en magazine dec 2013

MAGAZINEDecember 2013

Local News & What’s Onin Your Area

Christmas Gift Guide

& Giveaway

Achieving Business Goals

EN MAGAZINE - December 2013 3

en magazine (Print) ISSN 2049-5722

Contacts

Douglas Lee Publisher

Sarah VittachiFeatures Editor

Joy PrinceCredit Control

Tel: 020 8367 3917

63 High StreetPotters BarHertfordshire EN6 5AS

email:[email protected]@enmagazine.co.ukPrinted by WarnersDistribution by Regal

Front Cover© lightwise - 123rtf.co.uk

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by omissions or errors in the printing of this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any medium without written permission of the publisher.

Welcome to your December

issue of en MAGAZINE

This, the December issue of EN Magazine, is the last one of 2013 and we hope that you will enjoy reading it.

EN Magazine had some great news recently, we became the RSA Trust Business of the Year Runner Up in the Enterprise Enfield Business Awards. We are really proud, not only to be recognised by all the readers and advertisers that feedback to us on how much they like the magazine, but now to have received recognition in these prestigious local business awards.

This is our Christmas Gift Guide issue and along with what we hope are some ideas for your gift shopping we also have a selection of gifts to giveaway, just enter the competition for your chance to win.

I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of EN Magazine. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any comments on this issue or any local matters at [email protected]

May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, EN Magazine will be back in 2014. Kind regards

DougDouglas LeePublisher, en magazine

Contents Page 4 - Local News and Events Page 15 - Legal Page - Zero Hours Page 18 - Home Improvements - A Touch Of Class Page 21- Business News and Information Page 26 - Panto Time - A look at the History and Local Shows Page 27 - Showtime and What’s On Page 29 - EN Magazine Local Business Directory 1 - The End - My Christmas List !!!

� EN MAGAZINE - December 2013

Local News and Events

With all the excitement and buying of presents n the run up to Christmas on local business is asking people to once again stop and take the time to remember those less fortunate than us. This year local hairdressers James Whitaker Hair are once again collecting toys and gifts for Noah’s Ark Children Hospice based in Barnet.

So do you have any unwanted presents still in the cupboard from last year? Or perhaps you would like to donate a gift to someone less fortunate to you.

“After the success of the last couple of years under the Christmas tree campaign we have decided to do it once again but this year we are going to donate the toys to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice,” said James

“The under the Christmas tree campaign was started by a comment from a customer saying that our tree looked bare with out any presents under it. This gave me the idea to put some present ideas of our products under the tree. Another customer suggested that we donate some of these to charity and they would add some as well and the idea just grew from there.” James told EN Magazine.

Noah’s Ark is an expanding children’s hospice service, seeking to serve an estimated 900 life- limited or life-threatened children or young people, and their families, living within the communities of

Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.Their aim is to support these families, often by working in partnership with other agencies, delivering flexible services that encompass the whole family - enabling them to live positive lives and face the future with hope, following the death of their child. These services range from practical and emotional support, ultimately through to end- of-life and bereavement care.

In terms of age ranges, Noah’ Ark work with children from 0 - 19 years old, and all presents for all ages are really gratefully received. However we know from experience that we struggle to get presents that can be given to 12yrs +, so if there are any kind clients who would like to donate presents for that age range, that would be fantastic.

Toys can be donated and left at James Whitaker Hair 82 Lancaster Road Enfield EN2 0BX.

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EN MAGAZINE - December 2013 �


Santa Claus recently pop into Enfield Town to help promote the events taking place in the run up to Christmas.

There is a range of activities taking place over the weekend of Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December in and around Enfield Town.

On the Saturday 30th Nov there will be street entertainers through the Town plus music from Ziggy’s Jazz Club on Fountain Island, all starting around 11.00 am. On Sunday 1st there will be entertainment in Enfield Market Place in the afternoon (Market

courtesy of the Old Enfield Charitable Trust) followed by the fantastic Parade Of Light going around the Town, leaving the Civic at 4.00 pm and entering Church Street around 5.00 pm with the Mayor switching on the Christmas tree lights on Fountain Island around 5.30 pm. There will be a brief firework display over the Town sponsored by G Mantella Jewellers, McDonalds Enfield and EBRA.

Santa Has Come to Town

Step back in time and view past Christmases at Forty Hall courtesy of Enfield Council.

The ever popular Forty Hall by Candlelight tours, return to Forty Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm from December 5 and give visitors to the hall the opportunity to encounter Nicholas and Rebecca Rainton and their servants, including the cook as they prepare for a 17th Century Christmas.

Visitors on the 40 minute long tours can also relax and enjoy festive music and mulled wine at the Hall in Forty Hill, Enfield.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture Leisure, Youth and Localism, Cllr Bambos

Charalambous, said: “This is a great chance for visitors to Forty Hall to step back in time and experience how Christmas was celebrated in years gone by. The contrast between today and how things were done in the seventeenth century is fascinating and striking and the candlelit tours of the hall show the magnificent building in a stunning new light, I’d urge anyone who is interested in coming along to book soon because tickets for this event disappear quickly.”

Tickets cost £10 for adults with concessions £8. There is a 10 per cent discount for online booking.

To book visit www.fortyhallestate.co.uk or ring 020 8363 8196.

Step back in time to Christmas Past


Helping to improve safety on the roads over the winter months, Enfield dealership Brayley Honda, has launched a “Tread Carefully” campaign to inform local motorists about the benefits of switching to winter tyres.

According to the findings of a survey carried out by a major tyre brand, 63% of motorists are driving their cars on underinflated tyres. Not only is this costing them over £4 billion in excessive fuel consumption and causing unnecessary additional vehicle emissions, it also poses a safety risk due to reduced grip, increased tyre wear and potential for damage. The survey of over 1,000 cars found that 16% of them also had illegal tyres with a tread depth below the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm.

As part of a seasonal Winter Check, Brayley Honda is offering drivers

of all makes of car advice about the use of winter tyres during the colder months, as well as a fitting service. According to Paul Brayley, Managing Director, Brayleys Cars, winter tyres are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, having been mandatory in colder parts of Europe for many years:

“Winter tyres are specifically designed to provide better traction in temperatures lower than 7 degrees, in all road conditions, not just driving on snow or ice. The last two winters in the UK have

seen exceptionally cold spells over a long period where winter tyres have had a massive benefit for motorists. We’d advise all drivers to check their tyres regularly and ensure they have at least 3mm of tread depth. Better still, give us a call and we’ll ensure your car is well prepared for the winter months.”

Visit www.bratleys.co.uk for more information.

Tread carefully on the roads this winter Hertsmere’s Mayor,

Councillor Paul Morris OBE, and actress Brooke Kinsella MBE are looking for some big-hearted, strong-legged cyclists to join them on a charity bike ride from Paris to London next year. All proceeds from the ride will be divided equally between the Mayor’s two charities for the year, The Ben Kinsella Trust, which works to promote knife crime awareness and The Langdon Foundation, which helps vulnerable people with learning difficulties to lead independent lives. Riders will pay £99 towards the cost of the 189-mile challenge, planned for 2 to 5 May, and they are asked to raise a minimum of £999 in sponsorship. They will cycle along the banks of the Seine, past the Palace of Versailles and through the French countryside. After crossing the Channel they will cycle into London to be received at the Houses of Parliament. On the last afternoon of the ride, cyclists will be joined by family and fun riders for a final cycle to Borehamwood. And if you don’t feel in peak condition, that’s no excuse, as Hertsmere Leisure is offering free weekly spinning classes for all participants. They are also providing training for the Mayor as well as vehicles and drivers to support the riders on both sides of the Channel. Councillor Morris said: “I have taken part in many long-distance cycle rides and I know that anyone who takes part will have a tremendous experience and know that they are supporting two

very good causes. I am delighted that Brooke will be cycling herself, she has done such great work for the Trust set up in memory of her brother. “Two of Langdon’s residents, who have learning disabilities, are currently in training to take part and that is very inspiring.” Brooke said: “It is an honour to be chosen as one of the Mayor’s charities this year and I am really excited - and a little bit petrified - to be taking part in the cycle ride next year. I am so grateful to all those who have signed up and are giving their time and dedication to support two brilliant charities. Thank you and good luck!” Mark Young added: “Hertsmere Leisure is completely behind this event and for those who can’t make the main ride, we will be giving them other opportunities to help by holding gym challenges at The Venue in the New Year.

The fee for the ride covers all travel, accommodation, meals and the support of the CycleWild team. Places can be booked at the Mayor’s Charity Bike Ride website www.challenge.uk.com

Get on your bike for a good cause



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Back in September 2010 EN Magazine met up with Lucy Hall, of Lucy’s Web Design, then a new company that had just built EN Magazines’ website.

EN Magazine met up with Lucy again to redesign and develop the EN Magazine site and find out how she was getting on.

Lucy told us that “It’s been a very exciting few years, I have now helped build 100’s of sites, for local, national and international companies. From small sites of just a couple of pages to multi function sites like Love Your Doorstep and ecommerce sites like the one I built for local cookware retailer Papylon.”

“I now build sites using three platforms, Wordpress, Joomla and I also look after some HTML sites for clients that I have inherited, on which I have added a blog so they get to keep the site they love but also gain the power of blogging so get people to find it more easily.

Before building a new site I always find out what the site is to be used for, to make sure that it is fit for purpose. There is no point in me trying to sell a major e-commerce site to a company that does not

sell products online, The sites I build, I aim to make affordable and useable. By useable I mean that the client can update and use the site to achieve their aims. I meet and train my clients so that the sites I build are able to be kept up to date and working.”

“As well as building bespoke sites from scratch I have also helped clients to update and change the functionality of existing sites.”

“I also make sure all my sites embrace the power of Social Media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google +, I look at it as if the site/ blog is the sun and the social media orbits around it and points people to the content thus gaining you more visitors which means Google pop you higher up the rankings, I have achieved the top of Google just from this very tactic, I have never used SEO or Google Keyword.”

“It is key for companies to be aware of the impact of Google’s search ranking and how to make sure that they are profiled as high as possible and not just by their company’s name.”

“I recently had to do a video interview with the designer of the suits for the Iron Man films, for them to add to their blog. I have also been lucky enough to build sites for one of the Beach Boys, who as anyone who knows me, knows have been my favourite band since I was 7, that job came via Facebook! So as you see it really does work.”

For further information on Lucy’s Web Design and to see examples of her sites including www.enmagazine.co.uk visit her at www.lucyswbdesigns.co.uk

The Web Revisited

EN MAGAZINE - December 2013 �

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In the run up to Christmas many local retailers are fighting with the big national companies that are bombarding us with their promotional messages through the media. From TV campaigns and press advertising, special promotions and offers what chance do the little independents have?

On parade of shops has decided to fight back and along with promoting themselves to the local community they have also decided to give something back. Over the weekend of the 29th November to the 1st December business along Oakwood parade are putting on a range of attractions Arts and Crafts events and Facepainting to choirs and storytelling, whilst helping raise money for local charites.

Shops selling items for our charities: Bella Beautique - Mini Christmas Sweet Trees made by Party Treats £12.99 each Deco Floors - Christmas Balloons by Sabella Floral Design £1 each Nightingale Cancer Support - Christmas cupcakes made by Oakwood Cupcakes £1 each Sprint Printers & Stationers - Christmas

Cakes made by our Cake Bake entries & Pastries supplied by Tesco - prices vary FRI 29TH NOV: At Oakwood Library: Arts & Craft Session Pre-Schoolers at 11am-12pm *Sponsored by Oakwood Library Magic Show: 12.30pm-2.00pm *Sponsored by Peckfords & Cedar House Financial Services Eversley Primary School Choir at 2.30pm-3pm *Sponsored by Oakwood Library Storytime with David Burrowes MP 4.00pm-4.30pm *Sponsored by Oakwood Library Arts & Craft After School Club at 4.30pm-5.30pm *Sponsored by Oakwood Library SAT 30TH NOV: At Smart Cookie Design Ltd: Meet Mickey Mouse & his friend’s Balloon Modelling Act: 10am-11.00am *sponsored by Smart Cookie Design LTD At Trent Park Golf Club: Children’s Christmas Charity Club *Sponsored by Sprint Printers 11am-1.30pm Morning Session - 2.00pm-4.30pm Afternoon Session *THIS IS A TICKET EVENT £4

SUN 1ST DEC: At Sprint Printers:

Facepainting: 10am-12pm *Sponsored by The Beauty Parlour £1 each Meet Santa!: 2.00pm-2.30pm *Sponsored by Sprint Printers - first 20 children will be given a special Christmas gift

Local Parade of Shops Deliver Christmas Fun

10 EN MAGAZINE - December 2013

At this time of the year the Christian church is thrown into the spotlight with the celebration of Christmas. But what does the church or religion mean in 2013?

EN Magazine spoke to Holy Trinity Church in Winchmore Hill to find out more.

Holy Trinity Church of England Parish Church was built in 1908, it has a high tradition and is affiliated to Forward in Faith and is under the Episcopal care of the Bishop of Edmonton. The Church is in the main catchment area of St Paul’s C of E Primary School, with which it has a very strong link.

In 1978 a fire devastated the Church. Not to be defeated, the congregation

worked hard to rebuild the building and the fellowship which existed within its people.

Under Father Malcolm Grey a new church was built using part of the existing building. The original landmark tower containing the war memorial bells installed in 1919 remains its main feature to this day.

Today the Church is overseen by Father Richard Bolton, but the Church is much more than a building, it is about the community and the congregation that it supports.

I asked a member of the congregation what the Church meant to him,

“Our Church is much more than a lovely old building,

it’s a meeting place, a place where people who may not see another living soul all week can feel part of a family. And it is our duty as members of that family to look out for each other.”

“Holy Trinity is very much a community church and tries to include not only St Paul’s C of E School but also Winchmore and Highfield Schools. It has a very strong Junior Church with a weekly children’s Sunday club. And for adults a fellowship group

which meets for lunch in the church hall regularly. We are very proud to have a connection with the North London Hospice as our very own Father John Cornish is the hospice chaplain.”

“But most of all Holy Trinity is a place of faith where likeminded people come to pray and we hope anyone who is looking for somewhere to worship and to be part of a Christian family will feel right at home.”

A Church at Christmas


The current building is used for much more than just Church services, Holy Trinity is building up a reputation as a local music venue. The church offers great acoustics and hosts classic, jazz, soul and folk music events. On December 19th they are hosting a carol concert commencing at 7pm. Performing will be the Enfield Community Singers and the band of the Winchmore Hill Air Training Corps.

The Church has two additional halls set over two floors, available for hire by the local community, which are used for activities as diverse as tap dancing classes, aerobics, art exhibitions and children’s play groups. The Church

and halls are open to anyone in the community to hire. Last year for example, the church was used to hold a traditional palm court afternoon tea with music. This was a fundraiser and was so successful it is hoped it will become a regular event. And of course what church would be complete without the traditional summer and winter bazaar.

“You all have a lot of friends at Holy Trinity, you’ve just not met them yet. Merry Christmas”

Christmas is a very special time of year bringing joy to millions, yet, it can also be hard if a loved one is going through a difficult time or no longer with you.

Lighting up a symbolic light is your personal expression of love. We invite you to give thanks for the life of a departed loved one or express your love and support to those dearest to you, whilst at the same time helping us to support

families in Enfield who are struggling to cope with a life threatening illness this Christmas.

To dedicate a light please log on to http://www.nightingalesupport.org.uk/pages/fundraising/light-up-a-life-donations.php

Or you can text your donation

Text ‘BIGC13 £3’(or more) to 70070

Light up a Life



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Now that we are in the run up to Christmas, the less organised of us still have an enormous amount of Christmas presents still to buy. This is the time of year where retailers earn the most of their money and are reliant upon customers flocking to their stores to buy the latest gadgets or most sought after toys of the year. Some of those purchases will be made in store whilst an increasing number are made on-line. This article is designed to highlight your consumer rights and to enhance your position if the manufacturer or retailer is in breach of contract.

Buying in storeThe traditional way of buying presents and doing battle with other customers in over crowded retailers is still the most popular way of buying presents. If you can face this ordeal there are a number of golden rules. The first rule is to ensure that you inspect the item you are purchasing. Make sure that the goods do correspond with the description given and that the price matches the price advertised on the shelf. It is a criminal offence for a retailer to sell products advertised at one price on the shelf and to charge you another price by the time you reach the check out. The sales assistant may try to fob you off by stating that the wrong price was put on the shelf and the correct price is the one they have scanned through their till. Do not accept such an excuse. If the price is advertised on the shelf or on the item itself then the shop is obliged to sell you that product at that price, unless the discrepancy is so enormous that you would never believe it could have been on sale at that price in the first place.

For example if an item is marked up at £3 and by the time you arrive at the till it has miraculously increased in price to £5 the shop is obliged to sell it to you at the advertised price of £3. Most retailers have the decency

to comply with their statutory obligations however some may try to argue the point. If they do try to argue the point, take a picture using your mobile telephone of the shelf where the price is advertised and report the matter to your local Trading Standards Office and to the Head Office of the retailer. Normally such disputes do not reach this stage however in the unlikely event that it does these are the best ways to obtain the relevant evidence.

If the item is a flat screen television which has been mistakenly advertised for £3 then obviously there is a fundamental mistake and the shop would not be obliged to sell that item to you for that price. No sensible customer would have thought for one moment that the television could be sold for £3. This legislation only assists if the customer is being genuinely misled either intentionally or unintentionally and in context.

ALWAYS make your purchase using a credit card as opposed to a debit card. There is a huge difference between paying for your items with a credit card as opposed to a debit card, despite the fact that they are both made out of the same type of plastic and look very similar. A debit card payment is the equivalent of paying by cash for an item. You will have the same rights as someone who has paid cash, which puts you in a weak position if you are entitled to your money back for any potential breach of contract in respect of the quality of the goods. Being entitled to your money back, and actually receiving it are two very different things.

By contrast you have an enormous amount of protection if you pay for the goods or services by credit card, as long as that purchase is for more than £100. Any such purchase is covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If your shiny new tablet or smart phone stops working on Boxing Day you will be entitled to your money back either from the credit card company or from the retailer. It is often more difficult to obtain the money back from the retailer as opposed to the credit card company. The retailer already has your money whereas if you have not yet paid your credit card bill, your credit card company has not received the money from you. Furthermore, the credit card companies have far more resources than you will have in order to deal with any breach of contract issue.

When you hand over your credit card in order to pay for goods, your credit card company purchases those goods on your behalf. When you receive the credit card bill approximately one month later you are then buying

Spending Your Money Safely this

Christmas

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those goods from the credit card company. Whilst there will inevitably be some paperwork to have to complete in respect of exercising your consumer rights, let the credit card company take the strain as opposed to you.

Buying on lineIf you cannot face the marauding crowds of Bluewater or Lakeside, you may wish to make your Christmas shopping easier by making your purchases on-line. Again always pay by credit card rather than debit card as this provides you with far more protection for purchases over £100. If the retailer goes out of business for example you can claim your money back if you have paid by credit card whereas money will be lost if you have paid by debit card.

Most on-line retailers provide you with the opportunity of returning goods if you to not like them as gesture of goodwill. They have no legal obligation to accept the return of those goods if there is nothing wrong with them, apart from one provision which protects consumers on-line, namely the Distance Selling Regulations 2000.

These Regulations do allow you the opportunity to return goods in the event that you do not like them or they are not what you thought they would be. The regulations state that you have a right to cancel an order from the moment you place that order with the retailer. That right does not end until 7 working days from the day you receive the goods. This is the minimum consumers must be given however many retailers often provide a longer period than 7 days purely as a gesture of goodwill. Confirmation of your cancellation should be sent by e-mail, letter or fax to the retailer within that 7 day working period. There are some goods which cannot be returned if you change your mind e.g. CD’s DVD’s or software if the seal of the wrapping has been broken; perishable good such as food and flowers; items made specifically or personally for you but are bespoke items; underwear and earrings.

Whilst it is not the most exciting of things to do, do check the Terms & Conditions of the retailer you are dealing with to ascertain their policy on returning goods when you place the order. Most of us simply tick the box to say we have read the Terms & Conditions when we clearly have better things to do with our time than spend 20 minutes reading legalese. The Terms & Conditions are the first thing that you will read if there is a problem with the product so it may be worth reading the Terms & Conditions before you decide to enter into a contract with the retailer. The major multiple stores and well known retailers who have spent millions of pounds advertising their goods prior to Christmas on the television normally have very fair Terms & Conditions which exceed your statutory rights as a consumer.

Whatever you are purchasing this year for Christmas I do hope that you will not experience any problems with the goods or services you purchase and that you enjoy a trouble free festive period as a consumer.

MichaelDevanePartnerMARTIN SHEPHERD Solicitors LLP

The information in this article must not be relied on as giving legal advice to you or relating to your particular circumstances. Martin Shepherd Solicitors LLP do not accept any liability for loss or damage resulting from your use of this article.

1� EN MAGAZINE - December 2013

Well its that time of year when a special sub species of human appears on the high street, the Christmas shopper.

They can be clearly identified in two sub species.

The hunter – they know what they want and they are going to get it. Often seen carrying lots of brightly carried bags collected from various stores full of packages. This species should be avoided they have tendency to push and shove in the desire to get what they want.

The confused – looking aimless at all the bright lights and promotional images bombarding them on the high streets. They often appear to be walking around and around in a daze, not sure what they want, often picking up gifts and reading all about them but not actually making a purchase and getting more and more frustrated as we get closer to December 25th.

Whatever type of Christmas shopper you are or know, EN Magazine has put together a guide to try and help you find the gifts you are looking for this year.

Choosing the perfect gift for little ones can be a real challenge! Whether you want to get them something to wear, something to love, to play with or an accessory for their much loved scooter here are a few suggestions.

We all love and remember the teddybears we grow up with. Meet Tat, Woodroofe, Tilly, Ting, Captain, Cobby, Chunky and Sandy, also known as Alice’s Bear Shop, a wonderful collection of enchanting teddy bears

which are sure to steal the hearts of children (and adults) this Christmas! Alice’s Bear Shop gives traditional bears a new lease of life and provide children everywhere with a friend they will still be cuddling in years to come! £24.99 - £29.99 from Selfridges

Toys for young do not have to be hi tech electronic gadgets how many of us remember building blocks and wooden cars?

Uncle Goose has carved out a niche as the world’s premier manufacturer of beautifully crafted, high quality alphabet blocks. And for 30 years those

blocks have been have been making

an

appearance under the

Christmas tree! From the classic ABC blocks, to every language under the sun (including hieroglyphics!), to blocks of the periodic table – the Uncle Goose range never goes out of style and makes a beautiful gift! From £14.95 from www.kindtoys.co.uk

And now something for the crafty kids ... ‘Design your own Snow Globe’ from Seedling is a fun and festive set that will put a smile on every child’s face. The kit contains

everything you need including plenty of glitter so you can model your own figurines and create something truly festive. All you need to do then is watch it snow! £14.99 available from Heels, Liberty, Harrods, www.kindtoys.co.uk

Get your little one hoppin’ around the Christmas tree this year – Rudolf the Reindeer from HappyHopperz is a fantastic take on the retro space-hopper with ears & horns for children to grip on to and feet to steady the bounce, plus they’re great at improving balance, strength and confidence! Brand new for 2013, tots can go hopping mad on the purple addition! £21.99 from www.happyhopperz.co.uk

For those youngsters who have outgrown their bouncers and are caught up in the current scooter craze Scootaheadz makes

the ideal gift! The funky animal heads attach to the T Bar personalising it and turning it into a roaring dinosaur or frolicking pony! Choose from Pink or Purple ponies or Green and Blue Dinos. £15 from Amazon Dressing up for Christmas is a serious task! Every family will have an idea for their little one, but whether they’re a little pudding or a cute elf, you’ll want something to save their outfit from their Christmas Dinner and

all those baby dribbles! Skibz has designed a brand new gorgeous Christmas bib especially for the occasion. Made here in Britain, it’s super soft and comes in a beautiful keepsake Christmas tin. £10 from www.skibz.co.uk

Snuggling up around the Christmas tree is one of the best parts of Christmas! Silver Sense has designed the ultimate cosy wear for children. Wonder Onesies are really rather special, as apart from being super stylish they are also made from pure silver threads. Delicate and soft, there are no tags or labels ensuring little ones will really be as

EN Magazine Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas

EN MAGAZINE - December 2013 1�

Christmascomfy and cosy as possible

this Winter. Every child needs a onesie

to and there are two colours to choose from, mocha and magenta. £39 from www.silvwesense.co.uk sizes

18 months to 8 years

Go past any building site or road works and your are sure to see a JCB. This iconic British brand is known globally, is also available for kids, no you do not have to send them out to work but give them hours of fun with the range of JCB toys.

The JCB range are robust toys that allow children to fuel their imagination and encourage them to play outside as well as in– there is something for under-fives as well as older children who like a construction challenge! My 1st JCB Press and Go Toys Age 1+ £9.99 Stockist: Amazon Joey JCB and Doug Dumptruck are set and ready to go

– just press down on their cab and watch as they race off. Joey can carry his rocks in his moveable front scoop, Doug prefers to load and unload his in the fully operational rear bucket. My 1st JCB Ultimate Playset Age 2+ £39.99 Stockist: Argos 360º adventure for little builders, this fun packed, rugged play set includes a working, talking crane, rock loader, site workers, Joey JCB and Doug Dumptruck. Plus a giant grab claw, wreaking ball, turntable and much more! My 1st JCB Remote Control Doug Dumptruck Aged 1+ £19.99 Stockist: Argos My 1st JCB Remote Control Doug is perfect for little hands. His big bucket can be loaded with an apple, pencils or anything else your young driver has in mind. He has five phrases, can be driven forward and backward with a simple JCB style steering wheel control. JCB Ride On Dumper Age 2+ £65 Stockist: Tesco For children who want a truly hands on JCB

experience they need look no further than the rode on JCB Dumper. The chain driven JCB features anti-slip pedals, tipping dumper bucket, rugged wheels and an adjustable seat.

Christmas is meant to be about families and what better activity than a board game to get all the family involved this Christmas.

Doctor Who DVD Board Game

The world’s best loved Time Lord stars in this new DVD game featuring Doctor Who fun for fans of all ages.

As the perfect gift to celebrate Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary, this game features clips from the epic TV series. Players journey through space and time with all 11 doctors and companions, confront the most fearsome monsters, put their Doctor Who knowledge to the test and save the Earth from destruction. RRP: £24.95 Available from John Lewis, Cargo, Hamleys, W.H Smiths, Debenhams, Waterstones, Smyth’s Toys, Amazon and all good independent toy and gift shops.

Guinness World Records – The Board GameHolding a Guinness World Records title is now within reach thanks to this exciting new board game based on the best-selling books.

Players can test their knowledge with hundreds of trivia questions and Who am I? cards. Compete in Guinness World Records challenges and attempt to break an actual Guinness World Records title! Guinness World Records is for two or more players

aged eight upwardsRRP: £19.95 Available from Lewis, Waterstones, Smyths Toys, Amazon, W.H Smiths, Hamleys, Cargo and as well as good independent toy and gift shops.

Rush HourSet the red car free in this classic traffic jam logic game. Beginners and experts alike will be raring to go as they select from one of 40 challenge cards printed with various traffic jam scenarios.

The aim of the game is for the red car to escape by sliding the other cars and trucks up and down, left and right in their lanes to clear a path. There’s only one rule - you can’t take pieces off the traffic grid!

Rush Hour is for two or more players aged eight upwards

KerffufleThis dice-tastic strategy game is laugh out loud fun for all the family!

Kerfuffle features more than 100 dice and players must roll the dice and select cards to determine their moves. Make pairs, triples, quadruplets or even make straights with the dice by lining up the dice with the same value side together.

With 60 draw cards, Kerfuffle is guaranteed to be fun, entertaining and hilarious, and is for 2-4 players aged eight upwards.RRP: £19.95 Available from Cargo, Amazon and


all good independent toy and gift retailers.

PerudoAs an exciting game of guesswork, bluff and luck, Perudo is a version of liar dice which combines skill, laughter and deception – and is perfect for post-dinner entertainment.

Stephen Fry declared Perudo to be “The second most addictive thing to come out of South America”!

Perudo is for 2-6 players aged eight upwards. RRP: £17.95 Available from Harrods, Hamleys, John Lewis, WH Smith, Amazon and all good independent toy and gift shops.

Generally children do not like bathtime, but now they may change their minds with this range of products.

Childs Farm (Available from Ocado and John Lewis stores) - THE BOYS GIFT BOX for dirty pirate rascals £9.99

Contains full-sized bottles (250ml) of the Caked in mud! hair & body wash for dirty rascals and the Get your feet wet! bubble bath for buccaneers. This is the perfect set for boys who like to get mucky, as the body wash is formulated with organic sweet orange and the bubble bath with organic tangerine oil. THE GIRLS GIFT BOX for all over cleanliness and loveliness £9.99 Houses full-sized bottles (250ml) of the Clean calm

and collected bubble bath for sweet dreams and the Groomed to perfection shampoo for luscious locks. The Bubble Bath contains organic tangerine oil and the Shampoo uses strawberry, organic mint and Argan Oil, which will leave hair looking gorgeous and tangle-free.

Kurio 4S Touch (RRP: £99.99 at Amazon, Argos, Boots, Debenhams, Early Learning Centre, JD Williams, John Lewis, Mothercare, Very.co.uk, Littlewoods, Tesco and Toys R Us)Tweens and teens will love the freedom they get with the new Kurio 4S Touch. The personal Android media player is small enough to fit in a pocket, but the memory is big enough to storeall of their favourite films, music, apps, photos and more with 8GB internal

memory and a micro SD card slot for more.Parents don’t need to worry about them being out of sight with the 4S Touch either, as the same, trusted, KurioGeniusTM Parental Controls are featured and allow adults to specify what can and can’t be played with, viewed and accessed via apps and the internet.

FrontCover Cosmetics create ready to wear make-up gift sets inspired by the catwalk and contained in a magazine cover style box with photographic instructions on how to create the different looks. The new A/W collection contains

something for everyone from lipsticks and nail art to subtle shades and Christmas sparkle (From £18-£45)

Colours Of The Catwalk- Metallic Collection £18- Metallic fabrics and finishes dominated the catwalk at the likes of Christian Dior, Diane Von Furstenberg, Burberry,

Viktor and Rolf and Marc Jacobs in a spectrum of shades from palest peach to graphite grey. Frontcover take textures from spun metallic threads, gentle golden weaves and hot foil leathers as seen on the runway and translates them into a must have make-up look for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails. This collection also contains the NEW Springy Cream Blusher this lovely texture gives beautiful delivery of colour

and the smooth formula achieves a beautiful pinched cheek look that’s dewy, not sparkly.

Lipstick Collection, £25 - Comprises a spectrum of beautiful colours from the palest blot-out nude to the deepest shade of crushed

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plum. Also includes a clever multi-tasking, double-ended Lip Stain and Top Coat Lip Gloss: when used alone the Lip Stain will change colour to suit your skin tone; used as a base for a lipstick it gives a long lasting finish, or if a glossy mouth is your style use the Top Coat Lip Gloss over your favourite lipstick shade. The mini sizes are perfect to slip into the tightest of pocket or smallest of clutch, and deliver the ideal amount for a season of colour.

Need a chance to relax how about some Aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy Associates Christmas gift sets, all presented in a stunning royal blue this year. The range includes the Little Bell (£10.00), the perfect stocking filler, the Festive Collection (£35.00) containing 3ml bottles of bath and shower oils in a gorgeous

Christmas-tree shaped box, and the Refinery Skincare Essentials kit (£65.00) for the man who wants to update his skincare regime. www.aromatherapyassociates.com and Space NK stores.

Jazz up any out fit to create a different look with fashionable scarves in on-trend geometric

prints by North London designer Alison Whit make great gifts for mum, dad or a trendy fashionista. Handmade in Britain, supporting local craftsmanship,

and using the finest selection of fabrics, the collection

is centred on comfort, style and wearability.

Prices start from £65, with the full collection available

to buy online at www.alisonwhitescarves.co.uk

You can not escape the fact that with Christmas comes the cold weather!Blackspade Thermal Sportswear have a range of gifts that offer a great solution

From keep fit outside or simply a great hike

through the woods and camping out for the weekend then Blackspade Thermal have the perfect gift ideas!

Prices are very affordable starting at £5.45 for the beanie hat through to £64.95 for the training suit. All available through Amazon.

For the man in your life husband, boyfriend, dad granddad, brother or uncle shaving and personal grooming is going to be on the agenda, how about a gift that offers great look!

Designed by a real life ‘Blue Beard’ (a man who has to shave twice a day) who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan look-alike, the range is paraben free and contains ingredients such as Decelerine to specifically combat tough stubble and reduce hair growth, as well as tackle common shaving problems like razor rash, burn, ingrowing hairs, lumps and bumps.

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The Blue Beardrange covers everything a man will need fro grooming from shaving to shower gel, in fact the man in your live will never need another range. Their range is available to buy in the Enfield area from Holland and Barrett (Unit 34 Palace Gardens), as well as nearby in Palmers Green and Cockfosters.

For the gadget conscious how about a drill for the dinning table?Uncork the Mulled Wine The ultimate tool for gadget and culinary fanatics alike, the IXO Gourmet includes

uncorking wine bottles, dispensing salt and pepper from a spice mill, and assisting with home refurbishment amongst its key capabilities. Weighing a mere 300 grams, the IXO Gourmet is a suitably dainty, handbag and ‘manbag’ sized tool, making it an ideal gift for girls and guys who don’t want labour intensive, heavy power tools when tackling small scale tasks such as tightening loose screws. Every household’s best friend, the IXO Gourmet helps around the house and impresses at dinner parties.

Bosch’s IXO Gourmet is available from selected retailers and has a retail price of £59.99.

What DIY enthusiast can resist a new drill.

Versatile and multifunctional, the Bosch PSB 10.8 LI-2 is the ultimate cordless impact drill driver for someone who has a different tool for each task. As a solution to having one tool to cover all drilling and screwdriving tasks, the PSB 10.8 LI-2 counts drilling into wood, brick and stone amongst its key functions. Powerful and ergonomic, the PSB 10.8 LI-2 provides a professional finish on screw driving, drilling and impact drilling jobs that is

sure to please all DIY fans. The PSB 10.8 LI-2 comes

with a carry case (perfect for wrapping up), a one hour charging station, a 10.8V lithium-ion battery and a double ended screw bit, and is priced from £99.99 at selected retailers including B&Q and Argos.

It is dreams of most of us to drive a supercar, unless your lucky enough to be a footballer, city banker or lottery winner reading this article. But you could treat someone in your live to the dream car for a day or two.

The Supercar range at Hertz has the answer, now available to rent for the day. Driving a McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini

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or a Rolls Royce around your own neighbourhood if only for 24 hours, the perfect gift for any motoring fanatics. Reaching up to a mighty 213 mph, complete with fold away roof and luxurious McLaren’s Special Ops Design extras, treat someone special to a taste of the millionaire lifestyle and one in a lifetime drive this Christmas. The McLaren MP4-12C Spider has a retail price of £225,000 but for those who aren’t feeling quite that generous a day rental with Hertz starts at £825. Gift vouchers are also available for the rest of the Supercar range. On sale in denominations of £50, £100 and £200, customers will receive an additional 10% on the value of their voucher when they book online at www.hertzsupercars.com – thus a £200 voucher holds a £220 value against a booking. Kick off the festive celebrations with the perfect party wines from Cono Sur’s Bicicleta range. For an elegant and refreshing, citrus-spiked white to sip alongside smoked salmon canapés, Bicicleta Sauvignon Blanc is ideal. Alternatively, if you need a warming red try a glass of Bicicleta Pinot Noir – full of rich red fruit flavours, this is sure to go down a treat. On offer for just £5.99 in the run up to Christmas, now is the time to stock up on these crowd pleasers!

On Christmas Eve enjoy a glass of Bicicleta Viognier as you relax with family and friends. This peachy

white wine with stone fruit flavours is packed full of character and will complement the sweet, salty stickiness of an impressive honey glazed ham as you share

stories around the dinner table.

For the main event, 20 Barrels Pinot Noir,

with flavours of spiced fruit and chocolate, is the perfect match to roast turkey. Full-bodied and complex this wine is sure to impress all the family.

For the white wine drinkers at the table offer Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc – ripe

and smooth with notes ofgrapefruit and lemon zest, this is a real crowd pleaser and an ideal match to roasted veg.

With Cono Sur it couldn’t be easier to raise a glass to the festive season!

Karl Johner Kaiserstuhl Pinot Noir 2010 (RRP £13.95, The

Wine Society) offers red cherry aromas with a touch of bramble and oak. Flavours of dark berries make this a perfect wine to accompany your Sunday roast with all the trimmings.

Oliver Zeter Pinot Noir 2010 (RRP £25.55, Red Squirrel Wines) is made from a collection of slow-growing Pinot vines and with only seven barrels of the 2010 vintage produced, it’s certainly one to impress your friends!

140 Jahre Jubiläumswein Pinot Noir 2012 (£17.99 Naked Wines) displays characteristics of

wild strawberry fruit and earthy notes in a medium bodied wine. Partner this with roast duck and enjoy a match made in heaven.

Looking for something with a bit of fizz?

Founded in 1772, the House of Veuve Clicquot created the Yellow Label expression of its range in the middle of the 19th century, following the specific request of the English market for a drier blend vs. the sweet wines that were typical during the time. Thus, it’s thanks to the English that we have the iconic Yellow Label known and adored worldwide!

Yellow Label is a blend of 50 to 60 crus with a high proportion of older vintages and a majority of Pinot Noir. The brut expression of the House offers an uncompromising quality, power and complexity. Whether you want to be enjoying bubbles for breakfast, sharing with friends for Christmas Eve or the New Year, Yellow Label is the perfect choice.

This Christmas give the gift of great hair!Box sets of Unite Products as used by the latest celebs, Label.M Hairdryers & gift sets, salon gift vouchers all available in salon.!

Party blow drys available with crazy hair

chalk colours that last a couple of washes! !

Add streaks of colour or go for a pink

ombre!!

Teeth Whitening from £69.99 in salon!

Look amazing this Christmas. Call

02083621515 for more info or find us on

Facebook /jameswhitakerhairdressers!

!

82 Lancaster Road Enfield Middx EN20BX

London & UK Best

Salon 2013 EHABA

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This Christmas many children will be receiving gifts which will open them up to a whole world of information via the world wide web. But with the exposure to this information source comes some manager dangers, from sites with inappropriate information and images to cyber bulling and grooming.

David Emm, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab shares some practical advice on keeping save online. Our children are growing up in a culture of ‘share everything’. Social networks allow them to treat the web like the notice-board in the family kitchen - and they do. They post information about where they are, who they’re with, what they’re doing - with pictures to illustrate this narrative of their lives. But while the notice-board in the kitchen is accessible only to family friends and people we invite into our homes, what’s posted in a social network could be shared with the whole world. Personal information could be used by an online predator to profile a child or teenager, get their trust and then try to arrange to meet them in the real world. Shared pictures can be used by their peers to bully or coerce them. Adults are more likely to see the inherent problem in the ‘share everything’ culture, but children are more trusting – until something goes wrong. Children are often more technically savvy than their parents but less worldly-wise and so typically less wary about sharing information or responding to suspicious messages. This is why it’s so important for parents to involve themselves in their children’s online

activities from a very young age, so they can ‘mentor’ their children and help to shape and inform their online experiences. These messages need to be reinforced and developed as a child gets older. But if they’re ‘on board’ with security from an early age, they’re less likely to see security measures as an encumbrance. Here’s our list of top tips for keeping your children safe online. 1. Talk to them about the potential dangers. 2. Encourage them to talk to you about their online experience and, in particular, anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. 3. Set clear ground-rules about what they can and can’t do online and explain why you have put them in place. You should review these as your child gets older. 4. Use parental control software to establish the framework for what’s acceptable – how much time (and when) they can spend online, what content should be blocked, what types of activity should be blocked (chat rooms, forums, etc.). Parental control filters can be configured for different computer profiles, allowing you to customise the filters for different children. 5. Protect the computer using Internet security software. 6. Don’t forget their smartphone – these are

On-line Safetyfor All

Or how about mixing up a Christmas Cocktail?

Christmas cocktail – cranberry martiniTaste the Difference Blackfriar’s GinSainsbury’s Vermouth Extra Dry£16.50/70cl£5.30/LKick off your

Christmas party with this delicious festive cocktail. Simply shake two parts Taste the Difference Blackfriar’s gin, one part Vermouth Extra Dry and one part cranberry juice with ice and serve in

an elegant martini glass. Top it all off with a twist of lime and enjoy!

Lookign for something differnt to serve with your Christmas drinks from the normall crisps and nuts, how about serving popcorn?

London based family run popcorn company Joe and Seph’s have over 25 flavours of award winning popcorn (www.joeandsephs.co.uk) and their pouches would make a super stocking filler or their glass jars or tins a more substantial present!

They also have some new Christmas flavours launching, mince pie or brandy butter flavoured popcorn as well as mint choc chip!

Chrismtas Gift Giveaway

EN Magazine has a selection of gifts from the pages of oue Christmas Gift Guide to give away.

If you would like to be included in the draw to win one or more of these gifts just tell us which award EN Magazine recently recieved, and which gift draw you would like to be included in. If you would like to be included for the alchol draw you must include your bate of birth to be entered.

To enter email your answer to [email protected] alternatively you can send your entry to Competitions, EN Magazine, 63 High Street, Potters Bar, EN6 5AS. If you want to be included in the draw for alcohol you must supply us with your date of birth.

Closing date for entries is 12th December

Merry Christmas & Good Luck

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However busy you are this Christmas, spend a bit of time considering your pets’ safety and health. It’s OK to indulge pets at Christmas with extra treats and tastes of special festive food, but do remember that it’s not a good idea to make too drastic a change to your pets’ diet. Dogs and cats, in particular, need consistency; different food and too much of it may lead to gastric upsets over the holiday period. Christmas trees are pet magnets – ensure your tree is firmly supported, a boisterous dog can easily knock it over resulting in injuries. Don’t put the tree near your cat’s favourite perch, cats can make a sudden leap onto its branches. Flex for tree lights should be tucked away from birds, puppies and cats, and a tree planted in soil is irresistible to a cat looking for a convenient substitute litter tray! If your tree is held in a stand with a water well, make sure it’s not visible – pets might drink the tree water, resulting in an upset stomach.

It’s also very important to be aware of the dangers of wrapping up food presents to place under the tree – chocolates, biscuits or other eatable. Just remember that your pet dog’s sense of smell is so acute that he’ll know that food is present, just not exactly where, so he may well open every single present in a bid to get to the food! So the rule is: for a happy Christmas, no food presents under the tree!

Use plastic unbreakable ornaments on the tree’s lower branches and no tinsel where pets can chew and swallow it. And no chocolate treats hanging on the tree where pets can get them.

Dogs, especially, are strongly attracted by the smell of chocolate – unfortunate as it is poisonous to both dogs and cats. There’s more on this below.

If you have a “real” tree beware of pine needles – they can stick in paws and fur. Avoid this by removing dropped needles or get a non-drop or artificial Christmas tree. But remember real Christmas trees are mildly toxic to cats, so artificial might be better, although cats have been known to chew plastic trees causing digestive tract blockages.

Christmas indoor plants present hazards for pets. Poinsettia, mistletoe and holly are all hazardous to cats, and also beware of ivies, winter cherries (Solanum) and dumb cane if you have a house rabbit, these plants are dangerous if they nibble them. These plants and winter flowering bulbs such as hyacinths and daffodils are hazardous to pet birds.

A defrosting turkey is irresistible to both cats and dogs. And be careful where you leave the festive bird’s carcass – small bones lodged in a pet’s throat can prove fatal.

Dogs, particularly, may well need extra exercise

over the Christmas period to counteract the effects of those little extra Christmas indulgences. So while you’re at home during the holiday, spoil your dog with some

quality “dog-

and- owner” time spent in a extra walk and ensure your dog’s health and your own!

Dogs and Chocolate: Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine, the greater the danger. Keep the chocolate wrappers and contact your vet for directions if you think your pet has eaten chocolate as he may need veterinary treatment urgently.

For a happy Christmas, keep an eye on your pets, keep food, booze and chocolate out of reach. Rosemary Avenue Veterinary Clinic wishes you a happy Christmas, and our out of hours service is available throughout the holiday season.

Moira Wilson BVMS, MRCVStel: 0208 366 0634 email: [email protected]

Keeping Pets Safe at Christmas

© Willeecole

sophisticated computers, not just phones. Most smartphones come with parental controls and security software providers may offer apps to filter out inappropriate content, senders of nuisance SMS messages, etc. Kaspersky Lab is the world’s largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users. Throughout its more than 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for large enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Kaspersky Lab, currently operates in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide. Learn more at www.kaspersky.co.uk

Without protection, PCs, Macs, tablets and smartphones are all susceptible to internet threats. Tablets and smartphones in particular, being small and lightweight, are the most vulnerable to loss and theft – along with the personal data stored on them. Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device optimises security for each device, providing real-time protection against all internet threats.

Win Win WinEN Magazine has two copies of Kaspersky Lab’s Internet Security to give away. To be in with a chance of winning tell us how long Kapsersky has been protecting people online?

To enter email your answer to [email protected] or send your entry to Competitions, EN Magazine, 63 High Street, Potters Bar, EN6 5AS. Deadline for entries Friday 13th December.

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Have you heard the Chinese proverb about the man who sits in a chair, mouth wide open waiting for the roast duck to fly in? Well, it never flew in. I wonder what happened to him that day. Did he go to bed hungry or found something else in its place?

Approximately 10 years ago I decided to find that roast duck. I had learnt from the proverb above, and knew that without action, I wasn’t going to have my roast duck - the business of enriching myself and reaching for my dreams. I stopped talking and dreaming and started doing something about it. I embraced my fears and took control of my life.

At the time I felt trapped and caged by my 9-5 job existence and apprehensive of leaving my comfort zone to pursue my dreams, but I know without action, my situation will never change. I wasn’t banking on the lottery – that would be one hell of a long shot. I realised that the clock didn’t care whilst I was forever deliberating what to do with my life and procrastinating, it was ticking at the same speed, and time was racing by.

And the usual excuses that was stopping me from pursuing my dreams were “I don’t have time”, “What if I fail”, “I can’t work out what to sell”, “I’d have to give up my job”, “I’ll start next year”, “People will laugh at me if I fail”, “I should be thankful I am in a job” and a whole host of other pathetic excuses. Where there is a will, there is always a way. And here is what I did with all those excuses – I flushed them down the loo. It occurred to me that all those excuses were just another way of hiding from me getting started, so know that:

· There will always be time if you really want to change your circumstances· Know that the only reason people will laugh at you is because they want to stop you from being enriched and leaving them behind· Know that failing is part of life. You learn and move on. It’s no big deal· Know that it’s a “two way traffic” - Your employers have to be just as grateful for you lending your time and effort to make them money· Know that you could successfully execute “Plan B” while carrying on with your day job. It’s a well trodden path, so you won’t be the first to walk it.· Know that time stands for no one. It ticks at the same speed whilst you are procrastinating, and it races by.·Know that there is nothing stopping you from chasing your dreams, and succeeding

Now back to my story. When I finally decided to something about my situation, guess what? I went off blindly setting up my business without consideration of whether there was a market for it or not and whether my prospective customers were able to afford the prices I was offering my services at, and most importantly, whether I was leveraging my expertise the right way, if at all.

· First and foremost in my mind, I liked my services so everybody else should like them. How wrong I was. Disaster!! · Second contributory factor was the fact that I did not take into account all the external & internal factors that could have detrimental effects on my business. · Thirdly, all I was interested in at the time was having my own business, whether it was a one day wonder or whether it was going to sustainably generate high profits and growth way into the future. · Fourthly, I hadn't learnt enough about business fundamentals

My saving grace was that I still hung on to my day job whilst exploring the world of entrepreneurship so the pressure of “where the next month’s mortgage and bills money was coming from” was not an issue.

My points here are and there are a lot to know!:· Stick to your day job whilst exploring your options in the business world because for the meantime it pays your bills· Know that if you are a professional, skilled worker, have rare talent, an expert in your field, there are numerous opportunities awaiting you (leveraging)· Know that you don’t have to have a shop, stall or physical goods to be in business· Know that you don’t have to have capital to start a business in some instances· Know that you don’t have to have a website to operate your business online · Take time to research the right business models for you· Know your business fundamentals· Know that speed of implementation is crucial in every business.· Know that you need focus, commitment and perseverance to succeed· Know that there are no easy buttons or magic wands in business· Know that there would be those who will always “rain on your parade” and dissuade you from taking the plunge· Know that you have to have the resolve and be strong to carry on· Hang out with the right crowd - those who would encourage and support you· Know that businesses are there to make profits, so don't just go into business for the sake of it. Find a business with the potential to make great profits and grow.· Know that even the most successful business people didn't get there overnight.· Seek help from experts whose job it is to help you succeed. You cannot do it by yourself.· Know that all coaches and mentors are not the same, just as all teachers are not the same. There are those that produce mediocre results and those that produce excellent results.· Don't assume that because you like something everyone else is going to like it.· Let market intelligence help you choose the most sustainable, profitable, high growth areas that would consistently afford you the lifestyle you desire way into the future.· Know that even the multimillion businesses have consultants, coaches and mentors. They cannot be experts in every aspect of their businesses.· Know that with the right combination of market intelligence, strategies, regular tracking, measurement and improvement you will succeed if you have chosen rightly.· Know that “if you pay peanuts” sometimes “you get monkeys” – there are levels of quality in everything.

Making A Change – Achieving Your Lives Business

Goals

Business News


And back to my story again. Two years later, older and “wiser”, over a period of two to three years I immersed myself in acquiring knowledge and equipping myself with what I thought was all I needed to start all over again. Spurring each other on, one of my friends and I were at almost every business start up and motivational seminar in town, paid or unpaid. I spent thousands absorbing information without actually knowing how to put it into practice when the workshops and seminars were over (it was a lonely place). I learnt the hard way and I don’t want you to make the same mistakes.

Know that you are not in business till you’ve made your first sale.What I found was that whilst it was good attending all those seminars, once they were all finished, we were on our own. It was just like your teacher or tutor coming to class at the beginning of the year with your course syllabus and saying: “Okay folks, here you are, this is what you are meant to be learning and practicing for your exams at the end of the year, so take them home and get yourself prepared for your exams and by the way, don’t depend on me to help.”

Here are some reasons for my costly mistakes (in terms of time, money and anxiety)· I went into business blindly, and didn’t have a clear, concise direction· I didn't do my due diligence or homework properly· I didn't plan properly – I had no roadmap to follow.· I got stuck, didn’t know where to turn, and didn’t look for help· I didn’t find expert advice and sounding board to direct, guide and support me through· I got carried away with the excitement of having my own business (one that making a loss)· I got carried away with all the hype surrounding the free seminars, whose main aim at the time was to sell us expensive (four figure workshops) that didn't live up to their hype, and with no after sale support.

So how prepared and savvy are you? And if you are not, how willing are you to learn and seek the right help and support you will need?

Over the past seven years, I leveraged my expertise successfully, tried and tested over time, and the result was my unique “360 Profit Optimisation Matrix” which I apply successfully day in day out, tailored to my students and

client’s needs, to help them improve their profits and accelerate their growth. I am still learning because with the dynamic nature of business no one can rest on their laurels. If I am to deliver best results for my clients, I have to be always on my toes, acquiring knowledge, trying out strategies and looking for signs of opportunities.

I am forever mindful that economies change, legislations change, consumer sentiments, market cycles, trends are all in a constant state of change, so I want be sure I am ready to capture and take advantage of the positives, and minimize the negatives when they appear. Will you be ready to do the same?

Here’s to your success

By Asheley Biggart (Strategic Business Consultant)

I would love to have your thoughts so drop me an email at [email protected].

Business News


Local businesses celebrated their well deserved awards at the 2013 Enterprise Enfield Business Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony on Thursday 14th November at the Royal Chace Hotel in Enfield. The annual competition, run by local enterprise agency, Enterprise Enfield, aims to recognise and reward the achievements of businesses as well their owners’ determination to succeed in the current challenging economic climate.

Enterprise Enfield’s Chief Executive, Des Johnson, said, “We had a fantastic response to our awards competition this year, so many strong entries from Enfield businesses, the quality was higher than ever, which made judging very difficult. All our finalists should be congratulated on their excellent achievements!”

The winning businesses were selected by 5 panels of judges which comprised of business representatives from Enfield Council, Start Up Loans London Ltd, North London Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Enfield, Start Up Loans Company and Enfield Business and Retailers’ Association.

Start-Up Business of the YearSponsored by Enterprise Enfield This category recognises and awards the achievements and success of new entrepreneurs running businesses which have been trading less than 2 years.

WINNER: KatyBakey, Kathryn DaviesKatyBakey is an Enfield based business that certainly has put the WOW factor into baking! It offers a mouth-watering range of exquisite bespoke celebration cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes and other baked products, in addition to providing one to one cake decorating classes.

Owner, Kathryn Davies, creates and individually designs all of the cakes herself. She has a meticulous attention to detail and perfectly replicates items such as designer handbags, shoes and smartphones as cakes - her creations are so good it can be difficult to spot the difference!

Kathryn has made excellent use of online marketing and social media to get KatyBakey recognised as a dependable, high quality company - appealing to an increasing client base. This business is certainly one to watch for the future! This business is certainly one to watch for the future! www.katybakey.co.uk

RUNNERS UP: Love 13, Denni King and Dan King, www.love13.co.ukteastained Lil, Alexandra Heywood, wwww.teastainedlil.com

The RSA Trust Business of the YearThis category recognises the excellence of established businesses which have been trading over 2 years. The quality and strength of these entries this year was very high.

WINNER: Inc. Direct Ltd, Noel WarnerInc. Direct is a provider of results driven, cross media CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solutions. Their services include fully variable digital print, direct mail, mobile marketing, email, online development and web2media solutions. CEO, Noel Warner, established the business in 2003 after identifying an opportunity to bring to market an innovative way in which brands

could engage with their customers on a true one2one level - across all media channels.

With the help of Noel’s charismatic leadership style and robust management team, the Enfield based business has grown significantly over the past 10 years - now employing 56 people (75% from the local area) and with a turnover in excess of £6m. www.incdirect.co.uk

RUNNER UP: DAL Media Ltd, Douglas Lee www.enmagazine.co.uk

The RSA Trust Green Business of the YearThis category recognises businesses which demonstrate an active commitment to good environmental practice and promote sustainable development.

WINNER: Forty Hall Vineyard Ltd, Judith LearForty Hall Vineyard is an innovative social enterprise dedicated to producing quality English wine as well as providing volunteering opportunities to a wide range of local people, including many from deprived and marginalised communities. The vineyard is one of very few organically managed vineyards in the UK and demonstrates sustainable vine-growing practices. It was recently awarded phase 3 of the Environmental Management System BS 8555 and is operating a Biodiversity Management Plan to protect and enhance the soil and ecosystems. Project Manager, Sarah Vaughan-Roberts says, “The Vineyard has environmental and social sustainability at its heart. Forty Hall Vineyard is an excellent example of a social enterprise meeting social, economic and environmental objectives.www.fortyhallvineyard.com

RUNNER UP: N London Construction.co.uk Ltd, Nic London, www.nlondonconstruction.co.uk

Enfield Retailer of the YearSponsored by Enfield CouncilThis category recognises the hard work, business acumen, innovation and diversity of independent Retailers in the Borough of Enfield. It’s all about local businesses and the benefits they bring to their local community!

WINNER: Ruby Blu Ltd, Emma ChapmanRuby Blu is a funky, retro gift and card shop which offers a wide selection of products - including children’s clothes, crockery, toiletries, books, baby shoes, jewellery, candles, bags, scarves and much more. The shop, located in Southgate, combines a range of styles and tastes with good old-fashioned service, providing a shopping experience with a sense of community spirit - a place where customers can have a friendly chat and buy that special gift too.

Since opening in 2011 Ruby Blu has been selected as a finalist in The Greats Gift Retailer Awards - Best Newcomer category for 2 years running. Owner, Emma Chapman, has exciting plans to expand locally by launching a concession shop inside the Dugdale Theatre in Enfield Town.www.rubyblu.co.uk

RUNNER UP: Homecare Preferred Ltd, Ken Waterhouse, www.homecarepreferred.com

Winning Local Businesses Awarded!Business News


The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Start Up Loans London LtdNew for this year, this category was open to young entrepreneurs who had received a start up loan through Start Up Loans London Ltd (aged between 18 - 30 years old at the time of their loan application.) There was a lot of competition in this section with many outstanding young entrepreneurs showing great promise!

WINNER: The Giving Card Ltd, Dan TaylorThe Giving Card is a discount card linked to charitable giving; members have access to over 5,000 discounts across the UK, businesses benefit from increased footfall and charities receive £10 from every card sold. After a successful launch, The Giving Card signed a joint venture, ‘Smartacard’- a B2B membership club for entrepreneurs and business people saving companies

and their owners a small fortune every year. Founder, 25 year old Dan Taylor, started the Barnet based business during the economic downturn, noticing charities were suffering, whilst understanding that consumers needed to reduce their spending. Smartacard allows business people to redeem cost cutting discounts; entrepreneurs save thousands on travel, insurance, printing, postage and even their dry cleaning! Smartacard also offers solutions for improving customer acquisition and retention rates for companies. Dan raised finance to start the business - through Start Up Loan scheme and also won £1,000 as part of the SHELL Livewire Awards.

The Giving Card has made significant achievements in its 7 months of operation – it now has 5,000 suppliers, 7,000 members, has over 8,000 Twitter followers. Its success has been demonstrated by the number of awards it has already received - including the Smarta 100 Award - which recognises the UK’s most dynamic and innovative businesses; and the 2013 Lloyds TSB Enterprise Award - which recognises entrepreneurial talent emerging from universities across the UK.www.thegivingcard.co.uk, www.smartacard.com

RUNNERS UP: FERONA London Ltd, Jennifer Onahwww.feronaonline.com Carib Gourmet Ltd, Vanessa Bolosier, www.carib-gourmet.comFor more information about Enterprise Enfield’s business support services call 020 8443 5457 or visit www.EnterpriseEnfield.org Many seminars and business advice sessions are FREE or heavily subsidised for Enfield residents.

Pictured left to right: Sarah Vaughan-Roberts and Jasmine Plant, Forty Hall Vineyard; Dan Taylor, The Giving Card; Kathryn Davies, KatyBakey; Claire Gordon, Sarah Davies and Alan Hynes (at end), Inc Direct; Emma Chapman, Ruby Blu. (Photography by Pippa B)

Business News


In the early stages of setting up any business, renting a commercial office is usually out of the question, unless you have the finance to back it. You’ve probably heard people talk about the importance of having a dedicated space to separate your business matters from personal life to prevent distractions, even if it’s just a designated room in your house or a hot desk at a local business incubation centre. But, given that a professional business image is fundamental in today’s competitive market, how can you ensure that this is achieved when you’re working to a tight budget from home with limited resources? Professionalism is an attitude - reliable, consistent, polite and business-like – but there are steps that small businesses can take to ensure the highest professional experience for all of their customers.

We’ve come up with 5 top tips on how you can create a professional business image, whilst working from home:

Dedicated business telephone lineHaving a dedicated business phone number is crucial. Your marketing materials will look far more professional to potential clients by having a landline listed as the main contact number. For added premier image, a London telephone number can also ooze professionalism (Check out The Wenta Business

Centre, Enfield for their London Telephone Number service).By having a

separate business line, you’ll also be able to differentiate business calls from personal calls in advance of picking up the phone which will help to avoid any embarrassments!

Round the clock service There will be times when you are unavailable to take phone calls (meetings etc.) and, although you can set up a voicemail facility, new clients may be put off by not being able to speak to a human being when initially enquiring. Additionally, existing customers will prefer a human voice as a point of contact to a voicemail facility. Answering calls in a professional manner, representing your brand, is also crucial. There are a number of companies that offer a call answering service and message taking service which offer all of the above for a fixed cost each month, a very worthwhile investment.

Project the right imageHaving a professional mailbox address for your business is another vital element of portraying that proficient image and there are a multiple of reasons as to why every business should set one up. By having an address at a local business centre, customers will assume that you have a commercial premises based there, thus giving off a much more prestigious and premier image. You’ll be able to collect your mail whenever it’s convenient for you too so there will be no more worrying about having to stay at home for parcel deliveries! A number of business centres also offer a registered office address service too.

Quality office amenities It’s a good idea to invest in a laser printer if you can afford it. Correspondence and marketing collateral should always be branded up accordingly with good quality paper and print. If you’re unable to afford a laser printer, you could get all of your printing done at your local business centre, that way you won’t have to incur the often, high cost of printer maintenance and it also helps you keep track of your printing costs.

Utilise meeting facilities at your local business centreInviting potential customers and suppliers to your home can not only be a hazard to your family and personal belongings, but it can also give your business an ‘amateur’ appearance. Why not check out your local business centre’s meeting & conference facilities to portray a more impressive image to your visitors. Find a convenient centre that offers affordable room hire and it may just help you win that next client!

Both The Wenta Business Centre, Enfield and The Enterprise Centre, Potters Bar can offer virtual office service packages which include many of the above services. They can also offer modern meeting rooms & conference facilities at attractive rates as well as a whole host of business centre services. For more information visit www.wentabusinesscentres.co.uk or call 0208 350 8520.

A business office whilst working from home

Business News


SHOWTIME

The Night Before ChristmasA truly magical Christmas show for all the familyChickenshed Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PEWednesday 27 November – Saturday 11 JanuaryEvening performances at 7pmMatinees at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, for 5.30pmPrice: £11 - £20Box Office 020 8292 9222, [email protected] Access performances: Sign language is integrated into all performances. Captioned and audio describes performances available It’s Christmas Eve and, too excited to sleep, the children are desperate to tear into their huge sack of presents. However the gifts they find are clearly not for them – instead they are meant for Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters, Mr Ebenezer Scrooge and The Snow Queen. So the children realise they must journey to magical faraway lands to return these presents, learning the true meaning of Christmas as they go – and all before Midnight!!

Revived for 2013, The Night Before Christmas is fondly remembered as one of Chickenshed’s best shows ever! Chickenshed’s professional actors and diverse cast once again bring Christmas alive in a completely fresh and festive way, so prepare to be mesmerised by the wonderful story, beautiful music and songs, amazing dance and a feast of memorable characters who have been specially created for this unique Chickenshed show.

Don’t miss the most exciting show on stage this year!

Snow WhiteWyllyots TheatreSat 14th Dec – Sun 5th Jan 2014Tickets: £20, £19 concsBox office 01707 645005www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

Jordan Productions return with this year’s traditional panto Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. Mirror mirror on the wall, a perfect panto for one and all.....

What do you get if you cross five kilograms of multicoloured glitter, 45 metres of fairy lights, a football pitch-sized amount of fabric, a cast of 29, some truly terrible jokes and a whole lot more? In the run-up to Snow White, which opens on Saturday 15th December, Wyllyotts Theatre has revealed the formula for the perfect panto!

The annual Potters Bar panto is one of the most visually stunning and colourful productions around. This year, Jordan Productions is bringing the most magical fairy tale of them all to life - but how do they do it?

Why not join us and experience live panto, live music and the magnificent seven?!!! (dwarfs)Sat 14th Dec – Sun 5th Jan 2014 www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

Dick Whittington Millfield TheatreTicket Information £12.50 – £17.50 (schools and youth groups from just £10) Concessions: £11.50 – £16.50Fantastic value Family Tickets from just £60! (2 adults & 2 children)Box office: 020 8807 6680 www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk

Set your Satnav for Silver Street this Christmas and join us for our annual extravaganza of comedy, singing, dancing, audience participation, glamour and glitz, better known as the Millfield Pantomime! This year we are presenting the ultimate London Panto, Dick Whittington!

London’s streets of gold are calling and, with his faithful cat by his side, our hero Dick goes searching for his fortune in our big city. But he won’t make it without your help. Be there to cheer Dick on along his journey, ‘boo’ at the biggest baddie of all time - King Rat - and ‘ahh’ at the object of Dick’s affections, the beautiful Alice. Packed with glittering spectacle, an acrobatic cat, a chorus of local down and dirty rats and a thigh-slapping Dick. Fantastic tunes, awesome dancing plus lots of festive sparkle and chances to join in, this is going to be one Christmas panto not to miss.

For fun laughter and great family entertainment make Dick Whittington your Christmas treat. So, what are you waiting for? Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the Millfield Theatre panto and it’s never too early to book – oh no it isn’t!

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Adoramus Christian Choir based in Cockfosters presents ‘Celebrate Christmas@ on Saturday 7th December at St. Ignatius College Turkey Street Enfield EN1 4NP at 7.30p.m. Under Musical Director David Hooke you will be treated to a variety of Christmas choral music including: Cornelius ‘The Three kings’. Rutter’s A Choral Fanfare, Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and many of your favourite carols old and new to join in. Organist: Robert Evans, Harpist: Cecelia Sultana De Maria and Brass Ensemble accompany. Tickets: £14 (£7 for 16 years and under) from: Ticket hotline: 07816 998 308, www.WeGotTickets.com/adpramus or by post with SAE from Celebrate Christmas Tickets 31 Leda Avenue Enfield EN3 5PZ- cheques payable to Adoramus

Bella Cora’s Christmas concert on Sunday, 15th December at 3pm at St. Paul’s Church, Church Hill, Winchmore Hill, N21. Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with harp and many other festive pieces. Programme on the door. £10 and £8 concessions. www.bellacora.co.uk

Christmas Market Sunday 8th December, 12 noon - 4pm: The Co-op Car Park, 654-658 Hertford Road, Enfield Wash, Enfield EN3 6LZ Come along and browse the beautifully crafted handmade items made by local traders - plus FREE arts and crafts activities and FREE face-painting for kids too! It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon - a chance to purchase fantastic products not found on the high street, such as: Jewellery - delicious cakes – homeware – clothing – accessories - cards and gifts For details of how to book a stall contact Enterprise Enfield on 020 8443 5457, www.EnterpriseEnfield.org

The parish of Northaw and Cuffley is holding a Christmas Tree Festival at Cuffley Church on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December 2013 from 11am until 7pm. Entrance is free and there will not only be beautifully decorated trees themed from different countries around the world, but you will also be able to meet Saint Nicholas, have a go at making a Christmas card

or tree decoration and also enjoy creating your very own Christmas front door hanging using holly and Christmas greenery. There will be tea, coffee and cakes as well as light lunch refreshments, tombolas and an opportunity (before the event) to decorate a Christmas cake for our Cake decorating competition. There will be lots to see and do and we hope to see many people come along and start Christmas with a sparkle.

REGULAR EVENTS AND CLUBS

Enfield Poets (formerly Salisbury House Poets) meet at the Dugdale Centre, Enfield Town, on the first Saturday in the month, 7.30 p.m. start. £3.50 entrance, £2.50 concessions. November Guest Poet: Anne Marie FyfeDecember: Anthony Fisher demonstrates reading poetry to a jazz background with Special Edition. Poets from the floor are welcome to have a try.

Merlin Magical Society,Little Heath Parish Hall, Thornton Rd. P. Bar.EN6 1JJ.Meets fortnightly Thursday evenings. 01707 654606 for details. Magic & Mince Pies Dec’ 5th £6 open to the public.

Enfield Civil Service Retirement FellowshipMeets once a month, and has speakers of various kinds, often with slides, and we are open to both ex civil servants and non Civil Servants.We meet at St Andrews Church Hall, Silver Street, Enfield EN1 3EG on the 1st Monday of the month [2nd Monday if a Bank Holiday] at 10am for a 10.30 am start. For details, please contact Sue Sims 020 8245 4723 or [email protected]

Enfield Classical Guitar Society We meet 8:00 every Friday from September. Please see websiteenfieldclassicalguitarsociety.org.uk

Enfield & District Fuchsia Society Now in our 45th year.Meet at Capel Manor, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield. 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays of each month7-45 - 9-45 pm. Demonstrations, talks, advice, regular speakers.Beginners warmly welcomed.Free entry to our show, in July.Christmas party in December.For further information tel: Roy Fenwick 020 8292 6965 orMark Mendes 020 8368 6670

Enfield RSPB meet once a month at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Silver Street, Enfield @

Enfield Borough Police 020 8807 1212 Crime Prevention Office 020 8345 1102 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111Neighbourhood Watch 020 7963 0160Anti Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321Hertfordshire Police 0845 330 0222

Enfield Council 24 Hour Contact No 020 8379 1000Hertsmere Council 020 8207 2277Hertsmere Out of Hours 0845 300 0021Welwyn & Hatfield Council 01707 357 000Welwyn & Hatfield Out of Hours 0800 111 4484

NHS Direct 0845 46 47Chase Farm & Barnet Hospital Switchboard 0845 111 4000Chase Farm Hospital Accident & Emergency 020 8375 1010Barnet Hospital Accident & Emergency 020 8216 5003North Middlesex University Hospital Switchboard 020 8887 2000Potters Bar Community Hospital 01707 653 286 Age Concern Enfield 020 8375 4120

Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 769 7555Gamblers Anonymous 08700 50 88 80 Narcotics Anonymous 020 773 0009

Childline 0800 1111Cruse Bereavement Care Helpline 0870 1671677Samaritans 0845 790 9090

RSCPA 0870 555 599924 Hour Emergency Vet 01992 762699

Three Valleys Water Freephone Leakline 0800 376 5325Thames Water Freephone Leakline 0800 714 614National Gas Emergency Service Freephone 0800 111 999London Electricity Freephone 0800 0280 247

National Rail Enquiries 08457 48 49 50Congestion Charge Phone Line 0845 900 1234

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7.45pm for lectures, quiz evenings, etc & have monthly mid week walks, coach outings & two “birding” holidays a year.Check our website; rspb.org.uk/groups/enfield/news or ring Pauline on 020 8363 1568Cuffley Floral Art ClubWe are a friendly flower arranging club meeting every 2nd Tuesday in the month (except January and August) at Cuffley Hall, Maynards Place from 8pm-10pm. Doors open from 7pm, visitors always welcome. For more information ring Jackie 020 8441 3663 or Val 01707 889447

Enfield Over 50s Computer Clubmeets first Sunday of every month at St John’s Hall, Strayfield Road,off Theobalds Park Road, Enfield EN2 9JP from 10.30am to approx 3.00pmOur website is www.enfieldcomputerclub.com or phone Eric at 0208 366 6162

Oakmere Bridge ClubHeld at Wyllyotts Centre, Darkes Lane Potters Bar every Monday,7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. We are a small friendly club and would welcome new members. We have vacancies for improvers and intermediate players We play Chicago Bridge. Interested? Then contact Robert 01707 658677Janice 01707 850983

Potters Bar Film Makers Wyllotts Centre, Potters Bar Alternate Thursdays 8.00pmContact Penny 01707 656446 or John 01707 872210www.pottersbarfilmmakers.com for amateur cinematographers. Programme includes editing, filming techniques, competition evenings, social functions

Grange Park (Evening) W. I. would love you to come and join us at 7.30pm on the first Monday of every month at The Orchard Room Grange Park Methodist, Church Old Park Ridings, Grange Park N.21, when we have a speaker or a quiz and make bookings for social events such as theatre outings etc. If you are interested please phone Jan Barker on 0208 367 0988.

Enfield Camera Club meets at Trinity Church Hall Thursday evenings at 8 pm. New members are always welcome. Alternatively they can contact the club through the website www.enfieldcameraclub.co.uk or email to [email protected]. The subscriptioin rate is £32 for the full season - Visitors are asked to pay a £1 visitor’s fee,

The Rotary Club of Enfield Chase Meets on Thursday mornings from 7.30am until 8.30 am in the Coffee Lounge, Enfield Baptist Church, Cecil Road, Enfield Town. For more information call 020 8366 4046

DANCE CLASSES

Latin and BallroomCombining the elegance of Ballroom with the dynamic Latin American dances these nice ‘n’ easy fun introductory classes will ease even the most hesitant first-time dancer floor with confidence. WEDNESDAYS 8:00 – 8:45 Improvers/Intermediate Class8:45 – 9:30 Beginners Class9:30 – 10:15 Social Dancing for all levels St Thomas’ Hall 79a Prince George Avenue Oakwood N14 4SN Car park is at the rear of the building. Call 07960 736925 for details

ENFIELD TOWN FCFIxTURES FOR DECEMBER

H - Tue 3rd, 7:45pm Ashford Town (Middlesex) Cup H - Sat 7th, 3:00pm Carshalton Athletic League H - Tue 10th, 7:45pm Harrow Borough League H - Sat 14th, 3:00pm Kingstonian League A - Tue 17th, 7:45pm Hampton & Richmond Borough League A - Sat 21st, 3:00pm Metropolitan Police League H - Thu 26th, 12:30pm Wealdstone League A - Sat 28th, 3:00pm Margate League Full details at www.enfieldtownfootballclub.co.uk

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THE D

Take my list this year: 1 Buy new Christmas tree.

Because, yes, I’d done it again: fallen hopelessly in love with a new tree. This one was gorgeous. ‘Tall, black, slim tree’, it was called on the label, and it was all of that and more: it was absolutely the prefect tree to fit in the corner of our living room.

Except, as my husband pointed out – because he’s practical like that – the corner of the living room was already occupied by a television atop a wooden cabinet, so there wasn’t really the space, was there?“But if we got one of those flat-screen TVs that you put on the wall, we could hang it in the alcove, and we could have the corner free for the tree,” I pointed out – because I’m the creative type. CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST1 get new TV2 get cable guy to hang TV on the wall3 buy new Christmas tree

So we did the first thing. We got a new TV and put the old (rented) one in the garage, ready to return to the shop. And then we shrieked.

Because, where the old TV had been, the wall was covered in a strange, sticky black residue that proved immune to detergents. I tried every cleaning product known to the supermarket, but the sticky black stuff just kept kind of moving around the walls. It was like watching the evolution of a strange new alien life-form. The more I scrubbed, the further it spread, until it was ceiling-high behind the sofa. Staring at it, we knew there was only one possible course of action. CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST1 get Wayne the decorator in to give us quote for redecorating living room2 get cable guy to hang TV on the wall3 buy new Christmas tree

Then we got on with packing away the gubbins that had been inside the TV cabinet, such as the DVD player, video recorder and so on; and then there were more shrieks. One of the machines had left four black, sticky little footprints on the carpet, and they refused to budge…

CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST1 get Alan the carpet cleaner in to clean carpet2 get Wayne the decorator in3 get cable guy to hang TV on the wall4 buy new Christmas tree

Later, contemplating the now naked corner, I realised there was a tiny flaw in my scheme to install the tree:

there were no sockets to plug the lights into. (An extension lead was out of the question because I can’t bear the sight of wires spilling like electronic entrails all over the carpet – too gruesome.) I frowned, and reached for my pen.

CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST

1 get Gary the electrician in to install new sockets2 get Alan the carpet cleaner in3 get Wayne the decorator in4 get cable guy to hang new TV on the wall5 buy new Christmas tree Later on, I found myself still staring compulsively at the corner. And it just wasn’t working for me. The trouble was, the curtains were too short. They’d been fine when the corner was full of TV cabinet, but now they were simply wrong. I wasn’t happy. CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST1 Order new, full-length curtains2– 6 oh, see above

So the Christmas list was coming on fine, but what, I thought, about after Christmas, when the tree was put away until next year? That corner was going to look mighty bare… unless we moved the lamp table there. That would fill it up nicely. But what about the space left behind by the lamp table where it currently sat? CHRISTMAS TO DO LIST1 order new armchair to fill space left by lamp table after Christmas2 order new curtains3 get Gary the electrician in4 get Alan the carpet cleaner in5 get Wayne the decorator in6 get cable guy to hang new TV on the wall7 buy new Christmas tree At last! All the markers were moved around the board, and it was safe to buy the new tree.

They’d sold out.No! Only joking. They’d sold out of black trees by mid-November last year, when they were still achingly uber-cool, but they weren’t quite so cutting edge this season, so they had plenty left. So we’re all set for Christmas. Although, obviously, what with all the organisation involved so far, I haven’t really had time to buy any presents, write any cards, bake a cake, make a pudding, stuff a turkey or, well, just about anything, actually. But I have started on next year’s To Do list:

Christmas 2014 to do list1 new Christmas tree – don’t even think about it

Have A Merry Christmas - Sarah Vittachi

Got an Opinion?Get it off your chest hereHow’s your Christmas ‘To do’ list coming along? Thinking about how to deck your halls? A word to the wise: sometimes these things can get out of hand. You know how it is, one thing leads to another and what looks like a perfectly manageable task sort of snowballs.

en magazine dec 2013

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