FEB 2022 - Issue 111
Lets Get social www.look-localmagazine.co.uk |
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PHOENIX ELECTRICAL FOR SALES, SERVICE & ADVICE Free Delivery Free Connection (Gas & Built-In, chargeable)
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New Heating Systems
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Lighting / LED’s
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February 2022
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Hello Readers,
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Welcome to the February issue! How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Did you take part in Dry January or Veganuary or have you opted for the popular “I will exercise more and shape up in time for summer!” If so, then give yourself a couple of nights off as we celebrate Valentine’s Day on 14th followed by Shrove Tuesday on the 1st March, both of which are not occasions to be worrying about the waist line. For those of you who are opting a plant based lifestyle I’ve included a Pancake Recipe suitable for vegans - turn to page 6.
20 CONTENTS 06. recipe How to make Vegan friendly pancakes. 07. Home & Garden Loft Ladders you can trust from Home County Loft Ladders. 12/13. Sound of music Simon Markland talks us through this months music scene and upcoming events. 14/15. News & Events News & events from our region. 20. home & Garden The month of the Iris By Lucie Ponsford of Mimosa Garden Design. 24. Get the Look Create a Bathroom retreat with Coulon Stone. 26. business Get £50.00 off your website with Harris Consultancy BOOKING DEADLINE for March 2022 issue:
Wednesday 17th February 04
Now I don’t know about you, but I am starting to feel much more positive. Restrictions are easing, the days are getting longer, there’s a glimmer of spring in the air, could it possibly be that life as we once knew it is well within our grasp... Oh I do so wish this to be so! In this months issue you will find more local businesses in our Home & Gardens section. So if you’re currently in early spring cleaning mode, and looking to de-clutter and revamp your house and garden in time for the summer months ahead then be sure to spend some time perusing this section of the magazine. I also love receiving stories about local residents taking on challenges for local charities - see a fantastic story in our News & Events section - and people helping out in the community as well as local events that are going on in our area. So if you’ve got a feel good story to tell or are hosting an event please do get in touch as I can help you spread the word. Look Local also runs a Leaflet Distribution service so if you’re a local business who prefers this way of marketing your services then drop me an email and I can assist you. As always, Stay safe, and continue to shop and support local...
Love Emma x For Advertising contact 07707 386034 or Email: info@look-localmagazine.co.uk W: www.look-localmagazine.co.uk : Look Local Magazine : Look_Local_Mag 7,100 copies of Look Local Magazine are printed on a monthly basis and delivered to households in, Aston Rowant, Chalgrove, Chinnor, Crowell, Cuxham, Great Haseley, Great Milton, Henton, Kingston Blount, Kingston Stert, Lewknor, Little Milton, Milton Common, Postcombe, Sydenham, Tetsworth, Towersey and Watlington. In addition, the magazine can also be picked up from businesses in these areas and also Thame & Wheatley. All material appearing in this publication is reproduced as supplied. Although every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers/printers cannot accept responsibility for the content of this publication. All artwork is accepted on the understanding that the description of goods and services are fair and accurate and permission has been given for use in this publication. Inclusion of advertisements does not imply endorsement by the publisher or printer. No part of this publication may be reproduced.
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February 2022
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Recipe Pancakes are such a treat, which is totally bizarre given that they’re made with just a couple of ingredients and are essentially fried batter. You would have thought that swapping out twothirds of said ingredients from such a simple recipe may, well, completely ruin it. For this very reason, I assumed vegan pancakes were tricky to pull off. How wrong I was. Flour, almond milk and oil, it turns out, have exactly the same kind of magic reaction when mixed together as flour, cow’s milk and eggs.
Ingredients • • • •
220g of plain flour 680ml of almond milk, maybe more to loosen 1/2 tsp salt 5 tbsp of vegetable oil, (or other neutral-flavoured oil) plus extra to cook the pancakes
Method 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Add the flour and salt to a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Gradually pour in the almond milk, whisking as you go until you get a smooth batter Add the oil and whisk until smooth and combined Heat a tiny dash of oil in a non-stick pan. Once hot, add a fine coating of the batter to the bottom and tilt the pan so it spreads out into a nice circle Wait for the batter to firm up – when the wobbly softness goes, pop a spatula under an edge to see how its coming along underneath. Once golden on the underside, flip it! Keep cooking until the underside is also golden. Keep a close eye on it as I noticed that this side burnt a lot easier than the first side. Enjoy...!
01844 335913 OPENING TIMES TUE: 10am - 6pm WED: 10am - 6pm THUR: 10am - 6pm FRI: 10am - 6pm SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: 10am - 1pm Closed Mondays
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Recipe Credit to: Ella Timney of www.greatbritishchefs.com/
Tuck into some Vegan Pancakes this Shrove Tuesday...
Editorial Feature
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Sound of Music
elcome to our February music page. Here you will find information on local musical events, upcoming concerts and where to find the best music tuition in the area.
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Thame has a variety of fantastic opportunities for budding musicians who wish to join together with other like-minded people. From bands to choirs to bell ringing! We also host a huge variety of annual musical events.
M
usical Mayhem - is an awardwinning live music experience giving babies and toddlers in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire a lively introduction to traditional, modern and original children’s songs. The groups is now back for wonderful and creative live sessions! For further information on current classes and to make a booking please visit their website via: www.musicalmayhemuk.co.uk
M
usic in the Park
This fantastic local 1 day music festival will be taking place on the 1st May! Having taken place in Elms Park Thame over the last 10 years, the festival has grown from strength to strength, offering a unique opportunity for local musicians, bands and acoustic acts to gain valuable performance
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experience and share their talents within the local area. Alongside this artists flock from far and wide to be a part of the day! This year you can expect: - 3 stages, all showing off the best musical talent from Thame and beyond - 2 bars, multiple food stalls and merchandising - A friendly family atmosphere - Ben’s Busk Stop MITP are currently looking for acoustic solo/small group musical artists to perform a slot at ‘Ben’s Busk Stop’, this is a wonderful opportunity to show off your musical talents to a very appreciative audience. The slots are roughly 20 minutes long. Please contact Simon Markland via e-mail: simarkland@hotmail.com, to express your interest and to book a slot, these will be available on a first come/first served basis. Tickets will be available from the Town Hall, local businesses and on the gate, come along for a musical mainstay in your local town! For further information please search ‘Music In The Park’ via Facebook.
Entertainment Char Char Chimps
Friday At The Fish Open Mic!
This wonderful local group is aimed at providing musical fun for babies up to toddler age, they are pleased to announce that sessions are now back up and running in various locations across the county and you can check out their website in order to find one which works for you!
Due to the current Covid related restrictions the venue we usually use for our open mic has had to temporarily stop all live music/entertainment, we hope to get the open mic back up and running from the Spring, further details will be available on our social media outlets shortly.
The group’s aim is to encourage pre-school children to be interactive with music, lights and sounds along with various different props and themes each week. As well as having lots of fun Cha Char Chimps aims to encourage; Language skills, Coordination, Co-operation, Confidence and Concentration in order to enhance young children’s learning as they enjoy the journey of their first few years, gaining skills which will be used later on in life.
This is a totally free event and a wonderful opportunity to perform or just come along to watch the huge host of local musical talent.
For further information regarding classes and to make a booking please visit: www.ccchimps.com/thame
Regular Local Live Music The First Thursday Music Club
FTMC have now moved home, after 10 great years at the Stables behind the James Figg pub they have now relocated to a bigger room at Thame Snooker Club in central Thame.
The music kicks off from 8 pm onwards with 20 minute slots given on a pre-booked basis, though some availability may be left on the night. To find our more please search ‘Friday At The Fish’ via Facebook.
This feature is brought to you by Simon Markland of Thame Music Academy
Tel: 07743 032292 Email: info@thamemusicacademy.com Web page: www.thamemusicacademy.com
The room can hold a lot more people, there is a stage and room for instruments, the artists, and the sound guys. The club have their own dedicated bar and loos. There is also ample free parking right outside. The dates are on the first Thursday of each month. If you would like to perform or find out more about the FTMC please contact them via their Facebook page, search ‘The First Thursday Music Club’.
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NEWS & EVENTS
in our region
Over £2.5 million available for businesses in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse... The government, who devised the scheme, has given £1,482,084 to South Oxfordshire and £1,104,075 to the Vale of White Horse to help support local businesses that have been struggling financially due to the recent Covid-19 Omicron variant. Business owners can find out the full criteria and complete an online application form via the district councils’ South and Vale Business Support website - www.svbs.co.uk up until midday on 18 February.
The Friends of St Andrew’s Church, Chinnor - Join us now... THE FRIENDS PURPOSE The land on which the Church is built is said to have been a holy site since Saxon times. The earliest evidence of a church building on the site is from the 13th Century. Since then St Andrew’s Church has been a centre of Christian worship. The aim of the Friends is to encourage the people of Chinnor – as well as those who have lived here in the past and have affection for our lovely and historic Church – to help preserve the fabric of the building for future generations. The Church building is, after all, available to all within the parish, whether worshippers or not. Our Church, a Grade I listed building, is part of our historical heritage in Chinnor, and as such must be maintained and preserved. Why Become a Friend As a Friend you will be contributing to the preservation of this important part of our local heritage. You will receive a regular newsletter and our annual accounts plus invitations to any special events. All funds are to be used for the upkeep of this building and its contents. For more information and a membership form contact: Friends of St Andrew’s Church, Chinnor, St Andrew’s Church, Church Road, Chinnor, OX39 4PG.
Remember a loved one this spring with a Forever Snowdrop Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity has partnered with Waddesdon Manor to launch a very special event to remember loved ones and raise funds for local hospice care this Spring. In March a stunning temporary display of 500 bespoke 3-headed metal snowdrops will be installed at the Aviary Gardens at Waddesdon Manor. Each Forever Snowdrop will represent the life of a loved one and has been uniquely designed and hand crafted by British Ironworks. The Charity are offering you the opportunity to be a part of this event by purchasing one of these limited Forever Snowdrops, which also includes an invitation to a private viewing of the display on Monday 21st March whilst the grounds are closed to the public. The Forever Snowdrop installation will then remain on display to the general public for two weeks. And once the installation is removed, you will be able to take the flower home to display as a
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News & Events Forever Snowdrop keepsake. The money raised from the display will help to raise vital funds for hospice care, ensuring that the Florence Nightingale Hospice team are there to support patients and their families through the toughest times. Dedicate your Forever Snowdrop at www.fnhospice.org.uk/foreverflowers or call 01296 429975 for more information.
Job Opportunity at Tetsworth Parish Council... PARISH CLERK & RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER WANTED Seeking job flexibility? Wanting to work from home? If you would like to apply for this post, please send a brief resumé by email to clerk@tetsworthparishcouncil.co.uk by 31st March. If you would like more information first or have any questions, contact Paul Carr at paul.tetsworthpc@gmail.com or on 07523 907741 or 07545 323317.
Support former soldier James as he skis 600 miles across the north slope of Alaska.... Having experienced a lifetime of extreme challenge and a brain injury survivor, his aim is to raise funds and greater awareness for the mental health charity, Lindengate (and dodge the polar bears that frequent the frozen coastline). Lindengate is a Wendover-based registered charity that offers specialised gardening activities to help those with mental health needs in their continuing recovery. During his journey, which started on 1st February, James will: - Ski 600 miles across the north slope of Alaska in 6 weeks; - Haul 100kg sled; - Experience temperatures as low as -35C; “Having experienced my own mental health issues resulting from my time in the Armed Forces, I’m acutely aware of how even a small amount of support can lift a person out of the deep, dark pits we can fall into. I’ve seen firsthand the positive outcomes Lindengate’s services have on their ‘gardeners’ and I can only wish I’d known about them during my own difficulties.” “Why Alaska? Because it’s big, cold and just a little bit dangerous.” For anyone who wants to follow James on his epic adventure please could his FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/tastefor And to donate please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/veteran-james-ski-for-mental-healthcharity
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Vehicle Care The Windmill, Thame Road, Great Milton, OX44 7JA
Oxford Car Care
Car Sales & Motor Repairs in Oxfordshire
• Car Sales • Motor Repairs
• MOT’s • Free local Collection and Delivery
Workshop: 01844 279254 | Mobile: 07860 566973 www.oxfordcarcare.com | E: info@oxfordcarcare.com The Windmill, Thames Road, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7JA
Workshop: 01844 279 254 Mobile: 07860 566 973 E: info@oxfordcarcare.com www.oxfordcarcare.com
• Car Sales • Motor Repairs
• MOT’s • Free local Collection and Delivery
We are a small family-run business with over 30 years experience in theOxford motor trade. The Windmill, Thames Road, Great Milton, OX44 7JA We stock a range of hand-picked quality used cars that fall Workshop: 01844 279 254 Mobile: 07860 566 973 in the low tax and low insurance group making E: info@oxfordcarcare.com them idealwww.oxfordcarcare.com for first-time drivers or city cars. All our cars come with : Minimum 6 months MOT Engine service if due Valeted to a high standard Free 3-month warranty
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Home & Gardens REMOVE DAMP AND DECAY FROM YOUR HOME
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AIR CONDITIONING FOR YOUR HOME OR OFFICE
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Home & Garden
Photo by Cathy Holewinski on Unsplash
Look locally over the garden gate with Lucie Giselle Ponsford
February’s flower is the Iris. reticulata ‘Katherine Hodgkin’... Iridescent in the low winter light and a lovely companion for the unusual alpine Narcissus ‘Van Winkle’ or N.cyclamineus both shown here and both perfect for an eyelevel planting scheme near your door so you can greet them in the cold days in which they bloom. I wanted to showcase a bulb this month not only as there is nothing more life-affirming, especially for gardeners in the winter than the sure return of the flowering bulb. We all need springtime snowdrops and daffodils. But also this is the time to tend to your perennial bulbs with a fertiliser application high in phosphorous such as blood, fish and bone which is nutrient targeted for root growth and energy storage, just what bulbs need. The questions that are often raised about bulbs usually have to do with year on year performance. Freshly bought bulbs will have been primed by the nurserymen and women that grew them and flower even if placed on top of the pot for instance the Tete a Tete’s you may buy this month or Hyacinths. But they need a certain depth in replanting for repeat flowering and the rule of thumb is three times the depth of the bulb. But more than that it is sensible to dress the soil with the aforementioned fertiliser whilst the bulb is in active growth. Some bulbs do the work of energy-storing before they flower: Grape Hyacinth, some after such as Daffodils. If you observe when the leaves appear that is the indicator as we know the leaves are the photosynthetic factory of the plant. A point of note: reticulata means netted and this is descriptive of the detail on the casing of the bulb which is like a delicate weave or even a string vest. If this casting is removed the bulb is no longer viable. Well on these chilly days it is advisable to keep your vest on after all!
With love, Lucie
Want to know more? Join me e @mimosadesign on FB or @mimosagardendesign for more tips and information about my FREE Courses. Email: info.mimosadesign@gmail.com Call: 07737 286784.
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Home & Garden
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Home & Garden
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Home & Garden
Create a retreat, no matter the size of your bathroom...
By Coulon Stone
No matter the size of your bathroom, you deserve a retreat, a space to wash away your worries or refresh for the day ahead. If your bathrooms on the small size it’s the perfect opportunity to lean in to boldly patterned wallpapers or uniquely designed tiles. Or perhaps you have a larger bathroom and you’re able to create your own spa, with natural tones and a luxuriously large shower. Whatever the size of your space or the budget that you have we have some bathroom ideas that will make your 2022 morning routine that little bit more luxe. Upcycling Vintage Furniture It’s important in 2022 that we are making more planet friendly decisions when designing our homes, and our bathrooms are no exception. One way of adding a uniquely interesting piece to your bathroom whilst keeping sustainability in mind could be upcycling a sideboard or chest of drawers to create a vanity unit. Perhaps you already have a piece of furniture at home that’s in need of a second life, but if not we’re lucky enough to live close to some beautiful antique furniture shops like The Swan at Tetsworth, as well as charity shops and recycling centres. Once you’ve chosen your piece Coulon Stone can help create and install a bespoke vanity top and sink, either from a natural or manmade stone picked out by you. With a stone top it will be easy to clean and maintain and using a piece of furniture provides ample storage.
White Marble Open Showers Open showers are gaining popularity in people’s homes. They maximise space in smaller shower rooms or create a spa like feel in bigger bathrooms. Using a white marble creates a classic, refined look, whilst cleaning and maintaining is fuss-free. For a budget friendly option we recommend man-made composite stones, many of which come in marble style designs like the one photographed.
Statement Stone As mentioned above it can be fun to play with bold patterns and colours in our bathrooms, particularly if you have a small space. If you’re looking for something more practical than wallpaper for your bathroom space, than a statement stone could be just what you need. A glassy onyx in green and pink, or a highly veined granite in gold and black perfectly blends practicality with unique design.
For further inspiration please visit our showroom in Stokenchurch or head to our website www. coulonstone.com. You can also join us on Instagram (@coulonstoneltd) and Facebook (@coulonstoneltd).
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Home & Garden
The
50 plus
Home Repairs
• Plumbing • Electrical • Handy • Decorating • Gardening • And more from
- Tap washers - To consumer units (fuse boxes) - Fencing and external works - Plus technology and help at home for the elderly
Call or visit our web site for full details of our broad range of services, helpful advice & pricing
01844 392 823 www.the50plus.co.uk
Serving customers for over 20 years
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THE SWAN AT TETSWORTH
01844 281777 High Street, Tetsworth, Oxon, OX9 7AB
Voted the BEST ANTIQUES CENTRE in the UK
A Large 20th Century Bronze Statue, reclining nude female.
SOLD £6,500 HAMMER
UPCOMING SALE
T: 01844 281777 E: antiques@theswan.co.uk
PRIVATE COLLECTION OF A SINGLE OWNER 10TH MARCH
JOIN US AT OUR NEXT AUCTION ON 3rd & 4th MARCH
Highlights from our December Sale... A French 18ct Gold, Diamond and Emerald Necklace. Approx 11ct total Emerald Carat weight SOLD £11,000 HAMMER SOLD £2,500 HAMMER
Edwin Hayes, Rha, 1819-1904, an Oil on Canvas Marine Landscape. We are open for valuations and virtual valuations, from a single item to a complete house clearance or specialist collections.
