affinity magazine july 2012

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

July 2012

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Your FREE Monthly MagazineJewellers of Distinction

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WWith cruise holidays ever increasing in

popularity, Bedford's Cruise Select has fully

trained cruise travel professionals available

to provide expert advice on itineraries, ports of call,

cruise lines, ships, accommodations and other

important cruise planning details.

The cruise industry is the fastest growing segment of

the travel industry – and consistently receives the

highest satisfaction levels among holiday makers. More

than 1.7 million British passengers will cruise in 2012

and more than 2 million will cruise in 2014.

“With so many different segments of the population

cruising, we have a cruise for everyone,” says Rachel

Wright the Owner of Cruise Select in Bedford.

“Whether you seek adventure, cultural enrichment,

family togetherness or complete relaxation, the

opportunities in today’s cruise market are endless.”

“The value is also exceptional,” Rachel added, noting

that a cruise typically includes accommodations, food,

entertainment and often transfers and airfare can also

be included, with a selection of cruise lines offering an

all-inclusive programme. “We want to fulfil our

customers’ holiday needs and we want to provide a

holiday that is truly memorable. A cruise is the best

holiday option available today.”

You can choose to sail the world aboard an intimate

yacht-like vessel, a high-tech mega-ship or virtually

anything in between. With more than 500 ports-of-calls

and over 200 cruise ships to choose from, the

possibilities are endless.

Cruise Select established in 1996 is a member of

prestige trade associations including the 'LCA' (The

Leading Cruise Agents) and 'ACE' (Association of Cruise

Experts). As a fully bonded member of ABTA, Cruise

Select abides by their Code of Conduct ensuring your

travel arrangements are protected in case of financial

failure.

Providing unparalleled customer service is the number

1 most important thing for Cruise Select. Shelley, Bella,

Julie, Tracey, Sharon and Sarah are part of the team of

Cruise Specialists each having a strong knowledge

base of the cruising product allowing them to listen to

your preferences and interests and make

recommendations that best suit your holiday needs. The

team are warm, patient, honest and reliable and always

strive to surpass your expectations as both a Cruise

Specialist and for your dream holiday. Whatever

destination you long to explore, they are keen to share

their expertise and ensure that you have the most

authentic and fulfilling experience in that corner of the

world. Having first-hand tips and memories to share

with clients is another bonus of having a team of Cruise

Specialists who are hooked on travel! Some of their

favourite first hand highlights include cruising the

coastal waters of Alaska, the stunning sites of rarely

visited Burma, watching the sun set standing atop the

Great Wall of China, and soaking up the romance and

scenery of Portugal on the Douro River cruise.

The team ensure that every trip you experience goes

smoothly by lending you continuous support,

knowledge and attention from your first conversation

all the way until you come home from your cruise. So

entrust your cruise holiday to Cruise Select and

experience the comfort and ease of working with your

own Cruise Specialist.

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Bedfordshire’s Only Dedicated Cruise Specialist

Providing unparalleled customer service is the number one most important thing.

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Bangkok (2 night hotel stay), Fly to Angkor Wat (overnight), Fly to Bangkok (overnight), Fly UK

Save up to £1500 plus Free Airport Parking* - book by 31 July

For total peace of mind

Stunning optional tour available during your cruiseLimited space available - travel by air to

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(01234) 326758

67 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3NB

Visitors welcome by appointment

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T&C’s Voyages to Antiquity terms and conditions apply. Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing. Itineraries are subject to change without noti�cation. Visas will be obtained on your behalf for Vietnam & Cambodia. *Airport parking is o� site.

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Fly UK, Singapore (2 night hotel stay), Kuala Lumpur

From £48455 December 2012 - 32 days

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UPLIFTING ENTERTAINMENT AT MKT!

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Hi Everyone

Welcome to our July issue, where we are well and truly into

summer so let’s hope we finally get to see some sun!

In fitting style we’ve brought you all you need to enjoy the

summer in this month’s issue, including Alfresco Dining,

Summer Fashion and much more.

Last month saw the Diamond Jubilee, Euro 2012 and the

start of Wimbledon. Not to be outdone, this month also has

lots on offer including the start of The Olympics and unless

you’ve been hiding in a cave for the last couple of months

then you will know the Olympic flame is on a relay around

the country – on 8th July the flame makes an appearance

right here in Bedford turn to page 64 to read all about it.

This month in Bedford also sees the return of its very own

festival Bedfringe, starting on 13th July and ending on 28th

July there’s something for everyone. We catch up with

James Pharaoh one of the festival organisers on Page 34.

Sticking with Bedford “The Embankment Hotel” was our

Restaurant Review, with its perfect River Ouse setting and

delicious food we couldn’t fail to be impressed.

And if you’re worn out from all this why not take advantage

of our exclusive readers offer on page 14 for some

overnight pampering and relaxation at Whittlebury Hall

and Spa

So make the most of the sunshine when it appears and

have fun!

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Cover Image

Model - Victoria’s Secret

Bikini - Palm Print Stringkini

www.victoriassecret.com

Jane [email protected] 21552307809 499669 Welcome...

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 description 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 Facebook.


mmiiggrraaiinnee

IIknow several people who suffer from migraines on

a regular basis, they can last for days and I know

just how debilitating they can be and just how

much they disrupt the sufferer’s life. Migraines often

run in families with more women sufferers than men.

Studies also link migraine with anxiety and depression.

Orthodox medicine sees migraine as a disturbance of

blood flow to the brain. With blood vessels constricting,

which gives the visual disturbances followed by vaso

dilation responsible for the severe pain associated with

an attack. However, when discussing their experience of

migraine with them it seems to me a much more

complex condition involving an imbalance within the

body which is expressed as a serious headache.

There are many symptoms associated with migraines

and numerous triggers – too many for me to discuss in

this article which, unfortunately, makes migraine quite a

complex condition to treat.

In Ayurveda, a migraine is seen as a predominantly pitta

(fire) disturbance. However, all 3 doshas can also be

involved. Diet, is seen as one of the key elements of

treatment by avoiding heating foods, such as hot spices,

fermented and foods with yeast, aged cheeses or cured

meat, alcohol, shellfish and sour fruits and coffee.

Energetically, the Liver and stomach are often involved

in triggering an attack. Symptoms of a liver imbalance

include visual disturbances and feeling hot and irritable.

Whereas vomiting before or during a migraine, is

indicative of a stomach imbalance.There are many other

contributory factors to take into account from stress to

insomnia and constipation.

The location of the pain is a key indicator in identifying

where the imbalance in the body originates and gives

clues for targeting treatment. If the pain is centered

around the temples, this indicates an imbalance in the

liver. However, if the pain is primarily across the

forehead this points to the stomach.

Some suggestions:

• Abdominal Breathing for relaxation for 10 minutes

per day. All too often we are guilty of shallow

breathing from our chest rather than from our

abdomen.

• Massage the neck and head gently before and

between attacks every day to aid smooth blood-flow

to the brain.

• There are two well known herbs which can help and

which are readily available as a tea. Firstly,

Rosemary, which has high salicylate content for pain

relief and is known as a ‘head herb’, aiding memory

and concentration. Secondly, Chrysanthemum has

been used by the Chinese to treat digestive problems

and specifically may help with the liverish symptoms

which can go with a migraine. It would be

particularly helpful for anyone who becomes hot and

irritable, with symptoms similar to PMT during an

attack. This is usually taken as a tea, but can be taken

in different forms from an herbalist as part of a

formula.

• Fortunately, there are numerous herbs, that are not

available over the counter, which can be made up into

personalised and holistic formulas that take into

account all of the symptoms and address the

underlying causes of chronic migraines.

Whilst my suggestions can all help but they are

probably not going to be a complete panacea.

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

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

10

Natural

Health

.


.

CONTENTS14 Whittlebury Spa

18 Golden Glow

28 Shhhh!!!

32 Bedfringe

42 Let’s Eat

44 Steer Your Career

46 Me, Myself & I

51 Beach Babies

55 Alfresco Dining

66 Canal Cruising


Time to dust off those wellies, and ready that

rucksack, festival season is upon us. Whether it’s

dancing at Creamfields or rocking at Download,

you’ll need to have some festival essentials on hand to

help keep you looking great.

Preparing your hair beforehand can help give you the

basis for easy, low maintenance styling. Train your hair

on the run-up to the festival by not washing it as often

as you would, this will give it a chance to build natural

oils and slow down this process meaning it takes longer

to get greasy. Try leaving your hair to dry naturally and

practice any styles without the help of straighteners and

tongs, the VIP area may have electric but you won’t find

many plug sockets in a field!

If you really struggle to totally give up the heat styling

for a weekend, there are some cordless hair tools on the

market. Babyliss and Morphy Richards are just two that

can help keep hair under control.

Accessories can be the perfect cover up and will distract

the eye from any hair disasters. Add a scarf to your bag

to be ready for an emergency restyle on the go. Either

tie around your head, or if you want an on-trend style,

try weaving the scarf through a plait or up do. The high

street is full of cute headbands and floral adornments

that look perfect with some waves and curls.

A fail-safe to cover up any bad hair day is the trusty hat.

Grab a trilby or straw boater to finish your festival

outfit, it’ll also help protect against the sun.

Avoid product overload and keep it simple, by adding

too much in the way of sprays and gels you’ll end up

with greasy hair in no time. Try out a sea salt spray for

texture; this will slightly dry the hair helping you go that

extra day without needing to wash it. Plait or twist hair

before your head hits your pillow for instant waves the

next morning.

If you fancy trying something a bit different, why not get

some temporary colours to brighten things up. The dip-

dye look is still spotted on celebs, so why not take

inspiration and get some bright flashes of colour

through your hair.

Make sure you pamper your hair when you get home to

bring it back to its best. If you find hair feeling dry and

lacking shine, try an intensive conditioner overnight to

encourage shine and give hair moisture.

FFeess tt iivvaa ll


Dry

Shampoo – take

a travel size to keep

your rucksack light.

Spray through roots for a

hair boost, and gently

shake hair upside

down to give more

volumeWet

Wipes – an

essential for any

festival goer, perfect

for keeping clean

when things get

muddy Suncream

– they may be

notorious for rain, but

don’t forget festivals

don’t have a lot of shelter,

so if the sun comes out

make sure you’re

protected

Vaseline

– a true multi-

tasker. Calm frizzy

flyaways, tame

eyebrows and keep

lips luscious

Kirby

Grips – twist

and pin hair into an

up do. Add some grips

to a belt loop to

always have them

handy

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

Kelly Gay www.klghairadvice.com

FFaabbuull oouussTop 5 Festival Beauty Favourites

Bow Print Scarf £5.99

internacionale.com

Feather Headband ££3.99

internationale.com

Pacific Gala Headband £105

stone-bridge.co.uk

Pink Flower Headband £2.99

British Heart Foundation

Tortoiseshell Hair Pins £15

stonebridge.co.ukTuile Small Jaw Clip £22

stone-bridge.co.uk


A Rejuvenating Escape at

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa

Even the most organised person will find themselves

needing a little time for some Rest and Relaxation

and to recharge their batteries. Let’s be honest we all

find ourselves facing stressful situations that leave us

screaming ‘I need a rest – get me out of here!’

A year after the launch of Affinity my Husband and I

were on a quest for relaxation and rejuvenation and the

‘Overnight Escape and Spa Stay Package’ at Whittlebury

Hall seemed the ideal choice.

As we pulled into the long drive towards the imposing

house, Whittlebury Hall gives a striking first impression.

The grounds are green and lush and the building looks

like something out of a Jane Austen novel - I half

expected lords and ladies to be waltzing around in

Elizabethan costume. It seemed an oasis of calm and the

bustle of everyday life just seemed to slip away.

We were met at the Spa reception by a friendly therapist

who gave us our detailed itinerary for the day. We were

then shown the layout of the spa which is spread out

across two floors, the location of the pool, the Heat and

Ice experience, as well as the various rooms and

chilllout areas.

We then changed into our swimwear, complimentary

robes and padded slippers and proceeded to relax in the

ambient surroundings. The air was fresh and scented

with a mixture of eucalyptus and orange essential oils

and Grecian style statues adorned the place, with white

pillars and floral displays giving the Spa an aura of

luxury and decadence.

We enjoyed a few lazy hours relaxing and using the

facililities enjoying the complimentary fruit, iced water

and fruit tea along the way. We then headed off for a

buffet style lunch which was delicious and featured a

wide choice of hot and cold healthy options.

We then enjoyed the ‘Heat and Ice experience’ for a

while before I headed back to the pool and my husband

decided to do a quick workout in the gym. After I'd

exhausted the various options round the pool I

retreated upstairs to hang out on the couches and sip

the free tea and apples that were provided. It was lovely

relaxing in an environment, not a worry in the world.

It was then time for our treatments I had chosen the

‘ESPA Energising Express Facial’ my therapist led me to

the peaceful treatment room and began with a

consultation on the products I use and my cleansing

routine. Then a thorough cleansing process including a

shoulder massage, followed up with a gentle exfoliating

product. A calming, refreshing cool mask was then

applied and left on as gentle music played in the

background, whilst I enjoyed a soothing scalp massage.

After about five minutes, the mask was gently cleansed

away. Moisturising cream and eye cream were then

applied to leave me with a bright complexion.

Whilst I was being pampered my Husband was enjoying

his own form of relaxation in the form of a ‘ Moisturising

Flotation Wrap’ which left him feeling invigorated and

fully recharged.

The Day Spa uses Elemis, ESPA, Clarins, Jessica, Kurland

Skincare and Fake Bake in their treatments and all

products are available to buy.

14


We then enjoyed a lazy couple of hours in our spacious

room, where there was complimentary fruit, wine and

water not to mention the Elemis toiletries and fluffy

robes and slippers before heading down to Astons

Restaurant for our three course dinner. The staff were

attentive and polite and the meal was delightful.

After dinner a walk around the grounds proved to be

very scenic, with lush green fields making you feel very

countrified.

After a comfortable night’s sleep, breakfast proved the

perfect start to our day, this may be a day spa for health

and nourishment but they know full well that a

traditional English breakfast always goes down a treat.

We were then extra lucky as we were invited by Helena

from the spa to attend their Jubilee afternoon tea

garden party later in the day, where we enjoyed a

delicious cream tea in a garden party setting, treatments

were demonstrated and products tested as well as a

raffle with some fantastic prizes ranging from products

to treatments as well as an overnight stay, just like the

one we had just had!

Whittlebury Hall was a lovely experience, with

unfailingly polite staff, a multitude of activities on offer

and a spa area filled with many options to try. We had a

lovely time and left refreshed with a promise to return.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing,

tranquil getaway.

Affinity has teamed up with Whittlebury Hall for a ‘Simply Indulgent Special Readers Offer’

Treat yourself and a friend or loved one to the perfect pampering treat – “A one Night Spa Stay for £85 per person

and receive a COMPLIMENTARY 25 minute ESPA Energising Express Facial*”.

The 1 Night Spa Stay package allows you to enjoy full use of our Heat and Ice

Experiences, a three-course dinner in Astons Restaurant, overnight stay and full

English breakfast. And if that isn’t tempting enough, a Complimentary 25 minute

ESPA Energising Express Facial provides the perfect addition for some well-

earned pampering.

To take advantage of this great value offer call us

today and quote ‘AFFINITY 12’ on 0845 400 0002

*Terms and conditions apply


BBoard Hawaiian Airlines this Summer by

introducing vividly printed garments that allow

you to almost feel the tropical breezes.

This trend is brought together with the use of; bright

coloured accessories, beautifully bold prints that feature

tropical flowers and exotic species of birds teamed with

plain block staple pieces. With the digital print craze

still ongoing the use of dream like prints has been able

to live on. The prints used, are artworks in themselves

so when put onto the body and worn with confidence

and style they can have a dramatic effect. The colour

palette for this trend is a spectrum of rainbow colours

in vivid and cool light tones mirroring that of jungle

paradises. The use of royal blue and cool white pieces

make the looks more modern and ready to adapt to your

life style. The addition of watermelon and orange

shades can add a younger and more fun feel to the look.

Introduce leafy greens and sunset yellows for a more

laid back approach. The tropical trend is fun, exotic and

lively whilst still being versatile, elegant and adaptable.

For sun and frolics, team Hawaiian print shirts with

colour pop skinny jeans for a young and vibrant look.

Transform this look from day to night by adding a

beautiful, statement clutch bag - think shells and ocean

shades. Switch this look around with simple but

effective tropical print shorts worn with a simple silk

blouse for an easy breezy holiday look. If you're

dressing for the office or an important meeting wear a

single statement piece in a tropical print worn with

staple, simplistic pieces. Try a pair of printed silk

trousers that will create a perfect balance between

elegance and cool, teamed with a white breezy summer

top with an on trend white or colour block blazer. For

more of an edgy summer work look, go with a panelled

tropical dress worn with a pair of colour block wooden

wedge sandals for the perfect modern look. For the

brilliantly bold, go all out, head to toe 'matchy-matchy'

in a two piece trouser, skirt or short suit in an exotic

birds of paradise tropical print.

When thinking about accessorising your outfit for this

trend go with statement gold jewellery or painted and

woven/braided pieces. There are some beautiful

exotic/tribal pieces that combine all three of the above,

available on the High Street. Handmade or holiday

souvenir, beaded necklaces would also be a simple but

effective way to finish off an outfit. Add a statement

white or sand coloured tote bag to keep the look

grounded in the rarely exotic UK fashion world, teamed

with simple matching loafers. Don’t neglect the 'shoe

love' craze if your feeling daring though, wedges in

sunset or exotic hues will make any look as

unforgettable as a Hawaiian Getaway!

Transform yourself into a 'Bird of Paradise' this

summer!

Carla Williams

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Bracelet £10

accessorize.com

Floral high waisted

shorts £10

Primark

Short Bead

Necklace £3.99

internacional.com

Wanderlust

Wedge £45

office.co.uk

Tote Bag £89

Modalu.com


IIt has been one year since The Dress Agency at

The Rural Shopping Yard, Castle Ashby opened

its doors selling like new High-End High Street

and Designer clothing on behalf of its well-

dressed customers.

Owner, Rachel Linsley says 'I have been overwhelmed

by the quality and range of clothing that has come in to

The Dress Agency over the last year. I always knew this

was a well-dressed area, but I am constantly amazed at

the beautiful one-off items we get in stock. I am so

grateful to my customers for their support over the past

year.’

'I think we have something for everyone in The Dress

Agency and I am very proud of this. It is a wonderful

place to pick up a bargain and/or sell like new items on

a 50/50 basis. Plus, because we only keep things for 8

weeks or as items sell, we bring new stock out daily so it

is always worth people coming in for a good browse!'

To celebrate The

Dress Agency's

one year

anniversary, if you

bring this article

in to the shop , we

will give you 10%

off any purchase

over £20 until

August 31st 2012*.

The Dress Agency, The Rural Shopping Yard,

Castle Ashby, NN7 1LF

Telephone: 01604 696972 (due to high demand, all

stock intake is by appointment only, so please call us to

book an appointment)

www.thedressagency-castleashby.co.uk

* valid for one purchase per person only

celebrates its first year anniversary!

The Dress Agency Castle Ashby


There are different ways to get that

sun kissed look on your face, you can

go the self tan route or the make-up

route. One isn’t better than the other

it is just your preference and how

much time you have.

GlowGlow

11Most people Don’t moisturise

before tanning as it dilutes the

colour, but if you are after a

very subtle glow then you may

want to use a basic moisturiser,

as some ingredients in fake tan

such as retinoids or AHA’s may

interfere with the tanning pigment, also

if you have light hair you might want to

put a little Vaseline over your eyebrows

to help protect them from staining

22

Apply the self tan all over,

rubbing it from the middle of

the face outwards and blend it

all the way down the throat –

there’s nothing worse than a

bronzed face and a white neck!33

Golden

Self Tan your Face

Clean your face, then

exfoliate try Vichy

‘Pureté Thermale

Exfoliant Créme’, £7.


Firstly don’t use foundation, even a sheer

foundation will be too heavy, instead use a

tinted moisturiser, this is where they

really come into their own, because they

are super light you can go up a couple of

shades deeper than your skin colour.

Then add some blush, this is what will

make the difference between a believable

tan and a fake one. For a subtle effect, rub

a berry cream blush such as ‘The Creamy

Glow In Mystere’ £19, by Kevyn Aucoin

over your cheeks and a tiny bit on the end

of your nose. Then use some bronzing

powder to adjust the intensity of the

colour. Sweep it along your hairline, over

your cheekbones and chin, as well as a

light layer over eyelids and neck.

Look Tanned with make up

Estee Lauder Bronze

Goddess Self Tan £22

Debenhams

D & G Lipstick £20

Benefit Gold Lipstick

House of Fraser

No7 Tinted

Moisturiser £12

Boots

Chanel Gold

Nail Polish

johnlewis.com

Piz Buin Summer

Sensation £9.99

Boots

Artdeco Sun Glow

Bronzing Powder £15

.beautyalmanac.com


20

EElemis and Murad will be the chosen product

houses for Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes in their

new Spa facility which is due to open this

autumn. Now moving into the first phase of

development, Y Spa recently announced the

appointment of Emma-Jane North, as Spa Director.

Emma-Jane told us, “When creating the Spa menu for Y

Spa we wanted to inspire our guests and deliver real

results with our treatments,

our choice of Elemis and

Murad proved the perfect

partnership. Elemis delivers

both luxury, aspiration and

results in a package

designed to make you feel

amazing. Murad is your

gorgeous best friend’s

beauty secret, a brand that

proves beauty is more than

skin deep, who knew

science could be this sexy!

What I personally (and

most of my guests) aspire

to is the best skin I can get

whatever my age or

lifestyle and this is now no

longer a dream.

Elemis is the leading

luxury British spa and

skincare brand favoured

by as many as 6.5 million spa-goers per

year. The successful combination of natural active

ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled

Elemis to bring to market some of the most influential

anti-ageing products and professional spa-therapies the

beauty industry has ever seen.

Noella Gabriel, Director of Elemis Product and

Treatment Development says; “It is always exciting to

have the opportunity to play a part in an innovative and

forward-thinking project. We are thrilled to add the

new Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes to our portfolio.”

The difference between Murad and other Dr brands is

that Murad was created by a practising dermatologist

and pharmacist Dr Howard Murad. This means that

when you purchase Murad, you are getting the best

pharmaceutical-grade ingredients combined with the

latest skincare technology. Dr Murad believes in

optimum skin health – that whatever your skincare

problems and whatever your age, genetic and

environmental

skincare conditions

can be treated.

With Murad it

really is possible to

get great skin at any

age.

Elliot Walker, Murad

UK Managing

Director says, “I’m

delighted Y Spa has

chosen Murad as

their skincare

partner. Murad

recognises that

customers simply

want results - and

Murad is the market

leader in results-

driven skincare.

Wyboston Lakes Spa

presents the perfect

opportunity to share Murad’s skincare philosophy with

visitors expecting a high-quality, hands-on experience,

with real results.”

When it opens in the Autumn The Spa will incorporate

eleven therapy rooms including three couple’s rooms,

steam rooms, water beds and relaxation areas with

reading pods. A signature feature is the external hydro-

pool and kelo sauna in the south-facing spa garden

together with an open air fireplace and sun loungers.

Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes takes on

EEll eemmii ss aanndd

MMuurraadd


ifeL Eco

“Can echo chic scents compete

with the worlds most iconic

synthetic perfumes?”

22

Liz Earle Botanical

Essence No1 £45

lizearle.com

Orange & Mimosa Natural Perfume

Organic Glam Oriental

Blossom Perfume £119.95

theorganicpharmacy.com

Frazer Parfum Solid Natural

Perfume £79

thenaturalstore.co.uk

Ancient Attar Pure-fume

Spirit Spray £47

aveda.co.uk

Tous H20 Eau De Toilette £26

lucyrose.biz


MM

ii

xx

&&

MM

aa

tt

cc

hh Republic


Yellow Lace Dress £45

Warehouse

Baroque printed blazer £25

Sateen Crop Bustier £11

Chain Print Mini £13

Metallic Tote £12

Platform Sandal £19 Primark

Bow Straw Floppy

Hat Pilot

Tan SuedeTassle bag

£60 Simply Be

Frye Strappy Platform Wedge £160

johnlewis.com

Antique Pearl Stretch

Bracelet £15

marksandspencer.com

Blouse £179

T shirt £35

Skirt £45

laredoute.co.uk

Star by Julien Macdonald

Bracelet £10

Debenhams

Colour Sunglasses £1

Primark


Floppy Hat With

Scarf Trim £20

Accessorize

Culture Clash Top £22.50

Trousers £35, Belt £25,

Earring £7.50, Necklace £15,

Bracelet £7.50

marksandspencer.com

Megan Bag £60

pauls-boutique.com

Large Round Sunglasses £12

mandco.com

Denim Zip Front Tencel

Dress £129 Dark Tan

Leather Satchel £135

viyella.co.uk

Nicolle Stacker Set £12.00

Monsoon

New Look

Debenhams

Call It Spring Poinsette £50

Debenhams


Success is by no means a secret. Prepare to work

hard, achieve realistic targets, remain consistent and

learn from your mistakes.

Our BBW Man Day networking event in May was a roaring

success. We attracted 175 business guests on the day. Our guest

speakers gave motivation and positive thoughts and we raised a

massive £4700 for St Johns Hospice. Thanks everyone who

supported us and made it a memorable occasion.

We wait in anticipation for FSB Bedfordshire Business Awards

announcements. Qualifying as finalist for “Networking Group of

the Year” category was an honour and excellent testimony for

BBW’s successful year.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to new BBW members

MacIntrye Hudson, The Business Club Bedford, Hot off the

Press, Essence of Beauty and Luton Adult Learning.

This month’s member spotlight is on Jacqueline Jardine who is

Director of Jardine White Consulting. Jacqueline has many years

experience as a senior HR specialist and tells me that people do

make all the difference in any business large or small and at any

level.

Jacqueline’s 5 valuable tips For the month:

• Know your strengths and areas of development to develop

effective strategies for interacting with people and responding

to demands of your working environment.

• It’s important that everyone within your business knows

where the business is going and the contribution they need to

make. People must know expectations and where their

responsibilities lie. Job descriptions give clarity and are great for

monitoring performance.

• Regular reviews and one-to-one meetings help people to feel

listened to. Opinions count and managers can gain alternative

views and ideas.

• Asking proactive questions, rather than telling. Coach and

empower your managers who work in the heart of your

business.

• Treat people as you want to be treated. Your employees and

your customers will know if this is part of your culture.

Jardine White Consulting can provide HR services for

all your business needs. For a free consultation call

Jacqueline on 07813 098676 or email [email protected]

Give your business the profile it deserves! We are now taking

bookings for business stands to exhibit at our Lifestyle

Networking Event on Thursday 19th July at University of

Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue, Bedford. Call me on 07850 617578

to reserve your stand today. Alternatively you can book your

place to join us www.beds-businesswomen.org

Have a great month in business.

Warm Wishes,

Kerry Cash

President BBW

www.beds-businesswomen.org

For enquiries - [email protected]

Dear Readers

12 hour music event inaid of HELP 4 HEROES

Sat 14th JulyNoon to midnight

BBQ, raffle, auction,bouncy castle, tombola

and much more

See website for details

Newnham Ave, Bedford, MK41 9PX01234 409306 www.whitehorsebedford.co.uk

Call Jane on:01234 21552307809 499669

[email protected]

We are seeking a highly

motivated advertising

telesales executive to

join our already dynamic

team. Have you got

what it takes?


Chosen by the Cultural Olympiad to be part of the

“London 2012 Festival”, Festival Of Chaos provides

Northamptonshire audiences with the chance to be

part of something truly extraordinary in this

celebratory year.

Hedda Gabler follows on from The Bacchae and Blood

Wedding in a trilogy of plays which explore a central

theme that has fascinated writers and theatre-makers

for generations – how deep-rooted desires can often

exist in conflict with social conventions and ‘expected’

standards of behaviour.

As explored throughout the Festival Of Chaos trilogy,

the disruptive power of Dionysus is captured in Ibsen’s

Hedda Gabler within the heart of one of the most

compelling women ever portrayed in literature. Stifled

by the boredom of her comfortable existence, Hedda

finds herself caught in a claustrophobic marriage.

Consumed by the burning desires within her, and

haunted by a half-forgotten ghost ‘with vine leaves in

his hair’, she sets out on a destructive path that pits her

lust for drama and beauty against the social

conventions of the day.

Hedda Gabler can be seen from Friday 6th to Saturday

28th July and tickets

For more details or to book tickets: Royal & Derngate

Box Office on:

01604 624811 www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

ccoonntt iinnuueeLet the chaos

Mon - Fri 8-5.30Sat 8-1

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It seems we just hush over it and in reality we really

should discuss it more. We all have one and at some point

in our lives we are all going to need to know a bit more

about it. So before you need to know I thought

I’d share some info with you.

Your pelvic floor muscles are located

internally between your legs and run

from your pubic bone at the front of

your body all the way to the base of

your spine. They act as a sling

between the legs supporting your

bladder and bowel movements. As

you get older your pelvic floor can

become weak which can lead to

incontinence and can also cause

reduced sensitivity during sex.

The reason I’ve chosen to write about this in this

issue of Affinity is because no-one ever dares talk about

it yet incontinence pads are taking up more and more of

our supermarket shelves, more pages in our glossy

magazines and more advertising time on our TV’s so

someone must be buying them!

Anyone can be affected with pelvic floor issues, however

the older you are and if you have given birth then your

chances of having pelvic floor problems are increased.

Another issue that can affect your pelvic floor is

if you are overweight which unfortunately

is also on the increase.

Your pelvic floor supports your

bowel, bladder and uterus (womb),

so your pelvic floor controls when

you empty your bladder or bowels.

If you have a weak pelvic floor you

may find you accidentally leak a

little wee when you cough, sneeze

or exercise, or you may have

difficulty holding in wind.

As you get older, if your pelvic floor is weak

it is possible for your uterus to ‘sag’ down. This

is called a prolapse. Some studies show that four in ten

women have some degree of prolapse. Now there is no

need to panic - there is something really, really simple we

can do about it.

28

Shhhh.......it’s the muscle we don’t talk about

- Your pelvic floor is one of the most important muscles

in your body but we don’t dare talk about it -

Person

al

Fit

ness

I know some

people won’t even have

finished reading the title of

this piece before turning the

page on to something less

‘embarrassing’, but for

those of you who are

still reading -

Thank you!


29

We can do Kegels named after the gynecologist

Dr Arnold Kegel who invented the exercises.

Imagine you are trying to stop yourself from

passing wind and trying to stop your flow of

urine mid-stream at the same

time. You should feel a

squeeze and a lift from your

front passage to your back

passage.

It sounds easy but please

make sure you are getting the

lift without clenching the

buttocks, pulling in your

tummy, squeezing your inner

thighs together and holding

your breath.

Hold the contraction for a few

seconds and then let go. The letting go part is

just as important as the holding on part. Try

and repeat this 8-10 times. You can do this a

few times each day, no-one will know you are

doing them so you could even do them at your

desk at work!

Once you have mastered the ‘lift and squeeze’

try and vary the speed so try 10 fast

contractions. You can do these throughout the

day, try to make pelvic floor exercises part of

your daily routine.

You’ll be so grateful

you did when you

sneeze!

Although this article

does talk a lot about

women and female

pelvic floors, there is

no reason why men

shouldn’t do pelvic

floor exercises too.

There are many

leading sex experts

that believe a strong pelvic floor can increase

awareness of sexual sensations and enhance

enjoyment in both men and women..........

Now there’s a good reason to do your pelvic

floor exercises!

Julie Holl - Personal Trainer - Holl Fitness Studio

07808 739651 www.hollfitness.com

How to train our pelvic floor


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MMusic for You Summer Schools celebrates its 15th

Music Summer School here in Bedfordshire,

featuring international artists from around the

world. Local musicians from the local area are welcome to

join us for a variety of music courses that will be both

enjoyable and educational. Courses include jazz

ensembles, orchestras, string groups, wind band and

conducting. We are delighted to announce our new folk

course for 2012 and would really encourage any folk

enthusiast to get in contact and support this new

venture. The fantastic

music and beautiful venue

of Shuttleworth College is

a winning recipe that

certainly offers something

special for everyone who

attends.

“The 2012 course

participants can also expect expert tuition from a host of

inspirational tutors,” said Dawn Bradley-Buxton course

Director. “The special ingredient about these music

courses is that both adults and children can play side by

side at a variety of levels. It’s very important that if you are

at an advanced level you are musically challenged and

have the opportunity to play with others of a similar

standard. Likewise if you are a beginner or have taken up

an instrument later on in life it is important that musicians

are supported and guided in a friendly and relaxed

atmosphere. Where ever you are in your musical journey,

we will ensure that you have an enjoyable time’.

Emma Matthews, a French horn player visited the course

for the first time in

2010. “The feeling of

friendly

professionalism and

enthusiasm was the

first thing that struck

me on that first

Monday morning” said

Emma. “Everyone in

that room, wanted to be

there! Guy Woolfenden was terrific; what a musician

and Laszlo Marosi – what can I say? Exceptional!

Thank you all for such a wonderful week.”

If you would like to join us this summer contact:

Dawn Bradley-Buxton on 07973 504855

www.musicforyousummerschools.co.uk

[email protected]

Special discounts and scholarships for local adults and

children are available.

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Bedfringe is now in its sixth year how did you

become involved in it?

Hello Affinity magazine! After returning from the 2004

Edinburgh Festival Fringe I thought that maybe Bedford

could have its own fringe. It’s not that difficult to sort...

book a venue, ask a load of acts to attend, sell tickets. At

the time, not much was happening on the small to

medium scale comedy & theatre scene in Bedford (pre

facebook years!) so I thought potential for success. I

joined forces with a small group of like-minded people

and there we have it. Bedfringe one was born. You can

view all our past brochures by visiting the website.

For anyone who’s not aware of Bedfringe can you

give a brief description?

In a nutshell Bedfringe is an event which hosts comedy,

theatre, live music, dance, spoken word, cabaret, poetry

and more recently, film. All the work is new and or

undiscovered. It’s a platform for new up and coming

talent basically.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing

perform this year?

There’s loads of fab work on. Many of the shows I have

seen so going on what I haven’t (and therefore looking

forward to them) is SHARP, a dance group from

Philadelphia USA. They are coming over to perform

specifically in the Bedfringe festival. They were sent our

way via Inbrook Production Services who handle the

likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Nathan Lane, Russell Brand and

Eddie Izzard.

You must have seen a lot of changes over the six

years you’ve been going, what would you say has

been the biggest change?

The support network would be the biggest. Thanks to

Facebook, Twitter and therefore WeAreBedford,

Creative Bedfordshire and other such groups, I can meet

and ‘recruit’ the people that are needed to allow

Bedfringe to thrive. I also find that sponsors are a little

easier to bring on board as now the festival has a strong

identity and success history.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you’d

known six years ago?

The importance of product identity. Just because

something sells in Edinburgh or Brighton doesn’t mean

it will sell here with the same packaging. I am confident

that this year’s is the strongest to date with a clear and

colourful brochure which links up with all our other

promotional material.

What’s different this year, than last?

Last year we hosted around 50 shows… this year we are

at around 70. The brochure is bigger as a result of this

growth so hopefully stands out more! We also have a

review team this year recruited by Fringe Review, a

leading online magazine for fringe festivals around the

globe.

And finally, if I was coming to the festival for the first

time this year what would you say my five must sees

should be?

Everything is fab! But if you must twist my arm…

1. The Bane Trilogy

2. The Gambler

3. Idiots Of Ants

4. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

5. SHARP: Une Soirée Au Cabaret (Dance group from

USA)

For more details on this years Festival or to read the

brochure online visit: www.bedfinge.co.uk

Win! Win! Win!We have a pair of tickets to give away for this years

festival to see “ShowStopper! The Improvised

Musical” on Tues 24th July at The Corn Exchange, for

your chance of winning tell us “how many years

Bedfringe has been going?” And send to

[email protected]

There’s not too long to wait now until this years

Bedfringe Festival on 13th – 28th July and it promises

to be even bigger and better than ever. Affinity decided

to catch up with Festival organiser James Pharaoh and

put him in the hot seat!

A Little

Bit of

Fringe!

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32


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35

areth Gates and Jennifer Ellison are to join the

cast of the international award-winning hit Legally

Blonde The Musical as ‘Warner’ and ‘Paulette’

which comes to Milton Keynes Theatre later this

month on 31st July – 11th August.

Faye Brooks (Grease in the West End) stars in the role of

‘Elle’ and Iwan Lewis (Fame in the West End, Passion at

The Donmar Warehouse) plays ‘Emmett’.

Gareth Gates shot to fame in 2002 when he was famously

voted runner-up in the UK’s first hit television series of

Pop Idol. He has since gone on to sell 3.5 million records

in the UK alone, releasing 3 albums and 4

UK number 1 singles. More recently Gareth

has starred in Joseph and The Amazing

Technicolor Dreamcoat (West End), Les

Miserables (25th Anniversary tour and West

End) and Loserville (West Yorkshire

Playhouse) and appeared last Christmas at

Milton Keynes Theatre in the smash hit panto

– Aladdin.

Jennifer Ellison is best known for her roles in

the TV soap opera Brookside and the film adaptation of

The Phantom of the Opera. Her theatre credits include

‘Roxie Hart’ in Chicago (West End and UK tour), Boeing

Boeing (Comedy Theatre) and Calendar Girls and she has

made numerous other television appearances (Hotel

Babylon, The Verdict, The Brief, Hell’s Kitchen and as a

judge on Dirty Dancing - Time of Your Life). Jennifer was

recently seen wowing judges and audiences alike on ITV’s

hit show Dancing on Ice where she reached the semi

finals.

Winner of 7 major awards including the coveted Best

Musical 2011 (Olivier Awards) this all singing, all dancing

romantic comedy is about knowing who you are and

showing what you’ve got!

College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods

doesn't take no for an answer. So when she gets dumped

by her boyfriend for someone more serious, she puts

down her credit cards, hits the books, and sets out where

no other Delta Nu has gone before - Harvard

Law School. From the social whirl of sunny

California campus life to the Harvard Halls

of Justice, this all-singing, all-dancing, feel

good musical comedy will give audiences a

fresh and effervescent evening of fun,

stylishly wrapped up in a smart pink bow!

The verdict? This much fun should not be

legal!

Legally Blonde The Musical is the funniest and most

fabulous musical around. The best show in town, an

absolutely must see!

Milton Keynes Theatre

Tues 19th – Sat 30th June

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

“ “

All singing,

all dancing

romantic

comedy

G


J

Although the transfer window has opened

again, there is little activity owing to

everyone being on their holidays and at the

Euro 2012 Championships. Despite England going

there with a horrendous injury list as players

dropped out left, right and centre, they did better

than expected in their first game with a creditable

1-1 draw against France, who went into the

tournament on a 24-match unbeaten run.

We would expect England to grow in confidence

and with the addition of Wayne Rooney coming

back for the final group game, we have high hopes

of reaching the next stage. So far, Russia have

impressed with a comprehensive victory over the

Czech Republic and I have to say are strong

outsiders at 20-1.

The best game of the tournament so far has been

Spain v Italy. Spain named a line-up without a

centre forward, which was surprising, but I am

sure a recognised target man will be introduced

and they will do better than that score draw with

Italy.

Germany started well and will get better. The

biggest disappointment so far has been Holland,

however they have a talented group of players and

can easily bounce back although they faced sterner

opposition in their group.

Generally, the sides have been positive, normally a

lot of the early games are negative and people don’t

want to lose but at least this year the teams are

showing the desire to win. I am sure there will be

entertaining games ahead.

The Republic of Ireland went into the tournament

on the back of a decent unbeaten run, but conceded

after two minutes against Croatia. Sean St. Ledger,

ex Peterborough United, levelled but they then

conceded two goals and that is a great shame as

they look like heading out of the tournament.

As for my tip to win it, you can’t look past Germany.

They have experience and youth in their squad and

they know how to win. Russia would be my outside

bet.

Barry Fry

36

Fry’sfootie corner

www.theposh.com


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

(On our pizza selection)


Ingredients

“To me, there is something extremely comforting about

Italian food; the deep red colour of tomato sauce, the

intoxicating aroma of sautéing garlic, and the texture of

cheese that is deliciously melted”

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.

Score the aubergine flesh by cutting a criss cross

pattern with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut

through the skin.

Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a large frying pan,

add three aubergines and cook for 2 – 3 minutes

each side, or until the flesh is soft. Remove, and

repeat with the remaining aubergines.

Cool slightly and scoop out the flesh, leaving a

2mm border. Finely chop the flesh and keep the

shells.

Then cook the onion for approx 5 mins, add the

garlic, tomato, tomato puree, herbs and aubergine

flesh, cook stirring occasionally over a low heat for

8 – 10 minutes, or until the sauce is thick, Season

well.

Arrange the aubergine shells in a lightly greased

baking dish and spoon in the tomato filling.

Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake for 5 – 10

mins, or until the cheese has melted.

BUON APETITO!39

Recipe

“ “

Baked Aubergineswith Tomato and

Mozzarella Torbreck The Steading

2006 Australia

Very ‘Burgundian’ in style, the

palate is elegant and pure

with subtle notes of crushed

cherries, earth and cedar all

neatly wound by a taught

spine of acidity and ripe

supple tannins.

£26 Tesco

6 large slender aubergines (halved

lengthways)

100ml olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

400g tinned chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

3 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

1 tbsp chopped oregano

125g mozzarella cheese, grated

Montpierre Reserve Shiraz

Rose

The elegant, dry rosé is light

and fruity and has generous

layers of strawberries and

cherries on the nose and

palate. Best served chilled

£7.99 Sainsburys

Canti Puglia Negroamaro

Zinfandel

Well structured, medium

bodied red wine with a

distinct bouquet of wild

berries

£4.26 Tesco

The perfectBottle


Ingredients (serves 8)280g Dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

280g Diced unsalted butter

4 Medium sized eggs, lightly beaten

280g Caster sugar

1 Vanilla pod - split open and seeds scraped out

½ Teaspoon vanilla extract

130g Plain flour

60g Cocoa powder

95g Milk chocolate, broken into small pieces

95g White chocolate, broken into small pieces

Extra butter for greasing the baking tin

1 Square baking tin, preferably non stick

Method• Preheat the oven to 180°C.

• Put the dark chocolate and butter into a

large heatproof bowl, and place over a pan

of simmering water, allow to melt. Stir

until smooth and set aside to cool a little.

• Whisk the eggs and sugar together with the

vanilla seeds and the extract until it forms a

nice creamy froth.

• Lightly fold in the melted chocolate, then sift

in the flour and cocoa powder and mix

through gently. Stir in the chunks of milk and

white chocolate.

• Grease the baking tin with butter and then

line with baking parchment or greaseproof

paper. Carefully pour the mixture into the

lined baking tin.

• Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. The top

should be firm and crisp but the inside

should still be lovely and moist. Allow to cool

on a wire rack before cutting.

Serving suggestion!

Serve slightly warm with ice cream and

strawberries for a delicious treat!

Enjoy

CChhooccoo llaa ttee

BBrroowwnniiee

2 bottles dry white wine, such as sauvignon blanc

1/2 cup sherry

1/2 cup Cointreau

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 bunch seedless white grapes

1 lemon, unpeeled and sliced

2 peaches, unpeeled, pitted, and sliced

1/2 honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, and diced

1/2 litre soda

10 strawberries chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large jug, stirring until

sugar is completely dissolved. Serve immediately, or if

making in advance, refrigerate up to 24 hours, and then

add the soda just before serving.

Cornerocktail

SangriaBlanca


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


SSet in the heart of Bedford’s beautifully

landscaped Embankment with

wonderful views looking out over The

River Great Ouse is “The Embankment

Hotel” an imposing mock -Tudor

building that offers guests a relaxed,

informal friendly atmosphere.

Food is served all day and you can choose breakfast,

elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, we decided

to sample their evening menu which was full of fresh

seasonal food.

As soon as we walked into The Embankment we were

greeted by the friendly staff, who showed us to our table

and took our drink order. As well as the menu there

were daily specials to choose from that all sounded

delicious.

Water, bread and olives were brought to us whilst we

deliberated over the menu.

Choices were finally made and starters were smoked

salmon and horseradish mousse, beetroot, herb cress

and toasted rye bread, this was beautifully presented,

the crispiness of the rye bread, complimented the tangy

softness of the mousse and the sweetness of the

beetroot finished it off.

Beef Carpaccio, rocket and parmesan salad. The beef

came perfectly chilled, and the peppery taste of the

rocket against the strength of parmesan set tastebuds

alight.

The main dishes were just as delicious. Grilled mackerel

fillets, pea shoot and fennel salad, with orange and

shallot dressing for myself, the combination of the peas,

fish and fennel were flavoursome and refreshing and for

my husband chicken madras, pilau rice, sour cream and

poppadoms, this was served on a rustic wooden board,

the chicken was so tender it just fell off the bone and the

authentic madras taste mixed with the crispy

homemade poppadums was simply mouthwatering.

Desserts? Well it would be rude not to!! Peanut parfait

and strawberry coulis, this looked too good to eat – the

soft, smooth parfait with crisp crunchy peanut brittle

was a dessert heaven, an absolute delight. Sponge

pudding and ice cream was the other delight,

homemade and light simply delicious.

The meal was faultless, the service was professional and

friendly, and the atmosphere relaxing and informal,

what more could you wish for on an evening out – I

highly recommend you pay The Embankment a visit and

I guarantee once you’ve been you’ll return again and

again we certainly do!

The Embankment has a lot going on during the summer

months so make sure you visit their website for details:

www.embankmentbedford.co.uk

01234 261332

42


If you want to make the right moves at work,

you’ve got to take control of your own fate

44

Ladies!Ladies!How to Steer Your Career,

Get Some Qualifications

We all know a successful woman who has no more than a

secretarial qualification and sometimes not even that, and

they have made it, but they are the exception.

If you want a successful career you need some

appropriate qualifications. They will give you confidence,

act as a testimony to your capability and provide you with

important links to others.

Experience is very important too. Apply to part of a

company that no one would think of working in. Getting

your foot in the door is the biggest challenge – if you are

any good, you will be able to move around.

Build a Network

You need to be both good at what you do and good at

building relationships with people who matter.

When candidates are being considered for a role personal

recommendation goes a long way. But because so many

people are connected through the internet it is difficult to

distinguish between them, which makes face to face

interaction even more important. So get out and meet

people. Join a professional body or a private members

club and attend their events or find a charity support.

It’s Never too Late

It’s never ‘too late’ for anything – to become a solicitor,

write a novel, to tweet or to learn to swim.

I’m a great believer in personal goals. My challenge for

2012 is to write 6 chapters of my book! You are never too

old; these challenges are what keeps us young at heart.

And remember careers can be started from scratch even

when you are drawing your pension. I recently came

On th

e

Couch

““

£


45

across three women in their 60’s starting new careers one

was a trainee solicitor, one an estate agent and the other

was in modelling! If you are thinking about a new career,

start by writing a list of careers you are interested in, do

a little research and find people to talk to who have

worked in that area.

You Can Say No

Saying no is a life skill that is very important to master if

you want to be successful.

Women have more difficulty saying no, as we are less

concerned with our own needs and more concerned

about the welfare of others, but being able to say no

effectively will help you up the career ladder.

It is well documented that there is a gender gap in pay.

Sometimes it’s simply because women

don’t ask to be paid more. Don’t sell

yourself short, if you operate in a man’s

world, you should ask for a man’s pay. If

they offer you something else just say

‘NO!’ You don’t have to shout or cry.

Practice what you want to say

beforehand on friends or your partner.

You Can’t Have it All

From an early age, women should be

encouraged to be ambitious. But to

grow up thinking that it is perfectly

possible to be the CEO of a large company, a brilliant heart

surgeon, or an opera star, whilst securing a gorgeous

husband, having an amazing sex life, raising perfectly

balanced children keeping up your league badminton at

the weekends plus still having time to see your girlfriends

and parents, get to the hairdresser, beauty salon and yoga

then you are seriously deluding yourself.

You need to remember - Your time is a scarce resource.

How you allocate it is central to how successful your

career will be. Stop thinking of trying to achieve work-life

balance. Work is part of most people’s lives. Look at it as

‘life balance’.

Decide on your priorities, then spend

your time in line with those priorities

this will help you achieve your goals

much more easily. It is about

compromise. The sooner you work out

what your priorities are the easier it

will be to make a plan. Know what you

want and why and then make your

choices accordingly.

Do More Than a Man

As a woman you will certainly have to

cram more into your day, week, and life than a man.

Women are still the primary carers when it comes to

looking after children and they make up 90 per cent of all

lone parents. They also bear the burden of responsibility

for the lion’s share of domestic chores- even when both

parents are working or they have a stay at home partner.

You must learn to outsource! Prioritise according to

what’s important to you, then outsource, be organised,

speak up for what you need, conserve your energy and be

tolerant and patient when things are not done as well as

you would have done them yourself!

Interests Outside Work and Family Life

It is unlikely you will be successful unless you get involved

with something outside the home. It can be charitable, the

arts or sport, something that you are interested in as well

as being good for your career.

When you are seated next to someone influential at

dinner or interviewed for a job it will be your third

dimension that will help you stand out.

Join the board of a not-for-profit organisation; this will

give you the skills required for the boardroom.

Promote Yourself

Every woman should spend at least five per cent of her

time doing her own PR. It’s not enough to be good at your

job - you need to make sure people know who you are.

Women often ignore this as they believe

self promotion is inappropriate. But a

woman who communicates in a

competent but warm manner quells

doubts about her ability and

likeableness, and this can definitely

increase her influence.

Make sure the internet works for you:

check your profiles are up to date and

representative of the qualities you

would like to portray to people.

How you look, speak and engage with

others is critical to helping you get

ahead.

Dress appropriately and consider your wardrobe an

important investment in your career.

You Can’t Do It All on Your Own

Successful women recognise that they need team

members on their side to succeed. So you need to employ

the right people – who will become the cornerstone of

your business.

The key to managing a team is to acknowledge their

contributions.

Be approachable and encouraging;

accept you can’t be good at everything.

Hire someone who is good where you

are weak; delegate tasks you don’t

enjoy.

Contract out the chores that you are not

great at doing. Acknowledging your

weaknesses and dealing with them will

put you ahead.

At home be prepared to accept that “less than perfect” is

good enough.

If you are ambitious you WILL be able to achieve just as

much as any man, but just like a man you will have to

make sacrifices and compromises.

Knowing what they are, and why you are making them is

half the battle.

The rest is just execution- which for women is much

easier than you think!

Every woman

should spend at

least five per cent

of her time doing

her own PR

How you look,

speak and

engage with

others is critical

to helping you

get ahead

“

““

“


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

Bedford Chiropractic Clinic 20b De Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TW

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Affinity Magazine August 2012_Layout 1 copy 17/06/2012 08:12

46

TThe theme of finding ourselves has been the

focus of numerous journeys, real and

metaphorical and the focus of many films and

plays. Yet for the majority of people for the

majority of the time we shy away from anything which

might shed light on why we are

the way we are. Indeed many

people find it very

uncomfortable to talk about

themselves in anything other

than a superficial way which

concentrates on actions and

events rather than feelings,

emotions and motives.

But very often it is educating ourselves ABOUT ourselves

that can open us up to all sorts of new possibilities.

So why do we need to learn about ourselves, you may

think? Well for people who are happy, enjoying their lives

and relationships and feeling fulfilled, there probably isn’t

a great need.

But what we know is that there are a lot of people, of every

age, who struggle with

confidence, have self esteem

issues, live with phobias and

cravings, suffer from anxiety,

have panic attacks or go through

life avoiding all sorts of situations

because of their fears. We know

that in our society lots of people

suffer with depression and other

forms of mental health issues and whilst the underlying

causes of these are many and varied there are some that

are due at least in part to the struggles of our inner

subconscious self to ‘protect’ us.

Learning about ourselves, is somethingthat is talked about in songs and written

about in numerous books and poems.“ “

Me, Myself And I

…… AAnn EEdduuccaatt ii oonn

Ed

uca

tion

"Formal education will makeyou a living. Self education will

make you a fortune.”Jim Rohn (author and motivational speaker)

Affinity Magazine August 2012_Layout 1 copy 17/06/2012 07:37 Page 44

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

07921 193479 [email protected] www.attunededucation.com

Whilst the growth in counselling over recent decades has

helped lots of people, others shy away from anything

which they feel may require them to ‘delve’ into the past.

In some instances it may be

necessary to look back at the

past, but understanding why

we act in particular ways

doesn’t mean we need

counselling, we just need to

get to know ourselves better

and understand a little of why

we think and sometimes act in

certain ways.

Some years ago a mature student came to see me as she

had applied for many jobs and although on the surface

she had the right qualifications and was indeed often

called for interview she never seemed to be offered the

job. She said she would prepare

for the interview but despite

rehearsing likely questions and

doing her research on the

company she always felt she

messed it up. When we

discussed very briefly why she

thought this may be happening

she said she felt as if she somehow ‘sabotaged’ it but

didn’t know why. Very quickly when we discussed the

issue further she realised it related to her ex husband who

had always felt a little threatened by what he saw as her

academic superiority and she knew he wouldn’t cope if

she were to get a job earning more than him. This

relationship was over but some

part of her subconscious was still

afraid of landing that really good

job. This realisation of this and the

‘coaching’ which followed meant

that she was able to move on and

has since been employed in a high

earning job and is now happy in a

different relationship.

Although we don’t always realise it our

subconscious is always trying to look after us, but

not always going the best way about it. A lot of our

fears begin as protective instincts but somehow our

subconscious gets it a bit wrong and can go quite

over the top about things. I often work with

children and young people who have experienced

rejection, often in quite traumatic circumstances

and it is no surprise to anyone that this hurts. As a

child of course it is often hard to understand the

depth of feeling and whilst obviously upset at the

time they are not always given the time and

opportunity to deal with these powerful emotions.

What happens for some children is that when they

are next in a position of needing to trust others they

themselves will do the rejecting. Somewhere in

their minds, usually at a subconscious level they

know that if they were to be rejected again that

would hurt, possibly even more, so the ‘safe’ thing

to do is reject others first, before there is a chance they

themselves will be rejected.

This can happen in all sorts of

relationships, people seem to

get close then someone backs

off, and of course there can be

all sorts of reasons for this but

one is certainly that for those

who have experienced the pain

of rejection they will try to

avoid getting themselves into a

position of vulnerability again.

We are learning more and more about how our bodies

and our minds function and indeed are interrelated –

increasingly we know that emotional issues can and do

cause some physical symptoms. In our society we have

not always placed much

emphasis on self awareness,

or indeed relaxation or

learning to deal with our own

stress, but over recent

decades we are learning to

take some lessons from other

cultures.

People often say they haven’t time for self discovery and

that is a decision to be respected but for people of any age

who are struggling with aspects of their life, work or

relationships then it may be time to devote some time and

energy to learning a little more about themselves. Some

may see it as self indulgence,

others may be sceptical or

even afraid but learning about

ourselves, why we react in

certain ways, how to calm

ourselves in situations of

anxiety, why we may have the

particular fears, or

compulsions that we do could be the first step towards a

happier more confident and fulfilled life.

“All should strive to learn beforethey die. What they are

running from and to and why?”James Thurber (author)

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The children are getting tired and argumentative

so you know the end of term is around the corner

and you will have to find six weeks’ worth of

entertainment for them. However before that

momentous task arrives waving a cheery hello and

looming large - it’s the school sports day!

Luckily I only have the one to endure at the moment,

however I dread the day when they are at three

different schools. Now don’t get me wrong, I love seeing

all the children participate in sporting activities

especially that as a family we encourage them to be

active and play outside whenever possible. However

the real test of endurance is the ‘Mum’s race’!

My very first sports day for Rafferty arrived and I went

along with The Husband armed with snacks and drinks

and a few toys to entertain two year old Violet. It was a

beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze so we sat on

our rug on the school field with a contented Violet - all

was good.

Out marched the children in crocodiles with their sun

hats on and all looking very sweet. The next hour was a

delight watching them compete in various sporting

tasks ending with some running races where they all got

a sticker for taking part. Who needs the Olympics when

you can watch the sporting stars of the future? Of

course there was the odd mishap with a child falling

over and with his pride hurt more than anything else he

cried very loudly, however with the help of a teacher he

managed to finish the race to a rapturous round of

applause.

Just as you think it is all over, out booms the head

teacher over the megaphone to announce it is time for

the mum’s race and I swear to you, there were already

about five mums at the starting line limbering up before

the sentence was finished! A glance around the crowd

saw a lot of mums looking busy with their children,

phones, heads in handbags etc trying to ignore the

coaxing. Looking over at Rafferty he had an expectant

look on his face, I got up and with my shoes off, I

tentatively approached the start.

All lined up I could feel the tension around me so I take

a deep breath and put my arm across my chest in

anticipation (I am sure the other mums were wearing a

sports bra as most of them had stripped down to their

Lycra shorts). Such was I in a state of apprehension I

missed the shout of ‘Go’ however luckily it was a false

start – gosh these mums were keen! Finally the race was

underway and I ran as best I could behind the speedy

ones and prayed I didn’t fall over – I’m not sure the

applause for me would be quite as well meaning as for a

5 year old! I crossed the finishing line feeling elated that

I didn’t come last – I know, I know we tell the children

that it is all about taking part but, come on, I had to have

a shred of dignity left after running bare foot clutching

my chest!

Later on the hug and ‘well done Mummy’ I got from my

son was better than any gold medal so maybe a little bit

of training for this year wouldn’t do any harm!!!

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 Mummy50

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]

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JJ uly can be a tricky month for gardeners – from April

to June the borders are generally at their best, lush

and full of colour. In July many plants have either finished

flowering or are past their best. But there’s plenty you can

do to revive a flagging border. Many perennials can be cut

back to allow a second flush

of flowers. In the case of

lupins, cut the old flower

stems partway down the

plant just above new leaf

growth. Delphiniums can be

cut almost to the ground,

again just above the obvious

fresh new growth. Many

hardy geraniums can be cut

right back and allowed to

reflower several times during

the summer. Not all varieties

will rebloom but fresh new

foliage will grow regardless.

Keep deadheading perennials and summer bedding to

prolong their flowering periods. Each time you wander

round your garden make a point of nipping off a few spent

flowers – it doesn’t take much time or effort and really

does make a difference.

In the fruit and vegetable garden the first strawberries

and raspberries are ready to eat and what a delight it is

to eat your own home grown produce. Everything is

coming on thick and fast – use young spinach and purple

sprouting broccoli leaves to liven up salads. So far as

tomatoes are concerned, when four or five fruiting trusses

have formed it’s time to nip

out the top middle shoot

between two leaves to stop

further top growth. This

allows the plant to devote its

sugar production into the

remaining trusses. You’ll

also need to pinch out any

side shoots in the same way

as the top one and

remember to stake the

plants or they’ll end up as an

unruly mess on the ground.

July’s flower of the month is

geranium psilostemon

(pronounced filostemon) – a hardy perennial, originating

from the Himalayas, that sits well in the middle of any

border and grows up to three feet in height. The flowers

are a stunning magenta pink with a black centre.

Flowering from mid June until the end of August, despite

its height it doesn’t need staking and is probably my

favourite of all the hardy geraniums.

Gardening

in July

ᴥ If you haven’t done so already prune lilac trees and bushes –

this should really be done as soon as they have finished flowering

– next year’s flowers will form on this year’s new growth.

ᴥ Water your containers and hanging baskets regularly – never

let the soil dry out completely and don’t forget to keep dead

heading to prolong the flowering period.

ᴥ Hoe regularly between crops in the vegetable garden to keep

the weeds at bay.

ᴥ Harvest new potatoes when plants are in full flower. Carefully

dig a little distance from the stems of the plants and pull the

tubers from the ground. Gently fork through the surrounding soil

to reveal the rest of the unattached potatoes.

ᴥ Feed tomato plants weekly once the first truss of fruit has set.

Make sure they don’t go short of water. Irregular watering results

in the skins splitting.

ᴥ Remember to keep an eye on slug and snail damage in the

garden and treat with your chosen control method as soon as

you spot any problems.

AffinityAffinity

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July tips....Affinity loves.....

62

Alison Wallbank

The Lady Gardener

01234 782383 or 07795 246558

www.bedfordshiregardendesigners.co.uk

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MAN

Describe yourself in three words?

Passionate, energetic, dogged

What makes you stand out in a crowd?

I’m only 5’6”, so probably a stepladder.

Your top three movies?

Se7en – downbeat ending

The Shawshank Redemption – upbeat ending

The Godfather Part II – an inevitable ending

What do you do to relax?

Read – anything and everything!

Your most extravagant purchase and why?

My wife’s engagement ring. Because she’s worth it…

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

I’d be the man (or woman) who cracks cold nuclear

fusion and solves the energy problem forever…

Describe your ideal woman?

If I had not met my wife a decade ago (I have to say that

to cover my back)… it would probably be Davina McCall.

Best Holiday destination and why?

South Devon coast – it’s my one week in the year where

I switch off and truly relax, the beaches and countryside

are fab, and the weather is normally nice.

You can’t leave the house without?

Wallet and phone. And if I had to choose between the

two of them, phone.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Sat on the roof of the Bedford Free School building,

enjoying a cold drink in the sunshine, knowing there are

500 kids in the building below me getting a great

education and having a wonderful time in the process.

What three people dead or alive would you invite to

a dinner party and why?

Paul Simon – as he is one of my musical heroes and I

want him to show me how he does some of those guitar

licks…

P. J. O’Rourke – as he is quite simply still one of the

funniest and sharpest writers alive today

Karl Hayward-Bradley – my best man and best mate –

we met when I was at Cambridge, and we’re still geeky

schoolboy, always showing off our latest gadgets

whenever we get together, and he always makes me

laugh

What makes you happy?

Watching my daughters playing together (when they’re

getting on rather than hitting each other!)

Saturday night you can be found where?

Asleep on the sofa, avoiding Saturday night TV

63

Age: 33 ¾

Occupation: Principal, Bedford

Free School

Resides: Bedford

of the Month


CCaarrrryyiinngg tthheeFFllaammee

YY ou must have been

stranded on a desert Island

for the last year if you are not

aware the opening ceremony

for the London 2012 Olympic

Games takes place later this month.

The torch visits the four nations of

the UK before being carried into the

Olympic Stadium in Stratford on

July 27 for the opening ceremony of

the Games. It will travel 8,000 miles

through 1,019 cities, towns and

villages, on foot or in convoy, and

drop in at UK landmarks like the

Giant's Causeway and Stonehenge

along the way.

It will be carried by bearers, or

taken in a convoy, and will also be

transported by boat, bicycle, tram

and train.

The flame, meant to represent

purity, was kindled from the rays of

the sun using a parabolic mirror in a

ceremony on May 10 at Olympia,

the home of the ancient Olympic

Games.

It was taken on a 1,800-mile relay

around Greece before being handed

over to the Princess Royal during a

rain-soaked ceremony at the

Panathenaic Stadium, venue of the

first modern Olympics in 1896.

The flame was then handed over to

London to host the Games for the

third time since the birth of the

Olympics - in 1908, 1948 and now

2012. No other city has staged the

Games three times.

Organisers say 95% of the country's

population should be within one

hour of the route and so it will be a

momentous occasion for Bedford

residents when on 8 July the Flame

reaches Bedford Borough.

Torchbearers will carry the Olympic

Flame through the streets of

Bedford, including along the

Embankment and past Bedford

College, shining the spotlight on the

people and places of Bedford

Borough, a sight not to be missed.


The Olympic Flame will also be

passing through the following

local cities, towns and villages on

its way into and out of Bedford:

Cambridge, St Ives, Huntingdon,

Bedford, Cotton End, Letchworth

Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn

Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans,

Hemel Hempstead, Luton

You can view an interactive map

at:

www.london2012.com/olympicto

rchrelaymap to find your nearest

community through which the

Olympic Flame will be carried.

On the final day of the Olympic

Torch Relay, it is LOCOG’s

intention that the Olympic

Flame will travel down the

River Thames as it makes its

way to the Olympic Stadium on

27 July 2012 for the lighting of

the cauldron at the Opening

Ceremony, signifying the official

start of the London 2012

Olympic Games.


66

SSll ooww

The fastest way to

AAs a Nation we really know how to celebrate being

British, as the fabulous pomp and ceremony of

the Queen’s Jubilee in June proved. It’s wonderful

to see the Union Flag flying high and the pride of the

British public shining through. It’s why so many foreign

tourists flock to Britain, for the History and heritage

that only we can boast and to be involved with the

celebrations, to watch Wimbledon, dress up for a day at

Ascot or Henley and cheer the Country during the

Olympic Games.

With so much going on it’s a great time to have a holiday

in Britain so you don’t have to miss a thing.

There is still a secret part of Britain that’s crying out to

be discovered; the watery backbone of transportation in

the country’s industrial past, a celebration of our

history and the wonderfully British eccentricity of the

people who occupy the unnoticed world of the British

Canals.

Narrowboat holidays have seen a rise in popularity over

the last few years and, as a narrowboater myself, I

would describe it as ‘the fastest way to slow down’. You

meander through some of Britain’s most beautiful

countryside almost unobserved by the outside world at

about 4 MPH. Wildlife is undisturbed as you pass by,

giving opportunity to see Herons fishing or Kingfishers

in flight. If you are moored along the Towpath you can

often see Foxes or Deer and we’ve even seen Crows

catching Frogs. There are great fishing opportunities for

budding anglers, some of the Canals have Pike and

we’ve caught Crayfish before now. Towpaths are great

for bike rides or scenic walks, perfect for people with

pets and it’s great to light a BBQ when you’ve found

your perfect overnight spot.

However the main attraction for most boaters are the

picturesque canal side pubs, many dating back before

the heyday of the industrial revolution when horse-

drawn barges plied the waterways carrying their goods.

The beautiful Pubs alongside Locks are busy on sunny

days when gongoozlers, people who watch idly from

the bank, gather to see the boats as they pass and

parents explain to their children how the locks work.

Planning your ‘cruise’ to maximise the use of local

watering holes is nearly always top priority as

narrowboating is as much about socialising as it is

about peace & quiet.

DDoowwnn


Call Sue Alexander of Eagle

Travel 01234 348882

[email protected]

Take your pick from the miles of canals of

England, Scotland and Wales and even on

some rivers like the Wey or The Thames.

Depending where you hire your boat from you

can experience Locks, Aqueducts and Tunnels

which are part of the fun and add to the

adventure. The famous Blisworth Tunnel and

Braunston Tunnel on the Grand Union Canal

can take 20 minutes to get through, the

fascinating flight of Locks at picturesque Stoke

Bruerne and Foxton are real crowd pullers and

only about an hour’s drive from here. The

aqueducts on the Llangollen Canal are now a

UNESCO World Heritage site and if you travel

north you can explore the Scottish Lochs of the

Caledonian Canal and experience the remarkable

Falkirk wheel.

There are several different styles of boat and it is

important to choose one that is most suitable for

you. Hire an attractive traditional style Narrowboat

to explore the Historic Canals, or you may prefer a

modern Cruiser on the Norfolk Broads and River

Thames or even a static Houseboat for waterside

living without moving.

Most hire boats have a TV & DVD as well as all the

mod cons like cooker, fridge, microwave and

hairdryer. Modern facilities and clever use of space

means that families are well catered for as you can

hire a boat to suit your group size. Some boats

accommodate as many as 12 people making it ideal

for a family gathering or a friend’s weekend away.

You may be surprised how many young people are

attracted to the waterways for Hen & Stag

weekends, dressed as pirates or sailors they

drunkenly veer across the canal and get

disapproving looks from hardened old boaters,

but it’s all part of the fun.

You can even hire a romantic Narrowboat for two

complete with Four Poster Bed, a honeymoon or

anniversary perhaps?

It can be a cheap weekend away

from it all, a big family get

together , a romantic break or a

party cruise and you don’t even

have to go far to collect your

boat because once you’re

onboard it’s a different world.

Speak to Sue at Eagle Travel

who knows many of the Canals

and can explain the various

styles of boat to help you

choose the right one to suit

your requirements.


68

SSummer is finally here. Don’t we all dream of

driving down a country lane in a convertible,

our hair blowing in the wind and not a care in

the world?

I have found the car to give you the ultimate indulgence

for this - The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible.

It can reach 186mph, is powered by a 542bhp

supercharged V8 and will set you back just over

£100,000. Crazy? Yes, Sexy? Yes and Oh so cool!

Here’s a car that Jaguar has tested at 186mph with the

roof down, has a better power to weight ratio than an

Aston Martin DBS and which will roar around any race

track faster than a 911 GT3. It’s the quickest ever drop-

top Jaguar, The race to 60mph comes and goes in 4.2

seconds and 100mph is reached in just 4.4 seconds later.

But, do you really need a convertible car with a 542bhp

supercharged V8 that’s capable of 186mph? No. Do you

want one? Wow, Yes!

Apart from the gaping hole where the lid used to be, the

XKR-S convertible is virtually identical to the XKR-S

coupe. In other words, it has a sleek, athletic body that

has been festooned with several aerodynamic

accoutrements. These include a carbon spoiler at the

front, a large Mustang-esque wing, mounted on the boot

and side skirts running the length of the car. Together,

these components work like a plane’s wings, except in

reverse, helping to reduce the chances of the car taking

off at high speed.

Jaguar’s high performance brake kit is fitted as standard

with massively better performance as a result. Dropping

the roof gets you closer to the sound of the performance

active exhaust which can’t be recommended highly

enough.

It takes 18 seconds for the electrically powered roof to

fold flat. Once it’s folded you get a great view of the XKR-

S’s bespoke contrast stitched leather sports seats, which

feature integrated head rests and racing harness cut

outs.

A three-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel with

paddleshifters, Jaguar-embossed stainless steel pedals,

carbonfibre trim and gloss black centre console further

enhance the car's cabin.

The final result is an open topped Jaguar like no other.

Guaranteed to make us all smile!

JJaagguuaarr XXKKRR--SSCCoonnvveerr tt iibb ll ee


Discover your.......

Destiny

Readers questions

70

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

I have just started a new job, but am unsure if it's

the right career path to follow, and if it's not I am at

a loss as to what to do, can you give me some advice -

Thank you

Alex

The cards are certain that while there is another path

for you later in life, the present job can lead to a feeling

of fulfilment, more money around you and lead you to

your next opportunity, with upward movement within

18 months, while waiting for another job to surface now

will lead to low self esteem, lowering bank accounts and

a more difficult Autumn and Christmas. All in all I would

take the job.

My house seems to constantly have a negative

energy about it, my partner is quite a negative

person anyway and so this just makes it worse, is

there anything I can do to make it better?

Debs

There are some people who only seem happy when they

are making others miserable, don’t get drawn into this

because misery breeds misery, trying to make a negative

person positive is very hard, but sometimes negativity

comes from low self esteem, with these people having to

make others feel bad so that they themselves feel bigger

and better.. Put a salt lamp in the house, smudge the

house with sage, and when arguments happen, try to

move away from them. Eventually you will feel when

they are coming and be able to avoid them, rather than

being part of them.

I run my own business and have been trying to

recruit some staff for a while now. I am finding it

very difficult to find the right person although I have

just had someone apply recently, they look very

good on paper, are they as good in reality?

Jessica

Not quite as good in reality, Jessica but they have the

sense to know what you want, which is at least a start,

the cards suggest with a little involvement alongside

you, they would fill the position admirably, but shouldn’t

at first be left to their own devices, until they have

settled in.

I am married with two children and think that

maybe another child would make our family

complete although my husband disagrees, what do

you see happening for me?

Joanna

The pregnancy could go ahead if you were adamant, but

your partner is at the time in his life where he begins to

want to be able to see that he has some time with you

and you alone, sometime in the not so distant future, so

that you can both follow the original plan that you had

when you started your life together.

He cannot handle more early mornings and sleepless

nights, and for the last few years he has slowly felt that

he was getting more of you back as the demands of the

children were lessened.

Basically the cards tell me that if you were insistent you

could have your other child, but you would be unlikley

to have the relationship with your husband that you

have now.

The future as it pans out now, (without you insisting on

change) has no more children for you, but still a good,

fulfilling and happy future.


There has been a lot of talk of ghosts this

month, and television programmes and

films are immensely popular in this genre.

So what differs between spiritual

connection, and hauntings?

A spiritual connection is where a medium connects with

someone by choice, and shows proof of continuance of

existence after death, with a spirit crossing over the

divide between life and death to make contact with

loved ones. Mediums will often seek connection

through something which the person who has ‘passed

over’ has had a personal feel for in life, so many will ask

for a photograph, or something that the loved one has

written or owned.

A ghostly haunting is different in that the spirit dos not

‘return’ to this earthly realm, but has not crossed over to

the light, and is in effect trapped this side of death in a

spiritual twilight zone. Many ghosts have been spoken

of for centuries, described as performing in the same

way by people lifetimes apart, as if they had been

viewing the hauntings together. These ghosts are

somehow trapped as a record of an event within the

essence of land or a building, often by a traumatic death,

or a feeling that they have not finished a life task.

Building work or land excavation can often stir up a

string of ghostly happenings from a previously dormant

ghost.

These enlightened days, many households which have

encountered ghostly happenings will just accept their

visitors, like some kind of badly behaved uncle at a

wedding, but others who cannot get over the realms of

fear which can set in with the cold spots encountered in

homes, and things moving of their own accord, or

appearing from nowhere with clatters and bangs, or of

course the sound of footsteps when no one else is

around, will choose to have a home cleared of spirits, for

a families peace of mind.

This is usually done with sage, incense, salt and prayer

for the spirit to see the light.

Sometimes accompanied by the ringing of bells and , if

the spirit is difficult to remove demands for it to leave in

the name of a deity.

Houses which have had spirits removed can however

seem a little empty at first, so the suggestion to fill the

home with happy people and new feelings is a way to

counteract this rather emotionless feeling.

At Sanctuary we have three residents ‘ghosts’ not

counting my spirit guides, including a blonde Edwardian

lady in a blue silk dress, a young lad, and a gentleman in

a leather apron.

The psychic awareness classes which I run are often

waylaid by the sound of footprints walking heavily on

the floors above, sounding so normal that we have had

to prove to our classes that no human foot was in the

building of the locked business above us.

Personally I feel that if spirits are not chained to this

earth, the diversity that they add to an otherwise

normal life is worth a few heart stopping moments. I

would be very sad to see a world without its haunting

apparitions and Ghosts.

71

Affinity Magazine August 2012_Layout 1 copy 17/06/2012 06:40 Page 69

Sun 1st July – Thur 30th AugustSummer Opening Season at Althorp

Althorp is delighted to welcome visitors to explore the

house, stroll through the park and relax in the beautiful

gardens. Explore nineteen rooms in the house, including

some of the Spencer Family’s private apartments.

Discover magnificent interiors and one of Europe’s

finest private collections of furniture, paintings and

photographs, and ceramics - the result of one family’s

uninterrupted occupation for over 500 years.

Open daily from 11am - 5pm

Adult Day Ticket: £13.00. Concession Day Ticket:

£11.00.

Althorp, Northamptonshire NN7 4HQ

Sun 1st JulyBedford Armed Forces Day - 10am – 4pm

Step back into the 1940’s. Come along and see a parade

of WWII military and civilian vehicles parade from De

parys avenue at 10.30am along with veterans, cadet

forces and lead by pipes and drums. There will be a

static display on Harpur square in Bedford along with

musical entertainment plus lots more.

Sun 1st JulyGrimm Fairy Tales – 5.30pm

If you go into the woods this summer... The Brothers

Grimm spin tales of wicked witches, talking animals,

plucky maidens and dashing adventurers in this

deliciously dark and thrillingly inventive open-air show

for adults and children alike.

Box office: 01832 205358

Lyveden New Bield, Nr Oundle Northants PE8 5AT

Mon 2nd – Sat 7th JulyMurder on the Nile

Milton Keynes Theatre

Now in its seventh sensational year, the Agatha Christie

Theatre Company presents a stylish new production of

the Queen of crime’s classic thriller Murder On The Nile.

On board a steamer, cruising under the scorching

Egyptian sun, honeymooners Simon Mostyn and his

wealthy socialite wife Kay find themselves being

pursued by an old flame of the newly-wedded groom.

Then tragedy strikes.

www.atgtickets/Miltonkeynes / 0844 871 76532

Fri 6th – Sun 8th JulyFormula 1 Santander British Grand Prix

Fans can look forward to another weekend full of great

racing, awesome entertainment and maybe even a Brit

on the podium!

www.silverstone.co.uk or call 0844 3728 300.

Sat 7th JulyRoald Dahl Festival and Roald Dahl Games

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this year’s Roald Dahl

Festival will be the biggest yet!

01296 585206

Sat 7th JulyLangford Family Fete 1pm – 4.30pm

A great day out for the family, with the usual Craft stalls,

Children’s rides, Barbecue, Magic show, Dance and

Sports displays (this year including a Tennis fun

afternoon), Trade displays, Bouncy castle, Licensed bar,

food stalls and other refreshments and many other

attractions

Sat 7th – Sun 8th JulyWimbledon

The Embankment Hotel, Bedford

Screening of the big matches on our big screen as soon

as the tournament starts. Why not get into the sporting

spirit? Turn up to any game in tennis whites and we’ll

give you a FREE glass of Pimm’s.

Ladies' Singles Final is on Saturday 7th July.

Men's Singles Final is on Sunday 8th July

Sat 7th – Sun 8th JulyBedfordshire County Show 9.30am – 6.00pm

The Mansion House, Old Warden Park

This show boasts a wealth of attractions and fantastic

entertainment for all the family including animal shows,

clay shooting, archery, falconry, funfair, dog show, crafts

and much more

www.bedfordshirecountyshow.co.uk

Sun 8th JulyOlympic Torch Runs Along The Embankment

Join us at The Embankment Hotel in Bedford for tea,

coffee and delicious bacon baps on the patio between

8am and 12pm.

Sun 8th JulyMG Saloon Day 10am

Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome

Static car show, organised by MG ‘M’ Group and MGCC

Zed Register The national event dedicated to MG, Austin

and Rover models of car, old and new.

£8 per car

72

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

What’s OnJuly 2012

DA20

Entr Pay in a £5pp d £15pp Additio Tickets £6pp d £20pp Additio kids un to purc to kids

Kids Bunge Rodeo Bounc Bounc Face p Puppe

Refr Food S Bar Cockta Dema This ye


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

Sun 8th JulyCastle Ashby Gardens - Open Garden for NGS

25-acres within a 10,000 acre estate of both formal and

informal gardens, incl Italian gardens with orangery and

arboretum with lakes, all dating back to the 1860s.

Admission £5, Children £4.50 (Children U10 free).

01604 695200

Sun 8th JulyBromham Show 12.30pm - 5pm

Come along to our annual village show and enjoy all the

fun of traditional village show activities. The Bedford

Pipe & Drum Band, mini Olympics, mini football and

much more. On the field – large craft marquee, birds of

prey, children’s bouncy inflatables, classic cars, food

outlets, trade and commercial stands and for a second

time the popular ‘get creative’ section, where boys and

Dads can buy and build a Spitfire Airfix kit with a prize

awarded for the builder of the day. A very special event

will be a flypast by a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Spitfire aircraft, something not to be missed.

www.bromhamshow.com

Fri 13th JulyWham Tribute Night

Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa

Enjoy an evening of floor fillers with popular hits such

as Young Guns, Club Tropicana, Bad Boys, I’m Your Man

and Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, to make the perfect

party night out with the UK’s No.1 Wham tribute night.

Dance the night away and enjoy the fun, from just £49

per person

www.whittleburyhall.co.uk / 0845 400 0003

Mon 16th – Tues 17th JulyThe Gruffalo

Bedford Corn Exchange

Voted the nation’s number one bedtime story by BBC

Radio 2 listeners,

www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk 01234 269519

Sat 21st – Sun 22nd JulyBedford River Festival

Staged on the picturesque Victorian Embankment,

Promenade, the River Great Ouse and in Russell Park,

the Festival is a unique combination of the carnival, the

musical, and of course, the nautical!

Fri 27th JulyThe Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular

It’s fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool” come to

town, with a sensational show featuring the greatest

music of the 20th Century. Wonderful memories of

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Junior in a

fabulous production that continues to be successful all

over the world.

www.atgtickets/miltonkeynes 0844 871 76532

Fri 27th July Olympic Opening Ceremony Party – 9pm – 1am

The Embankment, Bedford

Join us for a New Year's Eve Style British Themed Fancy

Dress Opening Ceremony Party to mark the start of the

Olympics. Dress to impress or come in fancy dress - the

choice is yours. The opening ceremony will be showing

on the big screen TV and there’ll be a Best of British

buffet to tuck into, as well as great entertainment from

the Take That Tribute Band

Places are limited so please call today to reserve yours

on the guest list;

01234 261332

Sun 29th JulyNRSA Hot Rod Supernationals 10am – 5pm

The Mansion House, Old Warden Park

This is a must for UK hot rod enthusiasts. Showcasing

some of the most unique hot rod cars in the country

along with great family entertainment, including a

funfair, trade stalls and bar. You are certain to have a

fantastic day out.

Adults £8, Children over 5 £4

DAXTONBURY2012 13th & 14th of July

Daxtonbury is back again for the 4th year running & this year its better than ever!This is a charitable event held in memory of our dear friend, Chris Kelly who we lost in 2009All proceeds will be donated towards a Cancer related Charity Last year we raised an amazing £2690.54. Sadly its hard to find anyone who’s lives have not beenaffected by this disease in some way so lets try & beat last years Total... Lifes for living so come & live it!

Live MusicDJs Shooting Range Come & test your reflexes with our instructors: Clay pigeon shooting Rifle shooting Catapult shooting

Dog Assault Course Bring your own dog or borrow one of ours & see if you Can work the dog around the course or if the dog ends Up working you around the course!

Novice Dog Scurry Put your dog through its paces & see how quickly they Can retrieve- Non gun dogs welcome too!

Quad Bike Course

Entrance cost per person: Pay in advance for discounted ticket price £5pp day pass £15pp weekend pass inc camping Additional £20 per caravan Tickets bought on the gate: £6pp day pass £20pp weekend pass inc camping Additional £25 per caravan. kids under 12 have free entrance but need to purchase a wrist band for unlimited access to kids area- Wristbands are £5pp

Your Help We need support from local businesses and donations From people to raise the funds for holding the Daxtonbury festival; all profits are donated to a Cancer related charity. Please make donations/sponsorships Payable to:

DAXTONBURY CHRIS KELLYCANCER TRUST And send to: Pauline Cossar 13 Pilgrims way Bedford MK42 9TU TEL: 07762748745 or 01234 403678 Email: [email protected] THANK YOU

How to find us: Airfield Road, Podington NN29 7XA Drive to the end of airfield road, past Santa Pods Main gates & follow arrows for aprox half a mile To the Daxtonbury Venue.

Kids Area Includes: Bungee run Rodeo bull Bouncy castles Bouncy assault course Face painting Puppet shows

Refreshments Food Stand Bar Cocktail bar- Following popular Demand THE LOVE BOAT returns This year!

Pleases check our facebook page for all winners of

the June Bonanza Giveaway

www.facebook.com/pages/Affinity-Magazine

SUMMER AT

THE

EMBANKMENT


A quiet night in.......

One fateful summer morning in 1986, two eleven-year-old

girls meet for the first time and by the end of the day are

charged with murder.

Twenty-five years later, journalist Kirsty Lindsay is reporting on a

series of sickening attacks on young female tourists in a seaside

town when her investigation leads her to interview funfair

cleaner Amber Gordon. For Kirsty and Amber, it's the first time

they've seen each other since that dark day when they were

just children. But with new lives - and families - to protect, will

they really be able to keep their wicked secret hidden?

I get through some great books but this one really blew me

away. I won’t tell you what happens next but I will tell you

that I could not put this book down. It is full of unexpected

twists and turns that will leave you gaping at Alex Marwood’s

ingenuity. This is a psychological thriller which jumps off the page,

grabs you and takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is your typical

awkward teenager, struggling to find his way in

the world. Abandoned by his parents as a boy, he's

been raised by his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and aunt

May (Sally Field). Like many teens, he's also dealing with

the joys and pains of first love, having fallen for beautiful

schoolmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). But as Peter is

about to discover, he is anything but a normal teen.

Finding a mysterious briefcase left by his father, he

unravels the secret of his destiny as Spider-Man and

embarks on a quest that leads to sinister Dr. Curt Connors

(Rhys Ifans). The stage is set for a spectacular showdown

with Connors' terrifying alter-ego - The Lizard! British

actor Andrew Garfield brings a completely fresh

approach to Spider-Man opposite his real-life girlfriend

Emma Stone in this incredible reboot.

Release Date: 6th July 2012

Mark Wahlberg leads the cast of Contraband, a

fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out

of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and

the family he'll do anything to protect.

Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of

crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry

Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs

(Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he

does best-- running contraband--to settle Andy's debt. Chris

is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with

the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), for one

final run to Panama and back, hoping to return with

millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and

with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty

skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal

network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his

wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.

Release Date: 9th July 2012

DVD release

Latestcinemarelease

74


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”

Affinity Magazine July 2012 Cover_Layout 1 copy 14/06/2012 16:44 Page 2

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

July 2012

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