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January 2016 | Issue 94 | £1.50 where sold

AUTOBIOGRAPHIESAllnewMazdaMX-5

January BluesFun things to do with the kids

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CHILDREN, PETS & EDUCATION

20 It’s all child’s playSome lovely suggestions from Sue of things to do inthe cold weather with your little people.

COMMUNITY

12 Whiteley ChurchAngel competitions and what’s going on at yourlocal church.

28 Your Special DayA step by step checklist to make sure your big daygoes off to perfection, and to budget!

HOUSE AND GARDENS

10 Planning Matters......it really does. Whether you’re applying or livingin a neighbourhood, what goes on (or up or isremoved) can be important to our community.Take a look at the latest applications.

MOTORING

14 AutobiographiesThe all new Mazda MX5. Smooth lines, roof off andiconic goodlooks. What did Tim make of this newroadster?

january issue 2016

THIS MONTH..

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SmSmalal ltalkltalk

Pearl Publications01329 630630

Joint EditorsCoralie Todd & Sean Middletoneditor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

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“What’s your idea of success”?

This was a question that we asked our kids on one ofour longish jaunts in the car recently.

We were on our way up to see my Auntie Lynda in Derby who, according to ourlittle people, “lives in a mansion and must have lots of money”.

Auntie Lynda, a successful children's author, is a literary genius and modestwith it. Her house décor is traditional yet homely and everything needs to havehistory or a story to pass the gates and be kept treasured.

The 20ft or so Christmas tree in the stone floored hallway has the children ingasps every year and when they run up and down to the cellars or comehurtling around the sweeping staircase it’s no wonder they feel like they’re onthe set of a classic film.

So knowing they were travelling to such a wonderful venue it got us onto thesubject of what they’d like to achieve or own when they were ‘grown up’.

Lucy is pretty easy to guess. Aged 9 she’s developed a passion for sign languageand will no doubt be happy living out of a VW camper van, with a guitar (yet tolearn), painting things and training hearing dogs for the deaf.

The boys quickly listed all the material possessions they would need (including aten bedroom mansion, Olympic size swimming pool and an Apache gunship onthe driveway) and Ava didn’t know, as long as cake featured somewhere.Although she’s only 7, Sean and I couldn’t help feeling this was actually a coverfor our wide-eyed youngest who is likely to become a Lara Croft/James Bondtype character with her Teflon skin and obsession with noticing whensomething has changed.

Sean and I, on the other hand, have a different view of success. But it wasn’tone we wanted to share with the kids until we achieve it one day, in a ‘ta dah’sort of way. The New Year is agood time to re-evaluate whereyou are and what you mightwant to achieve. Have a go asyou never know where you mightend up, Apache or no Apache.

Stay healthy, safe and look aftereach otherMuch love

C oralie and Seanx

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P lanning MattersGOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL

REF LOCATION PROPOSAL STATUS

P/15/1186/FP 29 Berber CloseWhiteley PO15 7HF

Garage conversion to habitable use and in-crease size of porch with pitched roof over

Undecided

P/15/1117/FP 9 Shetland RiseWhiteley PO15 7JP

Two storey side extension Undecided

P/15/1071/FP 18 Steinbeck CloseWhiteley PO15 7EX

First floor extension over garage and singlestorey rear extension

Approve

P/15/1074/FP 33 Mustang AvenueWhiteley Fareham

Erection of First Floor Side Extension Undecided

P/15/1047/FP 2 Oldenburg WhiteleyFareham PO15 7EJ

Single storey rear extension Approve

P/15/1046/TO 18 Steinbeck CloseWhiteley Fareham

Fell one turkey oak protected by tpo 183 Approve

A monthly round up of planning applications submitted since 1 October 2015

For more details go to:

eoc.fareham.gov.uk/ocellaweb/planningsearch

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The all-new Mazda MX-5 rocks. It reallydoes.

And it’s not just me that thinks it - theawesome sports car has already beennamed Roadster of the Year in Britain.

But why does the MX-5 rock? And whyis it awesome? Well, quite simply, thecar is a brand icon. It is brilliant fun todrive – and that has been the case in allof its incarnations over the last 25years.

Having made its British debut at the2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the

all-new fourth-generation MazdaMX-5 has an excellent power toweight ratio, rear-wheel drive,perfect 50:50 weight distributionand more comfort and tech thanever before.

The MX-5 is offered with a choiceof two petrol engines, and withnine models across five trimlevels, the mighty yet minuteMazda looks already set to repeatthe Japanese motormanufacturer’s influence withinthe reasonably priced sports carsector.

Maintaining the driver-focusednature that has made the MX-5the best-selling two-seater sportscar of all time, it is obvious theengineering philosophy behindthe up-to-the-minute model hasallowed Mazda to retain thedexterity, enjoyment andengagement that has alwayscharacterised it.

The lightest MX-5 since thecelebrated original, the fresh car isshorter, lower and wider than theoutgoing one, with the smallestoverhangs and lowest centre ofgravity yet. These dynamicproportions combined withMazda’s KODO: Soul of Motiondesign values ensure that themodel’s styling reflects itsemphasis on driving pleasure in anunmistakably contemporary and

energetic way.

Featuring Mazda’s award-winningSKYACTIV technology, the MX-5’s ultra-efficient lightweight petrol poweredengines deliver new heights ofperformance and economy. Across theline-up the MX-5 features alloy wheels,LED headlights, a leather steeringwheel, as well as a light and sleek fabrichood.

SE-L models add LED daytime runninglights, climate control air-conditioning,DAB radio, Bluetooth and cruisecontrol, plus Mazda’s connectivity and

infotainment system with seven-inch colour touch-screen displayand Multimedia Commander. SE-Lmodels with the 2.0-litre 160psengine are distinguished by 17-inchGunmetal alloy wheels and pianoblack door mirrors, and benefitfrom a strut tower bar and limitedslip differential.

Step up to Sport trim and both the1.5 and 2.0-litre cars feature rainsensing wipers, rear parkingsensors, smart keyless entry,Premium Bose Surround-Sound andheated leather seats. With the 1.5-litre engine, Sport trim MX-5’s comewith 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheelsand piano black door mirrors. Sportmodels with the 2.0-litre 160psengine benefit from a

dynamic set-up that includes Sportssuspension featuring Bilsteindampers, a limited slip differentialand strut tower bar, while visually,they are marked out by their 17-inch Bright alloy wheels and bodycoloured mirrors.

But perhaps the most amazing aspectof the MX-5 is that when the originalmodel was launched in 1990, it cost£14,249 (equal to £31,687 in today’smoney), yet quarter of a century laterwith far more standard equipment, theall-new Mazda MX-5 costs from£18,495. This means, more than ever,the car sets the benchmark as the oneof the world’s best and most affordablesports cars.

Indeed, it seems with its lightweightdesign, cool cabin, exquisitelyengineered mechanicals and balancedhandling the all-new Mazda MX-5 isready to further boost its place in thehearts of automotive aficionados.

FAST FACTS

Max speed: 133 mph

0-62 mph: 7.3 secs

Combined mpg: 40.9

Engine layout: 1998cc, 4cylinder, 16 valve petrol

Max. power (bhp): 158

Max. torque (lb.ft): 148

CO2: 161 g/km

Price: £18,495 - £23,295

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Fun √

Handling √

Looks √

Auto biographiesTim Barnes-Clay @carwriteups

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All New Mazda MX-5

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Parrywood Pre-School, Burridge is based inBurridge Village Hall, we are a small and friendlysetting where the children learn through play in alovely rural location.

The Pre-School - formerly Curdridge Caterpillars -is registered with Ofsted and approved to provideEarly Years Funding and 2 year old funding aswell as accepting a wide range of ChildcareVoucher schemes.

Give your child the best start and come and havea look around.

Please call 01489 881081 or emailburridge@parrywoodchildcare.co.uk to

arrange a visit.

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Picture a grey January day and kids goingcrazy from being cooped up indoors.Children it seems are immune to ‘badweather’, but without sun or snow totempt us out of our cosy centrally heatedhomes, we adults sometimes need anudge. If you’re looking for someinspiration on those cold grey Januarydays, then mother of two and author SueGascoyne is on hand with some tried andtested fun ideas for things to dooutdoors:

Make a mud pit as this is great forsplashing in; experimenting withconsistency for creating mud pictures;mixing up hearty concoctions with oldpots and pans; and of course, makingmud pies.

Make ice sculptures to hang on the trees.Simply arrange holly and other foliage orsliced citrus fruit in transparent plastictakeaway containers. Add a loop of stringfor hanging, fill with water, put the lid onand leave to freeze over night. Freezingaccentuates the colours in the leaves,berries and fruit creating a trulymesmerising display guaranteed to melteven the frostiest heart!

Use icicles as magic melt in your handpens!

Collect sheets of ice form a puddle andadd slowly drops of food colouring towatch the colour spread like fingersthrough the ice.

Go puddle jumping as there’s somethingirresistible about cracking the glass-likelayer of ice on a puddle. Add powderpaints for some fun welly printing!

Fill an old ice cube tray with mud andleave outside overnight to freeze. Turnthe mini bricks out for lots of building fun.Add small toy animals for firingimagination.

If you don’t fancy getting messy, makefrozen mini ice bricks instead to buildigloos with or to create a polar landscapecomplete with frozen shaving foam snow,glass cubes, a safety mirror andpolystyrene pieces.

If it’s damp and cold outdoors then whynot create a fire pit for charcoal making,toasting of marshmallows and warmingchilly fingers by the fire? Share a flask ofhot chocolate for the best snack ever!

Go on a family walk, armed with a list ofthings for you all to spot. Include a mix ofunusual as well as unexpected things thatwill add challenge and excitement.

In Winter time birds can really struggle tofind enough food to eat so why not makebird cakes and encourage an interest inbird spotting? Heat up some lard andcarefully mix with bird seed. Use thewarm mixture to fill coconut shells, smallterracotta plant pots or recycled yoghurtpots. (You will need to make a small holein the bottom of the containers and insert

and knot a loop of string to hang it.) onceset cut away the plastic containers if usedthen hang in a position where you canspot which birds it attracts. Children cancreate a tally to record and identify thewinged diners or why not get involved ina national Birdwatch campaign.

If your New Year resolution was recyclingmore why not upcycle your old deadChristmas tree into a didgeridoo? You’llneed to be patient as the wood needsseveral months to dry out, but what anawesome project to do with an adult. Ifthat’s too much machinery and time youcould craft a bird feeder instead. Simplycut the tree into smaller pieces, about 30cm long would work well. Drill out thetrunk to create a hole for the bird seedand prepare to watch the birds flock toyour garden sculpture. If these projectshave whet your creative appetite there’salways coaster making or sculptures, togive you a head start on Christmaspresents!

One of the best things about getting coldoutdoors is the pleasure of warming upafterwards with a cup of hot chocolateand a roaring fire. There’s nothing like thetingle of cold cheeks to make you feelalive, so what are you waiting for, theoutdoors awaits!

Sue GascoyneFor fun sensory play activities, Sue’s latest

research, resources and training go towww.playtoz.co.uk.

sue@playtoz.co.uk 01206 796722

It’s al l child’s playJanuary Blues

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SPONSORED BY KIDDI CARU

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Lucy’s Recipe C orner - Sail away jel ly boatsIINNGGREDIENTSREDIENTS per personper person4 oranges1 packet of red jelly1 packet of green jelly

Colourful and fun these make for a supertable display snack at a party.

Cut the oranges in half and scoop out theinsides.Make up the jelly as per the instructions.Whilst the jelly is setting, make some prettypaper sails with toothpicks for masts andrectangles of paper for the sails.Place the orange halves into a muffin tin andfill half with red jelly and the other half withgreen jelly. Pop in the fridge until they haveset.Once ready, slice the oranges in half again tomake quarters and place the paper sails intoeach quarter.Serve on a pretty plate, or on some blue paperfor the sea!

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Getting married? Plan to perfection to avoid stress and make your dayaffordable by knowing what you want, what you need to spend & how

much you can afford!

Begin leafing throughPinterest & magazines forinspiration.

Determine how much yourealistically have to spend.

Pick your preferredwedding party.

Start the guest list, on aspreadsheet with allrelevant contactinformation on, this is afantastic tool.

Do you want to bring in awedding planner? Aplanner will already haverelationships withsuppliers.

Reserve your date andvenues.

Research photographers,bands, florists, andcaterers.

Hire the photographer andthe videographer.

Book the entertainment. Purchase a dress.

Remember you needenough time for threefittings

Six Months Before Select and purchase

invitations. Start planning a

honeymoon. Shop for bridesmaids’

dresses. Book a florist. Arrange transportation for

the day. Meet your officiant.

Four Months Before Taste test, and order the

cake & food Schedule hair and makeup

artists. Choose your music.

Three Months Before Purchase the rings. Finalize the order of the

ceremony and thereception & send out toyour suppliers.

Send out the invitations.

One Month Before Get your Marriage Banns

read. Have final meetings with

all of your suppliers

Break in your shoes. Ensure you have a final

headcount

DELEGATE all other tasks andenjoy yourself!

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