Local Buzz Magazine » Editor’s Picks

Competition – Win a copy of the Herbie Hound book

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:03:35 +0000

This wonderful creation of animated children’s stories and books for children aged 3-5 is the brainchild of Vicky Brook and has been wonderfully animated by Superstar Pets in a very unique way. The very first episode, “Herbie Hound goes to school” was launched at London’s Dorchester Hotel on the 16th April with the help of pop star and mum of 4 Natasha Hamilton of Atomic Kitten.

“I heard about Vicky’s story, and the inspiration behind creating this very special Herbie Hound character, it really struck a chord with me. When I saw the first animated episode I was blown away, it’s wonderful. I’m really pleased and excited to be asked to help with the launch and the series deserves to be a great success”

“King of Children’s TV Christopher Biggins reviewed the episode and said “loved it, excellent. Lol xxxxx”

Inspired by her wonderful dog Herbie and two children Emily and Florence, these animations are a work of art, combining learning, interaction and storytelling. Herbie Hound goes to school is the first in the series of 10. Herbie’s specialness is his Frenchyness… To find out more please take a look at our preview.

You can also buy his signature tune the “Herbie Hound Song” in animated singalong or audio. So get watching and singing with your new and very special friend Herbie Hound. We are all special don’t you know

Win a copy of the Herbie Hound book as well as 1 Herbie Hound Jelly Cat dog toy

For a chance to win, answer the following question:

Competition Closes on July 31st

What is Herbie Hounds specialness?

[contact-form-7]

Competition – Win a hair colour and blow dry

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:49:47 +0000

Philola is a limited company and specialises in hair and beauty salons, it is our visionary and driving force to offer our clients the best.
Philola is a fast growing company and has built these successful salons on this basic principal of great hair, great quality and great service.
“I have only one objective when a client visits us, to make sure we exceed their expectations on everything. It’s a big challenge and not easy but my dedicated team share my passion for quality and outstanding customer service.”
They exist to provide each and every one of their guests the services they want and deserve.

For a chance to win a hair colour of your choice and a blow dry at Philola Hairdressers, answer the following question:

Competition Closes on 31st July

What service is available at Philola?

[contact-form-7]

Competition-Win a pair of tickets to The Cruise Show

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:33:08 +0000

Discover a whole world of voyages at The CRUISE Show in Birmingham…

As Europe’s leading cruise event, The CRUISE Show will host the largest collection of major cruise lines and specialist operators all under one roof for one weekend!

Whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise to a far-flung destination, a sumptuous ultra-luxury voyage, maybe a relaxing cultural river cruise or a tropical family cruise-holiday with lots to entertain all ages – The CRUISE Show at the NEC has it all.

Packed with information and inspiration visitors can enjoy exclusive money-saving show offers and upgrades, be inspired by the informative free talks, gain essential expert advice that you won’t find in the brochure, discover different ship styles and incredible destinations and hear directly from the cruise lines about what’s new for 2015/2016.

So, if you’re completely new to cruising and intrigued to discover what it’s all about, or you’re a seasoned cruiser wanting inspiration for your next adventure, then make sure you head to The CRUISE Show at Birmingham’s NEC on 12-13 September 2015.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Cruise Show, answer the following question:

Competition Closes on July 30th

Where is The CRUISE Show in Birmingham taking place?

[contact-form-7]

The CRUISE Show – Birmingham
12-13 September 2015
www.cruisingshow.com

Competition-Win 2 tickets to the Family Travel Show

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:44:24 +0000

BRAND NEW FAMILY TRAVEL SHOW TO TAKE PLACE IN LONDON’S OLYMPIA!

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2015, Olympia London

Discover the world together at the UK’s first family travel show

The Family Travel Show is pleased to announce its inaugural event this autumn! Taking place at London’s Olympia, this exciting new show is the UK’s first exhibition completely dedicated to family travel adventures.

Family holidays are precious memories in the making and a chance to spend that all important quality time together. Whether you’re looking for a trip to open your children’s eyes to the world and allow them to experience new destinations and cultures, or a relaxing and indulgent family break where all you need to do is enjoy each other’s company, this new event will provide you with hundreds of ideas to plan that perfect family break.

Packed full of inspiration and information, the Family Travel Show will bring together the best specialist operators and family holiday providers all under one roof – covering everything from all-inclusive luxury getaways, exciting cruise voyages, action-packed resorts and family-friendly villas, to intriguing adventures, thrilling ski holidays and incredible wildlife safaris.

As well as meeting with an excellent range of travel companies and taking advantage of their exclusive show-only offers, visitors are also invited to enjoy the show’s interactive features for all the family including an Explorers’ Corner, Incredible Holidays Theatre and an Around the World Theatre. The highlight of the show however is set to be the Family Travel Auditorium – bursting with travel ideas and practical advice from celebrity speakers, travel writers and bloggers, journalists, and family travel experts.

As the UK’s only event created purely for those looking for their next family adventure, the Family Travel Show is an essential date in every parent’s diary.

For your chance to win, answer this question:

Competition closes on July 30th

Where is The Family Travel Show taking place?

[contact-form-7]

The Family Travel Show takes place in London’s Olympia on 31st October – 1st November 2015.

Tickets cost £8 in advance or £12 on the door, under 16s are free.

For full details and to book tickets please visit www.familytravelshow.com or call 0844 209 7360.

Learning a language will pay career dividends

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:38:04 +0000

Here at the VICI Language Academy we are always telling people about the difference learning a language can make, and for young adults they often want to know if a second or third language is going to make a difference to their career prospects.
Naturally we say it will and through our sister company VICI Language Dynamics where we help business find and train staff with language skills we know there is a growing demand for. However recently Time online published some interesting research.
Wharton and LECG Europe found that studying a second language is correlated with about 2% more in annual income.
Now that might not sound like much, and honestly, anecdotely we have seen language skills command a bigger difference than that, but then as The Economist helpfully points out, allowing for compounding over a career it would just over £40,000. Again we think it would be more.
Of course it does matter what career you choose with everyone from the military through to banks paying more for people with language skills.
Naturally it does depend on the language you learn with Asian languages proving in particular demand although even German will see your earnings attract a 4% premium on typical earnings. In the UK currently, French and German are still the languages most in demand.
Specifically using your language skills is also expected to be a growing sector with the American Bureau of Labor Statistics showing interpreters and translators are among the top five fastest growing occupations, with opportunities expected to increase by 46% between 2012 and 2022. Presumably one of the perks of globalisation will be the need for people fluent in more than one language.
So do you fancy a career in languages? Or how about just increasing your earning potential simply by speaking another language? Rest assured if you come to the VICI Language Academy we can help with a choice of 10 languages on offer and native speakers ready to help you learn.
We can also use our expertise to help you choose a language if you are determined to have a career that is enhanced by being bilingual, so do come and talk to us for the right advice about learning a language.

Competition – Win tickets to see Big Girls Don’t Cry

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:52:48 +0000

Win 2 tickets to see Big Girls Don’t Cry

Oh what a night of hit songs is coming to town. . . critically-acclaimed stage show Big Girls Don’t Cry arrives on its nationwide tour in the coming weeks.

Big Girls Don’t Cry featuring Eastcoast Boys celebrating the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the production boasts that it is taking the UK by storm. For one night only at the Newbury Corn Exchange on Friday 10th July.

During the Sixties and Seventies No1 hits Sherry, December 1963 (Oh What a Night), Walk Like a Man, Rag Doll and Big Girls Don’t Cry saw the Four Seasons and lead singer Frankie Valli propelled to super stardom, selling a combined 100 million records nationwide.

Show producer Michael Taylor says that Big Girls Don’t Cry authentically revives the sublime harmonies of New Jersey’s finest performers.

“There’s a Four Seasons song that shares a special place in everyone’s heart,” he says.
“Big Girls Don’t Cry showcases Frankie’s incredible falsettos and features solo hits that range from the exuberant – the rock’n’roll nostalgia of Grease, to the spine-tingling – show-stealers such as My Eyes Adored You.”
Falsetto, tenor, baritone and bass four-piece harmonies perfectly recreate the dynamic combination of Frankie Valli, Bob Gudio, Tommy de Vito and Nick Massi respectively.
Drawing from a repertoire that includes Let’s Hang On, Working My Way Back to You, Beggin’, Who Loves You and I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Michael promises music fans attending that they will never more than a song away from another classic hit.

To enter please answer this simple question:

Closing Date 1st July 2015

The name of the lead singer of the Four Seasons was?

[contact-form-7]

Corn Exchange, Newbury
Market Place, Newbury, Berks, RG14 5BD ~ Tickets: £24, Cons: 1 in 10 go Free.

BoxOffice: 0845 5218 218

www.cornexchangenew.com

Twitter.com/BigGirlsDC

Facebook.com/BigGirlsDontCry

The importance of managing money

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:01:32 +0000

Organised by Education Business Partnership West Berkshire, with funding from Barclays, as part of a new National Youth Agency programme, delivering employability and life skills training, over 80 students from Mary Hare School spent an hour with business volunteers from Barclays and Ntegra understanding how much money they might earn when they leave school and whether they could afford their chosen lifestyle. A pretty important life skill, especially for those Year 12 (16-17 year olds) whom for which, leaving school is not too far away!

Many were really surprised at how much things cost, didn’t realise that you had to have a TV licence to legally watch TV, or that there would come a point in their lives when their parents would actually stop funding their life (especially if they were earning graduate salaries and living at home!)

One student said, “This workshop has changed my life, I think everyone should go on this workshop” and another commented, “It’s really got me thinking about my future.”
Two of the teachers from the school said “It was a brilliant experience for all the students it gave them an idea about money!” and “It was a very interesting experience and I myself learned a lot.”

Jane Grunseid from EBPWB said, “With the right resources and support, it is amazing how much young people can learn in such a short space of time. Thanks to Barclays and our volunteers for making this possible.”

How much unwanted ‘stuff’ do you have?

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:26:19 +0000

We’ve given a year group of students at The Downs School the challenge of making money from waste or unwanted items. A great thing to try to reduce our environmental footprint and develop some important business skills at the same time.
We need volunteers to help students during this challenge, so if you would like to practise and develop some skills, as well as help the next generation develop important work-related skills, then this is a great opportunity.

Other volunteering opportunities this summer term include:-

• Mentors to help improve interview skills

• Mentors to support our Financial Awareness workshops

• Speakers to talk about your job and your business sector

Business Mentors to help students make money from unwanted items

Help young people develop a business plan to make money from everyday unwanted items.

• 23rd June, The Downs School, Compton, all day

Mentors to give support for interview preparation

Practise your questioning skills to help students discover what makes a good interview, understand their own personal strengths and develop their CVs, all in preparation for a real interview.

• 23rd June, Theale Green School, Theale, all day

Support for Financial Awareness Workshops

Support students as they work out whether they can afford to leave school at 16, 18 or 21 and live their chosen lifestyle.

• 7th July, Willink School, Burghfield, all day

Speakers

Enthuse students about your business sector by talking to them about what you do, why you like it, what made you choose this career and the types of jobs available.

Sector	Date	Location	Time
Banking	24^th June 2015	Kennet School, Thatcham	TBC
CV workshop	13^th July 2015	Park House School, Newbury	12.05-13.05
Medical careers	13^th July 2015	Park House School, Newbury	12.05 – 13.05
Sports & Coaching	13^th July 2015	Park House School, Newbury	9.40 – 10.40

Penne Pasta with Kale and Sundried Tomatoes

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:50:40 +0000

Kale is from the same family as cabbage. It’s packed with calcium, vitamins and other nutrients as well as being full of fibre. It’s already classed as a super food, but this simple supper dish proves that it’s super-tasty too.

Servings: 1

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
60g penne pasta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 a bunch of kale, finely chopped

Handful of baby spinach

1 clove garlic, crushed

30g sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained & chopped

1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Method
Cook the pasta according to the instructions.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic, kale, spinach and salt – cook gently for a couple of minutes, then add sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes.

Drain pasta and add to veggie mixture in skillet – stir well. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and some Parmesan shavings and serve.

Richard Benyon standing for election as…

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:00:34 +0000

Richard Benyon standing for election as Chair of Defence Select Committee

Newbury’s Member of Parliament is putting himself forward to be elected as Chair of one of the most influential Select Committees in the House of Commons. Select Committees have become much more powerful in recent years and the position of Chair is highly sought after. Richard will face an election, which includes at least two other high calibre candidates, Dr Julian Lewis and Colonel Bob Stewart DSO.

Richard has set out his stall in a letter to MPs of all Parties, in which he outlined the need for structured and effective Armed Forces to combat the ever-changing threats facing our country.

Richard said: “I have set out clearly why I want this post. I believe Britain faces a more dangerous world than at any time since the Cold War. I want to make sure we can defend this country and its interests around the world and we can only do that if we have a clear understanding of what threats we face. We need to show how, with our allies, we can deter and, if necessary, defeat our enemies and make the world more stable and prosperous as a result.”

Richard’s interest in defence stems from his service with the Royal Green Jackets in the 1980s. He serve in Northern Ireland for two years and studied counter-insurgent warfare in the Far East. He was a Founder-Trustee of the military charity Help for Heroes, which has raised over £230 million since 2007. He has campaigned for veterans and the welfare of servicemen and their families. Richard also sits on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.