Archive for October, 2011

Treats Not Tricks For West Berkshire Mencap

October 31, 2011 - 2:20 pm 1,606 Comments

West Berkshire Mencap is a fantastic, local charity providing a wide range of outstanding services for people (of all ages) in West Berkshire and the surrounding area – and it’s one of Gecko’s favourite clients!

This morning we went to the ‘home’ of West Berks Link-Up at the Slater Centre, Greenham Common, to see West Berks Council hand over the keys to a brand new bus to Leila Ferguson, CEO of West Berks Mencap.

Leila Ferguson of West Berks Mencap receives the keys to its new bus

Leila Ferguson of West Berks Mencap receives the keys to its new bus

The bus will be used during the week to transport West Berks Mencap service users to activities and work organised by Link-Up and Growing4All, as well as collecting and delivering light goods, taking large mail outs to the main post office and updating noticeboards around town for Newbury District Council. Then at other times it will be used for outings too!

The New West Berks Mencap Bus and Service Users

The New West Berks Mencap Bus and Service Users

And, the great thing is that West Berks Mencap has bought the old bus which will be used by the residents of Heffernan House (WBM’s independent living accomodation for young adults with learning disabilities ) and the wider West Berks Mencap ‘family’… all helping to ensure that people with learning disabilities in the West Berks area can be part of the local community.

Echo & The Bunnymen – Not The Latest Kids Programme!

October 21, 2011 - 12:46 pm No Comments
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Cutter

Echo & The Bunnymen - The Cutter

A journalist – who shall remain nameless – said to me the other day he’d never heard of Echo And The Bunnymen… and worse ‘that it sounds like a kids TV programme’!!!!

In an effort to educate anyone who has forgotten/ doesn’t know/ has never heard of the fantastic Mac McMculloch and brilliant Will Sergeant.
At The Bunnymen’s recent gig in Liverpool – Mac requoted ‘The Cutter’ as being … the greatest song ever written.

It may not be – but it is still magnificent!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6j14DDtGI

More From Downton Abbey

October 20, 2011 - 12:04 pm No Comments
Downton Abbey Autographs

Downton Abbey Autographs

Having undertaken the frightfully British pastime of queuing for what seemed an eternity (45minutes) Gecko was able to meet some of the cast of Downton Abbey, who very kindly signed their autographs and smiled for pictures too.

There was plenty to look at as we waited…

Vintage Uniformed US Soldiers

Vintage Uniformed US Soldiers

Of course we gave a donation to the various charities – we have been told that the unconfirmed total is £100,000 – how fantastic is that!

As we walked to the car park, we were able to watch ‘The Blades’ give a fantastic aeronautic display… it was breath-taking!

Old Ladies Of The Sky At Downton Abbey

October 19, 2011 - 10:07 am No Comments
Stylish lady flying over Highclere

Stylish lady flying over Highclere

It was wonderful to see two of the greatest ladies of the sky flying over Highclere at the weekend… we need to ensure that these wonderful aeroplanes are kept flying!

The wonder of a spitfire

The wonder of a spitfire

As the unmistakable sound of the Spitfire’s engines could be heard everyone looked to the skies to see the fabulous display. The warmth from the crowd was like a group greeting old friend!
And then later in the day we were treated to the fabulous Vulcan.

The Vulcan

The Vulcan

Gecko supports www.vulcantothesky.org

A Day At Downton Abbey

October 18, 2011 - 11:11 am No Comments

Sunday, 16th October – what a beautiful day… to spend at Highclere Castle (or Downton Abbey as we at Gecko call it) for their Heroes At Highclere event – raising funds for armed forces charities.

Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes

The Heroes event was a great way to raise funds for some fabulous charities, including: Help For Heroes, Royal British Legion, ABF, Horses For Heroes and the Florence Nightingale Foundation. There was masses to see and do, including watching the Kings Troop & Royal Artillery, the Royal Army Physical Training Corps and Heroes Help Horses

We also saw the fantastic War Horse, which is amazingly realistic – people watching obviously felt genuine emotion for the horse!

War Horse

War Horse

Various fabulous actors in vintage dress…

Vintage Dress

Vintage Dress

…and we were able to meet The Earl of Grantham, Isobel Crawley, Mr Carson, Mrs Patmore, Daisy Robinson and Tom Branson

Downton Abbey's Mr Carson

Downton Abbey's Mr Carson

A great day in great surroundings – and we have more to tell…

Autumnal Fun

October 15, 2011 - 1:58 pm 1,036 Comments
On The Ridgeway

On The Ridgeway

Yesterday it was such a glorious afternoon that I knocked off work early and went walking on the Ridgeway with two of ‘The Board.’
We all enjoyed a two hour walk in the autumnal, afternoon sunshine. Our walk finished as the sun went down and there began to be a chill in the hour. ‘The Board’. Got home ate dinner and had wonderful dreams of running and chasing

This morning the whole board came out in the fabulous morning sunshine – not a cloud in the sky. We met lots of their friends and everyone ran round.

Autumn is at its best today.

Sparkling Up The Day In Emerald Street

October 12, 2011 - 6:17 pm 944 Comments

Freixenet Apple & Maple Bellini

Freixenet Apple & Maple Bellini


Lovely piece of coverage arrived today from Emerald Street… Freixenet Apple and Maple Bellini created by our friend Tom Abram, the expert Mixologist at Shaken & Stirred, Oxford.

http://www.emeraldstreet.com/home/things-to-do/article/438/apple-and-maple-bellini

Autumn Continues

October 11, 2011 - 7:02 pm 1,023 Comments
Autumn Leaves In Berkshire

Autumn Leaves In Berkshire

The sun has been shining, the wind has been blowing – but it feels quite mild today. We thought of this poem as we watched the sun disappear behind the russet leaved trees today…

A touch of cold in the Autumn night—
I walked abroad,
And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge
Like a red-faced farmer.
I did not stop to speak, but nodded,
And round about were the wistful stars
With white faces like town children.
T.E Hulme

The Season Of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

October 10, 2011 - 12:56 pm 1,006 Comments

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

It certainly is as Keats described here in Berkshire today – we will certainly be wrapping up warm to venture out later on with ‘the Chairman and Board’.
We were reminded of this great campaign from White Stuff. We may not go as far as wearing a
tea-cosy on our head yet – but will bear it in mind as the dark, winter nights draw in further!

White Stuff, A/W 2011 - Wear a tea cosy!

White Stuff, A/W 2011 - Wear a tea cosy!

Liverpudlian Adventure

October 7, 2011 - 10:39 am 1,591 Comments

Last weekend Gecko went up to Liverpool… I told Shalagh Fogarty of radio 5 fame about the weekend (which was fantastic) and she said Gecko should do the PR for Liverpool… wouldn’t that be brilliant fun!

Echo & The Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch - and a Gecko!

Echo & The Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch - and a Gecko!

Here’s a bit more about our adventure…
We went up to Liverpool at the weekend, had a great time. We arrived on Friday to meet with our favourite journo at the Liverpool Echo. Following a freshen up at our hotel 5 minutes from the Albert Docks we went for a drink at the Hope Street Hotel, where who should walk in but the ‘Mighty Reds’ – Andrew was very excited, although they did all look a bit glum! Then we went to see Echo And the Bunnymen at the Phil – after which I was very excited to meet Mac McCulloch and Will Sergeant! On Saturday we saw Liverpool at it’s very best in the glorious sunshine – we wandered round the Albert Docks and Magritte at the Tate, then took a walk to the Museum of Liverpool (which is great) and even had a drink by Liverpool One, completing our day at a restaurant in the Albert Dock. Now I’m looking forward to our next visit!