More and more people in the UK are starting their own business, leaving the 'corporate shackles' and going it alone. Sometimes by choice. Sometimes by necessity. Whichever it is, being your own boss is exciting and daunting at the same time. Like someone once said: "Good news: you're your own boss" - "Bad news: you're your own boss"....

It can be easy when being an entrepreneur, a one-man-band, a solo-preneur (I like this latest definition), to feel alone or isolated. But there's no need to be.

I recently read a very good blog by Jenna Arak, called "The Hard Truths of Solopreneurship" where she explains very eloquently the self doubts and fears that a solo-preneur can have from time to time. She also reassures us that those doubts and fears are common to most business owners and that they are absolutely normal. If you own your own business I recommend you read it.

Jenna's article is available here http://ow.ly/By89m

Today, Thurs 4th Sep 2014, we are experiencing problems with our phone lines. If you cannot get through, please e-mail mike@didcotdirectory.co.uk or info@didcotdirectory.co.uk

....."Back to school!". Of course: they had to be. Whether almost whispered with a sigh by a school kid, begrudging the end of a lovely summer or by a parent, not looking forward to the school run and to having the roads full of traffic again - or even by your local stationery shop manager... these are the most spoken words in late summer.

Personally, I don’t feel at all ready. I wish the summer holidays could continue for a while yet.. But hey, reality is here, autumn is around the corner and winter will be here before you know it, so we might as well face it. Let us help you advertise your services for autumn and the rest of 2014. Here at MG Media & Mags in West Berkshire and South Oxon, we can help you connect to the local community in 25+ towns and villages - we publish West Berks and South Oxon's definitive handy guides and local directories to trade and business in the area and deliver to 20,000+ family filled homes around Didcot, Goring, Streatley, Woodcote, Basildon & Pangbourne amongst many others.

Play2Give are organising a Children's Football Fundraising Fund Day on Sunday 13th July at Oxford City Football Club - Marsh Lane, Marston, Oxford, OX3 0NQ, from 9.30am.

The event is organised to raise money for Oxford Children's Hospital. Last year, over £4,800 was raised for state of the art medical equipment and facilities for the tens of thousands of patients the hospital treats each year.

The event is open to under 9s and under 10s boys teams. Entries are just £35 per team.

Lots of football fun and other entertainment including Coconut Shy, Raffle, Doughnuts, Food and refreshments and music.

Please visit www.play2give.org.uk or email play2give@hotmail.com for more info. Have fun!

There will be a Free talk by Larkmead vets Alex and Sarah on First Aid for your pet including what do in an emergency and general first aid.

It will be held Monday 2nd June at 7pm at Larkmead Cholsey surgery.

Call 01235 814991 or 01491 651379 to book your place. 

I saw this quote today and it really made me think. First, because it came from Henry Ford, a man who knew a thing or two about running a successful organisation. Second because it reveals a fundamental truth of business. Advertising is not a cost, that we need to try and trim or contain. Advertising is an investment. A financial investment yes, sometimes. Large for some people, very manageable for others. But much much more importantly a time investment. A commitment that shows we really care about talking with our customers, suppliers, colleagues, employees, partners, you name it. 
Just like you, your customers and prospects lead busy lives and it's important to make an effort to try and keep in touch. It's good to talk.

MG Media & Mags distribution area comprises over 25 towns and villages in two counties, from Didcot and surrounding area, through South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, all the way to the north and west borders of Reading. It includes amongst others Didcot, Goring & Streatley, South Stoke, Woodcote, Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames, Lower Basildon, Upper Basildon, Whitchurch, Whitchurch Hill and several other villages in West Berks and South Oxon. 

The latest addition to the distribution is East Hagbourne with its beautiful conservation area buildings and we'll soon go to Exlade Street, too.

The area grows all the time with new homes being built in most of our towns and with exciting new developments of both new homes and business parks in several parts of our area.

There is no better way to tap into this growing resource than to advertise in either or both of The Didcot Directory and The RG8 Directory. Don't miss out on this opportunity - contact us today to reserve your slot.

If you ask any Mother what her favourite Mother’s Day was, it will nearly always include memories of her family being gathered together with her, children’s home-made cards and a family meal. So why has Mother’s Day become such a commercial event nowadays? It’s easy to feel pressurised to show love in terms of expensive presents and over-priced cards.


Mother's Day has its origins in the medieval church calendar: it is always the middle Sunday in Lent and was traditionally the day on which people would return to their 'mother' church and girls working as maids would be allowed the day off to return to visit their mothers, homes and families. Any gifts they took home were probably limited to a bunch of wild flowers picked on the way or a home-made cake.

 So whatever you do for your mum this year, whether it's a gift or a visit or flowers, just remember that it's the thought that counts so remember to tell her that she is always in your thoughts.

If you are reading this, you will know that our new website has just been launched (and about time, too, I hear you say!). Keep an eye on it and on out twitter feed at @didcotdirectory for news on how your local directory of business (the paper mag!) is developing and to consult our directory of local businesses.

This month is our publisher's 6th birthday. Help us celebrate by taking advantage of our special offer. Visit this page and get in touch. But don't delay, the offer expires on 26th March 2014!