May2016

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

May 2016

Beauty News The newest products to hit the High Street MAY 2016 ISSUE 60

Are we Bonkers?

Dizzie Rascal’s in town

Salad Days Recipes to inspire you A visit to the Darkside Limited Edition Jeep Renegade

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Welcome...

Hi Everyone By the time you read this I’m sure many of you will know that the rapper Dizzie Rascal is the act that’s headlining at this year’s Friday night Bedford Park Concert Series – We love Dizzie, maybe its because we’re as ‘Bonkers’ as him! There’s still time to enter our exclusive Bedford Park Proms Competition to win your very own table for 6 people with lots of added extras (page 62) including a delicious hamper with prosecco from Brownes Coffee House on Castle Road in Bedford.

It’s here! - The details for our 5th Annual Charity Ball, with a theme of Fire and Ice on Saturday 5th November with a spectacular firework display during the night and many more surprises, turn to page 30 for how to book tickets When you watch an action film, I’m sure you’re as amazed as I am at some of the car stunts they manage to do – the amount of times they become horizontal and squeeze through a space on two wheels scares me just watching – so I must have been drunk when I agreed to do some similar stunts myself at the launch of the Limited Edition Jeep Renegade ‘Dawn of Justice’ in association with the latest action film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!

Page 60 gives you a little more insight.

Wow! Not sure we can fit much more in.

Until next month

Jane x

The Affinity brand is all about luxury and so it would have been rude to turn down a stay at the iconic Landmark Hotel in London especially as it was in the newly refurbished Great Central Suite, page 66 shows you how we really were treated like Royalty!

Cover Image: George

Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 01234 962106 - 07507 602401 Advertising: Gwen D’Souza affinitymaggwen@gmail.com 07506 770554 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

14 Smooth and Firm 16 Superpower your Summer 18 Beauty Updates

22 Healthy Goals 26 Midlife Madness 28 Love Laughter

32 Day at the Races 37 Mule Edit 40 Foodie News

43 50 59 68 72

Summer Salad Mirror Mirror Bags of Baggage Beautiful Budapest Your Stars

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What does your kitchen mean to you

Ltd Very affordable true HANDLELESS GERMAN kitchens now in store

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

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Come and Grow

The Woburn Abbey Garden Show at

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ow in its 7th year, the Woburn Abbey Garden Show (25th and 26th June) is an important diary date for many keen gardeners. Set against the stunning backdrop of Woburn Abbey, ‘The Gardener’s Garden Show’ offers visitors the best location of any show in the UK, taking place within the 42 acres of Abbey Gardens.

Whether you are an enthusiastic horticulturist or you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll have an informative day out at the Woburn Abbey Garden Show. Enjoy an introduction to gardening, the opportunity to hone or learn new skills and purchase unique plants and garden items.

Her Grace, The Duchess Of Bedford will be officially opening the new waterfall over the Rockery. The Rockery was originally created as part of Humphry Repton’s plans for Woburn Abbey Gardens in the early 1800’s and fully restored in 2009 and in 2011 a Pavilion was added. This area will be completed with the addition of a waterfall.

Other show highlights include interesting demonstrations and Q&A sessions. Presenter Pippa Greenwood, a regular writer and blogger for BBC’s Gardener’s World Magazine and Martin Fish, Garden Writer and BBC Broadcaster, will share their expertise. New for 2016, Woburn Abbey is delighted to welcome members of the RHS plant Advisory Committees, who will be offering advice and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Fleurette, florists of Bedford, will be coordinating our new Floral Beard competition.

BBC Three Counties Radio will be unveiling a show garden featuring an 1831 rustic temple, historically part of the Woburn Estate. In front of this structure, a biodiversity garden will be created by the Woburn Abbey Gardens Team in partnership with BBC Three Counties presenters and children from Eversholt Lower School.

RHS Gold Medal Winning and other renowned plant nurseries will be offering a range of rare and interesting plants. In addition, the retail experience will cover a wide variety of gardening products such as furniture, sculptures, tools and hardware. The Gift Hall has suppliers from across the UK, selling their various handmade crafts.

We are also delighted to be launching the first illustrated book about Woburn Abbey: The Park & Gardens by Keir Davidson, with a foreword by the Duchess of Bedford (£35, Pimpernel Press) at the show. Keir Davidson will be on hand for booksigning.

Also new for this year is 'Focus on Food Tourism' - an area of the show dedicated to independent food suppliers, showcasing the best of regional food and drink.

Free guided garden tours are available with the RHS qualified Woburn Abbey Gardeners.

Lunch will be served at the Sculpture Gallery, in the South Court, the Duchess Tea Room and the Bedford Tea Room.

Ticket Prices: Adult £11.50, Concession £10.50, Children £6.50. www.woburnabbey/gardenshow

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Super

Slimming Just in time for bikini season, a round up of our favourite body slimming products

Murad Firm and Tone Serum £55, John Lewis MK

Decleor Aromessence Slim Effect Serum £44 Lookfantastic.com

SilDerm Triple Action AntiCellulite Cream £16 dermacaredirect.co.uk

DERMAdoctor Shrinking Beauty £32 Amazon

Soap & Glory Sit Tight Super Intense 4-D £14.50 Boots

bliss fatgirlslim firming Cream £28.50 M&S

Rodial SUPER FIT Tummy Tuck £65 rodial.co.uk

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SUPERPOWER YOUR SUMMER

How to feel lighter, brighter and more mindful

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You can experiment with seeing yourself as successful in whatever venture it is you are keen to enjoy. Whether that’s making your diet more healthy, running more, or getting the job you want, the key is to see yourself as being successful in the future in your goals and know yourself as successful now.

If you take on the feeling of having already been successful in your wellness endeavours now, it will be a whole lot easier to turn down the fries and hamburgers when they are offered!

Here is a step-by-step guide to visualising Superpowered success for yourself this summer, whatever your body and mind goals are: 1. Go into your basic meditation pose - make sure you’re sitting comfortably and are relaxed.

2. Take a few nice calming breaths.

3. Bring your attention right to where you are and acknowledge what is happening in the here and now.

4. Once you feel present, let your imagination run free and see yourself doing the things you would love to be doing, and feeling the way you would love to feel.

5. Play the scene out in your imagination several times; you can even add in some made up conversations you will have with friends, which imply you’ve been successful in your endeavours.

Summer is coming, which means many of us will want to look and feel our very best once the warmer weather arrives. Whether your goal is to lose a few pounds, to gear up your fitness regime to the next notch or make some changes in your work life, mindfulness can help get you there.

6. Bring your daydream to a close and bring your attention back to the here and now.

7. Finally, take a few moments for calm, mindful breathing before you bring your meditation to a close.

Bioglan Superfoods, Superpower Your Life Ambassador, Emma Mills, is a mindfulness expert whose latest mindful eating course, RELISH, teaches her clients how to eat more mindfully; assessing cycles of overeating and old habits.

Take a few minutes everyday to visualize and you will soon notice how your mindset is helping you become more successful.

Emma Mills is a meditation teacher with a passion for finding & sharing thoughtful and intelligent ideas for living well, inspired by the arts, psychology & mindfulness. (www.emmamillslondon.com)

Emma explained to us “If you’ve explored meditation, you may have come across the idea of visualisation. This technique encourages you to use your imagination to experience certain ideas and imagery that are perhaps not happening in reality (yet)!

Bioglan superfoods Superpower is all about finding the right personalised plan for your lifestyle. (www.bioglansuperfoods.co.uk) 17

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Tone Matching Concealer New KALME Chameleon Concealer does it ALL and more!

Containing magical new tone-matching and soft-focus technology for perfectly concealing skin prone to redness (including rosacea), spots, bumpiness and sensitivity. The tonematching technology allows the concealer to change colour as it’s applied to match skin tone exactly.

Available from www.skinshop.co.uk for £19.95.

BEAUTY UPDATES Pestle & Mortar

Hydrate is a triple peptide moisturiser from Pestle & Mortar that softens, repairs and firms skin while hydrating deep beneath the epidermis. Priced at £38 and available from £38.00 www.pestleandmortarcosmetics.com This weightless, non-greasy moisturiser features tri- and tetrapeptide technology that helps stimulate collagen production, restoring skin’s firmness and elasticity, whilst also reducing the appearance of fine lines.

Spring into Summer This month sees the launch of the new Limited Edition Fragrance from Jo Malone - Nashi Blossom (from £44). Arriving with a petal pop floral explosion. Crisp white blossoms in full bloom adorn green gardens while magic fills the air, with a top note of lemon, a base of white musk, and at the heart, the crisp and clean Nashi Blossom, with a subtle hint of rose. The limited edition bottle is adorned with polka dots, which evoke the memory of the elegant, speckled Nashi flower.

DIY Beauty

With captivating and colourful photography, the brand new book ‘Made Up’ from instagram beauty sensation Laura Jenkinson will teach you how to apply eye make-up ranging from everyday neutrals to dramatic graphic liner as well as choosing the best lipstick and blusher shades for your skin tone, published by Hardie Grant and priced at £9.99.

I thought the following new skin care range from Martha Hill, which includes a daytime Moisturiser and Night Cream, maybe of interest:

Essential Skincare

Martha Hill has created this exciting new collection of daily care essentials all beautifully fragranced with Pure Organic Rosewater and combining the finest natural, h e r b a l ingredients.

The four product set is £26 (www.beautynaturals.com), and contains 75mls each of Cream Cleanser, Gel Toner, Day Cream and Overnight Cream, providing all you need for your daily skin care routine and will help to reveal a fresh, brighter looking complexion with a naturally healthy glow.

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Energising and Radiance

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soft hot cloths, just perfect as I do dislike getting up halfway through a treatment to wash the products off. A firming hydrating cream is then massaged into the body leaving it feeling velvety soft and supple all over - Once the body has been pampered it is time to move onto your face. After a thorough cleanse a special massage gel is applied to the face and massaged in using a handheld machine which combines ultra-high frequency vibrations allowing it to achieve a supreme deep down skin cleansing experience, leaving your skin super clean and glowing.

Spa - One of my favourite places to disappear to when I want to be transported into a world of doing just nothing.

Whenever I visit I know I’m in for a treat, and this time was no exception. The spa was introducing their new treatments from the British brand Katherine Daniels and I couldn’t wait!

As soon as I walk through the doors at Y Spa I feel myself transported into an oasis of tranquility and calm, add to that a glass of bubbles and I remember one of the reasons why I love my job so much.

Finally moisturising cream, eye cream and plumping lip balm were applied leaving my skin not only rejuvenated but also feeling smooth and radiant. This luxurious treatment was an experience my skin loved.

After a morning spent enjoying the spa, in particular the deliciously warm infinity pool where I occasionally removed myself for a few minutes to lounge on the large outdoor sofas it was time to try the new treatment:

Tranquility, rejuvenatation, and serenity . . . just a few words that describe time spent at the Y spa an experience that you will want to revisit time and time again.

The Katherine Daniels Velvet Skin Body Treatment & Skin Radiance Facial – The treatment begins with your skin being exfoliated with the most delicious gentle oil and salt exfoliator which is then removed with

Katherine Daniels Velvet Skin Body & Skin Radiance Facial 50 minutes £55 www.yspa.co.uk 20

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Hit Your Health Goals Small health changes with BIG health payoffs

ccording to research, it takes on average 66 days to form a new habit. So what better time now that spring has sprung to start on these little health changes that could have a big impact on your life.

Go nuts with nuts Feeling peckish? Almonds make a great snack because of their protein content. ‘They are high in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, needed for normal growth and development as they are important components of cell membranes. They also help maintain normal blood cholesterol levels. Almonds are also an excellent source of copper, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.

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Switch off!

Sleeplessness, headaches, fatigue and dizziness can all be symptoms of electrical sensitivity. ‘Electrical sensitivity affects about 35 per cent of the population. It interferes with your body’s natural rhythms. Cordless phones may be the worst, as we tend to keep them beside the bed, where we receive electrical waves from the base. Other risk areas include: using the hairdryer over 10 minutes; keeping your digital clock by the bed and sitting too close and too long in front of a computer screen. Switch to an analogue clock and a flat screen monitor and keep your wireless network router in a different room to your study or bedroom. Also if you’re working in front of a computer screen for long periods make sure you take a few minutes break at least every half an hour’ suggests Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading Nutritionist (www.marilynglenville.com), author of Natural Health Bible for Women.

Stand tall, sit tall, walk tall Grandma was right! Just standing tall works the deep postural muscles, which hold you up against gravity. When you slouch, not only does it look awful (bulging stomach, round shoulders) but also it puts pressure on the spine and reduces the efficiency of your breathing and the ability of your core muscles to support the spine. Remember to lengthen up through the crown of your head and you’ll look taller and slimmer’ explains Lynne Robinson, Pilates guru and co-founder of Body Control Pilates (www.bodycontrolpilates.co.uk).

Drink your food and chew your soup!

Chew food a minimum of 30 times. ‘This should be mixed with enough saliva for you to almost drink it! Chewing enough not only stimulates the secretion of digestive juices needed for proper digestion, it also ensures that your food is properly mixed with saliva and is swallowed with less gas.

Unbroken down food in the gut leads to many problems.

One of which is gas and bloating! Liquid foods, such as soups and smoothies should also be chewed. If you do not chew it, then your body will not produce adequate enzymes.

Go for a 15-minute walk at a lunch break It takes up to 15 minutes of sun exposure to get the vitamin D you need. Sharon Morey, Nutritionist at Quest Vitamins says 'Vitamin D can help with the symptoms of mild depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder. Vitamin D is also well known for its role in bone health: it ensures that calcium is absorbed properly and retained in the bones.

Another important, and lesser well-known role of vitamin D is in immunity. The best way to get vitamin D is through sunlight on the skin. If you work indoors, go out for a walk in your lunch hour and always make sure to spend time outdoors at the weekend. You can also take a supplement, such as Quests’ Forte D 4000 (www.revital.co.uk, £12.69)’

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Stuff your veg Are you struggling with getting your ‘five a day’? Stuff your veg to increase your intake. We have been stuffing peppers for years. In the same theme - instead of bread, use large lettuce leaves to wrap around fish, meat or other fillings (e.g. lentils, beans, lamb mince). You can also fill chicory leaves with a vegetable filling or prawn mayonnaise – Delicious!

interacting with the immune system. Go for the ones with different strains of bacteria, such a Pro-Ven 25 Billion (Boots, £13.95)’ says Adrienne Benjamin, Nutritionist at Pro-Ven Probiotics.

Pop some oatcakes in your handbag Oats delivers their energy slowly and can be kinder to the gut than wheat. Easy to take to work (they fit perfectly into mini plastic clip-lock pots that can go in your handbag) – always put with a protein snack or good essential fatty acids e.g. cottage cheese, hummus or a nut butter (almond or walnut). Ideal time to eat: mid-morning because you can use the extra energy from the carbohydrates throughout the day or just before a gym session to give you energy.

Fake your burger Are you trying to cut down on carbs? ‘Large mushrooms like Portobello mushrooms are great ‘fake’ burgers! They can also be cooked and added into a food mixer with chickpeas, olive oil, a little salt, a little flour (or corn flour), herbs and 2-3 whisked eggs. Once you have a good consistency, using your hands, mould into burger shapes and grill in the oven till crispy on each side. Serve with salad on the side’ suggests Nutritionist Cassandra Barns.

Go natural In the food and drink we consume there are small amounts of undesirable substances such as pesticides, even if we eat mainly organic food and filtered water. But the enzymes in our digestive tract can break these down and excrete them, to some extent. Even if they are absorbed, the blood from the digestive tract flows first through the liver, where it is filtered to remove more toxic or waste substances before they can reach the body’s tissues. On the other hand, toxins absorbed through the skin don’t come into contact with digestive enzymes, and can circulate around the body before reaching the liver. This makes them more likely to be trapped in tissues anywhere in our body’ explains Barns.

‘Natural ingredients are the ones that are derived from environmental sources with no synthetic compounds. When choosing skincare look for essential oils, which are the most powerful, organic ingredients. Go for Skin Balm by What Skin Needs (www.whatskinnneds.co.uk, £13.99) with Lemon, Green Tea, Aloe Vera and Ylang Ylang essential oils’ advises Sonja Dymalovski, Skincare Expert at www.whatskinneeds.co.uk.

Start the day with hot water and lemon Swap your coffee for ½ a freshly squeezed lemon with water in the morning (but drink through a straw so you protect the enamel on your teeth). Why? Lemons are really good for supporting digestion, but particularly fat digestion. By digesting fats more effectively, you may also absorb fatsoluble nutrients better such as vitamin A, vitamin E and B12.

Sleep better Sleep makes you feel and look better; it decreases risk for cardiovascular disease, boosts metabolism and memory and reduces stress. However, busy lifestyle and endless ‘to do’ lists can make it very difficult to switch off. Help yourself with Magnesium. ‘Many of us are deficient in magnesium that is known as ‘nature’s tranquiliser’ as it relaxes muscles and nerves. Have a good quality magnesium supplement before bed and you will see the difference after three to four months. Try Quest Vitamins Synergistic Magnesium (£4.99,www.revital.co.uk)’ advises Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns.

Think purple Blackberries, blueberries, black grapes, beetroot, blackcurrants, purple plums, figs, prunes, raisins, red cabbage, aubergine - purple foods are a great source of anthocyanins. These are a type of flavonoid that is potently antioxidant, being protective to our cells. Anthocyanins work closely with vitamin C in our body, to increase it into our cells, enhancing the integrity of all cell walls and collagen. Therefore they help the strength and maintenance of skin, all connective tissues and blood vessels.

Have sex regularly It can make you happier and more confident – those who have regular sex, as well as plenty of hugs and intimacy, tend to be much happier than those who don’t. It seems that those who have greater emotional support have a greater sense of well-being. Oxytocin is the love hormone that is released with sexual activity and orgasm, so it’s no wonder those having regular sex feel happier!

Brush your cellulite away Dry body brushing, also called skin brushing, is the easiest and the cheapest way to fight this stubborn orange peel. ‘It helps to break up fatty deposits, aids lymphatic drainage and stimulates circulation. Overall it should take between 3 and 7 minutes to brush the entire body. The most important point is that you should always brush towards your heart.

Use firm, rhythmic strokes to brush the sole of your right foot. Then brush over the top of your foot toward your ankle. Move to your lower leg, cover the whole surface.

Brush from your knee to the top of your thigh. Brush your buttock areas up to your waist. Repeat on your left leg.

Brush at the top of your buttocks and move upward. Brush the whole of your back up to your shoulders. Brush your right arm, paying particular attention to the area around your armpit. Repeat on your left arm. Finish by brushing gently over your throat and neck.

Go green Make yourself a fresh fruit smoothie with Chlorella or Spirulina powder (try Green Lightning by Nature’s Plus available from www.revital.co.uk, £26.40). These ‘greens from the sea’ give us a great natural dose of nutrition to help us cope better - especially if you are prone to becoming run down during a stressful period. The fruit in the smoothie is also rich in vitamin C to support the immune system.

Take probiotics There are actually over 400 known species of these bacteria in the human gut, and their numbers total around 100 trillion per person – ten times more than the number of cells in our body! ‘They help break down our foods and absorb nutrients, fighting off detrimental bacteria, producing substances that nourish and protect the gut wall, and

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All about Eyes Eye cream’s help hide dark circles and wrinkles whilst giving them protection from the elements

Benefit Puff Off Eye Olay Regenerist Advanced Cream £22.50 Age Defying Eye Roller £8.50 Debenhams Debenhams

Murad Intensive Wrinkle Reducer for Eyes £75

Rose & Starflower Eye Serum £29 therosetree.co.uk

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum £46 John Lewis Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue £40 charlottetilbury.com

Clinique All About Eyes £26.50 John Lewis

Murad Renewing Eye Cream £67, John Lewis MK

Kiehl's Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream £42 John Lewis

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Midlife Madness Crazy Questions Having lived for a relatively long time I generally have a pretty good idea about questions. They are spoken with a slight rise in tone at the end of the sentence, their purpose is generally to seek some information or at least some clarification. I get that, but I have noticed lately that there are also a lot of question that are quite frankly a bit crazy.

with sport, usually it will be to point out an injustice, with films, well altogether more random. Whatever it was it really didn’t warrant a question. But of course I think the craziest question is the ‘Can I ask you a question?’ question. Well I have thought of saying no, but it’s an irrelevant question because people who ask this usually have every intention of asking you the question because often they don’t even wait for a reply, so why on earth don’t they just cut to the chase and ask the question.

I was standing at a bus stop where, to my knowledge, only one bus actually stops and only once or twice an hour when up rocks a seemingly normal person who asks has the bus been yet. Well obviously I answered no, but if I had answered yes surely that would have been a tad illogical. I guess I could have been running at break neck speed while it disappeared into the distance but the fact that I was stood at the bus stop would surely give the impression that I was actually waiting for said bus! Or maybe he thought I was stood there just admiring the cars that went past!

Then there are the crazy ‘motto’s’ - you know like ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it’??? No problem there then, call me strange but to me the whole point of having cake is to EAT it - yes I know I won’t have it then but that is the point of cake - to be eaten! But what is often more irritating is people who quote it to you when it has nothing to do with cake at all and you are left trying to work out if they are being helpful or having some sort of sly dig.

It’s similar to when someone on a train or whatever asks if anyone is sitting on a seat that is blatantly empty. I know that the purpose is really to enquire if anyone HAD BEEN sitting there but they rarely ask that they say ‘excuse me is anyone sitting there’ and sometimes I have this mischievous desire to tell them yes my invisible friend Harriet or Henry or whatever is! I bet it would put them off that seat, or even to pose the question back to them ‘hmmm not sure what’s your analysis of the situation?’

Some questions of course are very valid, and if anyone asks me for directions I remember that I am directionally challenged and usually suggest they ask someone else.

Which I think is honest and respectful and kind. But of course lots of others seem unable to do that and they’ll hum and hah and start telling you to walk up here or down there to some landmark that doesn’t actually exist - possibly even sticking out their left arm as they tell you to turn right - always a worry to my mind.

Another useless question is the ‘did you see that’ usually when I am watching sport or a movie - right next to the person who asks it. Why would I not have seen it - I am there with you for goodness sake, I am not sitting with my eyes closed so yes, obviously I will have seen ’that’, whatever that was but of course that isn’t really what they are asking, they are actually wanting to make a comment;

But perhaps most irritating is the question that isn’t asked - by the person (usually male) who clearly doesn’t have a clue where they are going but has a seeming genetic inability to ask a question - thankfully it happens a lot less these days with Sat Navs and smartphones, although I have witnessed quite a bit of shouting at such devices usually from myself ‘but you told me to turn right!!!’

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Air Force 1 Gradient Cases £115 , american tourister.co.uk

Fleur de Cielle Earrings £207, Cielle London

AFFINITY HOT PICKS

Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Sheer £48, Superdrug

Red Lips – Cheeky Face T-Shirts From £19, .minimeandmoi.com

Men –u-D-Tox Facial Essentials Kit £5.95, men-u.co.uk

Zaman Cuff £165, serefim.com

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Zoella Beauty Sticker Me Beauty Bag £10, Superdrug

Ibiza Bikini £39.99, chasingsummer.co.uk

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo £14.85, global.moroccanoil.com

Flat Strap Espadrilles £90, .celticandco.com

Kiss Air Gin & Tonic Candle £8.50, kiss-air.com

The Beach House 3 Drawer Cabinet £65, thewhitelighthousefurniture.co.uk

Just Peachy Eva Lace Bra & Briefs Bra £20, Briefs £10, figleaves.com

glo-minerals Jeweled Crayon Box £42, glo-minerals.com

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Learning to

Love a Good Laugh

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What Happens When We Laugh Apparently there are 15 muscles in the face alone that contract when we laugh and as it spreads through the body many other muscles contract, but then relax - some may become unco-ordinated so a really good giggle can make you unable to walk straight for example. Our eyes water and in some ways our body becomes a bit out of control and, of course, we have all had the experience of irresistible giggles, especially in situations where we feel we shouldn’t be laughing. It also has an effect on our respiratory system and breathing becomes irregular but overall our oxygen intake increases. So in many ways it is like a workout.

Laughing is and always will be the best form of therapy Dau Voire

Impact on Mental Health Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine - Lord Byron

Impact on Physical Health Laughing releases tension, in fact when we are laughing muscles relax and stay relaxed for some time afterwards. But there is also evidence to suggest that laughter boosts our immune system and can even help improve heart health (the heart is, after all a muscle) as it can increase blood flow. In addition, when we laugh we release endorphins which are hormones that increase our sense of well-being - the feel good factor and because of this laughter can sometimes reduce pain. In his book The Master Key System, Charles F Haanel makes the claim that people who have been ill have improved their health and condition simply through laughter.

I have not seen anyone dying of laughter but I have seen millions who are dying because they are not laughing.

Dr Madan Kataria

Laughter is contagious and it is fun. You may have seen a very popular video on social media recently which starts simply with one man on a train laughing and ends with everyone on the train laughing. People who laugh together are likely to work well as a team - somehow laughter creates a bond. If you walk into a party or even a new office, you are likely to be drawn to people who laugh or smile rather than the ones who look depressed or down. Many of us will have had times when things may have looked bleak and the response would be either to cry or conversely to laugh.

Amazingly if we are able to choose the latter often things start to look a little better because we start to feel more positive.

Impact on Stress Unsurprisingly a good laugh helps reduce our levels of stress and in fact there is a new branch of therapy called ‘laughter therapy’.

Its aim is simple - to get you to laugh. Now cynics reading this will probably be thinking that it can’t be good for us if it is not genuine. but apparently our brain finds it tricky to distinguish between real and ‘fake’ laughter, so all the beneficial elements are there. And if we start out laughing in a slightly forced way in fact it quickly becomes real. A good burst of laughter will leave us feeling relaxed, buoyant and possibly exhausted - in effect it is like a good workout.

Impact on Success Success may well take hard work, dedication and commitment but success comes more easily when we enjoy what we do. We may still be working hard but if we love what we do and enjoy the process, we are likely to stay motivated and work harder, so enjoying a good laugh and spending time with people who make us laugh is even likely to help us to be more successful.

There is little success where there is little laughter.

Andrew Carnegie

How Can We Laugh More So if it is that good for us we need to do it more! It can protect us against depression and stress and improve anxiety so let’s get laughing. We all have our own preferences, slapstick, a good stand up, a clever joke or a funny film, but actually while we may laugh alone we are much more likely to laugh when we are with others. In fact, often we choose our social groups to be with those who make us laugh - why? because quite simply they make us feel better. The cycle often goes: less time for social activities, because of work or illness for example, which leads to greater isolation, less opportunities to laugh and increased feelings of sadness. But that can be changed - if you want to get laughing listen to some laughter and join in - it will be hard not to!

Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.

Walt Disney

For more information or for help with any emotional issues contact Attuned Education on 07921193479 or via email info@attunededcuation.com 29

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FASHION

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Sainsburys

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Day at the

Races

Flower Statement Necklace £25 Accessorize

Juno Jacket £120 Phase Eight

Flower Dress Phase Eight

Debut Dress £110 Debenhams

Floral Fitted Dress £60 Wallis

Jacques Vert

Kereni Print Dress £99 Phase Eight

Cliopatra £75 Dune

Flower Hat £30 River Island

Tilly Stripe Dress £99 Monsoon

Fascinator Phase Eight

Biba Clutch £29 House of Fraser

Michelle Keegan Floral Print Dress £70 Lipsy Strappy Sandal £45 Wallis

Cynthia Rowley Dress £50 Chic by Choice

Lizzy Dress £130 Phase Eight

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Passion for Patchwork

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Ben De Lisi Shoulder Bag £35 Principles

Blue Patchwork Bag £35 River Island

Red Tote Handbag £47 River Island Bag River Island

Bucket Patchwork Bag £60 River Island

Patchwork Clutch £20 Next

Patchwork Denim Bag £32 Simply Be

Patchwork Bag River Island

Mixed Materiasl Patch Clutch £28 River Island

Chloe Small Suede Patchwork Bag £1,495 Selfridges

Cool in

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Culottes Black Culotte Jumpsuit £45 JD Williams

Culottes £35 Next

Halter Neck Culotte Jumpsuit £65 Simply Be

Very Orange Print Jumpsuit £26 Nextjpg Stripe Culottes £49.50 Oliver Bonas

Printed Culotte Jumpsuit £26 Next

Wide Leg Culottes £20 Simply Be

Crepe Culotte Jumpsuit £27.99 New Look

Tropical Print Culotte Jumpsuit £14.99 New Look

Red Culotte Jumpsuit £24.99 New Look

Pencil Chic

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Faux Leather Skirt Topshop

Ribbed Pencil Skirt £14.99 New Look

Blue Lace Pencil Skirt £29 Very

Skirt £89.90 Rock N Rom Rolling

Spot Skirt £55 Laura Ashley

riverisland

Leather Skirt £350 Jaeger

White Broderie Skirt £39 M&Co

Louche Marian Skirt £30 JOY

Elvi Faux Leather Skirt £65 House of Fraser

Mule

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Edit

Assume Mule £58 Office

Mules £58 Office

Sole Diva Mules £28 Simply Be

Autograph White Mules £49 M&S.

Cut Out Flower Mules Topshop

India Mules £180 Kat Maconie Colour Block Mules £12 Primark

Tan Mules £16.99 Primark

Black Mules Topshop

Lucia Mule £59.95 White Stuff

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FOOD & DRINK

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Good to Go

A top contender in the food trend stakes, protein is no longer just the focus of serious gym bods and body-builders. As the UK rides the trend and powers up on protein, the taste experts team at graze have created two exciting new snacks, Cocoa & Vanilla Protein Flapjack and Natural Energy Nuts (£1.19) helping to meet the demand and making it much easier to get a tasty boost on the go, available from selected supermarkets.

Ancient Legends

Kellogg’s Ancient Legends is a delicious new range of wholesome granolas, mueslis and cereals made with rye, spelt, chia, flax and quinoa – grains and seeds which have been grown for millennia and offer a range of nutritional benefits, making them a great addition to our diet, which means they can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – not just as cereal for breakfast!

FOODIE NEWS

Perfect Matcha

From reducing bad breath, improving bone strength and supporting weight loss, the benefits of matcha green tea make it a key contender against other super foods. Pukka Herbs’ have introduced a NEW organic matcha tea range offering a variety of flavours for different moods and activities. Priced at £2.79 and available in Supreme Matcha Green, Ginseng Matcha Green, Clean Matcha Green and Mint Matcha Green you'll be sure to find one that suits your mood.

Springtime Bubbles

Chandon, is a g o r g e o u s Argentinian sparkling wine available in Brut and Rose. Just as delicious as champagne and that little more premium than prosecco, it can be enjoyed on its own or within a number of easy-to make cocktail recipes, making it a wonderful allrounder. Available from Majestic for £14.99 each.

Floral Foodie

This May, Tom’s Kitchen in Chelsea will celebrate RHS Chelsea Flower Show with beautiful floral decorations and a range of special dishes on the menu, inspired by British flora along with stunning floral installations that will transform the townhouse for 2 weeks (from 16th – 31st May). The first floor tables will have small terracotta pots for centrepieces, filled with edible herbs and flowering plants that feature throughout the menu, such as Nasturtium, Elderflower and Lemon Basil. www.tomskitchen.co.uk 40

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Beluga Lentil and Kale Hot Salad with Sriracha Yogurt Dressing

“A delicious hot salad for a springtime supper with family and friends�

Ingredients 1x 250g packet of Merchant Gourmet Beluga lentils 2 large handfuls of kale 2 spring onions, chopped 2 tomatoes, diced For the dressing: 1 teaspoon sriracha hot sauce (or to taste) 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

Method Heat the lentils according to packet instructions.

Steam the kale for 1-2 minutes until tender and drain.

Divide the lentils and kale between 4 dishes and top with the spring onions and tomatoes.

For the dressing, mix the sriracha and yogurt together, then drizzle over the salad. Serve immediately.

Kate Hackworthy in association with Merchant Gourmet www.veggiedesserts.co.uk

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Burrata, Sunblush Tomato, Salsa Verde and Beluga Lentil Salad

Ingredients 4 x 150g burrata 1 x 250g pouch of Merchant Gourmet Beluga lentils 150g sunblush tomatoes 150g yellow and red cherry tomatoes Salsa Verde; 1 bunch basil 1 bunch tarragon 1 bunch mint ½ bunch parsley 2 cloves of garlic 4 anchovy fillets 30g capers 2 lemons juiced 150ml extra virgin olive oil

“Lentils contain the highest amount of protein originating from any plant, added to this salad they make a deliciously nourishing addition”

Method Firstly make the salsa verde, blitz it, but not too finely. Then check the seasoning and set aside. Add the beluga lentils to a bowl, and then add 2 tbsp of the salsa verde to it. Roughly chop the sunblush tomatoes and half the cherry tomatoes, then also mix these in.

Season and set aside. Take four plates and divide the lentil mix, then take the burrata out of the packaging and water and also place one on each plate. Drizzle with a little more salsa verde and then serve.

Sophie Michel in association with Merchant Gourmet

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Cinnamon and Apricot Muesli Tea Loaf

Ingredients

125g ready to eat apricots 125g raisins 1 Earl Grey teabag 1 tsp ground cinnamon Zest and juice of 1 medium orange 100g light soft brown sugar 250g self-raising flour 100g Kellogg’s Puffed Spelt, Pumpkin & Sunflower seeds muesli 1 large egg, beaten

Method

Lightly oil and base line a 1litre loaf tin. Use a pair of scissors to snip the apricots into small pieces into a large bowl, add the raisins, tea bag, cinnamon and pour over 250ml boiling water.

Add the oranges zest and juice, give it all a good stir and leave until cold.

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 Sift the flour over the soaked fruits, add the sugar, muesli and beaten egg and give it a good mix. Spoon into the prepared tin and bake for about 1 hour or until risen and golden on top.

Peanut Butter and Granola Cookies Method

Ingredients

150g wholemeal flour 1 tsp baking powder 1tsp ground cinnamon 75g Kellogg’s Spelt, Cranberry, Sultana & Flax Seeds Granola + extra for sprinkling 50g butter 75g crunchy 100% peanut butter 6 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla essence

Preheat oven to 180F/160C/Gas 4. Oil 2 large baking sheets.

Mix together the plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon and granola in a large bowl. Break up any large clusters.

Heat the butter, peanut butter and maple syrup in a small pan. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Divide the mixture into 10, then roll each lump into a ball and place them well apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Flatten each ball to make neat round biscuits and scatter over the extra granola.

Bake for 10-12 mins until golden at the edges.

Apple and Cranberry Bircher Muesli Pots Ingredients

90g Kellogg’s Quinoa apple, cranberry and chia muesli, 1 eating apple, washed and cored 75ml cranberry juice 6 tbsp fat-free Greek yogurt Honey to taste

Method

Coarsely grate the apple and place in a medium bowl, add the muesli, juice, yoghurt and mix well. If liked add a little honey to taste.

Divide the mixture between 2 jars with screw top lids and chill for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Serve straight from the jar.

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Pudding Nights

6th May & 17th June £16 for a main course and as many desserts as you can squeeze in

Live Music Nights

13th May Acoustic music with Danni Bentley, lead singer from The VIPeas

Starter Night 20th May £20 per person

Affinity Wedding Show 22nd May

Tapas Night 27th May £20 per person

Quiz Night

3rd June £10 entry £10 entry to include dinner & the chance to win a £50 voucher

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

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Art Deco Venetian Console

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MIRROR MIRROR Crackle Vase £9 George Home

Kelston Mirrored Jewellery Box £29.95 one.world

Venetian Orchid Mirror £225 .frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Oasis Mirrored Bedside Table £252 Sweetpea & Willow

Monte Carlo 5 Draw Tallboy £239 Veryjpg

Daphne Table Lamp £110 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Cherbourg Antiqued Glass Cupboard £436 Sweetpea & Willow

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Star by Julien Macdonald Jewellery Box £28 Debenhams

Star by Julien Macdonald Mirror £40 Debenhams

Silver Glass Table Lamp £99 .frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Veneto Mirrored Drinks Cabinet £495 Alexander & Pearl Small Vase £35 House of Fraser

Venetian Coffee Table £305 Sweetpea & Willow

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Emma Bridgewater Black Toast Serving Bowl £49.95

ICTC Olive Wood Salad Servers £15 John Lewis Emma Bridgewater Rose & Bee Salad Bowl £100

Salad Days Serve up spring salads in these stylish bowls

Garden Vegetable Bowl £11.99 Dobbies.

Salad Bowl Debenhams

Pressed Bamboo & Lacquer Large Bowl In White (lifestyle)

Ceramic Salad Bowl £9.95 Kitchen Craft Wooden Salad Bowl £24.99 Kitchen Craft

Umbra Savore Salad Bowl £40 Black by Design

Emma Bridgewater Purple Veg Large Salad Bowl £100 Salad Bowl £12 Next

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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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A wide range of colours and styles to cater for different budgets Bespoke products Free plan & design service Full installation team Interior design service Friendly, local company

Amazing New Showroom Offers

WE HAVE MOVED

Kreative, 2-4 Prebend Street, Bedford MK40 1QW Tel: 01234 300023

Fry’s Footie Corner

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The Championship Play-Off Final is the reportedly the most lucrative fixture in Europe. This year it could be worth up to £150 million to the winner and over the years has produced some enthralling, exciting and unpredictable games of football.

The reason it is worth such a huge pot of money, is the Premier League TV rights deal which, coupled with the money made in ticket sales, advertising revenue and further TV dollar, swells the winners coffers to an unprecedented amount.

That is why losing the play-off final can take so long to get over. It is often why the winners struggle in the Premier League. You see the scheduling of this final is towards the end of May giving the winners, and losers, not much time to prepare their squads for the following campaign.

Last year’s winners Norwich City could well have been relegated by the time you are reading this column and the year before Queens Park Rangers suffered relegation back to the Championship. Only Swansea City, West Ham United and Crystal Palace of the recent winners have sustained Premier League football and each have done it differently.

Swansea City have continued with the footballing philosophy that brought them the success and although they flirted with the drop this year, you would expect them to appoint a manager to get them back up the table next time around.

West Ham United and Sam Allardyce provided a good fit but Slaven Bilic has taken them onto the next level with some top quality additions including Dimitri Payet. Finally, Crystal Palace, they were promoted 58

the year that we were relegated at Peterborough, in fact their win over us actually sent us down, but they have invested heavily in their squad and I am sure Alan Pardew will make more additions to support Dwight Gayle in attack.

So this year’s final, which could include Derby County (previous winners) , Hull City (Steve Bruce has got promotion experience) and Sheffield Wednesday who at the time of writing have the advantage over Cardiff City, is set to be a belter.

It is one that I am very much looking forward to and I am confident that the winners will be heavily rewarded by their Finance team and owners!

Enjoy the summer!

Barry Fry

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Barbour Leather Travel Bag £299

Canvas Holdall £65 White Stuff

Bric's Travel Holdall £155 Amara

Holdall £50 Next

Baggage

Travel Bag £40 River Island

Bags of

John Rocha Canvas Holdall £65 Debenhams

Weekend Holdall £45 River Island Holdall £65 Mans at Dune

Tommy Hilfiger Leather Holdall £340 House of Fraser

Stone Canvas Holdall £95 House of Fraser

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The Dark Side Jeep Renegade Goes to A 4x4, a bridge comprising of tree trunks, a body of water and flames, a disused aircraft hangar and plenty of obstacles, you could be forgiven for thinking I had given up my day job to become a stunt driver!

Well not quite but it certainly felt a little like that, with the adrenalin flowing and anticipation building I found myself (much against my better judgement) taking part in ‘Mission Renegade’ a driving experience in association with Jeep. This live themed driving experience was the final part of a series of activations to support Jeep’s role as official car partner of the hugely anticipated action film - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!

All the obstacles were created to showcase the Renegade’s off road capabilities, which I have to say were certainly put to the test and passed with glowing colours.

There are only 500 of these new limited edition Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice available for sale in the UK, if I smile sweetly do you think I’ll get one?

The link-up with Warner Bros. Pictures began during production, when Jeep’s Renegade small SUV, which features the best off-road capabilities in its category, was

deployed through the streets of Metropolis with Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, at the wheel for a key scene in the film.

“This experience not only showcases the Renegade’s offroad capabilities but allows people to get behind the wheel, to see for themselves why the new car has been such a success in the UK,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK. Having completed the hair-raising obstacles I began to hallucinate, (it must have been the sheer terror of driving on 2 wheels!) and I spotted the Batmobile waiting for us!

Actually I wasn’t seeing things the great big beast was actually here – now all I needed was for Ben Affleck to appear!

Just 500 Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice limited editions will be made available to customers, all featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, a unique Batman v Superman badge and a choice of either the 1.6-litre E-torQ 110hp petrol (£19,495 OTR), or 1.6-litre MultiJet II 120hp diesel engine (£21,195 OTR), both with manual transmission.

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Bonkers?

Are we

Some people think we are, but that doesn’t mean we’re in a daydream when it comes to Friday night’s headline act for the Bedford Park Concerts on 5th August.

Yep, you’ve probably guessed from our not so cryptic lyrics it’s MC, producer and rapper DIZZIE RASCAL! We can’t wait!

Dizzee Rascal has thrived within the UK garage scene since the early 2000’s, spanning genres from hip-hop and grime to dance and bassline. Having collaborated with the likes of Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys and Florence & the Machine, Dizzee has evolved from his grime and garage roots into the mainstream scene, which has found him featured on the bill for festivals like Glastonbury and Radio 1 Big Weekend numerous times.

His huge hits include ‘I Luv U’ and Fix Up Look Sharp, which went straight into the UK top 20 single charts. As well as his number 1 hit ‘Dance Wiv Me’ featuring Calvin Harris. Dizzee Rascal really developed and amerced himself deeper into the mainstream dance scene with this collaboration. Other hits include further number one hits ‘Holiday’ and ‘Dirtee Disco’ and ‘Bonkers’, which he sang at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics to an estimated worldwide audience of nine hundred million!

And now he is gracing us with his presence at what we can only imagine will be another sell out concert – Tickets are £35 and are on sale at www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk it’s time to Come and Dance Wiv Dizzie!

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WIN! WIN! WIN! There’s still chance to enter our competition to win your very own table for 6 people at this year’s Bedford Park Proms. All you have to do is bring yourself and 5 friends along to Bedford Park and LPH concerts will do the rest – You will have your very own table and chairs in a prime position set up for six people with white linen, a programme each, a hamper each, a ticket each and a few little extras!

Just tell us one of the acts performing at this year’s Bedford Park Proms and send your answer to: affinitymagcomp@gmail.com - Closing date is 20th May – GOOD LUCK! *Hamper’s are supplied by Brownes Coffe House in Castle Road, Bedford. If you’re not lucky enough to win our competition, you can still purchase a Hamper at the great price of £32 (with prosecco), £28 (with soft drinks) each hamper also includes Sandwiches (choice of fillings), Kettle Crisps, Cake and Strawberries & Cream Meringue.

63

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TRAVEL

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Suite Dreams

At The Landmark London

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W

alking into The Landmark London Hotel, you can’t help but think you’re a Royal Princess from days gone by, with its sophisticated style and lavish attention to detail this hotel is ranked amongst the finest of the Capital’s leading luxury hotels, having a distinctive style and ambience that makes it unique and elegant.

Complete with it’s own clock tower, the hotel is indeed as iconic as its name suggests. Having originally opened its doors in 1899 as The Grand Central Hotel – The Landmark London today still combines classic British elegance and grandeur with deluxe facilities.

Walking through the doors, the timeless luxury hits you, with attention to detail second to none, and the Jewel in the Hotel’s Crown being The Winter Garden, a stunning eight storey high glass Atrium of marble column, wrought iron lanterns and palm trees all housed within a glass roof that allows the outside in.

The Landmark London boasts some of the largest hotel rooms in London, and we were privileged to stay in the recently refurbished Great Central Suite all 110sq metres of it. With bespoke flowers and beverages awaiting us (we received an email before our stay asking our preferences) as well as the leather bound Aspinalls of London passport cover left as a gift – the service was impeccable and just what dreams are made of.

The décor includes an antique chest, period furniture and prints that date back to the time when the hotel was built, reflecting the rich and varied history of bygone times. The suite comprises of a luxurious bedroom, a separate living room with a four-seater dining table and large windows that look out onto Marylebone station. The bathroom tempts you to relax for hours in the deep bathtub with a selection of full size Molton Brown toiletries to choose from and soft white fluffy monogrammed towels to wrap yourself in. Back in the living room and the bedroom is the latest state of the art home entertainment system, with flat screen TVs with over 70 channels, a DVD player, an iHome system and the ever important (well it is for hubby as he’s Italian) Nespresso coffee machine!

Within minutes we’d changed into the cosy robes and slippers and were curled up on the sofa sipping champagne out of delicate art deco champagne glasses and luxuriating in how the other half live. It is the thoughtful touches that make a hotel stand out and The Landmark London are very good at these,

from an umbrella for rainy London days to a fresh fruit platter, 24-hour room service a complimentary newspaper and even an overnight shoeshine.

Dinner was served in the atmospheric Winter Gardens with pre dinner drinks being enjoyed in the aptly named Mirror Bar. Created in a style reminiscent of the hotel’s Victorian heritage and finished with a selection of decorative mirrors adorning the walls, you almost feel that Hercule Poirot is going to come hurtling in trying to solve a murder!

Our food was divine, Heirloom Tomato Salad and Leek and Potato Soup for starters, Roasted Breast of Maize Fed Chicken and Pan Seared Sea Bass for main - all dishes were presented like a work of art and tasted utterly delicious. We shared a decadent dessert of Vanilla Baked Cheesecake with Rhubarb Compote and Sorbet, washing it all down with a warming dessert wine.

After dinner we retired to our suite for what can only be described as the best night’s sleep awakening feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

Breakfast was another individual delight. Again served in The Winter Garden, but this time buzzing with breakfast meetings, families and couples, thus creating a completely different atmosphere from the night before. Bright daylight streamed through the glass atrium creating a feeling of eating outside on a sunny day.

Different displays of perfectly prepared breakfast options greeted us with something to suit even the fussiest of palettes ranging from a sumptuous spread of freshly baked Danish pastries and breads, fruits, granola and organic porridge, meats and cheeses, fresh smoothies and even individual delicate pots of rice pudding to the made to order breakfasts including full English, eggs Benedict, and Cornish crab cakes. Breakfast at The Landmark London is a truly indulgent end to a momentous 5 star stay at this historic hotel.

BOOK IT! Prices start from £304 for a Superior room for 2 people including breakfast. Prices start from £1,165 for a Landmark Suite including Afternoon Tea for 2 people. www.landmarklondon.co.uk

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The Ritz-Carlton

Contemporary Luxury in Budapest at

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L

ocated in the heart of the cultural and shopping district, The Ritz Carlton Budapest is literally on the doorstep of Budapest's heralded historic sites and minutes away from the glittering Danube River.

There are few cities in the World that can rival Budapest's setting, history and culture.

Whether guests choose to wander the meandering cobbled streets of the WorldHeritage listed Buda Castle district, take to the rejuvenating water from one of the city's many thermal springs, or simply enjoy tasting the renowned Hungarian cuisine and wines, Budapest maintains its hold as one of Europe's most alluring cities.

Housed within a protected historic building, The Ritz Carlton, Budapest is located on Elizabeth Square, with views over St Stephens Basilica. Constructed in 1914 as the headquarters for an Italian insurance company, the building has seen many incarnations, but today it is a luxury property with 170 elegantly appointed rooms and 30 suites. Whilst many of the building's original architectural details have been retained, including elegant statues on the exterior walls, the interiors offer guests a spacious and relaxed contemporary environment, inspired by the cool colours and swirling water of the Danube River.

Situated on the 8th and 9th floors of the property, The Ritz-Carlton Club Level allows guests an elevated experience and an additional sanctuary, with dedicated concierge, plus complimentary food and beverage presentations running throughout the day.

Introducing two new restaurants and a bar to the Budapest scene, the unrivalled Deak Street Kitchen provides a relaxed and atmospheric environment. It serves a variety of Hungarianinspired dishes, created using local seasonal

ingredients, and freshly grilled meat & fish, alongside one of the city's finest selections of indigenous Hungarian wines and beers. With an elegant outside terrace overlooking vibrant Fashion Street, it provides the perfect location to people-watch, whilst enjoying al fresco dining.

The Kupola Lounge, situated beneath the building's iconic stained glass cupula and grand crystal chandelier, is ideally placed for a leisurely farmer's market breakfast or light lunch overlooking the hotel lobby. There is also a fresh, contemporary bar. Combining sleek finishes with the building's uncovered original architectural columns, the Kupola Bar focuses on serving innovative cocktails in a metropolitan, sophisticated ambiance.

The property's facilities are completed with the ballroom, situated on the lower ground floor. Seating 180 people and the perfect new Budapest location for milestone celebrations, it is adjacent to five flexible meeting rooms, which combine contemporary interiors with state of the art technology.

The Fitness Centre is flooded with natural light on the top of the building, and creates an unrivalled haven for guests to unwind, recharge or simply escape.

This hotel is the 'Pearl of the Danube' and is perfectly located as the European gateway to travellers.

BOOK IT: Room only prices start from ÂŁ215.

Book by 31st May 2016 to get the opening offer of ÂŁ220 per night including buffet breakfast for two people and a room upgrade on arrival (subject to availability) www.RitzCarlton.com/Budapest

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Summer Fun musical Sunny Afternoon with music and lyrics from Ray Davies brings the music of The Kinks to the stage to tell the captivating tale of one of the nation’s greatest bands whose definitive sound rocked the nation. Return to the sixties as Save the Last Dance takes you back to the music and magic of the early part of the decade with Anthony Costa.

Gangsters, lovers, puppets, soldiers, murderers, stockings, rock ‘n’ roll and even a flying car are just a few of the treats in store for you as Milton Keynes Theatre announces their full summer season for 2016.

The season gets off to a flying start as the most fantasmagorical stage musical in the history of everything, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands on the Stage. Starring Lee Mead, Michelle Collins, Shaun Williamson and Carrie Hope Fletcher audiences of all ages are guaranteed to be flying high!

A duo of dramas will stop off at MK prior to the West End. After Miss Julie brings to life the compelling and erotic psychological thriller inspired by Stridberg’s 1888 masterpiece with Call the Widwife’s Helen George while one of Noel Coward’s deliciously funny plays Present Laughter, starring Samuel West, reveals a world of glittering wits, dashing dressing gowns and ostentatious personalities. For murder and intrigue look no further as The Classic Thriller Theatre Company brings the ultimate whodunit in a star studded Rehearsal For Murder bound to keep you guessing right to the last minute.

Musical fans can look forward to more classics as Joe McElderry retells the biblical story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Guys and Dolls brings the sizzling tale of New York gamblers and gangsters direct from the West-End with Richard Fleeshman, Maxwell Cauldfield and the sensational Louise Dearman.

You can bet your bottom dollar the whole family will enjoy a night out with Lesley Joseph as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan in the heart-warming Annie and you’re bound to be moonwalking in the aisles to celebrate the career of the one and only Michael Jackson with Thriller Live. The theatres annual Stage Experience offers the chance for you to see over 100 local youngsters perform in a professionally produced adaptation of Fame, make sure you book to see these musical stars of the future treading the boards!

For one night only music lovers can enjoy Jools Holland with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Russell Watson, Halfway to Paradise – The Billy Fury Story, That’ll be the Day, The Simon and Garfunkel Story, Whitney - Queen of the Night, The Magic of Motown, and Mercury – The Ultimate Tribute Band.

Looking ahead to the Autumn, but on sale now, don’t miss Georgia May Foote in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the all new production of divine musical comedy Sister Act with Alexandra Burke, the return of firm favourite Cats, the hilarious and heartfelt The Full Monty, hit West End musical The Commitments, our annual visits from Glyndebourne and English National Ballet’s and this year’s Purr-fect family pantomime Dick Whittington (oh yes it is!)

For those of you who like something a little naughtier, dig out your stockings and don the red lippy for the return of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show with Norman Pace and Diana Vickers here to thrill you again or join the equally subversive world of Avenue Q (think the Muppets for grown-ups!) for mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness. Selling fast are comedians Sean Lock with his Keep It Light Tour and Bill Bailey with Limboland so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.

Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 8717652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Take a trip down memory lane as contagious rock

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STARS

Manish Kumar Arora (K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month

Taurus (20 April – 20 May) You will fortunately take over the controls and manage to take advantage of opportunities pushing you forward and contributing to a boost in your popularity. You will have considerable assets for coming together around a real desire to share and assuage your sensuality, which will currently be explosive. Your original approach will win people over and your difference from the rest will make a difference. This month will encourage you to push back the boundaries, state your ambitions and widen your horizons, though not without respecting law and authority.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 7, 11, 16, 20, 25 Favourable Colours: Brown & Yellow

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Gemini (21 May – 20 June) A month when you will probably be dogged by taking steps backwards, regrets, remorse and nostalgia, so that you can get moving on the issue during this period of hiatus, which will seem to be a fundamental renewal of your approach to love and the sounding out of your heart, to determine which way to go, so you can head in the right direction. This will be towards complete fulfilment, with awareness especially in a relationship that will keep you happy in body and soul.

Favourable Dates: May 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & White Cancer (21 June – 22 July) You will manage to impose your originality and difference to good effect. This will also be a time when your interests will be served by negotiators, who will be working towards the same goal. You could be at odds with those you deal with, who will listen to rumours about you and could fear your personal approach to subjects on the cards - which should preferably be dealt with together. You will close ranks with your partner or colleagues through dialogue and focusing on consensus.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Purple Leo (23 July – 22 August) You will work tirelessly to improve your everyday life and replenish the coffers. Your ambitions are in the process of being realised and your horizons will be clearer. Your perseverance could bear fruit. You will be able to join up with a network of friends, colleagues and supporters to get unconditional advice and backing, giving full rein to your dreams in good company.

Those around you will be supportive, enabling you to get important matters into perspective giving it a practical shape.

Favourable Dates: May 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

Virgo (23 August – 22 September) Your financial aspirations will be in your line of sight, when you could overdo things and get nowhere, so, be content with what you have been given, without grumbling. If you are single, you will expend lots of energy on pushing yourself forward and attracting attention, but will also wait until you find out more about yourself before you come to some kind of a decision.

Friendship will have pride of place during this month, when love will probably be calling out to you.

Favourable Dates: May 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red Libra (23 September – 22 October) It will be a month for testing your relationship by countering the opinions of those close to you with your own and asserting yourself without pushing your other half into a corner, which would be at your own risk and peril. Tempers will be frayed on the family front, you will however succeed in re-establishing harmony at home and reassuring the troops with guarantees of a financial come-back, which will calm things down. This month will encourage you to open up dialogue and go for negotiation rather than confrontation.

Favourable Dates: May 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Orange & Purple

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) You will be successful in concluding some promising agreements, especially on the finance front, where your determination to watch your back could find something to triumph about today. You will have a desire to construct, make a purchase and set down roots, and will basically find the means to do so. If you raise your ambitions for your love-life a notch, you will achieve your goal and definitely reach nirvana one day, rather than being content with what you have.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 7, 11, 16, 20, 25 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December) You will have a tendency to attract attention and push your luck, but not without keeping your distance in emotional terms. The planets will invite you to stand out from the rest, not systematically with the aim of strengthening existing ties or showing your feelings, but to win others over, so that you can see if you have an effect on those around you and if your seductive powers are still in operation. Things will pick up and your plans will take off.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) This month will highlight your creative flair and focus on your love-life, which will currently be difficult to operate or pin down. Make the most of this enlightenment to explore this area more deeply and learn the lessons of the past. You will ask yourself instead where your commitments are leading you, how you want to see your relationship develop, or to test whether you really want to forge a lasting one. Be careful however of making blunders, which could revive conflict between you and your boss or your loved-one.

Favourable Dates: May 8, 9, 17, 18, 26, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) You could spend May on the edge of hot passion and respond voluptuously to the exciting temperature ups and downs, which will give you a lift throughout the spring and could transport you delightfully to seventh heaven. You will then seek to satisfy your desire for strong emotions and passionate feelings. Your other half should respond favourably to your expectations, unless family quarrels have really affected your close relationship. However In fact since last month, the transit of Venus has been boosting your immense need for sensual gratification.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue Pisces (19 February – 20 March) You have been aspiring to push back the boundaries and break free from emotional and social restraints, which have been weighing you down and basically standing in the way of your total fulfilment you will be struggling to re-establish peace among a divided clan. Those close to you will be backing you into a corner, criticising your stance and holding you to account.

Your current way of doing things with a certain detachment will enable you to take a necessary step back to evaluate the situation and begin to lay down the foundations of the future.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 6, 11, 15, 20, 24 Favourable Colours: Red & White Aries (21 March – 19 April) Negotiations will go in your favour, when your dreams will take shape and your ideals will become clearer. You will score points at work and make an impression socially, where your initiatives and maybe your advancement will be viewed favourably. You will be radiant and should be able to profit from your increasing personal magnetism to move your pieces around the chessboard. You should also focus to connect you with an ideal, which will inspire you and widen your horizons in all areas.

Favourable Dates: May 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com

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A quiet night in...

Keep You Close by Lucie Whitehouse When the artist Marianne Glass falls to her death, everyone insists it was a tragic accident. Yet Rowan Winter, once her closest friend, suspects there is more to the story. Ever since she was young, Marianne had paralyzing vertigo. She would never have gone so close to the roof's edge.

Marianne and the whole Glass family once meant everything to Rowan. For a teenage girl, motherless with a much-absent father, this lively, intellectual household represented a world of glamour and opportunity.

But since their estrangement, Rowan knows only what the papers reported about Marianne's life: her swift ascent in the London art world, her much-scrutinized romance with her gallerist. If she wants to discover the truth about her death, Rowan needs to know more.

Was Marianne in distress? In danger? And so she begins to seek clues in Marianne's latest work, her closest relationships, and her new friendship with an iconoclastic fellow artist.

But the deeper Rowan goes, the more sinister everything seems. And a secret in the past only she knows makes her worry about her own fate . .

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America returns and this time he has to fight his most formidable opponent yet... Iron Man! Following an incident involving the Avengers which involved much collateral damage, politicians propose a governing body to monitor the activities of superheroes. This brings Steve Rogers into conflict with Tony Stark, with the other Avengers choosing sides behind Captain America and Iron Man. But while fighting each other, they must work out how to protect the world from a new enemy...

Captain America and Iron Man go head-to-head in this superhero-studded blockbuster based on the comic book by Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Kingsman). Directed by the Russo brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), this promises to be darker and more emotional than any Marvel movie yet. Look out for guest appearances from Ant-Man, Hawkeye, Vision, Black Widow, Black Panther, Falcon, War Machine and... Spider-Man! Release Date: 29th April

The Big Short

The true story of several remarkable "contrarian" investors who, recognising just how insane the housing bubble and subprime mortgage market had become, figured out how to "short" the market and make a killing during the financial collapse of 2008.

Release Date: 23rd May

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

May 2016

Beauty News The newest products to hit the High Street MAY 2016 ISSUE 60

Are we Bonkers?

Dizzie Rascal’s in town

Salad Days Recipes to inspire you A visit to the Darkside Limited Edition Jeep Renegade