More than just Books!

Going for a Job?

Find your Focus

Puzzle Time

Getting Married?

Plus....

News of events at your local

library

Advice on planning your business

objectives for 2013

Test your brain with our Sudoku

Puzzle

Help with the arrangements for

your big day

What’s On, recipes, lifestyle advice

and much, much more

Tips to make your interview a

success

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Contents

ClickBerkshire Magazines are published by:

Click Counties Ltd

48Martineau Lane, Hurst, Reading, RG10 0SF All material in this publication is protected by copyright:

nothing may be reprinted without permission. All material

is published in good faith, and every effort is made to

ensure the accuracy of the contents but the publishers

have no responsibility for any loss damage or distress

resulting from the use of information contained herein.

The publisher has no liability for any loss caused by the

failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or

inconvenience caused by the omission of an advert

or article, or any error or misprint. Opinions expressed are

not necessarily those of the publishers.

Cover: Graphic Design by Paul Mitchell Design

Hello,

Issue 4 sees the end of 2012 and brings us into the New Year!

I would like to highlight the Move or Improve section which has a vast variety of advertisers so if you are looking to clean your gutters, trim overgrown trees, have plans to make your home more secure, spruce up old carpets or simply give your home thorough clean for 2013 we hope you find the service you are looking for within the magazine or on-line at www.clickberkshire.co.uk.

For those of you who are recently engaged or planning last minute additions to those vital wedding plans, why not take a look at our Wedding section?

Finally you will also find some valuable advice from Barbara Patrick at Compelling CV’s to assist you with new job opportunities.

All our advertisers have pride in their service so please contact us with any feedback we are always keen to hear your thoughts.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Best Wishes Harriet

Harriet Slingo Publisher

We do alternate distribution - If you don't get a copy through your door, please drop us a line and we'll let you know where you can pick one up free.

Advertising: Harriet Slingo wokingham@clickberkshire.co.uk 07725 740311

Editorial: Mike Oak editor@clickberkshire.co.uk 07879 646265

Or visit us online, there's lots to see!

www.clickberkshire.co.uk

2/24 Family For all the Family

4 Community Wokingham Library News

5 Move & Improve Home & Garden Ideas

12 Listings What’s on this Autumn

14/25 Health Nutrition and Exercise

16/27 Living Ideas for all

20/31 Employment Getting Back to Work

22 Business Guidance on running your

business

28 Weddings Find local suppliers for

your big day

4

Are you aware of what your local library has to offer? We have highlighted a few events taking place at Wokingham Town Centre Library and other

branches, but this is just a small taster.

Please visit www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/ to find out more.

Wokingham Library Wokingham Library Wokingham Library Wokingham Library

NewsNewsNewsNews December January February

Local authors Harriet Vered and Mick Harper will be giving a talk about “Walking the Ancient Landscape”. They will explain how Ancient Britons managed to navigate their way around the countryside, using stone circles as a guide. Wokingham Library, Thursday January 24, 2013 at 6.30pm, £2 charge.

Best-selling crime novelist Ann Cleeves, author of “The Shetland Quartet” and creator of female detective Vera Stanhope, will be talking about her new book “Dead Water” on February 14, 2013 at 8pm. Tickets priced at £5 can be booked by phoning Wokingham Library on (0118) 978 1368.

New Year Get Arty – Come and get creative and make

some amazing crafts - £1 charge for under 12s

Wednesday January 2, 2013 Wargrave Library 10.30am to 11.30am

Thursday January 3, 2013 Lower Earley Library 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Friday January 4, 2013 Winnersh Library 2.30pm to 3.30pm and Wokingham Library 10.30am to 11.30am

Bookstart Extravaganza

Come and join in with rhymes, crafts, stories and much more! Pick up your Bookstart pack and meet your local family worker and health visitor.

Monday January 28, 2013 Lower Earley Library 9.30am to 11.30am

Tuesday January 29, 2013 Woodley Library 9.30am to 11.30am

Wednesday January 30, 2013 Wokingham Library 9.30am to 11.30am

'Art in the Library' gives local artists, art students and craftspeople a platform to exhibit their work and ideas. We have exhibitions on in Wokingham and Woodley Libraries. During February, Illustrator Cathy MacLennan will have her work on display, so we will be holding a ‘Meet the Illustrator’ session. Come and hear Cathy do an interactive story session with her book, “Monkey, Monkey, Monkey” with book signing after the session. Wednesday February 20, 2013 at 11am

A Musical Guide to Classical Music – An evening with Richard Smith for people who enjoy classical music and would like to understand more. £5 charge. Wokingham Library Monday January 28, 2013 at 7pm

Daring Dragons - February half-term

Come along to your local library this February half-term and take part in our dragon themed activities, for under 12s, £1 charge. There will be Daring Dragon sessions at the following libraries:

Monday 18 February, 2013 Wokingham Library 2.30pm

Tuesday February 19, 2013 Twyford Library 10.30am to 11.30am and Maiden Erlegh Library 2.15pm to 3.15pm

Wednesday February 20, 2013 Wargrave Library 10.30am to 11.30am

Thursday February 21, 2013 Spencers Wood Library 10.15am to 11.15am and Lower Earley Library 10.30am to 11.30am and Finchampstead Library 2.15pm to 3.15pm

Friday February 22, 2013 Winnersh Library 10am to 11am and Woodley Library 10.30am to 11.30am

Arborfield Library 0780 166 4520

Finchampstead Library (0118) 908 8176

Lower Earley Library (0118) 931 2150

Maiden Erlegh Library (0118) 966 6630

Spencers Wood Library (0118) 988 4771

Twyford Library (0118) 934 0800

Wargrave Library (0118) 940 4656

Winnersh Library (0118) 979 7519

Wokingham Library (0118) 978 1368

Woodley Library (0118) 969 0304

Rhymetime Storytime Knit and Natter Creative Writing Group Classics Book Group Bridge Club

Branches

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WHAT’S ON THIS AUTUMN

Around Wokingham

For more events please visit the ‘What’s on’ section of Clickberkshire.co.uk where you

will find these events including Sunday Roasts, Christmas fairs, Pamper Evenings and

Local Attractions.

To advertise your event please e-mail details to wokingham@clickberkshire.co.uk

December 2012 1st Switching on Christmas Lights – Woodley www.woodleytowncentre.co.uk 1st Earley St Peters Christmas Fayre 3pm – 5pm 1st Finchampstead School Christmas Fair 11am – 3pm 1st Coombes Country Market and Christmas Fayre 11am – 2pm 2nd Woodley Extravaganza www.woodleytowncentre.co.uk 6th QUIZ - The Unimaginatively Titled Pub Cellar Quiz

South Hill Park Suitable for 18+ www.southhillpark.org.uk 8th Saturday Market Woodley Town Centre - www.woodleytowncentre.co.uk 8th Trinity Concert Band Christmas Concert Bearwood Theatre, Sindlesham

www.trinityband.co.uk 9th Baby and Childrens Market – St Crispins School Wokingham

www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk 10th Business Event – The Real Business Club’s Christmas Market

www.therealbusinessclub.co.uk 14th St John Ambulance Christmas Choral Evening Sindlesham Court RG41 5EA

Contact 01189 262246 15th Carols in the Barn Bucklebury Farm Park www.buckleburyfarmpark.co.uk 17th Forces Sweethearts South Hill Park Arts Centre www.southhillpark.co.uk 20th Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen South Hill Park www.southhillpark.co.uk January 2013 6th Wedding Fayre www.cantleyhotel.co.uk 20th Kiss Kiss Jive - Sunday Tea Dance 2.30pm – 5.30pm

The Cornerstone, Norreys Ave, RG40 1UE 20th-26th Farmhouse Breakfast Week www.birdinhand.co.uk 25th Burns Night Supper Cantley House Hotel www.cantleyhotel.co.uk 25th International Food Fair www.birdinhand.co.uk February 2013 14th Valentines Day Dinner Cantley House Hotel www.cantleyhotel.co.uk 14th Valentines Supper www.birdinhand.co.uk 16th Baby and Childrens Market - Bulmershe Leisure Centre

www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk 17th Kiss Kiss Jive - Sunday Tea Dance 2.30pm – 5.30pm

The Cornerstone, Norreys Ave, RG40 1UE 22nd Beatles Tribute Band - Blue Beatles www.birdinhand.co.uk Find out more about all these events at www.clickberkshire.co.uk Whilst we make every reasonable effort to make sure the information here and on www.clickberkshire.co.uk is accurate, please check details with the organisers directly before buying tickets or travelling to an event.

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Panto Season! Your guide to Pantomimes in Berkshire 2012/2013

Arabian Nights 22nd Nov to 6th Jan Newbury www.watermill.org.uk

The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark 27th Nov to 4th Jan Maidenhead www.nordenfarm.org

Jack and the Beanstalk 1st Dec to 5th Jan Bracknell www.southhillpark.org.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk 5th Dec to 6th Jan Windsor www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Dear Santa 6th Dec to 9th Dec Windsor www.firestationartscentre.com

Beauty and the Beast 8th Dec to 6th Jan Reading www.readingarts.com/thehexagon

Robin Hood 12th Dec to 16th Dec Maidenhead www.maidenhead-drama.co.uk

Aladdin on Ice 12th Dec to 16th Dec Bracknell www.jnlbracknell.co.uk

Snow White & The 7 Dwarfs 18th Jan to 20th Jan Woodley www.zuloo.co.uk

For more details please visit the appropriate websites as listed

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Flo’s Diet Surgery

Your diet question answered by Florence Cameron, Dip. N (Inst. NH), MFNTP

Q Is there any link between what I eat and cold sores? I frequently suffer from them but I really don’t one again!

A There are many theories on what you should and shouldn’t eat to avoid cold sores, but they’re all unproven. As cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, my advice is to eat a healthy diet full of vitamin C and E, zinc and selenium to help to keep your immune system strong and less prone to viruses.

Q What do I have to do to detox?

A When bodies are healthy, they don’t need help getting rid of toxins. It’s the job of your liver, lungs, kidneys and skin to eliminate waste products. Detox diets usually includes extreme diet restrictions and the danger is that you eliminate important nutrients from your diet, but you can focus on the healthier aspect of detoxing, such as eating more fruit, veg, nuts and seeds, drinking more water and cutting out junk food and alcohol. This can be a useful boost to get you into healthier eating habits than you can sustain in the long term.

Q My new year resolution is to lose 10 pounds in 2013. How can I make my healthy habits stick?

A The problem with resolutions, especially New Years, is that they are sudden changes in lifestyle that are different from what we normally do and easy to sabotage. Break down each change you want to make into manageable small stages. Be sure that each stage is firmly established before moving on to the next one. New behaviours take about six weeks to become established. Once you are confident that your first change is well established, then you can move on to the next one.

Do you have a question you would like to ask Flo?

Get in touch, visit our website, read the

NutriBlog or follow us on Facebook www.nutriflo.co.uk www.facebook.com/NutriFlo 07943 948 511

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My weight loss programme has helped

hundreds of people lose weight and keep it off!

Hypnotherapy will change your mindset and

your relationship with food! "I lost 3 stones on Elaine's plan and have kept it off for more than 2 years! I would highly recommend this programme"

Terese Dupenois, Woodley.

DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT?

FED UP WITH YO-YO DIETING? WANT TO BE SLIM AND HEALTHY?

YOU CAN BE!

To find out more visit:

www.focus-hypnotherapy.co.uk Or contact Elaine Hodgins on

Tel: 01189691030 Mob: 07775528445 E mail: info@focus-hypnotherapy.co.uk

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Chocolate Cup Cakes Gluten free, Vegan and egg free.

Working with cups is easy as long as you always use the same cup.

2½ Cups Granulated Sugar 3½ Cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour 1½ Cups Vegetable Margarine 2 Cups of Milk (or Soya milk if you need these

cakes to be dairy free) 1 Pinch of salt 2 Tablespoons of vegan Cocoa - Most Cocoa

Powders are suitable. ½ Tablespoons Xanthan or Guar gum *** 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract. *** Available from us.

Mix cocoa with ¼ cup of boiling water to make into a paste.

Cream margarine in a bowl, then add all the dry ingredients.

Add all the liquid ingredients including the cocoa paste.

Place into cup cake cases and cook on 180 degrees until they spring back (approx. 15mins.)

Choc Orange icing

6 Cups icing sugar ½ Cup orange juice 2½ Cups of Vegetable Margarine Grated rind from 1 orange (optional)

Cream margarine in a bowl.

Add half the icing sugar and half the juice and mix, then repeat with the other half of the mixture. Mix slowly for about 3 minutes and then add in orange rind if required, some of the rind can be kept for the decoration on the cakes.

If you wish you can make this a strong orange flavour by adding approximately a Tablespoon of orange extract (or to your taste).

Makes approx 18

Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That's all there is to it. It's fun. It's challenging. It's addictive! Solving time is typically from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on your skill and experience. Solution on Page 13

8 9 8

2

6 3 5

4

5

3 6

9 9

1 5 2 9 7 3

3 7 4 1 8 6 5

1

6 9

2 8

8 1 7

3 7 4

4 5 8

Puzzle Time

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Contact Louise on

07721 419436 or 01344 449728

A wide variety of beauty treatments

available at Core Gym, Woodley.

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Valentine

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The recruitment world has changed out of all recognition over the past 10, 20, 30 years, and if you've recently found yourself back on the job market, you'll already have realised that job-searching isn't what it used to be. The advance of the internet has made it easy to search for jobs at the touch of a button, and it's sometimes only possible to apply for jobs online. The downside is that the job vacancies are accessible to almost everyone and the competition is now much greater, with some vacancies attracting hundreds of applications.

Recruitment Software and CV Sifting

Another downside is that the vetting process is largely automated and your application will very likely not be read by a human being, but by a computer using Applicant Tracking Software, "ATS", to look for specific keywords. Although this software has been around for some time, because of the increase in online recruiting, its use is now far more common.

Let's look at a vacancy for a bookkeeper. An employer posts the job on an online job board. The employer doesn't want to trawl through hundreds of CVs; they just want to shortlist the best candidate matches. To enable "matching", the employer has to programme their chosen key words into the ATS. Let's say they select: "Sage 50", "Excel", "bank reconciliations” and "monthly management accounts".

In your CV you have included: Sage, MS Office, bank reconciliations and monthly accounts - similar, but not identical. So, although you're potentially a perfect fit for the job, because you don't have the right keywords in your CV, your application won't come up as a good match. This is precisely why you can't use the same CV for every application. Yes, you need an excellent "master" CV, but you'll need to amend your CV to match the words in each job advertisement, to ensure that your CV is a better "match" for the Applicant Tracking Software. To a lesser extent, the same goes for cover letters.

First Round Interviews

It's increasingly common for the first round of interviews to take place by telephone, Skype or even video, so you'll need to prepare for this.

Occasionally the first or second round of interviews includes a Group Interview.

Assessment Centres

Assessment centres are often used to assess skills and competencies. You may be asked to participate in role play or team work. One of my clients was asked to prepare and deliver a presentation on how she would improve the sales process within the hirer's organisation. With every candidate making a presentation, the hirer was definitely in a win-win situation - especially if they didn't hire anyone at the end of the process!

Psychometric Testing

Psychometric testing is a series of tests that measure your reasoning skills and personality to see if you are a good fit for the role. Depending on the seniority of the role, these may involve relatively straightforward online tests or could include an "in-tray" with a number of tasks that you must prioritise, delegate or execute - all designed to measure your ability to assess, analyse, prioritise, multi-task and manage a variety of situations that you could typically encounter during a normal working day.

Compelling CVs based in Reading provides a Professional CV Writing Service

together with Cover Letters, LinkedIn Profiles, Interview Skills Coaching & more

Job Seeking in the New Recruitment Age

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���� Professionally written CVs

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Whether you're seeking to gain work experience, obtain a place at university, get on

the first step of the job ladder, gain promotion, change career or secure the job of

your dreams, we'd love to help you get ahead of the game.

Visit our website, sign up for our tips and advice and then give us a call.

Absolutely no obligation; we're always happy to talk.

Call us on: 0118 988 7628 or visit our website: www.CompellingCVs.co.uk

Compelling CVs

Professional CV Writing and Support

for Candidates at all stages of their Careers

The job market has never been so tough. Even candidates with relevant experience

and excellent qualifications are struggling to get interviews.

Outplacement Support for Employers

It's been a tough few years and we're definitely not out of the recession yet. Many

businesses are struggling and sadly job losses are still occurring.

This is tough on outplaced staff - particularly if they've not been in the job market

for a long time. Not only will they be worrying about their self-esteem, household

finances and family commitments, but they will have to run the gauntlet of online

job searches, online applications and modern day recruitment processes, most of

which will very likely be alien to them.

It's painful for everyone but employers can soften the blow by supporting their staff

with our affordable pick and mix outplacement support services: CVs, cover letters,

skills assessments, interview skills coaching and general job-seeking support, either

on a 1-1 basis or within small workshops. Download a brochure on our website.

www.CompellingCVs.co.uk

Tel: 0118 988 7628

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Find your focus for 2013

Are you planning your business objectives for the next year because you think

you ought to or because you want to?

Times are tough, there is no avoiding it and reviewing budgets around trying to attract new

customers and growing the business at the same time can become a difficult task. Most people

spend most of their time putting this off instead of diarising and prioritising these planning

activities.

When working with start-ups, early stage businesses or companies that are working hard to

grow; I always ask the golden questions before any practicalities are put into place: ‘Why do

you want to do it?’ and ‘What does it mean to you?’

Most people get caught up in the day to day activity and the challenges they face; and then

forget about the thought or wish that was the catalyst to get into their business in the first

place.

My philosophy is simple; if you don’t have the passion to succeed, you may survive with a

certain level of results but it will be a long painful journey. Once you re-connect with the

excitement and desire of achieving your vision; energy and determination flows easily,

decisions are made quicker, actions are taken faster and bigger and better results are achieved

and celebrated.

Without addressing this key factor any strategy, implementation process or practical tool and

technique will simply not be applied to its full effect, if at all.

So for 2013 first things first; spend some well-deserved time remembering why YOU are in your

business and what it means to YOU. Next; here are some easy steps to frame your planning

and get started.

1. Decide exactly what it is you want to achieve.

2. Work out the time frame you want to arrive at the finished result.

3. Describe each step you are going to take to get there.

4. Insert measurement markers with time slots to check your progress along the way.

5. Take time to imagine what it will be like to tick off the markers as you reach each one.

6. Include the rewards you will gain as you achieve your goals so you don’t forget to

recognise your hard work.

Have a great year!

To your success,

Entrepreneur, Business Mentor and Coach

Making Your Ideas Happen

If you would like more information about how to achieve great results for you and your business;

visit me at www.nikkiburns.net and get in touch to discuss how I can help.

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PureStretch

Improve your Flexibility

PureStretch is a mixture of Pilates, yoga and stretch designed to lengthen and strengthen the entire body in a fun environment

Tight hamstrings, sore muscles and poor core strength can

affect your whole posture leading to discomfort. Increase

your range of movement, decrease your risk of injury and

improve your quality of life with PureStretch. PureStretch Classes are held at Woodley C of E School

Mondays 6:45 - 7:30 pm Pilates Classes are held in Lower Earley

Saturdays 9:00 - 10.00am And Woodley C of E School Mondays 7:30 - 8:30pm

To book your place, call Carol Green, Pilates instructor on 01189 441392

Revive massage and beauty welcomes you to the ultimate massage and beauty experience

Wokingham and

Finchampstead

A wide range of either relaxing or invigorating treatments that will help to

� Boost your energy levels � Improve your sense of wellbeing � Alleviate back and muscle pain � Relieve headaches � Support your immune system

Revive also actively works using Lymphatic Drainage Massage with Cancer patients to help support and alleviate the side affects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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Telephone 01189 732 948 Mobile: 07866292736 Email:info@revivemassageandbeauty.co.uk

Website: www.revivemassageandbeauty.co.uk

PureStretch classes also available

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The Military Wives, Sing While You Work and even Last Choir Standing were TV programmes that

tapped into the vast potential and health benefits of singing in a choir. The success of these

programmes showed why the UK has such a strong vocal tradition and demonstrated that singing

really can bring people together at the same time as making significant differences to a person’s

health, wellbeing and happiness.

The rise of ‘Open Access’ Choirs has meant that anyone who wants to can try singing in a choral

environment free from any pressure of auditions, or the need to be able to read music. There is a

choir here in Wokingham to suit anyone’s desire or experience. One company - singhealthy runs

three choirs locally (one for the BBC) and will welcome anyone who wants to find out how singing

really can make a difference to your life. All the choirs are based on a fun singing approach and

perform a range of popular music from The Beatles to Jessie J, so there is something for everyone.

Musical Director of singhealthy, Dorian Edwards says: “The great thing about a choir is that you are

never singing alone and you really are in both a strong team and social environment. The health

benefits are not emphasised enough as there is strong evidence that singing can really help you feel

great and boost your grey matter. All you have to do is come along to one of weekly sessions and

find out for yourself why we enjoy what we do, at the same time raising money for many local and

national charities. It really is the most fun you can have for less than a couple of pints of beer.”

Why not come along and try it for yourself the choirs meet Wednesday at The Open Learning

Centre Bracknell at 7.30pm and Thursday at The Methodist Church Rose Street at 7.30om. Visit

www.singhealthy.co.uk or call 01189771248 to find out more details.

Fifty Shades of Grey matter….

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New Year New Year New Year New Year

New CareerNew CareerNew CareerNew Career Local Careers Event for Local People of

all Ages Date for your Diary

Wednesday 20th February 2013

10.00AM – 4.00PM At

Bracknell & Wokingham College, Church Road, Bracknell RG12 1DJ

Come along to see what vacancies are available to you, which companies are recruiting & the best way to

apply, apprenticeships, career & CV advice all available on the day.

Keep informed on this event by following

us on twitter.

www.twitter.com/@Bracknell_JCP #newyearnewcareer