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things to set your season

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things to set your season

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THE SUMMER EDITION

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THE SUMMER EDITION

5 hotholidaylocations

hotholidaylocations

hold the perfect bbq

suns out buns out

dress to impress

electric dreamshands on with the latest gadgets

electric dreamshands on with the latest gadgets

rock the latest style

dress to impressrock the latest

style

suns out buns outhold the perfect bbq

issu

e #6

june

201

5 £3

.99

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Hello,

And thank you for your continued support of AG, we hope to make something special. With summer just around the corner, we hope this issue will give you a few tips on how to make your summer more action packed and interesting, as well as our normal monthly features. This issue also covers the recent General Election and what it now means for each of the main party leaders in a bit of an idiots guide to politics.

This month’s issue will also feature how to survive a festival this summer, a must read guide for those who are going to their first ever festival this year, and also tells you exactly how to have the perfect BBQ. In this issue you will also find out what all the fuss is about with this summer’s latest gadget from Apple, the iWatch, as well as all the other latest tech reviewed, along with this summer’s up-coming blockbusters. Also, keep your eyes peeled as there’s a chance to win a year’s subscription of AG, as well as tickets, travel, and spending money to this year’s Silverstone Grand Prix. Thank you for your support, and see you next issue.

C.Rose Charlie RoseEditor.

JUNE: CONTENTS

- Editor -Charlie Rose

- writer -keegan woodhall

- DESIGNER -HARRY WHITE

- WRITER -JOSH STEELS

Spending the summer...

Enjoying the perfect bbq

Spending the summer...

Going to festivals, living the dream

Spending the summer...

Balling day in, day out.

Spending the summer...

Chilling by the pool.

REGULARS:READER PICTURES & STORIES.......................4

AUNTIE HARRY..............................................7

KEEGAN’S TOP TIPS......................................10

AG REVIEWS.................................................26

AG SPORTS...................................................28

AG FITNESS..................................................30

15

21

10

AG’s Perfect BBQ

SUMMER TECH

FESTIVAL GUIDE

12FASHION

Postbag...

Dear AGThere is one thing I am looking forward to above and beyond anything else this summer, and that is the release of Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron. As a huge movie buff, I massively enjoy reading your reviews of the month page, and after reading your preview of this movie, my excitement for it has doubled. Seeing all of my favourite childhood superheroes such as; Iron Man, Captain Ameri-ca, and the Hulk, up on the big screen is going to be an incredible way to kick start the summer. If it’s half as good as the first film, I think I am in for a treat.

Benjamin, 18Derry

The monthly page dedicated to you – the AG readers. Send us your photos, letters and tweets so we give you the fame you deserve. Email us at : aspiringgentleman@future.com Instagram : AspiringGent Twitter : @AspiringGent

Roger! What a fantastic image, we’re thinking of relocating our AG offices over to Barbados now because of it! We hope you had time to partake in some of the activities on offer, on your holiday, outside of your room. Glad you’re a fan, without people like you we couldn’t keep AG going! So thanks!

Dear AG,

Last issue you guys asked for readers to send in some of our best holiday snaps for this upcoming summer issue – so here’s mine. I took this on my honeymoon last year in Barbados. From what I remember it was an amazing seven days, not that I left my hotel room much, if you get what I’m saying. Anyway, hope this makes the next edition and keep up the great work, I love reading each month!

Roger, 26Plymouth

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Dear AG I’m not normally a subscriber to magazines, however I have just signed up to have my issue of AG delivered to my door every month from now on! As a sports fan I always enjoy reading your interesting articles in the sports sections, even more so than most of the top sports mags! I particularly enjoyed your F1 preview in the March edition. My money’s on Hamilton to do it again! Hopefully you can continue to deliver brilliant sporting knowledge and interesting articles.

Gary, 30Colchester

Dear AGI’m coming towards the end of my final year at University so it’s fair to say I’m planning on letting of some steam this summer. Three of my course mates and I have booked an all-inclusive week away to Amsterdam this July and we are hugely excited! This will be my second visit to the city, so I’m looking forward to acting as tour guide for my buddies in this amazing city. We’ve memorised Keegan’s top tips: how to survive in a foreign city, from last month’s issue, and we’re counting down the days! It’s the only thing getting me through these final few weeks of Uni!

Steven, 21Chandlers Ford

NEXT MONTH’S PRIZE...Here at AG we know we wouldn’t be anything without our loyal readers. So each month we look to hand out prizes to one of our readers who grab’s our attention – whether it be a funny or sad story or just a stunning photograph you’ve snapped while you were out and about. Next month’s ‘letter of the month’ winner will be getting their hands on a brand spanking new Sony Playstation 4. But our love doesn’t stop there, we’re also going to throw in a free years subscription to AG so you can keep up to date with the latest style, entertainment and food tips that any aspiring gent needs.

Dear AGFor the first time in years I won’t be going abroad this summer time. But I don’t mind, as I’ve recently just moved into a new home with my new fiancé Luke. We’ve been together for three years, and he finally proposed to me at Christmas time, I feel like the luckiest woman alive. We’re planning to set a date for the wedding sometime in July of next year, and with the recent move, big spending this summer is out of the question. But I’m looking forward to afternoons in the back garden with a glass of wine and a good book. Luke’s parents also own a caravan in Cornwall, so we plan to spend the odd weekend there soaking up the sun and relaxing on the beach. Although I don’t think I’ll hear much from Luke, no doubt he will constantly have an issue of AG in his hands!

Alice, 24Worcester

LETTER OF THE MONTH WINNER!!!This month’s letter of the month really pulled at our heartstrings a little – yes it melted the manliest of hearts – So well done Alice, and congratulations on the engagement. See the swanky Panasonic Entertainment system, on it’s way to you now, as an early wedding present from us at AG.

On your left: Tweet sent in from Mark Leggett - some powerful wisdom there!

On your right: Dan Richardsonrocking a rather questionable look on instagram. Can’t say we’ll be featuring it in our style pages Dan, but top work anyway.

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Auntie Harry Q: Harry, I hate going on dates, as I never really know what to wear. I’ve never met this girl before, and I want to make a good first impression. What should I wear?

A: Dan its simple it depends where you are going; if it’s for dinner, then its got to be a jacket or a smart jumper, if you’re going to the cinema then something comfy (women love a practical guy), but always remember to dress to impress.

Dan, 25

Q: I’ve been with this girl now for two years, and we really like each other. She’s moved into my place and we’re thinking about trying for a baby. Do you think it would be too soon to ask for her hand in marriage?

A: Simon let’s be honest you are no spring chicken, if she makes you happy then go for it! Plus your trying for a baby that surely shows the commitment is there? Good Luck!

Simon, 36

Q: There’s this woman who I’ve started to see. We’re really into each other, but there’s one thing bothering me, my mates really don’t get on with her, and she doesn’t get on with them. What do I do?

A: Jeff, I think you should see how it goes over time, and if you really like this girl then you should stick at it. If your friends don’t like her that’s okay, they will just need to accept that this is the girl you really like and want to be with.

Geoff, 27

Tip of the Month :As your Nan might say; worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Face your worries head on and you will often find a solution.

Q: Harry, I love my partner dearly but I can no longer cope with his dislike of soap, water and clean clothing. The idea of sex with him is becoming repulsive because of this. I’ve tried dropping subtle hints, and even just being straight with him, but nothing seems to work. I don’t want to ask him to leave, but I may have to do so if he cannot respect me enough to spend 5 minutes in the shower. What should I do?

A: It’s simple, give him an ultimatum. Either he starts washing and takes responsibility for his hygiene, or you should hightail it out of there.

Steph, 26

Q: I’ve recently transferred universities and moved into a shared accommodation with four other guys who I had never met before. They are all great guys and I get along with them well. But every time the subject of sex comes up I find myself lying about my sex life to fit in with them. I fear if I tell them I am a virgin they will think less of me, but it doesn’t fell right keeping up with this lie.

A: John it’s not a big deal but you know what young lads are like. If you feel compelled to tell them, there’s a possibility there may be some harmless ribbing, but ultimately if they really are good friends, they will respect your honesty and appreciate your situation.

John, 21

The Conservatives won a 12 seat majority in parliament. Labour were almost wiped out by SNP in Scotland and the Liberal Democrats

suffered huge losses.

Tick in the box

The Conservatives were victorious in the 2015 general election after securing a 331 seat majority. As a nation we’ve had five years of food banks and rising numbers of people becoming homeless due to bedroom tax and decided, let’s have five more years of that. David Cameron said he hopes to govern the interests of the whole of the UK. At the top of his list of priorities is building a death star, and killing Harry Potter. The Tories have done a brilliant job in power. The UK has suffered the worst fall in living standards since the Second World War. Although downgrading from Sainsbury’s to Asda isn’t quite as awful as your house being bombed.

It was an atrocious night for Labour. The result in Scotland saw SNP win 56 out of 59 seats. Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy was unseated, and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander lost out to a 20-year-old student. Alex Salmond also won his seat. Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, lost his seat to the Tories, and George Galloway lost in Bradford West. Ed Miliband stood down after apologising for what was “a very difficult and disappointing night” for the

Labour party. If elected leader Ed vowed to make us ‘one nation’, unfortunately, that nation was Greece. Perhaps the country wasn’t ready to be left in the hands of a man whose idea of passion is undoing the top button of his pyjamas.

Nigel Farage lost in Thanet South to Conservative Craig Mackinlay. Farage smiled ahead of the result but he became sombre as he realised he was defeated. Candidates were upstaged with gags by independent rival comedian Al Murray as the results came in. Mr Murray picked up 318 votes.

Farage once said he doesn’t want Romanians as neighbours. And he calls himself British? The rest of us don’t even talk to our neighbours. Ukip also failed to win Thurrock and Mark Reckless lost Rochesterand Strood, but Douglas Carswell held in Clacton. As he promised, Farage did hand in his resignation after failing to win the South Thanet seat, however the party refused to accept it. This does differ him from the Westminster elite; they only break their pre-election promises after being elected.

Nick Clegg resigned as the Lib Dems lost their deposits across the country. Other prominent Lib Dems to fall included Vince Cable, Danny Alexander, David Laws, Simon Hughes, Charles Kennedy, Lynne Featherstone and Ed Davey.

The Lib Dems are now becoming a political irrelevance right across the UK now, after being a political irrelevance in coalition meetings.

As Deputy prime minister, Clegg wanted to raise the national speed limit to 80mph, presumably so that his motorcade could pass through any British city without being destroyed by angry locals.

Seeing Cameron and Clegg united despite their warring parties was reminiscent of Romeo & Juliet, it’s just a shame it didn’t end with them killing themselves.

Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Amber Rudd, John Whittingdale and Robert Halfon were all given roles in Cameron’s first all Conservative cabinet. Many Tories want Boris to lead them in the next election. Many probably wouldn’t trust him to lead them into a revolving door. It’s been said that Boris Johnson doesn’t have the skills to become prime minister. He doesn’t seem to have the skills to get dressed, but it happens.

Ed Miliband went - The Labour leader resigned over his party’s heavy losses. “I’m so sorry for all those colleagues who lost their seats,” he said, in a dignified speech that also included some jokes about his own image and “the most unlikely cult of the 21st Century, Milifandom”.

Nick Clegg went - The Lib Dem leader quit over his party’s near wipeout: they fell from 57 seats to 8. Listing the party’s achievements in office, he said: “I hope our losses can be endured with a little selfless dignity.”

Nigel Farage went…and then came back again - Having failed to win Thanet South, he said he would fulfil his promise to quit as Ukip leader. However Farage withdrew his resignation just four days after stand-ing down, following the party’s refusal to accept his resignation.

David Cameron went...to see the Queen - to ask permission to form a new government. After hiss Conservatives secured an outright majority.

9

AG’s Top 5 European City Breaks

Paris Paris is an alluring destination for a city break. A weekend in the French capital gives you plenty of time to take in the city’s amazing culture. Whether you’re enjoy-ing the countless café terraces, the famous exhibitions, or the many classic sights, such as; the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees, and the Louvre. Paris’s relatively compact size means that many places are easy to visit on foot, the best way to see the city. A standard weekend if you travel by the Eurostar will cost on average £200 - £220 per person. Aspiring Gent recommends €300-€400 spending money.

VeniceVenice is a city in which tourists normally outnumber locals, but it never loses its charm despite this. The summer brings visitors in their numbers, which is no surprise considering the sheer loveliness of this gorgeous city that seems miracu-lously built on water. Venice’s churches and museums offer a variety of traditional beauties, and there is also a vibrant contemporary art scene. In the evenings you can unwind in one of the cities lively neighbourhood wine bars. Flights and hotel ac-commodation will cost between approximately £150-£250 if you look hard enough for the cheap prices. Between €300-€350 pocket money would be ideal

DublinThe Irish capital is steeped in stylistic architectural heritage. This attractive seaside location is filled with some wonderful museums and galleries, as well as a robust pub culture. There are many activities to dive into during your time in the city, for ex-ample, taking a day trip out to the stunning coastline, before enjoying the colourful Celtic nightlife amongst the lively crowds, a perfect way to take in the city’s person-ality. After spending £120-£180 for your time in this attractive city, you’ll realise one visit just isn’t enough. You should be looking to bring about €300 worth of drinking money

PragueThis compact city of 1.2 million is divided by the picturesque green river and linked by stone bridges. Prague truly transforms in the summer time, as people stop to take in the sunshine and the sight of sprouting leaves in one of the many beer gar-dens. You’re also in the gravitational pull of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral even if you decide it’s best to commune with the Czech history in a pub in the me-dieval Staré Město district to sample the finest Czech beers. Weekend city breaks to Prague can be found for between £100-£200, and you should be looking to get hold of about 500 Czech Korunas for your ventures.

BarcelonaBarcelona an excellent destination for a weekend city break as it is the perfect combination of a relaxed pace, unbeatable food, endless sunshine and beautiful designed cultural attractions. A day spent admiring these can be topped off by relaxing on one of the city’s seven beaches. Take in Catalonian culture at its finest by making an evening of venturing through the many shops, bars and restaurants of Las Ramblas. You can find a cheap trip to this famous Spanish city for approximate-ly £100-£200. AG suggests scraping together €300 for the weekend.

Paris, Venice, Dublin....Oh My

Once again the festival season is right around the corner, and we could not be more ready for it. Ready to leave behind the constraints of everyday life at the gates and emerge yourself in the mud, booze, and incredible live music. However, there are things you can do wrong that can make the experience less enjoyable. This basic festival survival guide will ensure that whether you’ll be flashing a Glastonbury, or Reading & Leeds festival wristband to your work colleagues after your long weekend away, the memories will last a lifetime.

LocationArriving early is essential if you want to have the pick of the best camping spots. If you are in a large group, you’ll need to set up in an area where there is plenty of room for everybody’s tents. Pitching your tent near a visible and recognisable landmark is very important, when you’re stumbling back from the arena in the dark you’ll need something to help identify where your tent is amongst the thousands of others. Finally, choose a location as far away from the toilets as possible, if you’re near enough to catch a whiff of what god awful smell is created by the second day you’re in for a miserable weekend. Camping chair

There is not a piece of equipment more important than a camping chair. Have it above anything else in your list of priorities. It can even be used as currency. Everybody will be out to get your chair, so make sure you keep a tight lock on it.

Wet wipesBring them. You will wake up in the morning, you will have a slight throbbing in your head, you will be stinking to high heaven, and you will feel absolutely disgusting. But once you give yourself a proper wipe down with these bad boys, you will feel like a completely new person.

Keegan's Top Tips: Festival Edition

Catching some rays

I’d give that a while!

11

Wet wipesBring them. You will wake up in the morning, you will have a slight throbbing in your head, you will be stinking to high heaven, and you will feel absolutely disgusting. But once you give yourself a proper wipe down with these bad boys, you will feel like a completely new person.

Water Keep yourselves hydrated people. Especially if it’s an incredibly hot day, and you’ve been slamming back cans of Strongbow all day, water is essential to prevent yourself from passing out. Ideally, you should keep a large bottle in your tent, and a smaller one for day time adventures. Also, group morning trips to the fill up taps are a great opportunity to fill each other in on the night’s

Get Over ItYour personal space will be invaded by strangers. You will be in the very close proximity of large, topless, sweaty men if you watch any act in a tent. Your personal hygiene levels will deteriorate dramatically. You will queue for ages to use disgusting smelly toilets, relax; nobody has ever caught cholera from a festival portaloo. And you will pay over the odds for anything you purchase, whether it be a bottle of water, a hotdog, or a festival t-shirt. Just get over it.

Festival Edition

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#SummerStyleThe summer is almost upon us and it’s important to look your best, in this section fashion guru Harry will be going through the summer must wears. This going to be a hot one, so in this edition we have a selection of clothes that will be perfect for the hot weather.

Blue chino shortsASOS£35

Adidas palm trefoil tee in white

Urban Outfitters£35

Shorts

Denim shortsNext£20

Tees

Primary sweat shortsSuperdry

£34.99

Chunk Wookies bubble tee

Urban Outfitters£30

Regardless of the season T-shirts are essential, in the summer they are they are more so than ever, if its a just a BBQ with your mates then a T shirt is fine, if it’s a work do then a polo is both smart and sophisicated.

As everyone knows shorts are a vital part of summer style. I’ve chosen a collection of different styles of shorts; chino, denim and sweat. Each can keep you in style this summer with this added bonus of keeping you cool.

Polo Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, Newport Navy

John Lewis£70

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Evening Wear Although the sun is going in it’s still important to dress for the sun, so stay away from the dark winter colours and keep the summer going with a light jumper or hoody.

Shoes/SunglassesIn the hot weather, choice of shoes is important, you don’t want to be wearing socks as it will be hot, so boat shoes or flip flops are the best option. When it comes to sunglasses I always go for wayfarer style as they look classy and not to shady...

Fine-Knitted

jumper

H&M

£14.99

Grey marl cotton zip through hoodie

River Island

£20

Solid tailored & originals breton stripe knitted jumper with zip side neck

ASOS

£35

Sperry topsider bahama boat shoes

ASOS

£60.00

Havaianas

havaianas-store.com

£18.00

Black tinted lens retro sunglasses

River Island

£14.99

Oakley 57 Silver

Sunglasshut.com£90.00

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Don't Burn Your Bangers

Summer is nearly upon us, and what’s better than getting a group of your nearest and dearest together and having a great British BBQ? Well, us Brits love BBQs, there’s no question about it, but are they really that good? A few burnt sausages, and a couple of burgers cooked to charcoal along with some luke-warm beer is what we are accustom to, and that’s fine, but why not this year up our BBQ game? It’s easier than you think to have the perfect BBQ, and we’ll show you how…

The Grill

New York 2 Burner Gas

Supplier: HomebaseBurners: TwoHow many burgers can it cook?: 12

£69.99

Outback Meteor 6 Burner Gas BBQ

Supplier: HomebaseBurners: Six

How many burgers can it cook?: 28

£449.99

Weber Genesis E330 3-BurnerSupplier: John Lewis Burners: Three

How many burgers can it cook?: 30

£1,399.99

First of all, you can’t have a BBQ without the actual grill, and BBQ grills come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You want to avoid the cheap £2.99 disposable BBQ’s at all costs. For one or two people who just want a few sausages and the odd burg-er, it’s ideal, but we’re cooking for more than two people, so an ample size grill is needed. Go for a middle of the market BBQ with a decent size grill. Cheap BBQ’s won’t give you a large enough grill, where as a top end model can cost hundreds of pounds. Try these for example….

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So we have got the grill, and now we need the food. Burg-ers and sausages are a classic, but why not try something else. Glazed chicken, fish, steak, ribs, vegetable kebabs, homemade coleslaw/potato salad, grilled corn, couscous, mixed salad, grilled fruit… there’s more to the BBQ than just burgers and sausages, and if you don’t really want to venture out of what you know, try flavored sausages, or making your own burgers from scratch. But to those who do want to venture and try something new, here’s a great way to make the classic BBQ steak.

1) Preheat the BBQ grill, and lightly brush both sides of the steak in olive oil to prevent it from sticking to the grill. This is better than brushing the grill as it prevents the oil burning on the grill, creating a sticky residue, as this can then burn, creating a lot of smoke. 2) Season the steak with salt and thick ground pepper just before cooking, as salt can dry out the meat and draw out the juices. Cook season side down first to seal in the flavor, and then season the top side just before turning. For steak 1.5cm-thick:

So we have got the grill and the food sorted, but there’s still one massive component that us Brits never overlook – the drink!Cold drinks at a BBQ are essential, as no one really likes a warm can of beer, but we’ve just become a custom to the taste of it over the years. Before we talk about what drinks you should be serving, let’s look at three products which will able to keep fluids cold, even in the hottest summer’s sun.

DrinkFood

Rare - 1-1 1/2 minutes each sideMedium - 2-3 minutes each side Well done - 3-4 minutes each side

For steak 2-3cm-thick:Rare - 2-3 minutes each sideMedium - 4-5 minutes each sideWell done - 5-6 minutes each side

Tongs testRare - softMedium - slightly firmer and springyWell done - very firm with no spring

3) Once cooked to the desired toughness, transfer to a plate and cover in foil for a few minutes. The heat will push the juices to the center of the steak, and evenly spread throughout the meat, making the meat more suc-culent and tender.

For steak marinade ideas, and more simple yet delicious recipes check out www.aspiringgent.co.uk/food Remember, don’t be scared to branch out and try cooking new things, you never know, you and your guests might just enjoy it.

TipOnly turn the meat once, as turning too frequent can see the juices escape and

dry the meat out.

Now we have got the drinks cool, let’s talk about that type of drinks you need to serve. Before you start buying your drinks, think about who is coming – if it’s going to be mainly family orientated,don’t buy vodka +red bull and Jagermiester. Lager, cider, a selection of wines, and Pimms are all classics of the BBQ, and you cannot go wrong with these. Bare in mind, if it is the family coming round, you should know their preference of drinks, and if they have children, make sure you have soft drinks on hand. If it’s your friends popping over, you’ll know what they want.

Garden Trug

RRP: £6.49Homebase

Icetime 30L Cooler Box

RRP: £40.00Blacks

Ice Core Beer Dispenser

Drinkstuff.com

£24.99

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Chillsner beer chiller £11.99http://www.menkind.co.uk/

So the drinks are being drunk and you think you can copy Tom Cruise in cocktail, here is a quick and easy recipe you make from the comfort of your garden.

You will need:

120ml pineapple juice60ml white rum60ml coconut creamBlender Measuring glass/jugIce Optional: Slice of pineapple or cherry for garnish

1) Measure out the pineapple juice, rum, and coconut cream into the blender. 2) Make sure the cocktail is well blended, and then serve with ice.

There you have it, it’s literally that easy to make your own piña colada, so sit back relax and soak up a taste Puerto Rico in your back garden.

Drink

TipIf you want to cheat,

you can buy pre-made cocktails in most

supermarkets.

EntertainmentFood has been ate, drinks have been drank, there’s only one thing left – the entertainment, and there’s nothing better than having a few tunes playing on a summers eve with your friends or family.

Put the acoustic guitar away, you’re not Ed Sheeran. Here are three great iPod docks which you can easily hook your phone/iPod up to and let the music lull you into the evening.

TipWhen possible, use paper plates/bowels. This can be as something as little as keeping the bread rolls on, or keeping the coleslaw in, but it will all

add up.

TipInstead of having a plate for each condiment such as lettuce, onions, tomatoes – use a muffin tin. It will save you a lot of table room, and washing up. It’s also handy to keep

sauces in a muffin tin as well.

TipPlace a large bin with a bin bag in an easy to reach place, and a recycling bin near the drinks area – this way it’s easy to

recycle and it’s convenient.

TipFriends/families bringing little ones over? Set up a play area, away from the BBQ, with balls and toys to keep them enter-tained.

TipMake sure there are enough chairs for everyone. There’s nothing worse than having to play musical chairs with your guests. Camping stools or chairs from the house can really make the difference.

TipFind out any allergy or dietary requirements, and always make sure there is a separate BBQ (can be a disposable) for the possibility of vegetarians/

kosher meat eaters.

Logitech Wireless BoomboxAmazon.co.uk

£69.99

Beats By Dr.Dre Pill 2.0 Currys.co.uk

£119.99

Bose Soundlink Currys.co.uk

169.95

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Ingredients:

1 small onion500g good-quality beef mince1 egg1 tbsp vegetable oil4 burger buns

Optional: Sliced tomatoMayonnaise/ ketchupLettuceHerbs/spices.

Step 1:Peel the onion and finely slice to small pieces, and put to one side in a bowl. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes for the onion too firm up.

Step 2: Take the onions out of the fridge and empty into a large bowl with egg and vegetable oil. Add herb and spices. Lightly wet your hands and roll the mixture into small balls. Set in the palm of your hand, and squeeze down to flatten into patties about 3cm thick. Make sure all the burgers are the same thickness so that they will cook evenly. Transfer onto a plate, cover with cling film, and leave in the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes.

Step 3:Heat the barbeque to a medium heat. Lightly brush the burgers in vegetable oil, and cook until the meat is brown and ever so slightly charred. Oil the top side of the burger and cook to the same time. To make sure your burgers are cooked all the way through, slightly cut into the middle on one side of the burger to see if the meat is pink or a brown.

Step 4: Transfer from the grill into a bun, serve with your choice of garnishing and/or sauce, and enjoy.

For more great recipe ideas, check out www.aspiringgent.co.uk

Recipe of the Month

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ALL ABOUT THE HARDWARE.

The world of technology is an ever changing place. If you want to enjoy your summer in style, one must be kitted out in the latest gear. Here’s a lowdown on this summers best tech items...

Apple iWatch:

If you want to stay ahead of the game then the iWatch is a top addition to your tech arsenal.

Released in late April the iWatch, surprisingly made by apple, has been a huge hit with consumers. On its first day alone it outsold Android watch sales in one year. The backlog for one of these stretches back until July, so if you want one you best get in line.

It isn’t cheap however. The lowest level watch – Aluminium Sport Edition – will set you back £299. While the higher models stretch up to £8000. Yes that isn’t a typo; you can buy an £8000 iWatch made from gold.

For that kind of money you’ll want your new watch to do more than just tell the time. Luckily the iWatch has a few more features than just a clock face. The watch beams messages and Facebook notifications to your wrist, eliminating the need for you to get your phone out every five minutes to check on what Dave is up to.

The watch also doubles up as a heart monitor, on top of this there are over 1000 third-party apps that are compatible with the new device. These apps can be installed to the built-in 8gb memory – double the size of any Android watch. One downside is that even with a fairly adequate memory size, most users will fill that quickly with pictures and music.

However, compile all of the features with a fairly strong 18 hour battery life and you have yourself a mini iPhone on your wrist.

To summarise, the iWatch is a fantastic addition to any gentleman’s wrist, you’ll reek of style and sophistication if you are rocking one of these this summer, you might have to drop a lot of cash for one, but it’ll be worth it.

GADGETS THROUGH THE AGES...PlayStation One. The console that knocked Nintendo off the top spot. Nowadays the graphics are laughable, but when it debuted in the late 90’s it had gamers in shock. It was the console that started the PlayStation era only surpassed in sales by the PlayStation 2 a few years ago.

ALL ABOUT THE HARDWARE.

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Samsung Galaxy S6The sixth edition of Samsung’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S6 is arguably the best phone on the market for a tech savvy consumer. Sure, the iPhone has the firm hold on the market, but it is one that has been slipping recently, and it’s no wonder why when you look at the S6.

Firstly, hats off to Samsung, the phone is a thing of beauty, some may argue it looks very much like the Iphone 6; but don’t listen to those haters. Boasting 3gb of RAM and as 2.5 ghz processor, you’ll be able to get your tasks done in a flash. Coupled with a 16 mega-pixel camera and you have a powerful piece of tech in your hands.

It is definitely the best phone money can buy at the moment, it might be a little pricey at £575 sim free, but you’ll be able to find it for around £40 a month on most contracts.

Canon EOS 760D Everyone likes a good picture; surely I’m not the only one who hates a blurry photo? The Canon vs Nikon battle will rage on, I’m not willing to wade into this discussion, both companies offer a great range of cameras. From Canon the EOS 760D is the best mid range you can get your hands on at the moment.

Boasting a 24 mega-pixel CMOS sensor, 5 frames per second shooting and a rotating screen, the camera is the best DSLR around for aspiring photographers. It will set you back around £650 but it’s reasonable for a mid-range DSLR with a brilliant range of features.

Sony KD-65X9005BFor those inevitable rainy summer days, where you’re stuck inside with nothing to do, it’s time to make sure you have the ultimate entertainment setup.

You’ll want the best TV to plug your PlayStation or Xbox in to. Whilst there are more expensive TV’s around the Sony KD 65X9005B is probably the best TV for a reasonable price.

It’s priced at around £2800, but before you stop reading, it is a 4K television so it’s future proof and will produce stunning images.

Add that to Sony’s brilliant build in surround sound system and you have an amazing TV for gaming and film. It’s a must have gadget to have at home.

Sony Walkman. Another Sony item, I promise they are not paying us. The Walkman captured a generation, tape cassettes on the go. Endless Duran Duran until your battery ran out. Who needs an Ipod when you can rock one of these down the street – instant swag.

the godfather.The Chuck Norris of mobile phones.

The Nokia 3310 was a game changing mobile phone. Everyone remembers

snake; wasting hours trying not to eat yourself. The phone that if dropped,

would cause a small seismic shift and not end up cracked in two like a

modern iPhone.

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GAMING:

Release Date: 08/05/15Format: PS4 ,Xbox One & PCDeveloper: Slightly Mad StudiosGenre: Racing SimRRP: £39.99 - Amazon UK

After over three years in development, Project Cars has hit the shelves for Playstation 4, Xbox One & PC. Much has been written about the game during its long development stage, but will the game hit top gear? AG game expert Josh Steels has been finding out.

Firstly, Project Cars is one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever played. The version we at AG got our hands on was the Playstation edition - and it is absolutely stunning. The vehicle detail is crazy; each car has been meticulously designed from the cockpit out. Couple this with photo realistic tracks, that arguably look better than their real life counterparts, you can see why this game has gained so much hype over the years. The best time to witness the game’s beauty is during wet races. The changeable weather system programmed in can create some jaw dropping visuals. Racing in the pouring rain at Monza in a Mercedes DTM car was awesome. Rain droplets smudge and splash on the car windscreen as you bellow around the track, but don’t worry you can always switch on your window wipers from your D-Pad if you wish

The games single player modes leave a little to be desired in all honesty. The standard quick race and time trial modes are present, but it’s the games career mode that isn’t as solid as we would have liked. Once you create your driver you choose from a list of driving tiers to begin your career in.

A plus to this is that players are able to immediately step into full blown F1 and LMP1 cars, but for those of us who want to work our way up you can start in karting before progressing through the ranks each season.

The realism is made all the sweeter by the games ingenuous use of camera angles. Nobody really drives in third person mode nowadays do they? It’s all about the cockpit cameras if you really want a life like experience. The games helmet camera is by far the best, making you feel like you’re seeing through the eyes of the driver. You can see the edges of the helmets visor, which moves around as you look towards the next corner. This area is probably where Slightly Mad spent most of their time, remove all the HUD items and stick the game into the helmet mode and you feel truly submersed in the virtual racing world around you.

AI in racing games can be the deal breaker for a lot of gamers. You don’t want to play a game which lets you

breeze past AI controlled cars with ease, but you also don’t want an AI system that drives you off the road as you make the race winning pass either. Well, Project Cars is probably a little more ram you off the road than letting you pass easily. At times during our testing we found cars attempting to close the door on us even if we were already half way down their inside.

The wheel to wheel action was fun whilst driving most cars, but when driving the open wheel formula cars any contact would see you losing a wheel and retiring in most cases.

Overall, Project Cars is the most rounded driving simulator available for next gen consoles right now. While Forza Motorsport probably boasts a large car and track list, it lacks the handling refinement that Project Cars shows off so well. The graphics are miles ahead of anything we have seen so far for the Playstation 4, something that Forza comes nowhere near to either. If you’re looking for a racing sim this summer then this is the game to drive off with.

AG REVIEWS

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MOVIES:

Release Date: 22/04/15Director: Joss WhedonStudio: MarvelStudiosGenre: Sci-fi / ComicCast: Robert Downey Jr , Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner & Scarlet Johansson

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things take a dark turn, as the villainous Ultron emerges. And here’s the really bad news: Ultron believes the only way for the planet to evolve is for the Avengers, and most of the human race, to perish. So it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to foil his destructive plan.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron comes flying out of the blocks with a fast-paced, intense, all action sequence. The film wastes no time in reintroducing the audience to their favourite superheroes, and also introducing two new ones; Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. James Spader, who provides the sinister voice and machine madness of Ultron, makes for a charismatic, if deranged, baddie.

The two new characters, Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a pair of super-powered Sokovian twins, who share a hatred of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), evolve from credible threats to allies over the course of the film.

But even though comic readers know they’re destined to join the good guys, Director Josh Whedon doesn’t send them there via an easy route, or undersell their reluctance to join a team funded by and featuring a weapons merchant partly responsible for turning their country into a hellhole.

Whedon’s handling of the personal material is what makes Age of Ultron extraordinary. Remarkably for a film so overstuffed, no character gets neglected. Not only does Age of Ultron get a charge from the unexpected pairing of characters with seemingly nothing in common, but Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), a character easily relegated to the margins, emerges as the team’s heart.

The action sequences throughout the film are wonderfully choreographed and well directed, there are numerous shots that seem to leap from a comic book page. The film is packed with hilarious comedic moments, superb character development, a great mixture of new and old faces on the screen, and it stays true to many ele-ments of the original comic books.

Star Wars fans have been treated to multiple announcements over the past month. Star Wars Celebration weekend 2015 unleased some jaw dropping news for the franchise.

EA and DICE released their first official full length trailer for their upcoming game – Star Wars: Battlefront. The game, set to be a throwback to the successful franchise that many gam-ers came to know on the PlayStation and PC, is penned for a late November release.

EA have already confirmed they expect the product to shift around 9-10 million units on release day alone – now that’s some selling force.

On top of this, more information dropped on the baddies featured in JJ Abrams upcoming film.

Images taken by Annie Leibovitz were leaked to the internet showing a few of the lesser known characters of The Force Awakens.

Most notable is Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie who suits up as Captain Phasma. The photos certainly help fuel the hype machine for the film that hits cinemas December 17th.Elsewhere Martin Freeman, known for

his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit, has been added to the already star studded cast for Captain America: Civil War, which is set to hit screens next year. No news on who he will be playing as of yet, who knows, it could be Spiderman.

Everyone’s favourite web-slinger has been all over Marvel news recently as discussions continue as to whether or not Spidey will feature in next year’s film. It looks increasingly unlikely that Andrew Garfield will be reprising his role from the Amazing Spiderman, which saddens us here at AG a lot.

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So the dust has finally settled around the MGM arena in Las Vegas, and in the end it was Floyd Mayweather who prevailed over Manny Paquaio in what was built as the biggest bout in boxing history. The unbeaten Mayweather delivered a defensive master class to add the WBO Welterweight title, to the WBA and WBC belts he already held. The three judges scored the contest 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of the American, who surely cements his place as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of this generation. The five-weight world champion is now undefeated in 48 professional fights, stretching back 19 years.

Manny suffered his sixth professional loss and blamed a shoulder injury for the defeat, claiming it stopped him using his right hand during the bout. He has been accused of dishonesty for failing to disclose details of the injury in a questionnaire before the fight on May 2nd. Pacquiao could now face a possible fine or suspension from the NAC but the Filipino’s adviser, Michael Koncz, denied claims the fighter’s camp deliberately failed to declare the injury to the commission.

Tickets for the bout - billed as ‘The Fight of the Centry’ changed hands for as much as $350,000 (£232,000) and American fans were charged almost $100 (£66) to watch on television, with millions more watching across the world. The fight generated more than $400 million in revenue, shattering the previous record of $200 million. But did the contest live up to its billing?

The fight played out like the classic Mayweather bout, with Floyd playing defensive. A brawler, he is not; it’s just not his style. Floyd’s decision not to get drawn into a punching match with the man from the Philippines did not play well over the internet. So while the boxing purists were saluting Mayweather’s genius, social media was throbbing with people calling him boring. There was even anger; with many feeling they had somehow been cheated. Pacquiao claimed his right shoulder popped in the third round. He said he had been hiding the injury for three weeks, so people are well within their rights to ask why they shelled out their hard-earned money to see Mayweather take apart a wounded man. But given the fight was five years in the making and given the sheer size of the show, it was absolutely inconceivable that the fight might have been cancelled.

Many observers who paid to watch would have been disappointed with the action; however the fact that Mayweather won so handily was more proof of his unparalleled genius. Pacquiao’s pride will no doubt be soothed when he next checks his bank account - it is estimated the fight generated $400m (£265m) in total, with Mayweather and Pacquiao splitting in the region of $230m (£150m).

So what’s next for these two boxing icons? Retirement? Unlikely for both. However Pacquiao could now face a possible fine or suspension from the NAC but surgeon Neal El Attrache told ESPN the fighter had a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff and added the injury was likely to sideline him for between nine and 12 months. Mayweather has one fight left in the blockbuster six fight deal he signed with Showtime in 2013. He earned $170 million for the first four fights in the deal and likely matched that total Saturday. He insists he will be back in the ring to fulfil his contract in September and then walk away. A victory in that contest will see him equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record, and many punters believe he won’t be able to resist going on and surpassing that.

Keith Thurman and our own Amir Khan are the two most prominent names being thrown around as Mayweather’s potential next opponent. Khan has claimed that Mayweather’s manager told him “Let’s get this fight on” after the victory in Vegas. The fight would be yet another big money bout, but many believe the former Olympic champion would fail to give Mayweather a competitive fight. However Mayweather wanting to fight in September may throw a spanner in the works, as Khan will have just finished Ramadam.

While Mayweather-Paquaio was a good fight, it was not the greatest of all time as many were hoping for. But that’s okay, what’s really important is that this matchup happened at all. The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao debate has been one of the hottest topics in boxing and in sports in general over the last decade. Everyone had an opinion on who would beat whom, and even though it happened a few years too late, it’s still a good thing that these future hall-of-famers finally shared the ring.

Highest grossing pay per view boxing matches

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquaio – 2/5/2015 - $250 Million2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul Alvarez – 13/9/2013 – $150 Million3. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – 5/5/2007 – $136 Million4. Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson – 8/6/2002 – $112 Million5. Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield – 28/6/1997 – $100.2 Million

Money TalksAG SPORT

“What are you going to be spending your earnings on?”

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AG SPORT

Hammertime

If you’re looking for unpredictable racing in formula one right now, then you might be searching for a long time. The dominance of the silver arrow Mercedes-Benz cars is phenomenal. Last season’s championship battle between the two Merc drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, provided the high in what turned out to be a rather dull season. Sadly for motorsport purists it’s begin-ning to look like the same story this season. Aside from a couple of standout performances from Ferrari, the silver arrows look comfortable at the front of the pack.

Hamilton has found another level of driving, leaving teammate Rosberg playing catch up as we hit the midway point of the season. You’d be a fool to bet against Hamilton in the form he’s in, come early December we will most likely be looking at the Brit collecting his third career world title.

Ferrari have reemerged this season. The horse is well and truly prancing again, after Sebastian Vettel picked up victory in Malaysia. The past few seasons have been ones to forget for the once great constructor. The days of Schumacher dominance are well in the past now, but the team looks reborn, with Vettel leading the way. The italian team have clearly moved away from Williams and Red Bull over the winter, however there is still much work to be done to catch Mercedes.

Meanwhile, a long way down the road, McLaren will be looking for better for-tunes in the final half of the season. It seems so long ago since the British side picked up their last world championship via the hands of Hamilton, before he jumped ship. Since then Jenson Button has gallantly lead the team, but without a package that enabled him to challenge for race wins each weekend.

So, the famous Honda-McLaren part-nership that powered the likes of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost to numerous victories in the early 90’s was to be reborn this season, but things haven’t turned out all too well. Fighting at the back of the grid, scrapping for 13th and 14th places Button and his new double world championship winning teammate Fernando Alonso have been forced to talk a good game as their car continues to let them down.

For one of the powerhouses of the sport to be struggling in such a manner is painful to see, yet both Honda and McLaren are confident the car will be competitive soon. No doubt all fans of the British side are hoping for that too.

F1 IN NUMBERS... Lewis Hamilton has recently signed a £130 million pound deal, over three years,with Mercedes. The deal will seehim remain as Britain’s richestsports person.

McLaren suffered their worst qualifying in 30 years at Melbourne this year.

Red Bull have already used their four Renault engines allocated for this season.

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Let’s Get Physical We know it can be such a chore going to the gym, so each month Aspiring Gent gives you three quick and easy workout routines that target a specific muscle group that you can do at home. This issue takes you through step-by-step some shoulder exercises. Once you get hold of some basic gym equipment, there’s nothing to stop you working up a sweat after a long day at the office.

You will need: • A barbell• Some dumbbells• A bench

AG FITNESS

Seated dumbbell military pressSit on the bench holding two dumbbells at shoulder height with an overhand grip. Press the weights up above your head until your arms are fully extended. Return slowly to the start position.5 sets of 10 reps, rest for 60 seconds.

Barbell military pressPosition your feet close together and lift the barbell up to your shoulders, palms facing forward. Press the barbell above your head explosively until your arms are fully extended, then lower the weight under control.5 sets of 5 reps, rest for 60 seconds.

Lateral raise Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with them by your sides, palms facing your body. Keeping your upper body still – that means no swinging – lift the dumbbells out to your side with a slight bend at your elbows. Lift until your arms are parallel to the floor then slowly lower to the start position.

5 sets of 14 reps, rest for 60 seconds

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AG FITNESS

Ingredients1 round whole-wheat naan

¼ cup tomato sauce

½ cup fat-free mozzarella cheese

2 oz turkey pepperoni

Garlic salt, to taste

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Red pepper flakes, to taste

Fresh basil (optional)

¼ white onion, chopped

¼ cup bell pepper, chopped

Instructions:1. Preheat grill to about 300° and mist with cooking spray. When grill is hot, place naan on it.2. Cook naan until crisp, flip and cook the other side. Remove from grill.3. Dress naan with tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, seasonings, and vegetables. Place pizza on the grill.4. Cook for 6–8 minutes and serve hot.

AG’s Healthy Snack of the monthPOWER PIZZA

Armed & Dangerous

Hit the gymTweak your workout with these three tips and target the muscles you need to become unbeatable. It’s all in the grips.

Hammer curlUpdate your standard bicep exercise by keeping your hands in the neutral position throughout the rep. This shifts the emphasis to your forearm and perfectly mimics the forces you need for arm wrestling.

Weighted vest hangsStrap on 20kgs and head to the pull-up bar. Use a neutral grip (thumbs pointing towards you) and lift up until your elbows are at 90 degrees. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat twice. These isometric holds build serious forearm strength turning your arm into the immovable object.

driven victory all the more impressive. Equally, avoid the beanpole of your group. You don’t want to come off second best against the guy with twigs for arms – which you will.

Bend the rules A string of victories can attract unwanted attention and, sooner or later, a fellow pub sportsman will try and take you down a peg. But when you’re staring down the barrel of bigger biceps and longer levers, there’s still a chance of victory – and extra bragging rights.

From playground to pub, your ability to drive a mate’s hand into the dust has always come with maximum kudos. But unless you have biceps straining at your shirt-sleeves, victory is far from guaranteed – until now.

Fat gripsAdd these to your barbells and dumbbells and see your grip strength soar. Don’t expect any PBs at the bench, they’ll make every move more difficult, but they’ll also give you the power to crush your opponent’s hand, break their grip and make victory a certainty.

Pick your battles The key to winning any war is picking your battles. It’s very important to understand your own physical characteristics. Have you got a long or short forearm? And, more importantly, has your opponent got a shorter or longer forearm than you? Arm wrestling is all about leverage, and a long forearm will give you an advantage over brute strength. Target the short guy who spends all day at the bench. His muscles will make your long lever-

As you set up, grip high on your opponent’s thumb to open up their hand and weaken his forearm. Next, make your arm as vertical as possible and pull their fist close to you. The greater the distance between his fist and shoulder, the more difficult it is for him to throw weight behind the press. This tactic isn’t competition legal but against the uninitiated it’ll give you an immediate advantage. Just try and not be too ungracious in victory – he’s still bigger than you, remember.

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Roll your sleeves up!

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10THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

1.Play tennis during Wimbledon There is nothing that encourages people to dig out their tennis rackets from under the bed or from the attic and get down to the local tennis court more so than Wimbledon. So this summer, practice recreating the match winning shots of tennis superstars Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray on your buddies.

2.Make a slip and slide in your garden Yes it’s childish, but it’s also extremely fun. Hopefully you have enough garden space to create a truly epic slide. Pick up some tarpaulin or even some extra strong bin bags. Lather them up with soapy water and hey presto! Your very own summer slide and slide.

3.Camp out/BBQ at the beach What’s better than a summers evening relaxing on the beach, roasting marshmallows, enjoying some drinks with friends and/or family? There are hundreds of lovely sites across the UK, from West Wittering on the West Sussex coast, to the beautiful beaches of Cornwall.

4.Take a road trip You’ll need a car. Or somebody who owns a car. Just let the road take you, who knows where you might end up! Take some camping gear with you if you’re planning on travelling far away, to save money on accommodation. Partake in sing-a-longs or games of eye spy as you explore parts of the country you’ve never been before.

5.Go to a festival Whether it’s Bestival, Glastonbury or Reading & Leeds. A music festival is the perfect weekend escape, and the chance to amerce yourself in some of the finest music, as acts from the UK and around the globe gather to perform. Check out The Festival Calendar for a definitive guide to UK festivals, including the brilliant festivals lying beneath the mainstream radar.

6.Have a picnic This is simple and cost effective. All you need for a successful picnic is rays of sunshine, good company, and a sufficient hamper for your snacking items. Pack up your sandwiches and your homemade lemonade and explore some woods or nice open-spaced parks near you.

7.Learn to surf It’s always good to learn a new skill, and surfing a perfect one to learn this summer. It’s also the perfect excuse to spend many days down at the beach. Surfers will tell you a day can’t be better spent than with a board under your arm and the sea breeze in your hair. More often than not it is the perfect opportunity to explore some of the country’s beautiful coastlines.

8.Go fishing Grab your fishing rod, pack up a lunch and head down to the nearest lake or river to enjoy the calm open water. You can go for a nice relaxing day with the family, or take your friends along and compete to see who can catch the biggest sea monster.

10.Visit a beer garden When the sun is out, beer gardens across the country are heaving. After a day of working, the best thing to do is head to the nearest bar or pub with a nice outdoor area to relax with a drink and soak up the sunshine.

9.Host a garden party A perfect opportunity to show off your hosting skill. Make sure there’s plenty of garden furniture for guests to sit on, as well as tasty snacks, decent music and flowing conversation. Why not try your hand at preparing summer cocktails; a pinna colada in the evening sun is a must.

Running out of ideas this summer? fear not, ag has you covered this season.

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