Village Eye is a privately owned magazine and bought to you by Pinktomato Limited, a local marketing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Village Eye. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URL’s and telephone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. To feature your business in this publication please call 0118 933 3311

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Basingstoke Aquadrome Newly refurbished gym now open!

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Burghfield Common 0118 983 3897

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