Celebrate:MK April May 2023

5 TUK TUK THAI

Ginger Mum reviews the highlyrated new independent restaurant Tuk Tuk Thai, based in Bletchley

6 CUT TO THE CHEESE

Hazel Roberts chats to Steve Reid from Northamptonshire Cheese Company about his recipe

8 SPRING FAMILY FUN

Faye Shearwood picks her top family days out for you and your little ones this Easter

12 URBAN OM YOGA

Experienced yoga teacher Sarah Kassam discusses her new studio

15 MK FESTIVAL

Vicki McCarthy chats to Jools Taylor about his August tribute festival

18 MK SHOTOKAN KARATE

We take a look at why MK SKA is first choice for karate in MK

20 PJ CARE MALAWI MISSION

How the MK-based care company is helping young people in Africa

30 THE LITTLE MERMAID

Jason Day previews the hottest cinema releases in April and May

Welcome to the April/May issue of Celebrate:MK, which contains plenty of ideas for local spring fun for all the family.

We also have some in-depth features on MK Shotokan Karate Academy (pages 18-19), Urban Ōm Yoga (12-13) and PJ Care’s amazing charity work in Malawi (20-21), for those who prefer a longer read.

You can find an advert

How to Contact Us

Telephone: 07928 027444

Email: jon@celebratemk.co.uk

Website: www.celebratemk.co.uk

Social media: @CelebrateMK

for my new single with Joey Innit on page 9, which was played on BBC Radio 1Xtra a week before its March 10th release date. Have a great spring.

New jewel in MK’s culinary crown

Lifestyle columnist Amanda, AKA Ginger Mum, shares her glowing review of Bletchley’s brand new tasty Thai restaurant, Tuk Tuk Thai...

to have a good old chat with Wan and can testify to the fact she has lived and breathed Thai cooking since childhood and, boy, are we lucky she has brought her culinary skills and experience to our tastebuds here in MK.

a fabulous Pad Grapow –which is a basil and chilli chicken stir fry from their ‘wok stars’ offerings – and Phed Makam, which is duck in tamarind sauce from the house specialities, with egg fried rice to share. Such flavoursome choices, the sauces really popped and everything was cooked

There’s a new Thai in town and having had the pleasure of visiting recently, I can definitely say that it truly is an authentic Far Eastern experience.

I have a fondness for a family run independent business because you just know that so much passion and pride has gone into making it a success and a shining example of this is Tuk Tuk Thai, in Bletchley.

From the plentiful menu we opted for Knom Geeb –steamed dumplings and Tom Yam soup to start. The chicken in this broth was super succulent and as everything is cooked fresh from scratch you can have your dish bespoke, so I opted for mine with no mushrooms.

The soup was gloriously tangy, bursting with flavour and really packed a punch whilst the minced pork dumplings were delightful.

to perfection. What blew us away though, were the desserts. Pandan pancakes are a game changer guys!

Sweet coconut wrapped in the tastiest green pancakes, we were hooked. They are a must try when you visit along with the mango and sweet sticky rice.

We loved the eclectic decor and buzzy atmosphere and will definitely be regular visitors.

You can follow this gem of a place on Instagram at @tuktukthai_mk or reserve your table on 01908 785656

You will always get a warm welcome from the family: Cooper, William, Lily, Neung, Wan and the rest of the team. We were fortunate enough

Don’t forget you can follow my daily musings on my Instagram stories over at @gingermumstyle

Mains wise we enjoyed

Steve cuts to the cheese

Hazel Roberts

caught up with Northamptonshire Cheese Company owner Steve Reid to find out about his award-winning cheese recipe...

Local cheese is a rare thing around these parts, so it was interesting to find one entered into the Milton Keynes Food & Leisure Awards last November and a delight to see that it not only won the Best From the Farm category, but the overall Best Food Product award.

The cheese was an unusual ‘red’ blue cheese called Hobnail Blue, entered by the Northamptonshire Cheese Company.

I caught up with business owner, Steve Reid, to find out more about his awardwinning cheese.

Steve is a man with his finger in several pies so, if you enjoy shopping for local artisan food, you may have already come across chutneys from his Friar’s Farm range.

He also runs the Northamptonshire Charcuterie Company, offering a decent range of locally made cured meats.

Food scene

The Northamptonshire Cheese Company came about a few years ago when Steve was able to combine his desire to make cheese in small batches with the

cheese-making expertise of Christine Twell.

She had been running Nene View Dairy for years, selling goats milk and goats milk cheese in Stanwick.

When she decided to retire, Steve bought her old equipment and added it to his established food-producing unit at Phipps Brewery, in the centre of Northampton.

Having tasted the Hobnail Blue cheese, I can vouch for its addictive tang and creamy texture so I asked Steve what had led to its creation.

“We wanted to make a blue cheese with a difference,” he explained. “There aren’t many ‘red’ blue cheeses.”

The Hobnail Blue has the blue veining you would expect from a classic blue cheese but has the colour similar to Red Leicester.

Steve describes it as being smooth with a tang

comparable to a decent Roquefort.

It took six months of development to perfect, but he has created a worthy winner.

Right now, Steve is excited about the new brie-style cheese he is just about to launch. “It’s amazing!” he said. If you fancy trying some tasty, locally made cheeses, you can find them at many food fairs locally or you can buy online at northamptoncheese.com

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Easter fun for all the family

From Easter egg hunts to fun forest trails, family travel blogger

Faye

Shearwood shares her top picks for spring entertainment...

Family days out

Spring is in the air! It can be quite hard entertaining little ones over winter, but warmer days are now upon us.

And Easter gives us the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature!

For this issue, I’ve done a quick round up of some of the Easter events happening in and around Milton Keynes this April.

First up, The National Trust are bringing sports day to Stowe with an Easter-themed twist.

Pick up an Easter trail pack for £3 from the information kiosk and hop, jump, skip or race your way around the gardens.

A brilliant way of burning off all that chocolate Easter Egg energy! The trail runs from 1st – 16th April, and normal admission applies (free for National Trust Members).

Waddesdon Manor are also putting on an Easter trail this year – which is jam packed full of fun games and creative activities.

We haven’t had an opportunity to check out the

newly refurbished playground here yet, but the previous one was superb. (Wellington boots and puddle suits are a must!)

The trail runs from 29th March – 10th April and tickets (£3 per trail) must be prebooked to guarantee a place.

Closer to home, The Parks Trust are putting on a couple of eggsellent events; firstly, an Easter Egg Hunt at Caldecotte Brook from 1st –16th April (follow the clues and solve the puzzles) and an Easter Eggstravaganza on 5th April at Ouzel Valley Park

From 10am – 12pm, there will be crafts, activities, a trail – and even an appearance from the Easter Bunny herself!

Both events are entirely free and no booking is required.

The Parks Trust do such a great job looking after the many parks in Milton Keynes (over 40 of them!) and we are very lucky to live in such a green city.

Next up, my kids are HUGE

Julia Donaldson fans, and stories that are brought to life by interweaving with nature (using a bit of modern technology) are brilliant – for children of all ages.

Salcey Forest currently has a brand new Zog activity trail with augmented reality technology.

Download ‘Zog: A Forest Adventure’ app before you visit and point your phone at special markers along the way (you can pick up a Zog activity pack for £4 from the visitor information point).

There is also a Zog activity trail at Wendover Woods, as well as a Gruffalo orienteering course and a brand-new Gruffalo sculpture. Entrance to both forests is free but car parking charges do apply.

Until next time – Happy Easter!

For more family adventures in Buckinghamshire and beyond, follow Faye on Instagram

@meandbeau_travels

OUT NOW!

Stream/download Absolute Sort, the upbeat, bouncy new single from Milton Keynes music producer Jon Boyle featuring the streetwise vocals of Joey, Innit. Out now on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, Amazon Music, Deezer and more.

as played on

YOUR LOCAL KARATE SCHOOL

• great facilities - the only local dedicated karate dojo

• classes for all ages and abilities

• improve fitness, focus and discipline

• relieve stress and promote good health

Come along and give us a go - first lesson free - for more information visit: www.mkshotokankarate.com

Experienced MK yoga teacher Sarah launches Urban Ōm Yoga

Sarah Kassam (pictured below) will be a well-known face to many people in Milton Keynes after playing a significant role in the rapid growth of yoga in the city over the past decade since she relocated here from Florida. Sarah has now launched her own studio in nearby Buckingham and explains in a guest column for Celebrate:MK how she is hoping to get people back into yoga following the pandemic...

Hi! I’m Sarah, a Senior Yoga Teacher, Holistic Health Therapist, as well as the founder of Urban Ōm Yoga in Buckingham.

We started off as virtual studio eight months ago from yoga studio closures and changes, and have recently moved into our new premises in the town centre of Buckingham.

It’s a purpose-built infrared heated yoga studio featuring non-heated classes, warm classes, and hot classes.

Here at Urban Ōm yoga, we are passionate about yogaspecific health and exercise.

We as yoga teachers have all had our own journey on how yoga has supported us either physically, mentally,

Yoga was new to the area when I moved from Florida to Milton Keynes 10 years ago. It was exciting to see the MK yoga community grow

or emotionally – and we love teaching and sharing the benefits.

Yoga was new to the area when I moved from Florida to Milton Keynes 10 years ago.

As a teacher, it was exciting to see the Milton Keynes yoga community grow through studios advocating and successfully spreading yoga over the decade.

These larger studios reached a wide audience, launched teacher training programmes, graduated over 200 teachers in the area, as well as helped to improve the quality of life for so many.

We have seen the effects of Covid on the general economy, and even more so, have really seen the impact this has had on small and large yoga studios in the area.

Losing students and studios due to difficulties over the past few years has surely had an affect.

The team at Urban Ōm Yoga are looking forward to the next chapter, in which we can support past students who may have lost their practice due to these many changes, and support new students who did not have an opportunity to join the yoga community that was growing strong just a few years ago.

Our studio has entry-level classes that are accessible and practical, restful classes to combat the effects of stress, as well as high-energy classes for fitness goals.

I feel we are at a great

turning point in how yoga is becoming a more recognised tool for supporting weak posture, organ-health, and mental clarity.

Check out our website urbanomyoga.co.uk to find out more and sign up for our latest news. We can’t wait to welcome you all!

For more information on Urban Ōm Yoga scan the QR code below or visit urbanomyoga.co.uk

Scan me!

Action-packed festival returns to MK

Music reporter Vicki McCarthy chats to Jools

Taylor, organiser of MK Festival, to find out what’s in store on August 26th and 27th...

As I write this issue’s column, the muchanticipated 2023 line-up has been announced for Glastonbury, while Download Festival is set to host a 4-day bonanza to celebrate 20 years of Donington’s famous rock and metal event.

Yes folks, we are finally edging closer to festival season, my favourite time of year!

Never wanting to be one to miss out on the action, MK has had some great (albeit smaller) festivals over the years, including Togfest, Waterside and Properstock to name a few. All run by local music lovers, for local music lovers.

But in 2019, a new music event came to our city, when national promoters UK Tribute Festivals launched MK Festival (AKA: MKF) in Campbell Park on a weekend in July.

Billed as familyfriendly, the spacious MK9 amphitheatre welcomed an eager crowd in their droves, ready to enjoy some of the finest tribute acts the UK has to offer.

With a successful weekend under their belts, the promoters were preparing for another great weekend in 2020, when the pandemic hit and put the event on hold

until last year. Having just announced the line-up for 2023, Jools Taylor from MKF is deep in the logistics of planning this exciting event, but took some time out to chat with me about what’s planned on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August.

“We’ve got two stages” Jools announced. “Within the arena, festival-goers can expect food stalls, beer tents, fair rides and a VIP area for those wanting a bit of added luxury.”

He continued: “We spare no expense in making the two days a fun-filled and safe environment for families and individuals alike, and we try to keep the event as kind on finances as possible, with general admission costing from just £11 for adults and £3 for kids.”

I hear the beer tents prices are good value too? “Yes!” smiled Jools. “Myself and the team hail from Manchester.

“We started a tribute festival here, which became so popular, that rather than make it bigger, we put the festivals on in other northern cities and towns before

adding MK to the roster. And with that, we bring our northern beer prices!”

As with previous years, there’s something for everyone, with the Saturday being dedicated to Rock and Heavy Metal tribute acts, whereas the Sunday is a bit more varied genre-wise, with a wide breadth of performers.

Headliners this year include tributes to Guns n’ Roses, Metallica, Nirvana, ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy on the first day.

The following day, acts paying homage to The Rolling Stones, Chemical Brothers, Dire Straits, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and more.

And best of all? There’s no camping required!

Whether it’s one day, or both, your summer diary really won’t be complete until MKF is included.

For tickets, visit m-k-f.com

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MK Shotokan is first choice for karate in Milton Keynes

We put the spotlight on MK Shotokan Karate Academy, which is always open to new members at its dedicated new Dojo. Whether you want to become a world champion, improve your fitness or learn self-defence, MK SKA can help you in its supportive environment...

Where it all began

Keith, the Instructor at MK Shotokan Karate Academy (MK SKA), started his karate journey aged 9, and competed at a national level as a teenager.

When his oldest son, Kennedy, took up karate Keith joined him and picked up where he had left off.

After years of training under the guidance of Bob Rhodes Sensei (one of the top instructors in the UK), Keith established the MK SKA

in 2015. Ably assisted by Kennedy (who following his success in competitions has recently been selected for the English Karate Federation Kumite squad) the Academy has gone from strength to strength, moving into their own dedicated Dojo two years ago, and developing a tournament team that now includes nine JKS national

champions. MK SKA value their links with Japan through the JKS.

Why take up karate?

Shotokan Karate is the most popular martial art in the world – not surprising when taking part in karate helps improve fitness, focus, and discipline. It can also help relieve stress and promote good health.

MK SKA aims to teach a high standard of karate with discipline and good dojo etiquette top of the agenda.

Where most karate classes are just an hour long, at MK SKA most classes last 1½ hours so that they can cover all aspects of karate (Kihon, Kata and Kumite) in each lesson.

Whether you want to become a world champion or just improve your fitness, karate could be for you.

Karate is a great activity for all ages as it helps to build self-confidence whilst improving coordination,

self-discipline, balance and fitness.

MK SKA provide a safe and supportive environment where students can also learn self-defence and conflict avoidance techniques.

There are regular gradings so that students can see their progress.

Those wanting to compete have the option to attend regional, national and ultimately international competitions.

“Joining karate was one of the best choices I made for myself. I love that in karate people of very different ages and abilities train side by side. So I don’t just bring my children to a sport club - I train with them, and it’s great!” - Julia

Your first lesson is free, so if you are interested, please get in touch with Keith at MKShotokanKarate@outlook.com or visit their website mkshotokankarate.com

How PJ Care is giving disadvantaged African people hope for the future

Milton Keynes-based care provider PJ Care does a grand job of looking after the residents at its specialist neurological care centres in Grange Farm and Shenley Lodge, plus its third site in Peterborough. However, the company is now spreading its compassion even further afield by supporting disadvantaged young people in Malawi. We take a look at its charity work...

PJ Care is renowned for the incredible standard of care it provides to residents at its specialist neurological care centres in Milton Keynes and Peterborough.

But the company is now spreading the love more than 7,000 miles away from its headquarters in Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, by helping underprivileged young people in Malawi, Africa.

PJ Care has been supporting Malawi-based charity The Nikkitus Institute Foundation (NIF) for some time and, in a separate project, it has now added the Jacaranda School For Orphans to its goodwill list after sending 400 branded polo shirts to the school for the children to wear.

The African school hit the headlines in 2021 when it was opened by pop star Madonna, whose charity Raising Malawi funded its dance school. Singersongwriter Annemarie Quinn is the school’s Arts Programme Director and has performed a number of times for residents at PJ Care, which runs the Bluebirds and

CARING IS SHARING: PJ Care staff help to pack polo shirts to send to orphans in Malawi. Inset, charitable PJ Care chairman Neil Russell

Mallard House care centres in Milton Keynes, plus Eagle Wood in Peterborough.

All three centres are home to people with progressive conditions such as young onset dementia and Huntington’s disease.

PJ Care chairman Neil Russell explained the thinking behind the company’s charity efforts in Malawi, making particular reference to the

fantastic work done by NIF founder Lusubilo Derby Kadzombe.

“Our residents benefit greatly from the nurses who choose to come here and Lusubilo is key in facilitating that,” he explained.

“We very much wanted to give back to the community in Malawi and it’s great to know that our funding supports young people’s futures.”

available for everyone to activities we did last year. will also use it at placements in future. therapy, potato Platinum Jubilee another year of exciting

Smiles are back!

Have you noticed something different about our staff? After three years, we no longer require them to wear face masks! You and your loved ones will now be able to see their smiling faces which makes us

depression.

With PJ Care’s ongoing support, the Foundation has been able to establish a number of youth clubs and helped a team of six young men and women graduate from the camp youth club with qualifications in social care and IT.

Mwasaru almost lost COVID symptoms, he several months as retire. We will miss much deserves!

Scan me!

the residents, I thought I could help.

Rob volunteers his talents to entertain residents

“I started off with some Rat Pack favourites, then residents were asking me for reggae, so I picked some Bob Marley and UB40.

Eagle Wood residents, Kevin and Simon, a sense of freedom as well as regular The pair were both keen cyclists prior to coming to Eagle Wood - Simon did to work on two wheels, plus longer rides at weekends, while Kevin enjoyed or more, three or four times a week. Our therapy team knew how much they to cycle so organised weekly sessions with Vivacity.

Care’s Bluebirds care home in Shenley Lodge.

Residents at Mallard House were treated to songs from Sinatra to the Specials when singer, Rob Oakley, volunteered to entertain them. He was inspired to offer his services as his friend, Neil, is a resident with us.

“They wanted tracks from The Specials, Neil Diamond – you can guess which one –and we finished off with some

For more info on PJ Care including the latest job vacancies, scan the QR code or visit pjcare.co.uk

Do you have a talent you’d like to share with PJ Care’s residents? Whether you’re a singer, dancer, magician or talented crafter, they would like to hear from you. Call 0330 20 20 304.

A singer since the age of 14, Rob has played in many bands around the Home Counties, performing rock, pop and ska favourites at weddings and functions across the county.

adapted trikes and bikes, Kevin and Simon take to the athletics track at the

centre or tour the cycle tracks through Ferry Meadows. The range of

“When I knew the team at Mallard House provided entertainment for

Manju and Donna at Eagle Wood certainly look happy about it!

Fantasy adventure takes to the stage from June 27th to July 1st

The Ocean at the End of the Lane set to visit Milton Keynes Theatre

Based on the bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman, The National Theatre’s critically acclaimed The Ocean at the End of the Lane is on its way to Milton Keynes Theatre this summer.

This thrilling adventure of

fantasy, myth and friendship will visit Milton Keynes Theatre from 27th June to 1st July.

Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself standing beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play.

He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean – a place where everything is possible...

Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.

This first major stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work blends magic with memory in a tour-de-force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.

To book your tickets to see The Ocean at the End of the Lane at Milton Keynes Theatre, please visit ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes or visit oceanonstage.com to find out more.

Top theatre shows in April and Ma y

Cara Lee previews her favourite theatre shows to look out for in MK

There’s a huge variety of shows and concerts across Milton Keynes in the next two months, from science experiments to classic murder mysteries.

If science is more your thing than musicals or concerts, The Stables might be the place for you in April.

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show is playing there on Tuesday 11th, with a burst of experiments including vortexgathering dustbins, exploding elephants’ toothpaste and howling jelly babies! This show also won the Best Kids Show at the Edinburgh Fringe by the Derek Awards and

Show Stoppers

seems ideal for families. On a similar note, Morgan and West: Unbelievable Science will also be rocking Stantonbury Theatre on Saturday 15th April.

And going from wild experiments to sweeping romance, Gilbert and Sullivan classic HMS Pinafore will also be on from the 10th to the 13th of May.

Taking place aboard the famous Royal Navy ship, the show focuses on the romance between The Captain’s daughter and a lower class

sailor. Later on in May, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap will be taking its first ever UK tour to MK! The classic who dunnit is celebrating its 70th anniversary and will play here from the 22nd to the 27th of May. The Bodyguard, starring Ayden Callaghan and the Pussycat Doll’s Melody Thorton, will play from the 29th of May to the 3rd of June.

More information about shows at Milton Keynes Theatre is available at atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes, Stantonbury Theatre at stantonburytheatre.co.uk, The Stables at stables.org

Waitrose says farewell to Heston range

The Heston from Waitrose range goes out with a bang this Easter

After 12 years of culinary creativity, Waitrose will be saying a fond farewell to the Heston from Waitrose range.

The Heston range will have a final flourish with a new product for Easter, The Chocolate Dabbit (pictured).

But don’t fear, Waitrose will be taking its product development in a new direction with some exciting plans in store for the rest of the year.

The retailer has its own team of development chefs and product developers who have been behind recent success stories like the Levantine table range, the

recently relaunched Cooks Ingredients range and our award winning No. 1 range.

The Heston from Waitrose range brought customers some iconic products, notably the hidden orange Christmas

pudding and mince pies and hot cross buns with characteristic twists.

But the Heston brand won’t be winding down without a final flourish and a new product for Easter.

The Chocolate Dabbit showcases the playful creativity which the Heston from Waitrose range is renowned for, with some visual trickery - resembling a rabbit at one angle, but a duck from a different angle.

Natalie Mitchell, Director of Own Brand, said: “We’re looking forward to the next chapter and unveiling some really exciting plans. Watch this space.”

Fall in love with a new kitchen this year

Hugo Fleming, Design Director of multi award-winning local interior design studio Cranberryhome, looks into updating one of the most important rooms in your home...

interior design column

We spend lots of time in our kitchen, so organising the space is critical for all users. Kitchens are social spaces now, so providing seating areas, flexibility and storage must be considered.

Architects have developed recent house designs to incorporate more open-plan kitchens. Family spaces and media elements such as TVs and gaming devices all need storage in this area. Designing these spaces has therefore become more complex. The kitchen layout is vital to a successful design. Create flow by ensuring adequate distance between islands and main work areas. We often observe new kitchens installed with little regard for enough usable worktop space. As designers, we aim to have at least 3 independent workspaces of 1.2m for an average 4-bed home.

The kitchen sink, hob, oven and fridge are pivotal to a successful layout. Arrange these so that they are within reach without being too close to each other. Position the main oven at mid-height to offer better ergonomic benefits. Full-height fridges are an essential for growing families.

Washing machines and laundry should be moved into a dedicated utility room to reduce noise. On-trend hot water taps or a water filter/

softener for a more ecological setup are great choices.

When choosing styles and colours, there really is a plethora of colours available. From rustic oak and sage greens to garnet red, black and deep blue doors; this makes choosing challenging!

Handless options, including contemporary slab doors with contrast recessed profiles look stunning and offer an alternative to the traditional shaker style. Try blending colours, textures and materials. Navy blue with oak accents and white marble worktops is a classic and timeless choice. Add interest by using a range of materials that are pleasant to the eye.

Lighting is so important, work this into your design early. You will need ambient lighting, task lighting for workspace areas and accent

lighting for display areas and architectural features. Look at high-lighting worktops by installing LED strips which add a cool glow.

Finally, bring these all together with flooring. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a great modern material, warmer and softer underfoot and more forgiving to breakages, kids and pets! Natural materials such as wood and stone flooring are much better suited to period properties and larger areas.

Hugo is Design Director of the international awardwinning local interior design and property styling studio in Milton Keynes. A senior House Doctor consultant, Hugo is often found at Grand Designs Live and in demand as an interior designer all over the UK.

Wren Harvey Jones

Howdens

Mexican mosquito traps

Ray Pantling, owner of Tyres Direct in Bletchley, explains how tyres are used to beat the bugs...

An Ovillanta (named after the Latin word for egg, Ovi, and the Spanish word for tyres, llanta) is a type of mosquito trap used in homes in Mexico.

Mexico has one of the worst mosquito problems in the world and by 2011 it was estimated to have spent around $170 million on efforts to control the mosquito that carries dengue.

By providing mosquitoes with ideal egg-laying grounds in known locations, the Ovillantas serve as traps that allow people to destroy any eggs and larvae found within them. It is a simple system

consisting of nothing more than two tyre sections cut in half, paper, a spigot (peg), some water and crucially regular attention by way of maintenance and checking for eggs and larvae.

Mosquitoes are opportunistic and will lay their eggs in any safe place that they can find. Limiting access to other dark, protected sources of standing water around makes the Ovillantas all the more appealing to the mosquitoes.

At the last count, an estimated 129,000 eggs had been destroyed in one town alone in Mexico, Troncones.

The Little Mermaid makes a splash

Jason Day chooses his top picks from the spring cinema releases, including Superman and a mermaid adventure starring Halle

Bailey

Reel reviewer

Superman: 45th Anniversary reissue (out on Fri 7 April)

This is where I show my age because I was born the same year this

Superman adaptation was released. For some it is the finest cinematic adaptation of the comics; Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder excel in roles that defined and hampered their careers.

Super Mario Bros. (7 April) Animated version of the Nintendo game. Chris Pratt voices Mario, the Italian plumber/actioneer, with Charlie Day as his brother Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach.

Renfield (out on Fri 14 April) The backstory of the deranged estate agent from gothic Dracula with a modern twist. Nicholas Hoult has the title role and a riotously OTT Nicholas Cage is the bloodsucking count.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Fri 28 April)

Harold (Jim Broadbent) is a man for whom life has passed by until he receives a letter and walks from his home in the south west to the sender who might

need help in Berwick-uponTweed. Whimsical, British Forrest Gump.

Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3 (Wed 3 May)

“I am Star Lord…” I got two seconds into the trailer for the latest Marvel drivel and gave up. I’m sure many more will think differently and swell the company’s coffers by an extra billion.

Book Club: The Next Chapter (Fri 12 May)

The original ‘old gals read a bit and drink way more wine’ movie was slight but buoyed by an impeccable cast. Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen return as the ladies go on a tour of Italy for Fonda’s bachelorette.

Under the Fig Trees (Fri 19 May)

Tunisian drama about young women and men working a summer fig harvest who flirt and try to understand each other. Shimmeringly filmed, this looks lyrical and lovely.

The Little Mermaid (Fri 26 May)

Live-action remake by Disney of their 1989 animated blockbuster, but the flawlessly beautiful filming looks decidedly A.I adorable. Halle Bailey (pictured right) is in fine voice as mermaid Ariel.

You can read more in-depth reviews from Jason by following him on Twitter: @Reelreviewer

Stream/download the epic new single by rising Milton Keynes music producer Jon Boyle (Pretty Girl, Come On) and UK Garage legend Maxwell D (Timeless, Serious)

Socials: @jonboylemk @officialmaxwelld

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