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Simply Wholistic

simply wholistic

Remember, beauty is never skin deep. Nothing only exists because of the shell it belongs to or has been given. Bearing this in mind, whenever we want to change anything, whether it be physical, mental or emotional, (our appearance, feelings and thoughts) the change only occurs from changing your thoughts, thinking patterns, and your feelings about how you see yourself. For example, we change our looks easily and have any amount of cosmetic surgery we could afford, but unless we feel beautiful inside, we will never feel beautiful outside. We must first love ourselves in order that we can love others. If we don't know how to even treat ourselves with love and compassion, how could we ever treat anyone else with the same? No one is saying it is easy to change the way you think, I certainly know its not. But how much money would it be worth to you to be happy in your life, with all aspects of your life? Could any amount of money ever make up for you being miserable and unhappy in your life? If you truly believe you are happy in life and you think it's all genuine, then all I ask you to do is take all the material things away out of your life and imagine that all you have left is your family, friends, pets, the roof over your head with no objects in there and last of all yourself, your body, including your feelings, thoughts, thinking patterns and physical looks and your good health. Would you still be content and happy, with the most important things in your life you have left? If the answer to that question is no, then don't you think it's time you found happiness within? Instead of just looking beyond that and to other people and material objects in your life, which will give you a little satisfaction for a short time only, which are all purely false hopes. Life is truly amazing if you allow it to be and the moment you allow yourself to be happy and love yourself for who you are is the moment you will never look back on your life and only look forward and be so happy and positive about everything in your life. Life really is so simple, yet we insist on complicating it To help ourselves and our own bodies, prevention is far better than any cure. When you maintain your health and well-being, it is very unlikely you will suffer illness or disease. Rather than seeing yourself as the shell you are and placing the emphasis on that alone, instead turn it all around and focus on the inside and how you feel and think. This is the only way you will ever continue through the aging process and be happy and content through life. To reach optimum health and well-being is not something which will happen over night and to maintain this level is an ongoing process throughout one’s life. Every second of every day our bodies are changing due to our thoughts, thinking patterns, emotions, feelings and actions. Add to this the outside influences such as stress at work, lack of vitamins and nutrients and a good balanced healthy diet and no exercise and your body will begin to feel the strain. If you don’t listen to your body and make simple changes to give your body the right conditions to enable it to heal itself, it will without a doubt become in a diseased state which will manifest into illness later on in life. Chakra’s can be over stimulated as well as under stimulated and this can have positive or negative effect on our health. Colour’s are energy and carry different vibrations, therefore the colour of food we eat can affect our health. The colour of clothes we wear and are surrounded with each day also effect the chakra’s Lots of simple and easy changes can be made by everyone to maintain optimum health and well-being and Holistic Therapies will help clear any blockages or imbalances you may have which will be detrimental to your health should they remain in that state. Preventive measures are far better than anything else you can do for you body and mind and will help maintain good health throughout one’s life. Holistic Therapies treat the whole person, not just the symptom. Treating any symptom, such as conventional medicine, will NEVER CURE any disease or illness only mask the symptoms and usually lead to even more side effects, symptoms and problems in the body. When you take something which is not a natural source and place it into the body you are removing the bodies own natural defence systems which are in place. When you treat a person with Holistic Therapies you are dealing with the root cause of the problem naturally and the real issue behind any illness, disease or symptom, therefore once treated all symptoms will be eliminated in the process. Pain does serve a purpose and its the bodies way of telling us something is wrong or must be changed. The body will always give us indicators when something is not right enabling us to rectify it. However we have become such experts at ignoring the warning signs and alarms bell's or not giving our health the time is deserves that later down the line by continuing to ignore it we now have an even bigger problem on our hands. Holistic therapies such as colour therapy can be used and implemented into your life so simply and have life changing effects without having to change anything in your life. Also great for people so busy, who sadly have limited time for their health. The consultation covers numerous aspects of your health including mental, emotional and physical. Contrary to what you have been lead to believe, when you have emotional problems your physical health will be suffering. The longer the problem is left unresolved, the more likely the problem will manifest into a physical condition. When your emotional condition improves you are well on the way to recovery. The body is the most effective tool to treat any condition which we may have in life. If it is given the correct conditions, it can and will heal itself. The consultation is to deal with the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms you have. It will give you all the tools to provide you with everything you need to give your body the right conditions to establish good health and with continued use enable you to maintain optimum health. Looking for a quick fix may be a short term solution but it’s not in the best interests of your body’s health, nor will it completely deal with issues which may arise again if you change your way of thinking back to your old pattern and habits. That would only be the same as filling your vehicle up with petrol once and expecting it to run indefinitely, which will never be the case. Problems which people have, don’t just appear over night. Although a session may have a very profound effect on improving your health, it can’t deal with all the issues in one go because your body would not be able to handle all those changes at the same time. Therefore continued therapy is advised to work through all issues, also as a preventative measure and to maintain the bodies correct balance. You know what issues/problems you have to deal with, therefore the biggest step is acknowledging them and starting to deal with them. You must also be ready and willing for all these changes to take place in your life because it will require a little input from you to enable them to happen. Your diet and what you eat. To establish weather it is a contributing factor to how you are feeling and whether your body is undernourished. The colour of food you eat affects your mind and body. The body’s functions are dictated by the chakra’s, main energy centre’s of the body. If you are eating the same foods all the time you will not be providing your body with the colour’s and vibrations which it requires. Every living entity on this planet carries a different vibration, so colour’s really do play an important role in your life. Not just the colour of food you eat, but the colour of clothes you wear, the colours you are surrounded by. Water plays a huge role in the workings and maintenance of the mind and body. Every single function we have as a human being requires the brain to be hydrated to enable the process to happen as it should. If the brain becomes dehydrated then those processes will suffer and not work correctly. Many people have become such experts at ignoring the thirst warning or mistaking it for hunger and reaching for food when the message is really thirst. When the correct amount of water is drunk in sufficient intervals during the course of the day many so called ailments and health issues could subside. I challenge you to try it and discover the magic power water can have for you

Oxford High School

oxford high school

Oxford

elcome to our website and our history. Oxford High School (OHS) to its devotees is a place of scholarship and learning tempered by spirit, fun and community. Justifiably proud of its extraordinary academic outcomes, OHS is a place where young women are prepared for a world where they give back to others who have not had the same opportunities. A place where young women are prepared for the demands of the future, led by committed and dedicated staff absolutely devoted to their students’ wellbeing and achievement. The women who find their way here are curious, sparky and delight in challenge of any kind, whether it is joining the water polo club, singing opera for the first time or managing our very own hives of bees. Leadership opportunities abound and we are so proud that our students lead the school, put on world rivalling conferences, write to world leaders and enable opportunities for all those around us. We are also lucky enough to be in the heart of a city which thrives on curiosity and learning. That is reflected at OHS, where Academics come into school to demonstrate the accessibility of an academic career as well as share the excitement of challenging world constraints, whether forging ahead with a new vaccine (Dr Sarah Gilbert), working to ensure that everyone belongs in a diverse world (Aduke Onafowokan) or even managing a country in the middle of a pandemic (Jacinda Ardern). These are not leaders who speak to the school as requested by staff, but rather our students who are given the confidence and aspiration to put their dreams into action. Don’t make the mistake, however, of believing that OHS is purely academic; we, and the Girls’ Day School Trust, understand how high achieving women learn, thrive and flourish. The Trust enables our young people to access a network of over 25 other schools, conferences run by women for women across the country, and an astonishing alumnae network of over 70,000 former pupils who are extending a hand to help your daughter find her own place in the outside world. Our pastoral care nurtures our young women to ensure that they succeed at their pace. Despite being a bigger school, our staff are absolutely dedicated to the young women in their care, get to know them and their ways of learning and do all they can to support them. That does not mean we lower our expectations but rather extend the safety net to ensure they are lifted towards their dreams. Any website can only give you a flavour of what happens beyond the doors but I urge you to come in, meet me and our dedicated staff whether virtually or in ‘real life’, and, above all, enjoy the sparky, original, curious, lively young women who flourish and thrive here. I look forward to sharing with you the magic of opportunity, fun and spirit that pervades our school.

Vital Pilates

vital pilates

Bristol

We run group matwork classes in Westbury Park, and Chew Valley. Our mat courses run in 10 week blocks continuously throughout the year. We cater for all levels and our classes are taught in small groups. Level 1 This Pilates class is suitable for complete beginners or someone who has only attended a few classes. Level 2 This Pilates class is suitable for someone who has done some Pilates and is looking for a bit more of a challenge. Level 3 This is a faster paced Pilates class aimed at someone who has a lot of Pilates experience and is looking for an even greater challenge. Level 4 This is our most advanced Pilates class and particularly suited to someone with good knowledge of all the original Pilates repertoire and also likes a challenging and flowing class. Barre A barre class combines the framework of ballet techniques with Pilates for increased flexibility and strength. It is a fun, energising class which will give you a full body workout. Barre is accessible to everyone and there’s no need to have any previous movement experience. Vinyasa Flow Yoga Vinyasa means linking body movement to breath ‘to place in a special way’. Every class is linked to one of the 4 elements, Earth, Water, Fire & Air corresponding to opening different parts of the physical body to link body, mind and spirit. Hatha Flow Yoga This is an energising and fluid class with an emphasis on holding poses for longer and synchronising movement with breath. All poses are offered in stages starting from beginners to more advanced levels giving students an opportunity to choose the right one for them. The class will finish with regenerating practices and shavasana/deep relaxation pose. Studio Equipment Classes At our Westbury Park studio and Chew Valley studio we have a more personal experience with studio equipment based Pilates. The exercises and intensity are carefully tailored to meet your specific needs and goals. The exercises are performed on a Reformer, Cadillac and split pedal stability chairs. We also work with smaller pieces of equipment such as balls, bands, foam rollers, and Arc Barrels. The Reformer This is the most popular and versatile piece of Pilates equipment. The carriage glides on rails, moving in response to the use of attached springs, pulleys and ropes. The reformer facilitates hundreds of strengthening and stretching exercises. The Cadillac/Trapeze Table This is a raised horizontal table topped by a four- poster canopy frame on which bars, straps and springs are attached. A wide variety of exercises can be performed on the Cadillac. From gentle, spring assisted movement to advanced acrobatics. The Wunda Chair This is a box with 4 springs and a split pedal. The exercises enhance stability, balance and body control. It focuses on upper and lower body strength and conditioning and makes the chair a great tool for improving general fitness. Open Studio Classes At our Westbury Park studio and Chew Valley studio we run Open Studio classes. Our Open Studio classes are taught as circuits that utilise all the Pilates equipment and small props. Over 5 weeks you are invited to practice a variety of moves on each piece of equipment, including The Reformer, The Cadillac and The Wunda Chair. The emphasis is on repeating the same circuit each week for 5 weeks to build your confidence and improve your practice.

Casual Rice

casual rice

Cranmer Road

I’m Xuan (pronounced Sawn). I was born in Vietnam from Chinese Vietnamese parents and I am proud to be one of the original Vietnamese boat people now living here in the UK. In the late 1970s, the aftermath of the Vietnam war and the growing oppression of the ethnic Chinese living in Vietnam forced my family to flee their home. We left Vietnam on a small overcrowded and ramshackle boat that wasn’t fit for the open water and sailed the perilous South China Sea to Hong Kong. At age 2 my first and only memory of Hong Kong is a hazy image of the orange skies. After 6 months we left the tropical heat of Hong Kong and immigrated to the cold, or you could say dreich (Scots for dreary) climate of the Scottish winter. We lived in the quiet outskirts of Glasgow for four years before moving and settling in London, which was a hubbub of culture and activity. By the age of 14 I had lived in four vastly different countries and each of these places have influenced the person that I am and the food I love to cook and eat. My own cooking adventure started at an early age – washing the rice grains for steamed rice and undertaking the long and meticulous task of cleaning and snapping the tails off bean sprouts for my parents spring rolls. This you can say was my training for the future food lover in me – or feeder. As a child of refugees, love was often shown through food rather than words. From these duties and by always keeping my belly full, my parents quietly passed on their own rich food heritage and family history to me through the years. In my 20’s I became a sushi chef at a vibrant restaurant in Central London, and spent 4 years learning the meticulous art of preparing, filleting and slicing fish for sushi, maki, nigiris and sashimi. I have since run a number of supper clubs in London and Dundee, including a charity Chinese hotpot that raised over £2,000 for the charity – Sarcoma UK. This year, I’ve taken the next leap in my food adventure and launched my online cookalong classes, which have been great fun and allow me to reach new like minded food enthusiasts far and wide. Casual Rice is all about sharing my love for food and my own culinary heritage through authentic but informal Vietnamese and Chinese meals I devoured when growing up, with Japanese influences from my sushi training days. The name Casual Rice comes from The Mandarin Way, a book by the inspirational Cecilia Sun Yun Chiang. A pioneering woman who in the 1960’s opened one of the first authentic Chinese restaurant in North America. In her book she writes “when we sat down to meals as a family, we adopted a much simpler mode of eating … such meals were known as “pien- fan”, “casual rice” or what might be termed home cooking”. As the saying goes, food is a universal language that brings people together. I am hoping through this website and cookalong classes I am able to share personal recipes from my own home, that you can make and share in your homes with your loved ones. Thanks for visiting.

Creeksea Place

creeksea place

Essex

Creeksae Place Manor House Wedding Venue in Burnham, Essex has a rich history and meticulously kept gardens. The ideal venue for your weeding or event. Arthur Harris built Creeksea Place during the reign of Elizabeth 1st in 1569. It remained in his family for five generations after which it passed to the Mildmay family when Arthur’s great grand-daughter married Lord Mildmay. The current owners are the Bertorelli family and they too, coincidentally, have had five generations of ownership of this lovely historic Manor House during the reign of another Queen Elizabeth. In the intervening four and a half centuries much has occurred including many changes of ownership and usage. Now it is the determined wish of the current owners to continue the task of restoring this picturesque House to the glory it once was and to open the house and grounds up to the public at large. Once government restrictions allow, we will be hosting a myriad of varying and exciting public events. Arthur Harrys, as he was known in 1569, came from Prittlewell near Southend and was an important figure in those times. He had pledged to his Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, to raise a hundred men who would defend the monarchy if civil unrest ever occurred. His family flourished and has continued to do so today. There are literally thousands of Harris descendants around the world, particularly in the United States. Lord Mildmay who married his great grand-daughter, was also a man of importance. Charles I appointed him as ‘Keeper of the Crown Jewels’, a post equivalent to Chancellor of the Exchequer today. Lord Mildmay owned many other properties in England at this time and was a man of influence and power. So much so that he was one of the twelve men who signed the death warrant of his King. Upon the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 with Charles II, Lord Mildmay was also sentenced to death for regicide – the killing of the Monarch. He was fortunate though. Due, no doubt to his power and connections, his sentence was commuted but his power had waned. The next significant Creeksea moment occurred in the late 17th century. Due to the imposition of the Window Tax – tax on large houses with many windows; the North Wing was demolished. This was a wing that extended into what is now the car park. The footings of this part of the House was actually traced-out by an American Harris descendent in the last few years. There is also a story that the bricks from the North Wing were taken by barge to London where a street called Creeksea Lane was built. In a House with so much history, myths and legends remain abound. There are tales about secret tunnels from the House to the nearby River Crouch used for smuggling. However, what is true is the fact that there are no cellars in Creeksea Place, due no doubt to the relatively high water table. This would certainly prove a problem for tunnelers. Nevertheless, there is the remains of a gravity-fed fountain pipe that runs from the House to one of the lakes on the Estate and also evidence of two ten foot deep ice houses that would have been used for the preservation of vegetables and grain. There are many ghosts! The most prominent of which involves the marriage between Lord Mildmay and the great grand-daughter of Arthur Harris, who was not entirely happy with the union, and so the tragic bride is said to have committed suicide. Her ghost, known as ‘The Lady of the Lake’ has apparently been seen meandering her way across the Lawn, down to the lakes.

Wessex Nail Academy

wessex nail academy

We provide nail training courses in Gel, Gel 2, Gel II, Gel Polish, Gelish, Gelish Hard Gel, Acrylic, Silk and Fibreglass and Nail Art for both beginners and professionals. Situated in the heart of Dorset our Nail Technician training courses are easy to get to from anywhere in the South, South West and South East. The Wessex Nail Academy specialises in providing Nail Technician courses and training which covers nail enhancement, nail extension application and nail care. We also deliver Threading training. Our extensive range of Nail Technician training courses range from beginners to advanced skills and techniques. The Wessex Nail Academy is where educational and social development go hand in hand. Our tailored focus on academics and the whole person means that every student will benefit from our extensive experience in the Nail and Beauty business. Each nail training course is tailored to meet your individual needs, levels and abilities within the nail and beauty industry covering all aspects of nail technology and nail anatomy training. We also deliver threading training courses. Our extensive beginners' nail training courses are designed for those who are looking for a new career as a nail technician. Our more advanced nail training course being for those who want to update and develop their existing skills and product knowledge, convert to other nail systems or learn the latest nail art techniques. Our one to one training services are an ideal opportunity to help develop areas which you may lack confidence and just wish to improve your skills further. Our aims are to ensure that all students have the best possible opportunity to achieve their goals and to make this a reality. To share our knowledge, skills and expertise with you to the highest educational standard. All of our Nail Technician training courses are accredited with Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT). ABT is the largest beauty and insurance membership provider in the UK and are a recognised qualification within the nail and beauty industry. Our Experience The Wessex Nail Academy was established in February 2014, specialising in providing tailored nail training courses, nail anatomy advice and Threading training courses. Whether you are totally new to the nail industry, have just started and would like further tuition and support or an experienced trained nail technician looking to build on your existing skills, then we can help you. Get your Nail Career off to a flying start or build upon your existing skills with Wessex Nail Academy. • Structured step-by step training to build your skills thoroughly • 1, 2 or 4 day training courses over 2 weeks, giving you extra learning and practice time • Certification allowing insurance on successful completion • Small classes or one-to-one available I am a member of the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA). Select below for Wessex Nail Academy Facebook site Our Training Offer The Wessex Nail Academy specialises in all aspects of Nail Technology. All of our Nail Training courses are fully ABT accredited in order for you to obtain the relevant insurance to carry out your new skills. We offer a full range of training opportunities, from a simple Beginners Nail Art training course to the more Advanced Sculpting Techniques. We offer one-to-one teaching as well as small classes. Details are available upon the Courses page of this site. We offer Nail Training Courses for those new to the nail industry, in addition to experienced nail technicians wishing to advance their careers by continuing their nail training with The Wessex Nail Academy. We are not product biased so are not forcing a particular brand or product on you. We are trained to a very high standard, with over 20 years experience in the Nail Industry. We offer a wide range of Nail Training Courses to suit your needs. We wish to share our nail industry knowledge, skills and experience with you through the delivery of our high standard Nail Training Courses. We strive to keep our nail industry knowledge up to date with our courses including the latest skills and techniques and we are always willing to try out new innovative products! All of our Nail Training courses are Associated Beauty Therapists Accredited. Our relaxing Studio at the Nail Workshop, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset The Relaxing Studio Setting The Wessex Nail Academy is based at The Nail Workshop which is located at Myrtle Cottage ,being nearly 200 years old and having a beautiful setting in cottage gardens with views of the 15th century parish church. Your nail training courses or other beauty training courses are delivered in The Wessex Nail Academy training studio, which is large, bright, airy, quiet, relaxing and private! The perfect environment to increase your nail industry knowledge and learn new skills and techniques. Each student is offered fresh coffee, tea, herbal tea, fruit juice or mineral water throughout their Nail Technician training course .

Adderley Nursery School

adderley nursery school

1HN,

Adderley is a very child-centred nursery, which means that children spend much of their day engaged in self-directed learning. The majority of the day is free-flow, meaning children choose to engage in a range of different activities, indoors and outdoors. Children engage in activities independently and with their friends, as well as taking part in adult facilitated activities that are planned from children's interests and developmental needs. We believe that at this young age children learn best through a play-based curriculum, with support from our experienced staff team who engage with children in their play to support social interaction, language development and further learning opportunities. Some key attributes we seek to develop in children include self-confidence, problem solving and independence. 2-4s Unlike many other settings, at Adderley our two to four year olds are all part of the same unit. They share the same space and access the same activities. The Nursery is led by qualified early years' teachers and experienced qualified Nursery Practitioners. Key Person Each child & family has a named key practitioner. This offers the opportunity for a special relationship to develop. The key practitioner builds a close relationship by acting as a companion for the child & being mindful to the needs of the child during each day. The key practitioner acts as a champion for child & parent. Sharing information and creating opportunities to talk with parents builds trust & partnership. Settling-in is a crucial time. Transitions Each child and family is unique. Before starting Nursery, we offer all children and families a pre-entry induction meeting at Nursery and sometimes a home visit. We have new children starting every term. We have a range of base areas that offer a place of security for children to explore the Nursery. The Loft Room and Green Room provision support our youngest children to make smooth transitions from home to Nursery. There are seamless internal transitions to Studio 1 and Studio 2 for older children. Studio 1 and Studio 2 offer continuity and progression. We work together to support the settling process. When parents feel comfortable in the setting it helps their children to settle. During the Summer Term we work closely with neighbouring primary schools to offer smooth transitions to Reception. Children leave with excellent primary school readiness. Rhythm of the Day Adderley feels like home. We create Rhythm in the Nursery through our daily routine. Some children arrive early for breakfast and stay for tea. These are nurturing, social times. For most children in Nursery the day begins with meeting & greeting by the key person. A group time with the key person takes place on entry to meet & plan learning (breathing in) (15 minutes). This is followed by a period of child-initiated play indoors & outdoors (breathing out & exploring the world) (90 minutes). A group time at end of the session to share food, reflect, share stories and singing (breathing in) (15 minutes). About the Nursery Rhythm also comes through personal care routines. Nappy changing, changing clothes, washing, eating, quiet/resting/sleeping times are learning and development times for key person and child. Children experience the seasons and feel connected to nature and its lifecycle. There is a planned yearly timetable for looking after the garden and visits to parks. There are unplanned spontaneous experiences connected to weather. Children participate in real experiences like shopping, gardening, cooking and caring for living creatures and plants Food and Nutrition We are passionate about fresh, healthy food that tastes great. The right nutrients can affect everyone's mood, behaviour, health, growth and even their ability to concentrate. Encouraging a well-balanced diet establishes healthy eating now and for the future. We offer hot meals that are brought onto site by specialist caterers in education establishments. The children also have access to a morning snack of fruit with water available throughout the day. We offer breakfast and tea to children who are with us for longer days. The children grow some of our food in the garden. Governing Body The Governing body plays a key role in overseeing the practice and ethos of the school. They provide challenge and support to the Executive Head teacher and leadership team. If you would like to be involved please ask at Reception. Annual Data At Adderley we track children's learning and development termly, seeking to ensure that children make good or better progress and continue to be stimulated and challenged by their nursery experiences. This information is shared with families at termly reviews. We also use this data to identify curriculum development priorities. Working with Parents We value parental input very highly. We are always looking for parents to join our Governing Body which s a way to be involved in the direction that Adderley takes moving forwards. Each term parents meet with their child's Key person and contribute to identifying 'next steps' for their child's learning and development. We encourage families to share children's learning experiences from home through the Tapestry documentation tool.

Beggarbush Media

beggarbush media

Worcester

Ben and family run Beggarbush Gundogs a true family business. We all share the passion for working dogs. Joe and Jack our two young boys enjoy the dogs / puppies and training as much as us all. We have invested in premium facilities making Beggarbush Gundogs one of the stand-out Gundog centres around. Clients visit from all over the world to train and learn from Ben. After another amazing training session I felt compelled to write short piece on my experience working with Ben Randall that would hopefully help others do the right thing and sign up for some training while also thanking him for what he has helped us achieve. My journey with Ben and Beggarbush Gundogs started from an Internet search to look up the guy who had achieved so much following a day from hell with my 16 month Springer Spaniel. After a whole year of training with my local club and a number of “experts” Bracken was nothing short of a nightmare. He wouldn’t heel, he ran in on everything, his nose completely ruled his actions and it looked like he was too hot to handle. At the end of my tether the only option left was to seek out a real expert and after an extensive search felt that Ben’s CV in this field could have only been achieved by an expert. After reaching out to Ben he suggested an initial 2 hour assessment and lesson which I took him up on. I can honestly say without any hesitation, the best decision I’ve made in my field sports life to date. From arriving at Ledbury Lodge Kennels, the home of Beggarbush gun dogs, until today I have been impressed further and further. The facilities at Ledbury Lodge are first class and provide everything from comfortable tweed couches for the initial consultation and coffee, to the training facilities with cover, retrieving lanes and water. Beggarbush certainly has everything needed to get the best out of the sessions. After speaking with Ben at length about where we were with our training and advising Ben I wanted an all-round Springer that could stand on the peg with me as well as shooting over him, beating and a bit of picking up, I expected Ben to try and lower my expectations. He reassured me it was achievable but laid out in no uncertain terms that it would require going back to basics to ensure we had all the right building blocks to bring together for the field. We spoke at length about Ben’s bespoke training methods, the theory, dog psychology and experience to explain how and why it worked (suggest speaking to Ben directly for details) and I went home with lots of exercises and work to do following Ben’s foundation training. On September 9th Bracken stood with me for 5 drives while my wife enjoyed her first day of the season, Bracken was off of the lead all day. We were fortunate enough to have a few more days out through the season, Bracken was with me on all of them and was a joy to be with and we received a number of positive comments, about Bracken, unfortunately not about my shooting!! On October 5th were given the opportunity to go out beating on a hugely well respected Estate in the Cotswolds. This particular estate is known for its exceptionally well presented birds and no nonsense keeping. We were invited back and went on to be presented with Beater and Dog of the year at the Shoot dinner. The gamekeeper praising Bracken specifically as one of the best dogs he’s seen for 20+ years in the field. I genuinely can’t believe how far Bracken and I have come under Ben’s guidance. It’s been an incredible journey and education that has completely opened my eyes and shown me what training a dog is really about. It’s not just a series of repetitive exercises that they slowly learn. It’s a complete ethos combing specifically designed exercises that come together to give the dog and handler the right skills and importantly relationship to perform in harmony in the field. We also now feed our dogs Kronch ‘Beggarbush Champions Choice’ specifically developed by Ben for working dogs. It has given all our dog’s incredible coats that keep them warm and dry on the cold wet days and keeps them with drive and power from early till late, some weeks 3-4 days in a row. Needless to say, I can’t speak highly enough of Ben Randall and Beggarbush Gundogs. We now train all our dogs with Ben and all are seeing the same amazing progression even though they are three of the most different dog personalities you could find. Ben really does appear to have seen it all and is able to keep making suggestions and giving little hints and tips that always allow for an answer to the varying degrees of problems we come up against. Whether the dogs are out as a pack with the family on a relaxing walk, individually training or working on a shoot, we are regularly asked for advice on various training needs and I am now confident to help anyone……….call Ben Randall at Beggarbush, he will sort it!!!! Without any reservation I would strongly recommend Ben Randall and Beggarbush Gundogs for a complete training and development experience to suit any level and dog training ambition. As I have said on more than one occasion. Thanks Ben, you have completely changed our field sporting lives to such a huge degree. Long may it continue and with the new dogs too.

Raise Up Business Club (Silke Thistlewood)

raise up business club (silke thistlewood)

Cheshire

I (Silke Thistlewood, that’s me on the left with my 2 girls) set up a local networking group for mums in early 2017 after returning from (self employed) maternity leave and feeling decidedly isolated. I had lost my business mojo, felt pretty lonely, and couldn’t make any of the existing networking meetings (no babies allowed, too early, too late etc) so I decided to start my own. I called it Tonbridge Mums in Business and its facebook group grew to 500 members within just a few weeks (it surpassed 1,000 quite some time ago now). We’ve been having regular meetings ever since and the facebook community has grown from strength to strength, with the Thursday promotional thread having become a thing of legend. You have to see it to believe the amount of local talent! And now RuBC_LogoFinal_White_Rose.png In early 2019 I felt is was time to raise the bar and level up - in my own businesses and for the group. I had for some time been wanting to add more value for members - more structure, support and resources (mailing lists for meeting reminders, access to talks members can’t attend, accountability, goal setting etc). With 2 other businesses to run and young kids to look after this was logistically and financially not possible on a voluntary basis (paying for the yearly website subscription alone made my eyes water…..) so I made the decision to introduce a membership structure and a charge for the meetings. I very much hope that the pricing structure I have decided on reflects the value current members have gained from the group and the meetings, and the fact that most of us are working with small margins and reduced working hours crammed around child care and other responsibilities. To set the group apart from other networking meetings in the area, which are confusingly similar in name, the group has been re-branded and has a new name that I feel embodies what the group and community are - supportive, encouraging, non judgemental, inclusive, friendly and quite frankly, magical. I am blown away at each and every meeting by the friendships and kindness that members show each other. What you can expect Community, support, encouragement, friendship, collaborations, inspiration, education - online and in real life across both communities. Weekly check-ins, accountability prompts in the membership community to keep you on track, inspired and safe in the knowledge that this group of women will always have your back. We also co-work in real life and on zoom, go on walks together, discuss books and have coaching sessions with the one and only Action Woman. A wider community of businesses in the free facebook group with the chance to promote your business each Thursday, as well as getting to know others and forming friendships and a basis for collaborations. Someone will always have an answer to any questions you might have - business or otherwise. Regular networking meetings with expert speakers, mingling and cake and/or wine - and not an elevator pitch in sight (so no need to feel nervous). Easy going networking, without the need to “work the room” or hand out business cards at super sonic speed. Our meetings are informal but effective. Low key but inspirational, educational and supportive. Some kind words from business women in the community “There is always a warm excited, inclusive buzz within the group, with many friendships that have been formed over time and I know that some of us have started either using each other’s products or services – or formed collaborations with each other. It’s like a girls night out every month in Tonbridge! SAM HOGWOOD, ESCAPE FROM THE CITY This group has been very welcoming from my first step into my first meeting. I have found everyone in the group to be friendly and supportive of each other and encouraging of the development of one another's businesses. The facebook group and meetings have allowed for shared knowledge and experience in developing each others businesses. I have made great business links and come into work through the group, both paid and through joint collaborations. I have also made some lovely friends through the group which has been a really lovely added bonus CLAIRE READER, CAPTURE ME HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHY I started my Virtual Assistant business in the middle of last year and I am a regular on the weekly Thursday updates. These updates are great as not only do people learn how your business is growing but you can support and find out about other local businesses on your doorstep. I have not made it to one of the networking events that Silke kindly arranges yet, but I will, and when I do, I am sure it will be even more beneficial to my start up business than the group has been so far. EMMA HAGGART, KENT VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Since setting up my hypnotherapy business in 2018, I've found the support of this talented and diverse group to be wonderful. It's great knowing I am not alone in being new to setting up a business, and coming up against many of the same issues as others in the group. This is so reassuring, and I have really benefited from the shared knowledge, passion and experience of everyone in the group. Meet ups are friendly and dynamic, and the topics very fitting. I've made some good contacts and will always recommend fellow business owners where I can. Thanks to Silke this group has really grown and developed and I look forward to further collaboration this year.