Have you recovered from the Champions League result?
Well you have to, don’t you? Barca are a class act. I think I’m more sad that Paul Scholes is retiring – he’s been one of my favourites for a long time. I know he can be a bit of a ‘bad boy’ on the pitch, and he’s not David, but I do have a soft spot for him!

I hear you also take an interest in Reading FC?
Yes, I think you should support your home team; unless you live in Manchester, of course, in which case there is only one team to support.

And you went to the Reading v Swansea play-offs at Wembley, didn’t you?
Yes – I must be a glutton for punishment. Another bad result unfortunately. I do go to a few of the Reading home games but my son treated me to a trip to Wembley for the Reading v Swansea play-offs. Apart from the result, it was a really good day – great atmosphere and great stadium.

You’ve recently had a trip to New York
Yes I have – it’s been a busy month. My husband and I had a long weekend there a few weeks ago. It was my fourth visit. It’s just full of characters and there’s always plenty to see and do.

Did you do much shopping?
Well you can’t go to NYC without hitting the shops, but we did manage to leave the shopping until the last day. It’s too easy to spend hours and hours in Macy’s.

You bought yourself a new gadget, didn’t you?
Yes I’m now the proud owner of an iPad2 which I bought in the Apple store. It was a bit of an impulse buy, but I was on holiday so it’s allowed! I’ve surprised myself with how much I actually use it. I think Stacey (Delve) hopes I’ll get bored with it and pass it on to her, as she says it’s wasted on me! She could be right, but I have great fun taking photos with it and sliding them over and back!

What was the last book you read?
I’ve got a couple of books on the go on my iPad – the not very taxing Paul O’Grady ‘At My Mother’s Knee’ and ‘The iPad2 Survival Guide’!

Do you have a favourite TV programme?
It has to be Corrie. It’s all happening at the moment – John Stape has completely lost it – Chesney got released just in time and Jim is still in the Big House! You never fail to get a laugh during every episode of Coronation Street regardless of the current storyline.

Britain’s Got Talent is really good because during the audition stages you never know what is going to happen next. The Apprentice is also a firm favourite.

Do you have any keep fit routines?
Yes, every morning shortly after getting up I stretch, then it’s up-down, up-down for a count of ten. Then I do the other eyebrow.!  I do like to get these things over with early in the day.  At weekends I do like to go for a walk and enjoy the fresh air.

Do you have any favourite place in Britain?
I do have a favourite place which is in Ireland. It is Tullagh Bay which is very near to where I was born in Clonmany, Co. Donegal. The scenery is beautiful, the air is clean and the surrounding beaches vary from quaint little coves, vast sandy stretches to little rockpools and all are blissfully unspoiled – but don’t tell everyone because we want to keep it that way.  Being so close to the most northerly point in Ireland means of course that it gets the cold north wind.

Have you got any money-making tips that you’d like to share?
Use vouchers that you get in newspapers/magazines but only if it is for a product that you usually buy. And use your Reward cards.

Any short-term – or long-term – plans ahead?
Desperately trying to de-clutter both at home and at work. Unfortunately, when everyone else is having a clear-out, both at home and at work, anything that isn’t wanted gets ‘recycled’ in my direction. But I’m working on it.

Bernadette lives in Beenham Village with husband Ian and, when the fancy takes them, daughter Helen and son Daniel

Andrew became a Partner in Kirkpatrick & Hopes in 1995 before taking over the management of the firm in 2003. He is now the Chairman & Business Development Director and also acts as Client Director to many of K&H’s major clients.

I hear you used to ride a motorcycle?
Yes, I was a keen motorcyclist as a teenager having bought a very cheap bike, but the front wheel fell off when I was in mid-air following a jump, and on landing the front forks ploughed two long furrows into the ground. Thankfully I survived without too much injury.

Your mode of transport has changed somewhat recently.
Yes, I sold my car because I hardly ever used it and now cycle to work, and elsewhere most of the time. This saves me time and a lot of money!

Cycling obviously keeps you fit. Do you have other ‘keep fit’ routines?
Yes, running and swimming when I can fit it in… I also do a routine of exercises/stretches twice a day. I do reps of these based on multiples of my age (47) – so every year I stretch myself further!

You’ve just completed your second Reading half-Marathon. Did you find it any easier than last year?
Yes, I did. I got stuck in a slower group at the start so my early stages were slower than they could have been, but at least it meant I had the energy to finish the race more strongly.

You must have had to put in a lot of training in preparation?
Yes – see ”all runs” on the Nike website for details!

Do you think you will enter again next year?
Yes.

You’re a ManU supporter – do you get to any of the matches?
I have seen a couple this year. I should try to go more often. Live matches are a totally different experience to watching on TV.

What was the last book you read?
I am in the middle of God is Not Great and The E-Myth Accountant at present.

Do you have a favourite TV programme?
The Wire, but I like most HBO programmes and UK cult comedies like Peep Show, Green Wing etc.

You enjoy cooking – do you have a favourite or signature dish?
I eat a lot of salads with fresh, raw organic contents. Most Sundays I make pizzas for the family from scratch using dough from the bread machine.

Do you have any favourite place in Britain?
I love London: concerts, theatre, cinemas, etc.

Have you got any money-making tips that you’d like to share?
Sell your car! And never borrow money for anything that won’t generate income or grow in value.

Any short-term – or long-term – plans?
Becoming debt-free – personally and for K&H (hopefully in the medium not long term), getting fitter and healthier, keep learning more and using my knowledge/experience to help others, perhaps through voluntary work.

See Andrew’s marathon photo here

Andrew lives in Caversham with partner Jackie and their 3 children Elizabeth, Alex and Theo.

Poppy spent some time with us in early 2008 on a temporary basis and joined K&H permanently in November 2009 as an Accounts Assistant.

You’ve been with us now for well over a year, Poppy. How are you enjoying it?
Yes it’s good, I enjoy being part of the team and particularly enjoy being involved in our Fantasy Football and especially beating Chris (Maffey) every week.

I’ve heard you’re a football fan
Yes, I’m an avid Reading FC supporter and go to their games regularly. In fact I’m off this afternoon to Goodison Park to watch their game with Everton. I hope they do well.

I understand you like to bet on the football as well 
I do, but not in a huge way. I like to bet on accumulators and my biggest win has been £86 for a 50p bet.

You’re a bit of a sporty person really, aren’t you?
Well I do play golf regularly, and often have a game of snooker – again beating Chris on a regular basis! I did also have a go at kick-boxing for a while but found it a bit too energetic for me!

What type of music do you like?
I like all types of music really, anything upbeat, R&B with drums and bass. And I like to go to gigs. I’ve been twice to the Reading Festival which was great fun and hope to go again this year if funds permit.

Do you have any favourite TV programmes?
I watch Him & Her on BBC3. It’s about a couple in their mid-twenties, both unemployed and living on benefits with no real desire to work and no dreams or goals, and all takes place in their small flat.

Do you have any favourite place in Britain? 
I do like going to London, particularly for shopping, and I love being around Covent Garden.

Any holidays planned for 2011?
I’m hoping to go on a golfing holiday to Portugal and really looking forward to that.

Poppy lives in Wokingham

Lisa in the Christmas party spirit

Lisa recently returned from maternity leave and is back in her role of Accounts Manager looking after some of our major clients.  

Happy New Year, Lisa. Did you manage to have a rest over Christmas and the New Year? 
Happy New Year to you too. Yes, I had a lovely break, although I’m not sure about rest now that I have a one-year-old!  

Of course, your son was just a newborn baby last Christmas, so I guess he got lots of presents this year? 
He certainly did! We didn’t go too mad, though, as we knew he would get lots of presents from the rest of the family. The wrapping paper and empty box still seemed to be favourite though!  

Christmas can be a costly time of year. Can you remember your first pay cheque? 
I can’t remember the actual payment but my first job was delivering the free local newspaper once a week. I inherited it from my older brother and absolutely hated it but my Dad wouldn’t let me give it up. I think my average weekly payment was about £1.20. Even back then, that really didn’t get you very much.  

Do you have a favourite TV programme – one that you don’t like to miss?
Sadly, I keep up with Eastenders although I did consider stopping watching it as a New Year’s Resolution but didn’t quite make it! I know I waste too much time on it. Other favourites are Mock the Week and QI.  I’m also looking forward to the new series of Sherlock.  

Do you have any favourite place in Britain?
I love being by the sea and quite often visit Dorset and Cornwall.  I find it very relaxing and enjoy spending time there.  

How do you like to keep fit?
I haven’t done very much of this lately but I would like to try and get fit as I know I will feel better for it.  Once I get into it I do quite enjoy jogging so I will be doing more this year.  

Some people have a Power Song that they listen to while jogging – do you?
I do, actually. I have my ‘Power Song’ on the Nike Plus set to Eye of the Tiger to give me a boost when I’m struggling – it keeps me going!  

Lisa lives in Caversham with husband Daryl and son Fletcher  

Chris Maffey (not on his bike)

 
Chris joined the K&H team in 2006 and recently became an Accounts Manager with his own client portfolio.  He is a keen cyclist and spent his 2008 summer holiday cycling from John o’Groats to Lands End.    

Your recent stay in hospital came as a bit of a surprise, didn’t it?
Yes, three weeks before my mountain biker’s holiday I bought a new bike through the Cycle2work  scheme.  Unfortunately I had a rather nasty accident in the local woods and cut my arm quite badly, requiring stitches. At the time I was more concerned that I hadn’t damaged my bike. Two days later my return to hospital for a 5-minute clean and rebandage of the wound, became a 5-day stay in hospital as I needed an operation due to blood poisoning. On a positive note though, there were some very nice nurses!    

What was the last book you read?
I’m afraid I’m not a big reader and apart from study material, I can’t recall reading a book since leaving school. All my knowledge comes from TV or the internet!     

Do you have a favourite TV programme?
I always make sure I watch F1 each season, regardless of what time the TV coverage starts. I’ve recently got into The Inbetweeners which has been a good series. Unfortunately it has finished for the time being but I understand a film is currently being made, so I’m looking forward to that.     

How do you like to keep fit?
My fitness is something I am always trying to improve. My regular routine consists of: 3-5 gym sessions per week (mainly weight training), 25 miles cycling to work each week, playing football on Saturday and football training on Tuesday.     

Quite a routine, Chris! Which football team are you playing for?
I play Saturday football for a local side, AFC Corinthians. This season I have been playing for our first team and we are currently fighting hard for promotion. My highlight this season was playing in a cup match in Henley Town Stadium.     

You’re a Southampton supporter at heart – do you get to any of the matches?
Having once been a ‘Young Saint’, I used to try to travel down to watch the occasional home match at Southampton, as well as any local derby between my town of birth and Reading FC. However, since Southampton has been relegated to League One, I must admit my support for them has somewhat waned.     

Any favourite places in the UK Chris?
In 2008, I cycled from John o’Groats to Lands End. I have a vivid memory of Glencoe in Scotland, surrounded by mountains; blue sky above white wispy clouds – very picturesque.     

Do you have any money-making tips that you’d like to share?
For the last three years or so I have been cycling to work rather than driving. Although it’s only a five and a half mile round trip, you can imagine some money has been saved. I have also been keen to try my luck at the stock markets, but so far am unable to unearth any money-making tips here!     

Any short-term – or long-term – plans ahead?
These sort of link in with each other. Next year my aspiration is to get on the property ladder although I am still thinking of whether to actually move in and rent a room, or buy to let.     

My longer-term plans are to gradually build up a property portfolio and hopefully one day to use this income to support retirement. Yes, I’m already thinking of retirement!

Stacey plays netball five times a week...wow!

STACEY DELVE
Stacey joined K&H in 2007 as an Accounts Assistant and is now an Account Manager with her own client portfolio.

You’ve recently bought your first home?
Yes, with my partner Steve. We just moved in a few weeks ago.

Did you find it a traumatic experience?
YES! I won’t be doing that again any time soon. I would say – before you sign the contracts, make sure everything that should be working is working! We had problems with the heating, electricity, bathroom leaking and a very unsafe staircase.

Will you be cooking Christmas dinner in your new home this year?
Not likely – we will keep up the tradition of splitting our time between my parents and Steve’s parents.

I understand you and your Mum have another Christmas tradition?
Oh yes. On the day after Boxing Day, we can be found at 4am in the queue waiting for the Next sale to start. You wouldn’t believe it but the place is heaving at that time, though we do usually pick up some great bargains.

Have you got a money-saving tip?
If you can’t make the opening of the Next New Year sale, then bargain hunt at Primark.

Have you had a good/bad experience with any company recently?
I wasn’t impressed with the service received from Santander when trying to get a mortgage.

Do you have any favourite place in Britain?
Weston-super-Mare – I go every year to a netball tournament and I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

I hear you are an avid viewer of Don’t tell the Bride?
I love that programme and really enjoy watching the final outcome of the arrangements made by the groom – sometimes not always quite what the bride expected. But I’m not sure I would trust Steve enough to go on it!

Any other favourite pastimes?
Apart from playing netball up to five times a week and walking my dog Harley, I don’t have much time left for anything else.

Any short-term plans?
I have accountancy exams coming up in December which I hope to pass, and I’m also doing a Level 2 Netball Coaching course.

Stacey lives in Calcot with her partner Steve

Karen has been with K&H since 2002

Karen Catto has been with K&H since 2002. She’s one of our Admin team, working three mornings per week.

Can you remember your first pay cheque?
Yes, I got paid weekly. £13 per week and out of that I had to pay my Mum for my keep, bus fares etc. With my second pay packet I was able to buy my first pair of jeans.

What was the most expensive thing you ever bought?
It was a winter coat which cost £245 but in the sale it was £145 in Debenhams in Cardiff. This was a lot of money 23 years ago but I felt it was a bargain!

Have you had a good experience with any company recently?
Yes – Next. The staff were so helpful – they were more than happy to go and get another size when I was in the changing room, or to order in another size or colour. I always find them very polite and helpful.

Have you got a money-saving tip?
Don’t spend it! Impulse buying is bad – thank goodness shops take things back!

Do you have a favourite place in Britain?
Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire, where my Dad was brought up. It’s a little harbour with beautiful golden sands and fishing boats, and the ruins of Slaine Castle in the background. It’s just perfect.

You did some ‘Extras’ work last year, didn’t you?
Yes, actually it’s nearly two years ago now.  I had a walk-on part in a TGI Fridays Christmas advert for the internet, and a Mail on Sunday TV advert.  I was also seen riding on the model railway at Bekonscot Model Village in the comedy Mutual Friends, which was great fun.  I haven’t done anything for a while and intend to sign up with an agency again soon.

Any other favourite pastimes?
I like travelling and have just returned from Morocco and going to Portugal later this month.  I would love to visit Egypt to see the Pyramids.  I also very much enjoy netball and Pilates but am taking a break at the moment.  I’ve recently taken on an allotment which is taking up a lot of spare time.

How was your harvest from your allotment?
Well, considering that I am a novice at all this I feel I did really well.  I had a really good crop of runner beans, broad beans, marrow, courgettes and potatoes.

Any short-term plans?
De-clutter my house – this is an ongoing project!

Karen lives in Theale with her partner Alan, and children Stuart and Natalie (who are twins) and Madeleine.

The new K&H treehouse

Three summers ago, Microsoft opened a treehouse office in Pimlico Gardens in London. It was set up as an experiment in giving employees the freedom to choose where and how they worked, and also as a test bed for mobile and wireless technologies (MOOF – Mobile Out Of Office).

This set me thinking that a treehouse might not be such a crazy idea after all. Business is growing, staff numbers are increasing, and our vegetable plot is taking over an increasing part of our garden area. And a treehouse ties in with our ‘green’ credentials and aspirations, as well as being a lovely idea.

And so, here we are, with our very own treehouse in the largest tree in our car park, tailor-made to our specifications by a client who just happens to be a joiner and carpenter.

The plan is that we will use it as an overflow office – for meetings, and for any of the team who want to work undisturbed and undistracted. We’ll be able to ‘connect with nature’, and perhaps think more freely as a result. In the summer, staff will be able to eat their lunch in the treehouse, if they want to avoid the breeze or the sun,

In time, we may even extend upwards, who knows? The sky’s the limit.

K&H Directors Andrew Scott (left) and Andrew Gray (right)

Andrew Scott and Andrew Gray having a bit of banter. But what are they saying? Answers on a postcard (or email) please. The winner will receive a cake baked by one of the K&H team and may be published.

Andrew "exhausted but pleased", makes it over the finishing line

I completed the half marathon last week – my first ever, and I would do it again. I managed to run the 13 miles in 1 hour 46 minutes and 46 seconds. I was exhausted, but very pleased.

The route was through the streets of Reading, ending up in the Madejski Stadium. It felt wonderful to arrive at the end of the 13 miles in the stadium, surrounded by cheering crowds.

I’ve written before about what I think about when I’m training. During the half marathon, I didn’t have time to let my mind wander: there was too much to think about, what with the water stations, the time markers every mile, and concentrating on not bumping into my fellow runners.

Many of the runners were being sponsored for one charity or another that deals with the cure of diseases. I was a late entry, so didn’t have time to get sponsors, but next time I would – and choose a charity that is aimed at prevention rather than cure. A healthy lifestyle, that’s what I believe in. And I hope we practise this at K&H.