It was a busy weekend in Wokingham what with the wine festival inside the Town Hall and outside the annual motorbike clubs Santa run with something like 2000 Christmas themed bikers filling the streets to bring presents to the local Banardo's.

At the 1st Wokingham wine festival, organised by the round table, The Association of Small Direct Winemerchants and raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society I recorded some interviews to bring the spirit of the event to your ears.

And we finish off with Wine Woman and Song by Johnny Ferreira.

Find links to more info on all this at inwokingham.com

Wokingham Wine Festival

Stanlake Park Stanlake Park Wine Estate was established in 1989 and is Berkshire's most prolific and prestigious vineyard. We are close to Ruscombe, Twyford and Hurst. We focus on English Wine and make around a dozen different varieties - white, rose, red and sparkling. We make a number of varietal wines including Ortega, Bacchus, Gewurz and Madeleine Angevine. Our newly opened Cellar Shop provides an atmospheric environment to sample the wine and select from our wide range of wine accessories, and wine-related gifts. We also have a restored 16th century event barn. Details, including directions and an on-line shop, can be found at: www.stanlakepark.com

Round Table Website: www.wokinghamrt.org.uk

ASDW - The Association of Small Direct Winemerchants www.asdw.co.uk

Multiple Sclerosis Society www.mssociety.org.uk

Music from the Podsafe Music Network.

Podsafe Music Network - Heth and Jed Christmas...sweeter than wine

Podsafe Music Network - Johnny Ferreira Wine Woman and Song

inWokingham - The Wokingham Berkshire UK - Pub, Eating and Leisure Newsletter & Directory

Wokingham Wine Festival

Nick of Nick Dobson Wines

Tony Hill of Bordeaux Et Beyond - Home

Music from the Podsafe Music Network.

Podsafe Music Network - Larry Winfield

Podsafe Music Network - The New Autonomous Folksingers

MUSIC: Fireworks (Start of) by Podsafe Music Network - Vanessa Peters and Ice Cream On Mondays

Well, the clocks go back tonight, and so those coming morns will be lighter and the thus the evenings will be darker. Either way the changing of the clocks will not hide the fact that the days continue to shorten until December.

The 11^th of the 11^th brings Remembrance Day and the Poppy Appeal was launched this week.

Wokingham is now well into Autumn and Winter beckons. Chilly morns with mist and coolness broken only by the shallow warmth of sunbeams from that sun that is getting lower in the sky each following day. The traditional British Guy Fawkes celebrations are mixing in with that US import Halloween, being a favourite of the retail trade as, apart from fireworks, the traditional Guy Fawkes doesn't give many selling opportunities. Guy Fawkes - Wikipedia being a firework festival to commemorate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 to blow up the British parliament. Before the uptake of Halloween, kids used to make a 'guy' with old clothes and newspaper for stuffing, take their artistic or otherwise creation to a street corner to collect donations toward the fireworks and lemonade for Nov 5^th.

Coming up next week we have the Wokingham Cantley Firework Event. Find details via http://inWokingham.com. And http://wokingham.gov.uk have a full listing of local displays downloadable as a pdf format file.

With the US election so much in the news, more of that later, WBC tell us that many seem disinclined to register for the English elections,

Wokingham Election

Wokingham Borough Council - Coronation ward by-election Thursday 13 November 2008

Wokingham Borough Council - New bus services - from Monday 27 October 2008

Though it seems there will still be no buses after 6pm or on Sundays, what chance of gettiing peeps out of there cars?

Wokingham Mobile Speed Signs

I mentioned that the Flower Corner shop in Broad Street had moved along the road to smaller premises, and the vacated site has been redeveloped internally and has re-opened as a Zizzi eatery. Pizza, pasta and other Italian is the core menu. They are part of the ASK chain of eateries. An interesting feature that has provided extra space and is similar to Pizza Express along the road is the covering of the old garden area at the rear with a large conservatory. The only thing I found about the Pizza Express conservatory is that that glass acts as a sound panel, reflecting and bouncing sound around, making it anything but a calm, quiet place for a get-together, although for lively stag or hen parties, (in the gender sense, rather than the wedding sense) the buzz it creates is enlivening, if such enlivening is ever needed.

I'll be interested to hear how diners at Zizzi enjoy this new place, I have seen comments about 'not another Italian' but it is looking very popular so far, though maybe this is just the “buzz of the new”.

Their website is here Welcome to Zizzi, but it does need Flash installed on you browser (why do they do that) anyway you can find a pic of the menu here Zizzi Menus if you don't have or want Flash, or are browsing with a iPhone or iTouch that doesn't support Flash.

Talking of buzz and politics, an old story has come back into the spotlight, not too much of a surprise when so many are poking around in so many corners. Barak (barark) Obama was the focus of a story

In January this year the English Newspaper The Daily Mirror printed a story titled:

Barrack's British background - mirror.co.uk

in July the story developed, with the Wokingham Times, part of the Guardian Media group reporting that Al Jezerra filmed a guide to walking in the footsteps.

Al Jazeera TV puts spotlight on Wokingham over Barack - News - getwokingham - The Wokingham Times

And then this week I get a call from a journalist in Canada asking for information about any escorted tours of “walking in the steps of “ I had say I don't know of one, but if any listener does know of one, or plans to start one themselves, then please let me know.

The US election has become a real world-wide phenomena and although many in Wokingham say “what has it to do with us”, but for many there are wild diversions and this is one. From the PMN at http://mevio.com , a band from NYNY with a track in WOMAD world music style.

Podsafe Music Network - Manze Dayila & The Nago Nation

CD Baby: MANZE DAYILA & THE NAGO NATION: Solé

If you have news, info, pics or pointers inWokingham now has a drop.io dropping place. To drop stuff there you'll need a password and sign in as a guest, the password is, as of now, “stuffforinwokingham” spell it out as one word.

Well there has been a significant gap since the last podcast, but I have tried to keep the news flowing via my social networks including Twitter http://twitter.com/mikethebee and Friendfeed I have also had the chance to produce a couple of shorts shows for http://specialselection.mevio.com which, I am pleased to say, is now available directly from iTunes

Also on the eating in Wokingham front, we saw the conversion of the Plough, pub and steak house, at the motorway end of London Road and its re-opening at the end of June as a Loch Fyne restaurant and traditional bar. The lease is still owned by Greene King and the bar serves real ales from the GK portfolio which includes IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen. Loch Fyne are famous for their seafood counter, open preparation area and a modern flair to décor and menu. Website: Loch Fyne Oysters and Restaurants - Home] “

From a small, roadside stall on the banks of Loch Fyne, a group of businesses have developed based on the principles of good food, sustainably sourced and simply presented by people who care”

They actively support raising funds for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) which is no bad thing and is wearing their good neighbour credentials on their sleeve

Satisfaction reports are mixed at this early stage after opening, so any comments you may have would be welcomed at http://inwokingham.mevio.com . The manager Xavia is very open and welcoming, he appreciates the importance of the restaurant to Wokingham, and knows he will be measured against Loch Fyne's other local outlets at Reading and Henley.

Last weekend saw the second

Wokingham food and drink festival - this weekend!

Broad Street Tavern Clive and Beth celebrate 10 years with a Beer Festival Thursday 11 ^th September 2008 http://broadstreettaven.co.uk

with 14 real ales planned.

Don't forget that you can download a PDF of the Borough Newspaper. http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-meetings-democracy/news/wokingham-borough-news

All the news in full colour and available at their website for locals or expats anywhere in the world..

Youngsters get active at the pod WBC News release - Details

Smoking out under-age and illegal tobacco sales

Green Watch

Free green workshop for community groups in the Wokingham Borough

Free green workshop for businesses

Survey launched to make sure 10,000 businesses aren't rubbish Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

 
The partnership would now like to hear from as many of the 10,400 businesses in the re3 area as possible via the confidential and easy-to-use electronic survey – which can be found by logging on to www.re3.org.uk  
 
It takes around 10 minutes to complete and asks businesses a number of things including: 
• Size of company 
• Business sector 
• If they recyclewhat they recycle 
• What types of bins they use 
• How frequently they have waste collected 
 
Once the survey finishes on Thursday September 18 the results will be looked at in greater detail so that practical steps can be taken to support the area’s businesses. 

Update on the J11 project

Green for go at M4 junction 11

Planting party proves a fun day in Gorse Ride

Composting workshops at Wokingham Borough's libraries

Wokingham level crossing closure

Countdown to London 2012

One of the big differences I notice between Ireland and Wokingham is the visual community support of the Olypic hopefuls

Wokingham youngsters pack their bags for south africa

I mentioned last time the Battle of the band festival day at the Youth centre intending to raise funds for a trip to South Africa.

Respect campaign in Wokingham Borough

There have been howls of delight this week after Dinton Pastures Country Park was shortlisted as one of the best places to walk pet pooches in the UK.

Dinton takes the lead in dog walking

Dinton has been shortlisted in the annual awards and members of the public can now vote to make the area one of the country’s top 21 dog walking parks. Voting closes on Sunday November 30 and members of the public can vote for Dinton by logging on to www.21topdogwalks.co.uk  
 

Life is good in Wokingham Spot

Costume service is fit for the Queen

Celebrating healthy schools

A level results published

Wokingham Borough pupils were yesterday - August 14 -celebrating after A level results were announced and almost all of the schools in the borough achieved or surpassed the overall national pass rate, which is a real credit to all the pupils, their teachers and support staff.   
 
Initial calculations of the provisional results available from schools so far show that the overall pass rate - A to E in the borough is 98.4% - slightly higher than last year’s results of 97.9%.  This means that the borough is again above the national pass rate - 97.2%. 
 

MUSIC: Four Legs To Travel On by  Podsafe Music Network - Bryan Cogshell

The cold blustery Spring has lead to a great delay in plants starting the get-go in the growing dept, not that the birds have minded, although with bare trees their nest prep has been more visible.

I have continued with the travelling about which a great chance for comparing and contrasting Wokingham to other places. Now, getting a chance to walk about Wokingham again, I see that the changes are continuing apace. A small group of several residential homes near Wokingham town have now been demolished and work has started on a what the developers describe as disconnected apartments. I wonder how that works, and imagined a futuristic cartoon design from the fifties with pods floating in the air and jetcars pulling up outside. Anyway the building boom seems to be containing in spite of the reports in the media that tell a different tale.

And obviously others are following the reports the of Wokingham of having the Highest Quality Of Life Is Near London as the large pub restaurant in London road called The Plough for all the years I've been in Wokingham, is closed and undergoing conversion to a Loch Fyne [Website: Loch Fyne Oysters and Restaurants - Home] outlet, a specialist seafood eatery. Their Tagline from the website reads:

“ From a small, roadside stall on the banks of Loch Fyne, a group of businesses have developed based on the principles of good food, sustainably sourced and simply presented by people who care”

They are recruiting for the new Wokingham outlet which opens Monday 30th June 2008 and for Bracknell/Ascot/Windsor at the former Crispin pub.

They actively support raising funds for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)

In other conversion work, that that was on going at Montague House in Broad street is now mostly complete, accommodating The IMMO restaurant and with apartments above. Access to the Waitrose car- park has now been reopened. The whole building looks good and is such an improvement as it had become so tatty looking after Wokingham and Bracknell College moved out, with weeds and decay taking over more everyday. And then I hear the the planning people are giving IMMO grief over their entrance design. What gives with that!

I said last time that I find it surprising that they seemed to be taking an understated approach to marketing this new branch in Wokingham. But news reaches me that there have been changes at the place and front of house staff now co-ordinate a more local welcome, it is good to hear that such comments elicit a positive response.

The while new IMMO restaurant is proving popular and I am told that it has had no adverse impact on business at the many other Italian places in the town such as Rossini, who are having to implement two sittings on Saturday nights due to demand, another sign of the prosperity in the area.

Though I must say, having not been shopping for food in the usual way recently, now I have been back to routine, I really notice the increases in regular item prices, inflation in our budget is no way at 3% as we are told, ours must be closer to 10% and that is without the Fuel., or Gas as our US listeners will know it. We're now paying £1.14 ($2.10) per Litre and Irelland are rapidly catching up even without the EURO Sterling exchange getting closer and closer to par.

House prices 90k too high for many

Residents reminded to find about the M4 Jct 11 project at exhibitions Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Last time I mentioned planned junction improvements close to the Majestki Football Stadium, home of Reading Soccer Football Club. Work on the £65m scheme to improve the notorious Junction 11 bottleneck began last month with the project expected to be completed in the Summer of 2010. Of course the stadium is not just used for Soccer, rugby, and even American football have been played, but there may be smaller crowds for Readings games this year after the team were relegated from the Premiership League giving great disappointment to their fans, though probably not a lot of surprise. They were calls for the Manager Steve Coppell to resign and more calls for him to stay, which he has now agreed to do.

And I found an Irish connection with Yahoo! Pointing to a www. guardian.co.uk article from 2007 [ Big interview: Steve Coppell | Football | The Observer]

Where “Softly spoken Steve Coppell tells Amy Lawrence of the hunger that drives his Reading team and how five pints of Guinness helped him to sign Kevin Doyle. “

Interesting considering the closeness of the Courage brewery to Reading and the recent news of the closure of Guinness's 60 acre central Dublin brewery site.

And hearing that the BBC enunciation dept have been briefing presenters and interviewers on the correct pronunciation of Barrack Obama's first name. Not 'Barak' but 'Barrark' apparently, I read at the localberkshire news site that a local lad [Bebo site Daniel Priddy] [ Blog]

Local Berkshire | News | Help Daniel witness US swearing-in

Teen hopes to make it to the White House - News - getwokingham - The Wokingham Times

Last summer he was nominated to attend a two week Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC. The event was attended by 250 young potential leaders from every corner of the world although Daniel was one of just two students from Britain

Due to the skills that he demonstrated at the Global Young Leaders conference, Daniel was selected by the University Presidential Inaugural Conference to attend a week-long course which includes seeing the inauguration of the President and the Vice President of The USA

The 18 year old is currently raising funds to pay for a trip to the White House “Hopefully people will be willing to sponsor me, and I have a few fund-raising ideas, such as scaling Britain’s Three peaks this summer.” Daniel needs around £1,300 excluding flights, but only has £350 so far.

Again, another encouraging story of GenX youth. I hope he gets the sponsorship quickly, and wish him all the best for the future.

Hot News

TRL mini-town set for refusal – GetBracknell – Meeting 22May08

Pupils march for crossing Walking Bus promotion highlights safety issues with walking. No crossing, high speed limits and more. Its amazing how driving blinkers so many people, the motorvarty, Big Wheels Little wheels unpowered wheels and feet.. And I do notice on this story that a commenter complains about comments being deleted by the newspaper site. I guess this is an distinguishing element of old media adopting new media technology and pure new media ones.

Tea rooms and cricket make city No1 in North York is the ninth most British place in the country, according to local information website locallife.co.uk. The Yorkshire city has more attractions and businesses deemed to be "truly British" per capita than almost anywhere else - with one tea room, cricket club, pub, fish and chip shop, holiday camp, stately home, pet shop, distillery, curry house and theatre for every 628 residents. But Wokingham in Berkshire is the worst place to go if you're looking for "a brew and a queue". The town finished bottom of the Britishness league table, in 324th position, with each pub, cricket club or other British attraction serving 5,429 people. Lol at the comments on this one, good northern grit :-) This site includes the comments in the article page, but has a similar look and feel to the 'Get' sites.

Council looking for more foster carers

Bracknell and Wokingham ’s best-kept secret Bracknell & Wokingham Swimming Club's great successes.

Cllr David Lee, newly-elected leader of Wokingham Borough Council

DAVID Lee saw off Earley councillor Matt Deegan to become the new leader of Wokingham Borough Council in an election last night.

Cllr Lee, who represents Norreys ward, replaces Frank Browne who stepped down as Tory leader and as a councillor on after the local elections on May 1.

Town centre bank raid - News - getwokingham - The Wokingham Times

Wokingham Local government News

Game, set and match for Wokingham Borough Council Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Borough's bus service on the right route! Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Wokingham Borough Council teamed up with Thames Travel in January to provide an enhanced bus service for residents and commuters and over the past six months it has proved so popular that the service is now being enhanced to provide an even better service.

Live music event at Wokingham Youth Centre Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

MySpace.com - Sister Gracie (Now booking for 2008!) - Windsor Reading, UK - Indie Punk Pop Punk - www.myspace.com/sistergracieband

MySpace.com - FreeStone - UK - Rock Blues Classic Rock - www.myspace.com/freestoneband

MySpace.com - Streetfight Silence - Berkshire, UK - Pop Rock Progressive - www.myspace.com/streetfightsilence

Initial design for multi-million pound building project at Waingels College Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Online booking service to launch Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Green Watch Spot

Disposable nappies get a bum deal at real nappy coffee morning Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Arts and crafts market launched Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

There will be even more reason than normal to visit Wokingham town centre on the first Sundays of each month soon, when an art and craft market is launched on June 1.

Green workshop Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

TVP News

National Tackling Drugs Week, which started yesterday (19/5) Current press releases

Residents to remain vigilant after a property caught fire as a result of a cannabis factory

Four arrested in connection with robbery of Porsche - Slough

Waingels College Brochure

Prometheus Music - To Touch the Stars

"... I am thrilled by this new collection of original songs celebrating the beginnings of our great endeavor to reach for the stars."

— Buzz Aldrin
(Apollo 11 Astronaut)

To Touch the Stars includes a stunning 32-page photobooklet with song lyrics and essays by award-winning space science author Marianne Dyson and Mars Society President Robert Zubrin .

Spring time in Feb replaced by a wintry feel at the end of March

Wokingham battered by rain and high winds - News - getwokingham

February and March have been busy months, I have been travelling about and comparing and contrasting Wokingham to other places. So it was interesting to see that “ Town voted least British in the UK “ and also “ Highest Quality Of Life Is Near London”

So I have been keeping up with news on Wokingham via the web. And checking the logs on the eating.inwokingham.com site I see that the new IMMO restaurant is proving popular. Owned by the same company as Prezzo I find it surprising that they seem to be taking an understated approach to marketing this new branch in Wokingham. The space for the venue was created from a classic building in the centre of town that accommodated the Library before the new one in Denmark street was built, and then part of Bracknell and Wokingham College.

The big news for the area comes with the approval of a major upgrade to Junction 11 of the M4. The main exit for Wokingham is a Junction 10 and many drivers pop along to Reading via the M4 and J11, which is close to the Courage Brewery, Majestki Football Stadium and several Retail Parks.

Builder & Engineer - £60m M4 upgrade gets go ahead

Talking about the M4, if you are didn't know that you easy & free access to many cameras around the UK, check out the web links in the show notes. Why would one want to do that? Weather & traffic are just 2 that tweek me. Combine the cams with a weather radar map and you can see if that snow shower has reached wherever in real time. Check the traffic volume on the M4 before a journey West or east. etc

Surveillance cameras on M4 and in Reading on the web http://bbc.co.uk/berkshire

Taking liberties – chris atkins YOUTUBE from DSC

Spitzer caught by population surveillance aimed ostensibly at crime. Call girl complains about publicity., AP

Four webcams and a funeral: Far-flung relatives pay £75 to see ...

UK Govt to ISPs: 'You Have Until April '09 to Punish File-Sharers'

Virgin Media Will be the First UK ISP to Disconnect Illegal File-Sharers

Dog The bounty hunter in the UK – 40mins on DSC721.

And I came across two example of silly scheduling, The on platform waiting rooms at Bedford Railway station being refurbished, and the refurbishment of the nearest recycling centre for Wokingham.

Wokingham Borough Council - Longshot lane waste site closure

The same happened in Cambridge and Bedford except in there cases there was total closure for many months. I say “take recycling seriously” it should not be a game. In Ireland the WEEE implementation has led to an extra charge on every item, the amount depends on the size and value of the item.

Bin collections will not change – pledge - News - getwokingham

Comments in DSC-721

And after a lot of upheaval in the town over the last year because of gas main replacement works, news came of a Major gas leak closes town roads Bell foundry lane

Chlorine gas leak hits five at leisure centre

TECH NEWS

There was a lot of talk about 3 undersea cables being cut somewhere in the gulf

undersea DATA cable aimless anchor Tech5

Connecting The Many Undersea Cut Cable Dots

GREEN NEWS

Pupils’ green idea bags an achievement gong

Don't Forget you can find the shownotes at http://inwokingham.com

URListening 2

Welcome to Indigo Whisky 029 for the 17 Jan 08 I am your host mikethebee

Those who I missed over NY, HNY to you and to everyone else who i've seen on twitter and elsewhere welcome to the show.

Podsafe Music Network - Kiallio

Music:Background:3m20s: Kiallio-I Love My Soul-Jan. 2 2008-Techno

Weather: the word of weather since Christmas: has been Wet Wet Wet, No cold really in Wokingham yet, but Feb is usually the snowy month. The birds are busy marking out there territories , the blackbirds are fascinating as the Ladies seem to woo several suitors at a time and fight them and they with each other, but the men have been hopping in and out of the new improvised bird bath I created. Even on those frosty days when I removed the ice from the top.

The Telegraph.co.uk on the 14 Jan reported the racing at nearby Newbury Horse Racing course was expected to go ahead, but by Yesterday it had been called off due to water-logging.

Newbury optimistic despite forecast of rain - Telegraph

Many of those that are still not back in their home since the previous floods are fearful of the days of downpours forecast for the next week. The council are continuing with the flood victim support programme.

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

The Wokingham Borough continues to celebrate excellent GCSE results with the publication yesterday (January 10) of the national GCSE attainment and achievement tables.

GCSE Results Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Cafe Nero WIFI, Wetherspoons wifi Sponsored Service 512mins

Apple launches new iPod Touch (tm)

Nokia N810 offer at www.curry.com

Barack Obama's stepmother living in Bracknell reveals the close bond with him ... and his mother | the Daily Mail

BBC NEWS | England | Berkshire | Third arrest over election fraud

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

icBerkshire - Hitting back against winter woes

Fire at Cannabis factory TVP

Music: Jeanne Backofen Craig_Star Spangled Banner

IcelandReview - Online

And for those that listen to the archers will be familiar with there story of newts

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

And after Christmas when lots of cycles etc – postcoding and marking

Current press releases TVP cycle coding

Christmas tree recycling

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

http://frozenpeafund.com/

The web is often slagged off of a dangerous and wild place, The Queen, but there is also a lot of caring and supportive people out there. Susan Reynolds and the frozen pea story.

MUSIC: Manic Street Preachers Autumn from Podshow.com

Cheers from here inWokingham

URListening -Special

Welcome to Indigo Whisky 028 for the 02-Jan-08

Review of 2007- look back at what's been achieved in Wokingham during the last year. An impactful year for us with me starting the Podcast in March, It was an idea I had for a while but was triggered into action when I found Adam Curry the pirate radio jock and MTV star had begun Podshow

Also inspired by the great tracks provided by musicians to the Podsafe Music Network, The free, ad supported hosting which is giving me a starting window, his great enthusiasm for an open and fair approach to broadcasting and the global and local nature that the web is developing into.

Weather: Well the weather over the year was strange. Hot and dry in march april, wet and windy in June July August, no real winter.

I had no real audio recording experience when I started, and so this has been a learning year for me. But I agree with those who say just do it. This is a philosophy that is big in Ireland or at least with those who travel from Ireland, to California, London, and most places in the world, where people tell me there is always a 'Shamrock bar'. Its a change in philosophy for me, being a cautious chap. But with my brothers passing at such a young age and so many of our generation having less time than they or we expected this feels right, even if financially its a gamble.

Podcamps Birmingham, Kilkenny. Meeting. Groups EstebanUk, Podcasters such as Neville Hobson, GreenDragon, Heather Goringe and so many more, listeners and fans of the shows, and those wanting to learn how to do it. It was great. And they are a great bunch, so diverse in character and career.

We missed the Barcamps, being out of the area each time one took place, whichever area it happened to be, but we hope to make the time available in 2008 and we should get more notice..

We Recorded at festivals: Reading and Bedford Beer festivals Oxford and Wantage Folk festivals. Morris dancers snook in on many occasions and added their jingle of bells.

Farmers, market, twinning visit from Erfstadt and Viry-Chatellen. May fayre and November Winter Carnival. All the life of Wokingham.

Common themes ran through the year: many Wok Pubs changing time and time again. And just like a Bar the Web is becoming a place of conversation, community and contact. Maybe now so many bars are no-smoking the time for outdoor venue bars has arrived. From Pub, to Bar, to Shed, to outdoor venues. Building boom with Houses replaced by flats, middle family homes by over 55s only. Roadworks, powercuts & new Italian restuarants. Were part of the consequences.

Thoughts for 2008:

Get to more festivals meet more morris dancers even , develop TSOL philosophy, Home brewing. Grow your own, use less - make more of it, recycle, relax . Meet more people by keeping in touch more. And the tools of the web are here to help. www.Twitter.com, www.Flickr.com. www.Eye.fi wi-fi picture upload card. Podshow has the potentialk to be a fine social network as well a great source of entertainment. I hope its the the year of PS, it should be with BT's support in the UK.

Our mix of Old and New Media with www.Bookcrossing.com of SN did not seem to be a success for us, as our first book disappeared without further reports. But it was worth a go, and Lou enjoyed the serendipitous nature of the book.

The Madeline McCann story has stayed high In the old media, but although supportive New media has tired of the way the story has been badgered by the old media. Wev'e reported selected news from WBC and TVP, and contrasted life inWokingham with Dingle, SanFran and the UK.

MUSIC in background Patricia Paay And the Star Sisters - Melody

A major surprise hit of the year was Strictly Come Dancing on BBC and Dancing on Ice on ITV PP featured in the Danish TV version of Strictly as is has become known.

I play out with a selection from some of the tracks we have played over the year.

Wokingham News: Several days of French market over Christmas.

Mix-up selection of tracks played on our Podcast over the past year.

Included:

Strange Weather Excellent Adventure

Suil a ruin Ceili Moss

Orchard Of Mines Dann from Vanton & Globus 8

Seven Beer Bitch Adrenaline Factor

Tear it up - Original mix Deltawave

In Saint Lou 7 Shot Screamers

Cheers To You Dust Rhinos

Thursday Night Drinking Song Alun Parry

You Dont Know The Sarah Mac Band

Puppet got Brand New String Sandie Shaw

Good Times Never Last Katie Ellen

Surf Puppy Bob Kirkpatrick

Medley Remix 2007 Patricia Paay & The Star Sisters

And you can follow on inWokingham on twitter.com at Twitter.com/inWokingham

Don't Forget you can also find the shownotes at http://inwokingham.com

MUSIC: Charlie-Crowe_little-drummer-dude -background

Charlie-Crowe on Podshow

Weather: Cold and frosty most mornings, brightening up but not warming up in the day. And Fog arrived today disrupting the airlines on the most inconvenient day for holiday travellers.

Last night was the longest, in the past celebrated as Saturnalia and we can look forward to longer days from now on

Wokingham News:

And you can follow on inWokingham on twitter.com at Twitter.com/inWokingham

Lots of demand for the Wetherspoon special Christmas Roast at the Lloyds No.1 bar the Gig House. We had lots of visitors to our http://eating.inwokingham.com listing from http://maps.google.com and GE where the new image service is proving popular. Rossini and Sorrentos

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details Wokingham borough’s young people have elected a new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), who has pledged to get their voices heard on a bigger stage Adam Connell from Wokingham, was elected by youngsters aged 11 to 18 from across the Wokingham borough during a five-day ballot earlier this month, after receiving 593 of the 1,976 votes cast. He will take over from current MYP Yan Couper-Harris on February 1, 2008 It was revealed at a special ceremony on Thursday (December 13), The overall results were: 
· Adam Connell, 16 from Wokingham  – 593 votes 
· Shabana Karim aged 15 from Earley – 516 votes 
· Carlie Norwell aged 15 from Wokingham - 401 votes 
· Salah Elnour aged 15 from Lower Earley - 257 votes 
· Paula Frost aged 15 from Wokingham - 209 votes. 

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

In October 2006 Mr Vic Moszczynski made a voluntary and legally binding agreement with the court to refrain from encouraging the public to his property. 
 
The agreement expires in January 2009 and bars him from encouraging members of the public to visit his home, either directly or through family members or friends. 

  Council killjoys order homeowner to pull the plug on his 20,000 Christmas lights | the Daily Mail

upmarket Sonning at the northern end of the borough, ex fireman raised £55k over 18years.

Borough Council - News releases - Details 20/12/2007 Wokingham schools go global with rafi.ki

Rafi.ki (ki is the country domain code for Kiribati ) is an online community where any school can set up its own web page, similar to a ‘myspace’ page, and can buddy up with other schools to work on a huge variety of projects in different subject areas.  For example, a business studies project might see two UK schools set up rival businesses, or a philosophy of religion project might involve pupils at a Hindu school in India comparing their lives with pupils from a Catholic school in France

Rafi.ki is operated by gemin-i.org, a UK registered charity that specialises in developing web-based education tools for use around the world. The company runs three different social enterprises including rafi.ki.  Schools who would like more information on Rafi.ki can contact project manager Trine Petersen at trine@rafi.ki or on (020) 7702 9629 or can visit www.rafi.ki to find out more. .ki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And wondering if we will have snow this Christmas I was listening to the http://TWIT.tv network WindowsWeekly tech prog #44 and was amused by Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott firstly discussing the problem of living in small town USA

Recording: Bus bit

and then about snow clearing challenges in even smaller town US.

Recording: snow bit

Some local worker here have been working to head off potential Christmas problems.

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details 20/12/2007 Keeping Christmas spirits high but legal. Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and trading standards teams visited various pubs across the borough to make sure that they were complying with their licence conditions and selling authentic branded spirits in the run up to Christmas and New Year celebrations. 

Wokingham   Current press releases 19 December 2007 Marlow officers test pub-goers for drugs Marlow police were targeting illegal drug users at the Cross Keys on Saturday evening (15/12).

The operation was the second time the Ion Track Drug Trace Detection Device- or itemiser, has been used in Wycombe rural and was used with the full cooperation of the licensee. The Itemiser works by reading a swab taken from flat surfaces or someone’s hands as drug residue is resilient to normal cleaning. Results are ready in seconds and if a sample taken from the hands is positive, the person will be searched. No illegal drugs were found on Saturday at no one was arrested.

And we think of those who will be working over this holiday time, Council, travel and utility workers, Carers and Hospital staff and so many more.

And check out http://specialselection.podshow.com

next week for my Christmas Special Selection, the all music show (well mostly) with songs by Duran Duran and Alice Cooper

Music: Christmas! Of course! Bill deRome

Don't Forget you can find the shownotes at http://inwokingham.com

MUSIC: brobdingnagian_bards -Moria INSTRUMENTAL -background

Weather: A mixed week most mornings have been damp and dull, but many days have seen the afternoon as dry and sunny, that sun makes all the difference, clears some of that SAD feeling of this time of year. last w/e was Carnival weekend, and was poor in the morning, but the wind dropped and the rain stayed away for the procession, which was nice as so many people had worked hard for on the floats, this wasn't a NY Macy's style parade http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/rb_07_nov_21 ECHO with giant balloons of Scooby Do!, but a smaller more con-fraternity type event, typified by the Cats ensemble with a flat bed lorry carrying the little ones and those slightly bigger trotting on behind, I had to laugh at the crowd of mums and dads running along beside with coats, scarf's and mobile phones, one mother parading along with her little one in front, her ear glued to a mobile phone and paying no attention to the cheering crowds along the route. Is this Web2.0?

MUSIC: 2: Larry Seyer Larry's Waltz

Wokingham News:

Horsey Business.

Two mounted police officer are to ride into town from MK to help deal with and crowd disorder that may occur over the Christmas period.

Q: How do you stop street fights? A: With a lollipop - Get Wokingham

Mini-town is ‘inevitable’ at old TRL site - Get Wokingham

Stopblocking.org

A campaign to end business blocking of employee access to the Net — Stop Blocking! as a site designed to serve as a hub information resource for those who believe the benefits of providing access far outweigh the risks.

And you can follow InWokingham or Me on Twitter .com

CSCI: Councils improve but eligibility criteria keep on rising

Cheap fares scheme is safe - Get Wokingham

icBerkshire - Fury as controversial charity plans could be approved

Newbury Today | Railway worker killed on tracks

FTD.de - Business English - Ideas with a high sporting impact

Response Source | Press Releases - Middle Managers are the Most Habitual Hoarders of Documents, Files and Email | Journalist enquiries, press releases and more!

E-Discovery: New Federal Rules Require A Proactive Strategy -- E-Discovery -- InformationWeek

Document and business process management solutions, enterprise capture, litigation services, maintenance support, imaging and print solutions

Anacomp team

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details Dinton Pastures Country Park has suspended its day fishing scheme at White Swan Lake as a preventative step to protect carp from the killer disease Koi Herpesvirus (KHV).

KHV was detected at a fishery in the Berkshire area in late October and the Department for Environment, Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered a restriction of fish movement into and out of a number of fisheries in the immediate area.

While Dinton Pastures was not included in the movement ban, Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service, which runs fishing at the country park’s lakes and rivers, has taken the step of stopping all day-fishing passes at White Swan Lake to ensure that carp do not contract the deadly disease.

KHV has not been detected in the Wokingham borough but with the closure of other lakes in Berkshire the borough council is mindful that anglers whose regular lake is closed, and whose equipment may have come into contact with the virus, may use Dinton Pastures on an ad-hoc daily basis instead.
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Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details Wokingham borough's young people head to the polls

Text:

Young people in the Wokingham Borough are set to head to the polls next month (December) in the forthcoming Youth Parliament elections. And with five candidates standing, young people will have a tough decision to make on who to vote for.

Voting in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) elections is set to take place in the Wokingham Borough between December 3 and 7. Hundreds of young people aged between 11 and 18 years will cast their votes at the annual elections, and polling stations will be found at local schools and youth centres across the borough during that week

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details

Royal visit to mark the 300th anniversary of Shinfield schools

Text:

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent made it a day to remember for pupils, staff and governors when he visited Shinfield on Wednesday (November 28) to mark the celebrations of Shinfield Infant and Nursery School and Shinfield St Mary’s CE Junior Schools’ 300th anniversary.

Wokingham Borough Council - News releases - Details Local residents are invited to join Wokingham Borough Council’s mayor Cllr Annette Drake to sing-in the Christmas season with traditional carols around the tree, on Friday December 21 in the Mall at the Civic Offices, Shute End in Wokingham.

Carols hosted by the mayor are held each year and local residents are welcome to join in the festive fun where they can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and sing along to favourite Christmas carols between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Berkshire Maestros South Berkshire youth brass group will be providing the music, and the mayor will be joined by councillors and officers. There will also be a collection for the mayor’s charity, Building for the Future.

Wokingham Borough Council - Events

Berkshire Ornithological Club Circle Dance

Fun and friendly dance based on international folk dance. No experience necessary and no need to bring a partner.

Buddhist meditation classes - suitable for a

Wokingham Choral Society Concert

Twyford Singers Christmas Concert

Current press releases

Budding musicians are being invited to take part in a Battle of the Bands contest which is being organised by the Winnersh Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG).

The event, which is open to youngsters throughout Wokingham Local Police Area, will take place on January 18 with auditions being held at the Wokingham Youth Centre, in Reading Road, on December 8.

Story from DSC#682

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Featured Artist and Podsafe Music Network Track 

I've been playing acoustic guitar and other stringed instruments for about 29 years. These days I usually play Scottish and Irish music and perform in a couple of Seattle area bands. I've been working on some solo guitar and multi-instrumental music for some time - so here's my go at it. Podsafe Music Network - Christian Hoffman

A Cheerful Song

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Colder but sunny and a good weekend, one minor shower. African floods, Mexican floods, Georgia going dry.

Marathon CNN an American who came 20 ^th or something, what about the winner, oh he was from some