the
August|September 2014 Aylesbury & Villages
In this issue: The pain of the vein Changing your Credit Score
Autobiographies: THE AUDI Q5 What about the children? ....the problems with separation
12,000 copies delivered FREE to Wingrave, Weedon, Quainton, Oving, Aston Abbotts, Bierton, Hardwick, Aston Clinton, Weston Turville, Waddesdon, Whitchurch and selected areas of Aylesbury www.thevinemagazine.com
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Walk, crawl, hop or fly - be a real life superhero for the day! Fun for all the family
F SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER 2014 Watermead, Aylesbury Run starts at 10am
TO REGISTER: www.AylesburySuperHero.co.uk Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity Unit 2 Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP21 7QY 01296 429975 www.fnhospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1119499
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Hello and welcome to this first edition of The Vine Magazine for Aylesbury and all the lovely surrounding villages. What do I have for you this issue? Well my favourite headline has to be No cook cheescake, that’s my kind of cooking; my reputation for burning things continues. Can I please point out that the article on varicose veins is not written by me, so no staring at my legs, if you see me out and about. Did you know that as well as this magazine there are 5 others that me and my friend Shelly make together? If you want to know more why not visit our website? We are not a franchise just two ladies from the area. Like our advertisers we depend on business from local people, so do let them know that you saw them in The Vine If you know anyone planning halloween, bonfire night and even Christmas fundraisers, please suggest they add them to the website calendar - it is FREE. There is still space for your summer events too. All the best and I hope you enjoy Andrena
www.thevinemagazine.com 0797 155 4604 or 01525 222473 andrena@thevinemagazine.com
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CONTENT 6 A Traveller’s Tale - Part 1 10 Audi Q5 12 Your Credit Score 14 A Pension Revolution 16 How to Deal with Debt 18 What About The Children 20 In a Jam 21 Book Review 22 The Foundations of Your Garden 23 Varicose Veins 25 Puzzles 26 Cool & Ecclectic 28 What’s On 30 A Traveller’s Tale - Part 2 32 Puzzle Solutions twitter @thevineLB facebook.thevinemagazine
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the content of advertising and articles is published in this magazine are accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept and hereby disclaim any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors. Neither do they reflect the opinion of this publication. The Vine does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
Rothwell James Bathroom & Kitchen installers Domestic plumbing Tiling Plastering Electrical Telephone 07956 818 248 contactus@rothwelljames.co.uk
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A Travellers Tale Continuing Val’s education !? By Paul Heley
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peaking personally, I'd already been to India a few times having been in the Merchant Navy as a young man and also thanks to a couple of motorcycle trips through the Himalayas. But Val had never been there and, after some of the stories I'd told her about the place, was in no hurry to visit. However, working on the principle that travel broadens the mind, I persuaded her to go on a cruise around the southern parts of the sub-continent. And she wouldn't have to rough it - this would be as a tourist which meant that she would be steered clear of any "nasty" bits which are carefully hidden away from tourists' eyes. But such a trip would be very different from our usual type of holiday. We'd often chosen to go into the world's high latitudes (south or north) because of the scenery. There's something really wonderful about jagged mountains covered in unbroken snow set amongst shimmering, crystal clear lakes or fjords. And what is more, there's nearly always a unique wildlife to give extra dimensions. So this particular trip - taken over New Year 5 years ago - would be a break from the norm. How did it go? We flew to Chennai (the former Madras) and, next day, were taken on a city tour. Immediately, Val commented on what a shambles the place was - rubbish everywhere - and how chaotic the traffic seemed to be. Does India have a Highway Code she wondered. Doesn't seem to. But there's no road rage. Amazing! We were shown various important buildings such as Fort St George and the cathedral of St Thomas. But the real knock-out was the Kapaleeswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (and about five million other Hindu gods). It's built in a most colourful Dravidian style and covered
in individual deities. Next port of call was Colombo in Sri Lanka (the former Ceylon) and there followed a long coach trip into the interior and to the former capital, Kandy. En route, there was a stop at an elephant orphanage where young elephants who had lost their mothers (perhaps by poaching), or who had been separated from their herd, are cared for. This was quite an emotional experience and there was lots of oohing and aahing from some of the (broody) women. But the reason for going to Kandy was to visit the "Temple of the Tooth". This is a huge building inside which is a tiny, impregnable, silver casket secreting a part of one of Buddha's molars. I wondered if it was genuine or if it was like so many of the medieval relics so lovingly venerated in Europe but which have later turned out to be old bits of wood or bones of pigs or sheep or chickens. I asked if there was an Eyelash Temple, or a Toenail Temple but my facetious question was ignored. The next place was Tuticorin on the SW coast of India where an even longer coach trip had been planned in order to visit you've guessed it - another (this time Hindu) temple at Madurai which is supposed to be the absolute bee's-knees. But Val and I decided to do something else instead. We thought we'd have a look at the town and after a certain amount of form filling and general bureaucracy - the Indians are really good at this - were let through the gates and got on a 'bus. The journey took half an hour - 50p return - and we were dropped off in the centre of town and wandered around for a while. But Val became increasingly uneasy and horrified at what she saw and couldn't get out of the place quickly enough.
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Members of the Union Chapter of Business Network International (BNI) have raised more than £5m in new business for each other since the group was founded in 2008. During that time there have been more than 10,000 business referrals and on average each member gets around £50k of new business each year from being a member of BNI.
Terry Martin with a mountain of referral slips
Members get together every Thursday morning at 6.30am for a breakfast meeting where each member gives a 60-second pitch on the type of business they are looking for. Website developer Louise Towler specialises in school websites and recently told the group “if you know any school Heads or Governors, please introduce me”. Much of LT Consulting’s work comes from exactly such word of mouth referrals.
The group only has one member from each trade or profession. Paul Streeton of Workflow Imaging Systems, the Chapter’s Membership Co-ordinator says, “There’s no competition in the room. We’re all here to help each other grow our businesses. It’s like having your own 30-strong salesforce, constantly on the lookout for new business opportunities”. Unlike most networking organisations, BNI is very structured and every member’s contribution is recorded. All business referrals are written on pink slips which are all followed up and a copy kept. Top contributors are recognised, and all members receive regular training to help them recognise good openings for new business and turn them into referrals. Chapter Director Angus Merelie said “I’ve made some great contacts from BNI and some of our members have become firm friends. At the end of the day though this is part of our jobs – we’re all here to do more business and make more money”. The Chapter has several business categories currently open and is always ready to welcome high quality local businesses. Membership costs around £400 per year and the meetings are held at Berkhamsted Golf Club. For more information contact Paul Streeton on 07851 255300.
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auto Biographies Audi Q5 By Tim Barnes-Clay www.carwriteups.co.uk
sly. The chassis of the latest Audi Q5 also adds a I had over £35,000 I wouldthankssotoyou don’t need a degree in llop ofIfrefinement and comfort, Rocket the absorber 2.0 TFSI quattro to thehappily spring,buy shock and anti-roll barScience to work out how to use it. Other touches such S line version of the Audi Q5 . The new power steering system gives as you a heated seats, air conditionYou see, the styling of the Q5, el for with the road too. its coupe-like roof line and ing and a multifunction steering wrap-around tailgate, has been
wheel make the Q5 a dream to
drive. refreshed. The design of drivingsubtly experience is further enhanced when the The car is as solidly made as an the headlights has been changed, Audi Audi drive select system is specified. drive sparkling xenon units are oakoftable ts youand varythe the operating characteristics the and yet seems as light as a feather. There’s a reason for now framed by new-look LED pedal,daytime the shiftrunning pointslights of thethat automatic form this: the bonnet and tailgate are sion, the degree ofband power steering assistance crafted from aluminium, while a continuous surrounding operation of the automatic air conditioning the car’s structural elements more of the lens. the including Audi Q5 isanpure ia fourInside, modes, efficiency integrate mode. Inultra-high-strength steels; they reduce weight and refinement. The threeunderstated optional components canconalso be improve trolsAudi are trimmed in chrome, ed by the drive select systemand if they are crash safety. The result is that the Q5 handles like an the narrow panels of the centre hese include cruise control, damper executive saloon and takes off consoleadaptive are finished in high-gloss nd dynamic steering. During like a bat out of hell when you black. The hi-tech centralhigher media speed g, it compensates for understeer dab the accelerator. Indeed, the component, MMI navigation and oversteer performance totally matches the verysteering few buttons, eningplus, withhas slight pulses.
looks of this Germanic road war-
FAST aying you’ll ever getFACTS sick of driving therior: Q5, top butspeed is 138mph and the 0-62mph sprint is done in a speed: 138commuting mph u’ve hadMax enough of all that to work7.1 seconds. satisfying 0-62tomph: 7.1 secsthe Audi will ng the kids school malarkey, Another explanation for this Combined mpg: off road. It may look a bit35.8 bling but it awesome actually performance is the Engine: 1984cc 4 cylinder s well on rugged terrain. Its maximum updated climbingQ5’s TFSI petrol engine, 16 valve diesel which combines direct fuel 31 degrees and its approach and departure Max. power (bhp): re each 25 degrees. you won’t rip injection, anything while the eight-speed 222 atAnd 4500 rpm tiptronic automatic powers the 5’s underbelly because the vehicle’s ground Max. torque (lb/ft): 2.0 TFSI Quattro up the cogs 258 This at 1500 rpm a motoreffortlessly. e measures 20 cm. is truly for The chassis of the 184to g/km latest Audi Q5 also adds a e – butCO2: you’ll have have a decent bank Price: on theto road great or a boss who’s£35,350 nice enough put this on dollop the of refinement and comfort, thanks to changes to the y car listPROS to drive one. & CONS Looks √ Performance √ Build √ Expensive X
FACTS
peed: 138mph
mph: 7.1 secs
ined 10mpg: 35.8
spring, shock absorber and antiroll bar settings. The new power steering system gives you a better for the road too. PROS ‘N’feel CONS The Q5 driving experience is furLooks√ ther enhanced when the optional Performance√ Build√
Audi drive select system is specified. Audi drive select lets you vary the operating characteristics of the throttle pedal, the shift points of the automatic transmission, the degree of power steering assistance and the operation of the automatic air conditioning system via four modes, including an efficiency mode. In addition, three optional components can also be controlled by the Audi drive select system if they are fitted. These include adaptive cruise control, damper control and dynamic steering. During higher speed cornering, it compensates for understeer and oversteer by intervening with slight steering pulses. I’m not saying you’ll ever get sick of driving the Q5, but when you’ve had enough of all that commuting to work and driving the kids to school malarkey, the Audi will thrill you off road. It may look a bit bling but it actually performs well on rugged terrain. Its maximum climbing angle is 31 degrees and its approach and departure angles are each 25 degrees. And you won’t rip anything off the Q5’s underbelly because the vehicle’s ground clearance measures 20 cm. This is truly a motor for everyone – but you’ll have to have a decent bank balance, or a boss who’s nice enough to put this on the company car list to drive one.
RECRUITMENT HAS CHANGED, CANDIDATES NEED TO CHANGE WITH IT Recruiters are under more pressure and time restraints than ever to fill their roles. This means that candidates need to be even better at selling themselves quickly and concisely. The best way of doing this is still the CV. It is said that you only have 30 seconds to
impress a prospect employer so make it count. You need to get your CV onto two pages and make sure the most important information is on the first page, it is your key to getting you an interview and you only get one chance to get it right. One way is to find a professional CV writer that can put YOUR personality onto a CV and get a foot in the door for that all important interview. Another way of being found by recruiters is building a strong Linkedin profile. A lot of recruiters these days, search Linkedin for matching skills on profiles and may head hunt you that way. Social Media is changing the way recruiters look for new employees. Ensure all your profiles can stand the test of scrutiny, employers are likely to check. Good luck with your jobsearch.
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What’sBestForYou
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Credit Scoring LEWIS
By Martin Lewis
Credit scoring has become a key part of our financial lives. It impacts far more than most people think. It’s not just about whether you can Tackle your bills get mortgages, credit cards and loans, but can also effect contract mobile phones, monthly car insurance, bank accounts, even if you can pay energy bills the cheapest way. comparison on any Ofgem-approved comparison site – Winter is coming. Don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in
just search for The Confidence Code at theEven white stuff toaccepted, sort yourwe bills. Here, truly reference lapsed to apply, it should boost your if you're live in a prevention 3 Your credit files. These www.ofgem.gov.uk to see the full list. beats – tackling bills now meanscome you can take 'ratecure for risk' world,your so credit scoring score. from either Equifax, Experian thethen financial bitewhat out you of winter chills… dictates pay too. Many or Callcredit and contain info on the you're not what online, use a comparison with phone people get unstuck by this. They apelectoral roll, courtIfjudgments, 5 Never miss or be lateaon repayFree and cheap even boilers (for some). plyloft forinsulation today's record rates, but such as Energyhelpline onerrors 0800 can 074 hurt 0745, or Set credit applicationsservice, you've made, ments. Small large. While loft insulation free-for-all's some you will haveuSwitch findthe they're charged more. So here’sended, products and if you've paid051up a direct debit to be sure you never on 0800 5493. stillwhat be entitled to to some serious free energy-saving you need know… on time. miss. Do this even if just for the miniPaying energy bills bymum monthly direct debit’s to call 6% measures. You DON'T have a universal credit repayment, then youupcan cheaper. rating - there's no blacklist. This is a However, they don’t know everyup and pay more on top each month, myth. In the there's firms no univerIf youyour can,criminal do, as it’ll see usually discounted bills of up Most of the bigUK, six energy offer free thing. boilers, They don’t know it asmean an insurance policy. sal credit rating or score, no to 6%speeding less, so contact your provider to check. Though record, typically worth £2,000, and there's free insulation, usuallymedical worth history, blacklist banned people. Each always regular meter readings for accuracy, your fines, loans,do declined 6 Don't let 'paid-for credit as scores' about £300.ofCrucially, you don't need to be withsalary, the student lender scores you differently and applications don’t get too worry you. In recent bill is–estimated. If it’soverly too high, you have a rightyears to ask energy provider to get it, but you do generally need anand more secretly. So a rejection by one doesn’t conspiracy theoristfor about it toit.be lowered. credit reference agencies have started income under £16,000, and to be on income-related mean a rejection by all. Their aim is to flog these, but don’t take too much benefits pension credit. can’t definitely say you’ll to see or if you match their Iprofitable Got more electricity You canThey’re still save. Howthe to make yourself attrac-only? notice. only based on your qualify, but it is worth checking. Alternatively, wellcustomer wish list. A key part is asWithfor electricity you can cheapinfo fix lenders to save tive. Getting accepted credit is only, credit file,still notget theaother meaning Green Deal initiative is designed sessingbut thestuttering risk of non-repayment. If just- follow the info above. those on Economy 7, like going on the pull like people, look at,For and remember each lender to let youhigh, pay many for things like underfloor double that's won't lend to you; heating, assessing trickier. It’s onlydifferently. really a boon those different lenders find differentisthings scores Onefor may see who glazing and solid wall insulation, 'savings' you but some specialist lenders willfrom like the attractive. It’s moreuse art at than science, cancelling as –good as it least 40% of their energyaatcredit night.card If not don’t youon more as they chargewhether you make energy bills.can Deciding it’sbut right forare you there somebother. cosmetic changes reduces credit, another as Full help to decide at available www.mse.me/eco7 high. is complex, so for full help read that work for most. Here are 10 tips: bad as it’s closing down a long term Yet even those who are good risks Can you find your stopcock? www.moneysavingexpert.com/greendeal relationship. can be rejected, because the lender No sniggering winter frozen pipe bursts can create an 1 Get on the electoral roll. If not,-getthinks you won't make it money. Or Save £100s and beat the hikes. often worsened many apting credit's tough.average Check if£7,000 you're of ondamage, 7 Payday loans can kill as mortgage perhaps you're applying for a credit Rather surprisingly, fixing energy, where you lock in a set scrabble round searching for their stopcock - the mains it and apply via www.aboutmyvote. plications. Some mortgage underwritcard, but it wants to cross-sell mortrate, is now cheaper than a normal switch.co.uk. Five of the bignotwater If you're eligible, simply won't lendfloods. to anyone with off write switch - forers ages as their home gages, so scores you on how likely six energy providers have now announcedahikes, noticeand on all the credit files that payday loans. you are to get one. Take the time to find it now – mine is under the kitchen their best new prices are costlier than theyou’ve cheapest fixed proof of residency. sink. Others find theirs thewith bathroom or insideFirst a go tariffs. So right now you can get the very cheapest deals 8 in Deal unfair defaults. What and theyitknow you. certainty. yours working, youput may want to call to the firm that them there anda 2 Stability's good.cupboard. If possible,Ifput a isn’t available, comesabout with no-hike Lenders assess you with plumber now, beforeask it’sitato problem. remove them. If not ask for a landline, not mobile, on applications. keyexception pieces oftoinformation: ‘notice of correction’ to be added to The3only this is a variable (ie, subject to Choosing and file eating? your credit where you can explain 3 Beware over applying. Toobetween many heating hikes) tariff from minnow Spark Energy – though it hasn't If you're seriously behind, orwhy in general financial hardship 1 Your application form. Many briefly it’s unfair and appeal to applications for products especially hiked (yet?), needs paying upfront, and feedback ain't as far too many are after the hikes you may be eligible underrate how crucial this is. Be the Financial Ombudsman. in a short space of time can hurt. So great, so I’m ignoring it. foraspecial help. Call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 consistent on each application form, if you’re about to get mortgage, to check. Plus if9anyone home was An born on job title,fix salary. Regular inconsistdon’t for lots66 of 99 credit cards just Check in foryour address errors. old, Theeg, cheapest comes from E.on for a year, butapply slightly encies trigger rejection hit from or before you're due upmobile to £300 in taxbefore. though5isJanuary often 1952, active, but unused phone longer andcan only a touch more as areyou deals EDF One or problem a ‘fraudCrucially, score’ trigger. only way rate you’ll registered to yourshould old address could freewhat winter fuel payments. Payments be made Npower. these two have no exit the penalties. Soto know get isthe to price apply, so the system is antieven cause mortgage rejection. automatically, but if you’ve nevera had it before then you on the off-chance the Prime Minister delivers Anypromised, past dealings shopping around. may need to register - see www.gov.uk. cuts2he’s andwith the you. evenAmore unlikely event lender you've banked with can inter10 Don't withdraw cash on credit that they’ll be so substantial that other tariffs elsewhere Plus anyone on specific income jobseekers' rogate your behaviour far more than cards. This support, is both expensive and seen 4 Time it right. Problems stay on are cheaper, you'll be free to leave. allowances or pension getsof£25 in money cold weather others. This can work both for and evidence poor manageyour file for 6 years, applications for 1 ascredit against always you. do the numbers for youryear. every 7ment days -it's sub-0 C. avoid. wait until for they've However, own So if you canpayments circumstances. To check if you can save (you may be on 12
MAGAZINES FLYERS
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Your Money Matters Welcome to the pension revolution!
Earlier this year, huge changes to the way people can access their pensions on retirement were announced in the biggest shake up to the pension regulations in decades. This means that people can now choose how they access their defined contribution pension savings; for example they could take them all as a lump sum, draw them down over time, or buy an annuity. Whilst savers will have to wait a year before they can get access to their whole pension pots, a series of restrictions were relaxed giving people more flexibility over their retirement incomes.
pension pot as and when you choose. However to qualify, you must prove you have £12,000 in other guaranteed retirement income. This could come from the state pension, an annuity bought with another pension pot, or a defined benefits pension. 3. Pension pot – If you are over 60 and have pension pots worth less than £10,000 you can now take them as a cash lump sum. In addition, if your total pension savings are worth less than £30,000 you can take all your savings as a lump sum, of which 25% will be tax-free, whilst the rest will be taxed at marginal rates.
Clark Howes Senior Client Manager, Jen Sewell said. “The changes to There are now three ways to access compulsory annuities and other new your pension monies. options will mean that all of us who are still in work will need to rethink 1. Income drawdown – You are now our pension planning, as suddenly allowed to take an income directly from we have been given more control and your pension pot, which will remain greater opportunities. At Clark Howes, invested so it can continue to grow our recommendation is to seek advice and give you more in your retirement. before most of the changes come into The amount you can withdraw as effect in 2015. Talking the time now to income is capped and is based on the talk things over with a pension expert Government Actuary Department will help to ensure that you make (GAD) rate, which is a similar level to the right decisions for your financial annuity rates. Currently customers can future.” take an income that is 150% of the GAD rate. Clark Howes Accountants 01296 381011 2. Flexible drawdown – You can now info@clarkhowes.com take as much as you want from your
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Consumer Clinic
By Jonathan Vernon-Smith
How To Deal With Debt
You can listen to The JVS Show every weekday morning from 9am on BBC Three Counties Radio
It is a sad reality that most of us are in debt these days. With the high cost of housing, it’s perhaps unsurprising that people are having to borrow more money than they really should. For many, this debt is perfectly manageable. However, it only takes a problem like losing your job, or ill health to suddenly turn manageable debt into an utter nightmare. If you are having financial difficulty and realise that you are unable to meet your debt responsibilities, the most important thing to do is to face up to the reality. As tempting as it may be to bury your head in the sand and ignore the demand letters, it is simply going to make the problem much much worse. When you have accepted the situation, you need to sit down and look openly and honestly at the money you have coming in, and the money going out. Even if the prospect is thoroughly depressing, you need to understand exactly what the numbers are before you go any further. At this point, I would advise
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contacting the companies you owe money to and explaining the situation. They may be able to give you a 'payment holiday' until you get yourself back on your feet again. They are also much more likely to be helpful if you've been open and honest with them rather than ignoring them and hoping they will simply go away. Remember, they want their money, so it's in their interest to work with you as opposed to against you. When you've worked out how much money you can put towards your debts, you then need to prioritise them. The most important debts are: mortgage or rent arrears, gas and electricity arrears, council tax arrears, court fines, income tax or VAT arrears and TV licence arrears. If you fail to pay these, you could lose your home, and in the most extreme circumstances, could end up in prison. The less urgent debts include: benefits overpayments, credit cards and loans, water and sewerage bills (you can't be cut off for water debts), student loans, loans from family and friends
and parking penalties from local authorities. That's not to say that you shouldn't bother trying to pay them, but these should be at the bottom of the list. Hopefully, with careful budgeting, balancing and communication, you'll be able to manage your debts until you get back on your feet. However, if you simply cannot pay what you owe, then there are some options for you. However, be aware they do not come without costs. Solutions such as debt consolidation, or even bankruptcy can be the only way out for some people but please look at the pros and cons before committing. I would always advise that you contact your local citizens advice bureau or the debt charity 'Step Change' on 0800 138 1111 before making any further decisions about the management of your debt.
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Separation what about the children? 4. 5. 6.
7.
I
t is often said that children are more resilient than we think but it is proven that the more conflict there is between parents, the more a child suffers. What can parents do to minimise the effect of separation on children? When/how should I tell the children? 1. At the earliest opportunity - best done by both parents together. 2. Agree what to say - show the children you will still cooperate as parents. 3. Make sure the children understand – what to say depends on age/maturity but keep it simple. Fact: It is known that the more exposure children have to the separation issues, the more detrimental it is to them.
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How can I help to support my child? 1. Remain civilised with the other parent and avoid being critical of them. 2. Reassure the children that they will still be loved - children can blame themselves & fear that they will be abandoned. 3. Allow children to be children – not a
substitute for the absent parent and not a “messenger”. Keep to the children’s daily routine in order to maintain as much stability as possible. Advise the children’s teacher & other carers of the separation so they can help support the children. Look out for signs that your children may not be coping with the situation. Your GP will be able to offer support & advice and refer you for specialist help. Move slowly into new relationships and introduce children gradually to new partners.
Fact: Children cope best when they are shielded from conflict and do not feel torn between parents. What shall I do if we cannot agree on arrangements for the children directly? 1. Try to agree arrangements with the assistance of a mediator or solicitors. Professionals can assist in determining the best outcome for the children. 2. If an agreement still cannot be reached, it is possible to issue an application for a Child Arrangements Order. 3. Ensure that any arrangements are workable on a practical level. Fact: Prolonged bitterness between parents about child arrangements can be distressing for the children Hazel Page is the acting Head of Family & Matrimonial Law at Osborne Morris & Morgan Solicitors Tel: 01525 378177 Email: hazel.page@ommlaw.co.uk www.ommlaw.co.uk
Looking Up! In Beds & Bucks The Night Sky August & September 2014 Make a Date with the August Supermoon:
Sunday 10 August sees a giant full moon rise over Bedfordshire. Our silver-faced celestial neighbour pulls closer to the Earth that evening than at any other point in 2014. Watch the ‘supermoon’ rise in the east from 8pm onwards. It’ll make for a spectacular sight and photo opportunity no matter where you are across the county.
Catch the Perseids Shooting Star Bonanza:
Have you ever seen a shooting star? If not then the night of Tuesday 12 August to Wednesday 13 August is the perfect time to look for them. Cast your eyes high up to the north-east from 11pm onwards. Be patient and you might catch
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some bright streaks of light lasting no more than a second or two as Earth crosses the path of the Perseids meteor shower.
Go Hunting for Star Clusters:
The summer Milky Way stretches high overhead during August and September. Embedded within its faint glow are numerous star clusters of blue, white and orange stars. You’ll need high-powered binoculars or a telescope to see the clusters, and you’ll need to choose somewhere dark away from streetlights on a night when the Moon is not visible. A location like the Chilterns between 20 August and 30 August or from 15 September to 28 September will be ideal. seb@darkskytelescopehire.co.uk Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk Under New Management • Free Parking • Cards Accepted
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Tastes so good... ROAST SEA BASS WITH A LEMON & GARLIC CRUST Preserve & Jam Autumn is the perfect time to start preserving. You can use home grown fruits or those you’ve foraged amongst the hedgerows. Preserving is relatively easy. Once the fruit has been picked, washed and prepared, you just need some simple equipment to turn it into marvellous produce.
to consume, you could also make your preserved You can get lots of advice from your local cook fruits into lovely Christmas gifts. There are many shop on what’s required, but some basics are: a large heavy based saucepan, spoons and funnels, possibilities including jams and marmalades, Perfect for a simplecontainers lunch or a dinner party this and mainpickles, course and is anbeverages easy crowd pleaser, chutneys such as sloe a sugar thermometer, and jars, lidswith and friends, looks great on the plate and is a wonderful dish to serve with vegetables or salad alike. gin. Many establishments run evening classes labels. which can help you create these and many other The concept of preserving foods has been around fabulous recipes, such as fruit butter or fruit processor or mortar and pestle cheese. since the earliest humans. To survive, Equipment: ancient manSmall had to harness nature. In frozen climates he froze Ingredients Oven: Gas Mark 5, 190°c When preserving, you should use fruits that are seal meat on :the ice. In tropical climates he dried sun ripened, as the process will not improve foods in the sun. Food by its nature begins to 4 skinned fillets sea Method: Brushgreen undersides with olive oil and fish all tasteless fruit. Using fruitseason that has a high spoil the moment it isbass, harvested. So the ability to washed food underenabled runningancient water man toover salt and one of the lemons and likely squeeze acidpepper. content Zest is recommended, as it less to preserve makewith roots, 3 unwaxed lemons juice. Wedge the otherbacteria. lemon for garnish. Whizz with harbour When filling jars, garlic you should and live in one place and form a community. 4 cloves garlic lemon juice and zest. they Onceare nohot more pieces can be will seen, ensure as large temperature drops Small bunchwith of washed add the parsley, bread and butter to the processor. increase the likelihood of bacteria forming. For Preservation the usefresh of honey or sugar was parsley the same reason, always cover your jars straight well known to the earliest cultures. It was comaway and when theajars areand cooled, you should monplace In ancient 25g butterfor fruits to be kept in honey. Quite quickly you should produce moist very tasty recheckPress the seals tighten lidsonto to prevent any Greece quince was mixed with honey,breadcrumb dried and mixture. 30g wholemeal bread this and mixture firmly the upper air entering and causing mould to form. Or you packed tightly intoolive jars.oil The Romans cooked 50ml extra virgin side of the fillets. could use a waxed disc of paper and cellophane quince and honey producing a solid texture. As Salt & pepper to act as a20 cover. there’s not enough sunlight in Northern climates Roast for approximately minutes, or until the crust is brown. to successfully dry fruits, housewives learned to Keep your in a cool, dark, dry place. make preserves, heating the fruit with Serve sugar,with and whatever takespreserves your fancy! Diane Johnson Chutneys and pickles can last for around a year, this is the method we know today. and fruit liqueurs and fruits in alcohol up to two years. Once opened, store in the fridge and use Whilst there is no longer a pressing survival reason for preserving, it can be very rewarding. As quickly. well as providing delightful food and drink for you
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A Good Read For You
For The Kids
When the Odds are Evens By Colin Lord was not returned one of the brothers would pay with his life. Colin had spent some time in Hong Kong and had mixed with some unsavoury characters. Selling insurance to ex-pats paid for Colin Lord has lived in Luton for fifty years with a background work- his lifestyle but was secondary ing in sales to corporate business’s to one of his business interests, a floating brothel aboard an old and the Education sector. In his Chinese junk ship. He had a younger days he enjoyed many feeling his ex-partner the Midget sports representing Bedfordshire might be connected with the in Rugby, Tennis and Football. He theft of the gold but he was dead. still follows many sports, including Colin had seen him jump off a American football and Basketball. bridge in Kowloom, the body was The Los Angeles Lakers are mennever found. tioned in his book, which was a very Being accused of the theft and daunting evening for him. the death threat the brothers went looking for the gold, the trail led The completion of this book is from Hong Kong, the Cayman largely down to the encouragement Islands, France and ending in South Africa. from Colins late brother. They needed help. Favours were “Many times I mentioned that called in and the SBS and SAS I could write a book and my late were involved. The Special Forces Brother basically said to me ‘Stop brought with them sophisticated talking about it and do it’. So I systems and firepower. did.” When a meeting ended with a massive explosion in Canary The property world was good Wharf, rumours spread like wildto the brothers, Colin and Mike. They were on target for a bumper fire. Was it the Taliban attacking year. Both had large houses, one London’s financial centre? in Hampstead, London the other It grabbed the Media’s attention, in Much Haddam, Hertfordshire. not to mention the Government.’ Who was responsible? Their cars were Aston Martins Would the Brothers pay with their and they did their fair share of lives? womanising. That was before a Triad was A highly charged global thriller, found dead on one of their build- described as “The Best Pint You’ll ing sites. Ever Read”. Things went from bad to terrible; Go to Amazon or Kindle and search a Chinese billionaire tycoon acfor Colin Lord or just Google “When cused them of stealing a fortune the Odds are Evens”£2.99 in London gold bars that he was Follow @ColinLordAuthor on Twitter importing into England. If the gold or ‘Like’ the Facebook Page
Magic Tree House: Valley of the Dinosaur By Mary Pope Osborne Time travel. A quest to solve. Exciting adventures. This book for young readers who are growing in confidence has all of these and much more. The first of a series of books, it follows the adventures of Jack and Annie as they discover a magic treehouse in their neighbourhood. As the story begins Jack and Annie are chasing an imaginary monster into a nearby wood when they stumble across a solitary treehouse. Curiosity getting the better of them, they decide to explore and inside they find wonderful collection of books. Jack is drawn to a dinosaur book and before they know it the two children are transported back to the time of the dinosaurs. Full of fascinating facts this book will appeal to any budding palaeontologist. At ten chapters this is a nice introduction to reading without seeming too daunting. The sentence structure can be repetitive and simplistic, but I am assured by young readers that this is not a problem! There are currently sixteen books available in the series covering different time periods and geographic locations. These along, with an interactive website, promise to engage and educate young readers for many a long school holiday.
In The Garden
Laying The Foundations To A Successful Garden
D
oes the thought of your garden fill you with guilt as the weeds grow bigger and bigger? Chances are your garden is not based on the 3 Essential Foundations or one or more are out of balance. Or do you want to change something in the garden but don’t know where to start? Then the 3 Essential Foundations will be vital in helping you create the most relevant and best possible starting point for your new garden. Having designed and planted small to medium sized gardens for the past 17 years, I have found that the ones that are the most beautiful and pleasurable to be in are those that are based on an equal combination of what I call the 3 Essential Foundations and it’s never too late to look at them again. The first one is to ‘Know what you want’. Work out exactly what you’d like to do in the garden and what you must have to make it work on a practical front. The way to do this is to sit down and take a few minutes to really think about what you like doing outside. For example, many people like to eat outside, to entertain or just to relax at the end of the day with a glass of wine – and I expect that you will too. Make a list and consult the others who use the garden too. The second is to ‘Know your garden’. Work out what the physical
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growing conditions in your garden and work with nature rather than against it. Essential characteristics to look for are the soil type, the soil pH (acidic, neutral or alkaline), where the sunny and shady spots are, is it sheltered or exposed and how much annual rain fall your garden gets. All these things will dictate the types of plants you can grow successfully and which part of the garden they will do best in. It is much easier to look after the right plant in the right place. The third is to ‘Know how much time you’re REALISTICALLY prepared to give to looking after the garden’. Once you know this, design the garden to fit in with your lifestyle. Err on the side of caution rather than enthusiasm because it is much better for the soul to look at one or two areas that look beautiful and feel right rather than the whole garden being a burden. The answers to these 3 questions will guide and direct the design that emerges and will dictate how much maintenance you will have to do in the future. When you feel on top of the maintenance, then you will be able to relax and enjoy the garden. There is no right or wrong time to assess the 3 Essential Foundations and there is a lot to be said for doing so at the beginning of the growing season and again at the end of it. You might be surprised at what you ‘unearth’.
A beginners guide to...
ner Gard A Gree Catherine Miller en CLM Gardens
www.clm-gardens.co.uk Install Big Water Butts Save as much rainwater as possible and deploy it with care. Water generously only where it’s needed, in the cool of the evening, to encourage deeper rooting. Mulch well. Right Plant, Right Place For free-draining soil don’t plant thirsty plants which require a lot of water. If it’s clay, choose deep-rooted, strong plants, like roses and hardy fuchsias, which will withstand dry periods where the ground bakes.If an established plant can’t survive on its own, it’s probably not the right plant for your plot. Ban Peat Peat bogs are an essential part of our eco system. Once they’re gone they’re gone forever. There is no excuse for buying peat-based products…ever. Use only peat-free composts, soil-improvers and mulches. Recycle. Recycle. Recycle Make a compost heap or buy a compost bin. Re-use plastic and crock pots. String old cds and bottle tops over newly planted seedlings as bird scarers. Restrict Chemical Usage Try nematodes for pest control. Encourage ladybirds for greenfly control by planting fennel, dill, white cosmos and scented geraniums. Leave A Wild Patch Build your own army of slug and bug killers. A pile of logs and fallen leaves and a patch of nettles will provide shelter for all manner of garden wildlife, including hedgehogs, ladybirds and beetles.
Health
Beauty
Wellbeing
Varicose Veins By Andrena Carden-Lovell
I
’ve had varicose veins for as long as I can remember. As an overweight female on the wrong side of fifty with three pregnancies behind me, a job that involved long hours on my feet and a family history of fellow sufferers, I am a prime candidate for the condition - but I am not alone. Up to three out of ten adults suffer from varicose veins, which are most common in the legs and feet. Varicose veins develop when small valves within the veins become weak or damaged and stop working properly. Blood flows backwards and collects in the vein, causing it to swell or enlarge. This brings about a lumpy, bulging or twisted appearance and can also make the leg feel heavy, achy or uncomfortable. Swollen feet or ankles, muscle cramps and dry itchy skin are also possible symptoms. For most people, varicose veins are unsightly but do not present a serious health problem, and treatment is not required, though symptoms can be alleviated by taking exercise, resting and elevating the legs. If the veins cause
pain or discomfort, treatment should be considered, of which there are three main types. Endothermal ablation is carried out under local anaesthetic when a narrow tube, or catheter, is inserted into the vein through a small cut made just above or below the knee. Heat is then applied to the vein either from high-frequency radio waves or lasers, which causes the vein walls to collapse and seal it shut. Once the vein has been sealed, blood is naturally redirected to other healthy veins. Some people experience short-term side effects such as pins and needles, or tightness and bruising. If endothermic ablation treatment is unsuitable, sclerotherapy may be offered instead. Also performed under local anaesthetic, special foam is injected into the veins, which scars them and seals them closed. Following treatment, varicose veins should begin to fade after a few weeks, but more than one treatment may be required and there is also a chance that the vein will reappear. Side effects include blood clots in other leg
veins, headaches, lower back pain, changes to skin colour, fainting and temporary vision problems. If neither of the above is possible, the next option is a surgical procedure called a phlebectomy, usually carried out under general anaesthetic. A technique called ligation and stripping makes two small incisions - one at the top of the varicose vein near the groin, and the other lower down near the knee or ankle. The top of the vein is tied up and sealed and a thin flexible wire passed through the bottom of the vein and then carefully removed through the lower cut in the leg. This method can cause pain, bruising and bleeding and a full recovery could take up to three weeks. It’s still not fully understood why vein walls stretch and valves weaken - and some people develop the condition for no apparent reason. Many of us decide to suffer in silence, but if your condition does prove unbearable, rest assured there are treatment options out there.
Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Vine Magazine
Tastes so good...
ROAST BASS WITH Aso LEMON & GARLIC CRUST NoSEA Cook - Orange Cheesecake Tastes good... PARSNIP QUICHE WITH BLUE CHEESE
Ingredients:
Shortcrust pastry: 100g salted butter 200g plain flour 4-5 tbps cold water
Filing: 200g parsnip, peeled & sliced 1 shallot, diced 3 eggs 175ml crème fraiche 290ml milk 1/2 tsp mixed spice or korma curry
Perfect for a simple lunch or a dinner party with friends, this main course is an easy crowd pleaser, This canonbethe eaten hot or is cold and it’s great lunch with boxes. You can use up leftover looksdish great plate and a wonderful dishfor to serve vegetables or salad alike. cooked veg from the Sunday roast instead of the freshly cooked parsnip. Sweet potato or carrot can be exchanged for the parsnip.
PARSNIP QUICHE WITH BLUE CHEESE
Equipment: 23cm / 9 inch buttered/greased loose bottomed flan d pin
Method: Make the pastry by rubbing the butter into the flour unti resembles bread crumbs. Add sufficient water to bring the pastry into a ball without it being sticky and leave to rest for half an hour the fridge.
Equipment: Small processor or mortar and pestle Equipment: 23cm / 9 inch buttered/greased loose bottomed flan dish. Rolling Ingredients: Preparation pin Ingredientstime : : 25 minutes Oven: Gas Mark 5, 190°c Shortcrust Serves 8-10 pastry: Method: Make the pastry by rubbing the butter into the flour until it 100g saltedfillets butter 4 skinned sea bass, Method: Brush with olive oil and fish all resembles bread crumbs. Addundersides sufficient water to bring the season pastry together Method 200g plain flour Ingredients washed under running into water over with salt and pepper. Zest one of the lemons and squeeze a ball without it being sticky and leave to rest for half an hour covered in 4-5 tbps coldlemons water Place the biscuits inside a plastic food bag andgarlic crushwith them 3 unwaxed juice. Wedge the other lemon for garnish. Whizz the fridge. with a wooden spoon or rolling pin. 4digestive cloves garlic lemon juice and zest. Once no more large pieces can be seen, 15Filing: biscuits inthe boiling water untilthe soft. Leavetointo tothe cool. Fry off shallot Melt the butter. Put biscuits aprocessor. bowl andthe mix in the Smallbutter, bunchmelted ofpeeled washedCook freshthe parsnip add parsley, bread and butter 6 tbsp 200g parsnip, until soft. Set to one sidebutter. to cool.Put Line 9 inch greased flan dish with the tin melted thea mixture into a 23cm cheesecake parsley 400g curd or cream cheese & sliced rested of the gently with to stop air it down andthe usebottom theyou back of abase spoon toaspread itfork evenly, press butter Quite quickly should produce moista and very tasty grated zest diced 3 oranges, save the pastry. Prick 125g shallot, bubbles forming. Bake blind (this will avoid the famous "soggy bottom"!) byThis firmly to form the base. Put the tin into the fridge to set. 30g wholemeal bread breadcrumb mixture. Press this mixture firmly onto the upper segments 3 eggs for the decoration crumpling baking parchment andmins. placing it in the pastry case being careful not takes about 30 50ml extra virgin olive oil side of the fillets. 175ml crème fraiche 200g mascarpone cheese to tear the pastry. Then with baking beans them out sugar Put the fill curd orceramic cream cheese, orangespreading zest, mascarpone, Saltcaster & pepper 290ml milksugar 100g andfor intominutes a bowluntil and mix it brown well with the wooden spoon. evenly. Cook atRoast 450º Fmilk for 20 lightly and a little crisp. approximately 20 minutes, or until the crust is brown. 1/2 tsp mixed spice 3 tbsp milk Put the cream in a clean bowl and whisk until it is the consistor korma curry 184ml pot double creamRemove the paper and beans. Whilst the pastry case is cooking beat the eggs encywith of thick custard. Add tofancy! the orange mixture and mix Serve whatever your powder together and add the creme fraichetakes and milk, incorporating all together with a Diane Johnson thoroughly. 50g good blue whisk. Puree or mash the parsnip with the spice or korma and gradually add Remove the cheesecake tin from the fridge. Pour the filling cheese to the egg mixture until thoroughly mixed. Once the pastry case has come out over the biscuit base and spread evenly. Decorate with fruit 50g ham or cooked of the oven dot the base with the blue cheese, onion and ham. Pour the egg (raspberries are delicious but any soft summer fruit will do) bacon mixture into the pastry case and bake on 180ºC for 45 minutes, or until the then return to the fridge until ready to serve (at least 4 hours or centre doesn’t wobble. Diane Johnson overnight).
Cook the parsnip in boiling water until soft. Leave to cool. Fry off th until soft. Set to one side to cool. Line a 9 inch greased flan dish wi rested pastry. Prick the bottom of the base gently with a fork to sto bubbles forming. Bake blind (this will avoid the famous "soggy bott crumpling baking parchment and placing it in the pastry case being to tear the pastry. Then fill with ceramic baking beans spreading th evenly. Cook at 450º F for 20 minutes until lightly brown and a littl
Remove the paper and beans. Whilst the pastry case is cooking bea
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This dish can be eaten hot or cold and it’s great for lunch boxes. You can use up left cooked veg from the Sunday roast instead of the freshly cooked parsnip. Sweet pota carrot can be exchanged for the parsnip.
Easy and light for a warm summer night
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At Home In The Garden Cool
& Eclectic
Nowadays it’s rare to find someone who sticks to one style within their home. Modern homes are full of mix and match pieces, from antiques to vintage and retro alongside contemporary counterparts, and guess what? It somehow works. But rest assured, this hasn’t just happened on its own. An eclectic look takes a little effort to make sure that your space doesn’t end up looking like a car boot sale! Here are three tips that I’ve picked up along the way to best style your home using vintage and modern pieces to create a cool contemporary look.
1Go All Out
When I’ve seen eclectic done badly it’s because someone feels unsure of what they are creating. Eclecticism says confident! In order for it to work you need to go all out. You know that saying about how supermodels could wear a black bin liner and still have everyone demanding where they got it? Well, styling your home in an eclectic way is the same – it needs confidence and attitude to carry it off. Instead of being shy with one or two pieces, get a few. Go for items that make you feel something. One wacky item on it’s own can look odd, but a few strange items grouped together alongside new products looks casually cool!
2Mix Art Styles
The easiest way to create an eclectic look using pieces from different ages is with art. A classic Black & White film photograph can look great against an abstract piece or POP art print. You can tie the look together by using the same colour or finish frames throughout and creating a gallery wall space. Choose a colour scheme to work with, and try not to stray too far outside of it. This will give your collection a theme and help older pieces sit alongside modern with no problem!
3Group In Odd Numbers Decorative pieces work well when grouped in odd numbers. This way, one or two pieces can take center space and be flanked either side. Choose the most special or statement piece to sit in the middle and dress either side with something either of a complementary texture (think wood and leather for instance), or colours that work with the main piece and palette of the room.
by Sarah Akwisombe. www.sarahakwisombe.com
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Health Beauty & Wellbeing Back To School
Bugs & Beasties How does it happen? Your family has enjoyed a happy, healthy six week summer holiday, but within just days of returning to school your child comes down with a cold, or develops an itchy skin condition, or catches nits. Why, when they need to be settling into a new routine and you need to be back at work, do they suddenly get ill?
Like it or not, children gathering in schools is one of the main ways germs circulate in communities. Their immune systems are less mature, they tend to be in close contact, and they have ‘germy’ habits like sticking fingers or pencils into their mouths, so it is inevitable that they are going to come home with something nasty at some point. That said, most illnesses can be avoided if a few good practices are followed. Top of the list is to make sure that your child’s immunisations are all up to date, and that all family members have had a seasonal flu vaccination, where appropriate. Prevention is definitely the best medicine.
Teach your child ‘germ etiquette’. This means staying away from other children who may be sneezing or coughing, covering their own coughs and sneezes by using tissues that should be thrown away immediately, and avoiding head to head contact with others. If your child is older, warn them about sharing items such as lipstick, lip balm, make-up, razors, creams, lotions and other personal items such as towels and sports kit.
There are some germ hotspots in schools, and cafeteria trays are one of them! One survey found that there were more bacteria per square inch on a cafeteria tray than there were on a toilet seat, probably because the trays don’t get Next, make sure they wash their hands enough cleaned as often. If your child drops food on a - and properly! The most common way to catch tray, they should throw it away! illness is through the mouth, eyes or nose after Finally, your child can build up their immunity the hands have been in contact with infected surfaces. A thorough wash with soap and warm by getting enough sleep and exercise, eating a well balanced diet that includes lots of fresh water to the back of the hands, in between the fruit and vegetables, and by drinking plenty of fingers and around the nails for 20 seconds (as long as it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice!) water. Take these preventative measures and hopefully going back to school will be a happy, - before eating or drinking, after a visit to the toilet, blowing their nose, or touching animals healthy time for everybody! and waste, should be the minimum.
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WHAT’S ON? so much we can’t fit it all in! August 1st Love Parks Week 2014 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM A variety of activities tailored to each park will be provided at every event. Activities include bouncy castles, sports and games, craft activities and lots of different ways to see you park. Free events but some will have a small charge. Suitable for ages 0 - 10 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult (over 18) please. Oakfield, Oakfield Road Aylesbury Bucks HP21 1LL Contact:01296 585 195 2nd Love Parks Week 2014 A variety of activities tailored to each park will be provided at every event. Activities include bouncy castles, sports and games, craft activities and lots of different ways to see you park. Free events but some will have a small charge. Suitable for ages 0 - 10 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult (over 18) please. Fairford Leys, Aylesbury Bucks HP19 8WA 11:00AM to 3:00PM 3rd Love Parks Week 2014 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM A variety of activities tailored to each park will be provided at every event. Activities include bouncy castles, sports and games,craft activities and lots of different ways to see you park.Free events but some will have a small charge. Suitable for ages 0 - 10 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult (over 18) please. Bedgrove Park Ambleside Aylesbury Bucks HP21 9TT 3rd Free Basketball at Vale Park 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Suitable for ages 14+ Vale Park Multi Sports Court Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1DX Contact:01296 585 195 There will be an experienced coach at all the sessions to teach basic skills and organise practice matches. 5th Family Craft Activities 5 weeks of fun for all the family discovering Roald Dahl’s wondercrump stories, brilliant Bucks Wildlife and making toys that will let your imagination run wild! Remarkable Rockets: create a mini rocket toy ready to take you on a space adventure. For further details of what is happening during these five weeks, visit our website www.buckscc.gov.uk/museum All
activities are £2.50 per child/participant, Adults not making anything are FREE! Drop in between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm - No need to book. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 2QP 6th National Play Day 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM A day packed with fun for all the family, brought to you by Mix96 and Aylesbury Vale District Council. Vale Park High Street Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1DX Cost:Most activities will be free but there will be small charges for some activities. Contact:01296 585 188 This fantastic day of entertainment will include: BBQ, Bouncy castles, laser game, bungee run, assault course, climbing wall, pedal go-karts, under 5s area, circus skills area, Umbanda drumming, giant sand pit, arts & crafts activities and, not forgetting, the Mix Monster! 16th Family History Talk: Using a computer program for family history Almost anyone new to family history will want to use a computer program to store all their research data. Dave Foster will take us through the many things that a program can do to help with your research. He will cover creating individual records and adding in your research data, building family trees, maintaining a photo album for each ancestor, merging records, displaying events on maps, recording sources, managing future research tasks, holding your data on your mobile phone, sharing your research with others and more. This talk is suitable for family history beginners, those just starting to use a computer to help their research or anyone who already uses a computer. Free; non-members of Buckinghamshire Family History Society are very welcome; a small donation will be appreciated. Free help available Prebendal Farm Community Centre, Somerville Way, Fowler Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP19 7QT 21st Free Kids Bouncetastic Thursday 11am -3pm Enjoy some free bouncy fun and burn off that holiday energy! Free games and attractions for kids of all ages. Remember, there is a free kids event in Aylesbury town centre every Thursday of the school holidays! #AylesburyThursdays ........continued
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The online calendar is updated regularly
Charity Golf Day 16 September 2014 Buckingham Golf Club
time together with your family, friends or work colleagues. Children of all ages are more than welcome and you can even bring the dog along too! Registration costs just £20 for adults and £10 for children (anyone aged 5 to 16 years old), with under 5s going free. For more information, please visit www.renniegrove.org/ chilterns3peaks or call us on 01442 820740. Time: From 9.30 onwards depending on chosen route. Price: £20 for adults, £10 for children, under 5s are free. Princes Risborough School, Merton Road, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 0DT
Coffee and bacon bap on arrival SEPTEMBER 18 holes/three ball Stableford Delicious two-course supper 26th Science Uncovered 6-10pm Tring Charity raffle and auction Museum. Science Uncovered is a free evening event for adults, designed to make science more accessible to the public £180 per team of three £60 per person
For an entry form, please contact our Fundraising Team 01908 557891 or email sally.wood@ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk
30th Aylesbury Farmers’ Market Find fantastic local produce at Aylesbury Farmers Market on the last Tuesday of every month. Also browse the stalls of the Vintage & Craft Bazaar to find unique handmade, antique and collectable items. #AylesburyMarket 9am - 2pm Free entry Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1TW
We are a local independent charity and rely on the vital funds raised by all our fundraisers. With your help we can make a real and positive difference that contributes to the wellbeing and quality of life of thousands of older people and their families Registered charity 1079773 www.ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk Age UK Milton Keynes, The Peartree Centre, 1 Chadds Lane, Peartree Bridge, Milton Keynes MK6 3EB
Free 11am - 3pm Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1TW www.facebook.com/AylesburyVale September 14th Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge The Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge, a fundraising event to support Rennie Grove Hospice Care, returns for its sixth year! Join us for our own version of the famous national challenge and experience the beautiful scenery along part of the Ridgeway National Trail, taking in Whiteleaf Cross, Coombe Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon. The event will start and finish at Princes Risborough School and you can choose to walk either 5, 9 or 18 miles around the Chilterns. It is a fantastic opportunity to enter as a team and spend quality
Walk, crawl, hop or fly - be a real life superhero for the day! Fun for all the family
F SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER 2014 Watermead, Aylesbury Run starts at 10am
TO REGISTER: www.AylesburySuperHero.co.uk Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity Unit 2 Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP21 7QY 01296 429975 www.fnhospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1119499
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A Travellers Tale
(Continued)
Perhaps she’ll believe me now when I say that “tourist” India and “real” India are very different. After Tuticorin, we sailed the short distance to Trivandrum with its very pretty approach from the sea. Then another temple (which we couldn’t enter because we’re not Hindus - rather pointless really), a museum with immaculate gardens followed by a bit of shopping and haggling over prices. The rule is to offer something like a quarter of the asking price and settle on a half. Both sides do well on the deal! But SW India really means Kochi (formerly Cochin) and we spent a couple of days there. It’s the principal city of the state of Kerala and was built on the rice and spice trade. It was clearly more prosperous and much less untidy and we wondered if this was because the local government had put down strict rules - it was communist when we were there. Rather surprisingly, there is a community of Jews who have lived in the area for centuries and we were taken round the Jewish quarter (where most of the shops seemed to be owned by Kasmiris!). A visit to an arts and craft centre was highlighted by an demonstration of Keralan marshal arts combat. This is highly energetic, very athletic, and requires much leaping about in an attempt to avoid flashing batons and swords. Definitely not the sort of activity suitable for elderly cruise passengers! Then we were shown the Chinese fishing nets. These are stationary and operated by a complex set of ropes, levers and counterweights. They looked terribly inefficient to me but would be a useful problem for A Level Applied Mathematics students to find out how the hell the things are supposed to work! Next day saw a trip on a rice boat along the labyrinth of canals between the paddy fields known as The Backwaters. The scenery is very tranquil, very pretty and very tropical and an absolute Mecca for birdy types who nearly fell overboard trying to photograph, for example, a Lesser Spotted Great Crested Whatsit bird! These waters are brackish in salinity (ie a mix between salt and fresh water) so give rise to a rather specialised ecosystem. The evening’s entertainment was something totally unique to Kerala. Known as Kathakali dancing, it is performed by men only - taking female parts where required. They are dressed in fantastic costume and with incredible make up. The dancers act out, through mime, stories and poems from Hindu culture via facial expression and hand and eye movement which can suggest a complete gamut of emotions. There was also a singer-musician who had a small cymbal (but whose singing wouldn’t get far in the Top Ten). Overall, the experience was utterly fascinating and something not seen outside Kerala.
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The end of the trip was, for some, their idea of Paradise when we travelled to some of the palm fringed tropical coral islands with their white sand beaches. First, there were some I’d never heard of - the Lakshadweep Islands - which are largely uninhabited. I know I’ll be laughed out of court, but after I’d swum in the warm sea for half and hour, had a look at what the island had to offer - nothing - and watched hundreds of hermit crabs scampering about on the beach, I was bored out of my skull. How anyone can spend a fortnight corpsed out on a beach doing absolutely nothing is beyond me. But that’s my problem. Finally, we hit Male, the capital of the Maldives. An incredible statistic is that the highest point is only a few feet above sea level - so the fear of a rising ocean and inundation due to global warming is very real. There was one chap on board who was ENORMOUS and when he decided to take a dip, everyone held their breath! Unfortunately, our guide for the trip round town looked about 10 years old and his answer to every question was “I’m not too sure about that”. But said with a flashing smile! There were two things which immediately impressed me about Male :- 1) the place is extremely clean and tidy - so unlike India - and 2) there must be at least two little motorbikes for every inhabitant - they are everywhere. We flew home from Male and arrived 22 hours later to be greeted by a wintry London. But, even so, when asked whether we would prefer a “tropical” holiday or a “high latitude” one, I think we’d both choose the latter. It’s mainly because of the scenery; and when one of the lady passengers stated that Sri Lanka was the most beautiful place on earth, my comment was that, clearly, she’d never seen the Alps, the Norwegian fjords, the Canadian Rockies, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the Himalayas, Alaska, Antarctica, Spitzbergen - and a host of other places. Just because it’s hot doesn’t make it beautiful. I rest my case m’lud!
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he Official Secrets Act and the passing of time have prevented the Bletchley Park story from being told by many of its key participants. Here, at last, is a book that allows some of them to speak for the first time. Gordon Welchman was one of the Park's most important figures; his pioneering work was fundamental to the success of Bletchley Park and helped pave the way for the birth of the digital age - yet his story is largely unknown. In order to finally set the record straight, Bletchley Park historian and tour guide Joel Greenberg has drawn on Welchman’s personal papers and correspondence with wartime colleagues that lay undisturbed in his son’s loft for many years. Packed with fascinating new insights, this is essential reading for anyone interested in the clandestine activities at Bletchley Park. RRP £25.00 286 Pages • Hardback ISBN: 9781848327528
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