Grapevine Dec 2015 by sara-jane morley

GR A PEV INE THE

DECEmBEr/JANuAry 2015/16 EDitioN 295

Cowleaze Wood 2008 by Andrew Smith

NEwS from thE PAriSh I can’t quite believe that it’s my final Grapevine of the year once more. They give me January off for good behaviour so the next edition will be out in February. A very exciting event will be happening on Sunday 13th December...Lewknor’s inaugural Christmas Fair. Th is will take place from 3-7pm, with the High Street closed around that time. Full details are on page 2 and 4. everyone keep their fi ngers crossed for good weather! Unfortunately I yet again have to mention dog fouling in Lewknor. It seems to be getting no better and I’m getting pretty fed up of having to mention it issue after issue! Whoever is letting their dog poo

by the school so that the children trek it into class, should be ashamed of themselves. especially as there is a trowel and poo bags available at the school gate...except when they are helpfully removed. There is also someone that doesn’t pick up after their dog up at the hall, where again, children are playing. Th is is no rant against dogs...I am well aware that the majority of dog owners are responsible. And after that... HAPPY CHRISTMAS ONe AND ALL!!! DATeS FOR THe DIARY Sunday 13 December: Lewknor Christmas Fair Tuesday 22 December: Carols at Town Farm Thursday 24 December: Crib Service at Saint

from thE EDitor

If you have any suggestions, or would like to write a regular column, submit a piece to be included in the next edition or have a local photograph new or old, please contact Sara-Jane on the new Grapevine email address: grapevinemagazine@hotmail.com.

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Lewknor horticultural SHOW REPORT amends The following was mistakenly missed from the Horticultural Show report in the last issue: The Sparks family in South Weston must be highly praised for their structural creativity and development of new areas - even encountering an ‘old road’ in their excavations!

With a South African twist, enjoy roast pork rolls, barbecued pulled pork wraps, hot dogs, burgers, festive soup, hearty five bean chilli and turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches! And finally, let’s not forget the Christmas sparkles, fill your winter boots with mulled wine, merry ale, lager, wine and prosecco. Merry Christmas! Not that many sleeps to go... Sunday 13th December 3pm-7pm. See you there! Please see the poster on page 4

Also Ray and Rosemary from Hill Road have been busy ‘Gorilla Gardening’, see: incredibleediblenetwork.org.uk/ This means clearing and using neglected public spaces, they have had great success - well done! Eppy Hodgson

Lewknor Christmas fair Our very own Christmas Market is nearly here! Your Lewknor Christmas party on the High Street will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the festive season with friends and neighbours. We can’t wait to see you there! It will be bursting with entertainment and family fun. The festivities will include Christmas carols, a joyous brass band and a very merry Krakatoa Pre-School performance. There will be fun packed games and activities so you can Guess the Weight of the Turkey, Christmas Pudding and Cake and Guess What’s in the Christmas Stocking? A Golden Bauble Lucky Dip, enter the Rocking Festive Raffle and Jolly Tombola and help Rudolf by making some Magic Reindeer Food! We are also excited to have professional Master Photographer Luarena who is hosting a personalised visit and photo with none other than Father Christmas himself! http://www.luarena.co.uk/ Alongside all the fun and entertainment are the gorgeous stalls where your Christmas shopping will be all wrapped up. Beautiful jewelery, women’s accessories, chocolates, flowers, beauty products, handbags and purses, cakes, olives, children’s clothes, craft, sweets, balloons and many more! Then you can indulge in a little bit of what you fancy.

JACK GORDON DECORATING all types of decorating undertaken interior or exterior Large or small Ring or email for a free quote: jackgordon44@aol.com 07590 517 444 www.jackgordondecorating.co.uk

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BOOK CLUB at lewknoR THE SONGS OF WILLoW FROST Jamie Ford Jamie Ford’s novel The Songs of Willow Frost introduced us to Seattle between the years 1921 and 1934 during the years of the Great Depression which had resulted in destitution for many throughout America. The novel centres on life of the immigrant Chinese community and on the fate of children given up for care in the Sacred Heart Orphanage. The main characters are William Eng, a Chinese American child, and his single mother, Liu Song, who is a singer in a local night club. William is born as the result of the rape of his mother by her stepfather but Liu manages to keep the fact of his birth from this man until William is five years old when Liu loses her job. Poverty stricken and depressed, Liu becomes ill and William is taken to the orphanage. The novel opens when William is 12 living in the orphanage, his closest friend is Charlotte who is a blind girl of the same age. One day when the children are taken to the cinema in downtown Seattle, William recognises his mother on a poster advertising a concert to be given a well-known Hollywood actress, Willow Frost. Desperate to see if it is his mother William and Charlotte escape from the orphanage with only a little money between them to get to the concert. William manages to see Willow but circumstances separate them once more and William and Charlotte return to the orphanage where the future appears bleak. However, after further sad disappointments the end of the novel promises a better but still undefined future. With its frank depiction of the minority experience of Chinese people in the early 20th century America and its suspenseful approach to family secrets we felt that the Songs of Willow Frost presented a vivid picture of Seattle and the struggle of its immigrant people. The End of Your Life Bookclub by Will Schwalbe was a very unusual novel. The author is writing about the books he and his mother read and discussed after the diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer was made two years before her death. It was a book club of just two members but the discussions, which took place during the long hours spent in hospital whilst Mary Anne had her chemotherapy, act as a vehicle for Will to describe his mother’s

character with a fierce loyalty paying tribute to her inestimable qualities of sheer grit in helping others less fortunate than herself in the war torn regions of the world. This contrasts with the openness with which he describes his own weaknesses but the reader is left wondering if the only flaw in his mother’s character is her need to control the lives of her family: although seeming to be allow them to lead their own lives, her plans always appear to take precedence over theirs. An appendix to the novel includes a list of all the books mentioned if not discussed in detail. Many of these are by American authors whose names and work were unfamiliar to the group. However, it provides an interesting reading list for anyone needing something to distract them from the troubles and worries of this world. Our next book is Sarah Dunant’s In the Company of the Courtesan which promises something rather different from the above. Elan Preston-Whyte 01844 350 382

Stefanie O’Bryen Family Solicitor Divorce • Conveyancing • Probate • Wills Contact your local solicitor for a friendly and efficient service Telephone: 01491 614 700 20 Shirburn Street Watlington, OX49 5BT Email: SOBfamlaw@hotmail.com Home appointments by arrangement

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Lewknor C of E Primary School High Street, Lewknor, Oxon, OX49 5TH www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk

Books to borrow or buy through donation now available in St.Margaret’s. There is a good range of children’s and adult’s books, fiction and non-fiction. Please feel free to swap books, borrow or buy. Any proceeds will go directly to the upkeep of the church. Please pop in and take a look!

We welcome parents to take a look around our school and meet our Headteacher, Mrs Cole To arrange a tour of the school and meet our Headteacher, please call 01844 351542 or e-mail office.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk We look forward to welcoming you

Wool appeal! Everyone has an unfinished knitting project at the back of their cupboards! Heather Weston’s mum would gratefully accept donations of wool in any colour or amount for recycling into blankets for homeless and international charities. Please call Heather on 07968 280 856

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Carols at Town Farm

Tuesday 22nd December 6.30 for 7pm start

Mince pies and mulled wine will be plentiful! Everyone welcome

ed online; one good supplier being at http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ChristmasOrnaments are very reasonably priced, most around £3 to £4 and might make interesting stocking The kits contain everything you need to make up the decoration with DEC/JAN full instructions THE GRAPEVINE 2015/16 ed.

e often come up against the comment that people find cross stitching charts difficult to Needles and pins , with all their symbols and NEEDLES often very fine details. If this is you, then perhaps you may AND PiNS easier to needlepoint orwith tapestry. is usually a very stiff, andme larger ALiSoN AstryI write this Christmas dayThis is SwAiN exactly oneworked month on away so inclines to write of weave canvas, using heavier threads or wool, rather than fine embroidery silks. These crafty creations. ns are worked in ‘tent’ stitch which actually means just a single diagonal stitch, taken As I write thisand Christmas daymagazines is exactly one month away time worked on a veryare stiff, and larger open weave canvas, using of super Stitching craft atathis of threads year always full ofcovers all sorts s from hole to hole, in of cross heavier stitch. Generally thethan design the so inclines me toor write ofeffect seasonalone craftyhalf creations. or wool, rather fine embroidery silks. Th esedecorations, designs are worked ‘tent’ stitch which actually means had stitched suchforasmore Christmas gifts, or greeting cards. These are piece of fabric and items is used durable items such asin cushion covers, wall Stitching and craft magazines at this time of year are just a single diagonal stitch, taken across from hole to hole, or course, and a home-made is always but to the bedesign quite always full bags. of all sorts of super ideas for hadgift stitched items ngs, purses and inmuch effect oneappreciated, half of a cross stitch. Generally covershonest I d such as Christmas gifts, decorations, or greeting cards. the whole piece of fabric and is used for more durable items how anyone really has enough time for such things. These are lovely, of course, and a home-made gift is always such as cushion covers, wall hangings, purses and bags. this type of work there is usually a more limited much appreciated, but to be quite honest I don’t know how anyone really has enough time returning forcan such things. e of colours - this example you see to in my the most favourite of stitching activities, cross s Having said that, and e is a cushion am making uses possible something impressive by way of an unusual decoration relativel Havingcover said to that,Icreate and returning to which my mostjust favourite of stitching activities, cross stitch, it is possible to create ferent colours. The designs are usually in worked on what is known as perforated pa These small designs thatprinted can be somethingare impressive by way of an unusual decoration r directlyattached onto the canvas, making relatively quickly. These are small designsthem that canmuch beis exactly what it says on the tin – a piece of picture. Perforated paper worked on what is known as perforated paper – see below. r to follow; and with no complicated charts and material, punched with the smallest of regu ols to understand, this is particularly helpful if you making it very easy for adult or older child itching in these dark winter evenings. It is always There are lots of festive designs available able though to do your work in the light of a really involving With this typeplenty of work of therebeads is usuallyand a more limited threads metallic palette of colours this example you can see in the picture lamp, and it is even better if this is fitted with a isspecial daylight bulb which will avoid a cushion cover I am making which just uses 13 diff erentOnce the sparkle under the Christmas lights. ing your eyes. colours. The designs are usually printed in colour directly complete paper is carefully trimmed of it onto the canvas,the making them much easier to follow; and with create no complicated charts and symbols to understand, to additional interest in the shap this is particularly helpful if you are stitching in these example, a star or bauble as toshown in th dark winter evenings. It is always advisable though do Perforated paper is exactly what it says on the tin – a your work in the light of a really good lamp, and it is even These kits are not often found in the shops b piece of very stiff material, punched with the smallest of better if this is fitted with a special daylight bulb which regular holes, making it very easy for adult or older child willat avoidhttp://www.sewandso.co.uk/ChristmasO straining your eyes. sourced online; one good supplier being to stitch. There are lots of festive designs available, usually involving plenty of beads and metallic threads for extra They are very reasonably priced, most As around £3 to might make always, I hope you £4 have and some fun trying out some ofinteresting sparkle under the Christmas lights. Once the design is these techniques, and would like to wish all Grapevine fillers. kits contain everything you need to make up the decoration with full in complete The the paper is carefully trimmed of its’ excess to readers a very Happy Christmas and successful 2016. create additional interest in the shape of, for example, a included.

star or bauble as shown in the photo. These kits are not NEED hELP with your ComPutEr? often found in the shops but can be sourced online; one I good have often up against the comment that find cross stitching charts supplier beingcome at • people Using the internet • details. Setting up If email follow,sewandso.co.uk/christmasornaments with all their symbols and often very fine this is you, then perhaps • Buying and selling on Ebay find it easier to try needlepoint or tapestry. This usually your worked on a very stiff, a • is Downloading digital photos They are very reasonably priced, most around £3 to £4 and • Word-processing, spreadsheets, etc might make interesting stocking using fillers. Theheavier kits containthreads or wool, rather than fine embroidery open weave canvas, silk For affordable, one-to-one everything you need to make up the decoration with full designs are worked in ‘tent’ stitch which actually means just a single tuition in your home, calldiagonal stit instructions included. 08711 296 454 across from hole to hole, or in effect one half of a cross Sharene stitch.onGenerally the design c I have often come up against the comment that people find cross stitching charts diffi to follow,and with all is their used symbols for more durable items such as cushion cov whole piece of cultfabric and often very fine details. If this is you, then perhaps you hangings, and orbags. may find it easierpurses to try needlepoint tapestry. This is usually

With this type of work there is usually a more limited palette of colours - this example you can see in the picture is a cushion cover I am making which just uses

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St. Mary Magdalen Church, Stoke Talmage

Carols by Candlelight

Wednesday, 23 December rd

at 7.30 p.m.

WaTLIngTon gaRdEnIng cLuB The new programme for 2015/2016 includes such subjects as clematis, plant collecting, the history of trees, euphorbias, colour in the garden..... Why not join our Gardening Club or come as a visitor to see if you enjoy our talks? NeXT MeeTING at 7.45pm in Watlington Town Hall: WEdnEsday 2 dEcEmBER Meeting will be our Christmas Social with a garden-themed quiz. WEdnEsday 8 januaRy Dr Michael Keith-Lewis will talk about the history of trees. WEdnEsday 3 FEBRuaRy Speaker: John Tyler Subject: The world of plants, a photographic delight. Watlington Gardening Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the Town Hall at 7.45pm. Free parking is close by in the town car park. We have a programme of speakers throughout the year and garden visits in the summer including a coach trip further afield. Our meetings include a plant table and free coffee and biscuits. For further information please contact Caelia Pereira, Chairman, 01491 612368 or email: caeliaperiera@aol.co.uk

CHRISTMAS BIN COLLECTIONS USUAL DAY

REVISED DAY

29TH DECEMBER

31ST DECEMBER

5TH JANUARY

7TH JANUARY

12TH JANUARY

13TH JANUARY

Binfo is our handy app that tells you all you need to know about when your bins will be collected. If you own an iPhone or an Android smartphone you can download and install the Binfo app for free! Simply input your postcode and select your address or use the handy GPS location feature when you’re at home, and Binfo will tell you when your next waste collection will be, as well as let you know whether it’s your green or grey bin that will be collected. Binfo will also notify you if there any changes to your collections due to bank holidays or adverse weather.

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If anyone would like a Christmas cake made, with proceeds going to the church, please contact Jean on 07825813137. The photos below are just some of the designs available. We can do sponge, chocolate, fruit with or without nuts, or anything of your choice. Â Prices will depend on size and contents of cake

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LEWKNOR PARISH COUNCIL www.lewknor-pc.org.uk

Recent Local Planning Applications Below are the planning applications that have been considered by the Council and their current status: i) P15/S1542/O Outline application (for access only) For the erection of three detached two-storey dwellings and a pair of two-storey semi-detached dwellings with parking, garaging, access and amenity space decision awaited ii) P15/S2705/PDO The Stables, Church Lane, Lewknor Change of use from office to dwelling house REFUSED iii) P15/S2886/FUL The Old Inn, London Road, Postcombe Erection of single-storey timber clad storage building to rear of premises APPROVED iv) P15/S3143/T56 Adjacent to Cop Field, Off Salt Lane, Adwell Replacement of 15m bespoke monopole with 17.5m Alifabs monopolewith 1 no. additional equipment cabinet Prior Approval not Required v) P15/S3687/FUL Telephone Exchange, London Road, Lewknor Extension and conversion to form a one bedroom dwelling with parking To be considered by the parish council in December To view the full planning register go to: www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/find-application/planning-application-register

Friday mornings 9.30-11.30am Chinnor Village Hall TiddlyPeeps is a friendly social group for mums to be, parents, grandparents, nannies, childminders, babies and toddlers. TiddlyPeeps is a non-profit making organisa=on, run by a commi>ee of volunteers, first started in July 2007. We pride ourselves on being a very friendly and welcoming group and are very fortunate to have have a suppor=ve, friendly and enthusias=c commi>ee. As well as the usual selec=on of baby, toddler and pre-school toys, we regularly put out play dough and arts and craGs (seasonal when appropriate). We have home-made cakes one Friday a month, messy play another and other visitors in between. Please see our website for dates. We generally run every Friday morning from 9.30-11.30am in Chinnor Village Hall. We stop play at approximately 10.30am for a sit down, and for the children to have a drink and a biscuit (provided), followed by singing, usually led by a commi>ee member. We charge £1.50 per family to cover our running costs. Tea/coffees for adults are served by dedicated local volunteers, whose support we are most grateful for. We look forward to mee=ng you!

www.#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk e-mail@#ddlypeeps-chinnor.co.uk Or ask to join our facebook page - TiddlyPeeps

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FREDDY

Everybody say hello to Freddie! On the 11th of December Freddie will have been in Blue Cross for a whole year! Freddie is a loving yet independent boy in search of his forever home! Freddie loves to spend time out of his pen exploring, followed by a little cuddle on a team members lap whilst they’re busy working on the computer! As he’s been with us for so long, Freddie doesn’t always like to go back in his pen (who can blame him after nearly a year!), so we use some tasty meat as a treat for him to go back in. Could you help Handsome Freddie find his forever before his 1 year anniversary at Blue Cross? Or at least before Christmas so he can snuggle up in front of the fire with a new family to call his own this Christmas! For more information about Freddie, please visit our website at bluecross.org.uk.

COLOUR IN THE CHRISTMAS SCENE

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fooD AND DriNk

with CAthEriNE gALLAChEr

sounds a BIT FIsHy To mE... dovER soLE WITH BouLangERE poTaToEs & FREncH BEans

you will need: Dover Sole or Lemon Sole or Megrim Sole (or Cornish Sole’) - the latter two not ‘real’ sole but with Megrim being much cheaper and still really good eating A couple of medium potatoes per person An onion Glug of milk Chicken stock Green beans Butter Creme fraiche Salt, pepper and nutmeg Capers (with Nonpareil being the smallest but also most expensive) if you like them. As the festive season approaches at a rate of knots I always go into the usual Christmas panic; no, not over the tree/presents/turkey but more along the lines of “will I be able to squeeze my increasing bulk into ANY of my clothes by February???” Given that my hubby keeps me on a tight (nonexistent) clothes allowance this is of some concern. Short of gracing the streets of Lewknor sporting some form of sack, the only option open to us is to have a vaguely sensible November. Lots of fish and lean meat and stacks of fresh veg. Strangely, we always enjoy it way more than we think we will! This is largely thanks to Martyn, the fish man on Thame market. He has an amazing range of fish, reasonably priced and all as fresh as a daisy. Plus, he is a top bloke. If you call or text him on a Monday - before 4pm as he has very early nights! - he will endeavour to find whatever you fancy at the fish markets and bring it to Thame for you. 07957636040 if you’re interested. This morning Martyn had some beautiful Dover Sole which we couldn’t resist. So fresh it was stiﬀ as a board with bright, clear eyes and not a trace of fishy

smell. Martyn will remove the belly bits for you. We got it home and The Man busied himself skinning it, which is easier than it sounds as the skin can literally be pulled oﬀ the flesh in one piece, once you have trimmed around the outside fins with your kitchen scissors. You can make this even easier by wearing your Marigolds or using j cloths and do please search on YouTube if you’re unsure. Then we covered it and put it in the fridge until the evening. That’s the prep done! A couple of hours before you’re ready to eat you need to peel your spuds then slice them as thinly as you can. Using a mandolin makes this an absolute breeze but do use the guard, unless you have fingertips to spare! Then dice an onion very finely. Place a layer of sliced potatoes in the bottom of a shallow buttered ovenproof dish then scatter some of the diced onion on top and season generously. Continue alternating potato and onion until you have used them all up. Make up enough chicken stock to come half way up the potato layers, using half water and half milk. Pour this into the potatoes then dot the top with butter and bake in a low oven, about 120, for a couple of hours or so. Pop a bit of foil on top to stop it catching. When you’re hungry, put your sole on a buttered or greased oven tray and season well, then place under a medium grill until it’s cooked; this will take roughly 8-12 minutes, depending on how fat they are! Once they are happily under the grill, put the water on to steam or boil your fine green beans, they only take about 3 minutes. Drain them well then put them back in the warm pan with a knob of butter and grate a bit of nutmeg over them. If you have some, add a blob of creme fraiche and stir it in, as our continental cousins would do! You can throw some tiny nonpareil capers in a little pan with some butter to make a little sauce but only if you’d like to. And there you have it; fresh fish as it should be eaten with the clean flavours being allowed to speak for themselves. If you’re being terribly good, you can eat this with some sparkling elderflower cordial or water. Wine wise, it is singing out for something flinty and dry, like a beautiful grand cru Chablis, although it will set you back the best part of twenty notes at least. I would choose a lively Vermentino di Sardegna; Waitrose do a stunning one for £8.99 from Le Stelle. These Sardinian whites are crisp and clean, showing lively citrus flavours and a pleasing salty edge which perfectly complements fish. Cheers!

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Lewknor C of E Primary School

Community Newsletter

On 11th November 2015, we held a Remembrance assembly in the playground led by Mrs Wakefield, where Lewknor School learnt about Armistice Day. Callula, in year 6, read a prayer and Amelie, in year 5, read an extract from the poem For the Fallen. Staff and children as well as the librarians from Oxford County Council’s library van stood respectfully for the two-minute silence. Mrs Alexander, Reception Class Teacher, recently held a workshop for parents who wanted to know the best way to encourage their children to read and learn letter sounds. In November the Reception Class enjoyed a visit on the bus to the Museum of Natural History in Oxford, in support of their dinosaur topic this term. Children in Years 1 and 2 have been learning about the history of toys. They thoroughly enjoyed a magical experience at Bethnal Green’s Museum of Childhood in October.

The Upper Junior Class performed scenes from Arabian Nights in assembly. The children not only danced, sang and acted but also wrote their own scripts. For Harvest Festival, Year 6 children personally delivered six harvest boxes to elderly members of the community together with Mrs Cole. The donations and boxes were collected and made by all the school children. We hold a celebration assembly every Friday morning in the church. everyone (including members of the community) is welcome to come along and see the children’s good work and achievements by the way of SMART awards. A Christingle service, which includes all the children at school and children attending Krakatoa Pre-school, will be held on December 11th at the church and we welcome members of the community to join us.

This term the school has been able to offer the children a C ofrecently E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH OXFORDSHIRE The twelve Year 2LEWKNOR children have enjoyed a reward for STREET variety LEWKNOR of clubs, which have provedOX49 very popular, both at 5TH working hard on their maths. Miss elvin organised a teddy lunch time and after school. Choir, recorder and ‘fun and Headteacher: Mrs D Cole bear picnic treat! Children had a number of problem-solving games’ clubs run at lunchtime, and cookery, sports and art Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: tasks to complete and presented their findings in www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk tally charts are held after school. We now also have our own Lewknor and pictograms. School Judo Club which is very well attended. The Lower Junior Class is looking forward to a trip to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to support their topic on rocks this term. They have also been learning about the Anglo-Saxons in class and some children have even made their own Anglo-Saxon tools, cooking equipment and weapons for war. The children in Lower Juniors are also learning to play the cornet and we had our first whole class performance in the church last week.

School governors congratulated and thanked Mrs Cole and all the staﬀ for their incredible hard work over the last 18 months, enabling all the children at Lewknor Primary to achieve their full potential at the end of the 2014/2015 academic school year. The results printed from the Ofsted Dashboard speak for themselves: “No weaknesses were identified in this data set”. The results were 100% across the board! Well done to all the children for their hard work.

LEWKNOR C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH STREET LEWKNOR OXON OX49 5TH Headteacher: Mrs D Cole Telephone: 01844 351542 E-mail: ofﬁce.3184@lewknor.oxon.sch.uk Website: www.lewknor.eschools.co.uk

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have you taken a feW simple steps to protect your home from opportunist thieves this Winter? AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THERE ARE TRADITIONALLY MORE OPPORTUNIST BURGLARIES PARTICULARLY BETWEEN 5PM AND 7PM WHEN IT IS DARK OUTSIDE AND PEOPLE ARE YET TO RETURN HOME FROM WORK. OFFICERS WILL BE PATROLLING NEIGHBOURHOODS AND BURGLARY HOT-SPOT AREAS ACROSS THE AREA TO IDENTIFYING HOUSES THAT MAY BE AT GREATER RISK OF BURGLARY. here's a feW things you can do to protect your property:

•

• • • • • • •

Don’t leave your home in darkness advertising the fact there is no one at home. Invest in a timer light switch and vary the time it comes on each day to make it look more natural. It can also be used with a radio or TV to give the impression that someone’s home. Perhaps purchase a fake/simulated TV device which lights up a room like a real TV. Keep valuables out of sight and mark them with your house number and postcode using a UV pen. Register your valuables via the Immobilise website and keep an inventory list. It’s free and takes just a few minutes. If you have jewellery at home, photograph it for insurance purposes and consider storing it in a suitable safe. Lock your doors and windows. If you have a UPVC door make sure you have double-locked it by lifting the handle and locking it with the key. Make sure the key is removed from the lock and out of reach. If you’re going away, remember not to post details of your holiday on social networking websites, cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries and, if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set before you leave. Look out for your neighbours’ houses, especially when they’re not at home, and call 999 immediately if you see anything suspicious. If you want to report something which does not require an immediate response call Thames Valley Police’s non-emergency number 101.

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INTERIOR

AND EXTERIOR DECORATOR

Providing exceptional customer service since 1974

MOTs : TYRES : SERVICES : REPAIRS LOAN CARS : LIFTS & COLLECTIONS

01844 278177 Camp Industrial , Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Oxon, OX9 2NP

THE GRAPEVINE DEC/JAN 2015/16

Lee Beckett

Address: Blue Cross, London Road (A40), Lewknor Tel: 0300 777 1500 Fax: 0300 777 1501 Email: lewknor@bluecross.org.uk

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The Home Care Specialists

Do you need a Helping Hand? Our local care team has been providing award winning quality homecare since 1989. A family run company we offer you a one-to-one full time Live-in Care service that enables you or your loved one to remain at home with compassion and dignity by assisting with: personal care, companionship, errands and housekeeping. So if you are looking for an alternative to residential care or as a short term answer whilst recovering from illness or operation then we’re here to help.

If so, check if you’re eligible for a FREE boiler! The Oxfordshireshire Affordable Warmth Network is pleased to be accessing ECO grants in partnership with British Gas to offer free replacement boilers to homeowners and private renting tenants whose boilers are rated D or below and are in receipt of certain benefits. An easy way to check your eligibility and to discover how else we can assist you is via our freephone helpline:

0800 107 0044 Or email us:

awn@nef.org.uk

Funding is only available for a limited time, so please don’t delay. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

To find out how we can help you, call: 0808 180 1016 or visit: www.helpinghands.co.uk

tuESDAy Night YOGA AT 7-8.30 PM CONTACT VICkI ON 07947 149 675 0R 10844 347 162

wEDNESDAy Night DOG OBEDIENCE AT 6-8 PM

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LEWKNOR PARISH DIARY december 2015 6th december holy communion 9.00am st. lawrence 13th december holy communion 10.30am st. margaret’s 14th december parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall 20th december holy communion 9.00am st. margaret’s 20th december christmas worship 10.30am st. lawrence 24th december crib service 4.00pm st. margaret’s

january 2016 3rd january holy communion 9.00am st. lawrence 10th january holy communion 10.30am st. margaret’s 11th january parish council meeting 7.30pm jubilee hall If you would like to include any events or meetings in the diary, please let the editor know via the grapevine email address: grapevinemagazine@hotmail.com

Visit us at: The High Street Lewknor Oxfordshire OX49 5TN 01844 350350 fabricfields@aol.com Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm Saturday 9.30am - 1.30pm