Issue 16

December & January

2013/14

In this edition of the Sticks

Exclusive interview with BBC 3 Counties Radio’s Roberto Perrone

Panto Time Part Three BBC Radio 2’s Janey Lee Grace on Christmas Made Simple

Win tickets to Willows Farm Village to meet Santa Benefits Bob our exclusive short story

Our review of The Black Horse at Woburn We road test the Ford Fiesta 1.6 Hatchback

The latest Kippings Food Column And much more

Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Welcome to the December/January edition of the Sticks Magazine!

The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks

With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue:

Page Exclusive interview with Roberto Perrone 4 Panto Time Part Three 9 Janey Lee Grace - Christmas Made Simple 14 Curwens Legal Column 15

Training to Improve your chances 17

Win Tickets To Meet Santa 18 Short Story- Benefits Bob 20 Road Test – Ford Fiesta 1.6 Hatchback 23 Kippings Food Column 24 Restaurant Review – Black Horse, Woburn 27 Listings for Herts, Beds & Bucks 29

Contributors: Janey Lee Grace, Martin Wilson, Terry Sullivan Donna Obstfeld, Andrew Merritt-Morling

See you in February

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan Layout and design: Martin Wilson

Tel: 07756 274444

Email: thesticks9@gmail.com

www.the-sticks.co.uk

Follow us on twitter @thesticks9 www.facebook.com/sticksmag

Listen to The Sticks Radio Show at 10am on Mondays on Secklow Sounds

www.secklowsounds.org

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Exclusive Interview with Radio Host Roberto Perrone

The Man behind the Mic

Roberto has been the Award winning host of the Drivetime show on BBC 3 Counties radio for many years. He is married to Anna who is Italian – her family is from the beautiful Sorrento coast - in 1999 and they have 2 children, Chiara & Christian who are both at school. “We talk English at home” – says Rob – “but when we argue, it’s the full-blooded southern Italian thing!" The Sticks popped in to the BBC3 Counties studio to chat with Rob about his career to date, his life and his thoughts on Christmas, political correctness and lots more. Are you a local to the area? Yes very much so although imported from Italy along time ago, Luton has always been my base, so Three Counties through and through. How long have you been on BBC3 Counties radio? Officially since 1985, because I started out making the tea and coffee for people, hanging around then, I think people just died or moved on. In 1985 I was working on the Italian show Mondo Italiano, and that’s when I got involved and it literally was a case that everyone left or they died and I ended up with a show and I kind of got away with it ever since, I don’t think they realised to be honest with you. I used to do the breakfast show for a couple of years but I could do it no more, it is just horrendous getting up, in the summer it is lovely no-one’s on the road your driving it is brilliant but in the winter it just kills you, you can’t go to bed early as you have life going on around you, you have kids and a social life to be had and you don’t go to bed till 10 -11pm then you’re up again at 3am. I much prefer the drive time slot and having great guests in etc. It is a big show, four hours a day Monday to Friday, it is the longest and biggest show on the station. It kind of breaks up in that we have the normal programme for three hours, then in the last hour we have our panel debates, that’s great because that livens it up again and I get to meet some amazing local people and hear the great stories they have, they are never ending and the best thing is if you look hard enough - even the big international stories - the chances are they come back to Herts., Beds. or Bucks., like the recent story of the wallaby from Hitchin that got loose - it was seen up near the airport, it is a wallaby and it is interesting but the person who has lost it just happens to be the chief executive of the largest theatre agency in the country. It is amazing how many big really big names live in the area of Herts., Beds. and Bucks. Also a couple of months ago, on a Friday night on our entertainment show and there was a theatre agent and we were talking about his acts and he was a really nice guy, a smashing fellow and I should have realised just how important he was because I looked out of the window and there was a chauffeur driven Mercedes waiting for him; it turns out he is Michael Buble’s agent. What did you do before you joined 3 Counties? My background is in advertising, I was a graphic designer then I ran my own company for a few years but I was always a radio boy, I was the 12,13,14 year old kid that went to bed with a transistor radio. I think the

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sad thing is that there is so much media outlet today kids don’t have that experience. I remember vividly running down the stairs when I heard on radio Luxemburg that Elvis had died, for example and they were key moments in your life. As a kid there was black and white telly with three channels and you had to get off your backside to press the button to change the channel and also as you got up to change the channel one of your brothers or sisters would take your seat and we would go to bed listening to the radio, it was just wonderful. I think most of the people who work in radio today, of a certain age group, we all came through the same process, and we all had a fascination or love affair with the radio very early on which I don’t think kids today have.

How did you get in to radio -journalism? Well the Italian show was when I came here, hosted by two presenters, Anna Rossi and Gerald Main (who now manages BBC Radio Essex) and I wrote one of my cheeky letters because, quite frankly, I did not think it was very good and he wrote back saying if you think you can do better came and do it and I did

(as well as making the tea) - I just learnt the ropes the hard way. It is a shame we don’t do that show anymore but it got lost in the budget cuts. I have a Italian equivalent of a knighthood for doing that show, I still get people ask me about the show including people who say they don’t speak Italian but loved the show, I think what it is with the music as Italian music melodically sounds the same the words are obviously different as the are in Italian. What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far? Tomorrows programme as the next one is always going to be the best one. Have you had any disasters whilst on air? No not really, had the odd bit of equipment failure but you just carry on. My mind set is when I start the programme is that if the building collapses around my head Iam going to carry on. Anything else you would like to do? i.e. dream job Yes, I would love to do this as long as possible but there is one other job I covet but I am not telling you what that is! Would you like to do TV? I did some recently on the “One Show” and I might be doing some more stuff. I have not seen the bit I was in although as I left the studio at just after 7pm that night my phone just went ballistic. My wife said they did me a favour putting me next to Vanessa Feltz - it made me look good. What do Christmas and New Year mean to you? I am very family orientated so I love Christmas. I don’t do the big shopping thing; I hate that to be honest with you. Doing the job I do I come across a lot of people in Herts., Beds. and Bucks. - it is a diverse area. I have listeners who have brand new Bentleys but also I have stories from listeners who are so cold they literally crawl under a duvet at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and that’s it for the night, they are too cold and too hungry to live and that scares the crap out of me. I come across people who are relying on food banks it just breaks your heart.

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I do love Christmas, I am a Roman Catholic so I love the religious aspect of it and the family bit but the commercialisation of it really does worry me. What was your best Christmas Present? That’s a really good question, I can’t remember. The reality is most of us have got all the shirts and jumpers we need, it is not like when I was growing up you got a jumper because you needed a jumper but now people just buy stuff for the sake of it not because they need it. I feel guilty because last week I was with someone in Milton Keynes who is having a really hard time, I felt so sorry for them, through no fault of their own, through ill health and benefits cuts, they have a really tough future ahead of them and I felt sorry for them. What was your worst Christmas Present? Not sure it was the worst but it left the biggest impression - was many, many years ago my parents got me a football set a bit like Subbuteo and it was called “Striker” you had these little players on this pitch and if you pressed their head their leg would flick forward and they would kick the ball and I loved that present but my little brother was a bit hacked off that his present was not as good as mine that year so he broke the legs off so I had a team of one legged players. If you were in power what would you change? Right now I would abolish zero hour’s contracts, they are so unfair, it is not giving our children a chance in life, would scrap those straight away. What are your thoughts on health and safety and political correctness? I don’t do political correctness but health and safety they can go overboard but it was done with the right intention. Which TV series are you watching at the moment? Gogglebox. I love Gogglebox on channel 4. I don’t get time to watch a lot of television but that show I enjoy and I’m really in to Coronation Street at the moment, I have just got into it big time. What are your hobbies and interests? My wife, my children and my little dog. I take the dog for a walk and it is very entertaining as she is very small being a Chihuahua and I am very big and I get all sorts of comments like “your dogs shrunk in the rain”, “couldn’t you get a proper dog?”, but that’s from blokes. I have never been chatted up so much by ladies than when I have my dog, when I am in the High street, women come out of the hairdressers with their gowns on to talk to me just because I have the dog. What sort of books do you like? I read a lot of autobiographies but at the moment I am reading an Italian book about the secrets of the Vatican, which I thought would be a light read but it is quiet heavy and I am just trying to get in to it, it is a great historic piece but what I am really looking forward to reading is a new book co-written by J.J Abrams and Doug Dorst called “S” and if ever there was a book that said E-books don’t work then this is it. It is so difficult to explain but when you walking to the bookshop you will see it has a hardback cover and is a book inside a book with notes printed in the side margin, it looks weathered and smells old and is possibly the greatest piece of design I have seen for a book. I saw it on Sunday and it is £20 I thought it’s a bit dear but

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I have been thinking about it non stop, it is just the most beautiful book your ever see. That’s what I want for Christmas!!!! What’s your favourite singer or band? Dela Mitri. I love Dela Mitri and having met Michael Buble’s agent, I am now very big in to Michael Buble as apparently I might get to meet him sometime in the New Year, I love singer/songwriters I like James Morrison, the new James Blunt album is really good. If you were going for a night out would you go to a gig, the theatre or comedy show? I love comedy but it would be a gig, if I could get a good seat, park outside and have a gin and tonic. I don’t do open air stand up gigs anymore, but I would love to see Billy Joel. Do you cook? Yes What’s your signature dish? I can do fantastic pasta with my own sauce. I don’t do pastry because that requires a lot of thinking and measuring, I sort of make it up as I go along and it always seems to work. Who would be you 3 favourite dinner guests? Love the new Pope, I reckon he would be brilliant, Sandra Bullock and just to keep my wife happy, George Clooney How would you describe yourself? Complex but hopefully lovable

Listen to Roberto, Monday to Friday 3pm -7pm on BBC 3 Counties radio

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www.the-sticks.co.uk

To advertise your event, show, restaurant or business in our February digital magazine

Call 07756 274444

Or email thesticks9@gmail.com

Prices from £50 per month

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Panto Time Part Three

Dick Whittington

Two soap legends from opposite sides of the world come together this Christmas at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable. The Grove Theatre and Magic Beans Pantomimes are proud to bring you a brand new pantomime production of Dick Whittington.

‘Toadfish’ from Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney, who recently came third in Channel 5′s Celebrity Big Brother stars as Idle Jack. While possibly the most infamous soap character of all time, Eastenders’ ‘Dirty Den’, aka Leslie Grantham plays the panto baddie, Dirty Rat.

West End star Leon Craig comes to Dunstable, direct from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stadium tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. During 2013, Leon has been touring the world in the musical, before settling into Dunstable to play the panto dame, Sarah the Cook, in the Grove Theatre’s pantomime.

Another West End and singing star to take to the Grove Theatre’s stage this Christmas is Jasette Amos. Jasette starred in the international tour of West End hit musical Daddy Cool, and has sung with many of the leading performers of the music industry. Her vocals can regularly be heard on TV shows such as the X Factor.

Ben Irish joins the cast, having won the title role of Dick Whittington in the online TV talent search, the Panto Factor! The sensationally talented Lucy Reed will be playing alongside Ben as the other half of this romantic duo. This all star cast coupled with a fabulous five piece live band, beautiful sets and larger than life costumes will certainly add a sparkle to your Christmas with Dick Whittington!

Dick Whittington will be taking the stage by storm at the Grove Theatre from Friday 13 December to Sunday 5 January. To book tickets visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7).

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Aladdin at Rhodes promises great things

Following on from last year’s record –breaking production of Cinderella, the same team breathe new life into the magical story of Aladdin. Bishop’s Stortford’s favourite Panto baddie Phil Dale returns to the stage as the evil Abanazar, his heart set on finding the fabled magical lamp containing a Genie of awesome power. Only the pure hearted Aladdin and his bonkers brother Wishy Washy stand in his way.

The show is once again produced in association with Phoenix Theatre Arts that have brought the last three Rhodes Pantomimes to stage as well as the recent critically acclaimed productions of family favourite musicals Oliver! and Annie. It promises thrills and excitement to engage the whole family.

There is more than just one iconic moment in Aladdin; the first time he finds the lamp and releases the Genie but you’ve also got the magic carpet ride. Both moments will be something to remember!

The lovely ‘Grace Wheeler’ returns in the title role of Aladdin whilst newcomer Lucy Syed takes the part of the Princess Jasmine. Comedy fans will be delighted to know that Dan James, last year’s Buttons returns as the hapless PC Pong, and Widow Twanky is played by veteran Pete Duffy, winner of the

TV talent show ‘New Faces’ in 1978!

Magical caves and beautiful

princesses will all be discovered on the road to a ‘Happy Ever After’. Now as essential a part of Christmas as your turkey and pudding, the Rhodes panto in Bishop’s Stortford is the festive family treat you won’t want to miss.

Performances everyday from Saturday 14th December to 4th January and tickets starting at £12 with family and group discounts available

Phone the box office on 01279 651746 or www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk

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Beauty and the Beast at the Hawthorne Theatre

This year’s sumptuous Family Christmas Show, Beauty and the Beast! With lavish costumes and sets, this wholly original production tells the story of Belle, who chooses to live with the hideous Beast in his castle in order to save her father. As time goes on, though, she learns that the Beast is hiding the tortured soul of a man...

With songs and humour, and some panto-style audience interaction, this is the perfect Christmas treat for all the family – full of romance, adventure, excitement and fun. Directed by Olivier Award Winning Director, Guy Masterson, it’s sure to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step!

Show runs from Saturday 21 –Tuesday 31 December

Book your tickets now www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk

And finally not a panto but a wonderful Christmas Treat ….

Escape to Wonderland for an amazing, Mad-as-a-Hatter Christmas adventure at the Stables

The countdown has begun to this year’s Christmas production at the Stables. Following

last year’s acclaimed production of The Secret Garden, Proteus Theatre Company are

back again with their new show: Alice in Wonderland, a stage adaptation of Lewis

Carroll’s popular stories for children Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking

Glass, directed by Proteus’ Artistic Director Mary Swan

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These classic tales are brought to life with story telling, puppetry,

circus and a bit of good old fashioned theatrical magic. There’s

also plenty of laughter, colourful sets and costumes as well as

some lively musical numbers for all ages to enjoy.

Transporting the audience on this magical journey down the rabbit

hole are a cast featuring regular Proteus actress, Becky Kitter,

well-known for her children’s television work Grandpa in my

Pocket and Ha Ha Hairies. Joining Becky is Nick Ash from

Scratchbuilt Productions who is working on the show as an actor,

playing the Mad Hatter and puppet-maker.

The cast is completed by Yanick Ghanty, an actor-musician, who

has recently graduated from East 15, where he studied acting and

stage combat, Helen Cravel, another actor-musician who trained

at Birmingham School of Acting and newcomer, Charlie Thomas-

Chandler.

The production is recommended for everyone 5 years and over, and lasts approximately

120 minutes including an interval.

Alice In Wonderland opens at the Stables on Wednesday 18 December 2013 and runs

until Saturday 4 January 2014. Box office: 01908 280800, www.stables.org - Tickets

from £10.

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Christmas Made Simple

Take a deep breath, Christmas is coming and straight after that the New Year resolutions will be upon us. Here’s my top tip – simplify Christmas a bit and make some time for yourself, easier said than done with our busy lifestyles and the frantic scramble in the supermarket on Christmas eve or the pressure to join a gym and shed the excess pounds in January (that’s the pounds gained in weight not the ones already lost through over spending) but it is possible to stop and think – do I really need to buy so much…well…stuff. The best presents are often the ones that are home made or hand crafted, even if you aren’t particularly crafty (eat your heart out Kirsty Allsop) you can buy some gorgeous locally made Herts honey or similar or infuse some herbs in oil and transfer to a pretty glass bottle for foodie loving friends and a twist on the classic gift of candles, make your own, Herts. craft shops sell beeswax which you can roll around a wick and decorate to your hearts content, You can also of course give a ‘voucher’ which can be exchanged for your time or skill, offer to decorate a room for someone, cook them a meal or help with gardening, one of the best gifts I ever received was a ‘voucher’ that I could redeem for a nights babysitting complete with sleepover so I could get a much needed night away. There are lots of ideas in my e-book Imperfectly Natural Home Once the silly season is over you will be turning your attention hopefully to what lies ahead for the year and I have come to conclusion that new year’s resolutions really don’t work, most of us just come up with unrealistic ideas and set ourselves up to fail. Its far better to set goals or even better make a vision board, give yourself a few hours uninterrupted and cut out images / phrases etc from mags. and papers and glue them onto a big piece of card, allow yourself to dream a little, one friend who did this found a picture of a gorgeous dream home and years later found herself living in the exact same house – she hadn’t even known the location of the picture she’d come across! Its powerful stuff! One goal you might want to set is to take some time out to nurture yourself every day, to that end two Hertfordshire sisters, Beverley Densham and Julie New have both just released books to help you do just that. Julie New is an inspirational life coach who has come up with a simple and easy to understand analogy of asking about the importance of asking yourself who you surrounding yourself with, which is demonstrated beautifully in her book ‘Who are the flowers?’ Julie asks - How many roles will you play today? Parent, boss, taxi, shoulder-to-cry-on, cook and bottle washer? When did you last take time to nurture yourself? Julie New is giving a percentage of profits to chosen charities including Katy Piper Foundation and The Lister Hospital Cancer Trust. www.whoaretheflowers.com Bev Densham is Julies sister and is known as the ‘everyday angels girl’ and she alongside her Angel cards she has just released Relax and do your ABC , it’s a book sharing her life story, spiritual journey and beautiful beach photography and helps you to connect you to your guardian angels. www.angeliclifestyle.com

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Thought You Couldn’t Afford to Buy a New Home ? Think again………

The Government has extended its Help to Buy scheme which it initially launched in January 2013. It is now more widely available to help you buy your first home, or even move up the property ladder.

• The scheme is designed to help you purchase a home when you only have a small deposit • It is now available on most properties (not just new builds) and for all Buyers (not just

first time) • You must intend to occupy the property as your own residence (ie it cannot be used for

Buy to Let properties)

• There is no interest payable on the extra monies borrowed for the first five years, but from Year six onwards it is a Fixed Interest Rate.

• You can apply from 7th October 2013 although you cannot complete on the purchase

until January 2014 .How to Apply:-

1. You obtain a mortgage offer in the usual way by approaching one of the banks involved in the Scheme (at present we understand those to be Natwest, Barclays and RBS) They will usually lend you a maximum of between 80 and 90% of the value of the property and will require a First Charge (ie mortgage) over the property

2. You can then get the additional funding you need from the Help to Buy scheme. This will

be an Equity Loan over 25 years requiring a Second Charge (ie additional mortgage) over the property.

3. You instruct your conveyancing solicitors who will communicate with the Seller’s

solicitors and the Bank to coordinate all the paperwork for you.

4. The solicitors should provide you with all the relevant advice you need on the legal obligations and implications of the transaction - for example there is still the risk of repossession if you breach the terms of the Equity Loan, just like any other mortgage.

At Curwens LLP, we are always happy to provide you with a quote for conveyancing work without any obligation to instruct us. So contact one of our offices today – all contact details are on our website www.curwens.co.uk Curwens LLP are your local solicitors based in Royston, Hoddesdon, and Enfield. The contents of this article are for basic guidance only and were correct at the time of writing. Please contact your bank or conveyancing solicitors for more detailed information.

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Training To Improve Your Chances

The job market is picking up and those who can may be looking to change jobs. The new year is coming and people who have felt stuck in a rut for a few years as the recession hit, are taking a step back and reviewing their options. The economic climate is still tough, but businesses know they have to pay good money to get and keep good people to enable their businesses to develop and thrive. So as an employee, how do you ensure that you can compete successfully for a new job? How can you command the pay you deserve? As an employer, how do you ensure you are getting value for money, the skills you need and the people you want? How do you stop your good staff from leaving and encourage your poor staff to move on? Can your poorly performing staff be turned around? The answer is …….. training. Training and personal development is not a one hit wonder. We never stop learning from the day we are born until the day we die and anyone who thinks they have learnt all there is to learn is arrogant at best. How individuals obtain their training and what they do with it is up to them, but having a plan for formal training and development is the key to a better job and better prospects. Too many school leavers leave school without the tools to succeed in the workplace. Too many employees can’t remember the last time they did a training course. Training does not need to be expensive, but it must be planned, it must have a purpose and it must be taken back to the workplace and not forgotten the minute the trainee leaves the room. Employers have a role to play in this as well. It is not only the new entrants to your workforce that need training; longer serving employees, senior managers and business owners also need training. They type of training will vary from person to person and the method of delivery may also vary, but stagnation will take a business down, developing, motivating and revitalising your staff will lift the whole business up. Once training has taken place, it has to be taken back to the workplace and back to reality. If you put the training manual on the shelf and do nothing with it, nothing will change. Take your training notes and write your action plan. Share your thoughts with friends, colleagues or your line manager, ask someone to hold you accountable.

Whether your next move is internal promotion or a job outside your existing business, training will improve your chances.

www.dohr.co.uk 01923 504100

enquiries@dohr.co.uk

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Willows Farm Village is bursting with Christmas fun - just waiting to be won!

A Christmas day out at Willows Farm Village

is bursting with magical festive activities

and family fun galore!

Every child who meets Santa in his

Spectacular Grotto receives a golden key to

his Toy Shop where they can choose any gift

they see from the stacked shelves – but that is just where the excitement starts.

Watch the Nativity Story, take a turn on Willows’ Magical Ice Rink and visit one of

Santa’s reindeer and a host of other animal friends in The Farmyard.

Enjoy festive fun fair rides, acres of indoor and outdoor adventure play and a Christmas

challenge around the Farm Village - will you find the hidden reindeer cut outs to win a

free box of glittering reindeer dust to guide Santa and his reindeer to your house on

Christmas Eve?

Take in the twinkling scenes of the Festive Wood Ride and don't forget to visit the Elves

House to write a letter to Santa. Willows magical memories aren't the only thing you'll

have to remember your special day by, as all children posting their letter to Santa at

Willows* will receive a free reply from Santa himself.

We’ve teamed up with Willows Farm Village to offer one lucky person a chance to win a

family day pass to visit Santa in his Spectacular Grotto (admits 4, free gift for children).

To win, simply answer this question:

What colour key opens the door to Santa’s toy shop?

a. Gold

b. Silver

c. Blue

Email your answer together with your name and contact details to thesticks9@gmail.com

Closing date noon on December 12th

For more information please visit www.willowsfarmvillage.com or call 0870 129 9718.

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Short Story

Benefits Bob

By Gareth Hugman

This is the story of Bob, a middle aged, overweight weirdo with no social skills and long greasy hair. Although unemployed, Bob was able to live a full life of beer, fags and plasma TV, thanks to the overwhelming handouts from the tax payer. He had no reason to become respectable or for that matter even socially acceptable, simply because he could afford not to bother. It was rather a wet and windy Monday afternoon, the rain was making it wet and Bob was rather windy if you get what I mean. Anyway, he decided it would be fun to get dressed, go to his local pub and see how much beer he could consume before the 3pm closing time. He sprayed some aftershave down the front of his stained underpants, put on his XXL jogging suit and trainers then went out of the front door. The walk started off briskly but soon became too strenuous for him to maintain. Perspiration dripped from his forehead and his heart was pounding. Bob decided he could not continue and subsequently he stopped at the end of his driveway. He then called a Taxi on his 4G Smart phone. While waiting for the cab to arrive, he looked down the street to see who was actually in the pub. A few of his mates were standing under the porch smoking and drinking. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. After approximately five minutes the taxi arrived and Bob squeezed himself in to the front passenger seat. The taxi, now leaning heavily to the offside, drove him all seventy meters further down the lane. Bob somehow found the strength to heave himself back out of the car and then began huffing and puffing as he made his way to the bar. Being of some intelligence, he purchased eight pints and some nibbles when he eventually got there. This would save making several trips back and forth. Bob went back outside with six pints and a box of pork scratchings. The other two pints had already been downed instantaneously before he had even left the bar. Bob had mastered all the skills required for his life on benefits. Soon he had a cigarette in one hand and a cold pint in the other. He chatted to his mates about the Sunday football results and discussed political issues like ‘why the benefits department would not give them Xmas bonuses’. Most working people receive a bonus so it seemed unfair that just because you were unemployed you did not qualify for a state funded one. They concluded that life on benefits was rather one sided! Feeling a bit peckish, Bob tore the lid of his box and pulled out a couple of bags of the pork scratchings. He ripped both packets open, belched loudly to make some room, and then with a tilt of his head was able to empty the entire contents in to his mouth. It would not take long to devour the entire contents of the box. For Bob this was like having a starter before the main course. Beer always gave him such an appetite! Soon,

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the guys were feeling the affects of the alcohol, occasionally groping their never regions and generally talking a load of old toffee while staggering to and fro. As the time approached three pm, Bob and his mates quickly drank their remaining pints before heading back to the bar with a true sense of urgency. Bob calculated that there was sufficient time and money left to purchase four more pints, leaving just enough change for a lamb kebab after closing time. After being served at the bar, the guys staggered back outside to continue their antics. Suddenly an attractive young woman walked past their group. She was overwhelmed with instantaneous jeering and looked over in their direction with a lovely smile on her face. Bob made some thrusting gestures towards her and rubbed his man boobs in a circular motion. The woman cringed and sped up. (To be entirely honest, she almost broke out in to a sprint). By quarter past three, Bob and his mates were completely inebriated. They herded themselves across the street towards the kebab shop to purchase some cuisine. After placing their orders, Bob stepped out, around the side of the building. He peeled back his sweaty jogging bottoms and relieved himself of a few pints against the side window of the kebab house. The workers looked at Bob with shock and disappointment but he was not bothered. The kebabs were soon ready and being handed out to the group. The owner took one kebab in to a small room at the rear of the shop and put a little extra ingredient in to it. He then came back to the counter with a smile on his face and passed that one to Bob. “Happy eating,” he said. Bob grabbed the kebab greedily and sunk his four remaining teeth straight in to it before exiting. Once outside, there was a frenzy of slobbering, dribbling and flatulence as the group consumed their food. They were like pigs at a trough and people were at this point crossing the street to avoid going near them. It was a rather unpleasant sight! Once Bob had finished the last mouthful, he took the wrapper which was now dripping with grease and sticky chilli, crumpled it up in to a ball and hurled it at one of his mates. This was far more amusing than placing it in the litter bin, plus it gave him a sense of pride knowing he was helping to keep a street cleaner employed. Bob then lit a fag, slapped a couple of his mates on the back and slowly headed home to watch TV. He had enjoyed another fun packed day!

This is an exclusive short story by local writer Gareth Hugman

Hope you enjoyed reading about Bob – if you would like to read more about Bob please

let us know by emailing thesticks9@gmail.com

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Road Test - Ford Fiesta 1.6 (182) ST2 3dr hatchback

From the outside, the Fiesta ST certainly looks like a hot-hatch. An ‘ST’ badge sits subtly within an over-sized grille whilst LED running lamps set into the headlights and a deep front chin spoiler complete the front-end. At the back, the eye is drawn to an enormous spoiler set atop the tailgate whilst a body-coloured diffuser with twin exhaust pipes adds to the sporty intentions. Push the starter button and you hear the reassuring growl as the engine comes to life – producing a sound that goes on to define the Fiesta as a little hard-core. The aural onslaught might not appeal to everyone, but Ford of Europe’s Team RS have made a large number of chassis and other technical adjustments, including the introduction of an Enhanced Torque Vectoring Control (eTVC) system. In simple terms, it brakes the inside wheel while cornering, thus allowing you to power through a bend. Push hard on the accelerator and the cabin is filled with an intoxicating noise from the ‘Sound Symposer’ that funnels and amplifies the noise from the intake manifold. The traction control works furiously to contain all the power that is unleashed through the front wheels. From a standstill, 60mph is reach in 6.9 seconds and continues all the way up to the 137mph top speed. Yes, the ride is stiff and if you hit a bump, you can be bounced off line but the adjustment that the driver can make mid-corner means that in most instances you should be able to avoid such events. The steering, pretty good on the standard car, is light but sharp, brilliantly communicative and inspires confidence from turn-in to exit. The standard-fit 6-speed manual gearbox is light and precise in its action and can be hurried through the gates. But the biggest compliment we are able to pay this car is its ability to string together a series of fast-flowing corners in close proximity whilst constantly providing exemplary feedback to the driver with hardly any body roll. Officially you should be able to get 47.9mpg, but drive it in the manner for which it was designed, and this figure will understandably plummet. With just 138g/km of CO2, you will pay just £125 of road tax which means it is cheaper to run than its predecessor. The cabin is pleasantly quiet at speed and there is little sign of wind and road noise permeating the cabin. The well-bolstered Recaro sports seats do their best to grip your body and keep you in place. The ST has the same size boot as the regular hatch – 276-litres with the rear seats in place. And whilst the rear seats fold, they sit on fixed bases. Nevertheless, this expands the available luggage capacity to 960-litres: usefully more space than you would find in a MINI. Only five exterior colours are available and we think either will help to show off the car well and accentuate the enhanced styling. For the record, our test car was in metallic Spirit Blue. In short, we believe the ST sets the bar for performance-focused superminis. In the Fiesta ST, Ford has developed a car that offers market-leading levels of driver enjoyment and successfully delivers exactly what every hot hatch should aim to deliver - excitement. www.first4auto.com

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ITS NOT JUST SANTA THAT LOVES DEER!

At this time of the year, Kippings Bistro is proud to work with some of the best gamekeepers in the County, ensuring that we only receive the best quality local game when the time is right in the animal’s life cycle. Without doubt, Hertfordshire is the best County in which to eat venison and here in Wheathampstead we don’t like it ……. we LOVE it!

Venison is an ideal alternative to beef to impress your friends at your dinner party. Not only is it incredibly lean (with an average fat content of approximately 50% of beef), it also has a tremendous flavour that can only really be matched by dry aged beef at almost twice the price. Your local butcher/supermarket is likely to sell farmed venison,

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which has a milder flavour than their wilder counterparts as their foraging activities are limited by their environment. If you do not like a taste that is too “gamey”, then the farmed option is definitely your best bet. Venison is one of those meats that should never be eaten beyond “Medium” cooking temperature; otherwise you will need a good set of teeth! In restaurants, we are blessed with the ability to use a thermostatic probe to test the core temperature of meat (approximately 150 degrees Celsius for “Medium” and 130 degrees Celsius for “Rare”). At home, generally, a “probe” isn’t available and therefore you have to rely on touch – if the meat feels like the middle of your palm, it is likely to be cooked “Medium” – for “Rare” , it should feel like the pad of flesh at the base of your thumb when your hand is held loosely open. Our favourite method of preparing venison is as follows; Cut the saddle of venison into portions of between 160 and 180 grammes (this will mean that to serve four people, you will need to purchase between 750g and 900g of meat before trimming excess fat etc) Apply seasoning of salt and pepper Sear the meat in a pre-heated pan with good quality vegetable oil so that the outside “appears cooked” Remove from the heat and rub crushed dried juniper berries to the outside of the meat to form a light crust Place in a pre-heated oven to cook to your required cooking time. Serve with a side order of garlic sautéed spinach, some honey roasted celeriac and a red wine gravy to complete the meal.

Kippings Bistro is rated as one of the Top 75 restaurants (out of over 1600) on Trip Advisor in Hertfordshire.

Discover why!

Telephone - 01582 833122

Email - reservations@kippings.co.uk

1 Church Street, Wheathampstead,

Herts AL4 8AR

www.kippings.co.uk

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Restaurant Review –The Black Horse, Woburn

A visit to the picturesque village of Woburn is not complete without trying some of the wonderful array of restaurants and the food they have on offer. The Sticks recently visited The Black Horse on the High Street. The first thing you notice is the blend of traditional and modern – exposed beams, cosy décor and a modern “best of British” menu which offers a great range of cuisine with a wide range of starters including potted Tidenham duck livers, cherry compote & rustic bread, smoked mackerel rillettes, beetroot relish & rye bread ,wild mushroom fricassee on toast, truffle crème fraîche, Woburn venison scotch egg, celeriac remoulade, rocket & balsamic. For our starters we chose the soup of the day (sweet potato with chilli oil and garlic croutons) - this was a hearty, flavoursome soup with a slight touch of heat from the oil - and the Hot Smoked Trout, Spinach and Cucumber Salad, Coriander and Garlic Oil, this was delicious - the trout was moist and did not have that over-smoked taste.

The Main courses on offer include prime steaks from Aubrey Allen, free-range chicken breast, champ mash, tender stem broccoli and tarragon sauce; autumn vegetable strudel, leeks, Savoy cabbage and goats cheese cream; smoked haddock and king prawn pie, parsley crust and autumn greens; pan-fried sea bass, sautéed new potatoes, fennel and lemon dressing Jimmy butler’s pork sirloin, baby jackets, autumn slaw and aspall glaze. My colleague ordered maple-cured free-range gammon rib eye steak, poached egg and chips, a simple but very tasty meal - the gammon was tender and not salty, the poached egg was perfectly cooked. I had the char-grilled Woburn venison haunch, dauphinoise potatoes, kale and redcurrant jus – the venison was pink as I had requested it and so tender I hardly needed to use my knife to cut it, served with my favourite potatoes it was a real treat.

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No meal is complete without a dessert and The Black Horse did not fail to deliver there with a couple of specials - apple pie ice cream with raspberry ripple being one and the other white chocolate and toffee apple cheesecake with apple sorbet – my colleague thoroughly enjoyed this one, an interesting combination that worked really well! I had another one of my favourites in the form of crème brûlée with chestnut shortbread, a creamy vanilla dessert with an unusual but delightful chestnut biscuit that was not too hard and the flavours complemented each other.

The Black Horse also offers themed night menus including: Monday – Gourmet Burger night (check out the stacked burger, you need to be hungry to finish this one!); Wednesday – Aubrey Steak and ribs and Thursday – Bubbles and Boards (a Deli-board plus a bottle of Prosecco for £20). This is a great place to eat and if what we had is any indication of what they offer you will not be disappointed with either the quality of the dishes or the service, whether for business or pleasure.

Telephone 01525 290210

www.blackhorsewoburn.co.uk

December

Herts Listings

’Watercolours and War’ Herts Yeomanry abroad in WW1 - till Tuesday 31 Dec These watercolours and sketches were made from rough sketches done on the spot by Lieutenant Charles Fitzroy Lock who served with Hertfordshire Yeomanry in the Western Desert, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia. The Lobby, Register Office Block, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8EJ Christmas Trail -till Friday 20 Dec Join us for a seasonal Family Trail around the beautiful Ashridge Estate. Answer questions along the way and earn your Christmassy reward! Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall, Berkhamsted HP4 1LT Des Gould Unsustainable Cities? - till Tuesday 24 Dec Since Storm Sandy hit New York interest in sustainable cities has increased. But what makes a city sustainable (or not)? Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Christmas Craft Fair- till Thursday 19 Dec The biggest and brightest craft fair in our area is back, with work by local and national artists specialising in quality arts and crafts to make Christmas shopping a pleasure. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Santa’s Spectacular Grotto & Festive Farm Fun -till Tuesday 24 Dec Meet Santa and receive a golden key to enter his toy shop to choose any gift. Visit the reindeer, write a letter to Santa in the Elves House and skate on our magical ice rink (synthetic ice). Willows Farm Village. Coursers Road, London Colney, St. Albans AL4 0PF ALADDIN pantomime -Sun 1 Dec Come and see the evil Abanezer in his quest for the lamp. Aladdin only has eyes for princess Blossom and cannot see past Abanezers evil plan. Meldreth village hall, Meldreth SG8 6LX Nativity Crib Festival- Sunday 1 Dec Get into the spirit of Christmas and pay a visit to the St. Ippolyts Church Nativity Crib Festival. Our lovely medieval church will be filled with dozens of nativity crib sets of all shapes and sizes. St Ippolyts Church, St Ippolyts, Hitchin SG4 7PB

Victorian Christmas Fair- Sunday 1 Dec Come and enjoy a Victorian Christmas at the Museum. Children’s activities, story telling and games; hot Victorian street food with mulled wine for the

grownups and juice for the children. Mill Green Mill and Museum AL9 5PD

Much Hadham Festive Market- Sunday 1 Dec Covering 3 venues in the village. There will be local food stalls and beautiful Crafts. Much Hadham Village Hall SG10 6BS Redbourn Christmas Market – Sun 1st December Redbourn will be kicking off the festive season with a Christmas market. There will be covered stalls in Cumberland Gardens, the Village Hall and car park. Redbourn High Street AL3 7LW

The Great Santa Kidnap - Sunday 1 Dec Baroque Theatre Company presents: The Great Santa Kidnap by Roy Chatfield Directed by Adam Morley Produced by Claire Bibby. Suggested age: 5+ Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes +.Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX

Barkway Antiques & Vintage Fair- Sunday 1 Dec Fabulous fair set in the beautiful village of Barkway. Offering a wide range of 20 stalls selling anything from jewellery to pictures, furniture to clothing, with temptation at every table. Barkway Village Hall, Cambridge Road, Barkway SG8 8BS

Mark Maier’s Jewish Variety Show Already- Sunday 1 Dec All ready and raring to entertain you, now in its 3rd year, Mark introduces four talented Jewish performers in what promises to be yet another sell out show. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Out of the Woods: An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Jane Glynn- til Tuesday 24 Dec Jane Glynn makes drawings, paintings, books and animations exploring stories and memories. She also makes diary and calendar based work, using the ephemera of everyday life to create visual records. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Much Hadham Christmas Market - Sunday 1 Dec 12-6pm. We have many stalls, a Santa’s grotto & food stalls. Hopleys, Forge Museum and Village Hall - Much Hadham SG10 6BU Pennyfarthing Antiques & Collectors Fair- Sunday 1 Dec Pennyfarthing Fayres presents a quality range of 70 stalls, including Porcelain, Jewellery, Glass, Small Furniture and much more. Ideal for finding that individual Christmas gift. Wyllyotts Theatre Darkes lane, Potters Bar EN6 2HN

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Willow Carol Concert - Tuesday 3 Dec Join Willow Life Presidents, Bob and Megs Wilson, for our annual Carol Concert held in the magnificent surroundings of St Albans Cathedral. A fantastic way to kick start the festive season. Sumpter Yard, St Albans AL1 1BY A Song for Marion (PG)- Wednesday 4 Dec A wonderfully, heart-warming story of a loving marriage between grumpy pensioner Arthur (Terence Stamp) and the ever-cheerful Marion (Vanessa Redgrave). Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Happy Mondays- Wednesday 4 Dec The Forum - Hertfordshire Students Union, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB Christmas Tree Festival Preview and Concert- Friday 6 Dec A concert of seasonal music performed among the 50 decorated trees of the Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival by Holy Saviour Church Choir and The Radcliffe Singers. Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Rd, Hitchin SG5 1QG Fawlty Towers Night- Friday 6 Dec Enjoy a terrific meal in the company of Basil, Manuel, Sybil and Polly, from the smash-hit TV comedy Fawlty Towers, as reimagined by the Arts Centre in association with the always wonderful Bancroft players. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Christmas Bazaar -Friday 6 Dec 6pm – 9pm during Ware’s Dickensian Evening. Free entry. Come and browse the stalls for ideas for Christmas gifts in the beautiful Grade I Place House Hall in the heart of Ware. Place House Hall Bluecoat Yard, East Street, Ware SG12 9HL Charity Christmas Tree Festival - Friday 6 to Sunday 8 Dec To raise awareness for the work Charities do and much need funds. Event Includes: Grand Prize Draw, Christmas Wreath Competition, Cake, Crafts and Gift Stalls. Chocolate Tombola.All Saints Church, Queens Road, Hertford SG13 8AE Kidzstuf nearly new children’s sale- Saturday 7 Dec A nearly new sale held by parents for parents. Come along and browse a large selection of pre loved toys, clothes and equipment for children 0-12 years. We have some fantastic New in the box toys ideal presents. St Pauls Church Hall, Bushey Hall Road, Bushey WD23 2EQ Christmas Festival- Saturday 7 Dec 10am to 2pm. Nativity Scenes and some Trees will be on display for all to view. Hoddesdon Methodist Church Middlefield Road Hoddesdon EN11 9ED

Comedy Club - Saturday 7 Dec Monthly comedy night returns, with Richard Morton, plus support. As always, Paul B Edwards keeps things under control - maybe. Licensed bar. “Comic genius" – Daily Express. A great stand up. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Christmas Fair - Saturday 7 Dec A lovely variety of crafts including gifts, textiles, bags, jams, cakes, cards, jewellery, paintings, glass and more. Come along for your Christmas or Birthday gifts. Kings Langley Community Centre, The Nap, Kings Langley WD4 8ET Garden Square Dickensian Christmas Craft Market -Saturday 7 Dec Letchworth’s Garden Square Craft Fair gets a festive make-over this month. The Dickensian Craft Market will feature all your favourite stall holders. Letchworth Town Centre SG6 3DD Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival -Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Dec A magical display of 50 Christmas trees decorated by local families, groups, and businesses. Vote for your favourite tree, and enjoy the live music from local choirs and musicians. Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG Aladdin : A Magical Family Pantomime -Saturday 7 to Tuesday 31 Dec Back by popular demand after last year’s highly acclaimed production of Beauty & The Beast, The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Christmas Fair -Saturday 7 Dec You will receive a very warm welcome at the Christmas Fair, and there will be lots of popular and seasonal stalls to enjoy. There will be a Chocolate Stall and a Christmas Tombola. Letchworth Free Church Hall, bottom of Leys Avenue, on Norton Way South, Letchworth SG6 3HS Cottered Antiques & Vintage Fair- Sunday 8 Dec This wonderful fair offers 30 stalls packed full of interest and intrigue. From glass to clothing, ceramics to kitchenalia there’s temptation at everyone. Cottered Village Hall, Baldock Road, Cottered SG9 9QW Christmas Fayre - Sunday 8 Dec 10am until 3pm; Meet Father Christmas, browse over 30 stalls selling everything you need. The Cloisters, Barrington Road, Letchworth SG6 3TH www.thecloisters.org.uk Abbots Langley Orchestra Autumn Concert -Sunday 8 Dec Conducted by Scott Wilson, this concert features up and coming clarinettist Max Mausen, a very experienced performer who

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regularly plays with several European Orchestras. St Lawrence Church, High Street, Abbots Langley WD5 0AS Christmas Fair -Sunday 8 Dec Fill yourself with festive cheer and your bags with festive goodies at our annual Christmas fair. Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall, Berkhamsted HP4 1LT Afternoon tea, with live music -Friday 13 Dec A delicious afternoon tea. Live music from our gorgeous baby grand. What could be more delightful? Join us for a traditional afternoon tea, with Mike Gifkins playing our lovely piano. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG3 3EW Jack and the Beanstalk- Friday 13 to Sunday 22 Dec Laughter-packed fun-filled family pantomime - starring Broadcaster and Saturday morning TV legend, Tiswas’ Sally James, CBBC Newsround presenter Hayley Cutts Eric Morecambe Theatre, Harpenden Public Halls, Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PD Hertford Choral Society Christmas Concert -Saturday 14 Dec "In the Christmas Spirit" Hertford Choral Society’s Christmas Concert with Catherine Evinson on saxophones and Heath Mount School Choir (BBC School Choir of the Year 2012). All Saints Church, Hertford SG13 8AE Christmas European Market -Saturday 14 Dec A European Market will be visiting Hoddesdon town centre again this year where visitors will be able to purchase gifts and food items from around Europe. High Street, Hoddesdon EN8 8TL The Grinch (PG) -Saturday 14 Dec Based on the famous book by Dr Seuss. Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. All the Whos love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives The Grinch (Jim Carrey). Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Santa’a Grotto- Saturday 14 to Tuesday 24 Dec See Father Christmas.Shepreth Wildlife Park, Station Road, Shepreth SG8 6PZ Peter Pan II - The Return -Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 Dec This Christmas Blag Theatre Company will be doing Peter Pan II- The Return. The Panto style show will be the first since the company formed 17 years. Pumphouse Theatre, Local Board Rd, Watford WD17 2JP Peter Pan the Musical -Sat 14, Sun 15, Wed 18, Fri 20 to Tue 24, Fri 27 to Tue 31 Dec In 1985 Piers Chater Robinson adapted J.M. Barrie’s book for the stage and now his innovative Peter Pan

the Musical score is well known and loved. The Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST Christmas music at Knebworth House- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Dec Take your seats in the splendid Banqueting Hall at Knebworth House, for a unique performance of festive music. Virtuoso American acoustic guitarist, Doyle Dykes, Knebworth House SG1 2AX Visit Father Christmas- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Dec Each 45 minute session includes a visit with Father Christmas, a Christmas craft making session and a present! Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall, Berkhamsted HP4 1LT A Traditional Christmas - A Concert for Grove House -Tuesday 17 Dec The Harpenden Choral Society will be performing their Christmas carol concert, A Traditional Christmas at 7:30 pm. Harpenden High Street Methodist Church AL5 2RU Bach Christmas Oratorio -Wednesday 18 Dec Bach: Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 sung in German by the exciting young chamber choir, Amici Voices, and accompanied by period instruments of Amici Baroque Players, leader Clare Salaman, High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden HAL5 2RU

Baby Blockbuster - The Santa Clause (U)- Thursday 19 Dec Superstar comedian and Golden Globe winner Tim Allen shines bright in Disney’s magical, larger-than-life hit comedy. Rooftop clatter leads to merry adventure after Santa falls down on the job Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Jazz at Christmas- Friday 20 Dec A great night of jazz standards and latin, with Andrei Pytaleu, piano; Trevor Whiting, saxophone; Tomas Pedersen, double bass; and Ronnie Fenn, drums. Licensed bar. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Red Riding Hood -Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Dec A young girl, a hungry wolf, and a walk through the woods – it sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Red Riding Hood’s not scared… well maybe she’s a little bit scared. Trestle Arts Base AL4 0JQ Christmas Crafternoon with Carols- Sunday 22 Dec Free Christmas crafts for children in the Café, with members of the LALG group, Singing for Pleasure, singing carols around the piano. Join in or just soak up the atmosphere. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

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Rumpelstiltskin and the Wheel of Fortune: Theatre of Widdershins -Monday 23 Dec Poor Polly Buckwheat, the Miller’s daughter, is in a bit of a pickle! If she doesn’t turn a roomful of straw into gold by morning, the greedy King will turn a bit nasty. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW The Very Snowy Christmas (3-7 years +) -Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 Dec Blunderbus A jolly holly snowy adventure! It’s the night before Christmas and Big Mouse and Little Mouse are putting up decorations. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Aladdin - SPADS annual pantomime- Friday 27 to Monday 30 Dec St. Francis’ College, Letchworth, SG6 3PJ

Beds Listings

Parent & Toddler Skate - til Friday 13 Dec Every Weekday at 11.00am. £9.00 for Parent & Toddler (5 years and under). Frosts at Willington MK44 3QP Ice Skating at Frosts Willington til Tuesday 24 Dec Get your skates on... The Ice Rink is back and it’s bigger and better! Open seven days a week. Frosts at Willington MK44 3QP Santa’s Grotto- til Tuesday 24 Dec This unique family experience lasts just over 45 minutes and is the ultimate way to visit Santa. Frosts at Willington MK44 3QP Meet Santa at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo -Sun 1, Sat 7, Sun 8, Sat 14, Sun 15, Wed 18 to Tue 24 Dec For a truly festive day out this winter, head to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo as it’s transformed into a winter wonderland packed full of festive fun. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo LU6 2LF Christmas Tree Festival- Sun 1 Dec Up to 100 trees in Leighton Buzzard’s historic parish church decorated to the theme "Joy to the World". This is a biennial event drawing thousands of people. All Saints Parish Church, Church Square, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1AE Festive Family Fun Trail- Sunday 1 Dec We need your help to solve our festive mystery! Bring along the whole family to crack the clues and earn your prize. Wrest Park, Silsoe Luton MK45 4HR Friends of Kabel Charity Xmas Fair- Sunday 1 Dec A great day out for the whole family. Come & get all of your Xmas presents & needs here! Stalls Arts & Crafts Food & Drink Santa’s Grotto Bromham Village Hall MK43 8JP

Christmas Tree Festival- Sunday 1 and Monday 2 Dec St Mary’s Church Eaton Bray LU6 2DP Open Day at Wrest Park Healing Centre- Sunday 1st December Gentle Touch Healing are holding an Open Day from 11 am to 4 pm at their Healing Centre. Free Healing, Free Chiropody advise, Free Therapy advice - free admission and refreshments provided. Wrest Park Enterprise Centre, Wrest Park, Silsoe MK45 4HS

Free Learning Lunchtime Talk- How Astrology Works- Monday 2 Dec Professional Astrologist Sue Fletcher talks about how Astrology can help in day to day life and times of change. Come and learn about the zodiac and get inspired on a cold, winter’s lunchtime! Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS Christmas Flower Arranging Demonstration- Tuesday 3 Dec Get in the Christmas spirit with floral arrangement demonstrations. Learn how to arrange a beautiful display of festive flowers and candles with the help of a highly skilled professional. Savin’s Wholesales, Vinegar Hall, Hatch, Nr Sandy SG19 1PR Alameda Middle School Christmas Craft Fayre -Friday 6 Dec Christmas Craft Fayre in the beautiful market town of Ampthill, 6pm until 8pm. Alameda Middle School, Station Road, Ampthill MK45 2QR Sleeping Beauty- Friday 6 to Sun 8, Fri 13, Sat 14 Dec Long, long ago, in a distant, magical land, there lived a King and Queen who longed for a child of their own. Many years passed, yet no son or daughter blessed their otherwise happy lives. Tads Theatre Conger Lane, Toddington LU5 6BT

Tree Dressing Day - Saturday 7 Dec Help us deck the halls! Join us to create festive Christmas tree decorations and lend a hand transforming the Centre into a Christmas wonderland. Chilterns Gateway Centre, Dunstable Road, Whipsnade LU6 2GY Winter Wonderland - Saturday 7 Dec The perfect day out for families to really get into the festive spirit. There’s plenty to do, including visiting Father Christmas in his magical grotto. The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH

Westoning Christmas Bazaar -Saturday 7 Dec Come along and join the fun. See Santa in his grotto, and take a look around the stalls selling gift ideas as well as the usual tombola

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and raffle. Refreshments and cakes. Westoning Lower School, High Street, Westoning MK45 5JH “A Truly Traditional Christmas!” presented by Bedford Gallery Quire -Saturday 7 Dec Carols, Christmas hymns and Glees. A really old fashioned start to the Christmas season. The Quire bring to life music from the West Gallery period (1700 – 1850). Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ Christmas Fair -Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Dec Visit this 2 day event and purchase your Christmas Tree from the Greensand Trust and Christmas gifts from local suppliers and crafts people. There is something for everyone. Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Road, Heath & Reach LU7 0EB Christmas Tree Festival -Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Dec A display of about 40 Christmas trees, decorated by families, schools, local groups and businesses, with a programme of Christmas music and seasonal refreshments. United Reformed Church, 120 High Street, Harrold MK43 7BJ Christmas Tree Festival - Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Dec Come along to the Forest Centre’s yearly Winter Wonderland, and get everything you need to make this year’s Christmas perfect. Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Festive Family Fun Trail - Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Dec We need your help to solve our festive mystery at Wrest Park! Bring along the whole family to crack the clues and earn your prize. An English Heritage event. Wrest Park, Silsoe Luton MK45 4HR Dunton Folk - Blast From the Past in Concert -Saturday 7 Dec ‘A Victorian Christmas’ is a festive exploration of the Yuletide our ancestors would have known. St Mary Magdalene Church, Dunton, Biggleswade SG18 8RR A Choral Christmas - Saturday 7 Dec Luton Choral Society present Mass in G by Schubert; In Terra Pax by Finzi; Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams and Navidad Nuestra by Ramirez. St Mary’s Church, Church Street, Luton LU1 3JF Christmas and Craft Fair -Sunday 8 Dec Featuring handmade or gifts not found on the high street from cakes - to jewellery to textiles also those special Christmas gifts and stocking fillers. Sandy Holiday Inn, Girtford Bridge, London Rd, Sandy SG19 1NA

Christmas Bazaar and Santa’s Grotto- Sun 8, Sun 15, Sun 22 Dec Get in the Christmas mood, bring the children to our Bazaar with bags of festive happenings & free seasonal tasting. Chilterns Gateway Centre, Dunstable Road, Whipsnade LU6 2GY Alice in Wonderland - The Panto - Tuesday 10 Dec Its Panto Time. The Wootton Country Players presents their annual pantomime. Can Mabel, Alice’s mother, rescue Alice and defeat the Queen of Hearts. Wootton Village Hall, Church Road, Wootton MK42 9AP

Carol Concert -Tuesday 10 Dec Join in the Christmas celebrations at Wrest Park with carols sung in the stunning surroundings of the Library. A glass of wine or soft drink is included in the ticket price. An English Heritage event. Wrest Park, Silsoe Luton MK45 4HR The David Gordon Trio In Concert -Friday 13th Dec 8pm - one of Britain's finest jazz trios in concert: David Gordon (piano), Jonty Fisher (double bass) & Paul Cavaciuti (drums). The Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Lane, Willen Park South MK15 9JY. Tickets £12 / £10 concessions. Box Office 0844 870 0887 or online: ticketsource/chrysalismk.co.uk Disco On Ice! - Friday 13 Dec Come down and boogie on the ice! Price includes Mulled Wine drink, glow stick, ice skating all night and a disco! Tickets cost £12.50 each. From 7.00pm to 10.00pm. Frosts at Willington MK44 3QP Bedford Concert Brass Concert- Saturday 14 Dec A selection of seasonal music played by the Bedford Concert Brass with a mince pie and mulled wine in the interval. St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Maulden MK45 2AU Treetops Christmas Fayre -Saturday 14 Dec You are invited to our Christmas Fayre. Come along and meet Santa Claus, create your own sparkly snowflakes, deign your very own Christmas Collage, have fun decorating festive biscuits and much more. Treetops Nursery, 7 Medusa Way, Sandy SG19 1TH

Real Arts and Crafts - Saturday 14 Dec Craft fair featuring a wide range of high quality crafts including cards, jewellery of various kinds, ceramics, knitted and sewn goods, cakes, jams, pictures, silverwork. Woburn Sands Memorial Hall MK17 8RH Kid’s Christmas Party - with games, Santa and disco! - Saturday 14 Dec Come and celebrate with your kids’ in Forest Centre style with a disco, party games and a chance to meet Santa

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and get a present. Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS Christmas Tree Festival and Fayre -Saturday 14 Dec For the second year running All Saints’ Church is having a Christmas Tree Festival and Fayre in the Church. There will be refreshments available as well as various stalls. All Saints’ Church Houghton Regis LU5 5UB

Festive Family Fun Trail -Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Dec We need your help to solve our festive mystery at Wrest Park! Bring along the whole family to crack the clues and earn your prize. An English Heritage event. Wrest Park, Silsoe Luton MK45 4HR

Biggleswade Antiques Fair -Sunday 15 Dec Over 45 stalls offering a range of antiques from jewellery, glass, china, pictures, postcards, kitchenalia and militaria. Popular cafe serving lunches, hot and cold drinks. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JH Swing into Christmas with the Ian Bufton Big Band - Sunday 15 Dec A night of Big Band Christmas music & Christmas Carols with the Ian Bufton Big Band. Clapham Club, Bedford MK41 6AG

Christmas Arty Crafty at Snakes & Ladders -Thursday 19 Dec Christmas Arty Crafty Little ones can join in a special Festive themed Arty Crafty Session from 11am to 12 noon. Encourage them express their creativity. Snakes and Ladders, Blackburn Road, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5BQ Christmas with The Blue Rinse Band - Friday 20 Dec Ultimate Christmas Party not to be missed... The Blue Rinse know how to party!! The 5 piece outfit from Bedfordshire play Rock and Pop, Jazz, Funk, Soul and Disco. Dunstable Conference Centre (formerly cubes) 51 High Street, Dunstable, LU6 1LF Whole Lotta Led/Led Zeppelin Concert- Saturday 21 Dec Whole Lotta Led were originally formed as No Quarter in 1993 playing a wide variety of rock standards, their own original compositions as well as the odd Led Zeppelin number. Haynes Village Concert Hall, Northwood End Road, Haynes MK45 3QB Festive Family Fun Trail - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Dec We need your help to solve our festive mystery at Wrest Park! Bring along the whole family to crack the clues and earn your prize. Wrest Park, Silsoe Luton MK45 4HR

Family Fun Night- Sunday 22 Dec 5.00pm – 8.00pm Enjoy a fun filled evening of ice skating, entertainment and food. Included in the ticket price; welcome drink and mince pie on arrival. Frosts at Willington MK44 3QP

Father Christmas Fly In at The Shuttleworth Collection- Monday 23 Dec Rudolph and his friends are having a rest before their long journey on Christmas Eve, so whilst they are sleeping, Father Christmas has asked his elf to fly him in his aeroplane to visit us here. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade SG18 9EP

Bucks Listings Traditional Christmas - Sunday 1 Dec Special winter opening for a festive weekend. See the historic buildings festooned in traditional Christmas decorations. Buy Christmas presents from our local crafts stalls. Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4AB Taster Art and Craft series - 3D Portraiture in Clay - Sunday 1 Dec Enjoy learning the techniques of creating a portrait head in clay – a skill which can be used time and again. This two day workshop is led by a professional sculptor, Dianne Rogoff. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX Santa’s Magical Adventure at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Sunday 1 Dec The fun starts the moment you arrive! You will be shown to your reserved seats on the steam train where you will be joined by Santa. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY Hug a Husky at Waddesdon Manor - Sun 1, Sat 7, Sun 8, Sat 14, Sun 15, Sat 21, Sun 22 Dec This year we are delighted to have Siberian Huskies and a dog sled outside the Alpine Chalet at the Coach House. Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, off the A41 between Aylesbury and Bicester HP18 0JH Buzzwangling Advent Calendars at The Roald Dahl Museum- Sunday 1 Dec For 6+ years: create a crodswoggling calendar to hang on your wall, with your own secret message or design under each window flap. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Winslow Farmers Market - Sun 1 Dec Local produce from Award Winning Producers: Wild Boar, Beef, Lamb, Poultry, Ostrich, Game, Goat, Artisan Breads, Organic Flour, Free Range Eggs,

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Puddings, Pies, Wines, Spirits, Vegetables, Fruit. Market Square, Winslow MK18 3HF Christmas Gift and Speciality Fair- Sunday 1, Sun 8, Sun 15 Dec An ideal opportunity to buy that extra special present from the wide selection of crafts and gifts on offer. Market Square, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP20 1TW Chiddlers’ Hour at The Roald Dahl Museum- Tuesday 3 Dec For 0 to 3 years: this week we are joining Fantastic Mr Fox and his friends. There will be animals, singing, and a tunnel obstacle course. Squash and biscuits will be served.81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Christmas wreath-making workshop - Tuesday 3 Dec Create a fantastic centrepiece for Christmas with this special event arranged by the Friends of Amersham Museum. You can watch a demonstration of how to make a wreath or table centre and then make your own. Amersham Museum, 49 High Street, Amersham HP7 0DP Chantel McGregor - Double Award Winner Plays with Mostly Autumn- Wednesday 4 Dec Chantel has stepped out in the pro-musician world and her stunning performances in her rock blues trio, are proving that this is rock blues for the new age. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU How to make Perfect Mulled Wine (and other tastes of christmas) - Wednesday 4 Dec Enjoy and evening of mulled wine making and tastings, choose the perfect wine to accompany Christmas dinner and sample some festive foods. With some historical (or hysterical) food facts thrown in. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX Family History Talk: Wartime Christmas -Wednesday 4 Dec Edna Dickenson performs her seasonal ’show & tell’ ’Wartime Christmas’ talk, demonstrating how women coped in the kitchen during World War II. Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB Talk on Amersham author, Arthur Machen- Wednesday 4 Dec This year sees the museum is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Welsh writer Arthur Machen (1863-1947) who retired to Amersham in 1929. Amersham Museum, 49 High Street, Amersham HP7 0DP The Bootleg Beatles- Thursday 5 Dec Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury HP20 1UG

Discover Dahl’s Archives at The Roald Dahl Museum- Saturday 7 Dec For 10+ years: a behind-the-scenes look at our archive store

which houses Roald Dahl’s manuscripts and letters, with Collections manager and archivist, Rachel White. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Poetry to Go! At The Roald Dahl Museum- Saturday 7 Dec For all ages: meet our Big Friendly Poet in Residence, Paul Lyalls, who will be spending the day writing in our replica of Roald Dahl’s chair. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Newton Longville Manor Christmas Bazaar in support of Macmillan Cancer Support -Saturday 7 Dec Come & soak up the cosy festive atmosphere in the beautiful setting of Newton Longville Manor. Stalls will be selling everything from Jewellery, Christmas gifts and cards, jams & pickles. The Manor House, Church End, Newton Longville MK17 0AG The Crowning of the Year - Choral Concert -Saturday 7 Dec Great Missenden Choral Society will be performing ’Zadok The Priest’ by Handel, C.P.E.Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s ’Coronation’ Mass. Great Missenden Parish Church, Church Lane, Great Missenden HP16 0BA

Santa’s Magical Adventure at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre- Saturday 7, Sunday 8, Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Saturday 21, Sunday 22 Dec. The fun starts the moment you arrive! You will be shown to your reserved seats on the steam train where you will be joined by Santa. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY Dickens of a Christmas - Sunday 8 Dec Bring the fun back into Christmas by joining the local residents of Historic Olney as they celebrate this annual event. 2 Markets, loads of stalls & themed entertainment. Olney MK46 4EA Copes Farm Christmas Fayre - Sunday 8 Dec Fun Filled outing for the family with carol singers, mulled wine, food & drinks, Father Christmas and Christmas stalls selling ladies handbags, scarves, jewellery & Christmas decorations. Copes Farm, Spurlands End Road, Great Kingshill HP15 6HZ Splendiferous Christmas Stockings at The Roald Dahl Museum -Sunday 8 Dec For 6+ years: get crafty with colourful fabric and marvellous materials to brighten up a smelly old sock all ready for Christmas! 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Chiddlers’ Hour at The Roald Dahl Museum- Tuesday 10 Dec For 0 to 3 years: in this last

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session of the year, we’ll be having fun based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We’ll design colourful swirly sweets from play dough. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Santa Days -Saturday 14 Dec Come and meet Santa, He will be riding on all our trains. Caldecotte Miniature Railway, Caldecotte Lake Bletcham Way, Bletchley MK7 8HP

Olney Christmas Vintage Fair- Saturday 14 Dec Our last fair of the year before the Christmas holidays, join us in Olney for some last minute vintage shopping. St Peter & St Paul’s Church Hall, Church Street, Olney MK46 4AA

Winter Wonderland -Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 Dec A family fun week with plenty of activities for all Santa and reindeer each child will have the opportunity of meeting live reindeer and seeing Santa’s magic sled while having a chat to the man. Emberton Country Park MK46 5FJ Crackling Christmas Crafts at The Roald Dahl Museum-Saturday 14 Dec For 6+ years: get ready for Christmas by making your own Scandinavian-inspired Christmas decorations including poppy rotting pop-up cards, tantalising treat cones and crackling Christmas gnomes.81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Christmas Fair and Carolfest - Sunday 15 Dec The Free Christmas Fair starts at 11am, with a hole sackful of entertainment. Mr Alexander rolls into town with his traditional travelling variety show in tow. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TT

Christmas rapping with the Big Friendly Poet at The Roald Dahl Museum -Sunday 15 Dec For 5+ years: be inspired to write some Roald Dahl-themed Christmas poetry in this splendiferous session with Paul Lyalls, our Big Friendly Poet in Residence. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Charity Concert - Monday 16 Dec A really fun musical evening of seasonal songs and anecdotes by this well known and very popular ladies choir. St Edward the Confessor Church, Burchards Crescent, Shenley Church End. Milton Keynes MK5 6DX Squizzled Scandinavian Biscuits at The Roald Dahl Museum - Friday 20 Dec For 6+ years: create a delumptious treat for Christmas by decorating some Scandinavian ginger biscuits with white icing designs. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Mother Goose -Saturday 21, Sun 22, Fri 27 to Sun 29 Dec, Wed 1 Jan to Sat 4 Jan The award winning* Dreams ‘n’ Wishes team bring the Eggs Factor to the best little panto in Milton Keynes! Stantonbury Campus Theatre, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes MK14 6BN

Fantabulous fairies and elves at The Roald Dahl Museum- Saturday 21 Dec For 5+ years: make some fantabulous fairies and elves out of craft materials, and take them home to make a Christmassy display. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Carols by the Lake -Sunday 22 Dec Join The Parks Trust for our annual festive afternoon of Christmas carol singing. Bring a lantern and wrap up warm. Willen Hospice, Milton Keynes MK15 9AB Scandinavian Hearts at The Roald Dahl Museum -Sunday 22 Dec Drop-in craft activity for all ages: weave a wondercrump traditional Scandinavian paper heart to take home and hang on your Christmas tree.81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Special Christmas Market Trio- Tuesday 24 Dec Get everything you need for Christmas on one day as our three markets come together. Come to the festive market and buy your veg. and all those luxury items that make your Christmas dinner stand out. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TW Swishwhiffling Snowman Trail at The Roald Dahl Museum -Friday 27 Dec For all ages: follow the Snowmen to find out fantabulous facts about the Museum and win a special treat. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Christmas Holiday Steam-Up! - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 Dec Mince Pie Specials. Get out of the house for a breath of fresh air; take the children out of Granny’s hair, at this all-weather attraction! Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Wintry MinPin trees at The Roald Dahl Museum -Saturday 28 Dec For 5+ years: create a wondercrump wintry home for the MinPins using recycled materials, a bit of imagination and plenty of magic.81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Phizzwhizzing Printing at The Roald Dahl Museum- Sunday 29 Dec For 5+ years: come and learn terrific printing techniques with our in house artist, Danielle. Bring old clothes - you

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could get marvellously messy! 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

New Year’s Eve Ball 2013 : Motown with Sahara - Tuesday 31 Dec Celebrate the start of the New Year with Sahara! Come along to an evening of quality entertainment starting from 7:00pm. Come and dance the night away being

entertained by Sahara C. Children welcome. Jurys Inn Milton Keynes, Midsummer Boulevard MK9 2HP

January 2014

Herts Listings

Horrible Histories: Creative Drama/Craft Workshop with Box of Frogs Theatre School- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 Jan Frightful fun, vile jokes, revolting recipes. Just the thing to give 5- to 11-year olds a great start to the New Year. Two creative drama/craft workshops with a Horrible Histories theme. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Landscapes, Cityscapes and Townscapes: Photography by Dipesh Soneji- Friday 3 Jan to Friday 31 Jan Dipesh Soneji is an amateur photographer and the man behind the photography website We Are Photons, a name inspired by his passion for science. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Pantomime: Puss In Boots- Friday 10 to Sun 12, Thu 16 to Sat 18 Jan A pantomime dame, an ogre, a princess, a fairy and a hero. Broxbourne Civic Theatre, Hoddesdon EN11 8BE Pentatonic- Saturday 11 Jan Pentatonic (String Quartet) - Beethoven | Britten | Bruckner | Mendelssohn Pentatonic is a string quintet (two violins, two violas and cello) made up of friends Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX Mum2Mum Market - Nearly New Sale -Saturday 11 Jan Our award winning pop-up indoor markets are coming to Ware. Sell your children’s outgrown stuff and keep 100% of the proceeds. It’s fun, easy and hassle free. No selling fees. The Riverside Hall, Age Concern Centre, Priory Street, Ware SG12 0DE The World of Wallace’- Wednesday 15 Jan An evening of illustrated talks on Alfred Russel Wallace with Errol Fuller and Dr Sandra Knapp Hertford Theatre SG14 1PS

Hay Fever by Noël Coward- Friday 17, Sat 18, Mon 20 to Sat 25 Jan Coward’s classic comedy of English eccentricity sees the four self-centred members of the Bliss family each inviting a guest for the weekend without telling the others. The Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST Hendrix and Cream Classic Rock/Blues Night, featuring Voodoo Room- Saturday 18 Jan Classic rock and blues from this exciting new classic power trio featuring the music of Hendrix and Cream. Some of the UK’s finest musicians in a kicking, world class show of total appreciation Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Letchworth Sinfonia Concert - Sunday 19th Jan Letchworth Sinfonia will be performing their annual winter concert. Letchworth Free Church, Norton Way South, Letchworth SG6 3HS Big Garden Birdwatch -Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 Jan Join with thousands of other people across the country for this national event. Count the birds in your garden for one hour, or come and do your count at Rye Meads. Rye Meads nature reserve, Rye Road, Stanstead Abbots SG12 8JS Ultimate Elton and The Rocket Band -Friday 31 Jan Barry Collins Entertainment presents: Ultimate Elton and The Rocket Man Some tribute artists look like their idol, some sound like their idol. Paul Bacon as Elton John does both! Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX Blast Off- Friday 31 Jan A great new show from the acclaimed Kid Carpet. For children from 4 upwards. Kid Carpet and The Noisy Animals are back, with a brand new adventure. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Beds Listings

Music at St Mary’s - New Year’s Concert -Tuesday 14 Jan St Mary’s answer to the New Year’s Day concert from Vienna. Performed by Aylesbury Concert Band the programme will feature waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and marches. St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray LU6 2DP

Skeptics in the Pub -Thursday 16 Jan Stevyn Colgan is ’The Skeptical Bobby’. Here he talks about his experiences in the Police where he found himself frequently challenging the traditional or ‘accepted’ ways of doing things. The White Horse, Newham Ave, Bedford MK41 9PX

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Philharmonia Orchestra: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons -Saturday 18 Jan Spring into the New Year and make getting back into Classical Music your New Year’s Resolution by celebrating the weekend with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL Biggleswade Antiques Fair -Sunday 19 Jan Over 45 stalls offering a range of antiques from jewellery, glass, china, pictures, postcards, kitchenalia and militaria. Popular cafe serving lunches, hot and cold drinks. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JH Bedford Sinfonia - A Birthday Concert with the ’WOW’ Factor -Saturday 25 Jan Mozart - Overture to ’The Magic Flute’, Schumann - Konzertstuck for 4 horns, Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 ’Choral’. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square MK40 1LE Table Top Sale -Saturday 25 Jan Come along and spend a few hours browsing the stalls at our popular Table Top Sale. We are anticipating a lot of stall holders so there will be a wealth of goodies to buy! Ashton St Peters Lower School, Leighton Court, Dunstable LU6 1EW Wyboston Lakes Wedding Fayre- Sunday 26 Jan This event is set in the lovely Willows Centre which is a beautiful, venue for a stunning wedding with lots of space, on site accommodation for all as well as a beautiful courtyard garden! The Willows Centre, Wyboston Lakes, Wyboston MK44 3AL

Bucks Listings

Mother Goose -Wed 1 Jan to Sat 4 Jan The award winning* Dreams ‘n’ Wishes team bring the Eggs Factor to the best little panto in Milton Keynes! Stantonbury Campus Theatre, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes MK14 6BN

Eatable Marshmallow Pillows at The Roald Dahl Museum- Thursday 2 Jan For 6+ years: come and make this delicious invention from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes. Channel your inner Wonka and make a mini pillow out of royal icing and marshmallows. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL Rhyming Resolutions at The Roald Dahl Museum -Friday 3 Jan For 5+ years: Paul Lyalls, our Big Friendly Poet in Residence, will perform some of his whizzpopping poetry and then inspire you to write some resolution rhymes. Write about the New Year resolutions. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Family History Talk: A Journey To Station X- Wednesday 8 Jan The Bletchley Park Story: British Signals Intelligence and code breaking up until the start of, and during WWII. How Winston Churchill organised funding to maintain over 10,000 staff. Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB

Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show- Friday 10 Jan It’s fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into town, with a sensational show featuring The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century! Wonderful memories of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jnr. Wycombe Swan, St. Mary Street, High Wycombe HP11 2XE "Honk!" - the musical version of ’The Ugly Duckling’ -Wednesday 22 to Sat 25 Jan "Honk!" is an award-winning musical version of Hans Christian Andersen’s ’The Ugly Duckling’ and is being performed by Chesham Bois Catholic Players. The Elgiva Theatre, St Mary’s Way, Chesham HP5 1HR S.S.Shanty! 2- Friday 24 Jan You’re only supposed to blow the b****y man down! Return of the naughty-cal evening of shanties and maritime songs, with Five Men Not Called Matt once again at the helm. York House Centre, London Road, Stony Stratford MK11 1JQ Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show -Saturday 25 Jan It’s fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into town, with a sensational show featuring The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century! Wonderful memories of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jnr. Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UG Limericks & Similaricks -Tuesday 28 Jan Rhymesters! Versifiers! Doggerelites! Get your Pobbleheads on and create some Limerick-style pieces for a jolly evening celebrating this genre. York House Centre, London Road, Stony Stratford MK11 1JQ

To be included in future listings

Email: thesticks9@gmail.com

Putting ‘Listings’ in the subject line, giving

details of your event and contact details.

Deadline for February Issue

15th January

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