Aug2015

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2015 ISSUE 51

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

August 2015

Argan Oil

Perfect boost for your whole body

Margarita Medley

Celestyal Odyssey

A treatment good enough to eat

Takes us on a Greek adventure

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

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Welcome...

Hi Everyone Cruising – They say you either love it or hate it, we tried it for ourselves with a 6 day tour round the stunning Greek Islands with Celestyal Cruises (page 64) and I have to say we LOVED it, so much so we’re planning our next one right now!

Have you ever dreamt of going on safari and getting up close and personal with the animals, but the thought of going half way across the world and having to take out a second mortgage to do so has put you off? Then you will love the little adventure we took with the animals at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the Bedfordshire countryside, not only did we get up close and personal we actually slept with them! Turn to page 68 to read more.

Happy Holidays

The well loved children’s classic Alice in Wonderland is 150 years old this year, so to do our bit we have brought together some of our favourite products based on this much loved Lewis Carroll story, (page 48).

Jane x

It’s all about family fun this month at Milton Keynes Theatre when Shrek comes to visit; we have a family ticket to giveaway to this hilariously funny show turn to page 60 to see how you can win.

We are always being seen here, there and everywhere, so we thought we’d introduce a new feature so that we can share with you where we’ve been, (page 72), you never know you may even spot yourself in one of our pictures.

Cover Image: Sandrine Dress www.damselinadress.co.uk

Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 01234 962106 - 07507 602401 Advertising: jane@affinitymag.co.uk 01234 962106 - 07507 602401 Graphic Design and Photography: David Zita dave@affinitymag.co.uk www.affinitymag.co.uk facebook.com/AffinityMag @affinitymagz

linkedin.com/pub/jane-zita-fry

All adverts are printed in good faith. Affinity cannot take responsibility for the content of adverts. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are accurate. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.Printed in the UK by Regal Litho 01908 270400.

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CONTENTS

12 Gut Feeling 16 Summer Hair Updates 19 Hot Picks

26 Lace Luxe 31 Tassle Talk 34 Socialite

38 Summer In Salford 43 Rosé Tinted Bottles 50 Retro revisited

52 55 58 70 74

Blue Hues Surf’s Up All The Rolls Summer Getaway A Quiet Night In

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What does your kitchen mean to you?

Ltd GERMAN handleless kitchens NOW installed

Forget the sales hype just give us a try, you WILL be pleasantly surprised

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Argan Oil

The Ideal Beauty Boost for your Hair and Skin

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Beauty glow: Add 2-3 drops of Argan oil to your foundation, bronzer or tinted moisturizer to create that dewy natural glow to your skin.

ummer is well and truly here and its time to enjoy the sunshine. Whether you are sunning in the park or on that long awaited holiday there is ONE beauty essential that will keep you looking radiant from head to toe – Argan Oil.

Sexy hands & feet: Say bye-bye to cracked nails and heels because Argan oil is perfect for skin softening.

Argan Oil originally comes from Morocco where it has been used as both a food and a beauty treatment for centuries. It is super versatile and great for holidays and your handbag - because the one product can do so much.

Massage Argan oil onto your nails and cuticles regularly to keep them soft and promote growth.

Suhara Philgence from Afrodite Wigs has some summer beauty tips on how to get the best from your Argan Oil :

For cracked heels, massage a generous amount onto your feet and toes then cover your feet with socks overnight.

Soak your heels in lukewarm water and use a pumice stone to scrub away stubborn dead skin. Dry your feet and moisturise with a light layer of Argan oil before slipping into your sexy summer sandals. And because it’s nongreasy and absorbs into the skin very quickly it won’t ruin your sandals.

Hair Care: For instant lustre and shine - massage a teeny amount of Argan oil between the palms of your hands and massage evenly through your hair from root to tips.

All day conditioner & frizz controller – apply a small amount of Argan oil to freshly washed, damp hair or even dry hair to control frizz and quench your hair’s thirst. You only need a tiny amount and it will keep frizz at bay all day.

Did you know?

Argan oil is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Omega 6.

Omega 6 has been scientifically proven to protect and nourish the skin, and there is plenty of Omega 6 in Argan oil.

Prevent Sun Damage: Argan oil is a natural sun protector of around SPF15.

We often underestimate the damage sun exposure can do to our skin and hair, including premature wrinkles and sagging. Argan oil is intensely hydrating and rich in vitamin E, so it’s perfect for protecting your skin at the poolside.

It has anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, and can improve the appearance of skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and chickenpox.

Argan Oil is one of nature’s great beauty boosts. To get the full benefits make sure you choose 100% organic Argan oil – just the way nature intended, and just the way women have been using it for thousands of years.

Simply moisturise your skin and hair with a few drops before going out in the sun – your hair and skin will be hydrated and protected, and you’ll look great for longer.

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Is your Fight or Flight Reflex “It’s a gut feeling, my stomach is in knots, and I have butterflies in my stomach.”

We all know the feeling of nervous excitement, or that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Our language is peppered with these kinds of phrases linking our stomach to our emotions, but actually there is a root to these expressions that could be causing stress in your everyday life.

one can cause dysfunction in the other one. Through the Central Nervous System the brain sends signals to the gut which can make you feel sick with nerves, and vice versa.

“This link dates back to our cave dwelling roots.

Transforming food into usable energy is a complex procedure and takes a lot of resources,” explains Renew Life’s expert nutritionist Caroline Harmer. “Typically, in fight or flight situations our bodies would divert energy

The Brain-Gut axis theory is simple, and links emotions to your digestive system, explaining how an imbalance in 12

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away from peaceful processes like digestion, and instead prepare our bodies for action – so we avoid danger. The digestive system will work better in a ‘rest and digest’ state rather than the fight or flight mode,” explains Caroline.

2. Rest and Digest: Take time out to eat lunch away from your desk.

Focussing on your meal and chewing your food thoroughly allows you to digest your food effectively.

Healthy digestion ensures that you are absorbing the maximum amount of nutrients from your food and prevents bloating and digestive issues. This relaxed state can bring a feeling of contentment and balance to both your digestive system, and your mind.

So what does this have to do with stress?

In modern life we are constantly experiencing low level stress so we’ve become programmed to be in a fight or flight mode, which can interfere with our digestive health.

This, combined with regular exposure to toxins such as air pollution, household cleaners, processed food and drinking water can all negatively affect our metabolism, makes us feel sluggish and increases stress levels.

Up to 90% of the feel good hormone serotonin is produced in the digestive tract2, “Toxic load reduces serotonin levels, which can cause low mood and contribute to digestive issues,” explains Caroline.

3. Swim for Serotonin: We know that exercise is great for cardiovascular health but it’s also great for the brain. Many studies show that regular exercise elevates serotonin levels in the brain, reducing stress levels and improving general wellbeing.

However, certain exercises can raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol and put stress on the joints, so try swimming instead. It's a fantastic, non weight bearing exercise to help you tone and relax at the same time.

Top Tips to Detoxify and Destress

4. Reduce your toxic load with Renew Life’s CleanseSMART (RRP £29.99)*: Environmental toxins can build up within our body overtime and create a toxic load. This can place our bodies under stress as we try to reduce toxicity through our elimination channels.

Luckily there are things we can do to detoxify and de-stress, promoting harmony between our digestive system and mind.

Digestive healthcare experts, Renew Life (www.renewlife.co.uk) has teamed up with leading nutritionist, Kim Pearson to share her top tips for maintaining a healthy bodybrain balance. “Many of us experience emotional stress on a daily basis but we are often less aware of the stress that environmental toxins can have on our body. By taking a few simple steps we help reduce the stress load on our bodies” says Kim.

CleanseSMART is a 30 day advanced all-natural herbal cleansing programme designed to stimulate the removal of toxins through the body’s 7 channels of elimination: the liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, blood, skin, and lymphatic system.

(Available from As Nature Intended, Planet Organic and Wholefoods).

CleanseSMART is a 2 part cleanse.

The first part is a herbal organ detox formula (take two capsules in the morning with water). The second part is a colon cleansing formula (take two capsules in the evening).

1. Get some Happy Headspace: Destress by taking time for yourself and clearing your mind. Meditation has countless proven health benefits from reducing stress and improving general wellbeing to possibly even slowing the rate at which we age. Start by doing just ten minutes per day and aim to build up to half an hour. You'll soon start to see improvements in your day to day life.

Written by Kim Pearson (leading BANT Nutritionist and member of the Complementary & Healthcare Council) 13

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Invisiblur

One of our favourite product houses Murad have launched its Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30. This new multi-tasking product contains a multi-benefit formula featuring invisible SPF technology designed to deliver an anti-ageing treatment with blurring and priming benefits. A moisturiser and sunscreen for flawless skin in just one step.

Priced at £55 and available from John Lewis, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. This formula will work to promote total skin perfection.

BEAUTY UPDATES

Organic Hands

Neal’s Yard remedies have just introduced the Organic Hand Defence Spray, an on-the-go antibacterial product that kills 99.9% of bacteria. The blend of soothing witch hazel water and pure blend of essential oils, including lemongrass, nialou and vetiver make this the perfect hand cleanser to keep in your handbag.

Available in stores and online for £6.50.

A Taste of Fruit

Miu Miu Debut Fragrance

This month sees the launch of the debut fragrance from fashion brand Miu Miu. . This soft, fresh, ingénue scent is set against a deep earth-toned background: the wood and pepper of Akigalawood, an extract of patchouli. The bottle will look good on any dressing table with its soft blue-pillowed opaque glass, reminiscent of Miu Miu’s signature matelassé, with a white matte collar and translucent red disk. Prices start at £48 and is available exclusively at Harrods from 1st August and nationwide from September.

The new Lanolips 101 Fruities collection feels as if you have the real fruit in your mouth. Available in three variants, including Strawberry, Peach and Apple flavours. Each one has all the healing, hydrating and multipurpose benefits of lanolin. Apple contains vitamins and antioxidants, offering natural environmental protection. Peach kernel’s light oil is easily absorbed into the skin and helps revive with a combination of vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Strawberry contains natural AHA’s, helping to remove dead skin cells for healthy, youthful looking lips and skin.

Priced at £7.99 each and exclusive to feelunique.com - there’s no excuse not to get all 3!

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MAC & Giambattista Valli Lipstick Collaboration I am loving the collection of these 5 limited edition lipsticks. Not only does the case match the lipstick colour but all 5 lipstick colours are a hit with BIANCA B (pale whitepink), TATS (bright hot pink), MARGHERITA (yellow bright peach), CHARLOTTE (rich yellowred), and EUGENIE (dark cherry with blue undertone); the only problem is which one to wear – priced at £17 each from Fenwick Bond Street, Harvey Nichols London, Harrods, Selfridges, selfridges.com and maccosmetics.co.uk.

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Summer Hair Updates We take a look at the latest hair care products to keep your hair looking its best during the summer months

Philip Kingsley Geranium Neroli Elasticizer £31.50

Balance Me Protect and Shine Shampoo & Conditioner £10 Each

SAMY Fat Hair No Powder Dry Shampoo £5.99 Superdrug

Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray £9.95

Redken Frizz Dismiss Range From £13

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Hairspray £8

label.m Honey & Oat Mask £15.75

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Midlife Madness Concerns, Contradictions and a Few Complaints

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everal things have occurred to me recently that have either got me wondering, or questioning or well, (out of character as it may be) complaining.

The other day having trodden in some dog poop, which is downright irritating, I found myself reminded of my childhood when, quite frankly, it was an ever present hazard – not a red dog poop bin in sight back in the day!

Although I am definitely in favour of them, I just wish every-one would use them, I found myself wondering why does the same not apply to horses because trust me some of the tracks I use on my bike are littered with horse poop.

I can see you’d need big bins and bags etc – but it’s not just country roads – in Milton Keynes the police horses are all around the town! And although I can see the problem with extending the scheme to cats, I know some gardeners who get thoroughly fed up with cats (not their own) using certain areas of their garden as a free for all facility! It just all seemed a bit illogical to me.

via that much loved figure - the traffic warden with his/her seemingly never ending stream of fixed penalty fines. I get it because presumably if you contravene said restrictions there could be an element of danger. But what I really don’t get is the fact that you can be fined for parking in a car park and staying over your time. OK so you stayed longer than you planned, I’m guessing you met a mate you hadn’t seen in ages, and the quick coffee turned seamlessly into a bottle of prosecco and a pizza!

Obviously the time on your car parking ticket was not uppermost on your mind and don’t we want to encourage people back into the town centres of this green and glorious land? So a £25 or £30 fine for being a bit late back to your car which is parked in A CAR PARK seems heavy handed at best. Surely you could just pay the extra on your ticket. It is a car park, and having cars park in it is what it was carefully designed for? So presumably it isn’t dangerous, or even that inconvenient, if they remain there just a little longer!!

Now I am not sure if I am alone in this next one, but I suspect not, in fact I think every day there must be hundreds of folk who wander around wiping wet hands on their clothes. Why, because of the advent of hot air hand dryers. Now some are excellent and you can achieve an acceptable level of dryness in an acceptable time frame. Others quite simply are not. So the choice is an extended time holding hands in a weak and feeble stream of hot air (some are so poor that it would probably be as quick to simply blow on my hands) and you either take ages with a long queue forming behind or give up and do ‘the wipe’ usually on your clothes because paper towels seem to have become extinct! I get the argument about the environment and trees but it can’t be good or hygienic to have everyone wandering round with wet hands either!

I also understand why we have parking restrictions, you know yellow lines and street parking that you pay for at certain times. I also ‘get’ that this needs to be enforced,

As for hand luggage on flights, well don’t get me started. I know it’s cheaper and easier to fly with just hand luggage and I often do, but surely the term hand luggage means that it should at least be liftable! I know some airlines now have a size restriction, I get that, but no weight restriction – foolish surely because lots of folk can’t actually lift their luggage into the lockers. I mean it does make for a good spectator sport watching people struggle to get their wheelie hand luggage case up the steps of the plane puffing and panting only to look utterly defeated as they see the overhead lockers and know there is no way they could lift that little (or large) number over their heads.

Anyway at least in planes people have to separate themselves from their luggage, not so on trains and tubes as peoples girths are doubled by bulky rucksacks they seem to forget they are wearing and remain oblivious to the trail of countless other passengers felled by said rucksack – but that’s a whole other story.

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Ted Baker Cascading Floral Cabin Case £199, caseluggage.com

French Sole Henrietta National Ballet LE £120, frenchsole.com

Isabel Marant Fuji Bracelet £35, irisfashion.co.uk

AFFINITY Radley Bloomsbury Small Grab Bag £75, Radley.co.uk

ISSA Electric Toothbrush £149, foreo.com

Hotel Chocolat Fruit Bombes to Chill £9, Hotel Chocolat

HOT PICKS

Cyberjammie Danielle Pyjamas £45, cyberjammie.co.uk

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Mango Bikes Ladies Classic £279.99, mangobikes..co.uk

Gold , Peach and Opal Statement Necklace £24.99, roseandaster.com

Nicky Clarke Mayfair Candle £28, nickyclarke.com

Dragonfly Liz Earle’sInner Calm Tea £6, dragonflytea.com

Pearl Rose Gold Expander Watch £75, houseofflorrie.com

The Perfume Society Jet Set £15, perfumesociety.org

Purple Floral Playsuit (as worn by Rosie Fortescue) £16, Miiaan.com

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Treatment of the Month

Margarita Medley S

The treatment begins with body brushing to get rid of any dead skin cells, then a lime and lemongrass salt scrub is applied. The scrub is massaged into each part of your body thoroughly, which allows you to unwind and start to feel calm and restful. I was then wrapped in fluffy towels whilst my treatment continued with a soothing pressure relieving scalp massage.

ummer is well and truly upon us, which means time to bare some parts of our bodies that very rarely see the light, but before we do this we need to make sure our skin is as silky smooth as it possibly can be.

So for that extra special summer treat for your body, look no further than this luxurious Margarita exfoliation treatment, it’s just the tonic your skin needs.

Once the scrub was all washed off my skin felt as if had had an infusion of fragrant oil and was so velvety and silky smooth. The treatment finished off with an essence of Fig and Vanilla body lotion being applied leaving my skin and myself totally refreshed and ready for the summer!

I find exfoliation treatments are not ideal if your aim is to relax, but I have to say I do believe I’ve found one that goes against the norm – Relaxing and exfoliating in one go – Yes please!

The Margarita Medley is exclusive to Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa and uses ‘The Natural Spa Factory’ products, which smell and feel absolutely divine!

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Margarita Medley £45 for 40 minutes Whittlebury Hall and Spa 01327 850489 www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

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Learning:

It’s all change…Again!

The knowledge, skills and understanding your child should achieve in each subject, depending on age

One of the things that seems to remain constant about the English Education system is that it is subject to change.

This year is no exception and the changes have an impact on almost every year within the school system.

Targets so that teachers can measure how well your child is doing in each subject

The National Curriculum State schools in England must teach a range of subjects according to targets set by the National Curriculum. This was established in 1989 to ensure the same standards of teaching and learning across the whole country. It covers learning for all children aged 5 – 16 in state schools and sets out what subjects should be taught.

How information on your child’s progress should be passed on to you The National Curriculum in divided into 5 key stages that children are taken through during their school life.

Key Stage 1

Ages 5 - 7

School Years 1 and 2

Key Stage 2

Ages 7 - 11

School Years 3,4,5 and 6

Key Stage 3

Ages 11 - 14

School Years 7, 8 and 9

Key Stage 4

Ages 14 - 16

School Years 10 and 11

Key Stage 5

Ages 16 - 18

School Years 12 and 13 (Y14) 22

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Primary Years

In Primary school children are expected to do 60 minutes homework a week (about 10 – 15 minutes per evening) rising to 90 minutes a week in years 3 and 4 and 30 minutes a day (or equivalent over 2 – 3 evenings a week) in years 5 and 6. Of course other activities are also important for developing children, such as sports clubs or learning a musical instrument but do make sure that your child is not so busy that they can’t fit in homework.

Changes to Primary Assessments From September 2014 levels and level descriptors were removed and schools have the freedom to develop their own means of assessing pupil’s progress towards end of key stage expectations. As a parent it is important to discuss with teachers where your child is against end of year expectations.

Secondary Schools GCSE’s are being revised and there will be no more course work – just exams for GCSE first sittings in 2016/2017 in Maths and English and in other subjects from 2017/18. Young people will be expected to sit at least 8 qualifications including 5 core GCSE’s and 3 additional (GCSE’s or BTECs).

There will also be changes to grading which will be on a 9-1 scale instead of A* - G so a 9 will be roughly equivalent to an A* and a 4 to a grade C.

Reading is vital, research shows that reading with a child is the single most important thing you can do to help your child’s education, so as parents it’s important to :Encourage your child to enjoy books from babyhood Visit the library and always have a selection of interesting books and reading material in the home Make regular reading part of a daily routine e.g. a bedtime story

At secondary school young people are expected to work more independently, but interest and input from parents is still important. Ask if there is anything you can do to help with homework – if they repeatedly say they have none then be a little sceptical as in year 7 and 8 they are expected to have between 45 and 90 minutes a day, rising to 60 – 120 minutes per day in year 9 and then in years 10 and 11 the expectation is for 90 – 150 minutes per day.

There may a few young people who are successful with little work but the vast majority who do well in GCSE’s do so because they actually work very hard both in school and at home.

Let the child see you reading Maths is also important and something that many parents find quite difficult themselves, but it is important not to shy away from it. To encourage an early interest in Maths point out different shapes around the home Take children shopping and talk about quantities of anything you buy and how it is measured

How to Help With Homework Create a quiet place for work, with a flat surface and good light and have equipment available, pens, paper, calculator, glue etc.

Let your child handle money and work out how much things cost When you are out with your child look for numbers on street signs or car registration plates

Plan a homework timetable with your child deciding when it can all be fitted in

Buy some simple work books or let them play on Maths games online.

Discuss homework tasks to check your child/teenager knows what they have to do and how it relates to what they have been doing in school

Homework is also important as it reinforces what your child is learning at school, it also gives you the chance to get involved. In the early years, reading is the most important homework and your child will nearly always have a book from the classroom library to read at home. It might only take a few minutes but it is very important to read it with the child and as they get older to listen while they read it to you. If the book seems either too easy or too hard then discuss it with the teacher. Remember though that children learning to read need to read some stories where they can practice ‘decoding’ the words – these will often be very simple and may even seem contrived. But they also need to keep on enjoying stories that are read to them because these will be more challenging in terms of comprehension and will help them develop all the skills they need, in addition to phonics, to read effectively.

Turn off the TV and put mobiles away for a while – homework needs to be a priority If they are struggling try to signpost them rather than just giving the answer Try to make sure when they are young that it is fun and hopefully it will be part of a normal routine when they get older Make sure you give encouragement and praise to build their confidence For any further information about schools or leaning contact attuned education on 07921193479 or visit www.attunededucation.com 23

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micro.mini

inally a tool to ensure professional-style contouring, highlighting and concealing the micro.mini beautyblender is perfect for applying make-up to small areas such as under eye, inner eye corners, lids, brow bones, sides of the nose, top of the cheeks and acne spots.

Use micro.mini to highlight: • Down the centre ridge of nose • Under eyebrows • Corner of eyes • Top of cheekbones • Outer corners of eyes • Cupids Bow Use micro.mini to contour: • Cheek shape • Nose shape • Jawline • The outer perimeter of your face, forehead, temples, cheeks and jaw beautyblender micro.mini features an open cell structure that fills with small amounts of water when wet. This allows the sponge to be “full” so that the makeup product sits on top of the sponge rather than being absorbed, allowing you to use less product every time.

Priced at £13.50 and available from www.beautyblender.co.uk

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FASHION Affinity

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Yellow Lace Dress £29.99 New Look

Audrey Lace Dress £119 Monsoon

Lace Luxe

Lace Swing Dress £49 La Redoute

Lace Peeptoe Booties £18 Primark

Rosie Cannes Lace Feather Dress £79 Lipstick Boutique

Peach Lace Jumpsuit £65 Very

Mint Lace Shorts £12.99 New Look

Breanna Shoes £79 Dune

Pink & White Lace Clutch £15.99 New Look

Warrior Dress £725 Oxygen Boutique

Guipure Lace Dress £55 Daxon

Lace Shorts Miss Pap

Lauren Lace Dress £179 Pretty Eccentric

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Baby Blues

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Lace Neck Cami £6.99 Blue Inc

Cable Jumper £25 Very

T Bar Heels £19.99 New Look

Tailored Shorts Miss Selfridge

Iris & Edie Lingerie Debenhams

Blue Stone Necklace £12 Accessorize

Floral Prom Dress £55 Miss Selfridge

Camera Body Bag £12 New Look

3D Printed Top £29 Very

Earrings £4.99 New Look

Embelished Cami £25 Very

Woven Bag £18 Very

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Elis Safari Clutch £79.95 Moda in Pelle

Bekka Clutch £59 Dune

Mint Clutch £22 Apricot

Beaded Clutch Bag £24 Very Tan Clutch £17.99 New Look

Bentley Clutch £65 Dune

Straw Clutch £25 JOY1

Pink Brush Clutch £26 Oliver Bonas-2

Juhi Wow Clutch £39 Accessorize

Weave Clutch £59 Phase Eight

Tassel Clutch £71 Lacambra Bags

White Clutch £8 George

Talking turquiose

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CollectionNecklace £25 Marks & Spencer

Embelished Sandals £14 Very

Broderie Anglaise Bird Dress £39.95 Joe Browns Shirt £29.95 White Stuff

DVF Carrie Dress £270 Question Air

Trousers Debenhams

Skater Dress £34.95 Joe Browns

Hummingbird Print Blouse £22 Apricot

Linen Casual Top £99 Jaeger

Cuff Bracelet £5 Matalan

Paola Scarf £35 Tommy Hillfiger

Swing Dress £20 Stylistpick

Stripe Waterfall Dress £59.50 Oliver Bonas

Tassle talk

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Tassel Scarf £10 Tu at Sainsbury's

Embroidered Booti Scarf £50 EAST

Scarf Monsoon

Embroidered Tassle Scarf £25 White Stuff

Patchwork Scarf £22.50 White Dtuff

Aztec Print Scarf £16 JD Williams Tuch Scarf £49.95 Codello

Tile Print £32.50 White Stuff

Silk Blend Pom Pom Scarf £35 John Lewis

Stripy Tassel Scarf £25 White Stuff

Tile Print Scarf £5 Primark

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Paisley Palazzo Trouser £18 F&F

Pretty in palazzo

Green Check Palazzo Pants £10 River Island

Floral Palazzo Trousers Miss Pap

Border Print Palazzo Trousers £35 Simply Be

Oriental Floral Palazzo Pants £40 River Island

Geo Print Trousers £22 JD Williams

Nico Print Trousers EAST Carmel Floral Trousers £15 Pretty Little Thing

Printed Palazzo Trousers £25 Very

J by Jasper £38 Debenhams

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The Truth About What You Should Be Marketing

o, you’re really not liking the whole marketing thing? It feels like you’re running through treacle.

It’s keeping you awake at night, making you grumpy, anxious even - like you have the weight of the world resting on your little shoulders.

accessible but in order for your audience to sit up and take note you need to be talking about something that they buy into.

So, how do you do it? Get a movement! Movements think big because people love to be a part of something exciting and inspirational. In this context, people have a positive relationship with the brand that primes them for its next approach or innovation.

You believe you’ve got an amazing product or service, it’s helpful, great quality, it’s life changing and nothing short of amazing. But no matter how hard you try, no one seems to want what you’re offering.

Don’t market your product or service, market a movement. Think about your brands values, what is it passionate about, what does it stand for?

Let me let you in to a little secret, the real reason why people don’t seem to want what you have to offer - because you’re marketing your ‘thing’!

Look for people who care about the same thing that your brand cares about. Revlon don’t focus on selling cosmetics they focus on selling you “Hope”.

Dove’s Real Beauty movement, is one of the most powerful examples of how effective this type of marketing is.

“But you’re a marketing business Carys, how can that be true?”

The truth is, you need to be subtle about selling whatever your ‘thing’ is. How do you feel when you get approached by a stranger in the street? Instantly you’re thinking - “Oh no they’re trying to sell me something” or “I don’t have the time for this right now”. Your audience feels exactly the same way as soon as they feel like they’re being sold to. They know you’re a business person and that you gain from them saying “yes”. They’re resistant, defensive and feeling like that could stop them from saying “yes” even though you’re offering what they need the most!

“The brand then defines and declares its point of view, stokes passions and invites consumers to participate/co-create with the brand”

It’s an authentic, genuine sharing of passions between a brand and a customer. People will want to spread the word, re-tweet your posts and they’ll also want to experience what your selling!

Find your audience and express your point of view.

There is business out there for everyone and what Movement Marketing does is help you find your authentic customer and grow your brand.

With the arrival of social media everyone is online, the world is your audience. The opportunity is there for brands to be part of a conversation, but there’s a lot of noise to stand out from. Your business is

For more information speak to Carys www.speckyandginge.com 34

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FOOD & DRINK Affinity

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A Summer Evening in

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gorgeous summer’s evening saw us heading to The Swan at Salford to taste some of the dishes off their newly launched summer menu.

warm mini loaf with fresh garlic butter and olives was awaiting us.

The warm loaf was suitably devoured before our starters arrived - free range duck & crunchy vegetable salad with toasted cashews and an oriental dressing - a real treat on the tastebuds, the flavours of the perfectly cooked duck enhanced with the sweet dressing made it a delicious dish I will definitely be trying again. Jimmy Butler’s pig terrine made with fresh meat layered to create a rainbow of colours with apricot and rosemary chutney and orange glazed brioche, was perfectly presented and delightfully tasty.

Set within the idlyic village of Salford remimicent of times gone by, The Swan is full of character, making it the perfect setting to enjoy a drink or something to eat with family or friends.

Sitting ourselves in a cosy corner we relaxed with….you guessed it - a glass of prosecco whilst mulling over the menu, on which there were some delicious looking dishes.

Having finally chosen we sipped our drinks until we were called through to our table, where a treat of homemade

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Loch Duart salmon fishcake, with a nicoise salad and caper and lime aioli was my choice of mains with chunks of fresh salmon and a combination of flavours made it a perfect choice for me. Mr Z had opted for the pan fried veal sirloin, with crispy saffron polenta, complimented with an aubergine puree – the veal melted in the mouth and was cooked exactly as he’d requested.

After a little rest to allow us to make room for dessert and coffee (well tea for me of course), we sampled the delights of Valrhona white chocolate pannacotta, with poached peach & honeycomb, this was light, chocolatey and creamy absolutely scrumptious.

Jude’s free-range ice cream was just as mouthwatering delicious, with vanilla and salted caramel flavours being the choice.

Dishes at The Swan are creative and appeal to all tastes, staff are warm and friendly, the atmosphere is relaxing and welcoming, in fact I can’t find one good reason for you not to pay them a visit!!

The Swan Salford 01908 281008 www.swansalford.co.uk

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Inspiring New Menu at Adam’s Brasserie

Movie Munchies

Films need food – it’s an essential part of the cinematic experience! So put on your PJ’s and enjoy cinema delights from the leisure of your very own home, with this scrumptious movie munchies kit priced at £27.95 from prezzybox.com. It comes in an awesome tote bag, jam packed with lots of tasty treats, including tortilla chips and delicious gourmet popcorn, complete with a classic popcorn carton for that real cinema feel, this is the ultimate cinema loving foodie treat.

FOODIE NEWS

A team of Head Chefs at luxury five star mansion house Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, have created a refreshing new menu for their Country Club restaurant, Adam’s Brasserie.

Guests dining at the restaurant will now be able to choose from a new rustic style menu including a delicious spiced duck salad with Asian slaw and tamarind vinaigrette, indulgent garlic and rosemary baked sharing Camembert with crusty baguette and red onion marmalade and a delectable grilled fillet of pork with Mediterranean vegetables, potato and Granny Smith apple gratin.

Diners will also be able to experience the new tantalising dessert selection which now includes a range of delicious delights such as a white chocolate profiteroles filled with raspberry cream and iced summer berry soufflé with Szechuan pepper shortbread.

For bookings, please call 01582 698888 or visit www.lutonhoo.com for more informationn

Pop Those Corks

A Discernibly Dry Summer For a refreshing treat this summer, why not try these new sparkling soft drinks – created for an adult palate they include Elderflower Lemonade and Ginger Beer and are the latest launches from the premium soft drinks company Cawston Press aiming to satisfy the increasing demand for discernible, non-alcoholic drinks for grown-ups that aren't full of artificial flavours, colourings or preservatives.These flavours will join Cloudy Apple and Rhubarb in the line-up and will be available at Waitrose and Ocado (six pack, RRP £4.99)

Fizz will once more be on the menu as Edinburgh's newly refurbished Signet Library throws open its doors for the Festival season from Monday 3rd August to Friday 4th September.

Following a £250,000 refurbishment to create Edinburgh's most glamorous afternoon tea destination, the newly opened Colonnades will be serving many of the 'Pommery Bar' favourites during the month of August. The Colonnades menu will be expanded to include the popular whole lobster, Aberdeen Angus burger, sharing platters and Pommery Champagne seasonal tasting trays, plus the superb new afternoon tea will be served at £50 for two. www.thesignetlibrary.co.uk/colonnades

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Veda Therapeutics Carolyn wood Herbal Medicine - Ayuverda Naturopathy - Therapeutic Massage - Ear Acupuncture

Herbalist (Dip Herb) Naturopath (Dip ND) MAMH, MANP, ITEC

As a herbalist and naturopath I can help you with

• Immunity • Skin Conditions • Digestive Complaints • Hormonal imbalances • Heart health & Circulation • Energy & Wellbeing • Insomnia • Depression • Other chronic health conditions • Acute coughs & colds

07944 886502 carolyn612@btinternet.com www.vedatherapeutics.co.uk

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Couscous and Vegetable Stuffed Pepper 42

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“

“

Stuffed Peppers are a wonderful meal for when you need something quick, easy, tasty and low cost

Ingredients 1/2 small onion, finely chopped 1 small tomato (approx 75g), finely chopped 1/2 small aubergine, diced 1 large yellow pepper (170g) 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp chilli powder 3 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp ground ginger 50g of couscous 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 3 tbsp olive oil

Method Preheat the oven. Cut the top off of the pepper and remove the seeds. Cook the pepper in lightly salted boiling water for 5-6 minutes. Drain well and set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare the couscous according to the packet instructions and season.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and shallow fry the aubergine for 3-4 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Add the onion and garlic and fry for 2-3 minute. Add the ginger, coriander and chilli powder and fry for 1 minute. Stir in the couscous, tomato and 1 tsp lemon juice.

Season to taste.

Spoon the couscous and aubergine mixture into the pepper and bake for 15 minutes, or until the skin of the pepper begins to char.

Serve with a green salad and/or new potaotoes.

Brought to you by the Chef The Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant, Sharnbrook, Beds Gypsy Lee Rose White Zinfandel 2013 A wine that should be seen as what it is - frivolous, fun and a little sexy. So 'back-off' wine snobs! There's a lot of excitement to be had here. Drop your taboos about White Zin and dive in: this is the proper stuff. Grapes are left a little longer on the vine to enrich sugars, skin contact is minimal yielding a magnificent, salmon-pink coloured rosé. Sleek aromas and a wonderful svelte presentation of delicate strawberry and redcurrant fruits in a rather racy package. Sure to thrill & titillate. £8.99, Virgin Wines

Big Top White Zinfandel Rose 2013 Rosé has gone on a march over the last five years gaining a serious share of overall sales in the UK and White Zinfandel from California is at the top of the stack. With 100% Zinfandel grapes selected from old vine vineyards in the Lodi region of central California, lightly crushed to create a stunning pink wine. Strawberry ice cream on the nose supported by a bright, fruit packed strawberry jam palate. £7.99, Virgin Wines

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Racing Zeppelins Grenache Rose 2014 When is a rosé hardly a rosé? When it's a Racing Zeppelin! This wine is closest to the French 'Vin Gris' in style than anything else; barely pink, exceptionally pretty and modern. It's bone dry too - a really 'serious' style making it as fitting a food partner as any more conventional white or red wine. £8.99 Virgin Wines

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Summer fruit Pavlova

Ingredients

For the base: 200g digestive biscuits 100g melted butter For the cheesecake: 300g white chocolate 100g cream cheese 50ml double cream 1 leaf of gelatine

For the coulis: 1 punnet of raspberries Icing sugar to taste

Method

Start with the base, place the biscuits in the food processor and blitz whilst adding the butter until it resembles wet sand, then put the mixture into a cake tin with a removable collar, place this in the fridge to set.

Next place the white chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water (Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water), while the chocolate is melting, beat the cream cheese and the cream together until smooth.

Soak the gelatine in cold water until soft; then add the melted chocolate to the cream cheese mix until fully incorporated.

Melt the gelatine very gently in a saucepan with a couple of tablespoons of water (do not boil) then whilst mixing continuously add the gelatine to the cheesecake mix, and pour onto the base.

Chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours or preferably over night To make the coulis heat the raspberries (keep a few back for garnish!) in pan with splash of water and a couple of tablespoons of sugar and bring to the boil, then place into the food processor and blitz until smooth. The coulis need to be strained through a sieve to remove the seeds. Taste to make sure it is sweet enough and place in the fridge to chill.

To serve remove the cheesecake from the tin and cut into four portions and top with the fresh berries and drizzle with the coulis.

This sweet is brought to you by the Chef The Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant, Sharnbrook, Beds 44

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Pudding Night

21st August Join us for our next pudding night!

Only £16.00 for a main course and as many desserts as you can squeeze in.

Christmas Party Nights

Book before end of August and receive 10% off food bill.

Prices from £21.95 per person; call or see website for information

“Buy 1 get 1 FREE”

on main courses every Tuesday all day 12pm - 9pm!

Afternoon Teas

Served everyday 2-5pm, Full afternoon tea £9.95 (booking essential)

01234 781678 info@millhouse-riverside.co.uk www.millhouse-riverside.co.uk millhouse_hotel Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant Mill Road, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1NP

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INTERIORS Affinity

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We're all mad here Framed Alice In Wonderland Illustrations £25 IN-SPACES

Cheshire Cat Mug £14.49 The Gift Oasis

Tweedles Salt & Pepper £25 Mrs Moore's Vintage Store Amara

Sophie Allport Alice In Wonderland Double Oven Gloves £16

Alice in Wonderland Poster £35.51 Spineless Classics

Mad As a Hatter Plates £65 Luku Home

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Alice Tea Towel £12 each Mrs Moore's Vintage Store Amara

Sophie Allport Alice In Wonderland Tea Pot £32

Sophie Allport Alice In Wonderland Teacup £18

Sophie Allport Alice In Wonderland Side Plate £11

Sophie Allport Alice In Wonderland Mug £10

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Blue Hues

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Refresh your Interiors with the latest Duck Egg Blue Colour Trends Multi Aperture Photograph Frame £34.95 Melody Maison

Falcon Colander £29 Maisy & Grace Enamel Tray £14.95 Annabel James

Newgate Chelsea Arts Alarm Clock £25 The Orchard

Welsh Blanket £49.95 Decorators Notebook

Dragonfly Tissue Box £47.50 Must Have Bins

Petal Cushion £28 Puji

Fretwork Cushion £18 Achica

Lille Armchair £329 Swoon Editions

Be Magnificent £18 Wallpaper Direct

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Surf’s up

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Blue Harbour Shorts £22.50 Marks & Spencer

TU Sainsburys

Hit the Board Shorts £24.95 Joe Browns

Criminal Red Pineapple Shorts £30 House of Fraser

Leaf Print Shorts £9 Primark

Criminal Beach Scene Shorts £30 House of Fraser

Sunset Print Shorts £18 Next

Tropical Fade Shorts £5 Primark

Mineral Print Shorts £5 Primark

Floral Shorts £18 Next

Fry’s Footie Corner

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F

or people who love football like I do, there is nothing more exciting than the first day of the domestic football season. Preseason friendly games always whet the appetite, but the competitive nature of fixtures within the Football League is something that you miss during the summer months.

I have been in football for 55 years and the excitement ahead of a new campaign is still as strong today as it was all those years ago when I first started out in the game. We begin our Sky Bet League One season with an away game at Rochdale on Saturday 8th August and everyone connected with the club is looking forward to it.

It is never a dull summer at Peterborough United. We have appointed Dave Robertson on a permanent basis and brought in a number of players, in fact we signed four in one day alone at the end of July.

Many clubs up and down the county will be finalising their squads, but with the transfer deadline day not until the 1st September, I am sure there will be the usual rush of panic buying to ensure that you have the squad you feel can get you to that next level.

In the Premier League, the summer has been quite an interesting one with the long protracted Raheem Sterling saga, which finally saw the England winger sign for Manchester City for just under £50 million. Fabien Delph followed him to Eastlands after first saying he wasn’t going to leave Aston Villa and then performing a u-turn less than a week later.

I still envisage there being a few big money moves come the end of the month as Premier League sides splash the cash and with no English side in the final of the Champions League last term, I am sure there 56

will be more money changing hands than ever this month.

Several high profile Premier League stars have now joined the MLS in America with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard the latest arrivals Stateside. With Andrea Pirlo and David Villa already at sides in the MLS, it will certainly make for an interesting watch.

In the Football League however, money is less readily available and there are a whole host of players searching for clubs. That number will increase year on year. Players have to realise that their wage demands need to be tailored or else they will find themselves out of work.

Up The Posh!

Barry Fry

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Celebrating the Largest Gathering of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently celebrated the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces in the world at the 56th Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours and Rally. The spectacular setting of Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, provided the perfect backdrop for a record number of motor cars, with over 1000 heritage and contemporary Rolls-Royces attending for the first time in the Club’s history.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars honoured the occasion with a record display of seven Goodwood-built Phantoms, Ghosts and Wraiths, including several highly bespoke models. The motor cars, hosted by a team of experts from the Home of RollsRoyce at Goodwood, drew large crowds throughout the three day event, with the passion for the brand,

particularly for the contemporary models, evident amongst fans, enthusiasts and owners alike.

Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the Chief Executive Officer, for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, told us “The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club is a vital custodian of our marque’s remarkable history.

Events such as the Annual Concours and Rally serve to give the wider public close access to some of the most important and rare motor cars in automotive history. The incredibly warm reaction to our stable of contemporary motor cars at these events is testament to our careful and successful custodianship of the RollsRoyce brand.”

An increasing number of enthusiasts are choosing to purchase a Goodwood-built Rolls-Royce to 58

complement their heritage collections, either commissioning a new motor car or purchasing through the company’s Provenance Programme. This is reflected by the recently launched ‘Goodwood RollsRoyce Motor Cars Register’, which is now one of the fastest-growing sections of the Club.

The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club caters for anyone with an interest in the motor car products of RollsRoyce. From just eleven people at the inaugural meeting in 1957, membership is now approaching 10,000, making it the largest club of its kind in the world. Membership is open to owners and non-owners alike and members are drawn from all walks of life and from most countries of the world. Details can be found at www.rrec.org.uk.

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The Magic of Shrek

If you are in any doubt about watching a bright green ogre, talking donkey, fairy princess and a fire breathing dragon don’t be – Shrek the Musical is the most uplifting, funny, and magical entertainment you and your family will witness in a long time. 8 or 80 it will have you roaring with laughter at their ‘Larger than life’ antics.

Join our unlikely hero and his loyal steed Donkey as they embark on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from a fire breathing, love-sick dragon, whilst singing some great songs including the cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, all of which are sure to be Broadway hits!

Next add the diminutive Lord Farquaad, a gang of fairytale misfits, tap dancing rats, and a biscuit with attitude, and you’ve got the biggest, brightest musical comedy around!

This musical brings all the much-loved DreamWorks characters to life, live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza.

Roar on and make sure you join the adventure.

Tues 18th August – Sun 6th September Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 www.tickets.com/miltonkeynes

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WIN! WIN! WIN! We have a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) to giveaway for the 18th August for this Fabulous family show. To be in with a chance of winning please tell us "The name of the princess in Shrek?" and send your answers to affinitymagcomp@gmail.com Good Luck (Winners will be drawn on 13th August 2015)

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TRAVEL

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Affinity

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Aegean

A Truly Authentic Greek Island Cruise

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tars shining in the clear night sky, looking over the rooftops of one of the worlds oldest cities, eating authentic food and drinking a cool glass of wine - you could be mistaken for thinking this is a scene from a romantic movie, but no we are in Athens at the start of a Greek Island Adventure on board a cruise ship. Having decided to pick the ship up in the Port of Lavrion we were staying for one night at The Athens Plaza situated right on Syntagma Square with its ancient monuments, delicious food and charming tavernas, before embarking on our voyage onboard The Celestyal Odyssey sailing around 5 Greek Islands and the Turkish Resort of Kusadasi.

Suitably refreshed after a good nights sleep, bellies full of a delicious breakfast we headed off to meet The Celestyal Odyssey our home for the next 5 days. The Odyssey is the latest ship to join the Celestyal fleet and is designed to offer an authentic Greek Experience with a passenger capacity of 836 making it the smallest of their five vessels.

Welcome cocktails consumed, we headed off to explore our cabin (418 in total) along with the rest of the ship.

Our outside cabin was light and airy and fully equipped with air conditioning, ensuite, seating area, making it ideal to retreat to after a busy day exploring and having 64

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fun; note to myself, the next cruise I take I will be upgrading to a balcony purely, so I can enjoy the views from my own private viewing area.

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asting no time, and with everyone onboard we sailed into Mykonos, a beautiful island in the Cyclades. With its cobblestone streets, designed like a maze to discourage pirate raids in the 18th and early 19th centuries, crammed with bars, cafes, charming boutiques and gourmet restaurants. The white washed buildings against the clear blue skies are a delight to behold.

According to mythology, Mykonos was the place where Hercules killed the giants. The rocks around the island are supposedly their corpses!!! All these myths and legends combined with exploring the cobbled streets had made us a little peckish, La Roca Restaurant was a delight with authentic Greek food including Houmous, Greek salad, vine leaves all eaten whilst watching the sunset over the harbour made me realise why at some point all women wish to be a Shirley Valentine and escape to this beautiful island.

Back on board and our cabins beckoned, with fresh Greek delicacies left for us along with some creative towel art we fell into a perfect sleep hardly being aware we were sailing in the middle of the sea, and on waking we found ourselves coming into the port of Kusadasi, Turkey.

The Odyssey has two dining rooms, one offering the more formal dining option with choices from a set menu, or the other offering the more relaxed help yourself buffet option, both offer authentic Greek cuisine, with dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Both dining choices are probably dependent on your schedule and what you fancy, the buffet restaurant leads onto the pool deck and so enjoying your lunch in the open air with the sea breeze blowing gently in the background is a real experience.

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reakfast eaten, it was welcome to Kusadasi. With its many sandy beaches, sparkling glassy waters, and historic sites including Ephesus which is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world. Based in Ephesus are the “Terrace Houses” which are located on a hill opposite the Hadrian Temple, these are being carefully excavated allowing you a wonderful insight into history and how life

was during the Roman Period. No trip to Kusadasi would be complete without a visit to the covered bazaars, where you can bargain to your hearts content.

Back on board and sailing to our next destination allowed us some time to lay on deck and catch some of the sun rays, with a slight sea breeze the scene was almost perfect but not quite, I was missing something – Oh yes a nice cold cocktail in fact it would be rude not to try The Odyssey’s “Cocktail of the Day” wouldn’t it?

For the more energetic amongst us, like my hubbie there is always the onboard gym to pay a visit to – well he did pay a visit to it – he looked round and then decided the sun, sea and cocktails were having a bigger pull on him – “I’ll get up early and go tomorrow” was his excuse!

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isembarking for Patmos was via tender boats – at each island you can choose to pay extra for the

excursions or you can explore at your own leisure, the choice is entirely yours, although I would recommend at least participating in a few of the excursions, especially if you haven’t visited that particular

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island before – although not a big island Patmos is one of the best known. It was here that St. John had his vision and wrote the apocalypse. Whether you are interested in history and religion or not, the Monastery of St. John is a must, full of priceless icons and rare manuscripts. The Cave of Revelation which is where St. John had his vision is also a must, A lesser known fact about this island is that it is twinned with Glastonbury, although I can’t see any muddy field concerts making its way to Patmos anytime soon!

Bond and having a little flutter in the casino, the choice is yours.

S

ailing through the night to Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese Islands, meant we had a full day to enjoy and explore. Whether you seek the buzz of beaches, diving in crystal-clear water or a culture-vulture journey through past civilisations, it’s all here. The atmospheric old town of Rhodes is a maze of over 200 cobbled streets spiriting you back to the days of the Byzantine Empire and beyond. As you enter the walls of the Old Town, know that you are about to enter the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe. It is a thrill to behold. The Street of the Knights is one of the best preserved and most delightful medieval relics in the world. The 600m long, cobble paved street was constructed over an ancient pathway that led in a straight line from the Acropolis of Rhodes to the port, close your eyes and you can be mistaken for thinking you had stepped back in time.

Visiting The Throne of Helios had us on an Indiana Jones adventure fighting our way through rain, snow, storms and even snakes!!!! (a 9D theatre experience that allows you to learn the history of Rhodes in an interactive, thrilling way)

Dinner back on board was full of authentic delights and for my hubby the jewel in the cuisine crown was “The Lobster” the freshest, tastiest he had ever had – which coming from an ex chef and foodie critic is high praise indeed. Dinner finished there’s no shortage of things to do whether you fancy a cocktail or two, a live show,

Having fought our way through bygone years, it was only right we rewarded ourselves with one of our favourite Greek things – food and we made our way back to the centre of the Old Town to Vassilis Tavern, authentically Greek in décor and cuisine – I was learning that when the different plates of food were brought out as delicious as they were, I must remember not to keep eating as these were just the taster and the main was still to come!

Lunch devoured, and refueled we took a coach to Lindos, a picture-perfect town of sugarcube houses that spill down the hillside to the most amazing clear turquoise bay.

I knew there was a reason I bring hubby along on my trips it’s so I can relax on the tranquil beach with its beautiful clear waters whilst he pretends he’s Anthony Quinn reinacting The Guns of Navarone (filmed in this location) as he climbs the steep hill to the ruins of the Acropolis for views that take your breath away (his words not mine!).

There is so much to do in Rhodes a day just isn’t enough, which is why it is now on my list of destinations to visit.

Dining back on the ship was extra special this evening with cocktails and then dinner on the Captain’s Table and it’s only good old me that’s sitting next to him!!!

H dancing the night away, or even impersonating James

eraklion, the vibrant capital of Crete is where we find ourselves the next morning. A visit to Knossos, w h i c h

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comprises of more than 1500 rooms and occupies more than 20,000 square metres, numerous archaelogical finds all of exceptionally high quality include art, pottery, vessels, figurines, the archive of Linear B tablets, and original wall-paintings, are all housed in Heraklion Museum. We just have time for a walk around the centre for light refreshments and any last minute shopping before we head back to the ship!

Time to catch some last minute rays before we head home tomorrow, but first I need to watch the “cocktail making”, now I have seen many a cocktail made but this time I am awe struck – eat your heart out Tom Cruise, there is so much, spinning, flipping, throwing, balancing and pouring going on I am dizzy just watching, how can he do something like that with 3 bottles whilst balancing another on his nose – maybe it has something to do with the fact he’s the Turkish cocktail making champion (yes they even have competitions for this!)

This display is just one of many activities to keep you amused and busy during your cruise, also there’s Greek dance lessons, ping pong tournaments, flower making, fruit and vegetable carving (if you see what they can do with a piece of fruit you’ll be astounded!), darts, board games and so much more. One thing you can be guaranteed of on a cruise is you’ll never be short of something to do.

with their distinctive blue shutters perched on the edge of the extinct volcano, white marble streets and glorious sunsets, this is the place dreams are made of. A mystical, seductive place just perfect for a wedding – I may just have to get married again! A cable car journey back to the tender boats allowed one last panoramic view of this beautiful Island.

The stars are shining again as we sail through the night to the Port of Lavrion. Our 5 days of sunsets, history, fun, fabulous cuisine, wonderful hospitable people, and beaches is over, but what an experience it was, what other holidays allows you to see so much in such a short space of time - I’m now addicted to cruising and can’t wait for my next one!

Ooops! it’s my last day and I nearly forget to visit the spa where I opt for a massage. I don’t know if it’s a combination of the steady rhythm of the boat sailing on the sea mixed with the therapists expertise I just know whatever it was had me so relaxed I was fighting to keep my eyes open – the spa has an extensive range of treatments to choose from so you’re bound to find something you like.

O

ur final disembarkment was Santorini – this island had me lost for words, it really is breathtaking and so serene. Locals believe the island is the site of the lost city of Atlantis and, whether that is true or not, it is certainly near to paradise with its bright white buildings,

Travel Facts:

Celestyal Cruises (www.celestyalcruises.com / +30 210 4583400) four day Iconic Aegean cruise costs from £356 per person to include full board accommodation.

A flight inclusive package including a four night stay in Athens (Electra Palace) costs from £649 per person with Cosmos Tours (www.cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk 0800 997 8826). To include flights, B&B hotel and full board cruise accommodation and transfers (based on a 15th October 2015 departure).

Roaring the Night Away

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T

he roar of the lions sound scarily close to me, if I open my eyes will I be surrounded by a herd of them?

Fear not, it’s fine I am safely tucked up in my bed in a wooden cabin right in the middle of hundreds of wild animals and believe it or not I’m perfectly safe - As your mind pictures me on safari in Kenya STOP I am in the middle of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo situated right in the middle of the Bedfordshire countryside, taking part in the ultimate wild animal experience on offer a “Lookout Lodge” experience where you get the chance to camp overnight at Britain's biggest zoo, staying in your own private lodge and touring the zoo after hours with knowledgeable keepers – a fabulously exciting experience for anyone who loves animals.

Sipping champagne and looking over the Chiltern Hills with views as far as the eye can see, is the start of our adventure, where we discover the evenings itinerary and relax whilst

the rest of our group arrive.

A quick drop off of our luggage in one of the eight gorgeous wooden cabins (named after animals) and complete with twin or double beds, small table, sofa, tea/coffee/hot chocolate making facilities, luxury toiletries and a veranda with chairs for sitting out watching and listening to the sounds of this amazing place.

An hour-and-a-half hop on, hop off tour in an open sided truck took us through the zoo's rolling enclosures, allowing us to get up close and personal to the animals including the lions who were lulling around and sleeping soundly in the fading sunlight as if butter wouldn’t melt, to the flamingoes with their vibrant pink feathers and spindly legs who wouldn’t have looked out of place doing the Can Can at a Las Vegas Casino!

Highly knowledgable guides had us hanging on their every word and feeding time for many of the animals enabled us to see a side of the animals and zoo that usually only the keepers normally get to see. Finally 68

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stopping at The Wild Bite Café for a delicious two course meal with hot tea and coffee or if you’re needing a little Dutch courage for your torchlight walk back through the zoo then wine can be purchased and even sent back to your cabin to wait for your return!

Walking back through the zoo at night with the fading sunlight and torches as our only light is eerie with no one else around and the only sounds that can be heard are the roars of the lions, the howling of the wolves and other strange chattering, cooing and crying!!! With Mara deer and wallabies roaming around freely as you walk you could almost be mistaken that you were in the wild – Another stop at the lions proved them to be wide awake this time, coming right up to the glass partition and looking right into your eyes was a surreal but wonderful experience – Zebras prancing around their enclosure and the tigers that were hardly visible before were now in clear view and competing with the lions in a who could roar the loudest competition! It was like an exert of “Night at the Museum” with everything coming alive after hours!

Back at our lodges exciting, utterly amazing and brilliant are just a few of the words I can think of to explain the whole adventure.

Sitting on the wooden veranda with a hot cup of tea, snuggled in a big wooly jumper gazing at the clear night sky full of stars surrounded by animal noises was the perfect end to an even more perfect day – Falling into our comfy beds with their big fluffy duvets soon had us

drifting off to sleep with the sounds of birds chirping, lions roaring and so many other sounds becoming a distant sound in the night.

Up bright and early we again found ourselves sitting on the veranda sipping tea/coffee listening to the eerie sounds around us before returning to the Wild Bite café for a hearty breakfast which set us up for the important job of the day giving the animals their breakfast! With the cheeky chimps being first and providing us with much hilarity having to watch their every move and get ready to run if our guide shouted as one particular naughty, mischevious one had a favourite party trick – throwing his poo at visitors! Wild boars who eat everything in their path, big cuddly (well not if you were in the enclosure with them) bears and finishing at the oh so cuddly looking penguins.

The whole experience allows you to stay in the zoo all day on your departure day, or to even venture to London Zoo if you fancy it as well as having use of the zoo the whole day before as well so if you fancy living next to the rhinos one night? Then this ultimate experience is the one for you.

Lookout Lodges are open from Wednesday to Sunday March until October, and are priced from £139 per person Each lodge can accommodate 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child, plus a maximum of 2 additional children. The additional children will sleep on a pull-out sofa bed.

0344 2251826 www.zsl.org

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Summer Getaway S

ummer sees lots of us trying to juggle work commitments along with keeping the kids entertained, long days turn into long nights and some quality time with your partner is just a distant memory.

its living space just perfect for us to sit back sipping wine whist watching the world go by out of the large Georgian windows and I do believe the bathroom with its whirlpool bath was bigger than my best friends apartment!

With that in mind why not pack your little darlings off to Granny and Grandpas overnight and head off for some ME time with Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa’s luxurious Summer Getaway.

Within this gloriously grand building are three restaurants catering for each individual need - whether its a relaxed atmosphere, formal fine-dining or somewhere just to enjoy an aperitif before dinner Whittlebury Hall has it all. We chose to eat dinner in Astons Restaurant, its relaxed atmosphere and choice of classic and contemporary cuisine made it just perfect. For those who want more fine dining in an intimate atmosphere then the award winning Murray’s Restaurant is for you with the freshest ingredients presented in contemporary style. And finally if it’s a social informal dining experience you’re looking for then Bentleys Restaurant is the perfect place to meet with friends or colleagues and enjoy the freshest Mediterranean cuisine with pizza, pasta and salads.

Laying at the end of a long winding road and set in rural Northamptonshire, I was looking forward to this grand Georgian Country House being my little escape for the night; somewhere I could enjoy some serious R and R. The indulgence began as soon as we walked into the lounge bar and joined the likes of James Hunt, Bernie Ecclestone, Jacky Stewart, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordanand many more for Champagne Chocolate Afternoon Tea. How lucky was I? Well not that lucky, unfortunately they weren’t in the flesh just memorabilia from them adorning the walls in the aptly named Silverstone Bar. Sitting back in the comfy chairs sipping a glass of champagne whilst eating delicate finger sandwiches fitted perfectly with the drawing room feel of an old country manor house. The warm home baked chocolate chips scones just melted in the mouth and the chocolate and pistachio cones were utterly delicious – I do believe my body was starting to relax and enjoy this treat.

Whittlebury bedrooms are all decorated and furnished to provide an elegant and restful escape. We thought we would give ourselves an extra special treat and upgrade to a suite and what a suite it was! The Presidential Suite no less! It was sumptuous and luxurious with

Retiring to our suite I enjoyed one of the most restful night’s sleep, I’m not sure my hubbie did though he spent half the night looking out the window at the new Nissan sports cars that were parked on the grass just below our room!

After a delicious buffet breakfast with omlettes being made freshly to order, we continued with our escape from the big bad world and spent the day at the spa, which just proved a heavenly end to a perfect escape.

A Summer Getaway at Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa starts from £79 per person and includes a three-course dinner, cream tea and full English breakfast.

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Out and About This month saw us at:

Launch of Gallones Ice Cream Parlour Gallones is in the heart of The Arcade in Bedford Town Centre. Bringing you 50 flavours of ice cream in a retro setting you will be spoilt for choice.

Owner Martin Keys had a full house for his launch night with lots of different flavours of ice cream being devoured and making it very difficult to choose a favourite flavour, although I have to say the malteser one was very close for me.

Alice in Wonderland Cocktails on The Terrace This year Alice in Wonderland is 150 years old and The Swan Hotel did their bit to promote this whilst supporting charity by hosting Alice in Wonderland Cocktails on The Terrace, with a percentage of the sale of the drinks going to Macmillan Cancer Support. Featuring an ice sculptured teapot and specially themed Alice cocktails the night was a big success, let’s hope no one got lost “down the rabbit hole!”

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Opening Night at The Quarry Theatre The Quarry Theatre at St. Luke’s is the exciting new theatre that’s opened in Bedford. The newest facility for Bedford School and the local community was formerly a church and has now been sympathetically adapted into a venue that houses a 286-seat theatre, a 60-seat studiotheatre, a spacious bar opening onto the original church garden and a foyer. The official opening saw guests spilling into the beautiful gardens whilst sipping champagne and enjoying canapés before watching a modern day performance of George V.

Affinity Charity Summer Soiree We held our Charity Summer Soiree at The Auction Room in Bedford. Loads of fun and laughter took place whilst raising funds for our charity of the year Cancer Research UK. The glorious summer’s evening included bubbles, strawberries, live singing from Sergio Marinaro and just one or two cocktails!

Great fun was had by everyone with fabulous support as always for our events.

Chocolate Indulgence at Whittlebury There’s no better place to indulge your chocolate cravings than Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa where we went along to enjoy their sumptuous Chocolate Afternoon Tea. With dark chocolate & salted caramel brownie, white chocolate & pistachio cone, chocolate & orange Madeleine, milk chocolate & raspberry tart, warm home baked chocolate chip scones, raspberry preserve & clotted cream it is a chocolate lovers dream!

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A quiet night in...

The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning.

Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, thriller you won’t be able to put down.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Tom Cruise returns as secret agent Ethan Hunt in the breathless fifth instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. The Impossible Mission Force (IMF) is in danger. Their agents are being systematically wiped out by a deadly organisation known only as the Syndicate. Moreover, no one is willing to acknowledge that these mysterious assassins even exist. IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must get his team back together and destroy the Syndicate before it's too late. Megastar Cruise leaps back into action for the explosive fifth movie in the blockbusting Mission: Impossible series. Having scaled Dubai's Burj Khalifa in the previous movie, the famously fearless Cruise now takes his stuntwork to the next level, with one especially jaw-dropping scene seeing him clinging to the outside of an airbourne plane.

Release Date: 30th July

Insurgent – Defy Reality

Insurgent, the next gripping action-adventure in the blockbuster Divergent franchise, raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the dystopian ruins of a futuristic Chicago.

Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Kate Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

Release Date: 3rd August

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2015 ISSUE 51

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

August 2015

Argan Oil

Perfect boost for your whole body

Margarita Medley

Celestyal Odyssey

A treatment good enough to eat

Takes us on a Greek adventure

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