affinity magazine august 2012

BEAUTY - FOOD - DRINK - HEALTH - FITNESS - STYLE - INTERIORS - MOTORS - WHAT’S ON

August 2012

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Discover your.......

Destiny

6

Most people recognise that dreams are the

subconscious, unravelling the trials and

tribulations that plague the mind.

Some common dreams and their meanings are quite

easy to work out, given a little thought, and personal

symbols will sometimes mean that it is easier for you to

work out your own dreams than to get someone else to

do it for you.

Some commonthemes and their

meanings:

Teeth:

Your teeth are falling

out, they are on the

floor around you, or

come out in your

hands as you try to

straighten them, or

you look in a mirror

and see a dark hole

where your teeth used

to be.

Losing teeth goes back

to primeval actions,

and means that you

feel that you have no

way to fight something, literally that you are toothless in

front of your enemies. This shows a feeling of

hopelessness, with the dream feeling that everything

you do has no effect.

Nakedness:

You are out in the supermarket and discover that you

have no clothes on, or at work and all eyes are on you,

suddenly you realise that you are stark naked! You try to

hide behind plants or objects, but nothing covers you.

This shows fear that people can see through the façade

that you are living behind, under all the clothes that we

put on and beneath any airs and graces which we may

assume. The real us, we feel may not be able to fulfil

what we have taken on. The situation that you dream

yourself in may be at home, at school, at work , or in a

relationship.

This will help you

narrow down the

areas where you

feel that things

need to addressed.

Being chased:

Either seen or

unseen threats

chase you,

wherever you turn

they are just

behind you, or just

in front of you, and

it seems

impossible to

escape.

Literally a fear that

things are catching

up with you, whether it be work that you haven’t done,

debts that you haven’t managed to escape, this fear is

magnified into an enemy, out to get you. This dream

makes you think about what you are stressed about, but

trying to hide, before it becomes impossible to deal

with.

Sue has over 30 years experience in the psychic field, is an authority on crystals and psychic energy, and is a

world renowned Tarot reader and teacher. Each month readers are welcome to send their questions in for

Sue to answer at [email protected]

Sue also offers private readings on a one to one basis, workshops, courses and much more, please visit her

website:

www.sanctuarybedford.co.uk Tel: 01234 327090

Dream interpretation

Sat 28th July Open Day 11am - 4pm

Free drinks and nibbles, £5 Tarot and Palm

readings, Reiki, Massage, and more


Hi Everyone

Firstly I would like to say a big “Well Done!” to all the

ladies that took part in last months Race for Life in

Bedford, you are an inspiration to us all. Affinity’s

photographer Vadisoro captured lots of you on the day

so pop over to our Facebook page to check out the

photos, and see if he caught you.

Cancer touches most people in one way or another, and

being famous doesn’t mean you are immune to it as we

find out from Bernie Nolan who is now recovering from

a two year battle against breast cancer, she has marked

her recovery by starring in the stage production of

Chicago which comes to Milton Keynes this September.

We talk to Bernie and find out how she’s coping with her

new role

The sun is shining (well I can but hope), the long school

holidays are upon us and we will inevitably hear the

words “I’m Bored!!!” well no more. Here at Affinity we

have included a section especially to keep your kids

amused these holidays, so turn to page 29 to see what’s

on offer around the region.

All this along with our regular features, so all that’s left

for me to say is put your feet up with a cup of coffee or

glass of wine, read this issue and have a fantastic

summer, see you soon.

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Cover Image

Accessorize

Jane [email protected] 21552307809 499669Welcome...

Jane x

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All adverts are printed in good faith.

Affinity cannot take responsibility

for the content of adverts.

Advertisements are accepted on the

understanding that descriptions of

goods and services are accurate.

Reproduction in whole or in part is

strictly prohibited.

Printed in the UK by Regal Litho

01908 270400

www.regallitho.co.uk

Julia CroftsSales Manager

[email protected] 602401O1234 215523

Vadisoro [email protected] 215523

www.affinitymag.co.uk

@affinitymagz

NEXT MONTHOur September issue is a wedding special so get in touch if

you wish to advertise your services.


The Agony of an Agents Showcase

My daughter decided she wanted to be a dancer

when she was three. She had been to a few

ballet lessons, then I took her, as a three year

old, to proms in the park. It happened to be a warm,

sunny evening and we enjoyed a picnic with friends.

Then the music started. My little girl simply put down

her plate and with a brilliant sense of performance

started to dance around on the grass. We carried her

home, exhausted but happy, about four hours later.

Quite literally, from that day on she wanted to be a

dancer. She enjoyed, ballet, tap, modern, jazz took part

in African and Indian dance, then singing and acting

lessons and as lots of parents will have done, we spent

numerous evenings and weekends transporting our

little darling to rehearsals or lessons or shows.

So the years passed, as did Les Miserable, Bugsy Malone,

Summer Holiday, The Boyfriend to mention but a few,

she ended secondary school sitting GCSE’s and being

Sandy in Grease. Meanwhile she was auditioning aged

16 for a place in musical theatre college. The auditions

were nothing short of cruel AND you had to pay for the

privilege of travelling miles, waiting around for ages and

effectively being told ‘don’t call us’.

At one particular audition I remember, as all of us

‘parents’ were waiting in a room while our darlings

‘strutted their stuff’ in some other room, that we were

told in no uncertain terms that now was the time we

could get out. We were told that whether it was

hairdressing or banking, plumbing or embalming, if

there was anything else at all, of any nature, that our

little darlings expressed an interest in, now was the

time to use our parental powers of persuasion to ‘steer’

them in an alternative direction. If not there would be

years of expensive heartache, not to mention shin

splints and other injuries, ahead.

Well I tried, I suggested teaching, beauty (stage make up

obviously!), fashion design event planning, you name it,

but no, my delightfully determined daughter had made

her choice, and boy, was she sticking to it.

So in September 2009 she began a three year course in

musical theatre and the astute among you will realise,

that it is now at an end and my daughter is graduating.

However one more thing the theatre industry manages,

is to inflict upon parents a new and original form of

torture – ‘The Agents Showcase!’.

Held at a theatre in London the third years perform a

‘showcase’ of numbers designed to showcase their

particular talents. Any parents who have children who

perform will know the agony and ecstasy of being in the

audience while your child, albeit an adult now, is on

stage. For those who don’t, there are butterflies, a dry

mouth, a racing heart which you would swear could go

no faster yet keeps speeding up until the moment your

child is on stage. Then extreme pride when you realise

once again that they are fine without you and you think

to yourself, how can they have become so grown up and

competent, and talented, and beautiful, oh goodness I

sound like a theatrical parent…..again. But at this event,

I sit waiting for the lights to dim and the show to begin

and I notice there also non- parent types, in fact they are

in the majority with clipboards and photos of the

students, (our grown up children!!!!) which they discuss

in hushed tones with each other, and make notes.

The lights dim and the show, as always, goes on and let’s

be honest it is what they have trained for, so they dance

and sing and act in the hope that someone, who has the

power to make their career will notice them and their

particular look and talent and want to sign them.

I clap, a little too loudly perhaps, then slide away so the

people who may ‘sign’ my daughter can sip wine and

nibble canapés and maybe pick up a copy of her CV and

‘headshot’ from the table and hopefully take her onto

their books.

Personally I think it is a lot worse than an interview,

possibly not as bad as the open call auditions which

demand that you get an early train and queue for hours

with literally hundreds of others to sing a few bars of

song - before they say, with a smile, obviously, ‘thank

you that’s all we need for now’ which is how they now

say ‘don’t call us we’ll call you.”

Still, I tell myself she has always had a focus and as

other parents worry that their children don’t know

what they want to do, I am glad (no, really I am) that

she is such a determined young woman with clear if

exacting goals for herself.

The next day I enjoy one of those lovely, if expensive,

‘mummy’ jobs as we shop for her graduation ball dress.

So with a greatly reduced bank balance, sore feet, and a

warm satisfied glow because she found a dress she is

delighted with, we head home.

And she has an email! From an agent! Who wants to

meet her! Wow! Another train journey to London,

several emails later she is signed by an agent.

As someone famous once wrote …’All’s well that ends

well’ except this is just the beginning! I have it on good

authority that a performer’s life is not always an easy

one. But our job as parents is to support our children as

they tread the path they have chosen, and if necessary

help pick up some pieces along the way, that is right….

isn’t it?

A musical theatre mummy!!

8


.

CONTENTS12 DIY Hair Colour

20 Charity Ball

29 Kids Summer Fun

38 Marvelous Memory

46 Bernie Nolan

50 Surf’s Up

53 Flower Power

63 In The Garden

66 Maldives Paradise

70 A Touch Of Class


10

Five exercise myths that just won’t die!

Per

son

alF

itn

ess

I’m sure if I asked anyone to tell

me a health and fitness tip, many

of the responses would be false.

Unfortunately our media tells us

what we think we want to hear

so we have these preconceived

ideas in our head about what

exercise is good and what is bad

for us without the rationale

behind why. So today I’m going

to kill off five of the most

common fitness myths for you:

Most definitely not. Yes of

course gyms are designed to help

you work out more easily, as everything you

could ever need is in one place but that’s not to

say you can only work out in a gym. This may actually

be more of an ‘excuse’ than a myth. I speak to lots of

people who say they want to work out but then say they

can’t afford the gym membership. Don’t let that be a barrier,

find an area of open space and use your body weight to workout.

Try this for a ‘free workout’

1 minute jog/sprint

20 body weight squats

1 minute jog/sprint

20 press ups (on your knees or your toes)

1 minute jog/sprint

20 lunges (10 on each leg)

1 minute jog/sprint

Hold the plank for 1 minute

Repeat this 3-4 times and there you have it - a

free workout that will challenge your

cardiovascular system and will work

your legs, arms and core.

You need a gym to work out


11

Julie Holl - Personal Trainer - Holl Fitness Studio

07808 739651 www.hollfitness.com

So there you have it, 5 fitness myths destroyed. Yes there are many many more but these are my top 5......for now!

This is a bit of a grey area

to be honest, so I’m going to call this

a ‘half-myth’. There’s a fine line between

exercise pain that is good for you and will lead you

to good results, and the pain that is an injury waiting to

happen. Unfortunately the line gets crossed all too often

because we’re told ‘no pain, no gain’ and then you injure

yourself and that can put your exercise habits back for any

period of time.

You may feel some sense of pain when exercising but it should feel

like a muscular burning pain rather than a stabbing pain. I would

describe it more as a temporary discomfort. Rarely should your

joints hurt when exercising unless you’ve not warmed-up enough. If

they do then this can be a warning sign that something is not right.

It can be difficult to tell when it’s good or bad pain, the best

indicator is how you feel the following day. Do your muscles

ache a little when you do certain movements - e.g. going up

and down the stairs, coughing or laughing makes your

abs ache, these are all fairly normal, but the inability

to move the following day is NOT normal. This

is a sign you have done too much, let that

be a lesson and ease off next

time round.

Now I know I’ve talked

about this in much detail in a

previous issue of Affinity but this

fitness myth is the best of them all so I’m

going to reiterate......Ab crunches will NOT give

you a flat tummy. The secret to a flat tummy is

far, far, far more complex and it involves exercise,

diet, hormones, genetics, stress, lifestyle and will

power!

You can do crunches to make your abs more

defined but if there is a layer of fat lying on top of

those tummy muscles then you won’t see them.

You can read my previous article about how

to get flat abs online at

www.affinitymag.co.uk/868/

A dead lift is exactly what it

says - lifting a dead weight. We do dead

lifts ALL the time but we don’t realise we’re

doing them. We do them whilst picking up our

children, doing the gardening, moving furniture,

emptying the washing machine, yet when we go into the

gym we shy away from doing them....why? Because once upon

a time someone, somewhere told us they were bad for your

back. The dead lift is the king of back exercises when done

correctly and that’s exactly it.....when done correctly. I’ve seen

some very interesting versions of a dead lift which yes would

result in back pain, but that is the technique NOT the exercise.

A good dead lift should have feet hip width apart, your back

should be straight, legs bent at the knee and you drive up

with the weight using the backs of your legs and your

bottom. If you do a great dead lift your lower back

strength will increase, which in turn will

reduce back pain making the dead lift a

good exercise for your back.

I used to work in a local

gym (which shall remain nameless!)

and without fail every Saturday afternoon

the weights area would be full to the brim with

young men doing what I call ‘a T-shirt’ workout.

Meaning they were working out their chest, shoulders

and arms ready for the tight t-shirt they were wearing on

their Saturday night out. Now there’s nothing wrong with

that but I would mainly see these guys doing bicep curl,

after bicep curl, after bicep curl. There is little or no thought

at all to the triceps or even their back muscles (which would

actually have made them look bigger in the first place!) You

can achieve fantastic biceps by doing a number of other

exercises - ones that work other muscles too, rather

than isolate the biceps. For example a row or a pull

up. Let’s not forget the triceps either; some

triceps dips or narrow press ups will get

them looking lovely too.

Happy tight t-shirt wearing!

Dead lifts are bad for your back

You need to do Bicep curls

to get great arms

No pain, no gain!

Ab crunches will give

you a flat stomach


Home hair care is becoming

popular as many of us tighten our

belts. Make sure you are ready and

fully prepared to avoid a hair dye-

saster.

The most important advice to always

remember is to patch test 24-48 hours

before colouring. Even if you have

used the same home colour kit for

years, companies can change certain

ingredients at any time meaning you

could become allergic to the dye. If

you experience any type of reaction,

do not colour your hair and get hold of

your GP should symptoms worsen.

Figuring out what type of colourant is

best for you can be confusing, as you

stand in Boots deciding whether a

permanent would be best, or a semi-

permanent is the way to go.

A permanent colour means the colour

will grow out, leaving you with your

natural root colour showing through.

You’ll only cover the regrowth when it

needs a touch up, so prepare for

maintaining the colour. Permanent

colour can only lighten hair up to 4

shades, so if you are looking to go

from dark to light it’s definitely worth

discussing with a qualified stylist.

A semi-permanent colour will last for

around 6-15 washes depending on

your hair condition and how porous

your hair is. Whilst this won’t

dramatically change your existing

colour, semi-permanent dyes are a

fantastic way to add shine and boost

your colour. As the colour fades rather

than growing out, you’ll be left with

no root regrowth.

After you’ve picked the right dye for

you, it’s time to colour. It’s definitely

worth keeping the colour in the

bathroom, grab a magazine and take

some time out whilst waiting for the

colour to develop. Sectioning hair is a

great idea to avoid missing parts of

your hair. If you have very long or

thick hair it’s worth buying two kits.

You can always keep one if you don’t

use it, however popping to the shops

for another can be tricky if you are

halfway through.

Once you are transformed with a

fabulous new colour it’s important

you keep hair looking healthy and full

of gorgeous shine. Treat your hair to

an intensive conditioning treatment

the day after your colour. Most colours

now come with a handy tube of

conditioner – use this to help keep

hair looking in fantastic condition.

When washing hair, try using slightly

cooler water than usual, this will

avoid the hair colour fading.

Keep Handy:

Cotton wool – Add a little nail varnish

remover and dab away any marks or

stains on your skin.

Sectioning clips or bands – Keeping

hair out of the way not only helps you

avoid missing bits, but avoids dye

dripping or getting on clothes.

Bin liner or plastic bag – Pop on the

floor around you as you colour, it’ll

help catch any drips or splashes of

dye. Once you’re done, simply throw

away –keeping your floor clean and

your only concern your hair.

Egg timer – Keep an eye on the time

and set an egg timer. Most mobile

phones usually have a stopwatch

function which can also help you keep

an eye on the time.

DIYHair Colouring

&B

eau

ty

Hea

lth


For more hair tips from Kelly visit our Hair Clinic at www.affinitymag.co.uk

Kelly Gay www.klghairadvice.com


Travel Well and Stay Healthy

Travel sickness

Around 33% of us will be affected by travel sickness

which can make travelling a real misery, rather than a

start of a much needed break or adventure. All forms of

transport can affect our sense of balance. When this is

disturbed by long car journeys, sailing or flying, it gives

rise to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and

sickness. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, before and

during the journey, will help calm the nervous system,

whilst ginger and peppermint teas can help to settle the

stomach.

Sunburn

Sunburn can catch us unawares, particularly if it is

cloudy or the temperature is high but there’s a cool

breeze. Obviously, sun protection is important, but we

do need at least 15 minutes of sunlight a day to top-up,

or maintain, our vitamin D levels. However, If you have

caught the sun, there are three remedies that really help

to cool the skin.

Firstly, four chamomile tea bags infused in a bath of

tepid water will help to reduce the inflammation and it’s

also very calming, soothing and relaxing too – suitable

for both adults and children (with a more diluted bath) .

Aloe vera gel applied directly to the skin is another

great skin healer for sunburnt skin. Alternatively, pure

rose water mixed to a paste with corn starch, applied to

the skin and allowed to dry will soon take the heat out

of sun burnt skin. Once the skin has cooled a little

apply a cream or lotion rich in vitamin E to repair the

skin and replace lost moisture.

Caution: if you have a fever, feel dizzy or start to vomit

seek medical advice immediately.

Stomach upsets

Probiotic supplementation before going away for one

month, along with fresh garlic, oregano and clove oil

will create an environment in the gut that repels

parasites and bacterial infections.

However, if your stomach upset is as a result of stress or

nerves and you may be irritable and unable to sleep,

chamomile tea will help relax you and settle your

stomach.

Constipation

Long haul flights, which upsets our natural circadian

rhythm, can lead to both constipation and disturbed

sleep. Rather than relying on laxatives to solve the

problem, take one tablespoon of flaxseed or sesame oil,

along with a cup of warm water, before eating your

evening meal and then before going to bed.

A few more general tips for a

Happy and Healthy Holiday

Holiday

Keep well hydrated by drinking at least 1.5-2 litres of

bottled water

Food flavoured with garlic, oregano, coriander, turmeric

and cloves will not only taste great, but will keep

harmful bugs away from your digestive system.

A vegetarian diet, with lots of colourful vegetables, is

not only a way to increase our intake of much needed

antioxidants but also goes some way to prevent upset

stomachs. A diet rich in antioxidants makes our skin

glow and is essential for cellular health.

For cuts and grazes

Vitamin A and zinc drops can be applied directly to the

skin to aid repair of the tissue.

Bruises

Arnica 30c is a well known homeopathic remedy for

speeding-up the healing of bruises.

Lavender Essential Oil

Is a great travel aid, which can be used for many things

from a relaxing bath to application directly onto a minor

burn. It also has anti-bacterial properties too, so can be

used for cleaning surfaces.

14

For further information contact Carolyn Wood-Herbalist and Naturopath MAMH, MANP, ITEC

07944 886502 [email protected] www.vedatherapeutics.co.uk


The Euros are well and truly over, but that doesn’t

stop me telling you about Affinity’s involvement

on 21st June in “The Advancing People’s Euro

Table Football Competition”.

We had such fun, and it was for such a worthwhile cause

(£315 was raised and went to The Prebend Day Centre in

Bedford) that we wanted to share it with our readers.

On final’s night it was tense and The Sharnbrook Hotel &

Vesuvio Restaurant along with Bengal Brassserie and

Peppe Vesuvio tried to put off the opposition by plying

them with pizza and Indian treats - not to mention the

wine, beer and other nibbles supplied by Advancing People

and I have to say it worked – The Sharnbrook Hotel played

Advancing People Recruitment in the final and used their

football skills to full advantage to win the title of

‘Champions!’ Pepe Vesuvio then had to meet Affinity to

play for third place position – they won although I think

the ball was weighted ha ha !!!

Well done to everyone involved, here at Affinity we are

already practising for next year so we can steal the shield!!

The Battle for the EURO Table Football


The long awaited Olympics are nearly over and the

'sporting summer' is nearly behind us but that

doesn't mean sporting wear will disappear just

yet. Sports luxe or maybe the more appropriate name

'nostalgic leisure wear' is the perfect look for laid back,

cool, easy dressing. Perfect for the school runs, leisurely

day wear, and even low effort evening wear.

Sports looks can be made up using a palette of white,

cream, beige and black mixed with light pastel tones

with flashes of vibrant yellow, orange and acidic greens.

Keep jewellery to a minimum as this doesn't really fit in

with the trend, with the exception of a chunky sports

watch in a complimentary colour. A must is a pair of

wedge hi-top trainers or some chunky, simple, jelly

sandals if the weather heats up! When creating a sports

luxe look it's important to think about simplicity and co-

ordination, two rules that sportswear normally follows.

Day wear: For a laid back day wear look try a simple

pair of trousers or shorts with a running stripe down

the side for a sports inspired look. Wear with a simple

white or black loose fit top, a matching sports watch and

a pair of flat or wedge hi-top trainers. There are some

amazing hi-top trainers available on the high street at

the moment, from floral prints to metallics to studs -

they now come in all styles. This is the perfect trend if

having a large bag is essential to you, whether you go for

a backpack, duffel bag or barrel bag, all would be perfect

with this look and allow all the room in the world for all

your 'necessities'. Finish off with one statement, but

simple, bit of jewellery if needed and you're ready to go.

A recreational day out: Give the maxi and midi trends

a sporting chance with this look. Opt for a loose and

lengthy jersey dress, preferably one that cinches in at

the waist so you keep some shape. Team with a pair of

plain pumps, or gladiator sandals for a more summery

look or stick with the wedge hi-tops if appropriate. Add

a barrel inspired sports bag and technically you're done!

For more detail add some gold and silver rings of all

shapes and sizes and a long pendant necklace in a

matching metallic shade. For the cool summer nights

and more of a evening wear look add a formal blazer,

which is one of the key fashion pieces to have in your

wardrobe at the moment. It instantly transforms any

look into a winning one.

A date in your diary: If you need something slightly

more dressy and prefer something a bit more feminine,

then the sports luxe trend can still work well for you.

Start the outfit with a pleated or dipped hem skirt in a

grey or pastel shade, to this add a simple, staple, loose

fitting top or shirt tucked in. Then, try a pair of light

wedge hi-tops, and a coordinating clutch or across-the-

body bag. For those cooler, English summer days add a

white or grey jersey blazer for a more formal look.

Finally add the essential matching watch and its 'ready

set go' to that appointment in your diary!

A sporting occasion: For a sporty evening look start

with a simple party dress or a playful play-suit in one

block colour. To this add monochrome accessories, this

keeps the look simple, laid back and classy. Try

introducing metallics, go for bronze, silver and gold!

Add a simple belt, square clutch and a more elegant

looking pair of hi-tops to make your look appear well

put together. For finishing touches try an eye catching

ring and some co-ordinating earrings.

Carla Williams

Sports Luxe

Cream Triangle

Necklace £8.50

Miss Selfridge

Models Clothes

Primark

White Envelope

Clutch £15

Dorothy Perkins

Qulited Barrel

Holdall £36

Topshop

16


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Step Awayfrom theTweezers

Bold brows are big news for

summer. They are a big feature

of our faces, and are unique to

each of us.

Professional threading is the best

way to establish the perfect shape

and it can last up to four weeks

(waxing lasts two to three weeks,

and tweezing only two to three days)

Using a toothbrush or eyebrow brush, brush the hair

upwards. Then tweeze out any obvious strays and

trim extra long hairs with nail scissors.. Don’t over

pluck; it’s far more flattering to keep brows full. The

most flattering anti-ageing shape is a gentle arch that

sweeps upwards towards the temples, then gently down in

line with the top of your ear.

1

Make sure you

check from the

sides as well as the

front to see how

your brows look. It’s quite

normal to have one brow

straighter or bushier than

the other, so don’t be

tempted to over correct.

Our faces are not 100 per

cent symmetrical and so

trying to make them

match exactly could make

them look odd.

2

Fill in any gaps

with a powder

such as Bobbi

Brown Brow kit,

£35 or Anastasis Brow

Powder Duo, £17.

Remember not to go too

dark. Apply the colour

with a flat edged angled

brush in light, upward

strokes through the hair.

If you prefer to use

pencil, chose a

powder textured

one, such as

Clinique Instant Lift for

Brows £14, or Dior

Powder Eyebrow pencil,

£16. Don’t draw a line

instead, use soft, feathery

upward strokes.

Concentrate colour at the

top edge of the brow for

lift. Your brow should be

subtle, remember less is

more!

4

Follow these Tips for a Groomed Finish:

3


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ake sure you join us on Friday 12th October at The

Sharnbrook Hotel, A6/Park Lane, Sharnbrook, Beds for our

Black Tie and Tiara Ball.

Affinity will be holding a Charity Ball once a year, and we

decided for our first Ball we wanted it to be something that

was close to our hearts which is why we are holding it in

memory of our dear friend Pat (Patrick) Mcgirl and in aid of

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Each year in the UK around 30,000 people are diagnosed

with a blood cancer. Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is the

only UK charity solely dedicated to seek to improve

treatments, find cures and prevent all forms of leukaemia and

related blood cancers including Hodgkin and other

lymphomas, myeloma, the myelodysplasias and aplastic

anaemia - in both children and adults.

The charity relies completely on voluntary donations and

thus we are asking you to join us on what promises to be a

spectacular evening and an opportunity to support

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research as we raise funds for this

special charity.

Guests will be greeted at 7pm with a sparkling drinks and

canape reception, followed by a sumptuous three course

dinner. Our raffle has some fabulous prizes and our Grand

Auction will give you the opportunity to bid for select prizes

before enjoying live music from Vision, as well as a surprise

guest! You can also have a little flutter at our casino gaming

table until carriages arrive at 1am.

This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fabulous evening for

this great cause. Tickets are £50 per person with 10%

discount for a table of ten (we also have a couple of tables of

12 available) so all you need to do now is book your table and

for the ladies ... buy your dress!

To book tickets for this event contact Jane on

01234215523 - 07809499669

email [email protected]

Reserve your place at this year’s

Affinity Black Tie and

Tiara Charity BallM

Dusk till DawnDusk till Dawn


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The most powerful and profound aspect of a relationship is emotion.

If we learn to shift emotions we can change all of our relationships

26

Jealousy is a feeling that most of us will

have experienced at some point in our

lives. For the majority of us, these feelings

will pass quickly and without any real

harm. Sometimes, though, jealousy can

get out of hand and destroy relationships.

Think back, there may have been a time as a child when

you felt jealous because you thought your best friend

wanted to spend more time with someone else, or you

imagined your mother was giving your siblings more

love and attention than she was giving you.

Then in later life maybe you experienced a pang of

jealousy when your friend seemed to want to spend

more time with her boyfriend/girlfriend than with you.

You may even have felt a little jealous when your

friends’ had children and you felt they had less time for

you. It is also a common phenomenon for men to feel

jealous of their own children; they sometimes feel they

are coming second best in their partner’s emotions.

Jealousy, like envy, can also refer to a desire for someone

else's status, attention or possessions. Yes – we can be

jealous of what people have as much as with the people

in our life.

In a relationship jealousy causes someone to be

doubtful of their partner by feeling threatened by their

relationship with others. This then has a knock on effect

on your relationship as it detracts from your time

together, as you are likely to have fights because you

spend your time thinking up negative situations and,

before you know it, much of your relationship is spent

dwelling on what might be going on rather than what is

really happening.

Life

sty

le

“

“

Overcoming Jealousy


27

Own your feelings

For the most part, jealousy is all about our own issues

with self confidence. You may feel that you're not good

enough and that your partner will soon leave - as you

believe that other people are better looking, nicer,

kinder etc than you.

Accept that your feelings of insecurity will not go away

overnight – you have to work at stopping them.

One way to start the process is to write out a list of all

the reasons why someone likes you. List all your

qualities – the harder you find this exercise the

more likely you are to be lacking in

confidence - and a lack of confidence is

an excellent breeding ground for

jealous feelings.

Stop blaming other people

It’s not the fault of your partner, or

the girl who smiled at him at your

friend’s party or the guy that asked

her directions. When you feel jealous it

is all down to YOU. No one can make you

feel jealous apart from yourself.

Avoid intoxicants like alcohol

These dull your perception, which will make you jump

to conclusions and amplify your anger, jealousy and

insecurity. Alcohol is also a depressant, so you will feel

even less secure the following morning.

Learn from the past

Look at how your behaviour has affected past

relationships negatively and use that information to

help you behave better. You may soon discover that your

jealous outbursts are the real cause of your troubled

love life. Realise that getting upset for no reason

won't help your situation. Focus on what is

happening, not what you think is

happening, otherwise you may end up

having difficulty separating fact from

fiction.

Sunlight and exercise

Both have been shown to be as

effective as many forms of therapy at

treating stress. Endorphin releases

will make you feel happier, which will in

turn make you feel more confident, which

will in turn make you less prone to jealousy

and anger.

Spend time with positive people

Negative people tend to bring one another down; if you

are around negative people, talking constantly about

how terrible things are, you will feel less happy and less

confident. This feeling will manifest itself in anger and

jealousy.

Count to 10

If you feel jealous, and are angry or upset at somebody,

remove yourself from the situation for 10 seconds.

These 10 seconds will make you feel better as they will

give you the valuable perspective you need to eliminate

irrational jealousy.

Practice deep breathing

Find a safe, calm place, sit comfortably, and take deep

slow breaths. Try to concentrate on the sensation of

breathing in your nose, chest or belly. You will soon find

yourself lost in thought and when you do, congratulate

yourself for having noticed that your mind wandered.

Then go back to the breathing. Do this for 10-20

minutes each day.

Get help from your partner and friends

If you have explained your feelings to

your partner you can ask them to help

you. If they say they won’t then maybe

they’re not the catch you think they

are.

For example, devise a simple code

between you for when you are feeling

low. Agree with your partner that when

you say a certain word or make a certain

movement this means you need some

emotional support.

It may only mean your partner putting an arm round

you. Remember that your partner can only help you,

he/she can only reassure you up to a point. You are the

one that has to learn to deal with your feelings.

You may also find it helpful to talk to a close friend and

get support in the changes you need to make from them.

Challenge your thoughts

When you start talking yourself into a jealous rage,

stand back, take a deep breath and ask yourself what

evidence you have for your thoughts. A jealous partner

tends to spin events in the worst way possible. If

his/her partner doesn't return her call, for

instance, they may think of them as being

with another woman/man instead of

thinking that the battery has died and

needs to be recharged.

Realise that in any relationship, a lot

of things that happen are ambiguous

and can be interpreted in many ways.

Instead of sticking on the worst case

scenario, try to think on other more

positive ones and hold on to them.

You need to challenge your thoughts regularly

and if you do you will learn to talk yourself out of the

thoughts that trigger your jealous feelings, which are

really insecure feelings you have about yourself.

Controlling jealousy requires you to discipline your

mind to think in a more positive and optimistic way.

Just keep on raising your own self-esteem and you will

find your thoughts and feelings become much less

negative.

Jealousy,like envy, can

also refer to a desirefor someone else's

status, attention orpossession

Focuson what is

happening, notwhat you think is

happening

“

““

“


Wed 1st August

Run Wild - 2pm - 4pm

Ampthill Great Park

Den building and playing in woods

www.greensandtrust.org

1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th August

Children’s Nature Discover

RSPB Spot birds, butterflies and

dragonflies - 2pm - 4pm

www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

Thurs 2nd August

Sunshine and Flower Power

Forest of Marston Vale.

Fun, facts and craft aimed at

4-10 years, £2.50,

www.marstonvale.org/events

Fri 3rd August

Olympic Live Site - Bedford

International Athletic Stadium

The week long free event includes a

big outdoor screen showing the best

of the action live as well as visitors

having a go at numerous Olympic

sports

www.bedford.gov.uk

3rd, 6th, 10th, 17th, 20th, 24th,

31st

Minibeast Safari – RSPB. Delve for

creepy crawlies.

Adults free, children £4, members £3

www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

Sat 4th August

Wildlife Watch, Birding, 2pm - 4pm

Priory Country Park

Aimed at 8-12 years but under 8’s

welcome with adult - £2 donation

[email protected]

Mon 6th August

A Story Safari

Forest of Marston Vale

Explore, riddles and stories aimed at

4-10 years, £3.50


Mon 13th August

Buzzing About

Forest of Marston Vale

Games and activities about bees for

4-10 years, £2.50


Mon 13th – Fri 17th August

Time Travellers Go...Archaeology

Wrest Park

Uncover clues and handle artefacts.

11am - 5pm

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Sat 25th August

Family Fun Day

Harrold Country Park 10am - 5pm

Sat 25th August

Kempston Fun Day

Addison Howard Park, Kempston

Stalls, displays, arena events etc

Noon onwards

PLACES TO GO

If the weather is nice take a picnic

and head to The Embankment or

the many parks we have to offer

however if it is raining............

360 Play – Milton Keynes

Indoor and outdoor play area

www.360play.uk.com

Big Rock Climbing – Milton Keynes

Indoor climbing wall for 4 years and

over

www.bigrockclimbing.co.uk

Box End Park – Kempston

Watersports and activities

www.boxendpark.com

Crafty Monkey – St Neots

Pottery painting and arts and crafts

craftymonkeypottertpainting.com

Go Quadz

Mobile quad biking parties

www.go-quadz.co.uk

Eat’N’Bowl – St Neots

Bowling, soft play and laser games

wwweatnbowl.co.uk

Kidsworld – Bedford

Indoor play area and laser games

www.kidsworldbedford.co.uk

The Kiln - Bedford

Pottery painting

www.bedfordkiln.co.uk

Mead Open Farm – Leighton

Buzzard Farm

Indoor play area, go karts

www.meadopenfarm.co.uk

Thurleigh Farm Centre

Indoor and outdoor play areas, quad

bikes

www.thurleightfarmcentre.co.uk

Spy Missions

Milton Keynes and Cambridge

Become a spy

www.spymissions.co.uk

Playschemes Premier Sports

Sports courses for 5-11 years,

currently buy one get one free

www.premiersport.org

Kidzsize

Various courses for children aged

from 5 years

www.sportsupport.org.uk

Barracudas Activity Day Camp

ages 4½ - 16 years

www.barracudas.co.uk

Bedford Modern School

Activity courses for ages 4 -14 years

www.bedmod.co.uk/hac

Bedford Borough Council

Playschemes. Various activities for

ages 5-13 years

www.bedford.gov.uk

Your Summer Survival Guide!

Ideas on keeping your childrenhappy....and you sane

29


The school reports have come home, sports days

endured and we have listened to the beautiful

voices at the end of term school assembly so that

means only one thing – it’s the six week school holiday!

However, before we get to this day I have had the

foresight to sit down in front of the laptop with a

spreadsheet waiting to be filled with activities that keep

the children amused and my sanity intact! The

youngest are booked into their usual nursery for the

days I need to work and I then find a play scheme,

Premier Sport, for the eldest two that I know they love

as it keeps them busy doing sport. I am delighted that it

is ‘buy one get one free’ so my budget isn’t dented too

much at only about £8 a day – bargain!

So that is the working days sorted, I now need to find

activities that I can take them too! If – and that is a big if

at the moment – the weather is ok we shall be

frequenting many of the beautiful parks and lakes in the

area – Russell Park, Mowsbury Park, Bedford Park,

Priory Lake, Willen Lake.....the list is endless. Nothing

beats taking a picnic and seeing the children getting lots

of sleep inducing fresh air. I shall of course be treating

myself to a coffee and the children to some yummy

cakes from the Kiosk at Russell Park and no doubt ice

creams from every park! I then check out all the free

and cheap outdoor activities at the Athletics Stadium,

Priory County Park, Forest of Marston Vale etc and they

are in the diary (see the ‘What’s On Children’s’ page for

details).

Now onto the rainy day activities! The indoor play areas

(Kidsworld, 360 play etc) will definitely be visited but

we will be waiting on the doorstep at opening time as I

always find it is slightly quieter at this time – by quieter

I mean not ‘full on’ manic and the sound level is just

below deafening! We shall also try our hand at painting

some pottery – not at home of course but at The Kiln or

Crafty Monkey, where someone else clears up and they

make me coffee too!

When the younger ones are having their naps, The

Husband will be delighted to take the eldest to the more

adventurous activities. I know he cannot wait to try

Wakeboarding at Box End Park and releasing his inner

child at Big Rock Climbing (and no doubt not being able

to help himself by showing off and climbing the

highest!). It is also Daddy’s job to take them swimming

especially as they are so fond of splashing!

So in the space it has taken me to drink a glass of wine,

our summer holiday diary is full up! However it is not

all activities as I have scheduled in some very important

chill time for them to play at home with their toys,

watch a DVD etc., or even just be bored for a while –

nothing fuels their imagination than making their own

fun!

With the six weeks now planned I am sure in no time we

will be back at the school gates waving them off in their

new classes and I can’t help feel a little sad at how quick

they are growing up, so I intend to make the most of the

next few weeks together. I hope you all enjoy yourselves

too!

Welcome to the musings of Yummy Mummy. Living inBedford she is married to ‘The Husband’ and togetherthey have 4 children, Rafferty, 7, Violet, 5, Roman, 3

and baby Clementine.

Yummy Mummy30

All my views are my own and are not intended to offend anyone but alas I may

frustrate you as I certainly do myself and no doubt those around me at times. I

would love to hear from you, your views, questions or indeed just to share your

experiences of trying to be a Yummy Mummy. Email me at [email protected]

Surviving the School Holidays!


Animal Daysack - Cow

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P-Rex Dinosaur Backpack

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Space Backpack £15.99

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Turtle Snack Sack £10.20

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Monkey Zoo Pack £20.75

dottyhippo.co.ukWeekender Bag £25

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Soldier Rucksack £21

littlelucywillow.co.uk

Turtle Quilted Backpack

£17 dottyhippo.co.ukDinosaur Backpack £20

dottyhippo.co.uk

Melon Lunch Box £10.20

dottyhippo.co.uk

Men At Work Case Set £22.50

emmabridgewater.co.uk

Peko PenguinTrolley Case

£50 cotswoldtrading.comPirate Rucksack

ellajamesliving.co.uk

Bag £10.50

next.co.ukLunch Box Owl Design £9.18

beckyandlolo.co.uk

Pink Owl Design £19.99

beckyandlolo.co.uk


With the school summer holidays upon us

I am sure you are looking for ways to

entertain the children. Go-Quadz, a local

company can offer the perfect solution for

your children to have lots of fun and also to

wear them out!

Go-Quadz offer parties for up to 8 children

aged 6 to 16 so they can enjoy the excitement

of controlling their own quad. To keep your

precious ones safe they ensure that the bikes

are only ever used under close adult

supervision and correct safety items are worn

at all times - approved safety helmets, goggles

and gloves are all supplied. For further peace

of mind each quad also comes equipped with

an emergency cut off device.

Founder of the company Darryl Lane’s passion

for quad biking started after university when

he and a friend bought an inflatable track and

two 50cc Suzuki quad bikes. From there his

passion ignited and he continued to add to his

collection before deciding to turn his passion

into his dream job.

Check out their website and Facebook pages

for more details and to see when they are

appearing at local shows/events and you can

see them in action.0843 289 1640 [email protected]

www.go-quadz.co.uk or www.Facebook.com/goquadz.bedford


Stuck for what to do with your children? Then look no further

than The Bee House, a new and innovative place to visit to

entertain both children and adults!

The concept was thought up by Pauline Carpenter after she had

an idea that kept niggling away in her mind and now that idea has

become a reality. In March a wonderful space was opened for

children to be entertained and occupied and for adults to have the

chance to exercise in the well equipped gym, be pampered by the

beauty team or just simply relax over a cuppa!

There are numerous classes and workshops for you to join in with,

from antenatal, hypno-birthing, baby massage and yoga and for

the toddlers and older children there are art & craft, cooking,

drama sessions etc – the list goes on!

Should you opt for a workout or want to treat yourself to a beauty

treatment you can be sure that the Ofsted registered crèche

provides a nurturing and simulating environment for children

from birth to 8 years.

With the summer holidays upon us the Bee House are hosting

some extra activities for the under 12’s. Ideal to keep them, and

of course, you happy! So whatever the weather you can be sure

of a warm welcome at The Bee House!

www.thebeehouse.net

Telephone: 01908 299230

Howard Way, Interchange House, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9PX

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Keep Your Little BeesBusy This Summer!


If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call our clinic TODAY for our consultation and health check.

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38

On the whole that was good advice, I am

lucky enough to have loads of brilliant

memories that quite literally make me feel

all warm and content; the birth of my

children, specific good times with some of

my friends, achievements like crossing the finish line of a

half marathon, happy holidays with family and friends, the

wonderful feeling of walking in crisp

fresh snow, the list could go on and on.

There are hundreds of songs that can

evoke a notion of how important the

memory is to human beings, ‘thanks for

the memory’, and ‘memories are made of

this’ are just two examples. Other lines show something of

the two sides of memory

“memories may be beautiful and yet, what’s too

painful to remember we simply choose to forget”.

Quite simply, memory is the ability we have to remember

past experiences. For all humans this is a really useful skill

– we don’t need to touch a flame to know it is hot, and we

know that flowers often have a smell. Memories can also

carry powerful emotions. Walking back into a previous

home, school or even place we have been on holiday can

quite simply flood us with memories and sometimes these

can catch us off guard. In addition memory helps us to

associate certain things together, and this

is very useful for learning.

Memory and learning are of course

linked and in some ways it is hard to

separate the two. Learning is defined as

being a process that modifies behaviour. So in the example

of a flame, we may remember that touching a flame causes

pain so we make sure we don’t touch a flame, we behave

differently because of our memory. Memory plays a crucial

part in our learning, as well as learning by associating

things together memory can be a reconstruction. Our

memory stores information that we have previously come

I remember, when I was about fourteen, a very old relative told

me to savour the happy times I had, rehearse them as I fell

asleep, and put them in an imaginary bottle. Then I could put

them on a shelf in my brain and whenever I needed to, I could

simply get the bottle from the shelf and relive the moment.

“ “

Lif

esty

le

“We do not remember days we

remember moments.”Cesare Pavese

MemoryMarvelous


39

For more information and help with any aspect of study, revision, exams or life coaching:

07921 193479 [email protected] www.attunededucation.com

across and this allows us to make new inferences so, for

example, we know that a car has a horn and a steering

wheel so when we discuss a new car we will infer that it

has these features without seeing them. So, memory

provides a kind of framework on which we can attach

new knowledge. The larger our existing framework of

knowledge the easier it is to link new pieces of

knowledge.

Unlike certain others skills and functions memories do

not seem to be stored in just one part of the brain but use

a complex system of different processes which occur

throughout the brain. There are

three main types of memory;

sensory, short and long term.

Sensory memory - which some

regard as part of the process of

perception, stores the information

taken in by our senses but only

briefly – for a maximum time of a

couple of seconds.

Short term memory - also stores the information from our

senses, again for just a short time, but only for a few dozen

seconds, the nice coat we notice someone is wearing or a

name we are given, will disappear again very quickly

unless we make a conscious effort to remember the

information. And short term memory can only store about

seven items, so things we need to remember need to be

stored in our long term memory.

Long term memory - is where we store all the important

information we need, where we live, facts about the world

or friends names, how to get to work or make an omelette

and all those other significant things that have happened

in our lives.

The capacity of the long term memory seems unlimited

but is not infallible and generally speaking our memory

becomes more unreliable as we get older.

Having stored memories, when we need the information

- especially if it is not information we use every day - we

need to recall or retrieve the memory. We probably all

have experience of that ‘tip of the tongue’ moment, we

know that we know, but it takes a few moments to

actually get the information. What is happening is that the

memory is revisiting the nerve pathways that were

formed when ‘encoding’ that particular memory.

As with lots of other skills we can practise using our

memories and this tends to improve it. We can probably

all remember the game where we put several random

items on a tray, cover it, secretly remove one or more then

see if others can spot what is missing. We can probably

also remember the ‘conveyor’ belt challenge at the end of

game shows, where contestants win all the items they can

remember from a selection that had previously been

presented on the conveyor belt.

Nowadays memory games have become more ‘high tech’

and the website links listed below all have a range of

games and puzzles thought to improve memory:

www.web-games-online.com

www.gamesforthebrain.com

Generally speaking our memory,

like any other part of us, works

best when we have plenty of

sleep and exercise and when we

are not stressed. But it is also

important to make time for

friends and fun, laughter is

indeed good for the brain and

memory.

Certain foods are thought to benefit memory, omega 3

foods, eg oily fish, fruit and vegetables high in

antioxidants (often the brightly coloured items like

mango, broccoli etc) and even green tea. But we also need

to exercise our brain and memory so keep trying things

that are new, fun and challenging – a pub quiz for example

or learning some words in a new language before you go

on holiday.

“An education isn't how much you have

committed to memory, or even how much you

know. It's being able to differentiate between what

you know and what you don't.”Anatole France

“I’ve never tried to block out the

memories of the past, even though some

are painful. I don’t understand people

who hide from their past. Everything

you live through makes you the person

you are.”Sophia Loren

“No man has a good enough

memory to be a successful liar.”Abraham Lincoln


Food

&D

rin

k


Ingredients

Pesto

Recipe

With a quick homemade pesto, this asparagus and potato

salad has bags of flavour. Roasted tomatoes, garlic and a

little balsamic vinegar are all the flavours you will need to

finish off this summery dish.

Halve the cherry tomatoes and place on a baking tray.

Add garlic, sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook at

160°C/Gas Mark 3 for 1 hour. Remove from oven.

Turn oven up to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Trim the ends of the

asparagus and place on a roasting tray, drizzle with some

oil, season and roast in oven for 6-8 minutes. Meanwhile

boil the halved new potatoes until cooked through, drain

and set aside.

Add the mint to a blender along with the rocket, walnuts

and garlic, drizzle in the oil whilst blending until you

have a loose consistency. Add the grated Parmesan

cheese and season with salt and pepper and lemon juice

to taste.

Dress the asparagus spears and potatoes with the pesto

and scatter over some of the roasted cherry tomatoes.

Serve alongside some BBQ steaks or chicken for a

delicious summer dinner.

BUON APETITO!41

“ “

Asparagus, Pestoand Potato Salad

McGuigan Semillon

Sauvignon Blanc

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

grapes from our finest

vineyards are blended

together to create a fresh,

crisp, vibrant white wine

packed with zesty citrus and

luscious gooseberry fruit

flavours.

£10.99 Sainsburys

250g cherry tomatoes halved

1 tsp sugar

2 cloves garlic crushed

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 bundles asparagus

500g new potatoes

Salt and pepper for seasoning

Small handful fresh mint leaves

1 handful rocket

30g walnuts

1/2 clove garlic

50ml olive oil, or enough to loosen the pesto

30g Parmesan grated

Lemon juice to taste

Kumala Zenith Red

A juicy, smooth full-bodied red

wine, with red berry fruit, ripe

plums and a hint of spice on

the rich, lingering finish.

£9.99 Sainsburys

Banrock Station Pink

Moscato Australian Wine

Enjoy fresh melon and

sweet floral aromas with

this light fruity wine.

Sweet, refreshing, lightly

spritzed

£5.49 Sainsburys

The perfectBottle


Ingredients (serves 8)200g Digestive biscuits

125g Unsalted butter

1 Pint of Double cream

200g White chocolate

200g Dark chocolate

500g Mascarpone

5 leaves of gelatine

Method• Break digestives in a food processor or large

mixing bowl and add the melted butter. (Set the

mix into individual moulds or one large round

tin)

• Melt 200g of white chocolate to ½ pint of the

cream on a low flame. When chocolate has

melted add half the gelatine leaves (that have all

been soaking in cold water prior to making the

biscuit mix) whisk until dissolved. Add half of

the mascarpone and fold.

• Pour the mix into individual moulds or large

tin. Repeat the process for the dark chocolate

once the white half has set firmly to touch.

Enjoy

White and Dark Chocolate

Cheesecake

Makes 8 Individual moulds

or 1 round cake tin


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*BOGOF on all Pizza’s (Cheapest free)**BOGOF does not include Garlic Bread Pizza

01234 824121Molivers Lane Bromham Bedford MK40 8JT

Made with an authentic Italian recipePizzas from as little as £6.30

(On our pizza selection)

Whatever you’re up to this season, our luxury chocolate will help you do it in style – delivered as

gifts by post or handed over in person

hotelchocolat.co.uk


44

Bengal

Brasserie


Bengal Brasserie

01234 340888

www.bengalbrasseriebedford.co.uk

B engal Brasserie is situated on The

Broadway in the middle of Bedford. It is

an Indian restaurant that brings a new

concept in culinary fare; it is traditional yet modern,

authentic yet innovative.

We were made to feel comfortable and relaxed as soon

as we arrived, and were shown to our table, where we

perused the menu over appetisers of poppadums, and a

selection of chutneys and pickles, I could have

had these to eat all night they were delicious. All

dishes on the menu are freshly made to order, I

chose off the menu, but my husband, David,

decided to let the chef choose the dishes for him.

Tenga Mitta (an absolutely delicious mix of

chicken, mushroom, green peppers and onions

wrapped in thin bread), the flavours all blended

together to create a sweet and sour taste in my

mouth, this dish was perfect for me as I am not

keen on anything too spicy. Chef’s choice for

David was Naga Mirch (spiced and marinated

chicken with herbs, stuffed in green capsicum

and roasted in the tandori) this presented a

multitude of flavours that had a slight kick to it

and was truly mouth-watering.

Main courses were equally tasty

Salmon Mossala (the menu has an

unexpected variety of sea food

dishes) with Bengal special rice. The

salmon was exquisitely tender, the

sauce deliciously sweet and creamy.

Citrus Duck (Duck confit cooked

with fresh herbs, lemon and lime

zest tossed in an iron wok and

served with a sweet and sour

orange sauce) served with

vegetable rice, Bombay potatoes

and peshwari naan was the other

dish, a generous piece of duck

that was cooked to perfection

and just fell off the bone, it had a

refreshing zesty taste that

complimented the Bombay

potatoes and rice perfectly.

I resisted dessert as I couldn’t move, but David gave into

temptation and tried the Fantasica, a cooling vanilla and

hazelnut ice-cream on a crispy chocolate base, ideal to

finish off a delicious meal.

Bengal Brasserie is open seven days a week, and also has

a takeaway option available. Their philosophy is “A subtle

ambience, an exquisite atmosphere and mouth watering

dishes all make for an unforgettable dining experience”

and it certainly was!


FF

ChICAGOChICAGO

BBeerrnniiee NNoollaannstars in

THE MUSICAL

Lif

esty

le


47

or the past two years singer and actress, Bernie

Nolan, has been battling and recovering from breast

cancer, but now she’s back and starring in the stage

production of Chicago, which comes to Milton Keynes

Theatre this September. She plays Mama Morton and says

it is the "perfect way" to bring her back into the limelight.

The past two years have been traumatic ones in her life,

so she is understandably happy to be back on stage,

although she remains philosophical about the challenges

ahead.

"I do feel like an enormous weight has been lifted off my

shoulders," she says, after being told she was in

remission. "I’m very lucky in that my reaction to chemo

was a good one. It was a relief to be told, but I still have to

wait five years until I get the all clear, so I've just got to

take it easy.”

"It doesn't stop me working though and so far I'm feeling

good. I had a mastectomy reconstruction and I'm feeling

fine."

"I’ve always been very optimistic about life but this makes

me live for each day even more – I look to the future and

not the past and don't dwell on things."

Now it's Bob Fosse's stylish Prohibition-era production

Chicago that's occupying her.

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s,

nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along

with cell block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, they

fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth

talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

“How could I say no to Chicago?” she asks with a laugh.

“It’s got all that great music and dancing and I just adore

it.”

"It's a great role, but I do play her differently to what a lot

of people expect," she explains. "People who have played

her previously have been really big women, whereas I'm

small and quite slight.

The singer and actress, who scored a string of hits with

The Nolans in the '70s and '80s, is no stranger to musicals

- she's played in plenty since she first trod the boards and

then played the West End in Willy Russell's Blood

Brothers in the '80s.

Bernie believes the role of Mama Morton is perfect for her,

as it's not too taxing.

"We've been touring now about six months," she explains.

"Luckily Mama Morton is not a big physical role. It's

pivotal to the story but I don't do any dancing. I sing two

really good songs and of course there's the acting. It's

perfect for me." I have two songs in the show - one solo

‘When You GoTo Mama’, which is the main song. Then I do

a duet with Velma called ‘Class’."

A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking

lawyer and a cell block of sin: what else do you need?

For the future there's plenty to look forward to for Bernie

she will be playing The Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty

in Eastbourne this Christmas, while there's every chance

the UK will be in the mood for dancing when The Nolans

reunite for one last tour.

"We did a massive reunion tour in 2009 which was

fantastic," she says. "We all had such a great time. We're

now talking about doing another tour next year. We're not

sure when, it's all being discussed at the moment. "It was

such a fun family affair," she adds. "My husband (Steve)

played drums, Coleen's husband played guitar, while her

two sons supported us.

"Last time we had so many people saying to us 'oh please

do another one'. So we're going to do one last absolutely

final farewell tour and then that's it."

Milton Keynes Theatre

Mon 10th – Sat 15th September

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

FF


J

The start of the season is upon us. Every chairman,

manager, player and supporter hopes and prays

that this is going to be their year for success. The

transfer window closes at the end of August and with the

season starting on the 18th, there will be plenty of last

minute transfers as teams begin the campaign and no

doubt the fees will escalate through the panic.

The Premier League dominates this with money-bags

Manchester City winning the league in the very last

seconds of last term. What a fantastic climax to the

Premier League that was. They will be very confident of

repeating that success and obtaining back to back titles,

but obviously Manchester United will be just as

determined to win back their championship along with

Chelsea, who are splashing the cash once again in their

attempts to win some silverware.

I can’t see anyone else winning the Premier League

than one of the aforementioned trio. I think it will be

another close encounter with the same result as last

year, City pipping United with Chelsea just behind.

In the Championship, it is most probably the strongest

league ever. With Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn

Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers coming down

from the Premier League, it wouldn’t surprise me at

all if two out of the three yo-yoed straight back to the

top division, although there will be plenty of other

teams with the ambition of getting into the Premier

League, particularly Leeds United, Brighton and

Blackpool, who narrowly missed out last term.

Blackpool were so unlucky in the play-off final

against West Ham United because they were the

better team on the day. Ian Holloway will be hoping

for another miraculous return to the Premier League

on one of the smallest budgets in the Championship.

We at Peterborough worked a miracle in retaining

our Championship status last term and we don’t kid

ourselves, it will take another miracle to stay in this

division once again. However, we have invested a

couple of million pounds worth of talent in the

squad, so hopefully that will help us prove

everybody wrong as we are the bookies favourites

for the drop!

In League One, it will be very competitive once

again with Sheffield United and Milton Keynes Dons

trying to bounce back from play-off heartache. They

will be the main contenders for automatic

promotion.

In League Two, the favourites for promotion will be

Rotherham United performing in their superb new

stadium for the first time following a summer of

recruitment from their boss Steve Evans with over 10

players joining the club. I think they will have strong

competition from Chesterfield and it will be an exciting

division.

In the Blue Square Premier League, I am hoping that

Luton Town finally get promoted to the Football League

after a few years’ of disappointment in the play-offs.

Whoever you support, it is another fantastic season ahead

of us with lots of twists and turns, lots of exciting football

so sit back, and watch the rocket take off.!

Barry Fry48

Fry’sfootie corner

www.theposh.com


J

GROWING up in Bedford was, and is to this day a bit

like growing up in a small part of Italy. Not

withstanding the obvious fact that it’s a town somehow

and peculiarly located in the centre of the British Isles.

Fashion is one thing that keeps the Italians at the

forefront of style and all things chic. Brands such as

Gucci, Armani, Prada and D&G are forever pushing

boundaries and they help to drive fashion the world

over. For my part I’ve always loved fashion and pursued

a style all of my own which has always had a strong

Italian influence. I’ve always loved that classic Italian

look from the 50s and 60s and appreciate the good

quality, good fit and good style that made it such an

iconic period in our history.

I think it’s fair to say that I’ve lived a colourful life so far,

with experiences as varied and extreme as acting, which

included a role as an extra in Eastenders, to a film

‘double’ for 007 Pierce Brosnan, along with a brief spell

as a boxer. It was during a trip to Tunisia last year acting

as a bodyguard to a dear friend of mine that I first came

into real contact with the world of fashion and garment

manufacturing.

Today Tunisia serves as a fast and efficient

manufacturing hub that supports the Italian fashion

industry with its strong and cost effective

manufacturing work force.

With all this info buzzing around in my head and with a

new business partner who already has a well respected

reputation making garments for the high end Italian

fashion industry in a state-of-the-art factory I decided to

launch ‘Conte di Savoia Clothing’.

Before making the selection for our range and styles of

clothing I felt a good indication would be to wear the

garments along with some accessories. Important for

me was feedback from friends and people in general

commenting on my look. Just hearing: “Love your

trousers” or “Where do you buy your shirts?” spoke

volumes for me and helped finalise the range of clothing

and accessories we offer. High end, but affordable

designer clothing that matches the quality and style of

the biggest fashion brands.

We have achieved a unique blend of Italian and English

fashion and made it accessible to all! All our shirts are

completely exclusive to us in both quantity and design,

as they are made from remaining fabric used to cut and

make the top designer shirts. If you would like an

individual look, wearing your shirt knowing that it’s a

one off, we here at ‘Conte di Savoia’ can offer you this

experience at very affordable prices.

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Italian Design comes to Bedford


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CV writing tipsInterview guidanceCareers adviceKnowledge of local job marketFree government funded trainingsubject to eligibility

Advancing People will be holding regular Open Days throughout the month of August where our recruitment consultants will provide you with:

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CV writing tipsInterview guidanceCareers adviceKnowledge of local job marketFree government funded trainingsubject to eligibility

Advancing People will be holding regular Open Days throughout the month of August where our recruitment consultants will provide you with:

“Just wanted to thank yourself and Advancing people for all your help and support in finding me a job in my new

career. I'm pleased to say without your help I don't think I would have found such a role suited to my expectations in

all areas.

I'm pleased to say I have already recommended yourself to colleagues seeking new roles and will keep doing so, I

believe you've also already placed them to interview stages (excellent service).

Many thanks for all your time and effort!”

Stuart

Candidate placed in a new role July 2012

“Working with a recruitment company that actually listens has been a refreshing change.

Ensuring an efficient working relationship by listening to the needs of the business and communicating in a format

that suits my role has lead me to recommending Advancing People's services to colleagues within similar fields across

the UK. These little details make all the difference in effective working.”

Human Resources Manager

Leading European Interiors Manufacturer

Advancing People Ltd

01234 268012

[email protected]

www.advancingpeople.co.uk


MAN

Describe yourself in three words?

Entrepreneurial – Driven - Quirkey

What makes you stand out in a crowd?

My Personality, the fact I never really stop selling and

my hair when I decide to spike it and it hasn’t been cut

for a while…

Your top three movies?

Casino Royale for action – Pulp Fiction for plot – Star

Wars for nostalgia

What do you do to relax?

This rarely happens but some chilled Pinot Grigio,

Chinese take away and some FIFA 2012 on the X-Box

with Mrs Q in the mix too. Even rarer could be a few

beers down the pub with the boys on a Friday evening…

Your most extravagant purchase and why?

Probably my flight for a recent boys trip to Las Vegas for

4 nights as I was due to go 2 years previously but we

were expecting our 3rd child Oscar at that time so had

to delay the trip. (There were plenty of other things Mrs

Q would have spent the money on!)

If you could be anyone or anything what would it be?

Great question! I always wanted to be a lawyer when I

was young as they made lots of money, then I realised I

would have to study for too long and, therefore, went

into Estate Agency for 6 years and now Recruitment for

10 years and I love what I do. If I was someone that had

the ability to read people’s thoughts and win the Euro

millions that would be pretty good too…

Describe your ideal woman?

Is this a trick question?

Best holiday destination and why?

With the boys in Vegas as there is nowhere like it.

With the family it will have to be Disney World in

Florida to see the kids faces and to eat the amazing food

in the USA (having lost a couple of stone first in

preparation)

With just Mrs Q it can be anywhere overnight as we are

not fussy if we can get babysitters!

You can’t leave the house without?

My clothes, shoes, car keys, locking the door, my

Blackberry, at least one of the kids and bank cards… (in

that order)

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully respected for what I have achieved, in good

health and have been able to give back to my local

community whilst building the businesses and

supporting my family. An Aston Martin sitting on the

drive would be nice too…

Which three people dead or alive would you invite

to a dinner party and why?

God as I have quite a few questions for him/ her and

will be interesting to see if he/ she turns up!

James Caan as he is pretty much the ultimate person to

talk recruitment and business with in my opinion, and

Mrs Q likes his voice so would get to meet him when he

came round.

Yoda for sheer amusement, one liners and wisdom.

What makes you happy?

Providing for my wife Becky, my kids Gracie, Harrison

and Oscar, finding people life changing jobs and

properties, whilst reaching my goals and building a

great team of people at Advancing People and

Advancing Property.

Saturday night you can be found where?

Ushering the kids up to bed as near to 7pm as possible

and either recovering from a Friday night out with the

boys (if I have been out) or usually on Facebook whilst

drinking some Pinot Grigio and doing a bad job of

listening and responding to Mrs Q - who struggles to get

my attention from me and my Blackberry most of the

time – you know I Love You Mrs Q x

52

Age: 35 yrs young

Occupation: Founding Director of

Advancing People and

Advancing Property

Resides: Bedford - Born and Bred

of the Month

Dominic Quirke

www.advancingpeople.co.uk


FlowerPower

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Butterfly Home by

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Debenhams

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Nordal Sand Velvet

Bird Cushion £25

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Arabella Antique

Rose Cushion £38

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Floral cushion £14

Next

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Cushion £48

laura Ashley

Southwold Chair &

Footstool £375 & £125

next.com

Vintage Pinks Wallpaper

£49 Per Roll

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Alium in Purple

Bottle £8

Sainsburys Home

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Cornelia Plum

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Debenhams Wallpaper

Red Tulips Set Of

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Floral Garden Furniture

£3.99 - £29.99

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Agapanthus Bone China

Tableware £9.50 - £17.90

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Savoy Armchair £495

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62

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100% Organic Cotton Table

Runner & Napkins £40

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Lunch Bag In Paisley

Rose Design £4.95

homehomehome.co.uk

7 x Paper Lanterns £9.50

berryred.co.uk

Delicous Ice Cream Bag £12.95

hunkydoryhome.co.uk


As I write this article in July I’m keeping my fingers

crossed that August will bring plenty of sunshine

to help us forget the dreadful weather we had

from April to June. Children are enjoying their summer

holidays – hopefully playing outside and expending plenty

of energy – if you have little

ones you can do a few garden

jobs whilst they are occupied

and within sight. My mother

was an inveterate gardener ,

usually in the garden well

before the rest of the family was

awake, and often out there until

dusk. Though I didn’t realise it

at the time much of my

gardening inspiration and

knowledge came from her.

There’s plenty to do in the

garden this month. Patio

containers need frequent watering. Nowadays most

container composts contain plenty of nutrients and even

water retaining gel so that you don’t have to water so

often. If the top layer of compost feels dry to the touch

then give it a watering.

Keep on deadheading perennials and, if you haven’t

already done so, cut back the last of the spring and early

summer flowering plants like dicentra, aquilegia and

h a r d y

geraniums

t h a t

a r e

n o w

untidy and past their best. Cut almost to the ground. Most

will start to form new leaves within a few days and certain

varieties will flower again in late summer/early autumn.

Stake tall or top heavy dahlias and lilies to prevent them

from collapsing under the weight of the flowers.

August is a month for harvesting in

the fruit and vegetable garden.

Tomatoes, spinach and all kinds of

beans and salad leaves are ready to

eat. Mid to late season raspberries

are in full swing – it’s a great

feeling to go outside pick a bowlful

of your own home grown produce

– and fun for children to help out

too. If space allows why not let

them have their own little patch to

grow a few easy crops like

tomatoes, lettuce and marigolds –

it’s not too late to grow salad crops

and you could inspire a future gardener in the family!

My recommended plant for this month is the dahlia. It’s

one of those flowers that comes in and out of fashion and

at the moment it’s in! As with roses, there are a myriad of

different colours and styles to choose from, whether big

and blousy or more subtle varieties. When other

perennials are past their best the dahlia springs forth, and

if you keep on top of the deadheading, will reward you

with flowers until the first frosts. My particular favourite

is Bishop of Llandaff, an old established variety, which

has purplish bronze feathery foliage and bright scarlet

single flowers on tall stems reaching a height of 2 – 3 feet.

This particular dahlia makes a wonderful splash of colour

in the flower border.

Gardeningin August

ᴥ Keep deadheading perennials and summer bedding to

prolong their flowering period – it really does make a

difference.

ᴥ Lift and divide iris. Doing this now allows the plants to take

root before the cold weather starts.

ᴥ Clip evergreen hedges to allow them time to recover before

the first frosts.

ᴥ Make sure greenhouse plants are well shaded on hot days.

Damp down the floor every morning to increase humidity

and this also helps to discourage red spider mite.

ᴥ Pick summer fruit to make pies, jams or simply freeze and use

at a later date.

Affinity

geranium psilostemon

August tips....

Alison Wallbank

The Lady Gardener

01234 782383 or 07795 246558

www.bedfordshiregardendesigners.co.uk

Affinity loves.....

Ice shot glasses 12 pack

Forget drinks with ice in them - how about

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63


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Originally, in Europe, cross stitch was only used to

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and table cloths, and it is still used for this purpose

today. However, it is now used to create artwork in its

own right and this is perhaps the most widespread use

in the 21st century. Many houses have a framed cross-

stitch sampler or fully-stitched picture on the wall!

Modern cross stitch is created using a particular fabric

called aida, and is usually stitched using mercerised

cotton thread consisting of six loosely-wound strands.

A huge range of colours and shades of embroidery

cotton are available from a number of manufacturers,

the two biggest being DMC and Anchor. Aida cloth is

used for “counted” cross stitch, because it has divisions

across it in both directions which allow the artist to

stitch without measuring, forming a kind of mesh. Aida

cloth comes in various stitch “counts”, usually ranging

from 7 stitches to 28 stitches to the inch, and it is

possible to get even finer gradations.

For the beginner, a kit is probably the best way to learn

to cross stitch. Most threadcraft shops will have at least

some cross stitch kits. Others will have a wide variety

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66

Consisting of approximately 1190 Coral Islands

spread over 90,000 square km of the Indian

Ocean The Maldives is one of the most unique

destinations in the World... which I was lucky enough to

visit last month .

I saw five very different Islands, took six seaplanes and

two speedboat transfers in five days and I learnt much

more than I expected to.

The Maldives has long been considered the perfect

honeymoon destination and it’s easy to see why, with

talcum powder white sand beaches, turquoise blue seas,

days spent lazing and evenings enjoying the romance of

twinkling lights and clear starlit skies. Whilst it is fair to

say that some islands actively discourage children, I was

surprised at the wonderful facilities offered on the

family friendly resorts I visited. Kids clubs tailor their

activities to the nature of the islands and children are

encouraged to ‘find nemo’ and learn about the Coral

Reef. I hadn’t really considered it as a family holiday

destination before.

Renowned for its incredible diving opportunities and

some of the top dive sites in the world most islands host

their own House Reef and offer Dive Centres with expert

tuition. The crystal clear water and shallow lagoons are

perfect for snorkelling, while the reef walls offer a

kaleidoscope of sea life for more experienced divers.

There is an amazing diversity of marine life, with live

coral reefs and over 2000 species of fish including reef

sharks, moray eels and rays. Shoals of unbelievably

colourful fish swim around you completely unfazed by

your presence. I was privileged to see a turtle meander

past and follow the most amazing 15 feet long whale

shark ... which is neither shark nor whale but a fish!

Of the islands I visited each one had a character of its

own.

The family friendly all inclusive Centara Grand Resort

offers 2 bedroom beach villas & family water

bungalows, painted white with brightly coloured soft

furnishings. The turquoise lagoon houses kayaks,

windsurfers and sailing dinghies and a sunken

shipwreck can be explored for extraordinary snorkelling

and diving.

The rebranded Lux Island Resort will be known to many

as Whitesands or Diva and offers world class facilities.

Some innovative ideas including pop-up dining venues

and surprises which are hidden around the island for

you to find, including fresh coconut stands and

complimentary cooling soft drinks on secluded beaches,

certainly a refreshing approach to the beach holiday.

The incredible Kanuhura Resort has a butler with each

villa and a General Manager who is a Michelin Star Chef

‘Take off your flip flops, turn off your phone, kickback and relax’.

No NewsNo ShoesT

ravel


so takes particular interest in the cuisine. It

has its own private uninhabited island where secluded

dinners can be taken. With the widest beach and double

day beds, it’s probably the most romantic place I have

ever seen.

The internationally renowned Dusit Thani Luxury Hotel

chain is going through a ‘soft’ opening and boasts the

largest infinity swimming pool in The Maldives. Whilst

it is fair to say there are a few teething problems with

the villas, there is plenty of time to put these right

before the official opening later this year, when I am

sure the resort will quickly become a very sought after

destination.

Many guests like to stay in over-water villas and will pay

a supplement for these luxurious rooms on stilts, but

one of the most stunning rooms I had was the standard

beach bungalow at Coco Palm Bodu Hithi Resort. A huge

bedroom complete with double jacuzzi bath, doors to a

white sand beach on one side and a private swimming

pool on the other. Simply stunning.

Direct flights with BA from Gatwick conveniently

departing on Sunday evening, perfect for

honeymooners, arriving the next morning ready for a

seaplane or speedboat transfer to your chosen island.

The daytime flight home allows you to have breakfast in

The Maldives and be home in time for dinner in

Bedford! With only 4 or 5 hours time difference jetlag is

minimal.

Some of the closest islands to the capital Male are

reached by speedboat, a refreshing way to reach your

destination after the flight, those further away are

reached by seaplane and whilst hot & stuffy onboard,

the aerial view of the Coral Atolls is awe-inspiring.

I learnt that some Resorts are close to the capital and

the city skyline with its factories, and can be seen from

even the most exclusive. I now know how far you need

to travel by speedboat before the city is out of sight and

the paradise island feel is regained.

I can appreciate that this destination is not for

everyone; many of the islands are less than a mile long

and a few hundred yards wide, 3 feet above sea level

and can be walked around in 10 minutes. The Maldives

is by far the lowest country on earth, so the more

intrepid explorer or mountaineer may find this too

restricting for an entire holiday, but what about a few

days’ pampered relaxation after a safari in Sri Lanka or

a tour in India?

Having worked in travel for over 32 years I have been

fortunate enough to travel extensively to many

fascinating destinations but nothing prepared me for

the beauty of these islands and the barefoot luxury of

the Maldives!

Call Sue Alexander of EagleTravel 01234 348882 [email protected]


Bedforshires Premiere Lifestyle Magazine

If you would like your business to be included in Affinity reaching

an audience of over 55,000 then call us today on

......everyone’s reading it!

01234 215 523

www.affinitymag.co.ukBe Part of an Established Brand

LUXURY MALDIVESBook with the luxury travel experts and enjoy bespoke

advice, tailor-made travel and excellent value.

Eagle Travel11 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JYTelephone: 01234 348882 offi [email protected] www.eagletravel.co.uk

ALL INCLUSIVE ANGSANA IHURU7 nights from £2,825 per person

SAVE £600 per coupleBased on two sharing a Beachfront Villa, including British Airways fl ights, speedboat transfers and one free night. Valid for travel until 31 October 2012. Book by 20 October 2012.


LUXURY MALDIVESBook with the luxury travel experts and enjoy bespoke

advice, tailor-made travel and excellent value.

Eagle Travel11 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JYTelephone: 01234 348882 offi [email protected] www.eagletravel.co.uk

ALL INCLUSIVE ANGSANA IHURU7 nights from £2,825 per person

SAVE £600 per coupleBased on two sharing a Beachfront Villa, including British Airways fl ights, speedboat transfers and one free night. Valid for travel until 31 October 2012. Book by 20 October 2012.


70

Imagine the fantasy of driving a luxury convertible

on a sun-drenched winding road leading to a chic

Mediterranean hotel...

The film rolling in your head will probably involve you

and a partner, or you alone and almost certainly won't

feature anyone on your fantasy wheels' back seat.

But the reality is that plenty of us need the convenience

of multiple seats, even when living the dream, which is

why Maserati's strategy is always to sell glamorous cars

with room for four, and quite generous room at that.

So the GranCabrio, a soft-top version of the

GranTurismo coupé, has four seats and enough space

around them to declare the back pair genuinely

comfortable.

The biggest omission by far though is the absence of a

decent cargo compartment.

When you pop the lid for the first time, you won’t

believe your eyes. The cubicle is 173 litres small and so

oddly shaped that a bespoke luggage set is mandatory,

and folding rear seats are not an option!

Despite this it is surely a beautiful car, with its svelte

Pininfarina lines proportioned to perfection and

crowned with an elegant fabric hood that unfolds to

nothing in 28 seconds.

Though instantly recognisable as a sister to the

GranTurismo, substantial chunks of the GranCabrio are

new.

Much of its structure has been substantially reinforced

to compensate for its execution, while all bodywork of

the doors has been artfully sculpted to accommodate

the hood and a pair of pop-up roll-over bars.

Inside the GranCabrio boasts a combination of elegance

and sportiness. All the materials are in leather and

wood and the drivers controls are located to give a

feeling of total command. The major dynamic functions

are controlled by switches on the driver’s side, whilst

the most commonly used multimedia controls can be

operated via buttons on the steering wheel.

At the heart of all this is the glorious 4.7 litre V8 engine,

delivering 434 bhp. It means the car can sprint from 0-

62 mph in just 5.3 seconds and will go on to a top speed

of 175mph.

It becomes more vocal still should you stab a Sport

button that opens a baffle in the exhaust, sharpens the

throttle response, enlivens the slick-shifting automatic

transmission and stiffens the dampers' resolve.

The Maserati GrandCabrio is indeed a car to behold. It

has the ability to transport its occupants into the

millionaire’s fantasy; it will get you from A to B like any

other car the only difference is once you get to B you

won’t want to stop!

MaseratiMoto

rs

GranCabrio


Sat 28th JulyOpen Day Sanctuary, Bedford

Free drinks and nibbles, £5 Tarot and Palm readings,

Reiki, Massage, and more

11am - 4pm

59 Harpur street, Bedford

www.sanctuarybedford.co.uk

Mon 30th July – Thurs 2nd AugustStagedoor Summer School

Following last Summer’s very popular summer school

we are delighted to offer once again four fantastic days

which give young people the opportunity to build social

skills and creativity at the same time as developing

drama and theatre techniques. Gain confidence

whether you are a beginner or a seasoned performer

with lively sessions. There will be the opportunity to

share your experiences with family and friends in a

special one-off showcase at the end.

10am-3.30pm on each of the four days £85

01908 324422

Stantonbury Campus Theatre, Milton Keynes

Buckinghamshire MK14 6BN

Weds 1st AugustMK Play Day, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes

Come and join in the fun and play at MK Play Day. There

will be lots of games and activities including woodland

play, craft, wetplay, pond dipping, bug hunting,

storytelling, musicial fun and much more! Join us after

playday to welcome Godiva into the park.

11am - 4.30pm

Thurs 2nd AugustInflatable Fun Day - Free Event!

Burn off some energy after watching the Olympics at

our Inflatable Fun Day in Market Square. Come and see

if you can conquer the bungee run, take the bouncy

castle by storm, bounce in our dome, and zoom down

the mega slide. There is also free face painting.

All activities run from 11am until 3pm, weather

permitting. Please note some activities may change

depending on the weather.

Market Square, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP20 2SP

Sat 4th AugustCople Music Festival

Proms in the playing field . Bands, Hog Roast, BBQ, Bars.

Grand finale of ’Proms’ music. Bring your chairs,

blankets and flags. Charity for 2012 British Heart

Foundation.

Doors open 3.30pm, £2 for adults, under 16 years free.

Sat 4th AugustOlney Vintage Fair

Some of your favourite vintage stalls selling original

homewares, textiles, ephemera, costume jewellery and

clothing from the 30s-60s. There will also be a well

crafted handmade items and gifts, created from vintage

fabrics or inspired by original vintage designs. As usual

there will be an ’old style’ tea-shop selling homemade

cakes and the period music from the 20s-50s will add to

the vintage ambience.

11am – 4pm

Fri 10th AugustGrease Tribute Night

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa

Join Danny, Sandy, Kenickie and Rizzo on a trip back to

1959 at Rydell High School for a great night's

entertainment with audience participation, top quality

vocals and authentic costumes. Our four-piece Grease

tribute act will entertain you with this fun packed

energetic show, which comprises of all the hit songs

from the movie and more.

From just £49 per person 7.30pm – 12.30am

www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

0845 400 0003

Sat 11th - Sun 12th AugustThe Knebworth Country Show, Knebworth House

10am - 5pm

There is something for everyone, from Horkesley Park’s

Heavy Horse Demonstration Team, The Goat Show

featuring milking and cheese-making, children’s farm

and Totally Ponies where your little ones can groom,

tack up and walk our very own miniature ponies, Birds

of Prey and Falconry display teams, ferret racing, Polly’s

Parrots, traditional Punch and Judy shows, have-a-go

Totally Terriers display team, as well as Knights of

Honour battle re-enactments and medieval village and

Fighting Knights

Admission £8 or Family ticket (4 people) £ 28

www.oakleighfairs.co.uk/knebworth

Fri 17th August 2012Drive In – Cars, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes

Drive In cinema is back for a second year. Our family

Drive in film this year is Pixar's family favourite Cars. A

hot-shot race-car named Lightning McQueen gets

72

your guide to .........

What’s OnAugust 2012


If you have an event you would like us to mention please email [email protected]

waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true

meaning of friendship and family.

Permits cost just £10 per car

Film starts at 3pm; Gates open at 2pm

Fri 17th AugustAbba Tribute Night

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and spa

Let your hair down, come and dance the evening away

at our ABBA fun-filled themed night!

You’ll find your feet tapping along to familiar hits such

as Dancing Queen, MAMMA MIA!, Knowing Me, Knowing

You, Take a Chance, The Name of the Game, GIMME!

GIMME! GIMME!, Super Trouper, Thank You For The

Music and many more.

From just £49 per person 7.30pm – 12.30am

www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

0845 400 0003

Sat 18th AugustThe Original Flying Proms

Orchestral concert with the National Symphony

Orchestra plus guest soprano, with vintage aircraft from

the Shuttleworth Collection overhead, ending with a

fantastic Firework Finale, concert includes entry to the

Swiss Garden and the Bird of Prey Centre

Doors open at 10am and the concert starts at 7pm so

spend the whole day and see all of the attractions at Old

Warden Park. There is extensive FREE parking on site

and the site is fully accesible for disabled people.

www.shuttleworth.org or 01767 627927

Sat 18th – Sun 19th AugustSandy & District Horticultural Show

Sat: 1.30pm – 5pm Sun: 11am – 4pm

Rabbits On Show - Bring your rabbit along for care

advice. R.N.L.I stand, wood turning, plant stall, face

painting, balloon painting, vintage car display and much

more.

Sun 19th AugustFlaxbourne Farm - Open Garden for NGS

Beautiful and entertaining fun garden of 3 acres,

lovingly developed with numerous water features,

windmill, modern arches and bridges, small moated

castle, lily pond, herbaceous borders, Greek temple ruin.

Recently established three way bridge, planted up with

Japanese acers, tree ferns, echiums, bananas and zinnia

creating a tropical garden full of the Wow Factor! New

for 2011 Japanese garden with fly-over walkway,

inspirational woodland setting., crow’s nest, crocodiles,

tree house with zip wire for children. Huge Roman stone

arched gateway as recently featured in ITV’s This

Morning programme and BBC One Show

01908 585329

Sun 19th AugustCountry Fete, Sue Ryder, Moggerhanger

Held in the grounds and field behind the hospice with

steam engine rides, swing boats, trade stalls, BBQ, hog

roast, cream teas and much more

www.sueryder.org

Sat 25th – Mon 27th AugustTwinwood Festival

Twinwood Festival incorporates the Glenn Miller

Festival of Swing, Jazz, Jive and Rock ‘n’ Roll. This is THE

largest and best annual, vintage music, dance and

fashion festival in the UK. With air displays, hangar

dances, fashion shows, comedy shows, over 150 trade

stalls, dance lessons & workshops, food and bars,

museums, living history, classic vehicles, camping and

more. With over 50 bands and ten venues within the

festival site, there is always plenty of choice to suit all

musical tastes. Max Raabe & The Palast Orchestra, John

Miller & his Orchestra, and Si Cranstoun, are just a tiny

sample of the exquisite selection of bands who will be

performing in 2012.

Adult Day tickets from just £24, Weekend tickets from

just £65. Camping tickets from just £32. See website for

details! Contact us for a FREE brochure. The event

always sells out, so early booking essential.

Tel: 01923 282725 Email: [email protected]

www.twinwoodevents.com

Sun 26th – Mon 27th AugustWWI: Wrest at War!

Visit Wrest Park this bank holiday weekend and learn

about the important role of the house and its owner

during the Great War! Meet soldiers of the period and

hear stories from the frontline. Plus see Wrest Park as it

would have looked during the period, as a

convalescent’s hospital, complete with visiting camel

sent from a nearby menagerie to aid the soldiers’

recuperation.

11am-5pm

Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4HR


A quiet night in.......

“Everyone wants to believe that endless love is possible.

She’d believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen.”

THE BEST OF ME is the heart-rending story of two small-town

former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the

tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths,

but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can

forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world.

Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and

present are about to slip . . . Called back to their hometown

for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter

when they needed it most, they are faced with each other

once again, and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can

true love ever rewrite the past?

This is definitely a book to read with a box of tissues next to you, it

pulls at your heartstrings and will have you weeping with joy and

sadness.

The all-new adrenaline-pumping chapter in the

groundbreaking Bourne franchise is finally here,

the only thing missing is Matt Damon!

Set at the same time as 'The Bourne Ultimatum', 'The

Bourne Legacy' follows the fallout of Jason Bourne's

actions against the shadowy Blackbriar organisation.

While his actions may have exposed Blackbriar's illegal

operations, Bourne's mission has resulted in a life or

death struggle for another agent - Aaron Cross (Jeremy

Renner). Following the killing of Guardian journalist

Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) and Congress's

investigation into the Blackbriar program, CIA agent

Byer (Edward Norton) decides to shut down all of his

covert operations and wipe out any evidence. This

includes all agents similar to Bourne, such as Aaron

Cross and their handlers.

You should see this because: it promises more bone-

crunching, breakneck action than fans of the series

have come to expect.

Zac Efron stars with Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner

in this romantic drama.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from

his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits

with keeping him alive-a photograph he found of a woman

he doesn't even know. Discovering her name is Beth

(Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door,

and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel.

Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her

life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope

that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.

Release Date: 27th August 2012

DVD releaseLatestcinemarelease

74

Release date

13th August


Sunday lunch is between Noon and 6pm at only £8.95 (adults) and £4.50 (children)

Why not just pop in for tea or coffee

A Friendly Welcome Awaits

A wonderful variety of cask ales, lagers and wines

Home cooked food is served daily with a variety of specials on offer

Monthly Curry Night 2nd Thursday of every month Only £6.95

The Victoria Arms, High Street, Wilden 01234 772437

The Victoria Arms is under new management and has been refurbished

“Relaxed Diningat it’s Best”

Certificated D Colour Diamonds

Affinity Magazine August 2012 Cover_Layout 1 copy 18/07/2012 20:30 Page 2

BEAUTY - FOOD - DRINK - HEALTH - FITNESS - STYLE - INTERIORS - MOTORS - WHAT’S ON

AUGUST 2012

Jewellers of Distinction

MILLMAN

TEL 01234 354026

2 Church Arcade Bedford

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