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And the last magazine of 2016. Of course we will all still be busy here this month working on the January issue. As ever, I will be desperately trying to fit in Christ mas shopping and putting up the tree, although I need to find someone tall enough to actually extract it from our loft first. Being a mere five foot tall does not come without some challenges! So, whether you have found 2016 to be a particu larly good or bad year, it is rapidly coming to an end and we can all look forward to a much needed break from work and quality time with family and friends. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers and advertisers for your continued support over the last eleven years and to wish you all a very happy and healthy Christmas, whatever you may be doing. We’ll be back through your letter boxes in January! Until then, have a wonderful time over the festive season. .
You can advertise in this magazine from as little as puts your into all six publications (that’s over 30,000 homes). Tel: 0800 038 5001 Mob: 07759 536494 In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Ickenham . Ruislip Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk
www.inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 4
Children’s Puzzle Page 6 Wildlife Zone 8 Beauty: Party PickMeUps 10 Community Matters: Good Neighbours 12 RSPCA rehoming appeal 14 Different types of debt & how to deal with them 16 Local Events 20 Coffee Break Puzzles 22 The Gift of a Good Book 24 Iver Heath Residents Association 26 Travel: Victoria Falls 28 Hobbies: Why collectors love the vinyl vibe 30 Rotary Club Christmas Collections 32 Community Matters: Iver Relief Road 34 Puzzle Solutions 34 Health: Six tips for surviving Christmas 38 Parenting: Learning through play 40 Golden Years: Memories of 50 Years Ago 42 Motoring: Golf GTI Clubsport S 44 Technology Trends for 2017 48 Wordsearch 50 Richings Park Residents Association 52 Gardening Feature 54 Pets Corner 56 Interiors: A Rustic Christmas 58 Smart Phoneys: Beware the bad apps 59 Citizens Advice Bureau 60 Pets: Why does your cat spray? 60 Schools Update: Iver Village Junior School 61 Clubs, Groups & Classes 62,64,66 & 68 Cake & Bake: Mincemeat & Apple Mini Strudels 70
We are grateful for the support of local businesses whose adverts appear in this publication and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, claims made by advertisers or endorse companies, products or services. This publication, its contents and advert designs are © of In and Around Publishing. Any copying or reproduction in part or fully, is strictly forbidden without our prior consent.
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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Dec16).qxp_Layout 1 28/11/2016 21:53 Page 1
THE WILDLIFE ZONE
SQUIRRELS
Andy Mydellton FLS (pictured right) is an environmentalist journalist, the founder and leader of the British wildlife charity, the Foundation for Endangered Species. They are members of the United Nations agency UNESCO with Andy Mydellton being Chairman and the Environmental Concern Advisor to the UNESCO Schools Group. Andy is a Fellow of the Linnean Society. He writes for many publications, mounts photographic exhibitions, gives presentations and broadcasts the 'Andy Mydellton Wildlife Zone' radio programme.
TO some people grey squirrels are pests or pesky. Moreover they are a North American invasive species that is replacing our own red squirrel. Yet ‘greys’ still manage to get friends. So why is this?
Some people design their wildlife gardens to help all local wildlife. This is because they see all animals as equal but different, and as valid strands in the web of life. Furthermore, many conservationists believe that all animals have their place in the appropriate habitat without being classified as either good or bad. Usually negative terms are often imposed on animals from a human perspective, each tag depending on our own values and wishes.
The squirrel gets its name from the Latin word meaning ‘shadow’ caused by its large bushy tail curling up over its back when it eats. The tail is also an important tool in the squirrel’s spectacular acrobatics of leaping across voids and scurrying along branches. Moreover the grey squirrel has proven itself to be a winner! It is hardy enough to live as far north as the Arctic Circle, and has evolved over the millennia to survive really harsh conditions. It has also had to fend off other animal competition. I have just returned from the USA and seen the North American red squirrel* bully the ‘grey’, despite the red squirrel’s diminutive size. We can still see some of the ‘greys’ instinctive behavioural patterns here in the UK. Previous generations of squirrels have learned to grab what food they could in order to survive in their original cold and hostile environments. Excess food was buried to create a larder for leaner times and to prevent rivals from eating this precious food. When the grey squirrels bury nuts and then either die or simply forget where they have buried them, new saplings emerge, maturing into life-giving trees. This is an important part of a forests overall natural regeneration. This tactic was so successful that nowadays the squirrels living in warmer climes still practice the same survival techniques. At Millstream Fork we see squirrels instinctively burying their excess food in the lawn, flower beds, and even in the flower pots and tubs. Much of this food is usually peanuts that they have gymnastically prized from the bird feeders. May it be that some of these ancient survival strategies lead them into fighting members of their own family? This year I have had four squirrels in the Millstream Fork wildlife garden where I saw them chasing one another across the lawn, backwards and forwards along the path and over the patio, with the losers having to leap into the hedging trees, fleeing their aggressor. This is probably because Millstream Fork is a valuable food source right inside their territory where the alpha male and female must protect their natural rights as they see them. Would I want to see the demise of the grey squirrel? Never… Not unless I am guaranteed the pleasure of having our own red squirrel in their stead. *The North American red squirrel is a smaller species than the European red squirrel.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 8
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Beauty
Party Pick-Me-Ups
If your hair is looking a bit frazzled and fed up with all that styling, try treating it to an Ouai Treatment Masque. It takes just 10 minutes for the treatment to soothe and restore your weary locks, leaving them smoother and shinier after just one use. A pack of eight sachets will set you back £25, so it’s not cheap, but worth having in your beauty arsenal for big nights out. See www.spacenk. com.
by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
Feeling a bit partied out and ready to just curl up with Netflix and a mug of hot chocolate? Our beauty picks this month will soon have you back on your feet and ready to hit the town. First up, Urban Veda’s Radiance Body Ritual collection. Just opening the drawstring bag is a treat. The products all smell amazing – they’re packed with nourishing, fragrant ingredients, including orange oil, turmeric and papaya, so it’s like breathing in the scent of holidays. With a body scrub, body wash and body lotion, you just need to light a candle to create a home spa experience. And they really do leave your skin and spirits feeling rejuvenated. £34.99, www. urbanveda.co.uk. Looking to get some of that summer glow back? Green People’s Self-Tan, £21, is one of the best fake tans on the market. It’s easy to apply, and develops into a natural looking tan within three hours. As an added bonus, it doesn’t have that typical fake tan smell, and it contains rosehip oil to moisturise as it tans. As with any fake tan, you’ll want to leave at least 24 hours between hair removal and application. It’s also a good idea to exfoliate with a good body scrub beforehand. Massage in a light body lotion, and give it time to sink in. Then work some extra moisturiser into your knees, elbows and other ‘knobbly’ bits, to help avoid darker patches. See www.greenpeople.co.uk. 10
I don’t know whether the eyes truly are the windows to the soul, but they’re certainly a tattle tale when it comes to late nights. Try Anatomicals Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches. Three pairs cost around £6 from Amazon or www.glossybox.co.uk. They feel incredibly soothing, and do seem to reduce swelling in just half an hour. Cover up any remaining dark circles with Dry Eye Concealer, £11.95, from www.skinshop.co.uk. While the coverage isn’t quite as flawless as some concealers, it makes up for it by helping to moisturise and repair skin. It also goes on smoothly and doesn’t draw attention to fine lines, puffy eyes or dry skin. You can also use the Dry Eye Concealer to calm and cover small patches of eczema and other areas of irritation. Sometimes a spritz of perfume is all you need to perk yourself up before pulling on your heels. Jo Malone are known for their quirky fragrance combinations, and their latest cologne, Basil and Neroli, is no different. It’s got that lovely freshness of neroli, with a herby twist. Playful and warm, the fragrance just seems to improve as the night goes on. Expect plenty of compliments. £43 for 30ml, www.jomalone.co.uk.
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Good Neighbours groups are there for peo To this end a corps of volunteer owner ple in the local community when there is no drivers needs to be recruited along with a one else they can call upon to help. small group of coordinators who would run the “back office” aspect of the scheme. It is How does it work? Volunteers do simple anticipated that each driver would have to tasks responding to personal requests from commit to one or two hours per week and local people. A request is matched to slightly more than that for a coordination a person who is able to help by a group’s role which would be shared. Training is necessary and will be provided. Vehicle coordinator. running costs at a noprofit sum will also be reimbursed. Each group is selforganised, volunteer led and run. They play a key role in providing If you might be interested in lending a hand to this then a meeting has been arranged personal transport in local communities for There you will be social contact to reduce loneliness and able to learn more details of what would be isolation entailed and hear about how similar schemes are running elsewhere. No com practical support at a time of need mitment would be implied by attending the meeting. Individual groups offer specific services such as getting people to health appoint If you intend to come along then it would be ments or befriending. Others provide cafés helpful for planning if you could email your or coffee mornings, lunch clubs and more. intention to gns@theivers.org.uk with your Some groups offer a wide range of contact details. neighbourly help such as shopping, sitting for carers, even minor repairs. At a recent meeting promoted by Bucks County Council it was agreed by those present that a trial scheme should be set up in Iver covering Iver Village, Iver Heath and Richings Park. Initially it would con centrate on the problems that many people face in getting to Doctor’s appointments at the Iver Village Clinic, The Iver Heath Clinic, the Aysgarth surgery, and the Den ham Clinic. 12
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Registered Charity No: 263515
Roxy & Loki ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.’ Trips off the tongue, doesn’t it? Surely one of the most suc cessful advertising slogans of all time. Would you believe that despite this, every single year the RSPCA is inundated with calls from people who have received pets for Christmas, only to find within days or weeks that once the dust has settled they are either unable or unwilling to look after them? There is still much work to be done to get the mes sage across that although a puppy may look cute on December 25th, this is a huge decision and must never be taken lightly. Cost is an important factor. Can you afford a dog? We’re not talking about the amount of money you’ll be handing over the day you take your new canine family member home – that’s just the begin ning. You’ll need to pay for vaccinations; puppies need their initial vaccinations and all dogs need a yearly booster. Once they’re old enough, puppies will need to be neutered, and the costs for this can run into the hundreds depending on the size of the animal and the veterinary practice. Then there’s microchipping – a legal requirement, which will set you back roughly £15 – plus the essential flea and worm treatments, up to £200 per year. Pet insur ance is a must, to cover you for unforeseen events, and this will run into the hundreds depending on the policy you take out. You’ll also need to buy dog toys and accessories such as collar, lead, dog bed, poo bags, and pay for things such as training ses sions and grooming salons, perhaps a dog walker if you are unable to take the dog out for any reason. And this is all before we’ve even mentioned food. Dogs don’t live on thin air and you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £5001000 annu ally on food, depending on your individual dog.
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Laura
training, veterinary care, companionship and pro tection. Are you prepared to spend the next 1015 years of your life taking care of your dog? A dog is a lifelong commitment and an enormous responsi bility. To those prepared to invest the money, time and effort, there is nothing more rewarding. But please remember: animals are family members who should be loved and respected – they are not ‘gifts’ to be traded around Christmas time. If you’d like any advice on dog ownership or want to find out more about adopting a rescue animal, pop into our Hillingdon Clinic’s open day on Saturday 3rd December 2016 10am3pm at 16 Crescent Parade, Hillingdon UB10 0LG (01895 231435).
Roxy (female, tan and white) and Loki (male, black and white) are two delightful 4 yearold Jack Russell terriers. This lovely pair are very affectionate but still need some toilet training, and their new owner(s) would ideally have prior knowledge of the breed to bring them on. Roxy and Loki need a fairly active home without cats, ideally with no children under the age of 8. They are both quite independent characters so we may consider homing them separately. Roxy and Loki are longing for a new start in life and a lifetime of love and caring. Can you offer them the future they deserve?
Laura was found by a canal with her three kittens, who she has raised in our care. Her off spring have now found new homes, and it is Laura's turn to find happiness in a new life. This beautiful girl is 2 years old, affectionate in nature and quite a little character. She can be pretty vocal at times and has an incredible purr! Laura would prefer a family home with no other cats but may live with a dog. Do you have the purrrfect home to offer Assuming you’re fortunate enough to be able to Laura? afford all of the above, there is still plenty to con Visit www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk to view all of sider. A dog relies on you for everything – food, our animals and download an Adoption Application water, shelter, leadership, exercise, grooming, form.
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Finance
By Ann Haldon
Different Types Of Debt And How To Deal With Them
repayments your home could be repossessed, so this is the number one priority debt above all others.
The temptation to borrow money is all around us. Despite the credit crunch, we still live in a consumerist society where credit card companies extend your limit unprompted, and payday lenders target those least able to pay extortionate interest rates. The fact that many people need to borrow simply to pay their bills and meet the ever-increasing cost of living means it can become draining and stressful just to stay afloat. When you owe money to numerous companies, it can be difficult to know how best to deal with your debts - the pressure becomes overwhelming when you’re simply trying to pay them off. To help you get more control and understand the ramifications of failing to repay, here’s a little more detail about the various forms of secured and unsecured borrowing. Secured loanS This type of loan is secured on an asset, such as the mortgage on your home. If you fall behind on these 16
Repossession is a worst case scenario, however, and most lenders will initially be open to negotiation. They won’t want to lose you as a customer, but you do need to be proactive about communicating with them, and demonstrate that you take the situation seriously. There are many debt charities in the UK that will help you work out a budget if you need guidance in this area. It’s important to let your lender know an amount you can afford to repay, and provide them with a copy of your budget to back it up. unSecured loanS
credit cards and store cards The UK’s total credit card debt has risen to £65.5 billion in 2016, according to the Money Charity, equating to £2,426 per household.¹ Making the minimum repayment for too long causes a rapid decline into unmanageable debt, particularly if you also have other borrowing to contend with. Personal loans Personal loans from the bank will have a fixed rate of interest so you know how much you’ll need to pay each month, and the exact duration of the loan.
In many respects these loans are easier to manage than credit cards, which come with a temptation to build up more debt over time. Personal loans are generally offered for larger purchases, however, such as a car or refurbishing a kitchen for example. Payday loans Payday loans are targeted at those who need small amounts to carry them to the end of the month, and are often used to pay bills and meet other liabilities. The danger of these types of loan lies in the extremely high rates of interest applied. If you know that you’ll be able to pay the loan off when it’s due, they may be a good last resort, but missing a payment will very quickly send you into a debt spiral that is difficult to escape. Mail order catalogues Catalogue companies tend to attract new customers with introductory low interest rates or no interest initially. Repayments are made over a specified period – usually 20 or 40 weeks, and if you don’t fall behind, using a mail order catalogue can be a flexible way to spend. The problem is that if you miss even one payment, a higher interest rate will come into effect which can be as much as 40% APR. Other charges will also be applied by the company, including late payment fees and a charge for chasing the debt.
¹http://themoneycharity.org. uk/money-statistics/
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Dated Events (Dec16).qxp_Layout 1 29/11/2016 17:27 Page 1
december events
Free Food Tasting
10th December, 11am-3pm Iver Flowerland, Norwood Lane, SL0 0EW. 4th December, 11am-4pm come and sample a huge array of 75 The Green, West Drayton. fabulous christmas Fayre. santa’s Grotto enjoy christmas crafts, music, children's and elf Workshop for the kids. activities, Father christmas, roast Hillingdon Canal Club chestnuts, hot wurst and sauerkraut, Christmas Social gluhwien and winter warmer beer in 13th December, West drayton's own traditional German Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX. christmas. mince pies, mulled wine and waterways HUBB Festive Lunch Quiz. 8th December, 12noon-2pm Bay Lodge, 36 Harefield Road, live music events Uxbridge, UB8 1PH. mulled wine, cold festive buffet and Champers Bar networking with local professionals - in 184 Field End Road, partnership with the Hillingdon Eastcote, HA5 1RE. chamber of commerce. thank you for 8 Dec Glen leon as tom Jones your continued support over the past 12 18 Dec 2 tone christmas elf Party months. to book email: 22 Dec 'the Freaky dukes' helen.thompson@wardwilliams.co.uk or Christmas Eve Party with dJ louis Wells visit www.wardwilliams.co.uk
German Christmas Fair at Southlands Arts Centre
Local Events
New Year’s Eve Party with dJ dave connell
Christmas Tree Festival St Peter’s Church, Iver. come and see the trees on display throughout the weekend. entry to the tree Festival is free, refreshments available at a small charge. 9th December 10am-7pm, 10th December 11am-8pm 'Festive table decoration making' 2pm4.30pm and ‘songs of Praise’ at 6pm. 11th December, 10am & 12noon-2pm come and worship with us surrounded by the trees at morning Praise, 10am.
Ickenham Festive Community Night
december 2016
Please send your details to be included in the January issues by Wednesday 14th December. 20
9th December, 6-9pm Featuring a wide range of music, activities, fun and shopping.
Uxbridge Choral Society's Carol Concert 10th December, 5pm and 7.30pm St. Margaret's Church, Windsor Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1AB. Accompanied by the Oak Farm Junior school choir. tickets: Adults £7 and under 12’s £4. Available from www.uxbridgechoralsociety, any choir member or on the door.
The Falcon Inn Village Road, Denham, UB9 5BE. 9 Dec tiny tina blues band 17 Dec dJ rossi
The WatersEdge Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. 9 Dec diamond nights tribute 17 Dec Frank sinatra & tina turner tribute 21 Dec the uK's no. 1 Gary barlow tribute 23 Dec Festive Party New Year’s Eve dJ from 9pm and 4 course luxury menu
The Swan at Iver 2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG. 8 Dec nicky b show 9 Dec 2 tone 17 Dec Grant chambers 21 Dec Kids christmas Party, 3-5pm 22 December ‘elvis’ is in the building Christmas Eve carols in the High street plus mulled wine with free mince pies New Years Eve super light show experience
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The Gift of a Good Book Struggling to find the perfect book to give as a gift? Or wondering what to add to your own wish list? Maybe we can help…
The Hidden People – Alison Littlewood Crime, fantasy and historical fiction are melded together in The Hidden People. Albie Mirralls is every bit the sensible, upstanding gentleman that Victorian society wants him to be. When his cousin, Lizzie, is burnt as a changeling, Albie travels from London to her village to see justice done. But when Albie’s own wife seems so completely changed, he finds himself questioning whether there could be some truth to the rumours about his cousin. The perfect book for curling up with on a winter’s night. The British Table – Colman Andrews and Christopher Hirsheimer For the foodie in your life, you might want to consider this recently released tome. Featuring around 125 recipes, from the traditional to the modern, there’s plenty to tempt most taste-buds. Recipes range from long-forgotten traditional fare, to regional specialities and contemporary classics. The focus is on warming comfort food. Think Braised Brisket followed by Whisky-Soaked-Raisin and Orange Marmalade. 24
Little Warrior – Giuseppe Catozzella Inspired by a tragic true story, Little Warrior tells the story of Samia Omar. Growing up in war-torn Somalia, life is hard, and dangerous. But Samia has big dreams – she wants to follow in Mo Farah’s footsteps and compete in the Olympics. As life grows increasingly hard for women, Samia refuses to be cowed into submission. There are few options for Samia but to put her life into the hands of traffickers, in the hope of escaping to a better place. A heartbreaking read that will stay with you long past you’ve finished the last page. The Girl Who Saved Christmas – Matt Haig Magic is starting to fade in Victorian England, and Amelia might be the only one who can save the day. (Father Christmas being a bit tied up with reindeers falling from the sky, angry trolls and other mishaps.) While it’s the sequel to the 2015 children’s bestseller A Boy Called Christmas, it stands up perfectly well on its own. An ideal gift for children aged 7 and up, this is a really enjoyable read. So much so
that you may well find yourself borrowing it back. Buzz Books 2016: Fall/Winter Still no idea what book to go for? Download Buzz Books for free from Amazon, and you can read excerpts from 40 of this season’s new releases. Wellknown and debut writers are included, across both fiction and non-fiction. With a wide range of genres, there should be something to suit most tastes. Think of it as browsing in a bookshop, only with more time to read and the chance to sample books at home. A Christmas Kiss – Vicky Pattison 24 year old Amber dreams of designing her own fashion line. But after a year of working as a general dogsbody for the Queen of Fashion, Diana Grant, that dream is looking increasingly unachievable. So when an opening comes up working with a leading fashion house, Amber jumps at the opportunity. With a new job and a new love, Amber’s life is looking up, but is she in danger of getting a bit too caught up in the glitzy world of fashion? Warm and funny, this is a great romantic comedy to enjoy over a glass of prosecco.
Sorry Santa, you’ve got work to do. Come and see for yourself why people in Hillingdon come to Ryefield Court first when choosing a care home. Even Santa. Arrange your viewing today.
Chauffeur-driven car | Cinema room | Bistro & bar | Private dining | Hair salon and spa Library | All-inclusive pricing | Inspired & stimulating events 50% higher staffing than average | Paying above the living wage follow the events at the home on facebook.com/ryefieldcourt 25
For the last two years, the IHRA has been actively involved in many important issues on behalf of residents including: • • • •
Major infrastructure projects Consultations on traffic and school transport Protection and enhancement of the local environment Fundraising initiatives for important causes e.g. Cancer Research and a local Defibrillator
Please support us …
Apart from an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of Iver Heath, residents who join the IHRA benefit directly from: • Regular meetings and newsletters providing up-to-date news on latest local events, projects and activities • Early-bird invitations to local events e.g. Pinewood Film Nights • Special offers from selected local businesses • Social Events Join today – let your voice be heard and enjoy the benefits just £5 covers your household for the year!
To join, simply send your £5 subscription fee (cheques MUST be made payable to Iver Heath Residents’ Association) to The Secretary, Iver Heath Residents’ Association, 166 Ashford Rd, Iver Heath SL0 0QE together with your name, address, email and telephone number.
IHRA – your voice in the community www.iverheathresidents.co.uk 26
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The Victoria Falls By Solange Hando
In November 1855, a Scottish missionary sailing down the Zambezi was the first European to set eyes on the awesome falls, long known to the natives as ‘the smoke that thunders’. “Scenes like this,” he mused, “must have been gazed upon by angels on their flight.” His name was David Livingstone and he called the falls ‘Victoria’ to honour his Queen. Stretching 1.7 km across Zambia and Zimbabwe, reaching a height of 108 metres, twice that of Niagara, and pouring an average of 550 million litres of water a minute, the Victoria Falls defy imagination and, with all statistics combined, they are the largest in the world. Mist and spray are visible for 20 km around. Surprisingly this mighty phenomenon does not occur on mountainous terrain but on flat land. It all started millions of years ago when earthquakes created faults in the old lava sheet and as soft material filled up the cracks, the river forced its way through, carving out over time the eight zigzagging gorges we see today. But nature is not set in stone and the great Zambezi continues its work, protected by UNESCO and national parks on both sides of the border. 28
Most visitors view the falls from the Zambian side, where the Eastern Cataract brings the first heart-stopping moment as roaring waters plunge over the edge and the placid upper river continues to flow unaware towards the precipice. But just feet away, the great mass of water tumbles into the ‘boiling pot’, trapped in a massive swirl as it struggles to escape through the tightest of bends. A long flight of slippery steps leads down to the cauldron’s edge, a spine-chilling place where baboons bare their teeth and you might shudder at the sight of a crocodile swept over the edge. Up on the top, those who dare bathe in the death-defying Devil’s Pool on Livingstone Island, where the explorer measured the drop with a bullet attached to a piece of string. Meanwhile, along the Knife’s Edge Bridge suspended in mid-air, strange poncho-clad creatures crawl like aliens across the face of the fall, soaked to the skin but gazing, exhilarated, at the force of the water and the giant rainbow over the Victoria Bridge which spans the deep river chasm. Opened in 1905, the bridge was built in England, shipped to Mozambique and assembled
at the site in 14 months. Trucks and trains cross it at a snail’s pace and it marks the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe claims over two-thirds of the falls with 16 breathtaking viewpoints along sign-posted trails which meander through pristine rainforest to reveal the entirety of the falls: Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe, Rainbow (the highest), then looking right across the bridge into Zambia. There are fewer visitors on this side and along with birds and butterflies, you might spot antelopes, bushbucks and other game. A statue of Livingstone looks down on it all, perhaps pleased that here, the water never dries. It’s different in Zambia when around October-November, the falls can dry up, breaking up the magnificent curtain of water into narrow streams and exposing the rock face, but on the other hand, Zambia claims the best viewing spots to enjoy the full moon. On a clear night, a magical lunar rainbow, or ‘moonbow’, appears over the water, ghostly and pale to the naked eye, but a good camera might capture the colours and one of the most enduring memories of the Victoria Falls.
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Hobbies
Why Collectors Love The Vinyl Vibe By Kate McLelland
In recent years there has been a revolution in the way we buy and listen to music. Thanks to new technologies we are now able to play the music we love wherever, and whenever, we want to hear it. With so much emphasis on the streaming of music from services such as Spotify, iTunes and Tidal, the use of minidisks, cassettes and CDs now seems strangely old-fashioned. After all, when you can stream everything you could ever wish to hear direct to your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, who needs a physical format? In spite of all this ingenious and accessible technology, it seems many of us actually prefer to do it the “old school” way. Collecting vinyl records is one of the most surprising trends of the 21st century and fans cite the “authenticity” of analogue sound, the tactile quality of vinyl and the availability of album cover art and liner notes as reasons why they prefer vinyl recordings to digital music files or CDs. Starting your collection Many vinyl enthusiasts start out by taking on someone else’s collection, often in the form of a gift or inheritance from a family member. Chances are that these records will not 30
be rare items, but they will at least provide the basis for a collection. Car boot sales, charity shops, record fairs and specialist vinyl stores are the best places to start digging around for additional records, and you might even come across a rare release as you browse. Once you’ve acquired a few records, you’ll need to decide how to play them. Vintage equipment can be hard to repair if there’s a problem, so most collectors opt for a modern, portable player (£50 - £100) or a modern turntable that can be linked to a computer (from £80 - £120). How will i know if a record iS valuable? As with any collectable item, rarity is the main driver for pushing up value. Certain packaging characteristics, such as foil-stamp numbering on the jacket (001/500), different coloured pressings, misprints or famous or controversial images/text can add to the value. Records that have been withdrawn or censored should also be on the collector’s radar, as this indicates that fewer records will have been sold. How do i build up my collection? Online sites recommended by
collectors include Classic UK 45s – which specialises in 45 rpm releases from the ’50s and ‘60s; Planet Earth Records (an online record store with thousands of rare vinyl records) and discogs.com – where you can buy records at relatively low cost and exchange information with other vinyl fans. Record Fairs are great places to browse and chat with other enthusiasts. Go to www.recordfairsuk.co.uk to check dates of fairs taking place in your area. don’t forget contemporary vinyl It’s easy to focus on vintage collections and forget that today’s artists are releasing tracks (or re-releasing past work) on vinyl. Some limited vinyl releases by bands such as Radiohead, the Arctic Monkeys and Keane are also highly collectable, selling for between £50 and £100 each. Vinyl is a gateway to a whole world of music enjoyment, with opportunities to find out more about different artists and genres of music as you add to your collection. Best of all, you’ll be able to connect with the large and diverse community of enthusiasts who are eager to share their knowledge with you.
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Santa’s coming with his house and carols keep a look out. He starts at 6.00pm until 8.00pm on the following dates in December: Monday 5th Thornbridge Rd, Iver Heath Tuesday 6th Somerset Way, Richings Park Wednesday 7th Chequers Orchard, Iver Friday 9th Hillary Road, Langley Monday 12th Seacourt Road, Langley Tuesday 13th Langley Police Station Wednesday 14th Alderbury Road, Langley Friday 16th Glenavon Gardens, Langley These are all start points and Santa visits as many streets in the area as possible until 8.00pm. Look and listen out for him!
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All money raised will go to support this years cho sen charities Thames Hospicecare, Alexander Devine Hospice, Crossroads and other Rotary charities.
ALTERNATIVE IMAGES AVAILABLE IN DOWNLOADS
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My name is Martyn Reeve. I am an Iver resident, and have lived here with my wife since 2001. I love Iver and all the open space around us, but I want everyone to be realistic for one minute and look at the housing plan proposed by the Council. Earlier this year, information was circulated by South Bucks Coun cil concerning the Government request for all Local Authorities to submit a Plan to meet housing requirements for the next twenty years. South Bucks decided to join forces with Chiltern District Council and submit a joint Local Plan. As far as the residents of Iver are concerned, the area that has been identified by the Council as suitable for a housing develop ment lies between Thorney Lane South and Thorney Industrial Area. This area is currently within the scope of local green belt land, and the Council wish to release this piece of land for this housing development. If this is successful and the houses are built, there are no other developments planned until the end of this pe riod, which is 2036. David Wilson Homes, a subsidi ary of Barratt Homes, held a meeting at the Iver Community Centre on Tuesday 8th November. They proposed a plan to build five hundred new homes across a
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swathe of land that borders the whole length of the Southern edge of the village, from the Shredding Green Farm buildings in Langley Park Road, to Barnes Way. The development would be bordered by a relief road that would link Thorney Lane North to Langley Park Road. At this meeting, the staff and the plans on display, were very pro fessionally presented, and gave the impression that the scheme already had Council approval. However, the Council had sched uled their own meeting for Satur day 12th November. At meet ing, it became apparent very quickly, that the Council had no knowledge of the David Wilson plan, and were adamant that it would not even be considered, as it required the release of even more green belt land. As far as the Council are concerned, they already have a plan in place that fulfils their requirement for the next twenty years, and would therefore not allow any more houses to be built. So you may ask yourself, “What about the relief road?” It is true that the traffic through the village has increased recently, following the closure of Mansion Lane. I understand Mansion Lane was closed by the Council as part of a traffic survey, to monitor whether the surrounding roads could cope with the increase in traffic once the new housing on the Thorney
Industrial area site is built. This survey was necessary, as the Council plan does not include any provision for a relief road. Eventu ally, Mansion Lane will pass through a short tunnel beneath new earthworks where the cur rent railway bridge is, and this is in line with the original plan for the construction of the railway yard adjacent to Langley station. Mansion Lane will reopen. Residents of Iver, neither the Council nor the Government will spend the money required to build a relief road. The only way it will ever be built will be with pri vate money, and that will only come with five hundred new homes, a thousand more cars and two thousand more resi dents. After the new homes planned by the Council are built, activity at the Thorney Industrial area is set to fall, and the HGV traffic through the Village will approximately halve, so will the case for a relief road in eight years time be as strong as the case today? I believe the Council know what they are doing and are acting in the best interests of Iver resi dents. I am happy to place all my trust in them to do the right thing, and I will not be paying too much attention to the aspirations of a housing developer.
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Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Six Tips for Surviving Christmas
For many of us, Christmas is a special time to spend with loved ones, brightening the darkest days of the year. Unfortunately, though, it can be fraught with stress, family tensions and too many food or alcohol-based temptations. So how can you survive Christmas? 1. Be Prepared Start adding a few Christmas items to each shopping list now, saving you the stress of a massive, last-minute shop. Only the freshest items need to be purchased just beforehand. Bake, prepare and freeze as much as possible in advance. 2. Go Easy on the Alcohol Alcohol is a calorie-heavy appetite stimulant linked to serious health conditions, which lowers inhibitions and affects judgment - so beware voicing long-standing gripes at Christmas and plan your drinking, ensuring you don’t exceed the recommended weekly maximum of 14 units (now applicable to men and women). Never drink on an empty stomach and match each alcoholic drink with a soft one to help your body handle alcohol’s toxins and dehydrating effects. Alcohol absorption depends 38
on several factors, so no set amount guarantees you’re under the legal drink-drive limit (and Scotland’s is much lower than the rest of the UK’s). Any amount of alcohol affects judgement and reactions. 3. Remember: Christmas Is About Everyone Try to resolve family conflicts (or agree a temporary truce) before the big day. Consider what everyone (including yourself) wants most from Christmas, but remind them compromises will be required. Try to find a few things everyone can enjoy together. Many Christmas adverts portray the exhausted woman, rushing around while everyone else relaxes, as the norm. Don’t let it be. Ensure everyone helps. 4. Be Shrewd with Food Keep a few quick-to-prepare items in stock to feed unexpected visitors, but don’t buy huge quantities of food. You can always top up later. Food poisoning isn’t festive, so ensure all cooks wash and dry their hands. Frozen foods should be properly defrosted and immediately refrigerated or cooked thoroughly (particularly large poultry or joints of meat). Keep raw foods separate from cooked food. Leave enough room in the fridge for cold air to circulate and don’t leave buffets out for more than 4 hours. Healthy festive food: • Removing skin and avoiding butter basting removes around a third of your turkey’s calories and
half its fat. • Choose low-salt gravy mixes and hide the saltshaker. • Swap: o sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix o goose fat for healthy oils o traditional mince pies for filo or open-top versions o brandy butter or cream for low-fat custard or crème fraiche o crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolate-covered fruit (preferably using dark chocolate) 5. Stay Festive Fit An alarming amount of Christmas hospital admissions are due to excessive or unhealthy eating. Include some ‘normal meals’, avoiding excess sugar and salt. Keep portion size sensible and stop eating just as you start to feel full. Ensure you get a good night’s sleep whenever possible, and stay active: a walk burns calories and the daylight and fresh air will help you feel physically and mentally well. 6. Finally... Keep It in Proportion Christmas Day is only one day; most festivities are centred on just one week out of 52. If the turkey’s burnt, laugh; it’s not what matters most. Keep celebrations simple, focusing on what makes you and your loved ones happy. It’s your Christmas. Relax and enjoy it!
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Learning Through Play by Kate Duggan
From science kits to marble runs, toys can be as educational as they are fun. Learning through play sees your child developing key mental, physical and emotional skills, as well as a real appetite for knowledge. Most toys can be educational, whether they’re helping your child to learn maths, or just to improve their hand-to-eye coordination. Some, however, really do stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for an educational gift this Christmas, here are a few ideas to get you started… A simple football can help your child to develop their coordination, become better at working in a team and learn the importance of perseverance. If your child isn’t particularly sporty, the new Scriball from Mitre (£10) might just tempt them. Each kit contains a football decorated with a picture to be coloured in. There are also felt tips, a mini pump and a display stand. Our seven year old tester had great fun colouring the Scriball in, and then wanted to head straight out to the park to try it out. Marble runs are fantastic for encouraging a child’s creativity, as well as helping to develop their problem solving skills, spatial awareness and hand-toeye coordination. They’re also a lot of fun. Marble runs start at around £10 for a small kit, but if you fancy splashing out, 40
the Hape Quadrilla Space Run (main picture) is likely to prove a hit. The 176 pieces allow for plenty of combinations and the glow in the dark stickers add extra excitement. Crafted with birch and rubber wood, the Space Run should last for years, so could well be passed down to your grandchildren. £120 from www.Amazon.co.uk. While children seem to choose their comics based on the free plastic toy, most children’s magazines do include educational activities, from craft ideas to recipes, puzzles and colouring in. If your children have moved on from Sparkle and Thomas the Tank Engine, they might be interested in one of the new range of children’s subscription magazines: • National Geographic Kids magazine is aimed at the ‘explorers, archaeologists, scientists, artists and astronauts of the future’. Your child could read about endangered animals, lost civilisations, deep sea dives and lots more. A subscription costs from £36 for 12 issues, and can be ordered from www.ngkids.co.uk. • Whizz Pop Bang! is a monthly science magazine aimed at 6-11 year olds. It’s packed
with fun facts, craft activities and experiments. Each issue costs £3.75, including postal costs. Subscription offers are available, visit: www. whizzpopbang.com. • The Week Junior is a current affairs magazine for children aged 8+. It covers news in bite sized chunks, specially written to appeal to children. There are also features on a range of subjects, from geography to technology and film. Subscriptions cost from £22.99 for 15 issues, visit www.theweekjunior.co.uk. Lots of board games have an educational element. However, the ones by Orchard Toys are undoubtedly amongst the best. They’re designed to help children with a range of skills, from maths to telling the time, identifying healthy food and getting to grips with money. Orchard Toys games are always well-designed, robust and great fun to play for children and parents alike. The bestselling Pop to the Shops sees players move around a board to spend their coins at different shops. For younger children, Dotty Dinosaurs and Monster Bingo focus on helping players to learn colours and shapes. Priced from just £4.50, games are available from toy stores, supermarkets and www.orchardtoys.com.
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Golden Years
Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning here was the size of the thing. At 515m the Basement of Swallows is not the deepest pot-hole in the world. But the 376m drop from the uphill lip of the opening to the cave floor is the deepest vertical pitch known to speleologists – and the 330m drop from the downhill lip is pretty impressive, too! (The remaining 140-odd metres comprises a series of tunnels and chambers in the cave floor collectively known as the Crevice). The deepest such pitch in the UK, Yorkshire’s Gaping Gill, is a mere 110m; and the difference between the two would be even greater if the floor of the Basement of Swallows weren’t many metres deep in possibly 100 million years of guano. The first descent of the cave predated the popular emergence of extreme sports by more than a decade: the acronym BASE (buildings, antennae, spans, earth) wasn’t coined until 1978 even though parachutists had been leaping off skyscrapers, cliff-edges and bridges for quite some years by then. But news of its wondrous dimensions soon spread throughout the caving world, and before long more and more potholers were making their muddy way up the narrow unmetalled track from the nearest town, Aquismon. You might not think that rappelling down 370 metres of rope, frantically squirting it with water to prevent the friction melting it, is an enjoyable way of spending a few minutes, but these people did; they weren’t even deterred by the knowledge that the handover-hand climb back up might take even a fit person an hour
or more. To the Huastec people of the district this was an unmixed blessing: previously subsistence farmers, they now had a tourist industry to keep supplied with food and souvenirs. Soon the muddy track was fringed with kiosks of all descriptions and the impromptu camp-sites were knee-deep in litter which the tourists couldn’t take away and the locals had no means of disposing of. The authorities did their best to prevent damage: they metalled most of the track, and they persuaded the cavers to start their descent from a designated part of the cave entrance, which they obligingly equipped with ringbolts, and only to go down into the dark once the birds had gone out for the day. Then things got crazy. First, someone flew a hot-air balloon into the cave. Then the BASE jumpers arrived. Jumping the Basement of Swallows was reputed to be one of the sport’s hottest highs, but when tour organisers started installing electric winches to haul their customers out again, the authorities put their foot down. In 2002 BASE jumping was officially banned. And nobody, it seems, took any notice...
While the day after Boxing Day may be of no more significance to most of us than an opportunity to recover from – or perhaps to continue in – the season’s excesses, to lovers of extreme sports it’s an anniversary of some importance. For December 27th 1966 was the occasion of the first documented descent of the world’s most spectacular pothole (or open-air pit cave, to use the jargon). The three American cavers who descended the Basement of Swallows or Sotano de las Golondrinas – TR Evans, Chas Borland, and Randy Sterns – were not so crass as to announce it as a discovery: local people had been aware of its existence for countless generations, because every morning just after dawn the thousands upon thousands of swifts and green parakeets which roosted in its safe depths flew up en masse, and every evening just before dusk returned in even more spectacular fashion, diving head-first into the 49 x 62m opening. Besides, this part of Mexico – the San Luis Potosi region – was already well known for its sotanos, bell-shaped potholes caused when the roofs of limestone caves scooped out by underground rivers finally collapsed. What was unusual 42
Happy 50tH BirtHdays to to Les Ferdinand and Sinead O’Connor (8th); Ian Paisley Jr (12th); Dennis Wise (16th); Keifer Sutherland (21st); and Martin Offiah (29th)..
Cake and botox to you all!
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Motoring
By James Baggott
Golf GTI Clubsport S
WHAT IS IT? It’s the fastest front-wheel-drive car around the Nürburgring, a stripped-out hardcore celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI and a limited edition collector’s piece all in one. The Golf GTI Clubsport S is the result of asking engineers to do what they can to cement the GTI’s name in the hot hatch pantheon. WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Lifting the Golf’s bonnet will reveal the same two-litre, turbocharged petrol you’ll find elsewhere in the Golf range – notably the Golf GTI and Golf R. In this application it’s been tuned up slightly, producing 306hp – broadly similar to the Golf R’s output but with a different exhaust system freeing up a couple of horsepower. That’s paired with the six-speed manual gearbox for weight purposes, as the extra few kilos of the dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) would work against the weight-saving nature of the Clubsport S. WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? The GTI Clubsport S is a topspecification Golf and it comes with the appropriate bells and whistles. 44
The infotainment system is Volkswagen’s Discover Navigation with a 6.5-inch colour screen - but you can upgrade to the Discover Pro for £1,325, which adds a larger screen and DAB radio. You’re missing one or two things – not least of which are the rear seats, replaced with a faux strut brace and cargo net. Cruise control is absent, unusually, leading to an oddly sparse suede steering wheel. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? It drives exactly as you’d expect the car that set the fastest front-wheel-drive lap of the Nürburgring ever to drive. It’s really very savage in a straight line, barking through the exhausts with every upshift, and scrubs off speed no less impressively. The sticky Michelin Pilot Cup tyres offer huge amounts of grip, too. On the mixed and drying roads we used, the Clubsport S exhibited a little torque steer if you gave the car some stick, but far less than you might expect. Otherwise, it’s a very neutral car to drive on the road. WHAT DOES THE PRESS THINK? AutoExpress reckons that the Clubsport S has ‘even more involvement and surprising refinement’, while Autocar thinks that it’s ‘by a nose, the very best fast Golf you can buy’. WHAT DO WE THINK? It seems odd to turn a car with such broad credentials into a
two-seater sports car, especially as the rear compartment trim is still present, but you can’t really ignore the way it drives. The Golf R might be a safer bet for all-weather performance, but the Clubsport S makes a great case for itself on dry roads and doesn’t feel as wrung out as other front-wheel-drive offerings of similar power outputs. Losing the rear seats makes the Clubsport S a bit of a tough sell when silhouette rivals retain the family usability and two-seat competitors are commonly less expensive, but as all of the UK’s allocation of 150 have already been sold, it’s almost a moot point. Model: Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S Price: £33,155 Engine: Two-litre, four-cylinder petrol Power: 306hp, 380Nm Max speed: 165mph 0-60mph: 5.7s MPG (combined): 40.4mpg Emissions: 172g/km TARGET BUYERS The performance car enthusiast who loves the Golf but wants a sports car. THE RIVALS Honda Civic Type R, Porsche Cayman, Ford Focus RS KEY SELLING POINTS 1. Limited edition cachet 2. Unflappable cornering manners 3. Usable real-world performance DEAL CLINCHER It’s no harder to live with than any other Volkswagen Golf
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Richings Park Residents Association Supported by Iver Parish Council
Christmas Party & Fayre
Friday December 16th
From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
At Richings Park Sports Club,
Wellesley Avenue, Iver, SL0 9BN
Santa’s Grotto ( 4:30pm to 5:30pm )
Musical entertainment interludes throughout
Stalls from local clubs, societies and commercial organisations Free tea, coffee, soft drinks and finger food Licensed Bar
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Everyone is welcome
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For 2017 Tech Trends
Virtual worlds, super smartphones and home hub hype
In 2016 we saw all kinds of bright ideas in technology: duallens cameras in smartphones, virtual reality headsets, new versions of Windows and the end of the headphone socket in iPhones. Here are the key trends we think will be driving the technology you buy, use or crave in 2017. Online TV Getting TV over the internet isn’t new, of course, but it’s changing. In October, it emerged that Netflix is now offering half the amount of titles it offered in 2012. That’s because it - and its rival Amazon - is more interested in making its own programmes than in buying other people’s. From Amazon’s Jeremy Clarkson vehicle The Grand Tour to Netflix’s The Crown, some of the most exciting TV isn’t being broadcast anywhere but online. That trend’s going to accelerate in 2017. The days when online TV services resembled a particularly bad video shop’s bargain bin are disappearing fast. 4K HDR TV Television manufacturers persuaded us to upgrade from CRT TVs to flat screens, and then from standard definition TVs to high definition TVs. They tried again with 3D, without much success, and the next big home entertainment hype is 48
over 4K and HDR televisions. 4K, also known as Ultra HD or UHD for short, has four times the number of pixels than full HD, so it delivers really sharp images - provided you have a 4K source. There aren’t many of those around just now: Netflix has a little bit of 4K content, but most broadcasters are still on HD rather than 4K. The most recent PlayStation and Xbox One offer 4K gaming, although once again that depends on having games optimised for the resolution. It might be worth waiting to see whether 4K succeeds or if it’s another 3DTV. While 4K offers more detailed images, HDR offers more drama. It’s short for High Dynamic Range, and you might have encountered it in your smartphone’s camera: HDR delivers deeper shadows and brighter highlights than normal photography, and it’s the same with HDR TV. Virtual Reality 2017 will decide whether virtual reality is the next big thing. VR headsets from Facebookowned Oculus, Google and Sony hit the virtual shelves in late 2016, but it’s what happens this year that will seal the format’s fate: without compelling games to play or experiences to experience, those headsets could turn
out to be very expensive paperweights. The technology is really impressive, but so was 3D TV. Super smartphones After a minor revamp in 2016, the 2017 iPhone is rumoured to be a dramatic upgrade with new screen technology and the same great cameras currently limited to the big and expensive iPhone 7 Plus. We might even see wireless charging too, something Apple’s rivals have offered for some time. Apple isn’t the only phone firm out there, of course. Samsung’s Galaxy S8 should be impressive too, and hopefully less prone to battery explosions than this year’s Galaxy Note 7. Home Automation Whether it’s Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, this may be the year when we spend more time talking to our tech than tapping on its screens. Virtual digital assistants in our phones and in home hubs have the potential to automate everything - assuming they can finally understand non-US accents, that is.
Images L to R: Netflix online video; Sony HDR TV; iPhone 7 Plus; Amazon Echo Dot home hub
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Answers pg 34
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Now we know that Heathrow has been chosen as the government’s favoured option for runway expansion in the South East. We have had a short briefing from Heathrow on how they see the timetable developing. There are many dependencies which could cause slippage or even a complete halt so nothing can be guaranteed. The earliest they could start construction work is 2021 but that is in the case of no slippage at all. Heathrow will start consultation with the communities sometime in the first quarter of 2017. Then we will find out some of the detail of what they want to do and how.
We have also met with Grundon who own and operate the incinerator plant on the Colnbrook Bypass. They will need to relocate and their preference is to find somewhere in Slough but, as yet, have no real idea where. Additionally, the existing hotels and the industrial units on the Poyle Estate will also need to be moved. On top of that, new hotels will need to be built. Where all this goes is currently unknown but they will obviously be looking in our direction.
South Bucks’ version of this from a planning point of view is now be available on their web site. This is the distillation of the original questionnaire asking for comments and suggestions of where further development for business and residential housing could be located. As far Richings Park is concerned the only land being considered is that immediately north of the railway for the Garden Village development that was the subject of a public exhibition some months ago. There is also a chance of having a secondary school built on the land opposite the Ridgeway Estate on Thorney Lane North. Residents are urged to make their views known whether in favour or not. At the first consultation over 5000 people made comments but only 17 came from Richings Park. Two briefing meetings for residents have already taken place in Iver Heath and Iver Village and one is now planned for Richings Park at the Sports Club on Monday December 5th at 7:30pm.
It now seems that the penny has dropped at Bucks CC regarding S l o u g h ’s m e rc e n a r y i n t e nt i o ns . Hopefully they will now start to take things seriously and come up with some objectives and a counter proposal.
Don’t forget our residents Xmas Party and Fayre at the Sports Club on December 16th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
We held two briefing meetings for residents of Bathurst Walk West and Syke Cluan who will be the most affected by this application. At the time of writing this article this had led to just over 100 objections being registered on the Bucks CC Planning portal. We 52
expect there to be a formal hearing sometime on January at which residents will have the opportunity to speak to the planning committee before they make their decision. Slough Borough Council have registered a strong objection based upon HGV traffic travelling through the Brands Hill Junction of the A4.
With the growth of online banking we are going to start offering the opportunity to pay the annual subscription by Standing Order as well as by cash. We will shortly start to distribute forms with our bank details to enable you to take advantage of this. Finally, we’d like to wish all residents the compliments of the season and hope it brings you all joy and laughter.
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It is not that long until Christmas now, and if you’ve any gardening friends it is so easy to get them a present they’ll really enjoy and find useful. Any good local garden centre will have plenty of potential gifts in a wide range of prices, sizes and shapes to suit anybody from the complete novice to the most experienced gardener. Alternatively, take a look on the internet and get some gorgeous gardening gifts delivered right to your door. Houseplants make brilliant presents, so why not choose a couple of really good-looking ones? At this time of year there are plenty, such as the indoor cyclamens and azaleas or a flamboyant poinsettia or a gorgeous Christmas cactus, which look fantastic whilst in flower - but don’t forget that lots of the foliage houseplants look great, too. Make sure that you keep the plants at their best by placing them in a suitable position before you give them away. Outdoor plants are also an ideal choice, but make sure that you know that the plant you are choosing will go to a suitable home. There is no use buying a lime-hating plant such as a Pieris, rhododendron, Camellia or azalea for somebody if they garden on chalk - although a 54
Gardening Gifts by Pippa Greenwood supply of ericaceous compost and a good sized pot could also be a present from someone else if you plan carefully. A lovingly created pot of winter flowering bedding plants, perhaps under-planted with a few small bulbs such as crocus or miniature daffodils, will make a lovely instant garden impact present for anyone. Despite the huge quantities of Christmas paraphernalia in garden centres now, any half decent centre will still have a good range of winter bedding plants and winter interest plants available. Anyone with an interest in growing vegetables would enjoy one of the many gardening books on the subject, or perhaps a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher Card, which lets them select the vegetables they’d like to grow from the range I offer at www.pippagreenwood. com. Then, in the spring, we send them garden-ready plants accompanied by weekly advice and tips emails from me. Most gardeners love to encourage birds into the garden, so how about a bird box or feeder or maybe even some bird food? Bird feeding equipment and supplies take up plenty of space in garden centres, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Gardeners love practical things so a good hoe like my favourite, the SpeedHoe, will always be welcome, or how about some Micromeshcovered or polythene-covered EasyTunnels, perfect for protecting crops throughout the growing season next year? A raised bed kit is a great gift idea, too, allowing people to grow vegetables when their own soil isn’t ideal. Some kits have the option to add crop covers made from fine mesh (to keep pests out) or polythene (to protect from the worst of the weather and provide off-season warmth). So rather than rushing out and buying something that ‘will do’ as a gift, take a moment and see what you can find which will really bring a smile to someone’s face! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and book Pippa for a gardening talk or peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items, including Nemaslug to control slugs, pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, pull-out EasyTunnels, ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher cards, signed books and lots more besides.
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Diet & Food... Avoiding Christmas Dietary Hazards
IT'S time for the seasonal warnings but rather than trot out just the usual stuff about dietary indiscretions, at risk of pontificating about diet two months running, I thought I'd illustrate this with some actual cases.
CASE 1 : A dog which had eaten two lamb samosas she had stolen, suffered from life threatening onion poisoning. A compound in onions and garlic damages the red blood cells and this dog developed such severe anaemia only a blood transfusion donated by her sister saved her life. As it is she has also suffered from liver damage and although currently doing well on supportive therapy for her liver, this damage may well be permanent. OK, lamb samosas are not on many people’s Christmas dinner list but many foods which may be attractive to dogs if left out with access to them do contain onions so this is a general warning. Although cats are bit more fastidious about what they eat, onions are even more toxic to them. CASE 2 : A cat which was playing with a ribbon removed from a present managed to swallow all one metre of it. She was unable to keep any food down and left alone this would not have been passed and could have caused a life threatening obstruction in the intestine. Fortunately timely surgery to remove the ribbon from this cat’s stomach saved her from more serious consequences but left her owner with rather a large bill. Cats are attracted to tinsel and other decorations and can swallow these. I've even seen a cat electrocuted from chewing through the electric wires of Christmas tree lights. CASE 3 : A dog which had eaten a whole Christmas pudding suffered from severe bloat and a gastric torsion (twisted stomach) which required high risk emergency surgery to correct. In some ways this dog was lucky because if we hadn't removed the contents of its stomach during the procedure it could have suffered from poisoning from the sultanas and raisins in the pudding which can cause kidney failure. There is only space for these 3 actual case studies but every year vets also see cases of chocolate and nut poisoning and animals suffering from severe gastroenteritis and acute pancreatitis from over-indulgence on turkey. That is without worrying about turkey bones that can cause serious obstructions. Many of these cases are 56
fatal but even if not all will cost a lot to treat let alone considering the discomfort to the patient. And don't forget the risk of lily poisoning in cats from festive decorations - all parts of the lily plant are poisonous to cats.
Finally, even if your pets survive all these hazards, be wary that lack of exercise due to shorter walks on winter days can cause them to pile on the pounds so think about feeding them less and go easy on the titbits and treats. There's no need to be paranoid and you can still enjoy Christ-mas with your pets but just be cautious.
M C Atkinson BVSc MRCVs www.stmartinsvetclinic.com
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Home & Interiors
A Rustic Christmas By Katherine Sorrell
Simple festive decorations can be the most appealing, says interiors expert Katherine Sorrell Who doesn’t love a natural look? Unpretentious and understated, natural Christmas decorations suit every home, large or small, modern or traditional, and make a fabulous, timeless alternative to commercialised glitz and glitter. The ideal centrepiece is a real tree, best bought from a good local stockist. Choose one that’s as fresh as possible, make a new cut at the bottom, and display in a stand (a wicker basket is perfect) that holds a reservoir of water. (Tip: the Nordmann Fir holds its needles really well.) Decorate your tree generously without overloading, and keep to a limited colour scheme (white, red, green and brown are all great), using natural materials (see box). For a touch of sparkle, twine the tree with small, plain white fairy lights. Feeling inspired? Then make 58
decorations with the family. Garlands of popcorn, nuts, gingerbread stars and paper strings of angels or snowflakes are adorable. Instead of shiny baubles, cut simple shapes from felt and blanket-stitch them around the outside, or make a wreath using garden clippings. Similarly, you can create wonderful decorations using sprigs of evergreen, ivy, pine cones (perhaps sprayed with artificial snow), rose hips, dried seed heads and twigs (lashed into a star shape). Or tie dried slices of apple and orange together with gardener’s string and add cinnamon sticks and star anise. If you’re short of time, all these will be in the shops, along with others such as birch bark candle holders, driftwood Christmas trees and needlefelted and knitted owls, reindeer and robins. Wrap presents in brown paper and string, or lengths of fabric and cotton ribbon. Use cardboard luggage labels, and why not embellish the plain paper with potato printing in white – something children might enjoy? For receiving presents, there’s nothing nicer than knitted stockings hanging by the fire, perhaps with some widely available printed hessian sacks for larger gifts. Fresh flowers are fabulous at Christmas – hyacinths, amaryllis and poinsettias are classic and all look particularly special in white. Wrap pots in hessian tied with string or pop groups of them into a wicker basket; you can decorate the tops of the pots with silver moss. Less is more with this look, so laying the festive table is
easy. A linen runner or place mats, plain white china, clear glass and simple decorations such as bowls of pine cones or oranges studded with cloves, and perhaps a vase full of evergreens, twigs and boughs. Cosy, welcoming and unpretentious. Finally, add candles, small and tall, anywhere their flickering glow will make you feel happy. Alternatively, tea lights look pretty inside old jam jars, which is safer if you have young children around. Pop a mince pie in the oven and heat some mulled wine on the hob, and here it is – a very merry Christmas. Main Image: Log battery candles with star design, £12 each, The Contemporary Home, 02392 469400; www.tch.net
IngredIentS for a natural ChrIStMaS
hessian twigs, branches and boughs linen and cotton ribbon Brown paper and string greenery and berries from the garden Moss dried, sliced apples and oranges Cinnamon sticks and star anise gingerbread felt hyacinths, amaryllis and white poinsettias Candles Pine cones
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Iver Village Junior School
It’s full steam ahead into our second half term at Iver Village Junior School! We started the first week back with a mind-blowing drumming workshop with a professional drummer. With his impressive equipment and dynamic demonstrations, he taught us all of the tricks of the trade! We all left inspired to invest ourselves into music; hence the half term’s homework challenge for the whole school was to demonstrate their passion for music. In the same week, Mr Tang led the whole school in a day of African Drumming workshops! Every child got the opportunity to learn new rhythms, experiment with different beats and express themselves in a fun and creative environment.
While Miss Lainsbury may
not have appreciated the sound a day of
African
Drumming makes, it was definitely worth it- another successful WOW day. We’ve all got stuck in with our half term’s value of ‘Perseverance’. Lessons and assemblies have been tailored to this value - we aim to develop the children’s growth mindset and resilience. Last week we celebrated Remembrance week, and were lucky enough to have the most amazing class assembly from Sunflowers explaining why this time is so important. The class assembly was powerful, mature and thought provoking; it was a shining example of how considerate and mature our Year 6 children have become. Year 6 aren’t stopping for breath - they’ve taken on a new challenge; Mini Enterprise! This is a chance for Year 6 children to form a business and make products our upcoming Christmas Fayre. We’re giddy with excitement for Christmas and all of the fun it brings. Our choir is busy preparing for their many upcoming performances, including joint collaborations with the Infant School! The Lower School’s upcoming production ‘Straw and Order’ promises to be an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza (it does have the Miss Bjorck touch, after all). We can’t wait to see their brilliant acting and exceptional singing. All in all, this continues to be a year to remember for everyone at IVJS. Our children greet each new challenge with their trademark enthusiasm and energy; as we gear up for Christmas, they show no signs of slowing down.
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regular events...
art Classes Come & Join Us! Isabel Hunt, your local artist, teaches a new project every week, which can be a landscape, seascape, still life, pets, portraiture, etc. In the first 2 sessions equipment/materials are provided. at St Marys Church Hall St Marys Rd Langley SL3 7EN info: 07411 125407 or 01753 542209 chavi2000@hotmail.com Chinese brush Painting group We meet on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor. Learn to compose and develop your own Chinese painting style as well the finer points of Chinese calligraphy. At Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or contact Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com
Clubbercise class Mondays at Iver Village Junior School, High St, Iver, SL0 9QA. Term-time, 18.10-19.00, £5 PAYG, for anyone from the age of 16 up! Contact Liz 07795 512938. Come and Glow with glowsticks in the dark to 90s anthems upto present-time music. French sessions in iver French Intermediate Class. Small friendly group with French Native Teacher meets every Tues. Iver Village Hall 7.30-9.30pm from Sept 22nd 2015 Call 07940 281233 e: c.marionnet@blueyonder.co.uk inland Waterways association Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk 62
Methodist Church Love Lane Mon 8-9pm, Thurs 7-8pm. St Lawrence Church Hall Bridle Road Pinner Fri 9.30am. St Lukes Hall Love Lane Pinner Wed 7.45-8.45pm, Sat 910am. Wendy Whitefoord 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@ btinternet.com. See www.jazzerciseuk.com or facebook.com/ JazzerciseDenhamNewDenham
Free Family games event Second Saturday of every month - for parents, carers and guardians with children of all ages, at the Kings Church, Iver, 10am-midday - visit www.hartentertainment.co.uk for details or call 07747 063149 to let us know your coming. Open to all. hobbies...
Mandarin tuition In Iver Heath. All welcome. Experienced teacher. Call Yuan on 07932 649107 or ynhyuan@yahoo.co.uk keeP-Fit, danCe & draMa...
adults Zumba Classes Running on Wednesdays 6-7pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret's Close. Call Diane 07926 854184. ballet Classes Iver Heath Village Hall, Friday 4.457pm. Call L Killian 01753 814280
Children's Zumba (Zumbatomic) Classes Wednesdays at 3.30-5.30pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, Saint Margaret's Close. Call Diane on 07926 854184 Futunity Street Dance and Hip Hop for children age 7-11 years. Fri's from 4-9pm call Cheryl on 01753 651754 or email childcare@ivercommunity.org donna’s keep Fit Iver Heath Village Hall. Call Donna 01753 674945. Tue 9.45-10.45am Fitness Club St Catherine School, Money Lane, West Drayton, UB7 7NX. Thu 6-7pm Circuits, Fitness and Boxercise. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk insanity Mon 8.15-9pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. Booking essential. 07745 622011. iver health & exercise sessions for over 55's. Designed to keep over 55's fit and to suit all abilities. Session includes light lunch and activity. £5 includes lunch Fridays 10am-1pm Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Jazzercise Classes Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Oxford Road Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45 - 7.45pm , Wed, Thurs , Fri 9.45-10.45am. Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Road Thurs 6.30-7.30pm. Ruislip Sports & Social Club Grosvenor Vale Mon 6.45-7.45pm Tues 9.30am, 7-8pm, Wed 9.30-10.30am. Pinner
ladies only kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8.00pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 email: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk Military Fitness Class A good way to get fit and enjoy the outdoors, suitable for beginners Monday 7-8pm, Iver Heath Rec, Church Road, Iver Heath, SL0 0RD. £2 per session. 1st session FREE! info: Leon 01895 837334. nordic Walking & Wellbeing All round exercise in the open air, 4 week courses various days and locations pre booking essential contact 07771872592 / learningmoves@hotmailco.uk P90X Thurs 8.15-9pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. Cardio and toning class using weights. £5 Booking essential. 07745 622011. Personal training Looking for some extra help to get fit & into shape? For more info and prices call Rachel on 07745 622011 Pilates Iver Heath Village Hall on Thurs 7pm8pm call Mrs S Webb 01923 721335 Pilates Class Tues 12-1pm & Thurs 9.30-10.30am St Peters Centre, Iver. All levels, booking essential. Call Rachel 07745 622011. Pilates and tai Chi Fit courses Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Contact Penny 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk continued overleaf...
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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...
Thursdays, 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall SL0 0DA Saturdays, 9am Call Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com www.weightwatchers.co.uk
Richings Players Amateur theatre group perform three shows per year at Iver Village Hall. Contact Evelyn on 07950 039827 richingsplayers@mail.com See www.richingsplayers.co.uk.
PiYo® Classes Sweat, stretch & strengthen all in one low-impact, music -driven, body sculpting workout. Tues 7-7.45pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. £5 per class booking essential. Call Rachel on 07745 622011.
Pinewood Fitness The Fitness Room, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Sl0 0NH. Mon 20.00-21.00, Wed 19.30-20.30. Booking only. Various Fitness Circuits, Boxercise, Gym Work. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.459.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm. Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing til 11pm Tap Dance Mondays 7.30-8.30pm at Meadows Community Centre, West Drayton. Adult Beginner/Intermediate tap. No exams. Contact 01895 420409 / learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk Taurus Circuits Pinewood Studio. With Personal Trainer Shaun. Monday 8pm-9pm Booking only 07906 087749 Tai Chi Classes Tues 10am at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610 Every Saturday 10-11am, Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429. Toddler & Junior Fitness Fun Junior Trampolining Weds 4.30pm5.30pm held at the Evreham Sports Centre Iver. Call 01753 672610. Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre SL9 9QX. Wednesdays, 7pm. Iver Village Hall, SL0 9NW. 64
Yoga Iver Heath Village Hall.Mon 6.307.45pm. Jon Bell 07790 682238.
ZUMBA in Langley Mon 7-8pm & Tues 7-8pm St. Mary's Church Centre. Thurs 7-8pm St. Francis Church Hall.
ZUMBA ® Fitness Classes Mon & Thurs 7-8pm. St Peters Centre, Iver - all levels welcome! Call Rachel on 07745 622011.
Zumba Fitness Weds 8-9pm at Langley Grammar School Sport Centre Reddington Drive Langley, SL3 8LL and Thurs 7-8pm at Yiewsley / West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Rd, West Drayton UB7 9JL.Call Gabriel 07735 090325, gabrielzumba@instructor.net www.gabriel84.zumba.com MUSIC... Faraday Country Music Club in Slough SL2 1RN. Join us for the best live Country Music every Thursday for listeners, western partners, freestyle or line dancers. From 8-11pm. Contact Deb 07986 050742. www.faradaycountry.co.uk Iver Singers Singing for Fun Tuesday during term time from 19:00-20.30 at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Bucks, SL0 0DA. New members welcome. FREE first session. No auditions. Call 07733 466177 www.iversingers.com. Learn to Play in a Rock Band At a professional recording studio taught by expert musicians. Open to 7-18 year olds, we teach guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Sessions will run after school at R'n'R Studios, Uxbridge starting October. Contact Conor for details on 07946 402797 or email wlsr.uxb@gmail.com
The Windsor & District Big Bands Appreciation Society Meet on 2nd Wed of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Rd, Datchet. Meetings feature the music of the big bands of the 40s & 50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDs, along with a raffle and sometimes a live band. If you like to reminisce, do come along and join us! Contact Derek on 01753 654398
Signature A Cappella singers Monday night at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Iver Heath SLO 0DQ. 7.45-10.30 with a ten minute break.If you enjoy singing please come along or visit www.signaturesingers.com Stoke Poges Singers A friendly four-part choir singing a wide variety of music. New members always welcome - no auditions. Rehearsals on Thursday evening at St Andrews Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges from 8pm. Come along to a rehearsal or contact Naomi on 07831 217575 or Cheryl on 01753 655682. www.stoke-poges-singers.org The Rock Project Greater London We teach 7-18 year olds how to play guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Wed's at Nower Hill High School, Pinner and Thurs at Vyners School, Ickenham. Juniors (7-11) 4.15-6.15pm and Seniors (11-18) 6.30-8.30pm. £20 per two - hourly session. Contact Pritpal on 07855 863058 or email uxbridge@therockproject.com Yiewsley & West Drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. ontact Lynne on 07976 824152 or Lynne@ywdband.com continued overleaf...
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MUSIC CONTINUED... Yiewsley & West Drayton Training Band Open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wed during TT. 6.45-7.45pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com PETS... Iver Dog Training Club Meet Tuesday & Friday 6.30-9pm, St Andrews Church, Richings Park. Call Diana 01753 732907 Iver Heath Fields Dog Club 'Outdoor Training' every Sat at 10.15am, Wed at 11am call Mike on 01753 817852 or 07795 031335 or see website www.ihfdc.com PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS... Iver Village Pre-School open Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, we take children between the ages of 2-5 yrs. Funding is available for 2, 3 & 4 year olds. For more details contact Sandra Davis on 01753 654859 or theoffice@ivervillagepreschool.co.uk French for Children with La Jolie Ronde, 5-11yrs. In Iver, Saturdays. Call Estelle 07831 779888 Rainbow Guides Iver Heath Scout Hut on Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm. Call Sian Mann on 07951 172396. Iver Village Infant School Nursery (formally Richings Park Pre School) St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Monday to Friday 9.15am-12.15pm. Extended days Monday to Thursday until 2.15pm. 15 hours per week funding available for 2-3 year olds per week. Call 01753 655104. Email: nursery@iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets 66
(age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 1218 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for a weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk Sticky Fingers Mothers & Toddlers Iver Heath Village Hall, Wednesday 9.30-11.30am. Call Janet Beale 01753 652375 The Launchpad An after school for children aged 5-11. We also offer holiday play schemes. Evreham Centre, Swallow St Iver SL0 0HS Call Cheryl on 01753 654546 or email childcare@ivercommunity.org Tiny Talk Baby Signing Classes Tuesday classes at St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield UB9 6BX, 10am, price £5 pre-paid per family. Thursday classes at St Giles' Church Hall, 1 High Road, Ickenham UB10 8LE, 10am, 11.15am and 1pm, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Friday classes at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ, 10.30am, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Please call Bev Meier to book 01895 824935 or 0781 8025993 Tiny Toes Childcare Full day care nursery for children aged six weeks to five years open from 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Evreham Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Call Paula on 01753 655650 tinytoes@ivercommunity.org SELF DEFENCE... Close Quarter Combat In Richings Park. Speed, strength and conditioning training. All types of pad work combinations. Suitable for adults of all ages. 1-2-1 sessions. Call Mark 07525 366126 email: mj.wilding@hotmail.com Karate (Adults & Children) Iver Heath Village Hall on Tues & Thurs. Kids 7-8pm, Adults 8-9.30pm. Call Sensei R. Baker 07898 946330. Karate Club of Denham / Uxbridge For ages 5 years and up. Sunday 9.15-11am at New Denham Community Centre, Oxford Road. Wed 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call Dominic on 07988 743725.
Kung Fu Club West Drayton Great Kung Fu work out for children & adults on: Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.30-8.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or email: sportsclubuk@gmail.com Martial Arts Bujinkan Kuri Dojo Unit 21 Bridgeworks, UB8 2JG Tel: 07878 471124. Training: Sun 10.30-12.30pm, Tue 8-10pm, Thu 8.30-10pm www.bujinkankuridojo.co.uk Silat Kuntao Indonesian Self-Defence Traditional self-defence art from Central Java, includes empty hand, traditional weapons, meditation and healing massage. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346 or kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. SELF HELP... Alcoholics Anonymous Every Sun, 7.30pm, St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Call Howard 07816 315688. Slimming World Tues 5.30pm & 7.30pm and Wed 9.30am at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver Heath. Call Kate: 07432 107089 Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre Weds 7pm. Iver Village Hall Thurs 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall. Sats 9am. Contact Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com SOCIAL GROUPS... Coffee Shop At St Margarets Church, Church Rd, Iver Heath. Wed 10.45-11.45am. Enjoy a coffee and a chat in a friendly, informal atmosphere. Colne Valley Park Conservation Volunteers Every second weekend of the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife and landscape of the regional park. For more details contact Steve Ord steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or call 07718 043080. continued overleaf...
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SOCIAL GROUPS CONTINUED... Heathway Ladies Group Meets at Iver Heath Village Hall. All welcome (no waiting list). Every second Tues of the month at 2pm. You’re welcome as a visitor at the cost of £1.50, as we have a waiting list. Contact Secretary Tricia Cooper 01753 817749 or e: tricia.cooper3@ virginmedia.com Inspirations Spiritualist Group Spiritualist group for like-minded people. Weekly services with a guest Medium every Thursday at The Walter Pomeroy Hall, Royal Lane, Hillingdon, UB8 3QY. 7.15pm for 7.45pm start. Admission £5 Concessions £4.50 Accompanied Children u16 - FREE. Enqs: 07968 039426 or 0208 841 4901. Iver & District Countryside Assoc., If you enjoy walks in the country and social evenings, why not join us? Call Paul Graham 01753 655183 Iver Evening Women’s Institute Iver Village Hall, meets 2nd Monday of month, 7.30pm. Call Margaret 01753 653751 for details. Iver Heath Ladies Meet on the 1st Monday of the month except Bank Holidays when we meet on the 2nd Monday. 2pm in the Community Room of the Iver Heath Village Hall. New Members and Visitors Welcome. Contact Pat Roberts 01753 647674 or email pat@roberts3011.orangehome.co.uk Iver Heath Community Library The Library is open: Tues 9.30-1pm & 2-5pm . Thurs 9.30-1pm & 2-6pm.Sat 10am-1pm. Free membership of all Bucks libraries Free public pc & Wi-fi. Reading Group, craft group, bounce and rhyme for toddlers, childrens crafts , coffee mornings enqs: 0845 2303232 lib-ivh@buckscc.gov.uk King's Friends A group of older men and women enjoying life. Contact 01753 651178 for our latest programme. Probus Club of Langley & Iver is always looking for new members, we meet for lunch at The Pinewood Hotel, Wexham Park Lane, George Green, SL3 6AP on the last Tuesday of the month (except Dec). We are friendly and attract retired persons of 68
both sexes who usually are from a professional background although there is nothing rigid about background. We normally have a speaker and cover a wide range of interests. Call Maureen Richardson 01753 819456. The Rotary Club of Langley & Iver meets on Thursdays, 7pm at the Pinewood Hotel, Wexham Park Lane, George Green, SL3 6AP. We are a small friendly club that welcomes everyone. If you are interested in improving the lives of others and have fun doing it contact Graham Jones 01753 540148 or 07802 784024 or visit http://langleyiver.rotary1090. org/email: akahold@hotmail.com Women’s Social Group Social group for women in West London. Looking to expand your social group and make new friends? We meet regularly for coffee, a chat and organised trips and welcome women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk for more. SPORT... Back School Small Osteopath lead rehab excercise sessions designed to help strengthen the back with lots of self care advice. Held at Lotus Wellbeing Clinic call 01753 677 604 for further details. Basketball Drop-in sessions for adults age 16 and over. Saturdays 12-2pm. £3 per session. At the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610. Darts Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Men & Women Players. Tuesday & Thursday Nights. Call Gerry 07957 804204 Iver Heath Tennis Club Church Road, Iver Heath, Bucks. SL0 0RW. New members always welcome, adults and juniors, visit our website for details www.ihltc.co.uk or call John Stephenson 01895 441033 Iver Heath Bowls Club Interested in playing bowls? Ring Brian Carter 01753 817794 or Hon. Sec. Betty Hemsley 01753 651775
Iver Short Mat Bowls We are open on Wednesdays 2-5pm and 5-10pm in Iver Village Hall, experience not necessary. Age 18yrs+. Cal Bob 01753 654049 or Ron 01753 819644 or Mary 01753 654765 Iver Veterans Golf Society For men and women over 60. We meet every Tuesday morning at Iver Golf Club. Handicap not necessary. Regular competitions held at Iver and other courses. You do not need to be a member of Iver Golf Club, just come along and play and make some new friends. Special rates for IVGS members. Contact: 01753 654246 Ladies Golf Meets 10am every Monday & Wednesday at Rickmansworth Golf Club, new members welcome. Email ladies-captain@ rickmansworthgolf club.co.uk or call 07941 589445. Learn to Sail! We are an RYA approved training centre and are open to new members, www.kingsmeadsc.org.uk FREE sailing taster sessions! Nordic Walking Taster Session Iver Starts Wednesday 30th January, 10am-11am, £5 at Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, Bucks, SL0 0HS. Session is £5 with poles included. If you would like to book onto the course or require more details call the Evreham Sports Centre on 01753 672 610. Pink Ladies Netball Club All levels and abilities welcome. Training takes place at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tuesday evening. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm. Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm. Under 16s contact Rhiannon 01895 448878 email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk Richings Park Short Mat Bowls Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Wed from 4pm. Just turn up - equipment provided. Richings Park Tennis Club Want play tennis? New members always welcome at our Brand New court facilities. Contact Graeme or Wendy on 01753 651071 or visit www.richingsparkltc.org.uk
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Cake and
Bake
Mincemeat & Apple Mini Strudels These delicious sweet and buttery mini fruity strudels make great festive puds over Christmas. You can prepare them a few hours in advance, cover and chill in the fridge and bake just before serving.
Ingredients: • 8 tbsp luxury mincemeat • 1 small cooking apple, peeled and coarsely grated • 8 sheets filo pastry, each measuring 18x31cm • 50g unsalted butter, melted • Filo pastry stars, to decorate (see Tip) • Icing sugar, to dust • Whipped cream or brandy butter, to serve
Makes 8 Ready in 35 minutes 70
1. Preheat the oven to 200C, Fan 180C, Gas Mark
6. Mix together the mincemeat and grated apple. Take one sheet of filo pastry and brush with some of the melted butter.
2. Place a spoonful of the mincemeat mixture along
one short end of the sheet of buttered pastry. Fold in a little of the pastry along each long side then roll up to enclose the filling. Place seam side down on a large greased baking tray.
3. Repeat with the rest of the pastry sheets and
mincemeat mixture to make 8 mini strudels in total. Brush with any remaining melted butter.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes
until the pastry is crisp and golden. Cool for 5 minutes then halve and serve with filo pastry stars and dust liberally with icing sugar. Serve with whipped cream or brandy butter.
TIP
To make the stars, fold a spare sheet of filo pastry into three. Stamp out tiny stars using a small star-shaped cookie cutter and brush with a little melted butter. Bake as above but for only 4-5 minutes until crisp and golden.
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