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Welcome to this week's Penny Post celebrating local life in and around:
Newbury • Thatcham • Hungerford • Lambourn • Downlands • Wantage • Marlborough
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In your area
• Hungerford Area: books, boosters, Bush, sweets and spines.
• Lambourn Valley: EVs, repairs, decorations, repairs and wildlife.
• Newbury Area: parking, tattoos, arts, codes and elevations.
• Thatcham Area: pitches, laps, starlings, rowing and gifts.
• Compton & Downlands: a prize, a festival, beer, funding and a car park.
• Theale Area: a centre, a refusal, fixtures, disappointment and music.
• Wantage Area: a hospital, a manager, fish, fitness and homes.
• Marlborough Area: a vacancy, a closure, training, volunteers and workshops.
• Swindon Area: football, food, mail, roadworks and unicorns.
A bit more news
• 2022 Travel Advice from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel.
• Plan B guidance – revised Covid requirements from 11 Jan refLFT and PCR tests
• Please remember to submit your Covid test results whether positive or negative.
• Have your say on how the Thames Valley Police budget should be spent by 18 Jan.
• West Berks CAMRA Winter Magazine features local pubs and breweries.
• Penny Post Lambourn Valley January Newsletter.
• Reminder to rail travellers to check timetables for changes due to covid-related staff issues. for instance SWRs' temporary reduceed timetable from 17 Jan.
Erratum
Old Baby Mackerel Bluegrass Music at Ace Space, Newbury is on Fri 21 Jan (not Sat 22).
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Mouth-watering Meal Deals
• 25% off Sunday roast at Blandy's at Inglewood. Book online or call 01488 687010
• 20% off the a la carte menu at The Hartley Arms, Donnington on Wednesdays/Thursdays till end of Jan.
• 20% off on food at Crown & Garter, Inkpen on Wednesdays until end Feb & half price on selected wines.
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Recommendations
• Simon recommends Consultant Ophthalmologist & Vitreoretinal Surgeon Mr El-Ashry “Mr El-Ashry removed cataracts from both my eyes. I was delighted. He is brilliant a person."
• Sally recommends Dave from Hungerford Glass & Glazing "Dave is fast, reliable and charges are reasonable too when replacing many of our broken or misted up double glazed windows and French door panes."
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The power of vitamin D
However sceptical you might be about vitamin supplements, it seems there is one exception: Vitamin D – especially in winter....read more.
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New year quiz
Still time to enter our bumper quiz here for the chance to win a generous prize from The Ibex in Chaddleworth. The good news is that you don't have to answer all the questions.
Deadline: 23 January.
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Guest blogs & features
• Award-winning 10 year old artist Emerald from Hungerford
• For this cold snap, here is a tip on walking safely on ice...like a penguin.
• How to Enjoy a Burns Night at home by Alistair Mills who hails from Ayrshire.
• Delivery & Take-Away Guide.
• The latest Finance & Legal show with Karen and Peyton from the Hungerford Legal & Financial Centre covers tax return filing deadline, interest payments and penalties, new tenancy agreements and deposit protection scheme, why you need a will, mortgage protection & critical illness cover, interest payments on equity release & amicable divorces.
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Good causes
• Latest News, Funding & Training for the Voluntary Sector from WB Volunteer Centre
• To meet local charities join the online Volunteer Recruitment Fair Sat 5 Feb
• Sustainable Wantage is looking for volunteers to help collect surplus food from local supermarkets. For further details please email Jo at wantagemix@gmail.com.
• If you fancy trekking in the Sahara Desert for a good cause, pop along to Prospect Hospice's information evening on Wed 27 Jan.
• CCB's January Action for All bulletin features Village Hall Week 24 to 30 January and support with energy bills.
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Property and land
• For sale: four-bed house, Hungerford. £435,000. Brearley & Rich.
• For sale: six-bed house, Clench Common. £1,750,000. Brearley & Rich.
• For sale: two-bed flat, Marlborough. £225,000. Brearley & Rich.
• For rent: two-bed house, Ramsbury. £900pcm. Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: one-bed flat, Newbury. £975pcm. Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: one-person office, Hungerford. Flexible terms. lauren@broadmead-estates.co.uk or call 01488 686004.
• For rent: ad hoc workspace, Hungerford. £20/day Hungerford Printing Company
• For sale: Eden Retirement Livings Pearl House in Newbury offers spacious apartments and penthouses with 24/7 concierge, restaurant, club lounge and parking.
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Local businesses
Please visit our local business directory to support the businesses that support PP. Pubs, cafés, B2B, arts, food and drink, trades, shops and more...
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This week: Nina Clark Lettings Agency, the first choice for landlords and tenants.
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This week's jobs
This week's jobs include: Saturday sales assistant, part-time operation & clinic support office for domestic abuse charity, record label admin assistant, part-time dispensary receptionist, part-time admin & finance officer, part-time dog walker & pet sitter, school site officer & minibus driver, workshop-based mechanics, bar and wait staff, chefs, kitchen porters, housekeepers, drivers, lifeguards, warehouse operatives, forklift operators, unit managers, cleaners, LGV drivers, personal care assistants, heavy-recovery operator, service manager, carers, recreation assistants, facilities manager, nurses and laundry assistants.
Volunteering is good for the CV (and the soul) See local volunteer positions avaialble.
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This Week with Penny
• Sorry that the newsletter is even later than usual this week but there always seems to be one more thing to write about. Anyone who believes that not much goes on in the countryside is welcome to get in touch and we'll set them straight.
• We are delighted that our chickens started laying again this week. Perhaps this is an indication that the days are starting to draw out. Let's hope bird flu lockdown will be lifted soon as it would be great to see the girls scratching around the garden again rather than stuck in their mesh-covered run. In the meantime we give them treats from the market.
• Many thanks to everyone who helped give our 89-year-old friend Frank White a fitting send-off this week. He now has a lovely spot in our village churchyard. For photos of Frank who worked as a mechanic at James & Co in Hungerord for nearly 30 years and lived in East Garston for nearly 60 years please see my personal facebook page. Frank's widow June is bearing up well, luckily.
• Brian's latest song tells of what can happen when something long hidden (a secret family in this case – not his, someone else's) is finally exposed – The Day the Truth Came Out.
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See also the nine weekly news section (links at the top of the newsletter) for upcoming events in your area.
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We recommend double-checking in-person events are still going ahead.
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Sat 15 Jan
Repair Cafe, Wantage
Fri 21 Jan
Old Baby Mackerel Bluegrass Music at Ace Space, Newbury
Tue 25 Jan
Burns Night at The Queens, East Garston
Thur 27 Jan
Indian Night at The Five Bells, Wickham
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Have a great weekend,
Penny & Brian
penny@pennypost.org.uk
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