FIRST frosts have already visited the Valley. Please be warned that de-icing your car before you go to work can be risky.

Drivers are urged in a recent bulletin from Thames Valley Police not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engine running on frosty mornings.

Opportunist thieves could be on the lookout to take advantage of such a situation. It only needs a moment for a thief to jump behind the wheel and drive off in your car so don’t be tempted to leave it warming up even for a few moments.

ALREADY having addressed two meetings here twice this autumn, MP Steve Baker will be here again tomorrow morning. The public has a chance to discuss local transport issues and other matters of current concern with your elected representatives.

The public meeting in Burford School tomorrow morning, November 15, between 10 and 11 will also be attended by Jean Teesdale from Bucks County Council, Dominic Barnes from Wycombe District Council and Mark Harris from the parish council, who is also a prospective district councillor.

The notice is short, but that’s probably affected by pressures of Westminster activity.

PLANNING to use the internet to renew your road tax? Be warned – the DVLA has a complete new system. Worryingly, it is headed ‘Beta system’, a term that suggests to computer folk that it doesn’t necessarily work properly. And it doesn’t!

I accidentally entered an invalid bank account number, the sort of error that usually gets rejected with a request to re-key the information.

Instead, my tax application was accepted and a validating email was issued. I phoned to tell them, they checked their database and insisted all was well, after collecting the money from my bank. I know it cannot be as so as there has been no charge on my bank account, and what I had keyed could not possibly point to my account.

Question – am I legally taxed, or not? Who has paid my road tax? Be cautious with your on-line renewal application.

MAYBE it’s the right time to put a note in your diary or smart phone that you must plan to be at St Mary’s on Saturday, November 22. The time is 2pm to be ready for the first visit to the valley this year of Father Christmas. St Mary’s Pre-school will present its Christmas Bazaar with all the usual delights of the event.

I’ve just been looking at photos from last year and, of all things, you won’t want to miss the cake stall.

WHEN evening time comes on November 22, you might as well stay on for the evening event to raise funds for St Mary’s Church.

From 7.15pm you can show off your knowledge at their quiz night.

Here’s a question – what’s good for nourishing the brain? Well, for your £10 admission, you’ll get the ideal refresher, fish and chips from you know where. Rebellion’s pretty good as an accompaniment too. Tickets are available from Graeme Slocombe on 07785 262078.

SELECTIVE and seemingly very targeted rain must have been a great disappointment for the fireworks organisers last Saturday.

Fine weather up to the day and return to sunshine on Sunday must have been very frustrating. I haven’t yet been able to get feedback on the consequences yet, but it must have put a serious dampener on proceedings.

BURFORD School revealed last week just how they have been investing all the money collected in their 40th anniversary appeal for the extension and total refurbishment of their school hall.

The result is an increase in space of about 50 per cent, and much improved fittings, including new access and toilets to allow outside hirers entrance without having to enter the school.

That avoids the need for caretaker attendance and security concerns.

The wall of plaques on the ‘purchased’ bricks is very stylish and impressive. More than 600 donors helped to make up the display by having their names engraved on the brass plaques.

While recognising that the famous are often experimental in selecting the names of their offspring these days, I still thought Tucker Boo was particularly adventurous for the youngest of the Strauss family (you can visualise it now, next man in, Tucker Boo Strauss). I was actually quite disappointed when someone pointed out that it was the family dog!

You can still donate and have your name, or that of a revered supporter, added to the wall. Call the school office on 01628 486655.

Gianluca Paletta will open his Italian restaurant, the Da Luca Pizzeria Ristorante during next week, probably Wednesday.

With several years experience cooking in local hotel restaurants, most recently Sonning, Luca is convinced, “with a bit of passion in my food”, he can make the Kingswood Parade premises a vibrant and popular place to eat.

He will cater for up to 28 covers, be open from 12 until 10pm each day (yes, Sunday included), and serve a variety of popular Italian dishes, including veal, chicken and fish, and there is a pizza and pasta bar.

Ring Luca on 01628 478150 or 07985 371454.