Just for Her Issue 5

JustHer

ISSUE 5

for

Directory for the Wives, Girlfriends and Families of Military Personnel

Are you

Happily

ed?

EVER AFTER

GIFT GUIDE

2015

FATHER’S DAY

Ten things NOT to say to a Military Wife

Keeping Fit

is NOT a

MILITARY Exercise

Su mm er of Lo ve… 70 s Fas hio n Win tickets to Good Food Sh ow Suthmem

er

CATERING MILITARY CATCHMENT

WEST MILITARY CATCHMENT

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JustHer for

Ten things NOT to say to a Military Wife Social Media

8

LifeWorks Families

Welcome to issue 5 of Just for Her… After the changes made to the last issue we have received some fantastic feedback and are truly grateful for your comments.

Having had such success with the magazine, we are setting our sights on improving our social media presence and you can now find us on Twitter @justforhermag! Make sure you follow us for updates, extra content and great giveaways.

This issue has more interesting articles and competitions than ever before!

If you are self employed, take a look at our article on making social media work for your business. Wedding or Baby Shower to organise? No problem, we’ve got it covered!

Competitions in this issue include tickets for the Good Food Show Summer, Stamford Shakespeare Company, East Anglian Game and Country Fair plus the London Pet Show - so get your entries in to win!

12

The Blitz Tea Room and Jazz Lounge

16

Good Food Show Summer

22

Keeping Fit

24

A League of Their Own

28

Diet Chef

32

Secret Skin Weapons

34

Luscious Lashes

39

Summer of Love - SS15 Lookbook

40

Father’s Day Gift Guide

46

Stepfamilies

48

Baby Showers A to Z

52

Handmade for Baby

56

Paper Panda

60

Happily Ever After

66

Are You Pinterested?

70

Stamford Shakespeare Company

74

Armed Forces Day

78

Shoeboxes for Our Heroes

79

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

82

East Anglian Game and Country Fair

84

Bizarre Britain

90

Grandslam Madness

92

London Pet Show

94

Dreamnight at the Zoo

97

Destination Relax

100

Cities A to Z - Budapest

104

Read our opinions on ‘Diet Chef’ and ‘Paper Panda’ as we trial their products and laugh out loud at the hilarious ’10 things not to say to a military wife’!

Don’t forget to check out our gift guide for Father’s Day and here at Just for Her, we will be flying the flag for Armed Forces Day and supporting our troops.

As ever, we are always looking for interesting articles to add to our magazine and welcome contributions from our readers. Please email justforher@forcespublishing.co.uk by 23rd May to appear in the next issue.

Enjoy!

PS: We would like to apologise for not including the contact details for The Blitz Tea Room in the last issue and have re-run the article (with details) to say sorry!

Articles and photographs reproduced by kind permission of the contributors

Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northants NN10 0RU. Tel: 01933 419994 www.forcespublishing.co.uk justforher@forcespublishing.co.uk @justforhermag Editorial: Joanna Barnes Design: Amy Leverton

© No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers.

Advertisements are included in good faith.

The MOD or any Service Establishment is not responsible for the advertiser or its advertised product or service.

4

Many thanks to Kate Saines for her editorial contribution

3

Ten things NOT to say to a Military Wife JUST FOR HER is extremely excited to welcome Michelle from ‘Not Just A RAF Wife’ blog fame!

Married to a RAF pilot, Michelle writes openly and frankly about her life as a military wife. A self professed ‘normal, Hampshire girl who fell in love with a man who flies helicopters’ Michelle discusses military life with humour and is easy to relate to for any wife or partner…

I

f you’re not a military wife or girlfriend it can be very tricky to know what to say to us sometimes.

Military life can be stressful and lonely and, if you’ve never experienced it, it can be very difficult to understand and know what to say. In fact, sometimes, it’s better to say nothing at all just make us a brew and have a chat about anything BUT military grumbles.

That said, there are a handful of things that definitely should not be uttered. Don’t get me wrong, we know that most things are said with the very best intentions and we really don’t mean to take it the wrong way... but sometimes, even the toughest of us can get upset, cross or emotional. #Awkward.

We’ve all done it; said something totally inappropriate and wished the ground would swallow us up. We get that. But, whether it be through lack of thought, a genuine helping hand gone wrong or a total ‘foot in mouth’ situation, certain comments can touch a raw nerve with military spouses.

To avoid those awkward moments, here are the top 10 things you should never say to a military wife:

1

You knew what you were letting

yourself in for when you married him.

It’s impossible to control who you fall in love with and things in the military change so quickly that you never know what is around the corner. Most military spouses had no idea ‘what they were letting themselves in for’ when they met their partners, but love keeps us strong.

2

My husband travels/works long hours,

too. I totally know how you feel.

Does your husband work days on end with no sleep, trying to avoid being shot or blown up? If the answer is ‘no’, you have absolutely no idea how we feel.

3

I hate it when my husband has to stay

away for the night.

We are smiling serenely and nodding sympathetically... but in our heads we are shouting “ONE B***DY NIGHT??!!!!!”

4

Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.

This is one of the comments I struggle with the most. No one has any idea whether he’ll be fine or not. Hopefully he will. But if the reality is that he is being shipped out to a war zone for 6 months, it’s a pretty silly thing to say.

5

I wish my husband got a house with

his job.

Someone actually said this to me once and words failed me. I can’t deny that there are some amazing perks of being in the military and, when you’re on home turf you are normally looked after very well. BUT, a nice house and free dental care doesn’t offer much compensation for risking your life. I can honestly say that in all the times I’ve worried when my husband has been in Afghanistan and I haven’t heard from him in 10 days, at no point have I ever thought “at least we’ve got a nice house”. Most military spouses would sacrifice all their worldly belongings if it meant their loved ones were never in that kind of danger again.

www.notjustarafwife.co.uk

6

7

Six months will fly by.

NO. IT. WON’T.

You’ll just have to keep busy whilst

he’s gone.

This is a little bit like telling someone who’s bleeding that they need a plaster. It goes without saying that we’ll keep busy whilst they are gone. But the worry is always there, just gnawing away in the back of our minds, like a dog on a bone.

8

Can’t he just leave and do something else?

If only it were that easy. Once signed up, there’s normally a set time frame before any military personnel can leave. But even if that time has passed, military roles are usually very niche and it can be difficult to walk into a civilian job without retraining.

That, combined with the fact that 9 times out of 10 they actually love their job and don’t want to ‘just leave’, makes it tricky.

9

Surely, you must be used to it by now?

You never, ever get used to it. Never.

That is all.

I could never marry a man in the

10

military.

I don’t think many military spouses would tell you their ambition in life was to marry a man in the military (well, some might, but that’s another blog post!). Never in a million years did I think I could ever be a military wife. But love does funny things and you find a way to cope and adjust.

So, now you know. If all else fails and you still manage to put your foot in your mouth, ply us with gin, back away quickly and remember that sometimes, things can all just get a little bit too much.

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The days of putting an advert in a shop window, or posting a notice in the ‘classified’ section of the local newspaper to promote a small business are long gone. If you want your service or product to be noticed, you need a website, a social media presence or – ideally – both.

According to web development expert, Ed Burton, businesses have more chance of engaging with potential clients if they can be found on an internet search. “With more and more people searching online it is probably your greatest source of exposure,” he explained.

“The internet is an enormous interconnected network of information and your website or social media presence should be the hub and control of how people perceive your product and brand.”

He added: “Being well placed in the relevant applications and portals to find potential customers is essential for the longterm growth of any brand.”

Websites are essential for big companies and for those who sell their products online, but they can be costly and complex to set up. For this reason, many smaller businesses often choose to create their online presence using social media.

Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, have taken the world by storm for a reason – they are accessible, hassle-free tools which get your message out there at a touch of a button. And, most importantly, they can be – if you want to use them in their basic form – free. In fact, provided you understand how they work, you can market your business using merely your smartphone.

8

Cheryl Small, a photographer from Kent, puts much of the success of her business down to Facebook, through which she receives 98 per cent of her bookings.

She said it had seemed a natural way of marketing her photography service, because she already used it to keep up with friends and therefore had the know-how plus a ready-made network of several hundred contacts. What’s more, it offered the potential to reach out to many more people.

Cheryl’s business started as a passion and hobby discovered whilst on maternity leave from her job as a cabin crew member for British Airways. Her husband had bought her a professional DSLR camera for Christmas, and she enjoyed taking pictures of her young sons so much, she began doing photo shoots with friends’ children and babies.

“I loved it,” she explained. “I couldn’t wait to go home, edit the pictures and see people’s reactions.”

Those reactions were more than positive, and it emerged Cheryl had a real talent for photography. With permission from parents, Cheryl would post pictures she had taken on Facebook, tagging the parents. The feedback was so encouraging she decided to leave her job and turn her hobby into a business.

It was not hard, says Cheryl, to market this

business. The pictures spoke for themselves – so all she needed was a platform on which to present them. Enter Facebook. Cheryl set up a page and asked her friends to ‘share’ and ‘like’ it. Business began flooding in.

“Almost every order I get comes from Facebook,” said Cheryl. “There is the odd phone call, but that is usually through a recommendation or word-of-mouth. I even had one client who came all the way from Birmingham, so it’s not just a local audience I am reaching.”

As a marketing tool Facebook has proved invaluable to Cheryl, but it’s proved helpful in other ways. She is a member of a closed group on the social networking platform for local photographers who share ideas and advice. What’s more, Facebook also allows her, via the ‘insights’ option, to monitor the level of engagement her page is receiving.

“I would really recommend it as a way of marketing your business,” Cheryl said. “It costs money to set up a website, but using Facebook helped keep costs down in the early days when I was setting up.

“Its reach, popularity and the fact it is so easy to use make it a great marketing tool – it’s a no brainer.”

The people behind Facebook are all-too aware of the power they yield. As such it offers business users enhanced services such

“

Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, have taken the world by storm for a reason they are accessible, hassle-free tools that get your message out there at a touch of a button.

“ 9

as a breakdown of ‘likes’ amassed over a week, or a snapshot of how many people have engaged with your page. And it also offers paid-for additional services, which include formal advertising. Experts advise that paying out and signing up to the enhanced service can drastically increase your reach. But, whether you pay or not, to keep those all-important ‘likes’ and comments coming in you need to ensure you post regularly.

Cheryl finds this easy because her business is image-based and so, with parents’ permission, she can post photos on her page and tag the client, who can then share the picture along with her brand. She also posts status updates about events and developments. Most recently she opened a studio, a huge milestone for her business, which also created a fantastic opportunity to post an interesting status update.

So, what about other forms of social media?

Emerging as a strong marketing tool is LinkedIn, which has taken off in the UK in the last few years. Like Facebook, LinkedIn provides a platform for you to converse, share and network with people. Unlike Facebook, it is more of a professional arena, somewhere to reach colleagues and clients and promote you, if you are the face of a business. However, it has an all-important search facility which, if your profile includes the right keyword, will highlight you to a prospective client.

You can market yourself simply by making connections, endorsing and being endorsed yourself. Or you can go in more

10

“

“

>> SOCIAL MEDIA

Experts advise that paying out and signing up to the enhanced service can drastically increase your reach. But, whether you pay or not, to keep those all-important ‘likes’ and comments coming in you need to ensure you post regularly.

aggressively and join groups, post status updates, links or review books. By choosing the right groups and using them in a strategic way you can promote yourself very effectively. Experts advise that, to stand out, you use as many relevant keywords as possible in your profile, which should be well-rounded and full of character.

LinkedIn is not for everyone. Ideally it is a place for you to promote your own personal skills and abilities and to network, build contacts and develop your business.

Twitter, on the other hand, might be more your cup of tea. The beauty of Twitter is you don’t need to write swathes of information to promote yourself because a tweet cannot exceed 140 characters. It’s microblogging, and it’s all about being snappy, succinct and bang up to date. But, while it is fast-paced, it has the potential to instantly reach thousands of users. For, unlike Facebook and LinkedIn where to view someone’s profile or see their status you need to be ‘friends’ with or ‘linked’ to them, Twitter allows you to see what anyone is saying, at any time thanks to the hashtag facility.

Simply by tweeting, and being unusual,

interesting, quirky or topical (and using that all-important hashtag) you can amass followers all over the world with similar interests - or even just a passing obsession - in what you have to say or offer.You can promote your product using pictures, or links to your website.You can share tips, or link to blogs or articles that relate to your products or service. There are also online services available which allow you to preschedule tweets to appear at a specified date and time in the future – great for keeping up your presence during holidays, weekends or while you are simply too busy.

There are downsides to social media, however. If someone decides to make a complaint via a tweet or public Facebook message, your community will soon know about it. For this reason, it’s essential you monitor your pages frequently.

And social media doesn’t work for everyone.You need to feel confident and comfortable using these platforms, and you need to put time aside to attend to them.

Cheryl explained: “You need to post regularly on Facebook to keep up the reach.

If you don’t get the ‘likes’ Facebook won’t like you!”

©Bloomua. Shutterstock.com

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLATFORM We’ve mentioned Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, but don’t forget there are many other forms of social media including Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. Do your research and find the best one for your business.

Focus on one form of social media to begin with, and concentrate on marketing through this. The natural choice will be the platform which is used by the majority of your audience. If you run a yoga class for the over-50s, for example, you may find most of your clients are active on Facebook (over-55s were the fastest-growing user group on Facebook in 2014), which will make this the obvious form of social media to locate your marketing campaign. If your business targets teenagers, you might want to look at Instagram or YouTube. Creative businesses may find Pinterest a good starting point.

If you are new to social media, and don’t already have your own personal account, do some observing before setting up your page.

Join in a personal capacity and see how it works.You can then decide if it’s right for you. Once you have mastered one platform, you can start investigating others.

2. REGULARLY UPDATE YOUR PAGE Maintain your presence by posting updates on your platform of choice at regular intervals. But don’t go into overkill mode.Your updates should be friendly, interesting and informative not pushy, insistent and desperate.Your friends and followers will soon get bored if they are bombarded with demands to ‘like’ your page or their feed is full of promotional blurbs on your business. An article or tip which is relevant to your product is more likely to pique their

interest, tug on their emotions or invite a response than a thinly veiled advertisement.

3. REWARD YOUR FOLLOWERS FOR FOLLOWING YOU Make your followers feel special or part of an ‘exclusive group’ by offering them insider information or perks. Tell them about special events, offers or competitions you are running and stress that these are exclusive to your social media following.

4. CREATE A STRONG ONLINE BRAND, AND USE IT CONSISTENTLY Choose a strong logo or image and run with this throughout all your platforms – including your website, if you have one - to ensure you are recognisable as a brand. It could be as simple as using your logo on your profile picture and the same wallpaper on all your backgrounds. Whatever you choose, this consistency will define you online. Ed advises: “Your website must reflect your online presence and it must be a strong enough proposition to convert potential customers.”

5. KEEP UP TO DATE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENTS Staying at the forefront of trends will keep your online presence fresh. Learning video marketing or “vlogging”, for example, will put you in a strong position against your competitors. Equally, having a strong grasp of all the services available from your social media provider of choice will give you more avenues to explore in your marketing strategy, as will being in the know about any new platforms that emerge.

11

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and especially so for anyone who joined in National Careers Week from 6th-14th March! People all across the country have been thinking about what they do for a job, how they change and where to go next, and we’re no exception. But with the hassle of frequent moves, having to look after the kids, and sometimes not having worked for years, what are the options for military spouses and partners who want to get a job?...

S

omeone who knows? The team from LifeWorks Families, a free support service to help military spouses and partners get the job they want. We spoke to Iain Downie, Head of the Team, to find out more…

“When I was in the military, my wife often used to say that she felt that she had lost a bit of herself and become a ‘wife of ’ or ‘mum of ’ and this can really dent someone’s confidence,” says Iain. “What many spouses and partners don’t realise is that there are so many options out there and that they haven’t lost their skills; just a little bit of self-confidence.”

The Lifeworks Families team run courses across the UK, giving spouses personal support and advice to help them prepare for either a return to employment, a change in career or a move into further education. “We’ve had ladies on the course who haven’t worked for over 10 years, we’ve had fully qualified accountants, we’ve even had a guy who ended up enrolled on a course in welding – what you want to do doesn’t matter, our course is about how you get there.” A typical course will see spouses working on their CV’s, on interview technique and even getting advice on how to search for jobs, and there’s always the option of support in other areas depending on a spouse’s personal situation.

After a course, the team will stay in contact, and spouses can call at anytime to get support with a specific application or interview.

The team don’t just run courses either, they can also provide support over the phone or via email – useful if you can’t make a course or just need a few tips!

12

Information and Contact Details

Lifeworks Families is available to all spouses and partners of any serving (or recently discharged) member of the Armed Forces, including Reserves.

Call 0800 319 6844 or email lifeworks@rbli.co.uk to talk to one of the team or leave a message on the Lifeworks Families Facebook and Twitter pages. @RBLI_LWF on Twitter, and www.facebook.com/rblilifeworksfamilies.

The Lifeworks Families Team also run a blog, which is regularly updated with tips and advice for spouses looking for work: http://lifeworksfamilies.wordpress.com and you can learn more about the support available from the team on their website www.rblilifeworksfamilies.co.uk

After recently moving from Canada to Germany, Anne Crawford applied for a Lifeworks Families course in Gutersloh in May 2014, one of the first courses held in British Forces Germany.

Anne wanted to work, but as her husband had never been posted to Germany before, she was unfamiliar with the ‘mainstream’ job market over there.

During the course Anne found herself potential roles to apply for and the team helped her match her skills and attributes to an admin role for the local SSAFA branch. After looking at the job ad they worked closely with her to tailor her CV for the application and write a covering letter.

With the support provided by the Lifeworks Families Team, Anne was shortlisted for interview in the job at SSAFA. The team continued to help her prepare over Skype, and Anne went on to gain the position!

“For us,” says Iain, “The best moment is when someone lets us know they’ve found work. For Shaun and Daisy who ran the course in Gutersloh, Anne’s success is also their success, and it’s what motivates them to help every spouse who calls us.”

“Not only d o I feel mor e confident in applying fo r my dream job , I came aw ay feeling like I can achie ve more in oth er parts of my life.

Thank you .”

Gemma, Bro mpton

“Have enjoyed the course and it made a massive impact on my life. Thanks to Carol, Shaun, and Helen. What a great team.”

Indre, Brompton.

“What a great course!

Informative, enjoyable and very useful!”

rse “ This cou ourage” gave me c

ou’ve do stuff y o t n r a le “You e, t of befor h g u o h t n never eve ile ly worthwh e it n fi e d it’s ”. attending

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Handpainted wine glasses,, handmade cushions and exclusive gifts.

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Ceri Adams-Stephens

Personalised gi s and artwork Character Family Trees Scrabble Tile Family Art Illustrated Childrens Names Special Occasion Art Mobile: 07576 279021 www.facebook.com/MischieviousKi sArtAndCra s

www.fromtheheartcreations.co.uk info@fromtheheartcreations.co.uk Handmade vintage style creations; including Garlands, Candle Jars, Beeswax Candles & Skincare, Wreaths and Hearts. We use British sourced wool felt and materials where possible, including our locally sourced Organic Beeswax, we are an East Of India Seller & lovingly make items for the Home, Children, Weddings, Birthday’s and Christmas.

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NORTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Sarah Moseley Scented Candles

Bespoke Hand Poured Soy Wax Candles, Melts & Wedding Favours.

Bespoke labels also a speciality.

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Grace Morris 07900643520 grace.ori@gmail.com Facebook/OriflameYorkshire

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“

The concept was simple;

to create a lounge from the start of the Second World War. Authenticity was key; After several meetings with set designers at The Imperial War Museum at Duxford I realised that my ‘buzz words’ while building and preparing

“

the Tea Room were going to be ‘Attention to Detail’!

T

wo years ago, redundancy presented me with 2 choices; stay within the corporate world of sales that I knew well or follow a dream; open up a Jazz Lounge or a 1940’s Tea Room. Ultimately I decided to open both and The Blitz Tea Room and Jazz Lounge was born.

People ask me why the 1940’s?

My answer is always the same...I believe that the ‘War Time spirit’, the ‘comradeship’ which we as a country were famous for, has been slowly eroded. The stories recounted by the people who lived them are not going to be told much longer as that generation slowly leaves us. I wanted to see if I could create a place which could capture what is left and bring back a romantic age where decisions were simple as life was incredibly precious.

The concept was simple; to create a lounge from the start of the Second World War. Authenticity was key; After several meetings with set designers at The Imperial War Museum at Duxford I realised that my ‘buzz words’ while building and preparing the Tea Room were going to be ‘Attention to Detail’!

Apparently there are people out there that will notice if the slightest detail is not correct!! Precision was vital! continued over page >>

16

www.the-blitz.com Tel: 01536 510070 The Coach House, Sheep Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN16 0AY

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The main challenge was to contend with my own imagination...I could see a truly remarkable place that transports you back in time to this incredible period...it was going to be hard work!

I sourced tables and chairs from the late 30’s, early 40’s era from a supplier to the film and TV industry, I picked up ornaments in flea markets, the gramophone from eBay, the cake cabinet from an antique shop, wall paper from London, pictures from charity shops, gifts from family and well wishers.

I also wanted the place to have something special...a look that struck customers as soon as they walked in, and a Trompe l’oeil ceiling was the result; a half blown away ceiling reveals a clouded sky complete with barrage balloons and a dog fight taking place between a Spitfire and a Junkers 88 (a mark 1 Spitfire of course, to keep within the period of the Battle of Britain).

An 8 hour loop of music from the period plays all day and sound effects of an air raid; sirens, bombs dropping, buildings collapsing, fire crackling, fire brigade bells and the all clear, all resonate around the room before finishing with Churchill’s famous ‘Never Before’ speech.

Staff wear 1940’s clothing and the menus I styled on the ration book.

As for the tea, the Blitz offers a selection of 15 speciality teas which are brewed at your table using your own personal timer to ensure the perfect cup of tea, every time.

Within 14 months, we were awarded the Best Tea Room in The UK accolade and 18

also came 10th out of 34,000 businesses that people ‘loved’. We currently occupy the No1 spot on Tripadvisor of 138 local restaurants, we have nearly 3000 followers on Face Book and a film crew due over from Canada next year to film us for a TV program about Tea Rooms around the world.

As for the Jazz Lounge, alternate Saturday evenings see the Tea Room transformed into a cosy, intimate and glamorous setting where artists such as Luna Nightingale and Pete Wayre recreate the classics. The end of November sees Paul Casper, the UK’s number one George Formby impersonator, perform for us, an almost immediate sell out!

The Blitz has proved exceptionally popular for private parties which enable people to celebrate in a truly unique way.

Themed nights are also on our agenda, with our ‘Dads Army’, Allo Allo and The Yanks are Coming nights proving very popular. Next will be a ‘Foyles War murder mystery evening’ where period dress will be a must!

Schools sometimes visit to help give children a feel of the 1940’s; they love the milkshakes in old fashioned milk bottles!

And we have been touched to learn that Alzheimer’s sufferers have found the ambience of the tea room bring back long lost memories and lost moments of joy to their families.

I make the odd tweak here and there, but mostly the Blitz remains a 1940’s snapshot in time, a haven from the hub bub of the modern world.

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2D outprint and 3D framed and freestanding casts taken from Children & Adults as a forever keepsake.

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You need to be self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a need for the finer things in life.

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The Yorkshire Handbag Company The luxury of a leather handbag cannot be denied. We have a variety of collections from the classic understated style of the brand TAURUS LEATHER to the contemporary designer Tabitha of London.

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Debbie 07983962976 www.angelsandbutterflies.co.uk www.facebook.com/angelsandbutterfliesdesigns Twitter @angelcharms

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BORN ON THE WAVES Handmade Jewellery From Sea Glass Wrapped In Sterling Silver Wire

by Marion Jackson

My exclusive pieces of jewellery are created from sea-glass, shaped by caressing wave ac on amongst sand and pebbles for years un l they are transformed from broken pieces of glass into smooth “gems”. I collect these “treasures” from beaches all over the UK and abroad then wrap them in Sterling Silver wires to create totally unique pieces of jewellery. My designs are en rely my own and although I may repeat designs of popular pieces, the variable nature of the material means that no two pieces are ever the same.

The buyer can be sure that their purchase is en rely unique.

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Disc-Go Mobile DJ with full kit of smoke machine, LED lights and lasers, extensive music library that will cater for any occasions. Personal service including any set music that is desired for occasion.

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Carolyn Creel If you’re seeking comfort after the loss of a loved one, from someone who understands how you feel, then you’ve come to the right place.

Carolyn Creel has been a professional psychic medium for five years, building up a strong fan base in the north of England where she has lived, between Leeds and York, all her life. The 48-year-old mother, who describes herself as a “down-to-earth Yorkshire lass”, believes that with the right support and guidance, we all have it in us to be mediums. And the gift is nothing to fear.

Whether you’re interested in a reading or course, have questions about becoming your own medium or stories about the spirit world you’d like to share, please get in touch

www.carolyncreel.com 21

NEC Birmingham, 11 - 14 June 2015

T

he BBC Good Food Show Summer returns to the NEC Birmingham, promising to be one of the summer’s tastiest days out. With many of the nation’s favourite chefs and celebs, a wide range of local and regional artisan producers and everyone’s favourite big name brands, there’s something for all food lovers…

Highlights in 2015 will include: Producers’ Village The P roducers’Village is a huge speciality food market at the heart of the show, packed with small artisan producers, BBC Good Food Champions, and Bur sary Award Winners who pride themselves on the quality and provenance of their produce.

22

The Supertheatre The 1,800 seater Supertheatre will host a range of chefs and celebs including the queen of baking Mary Berry, the Greedy Italians Gennaro Contaldo and Antonio Carluccio, Yorkshire lad James Martin and TV favourite Tom Kerridge.

Bakes & Cakes Village The Bakes & Cakes Village is an area devoted to all things baking. This is the place to learn new techniques, watch demonstrations and buy everything you need to bake like the experts from baking specialists and cake-crafters.

BBC Good Food Kitchen The BBC Good Food Kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the show where you can savour dishes inspired by bbcgoodfood.com’s seasonal recipes.

Summer Kitchen Stage See new faces and renowned chefs demonstrating their favourite summer recipes.

Tickets are on sale now, purchase yours early to guarantee the best summer day out this year!

WIN TICKETS… To be in with a chance of winning one of 10 pairs of tickets, simply tell us who is described as the “Queen of baking”?

Send your answer, along with your name, address and phone number to competitions@forcespublishing.co.uk or Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0RU. Closing date: Fri 29th May Terms and conditions for tickets: • All tickets are general admission excluding Saturday • Tickets are non refundable and non-exchangeable • Ticket terms and conditions apply • Tickets do not include a seat in the Supertheatre.

For more information or to book tickets:

www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com 0844 581 1341 23

Keeping Fit

is NOT a

It turns out there are fun ways to exercise, which involve minimal effort and produce great results. And, you can also eat pizza!

L

ets start with a quick quiz…

When you were at school did you: a) love PE and dash to the front of the queue to be team captain or b) hate PE and spend much of your spare time forging your mum’s handwriting so you could write notes excusing yourself from games?

Which of these statements sums up your attitude towards the gym: a) I renew my membership annually and attend at least three times a week or b) Jim? Who’s Jim? During the famous Wimbledon Championships do you a) have an overwhelming urge to join a tennis club or b) have an overwhelming urge to drink Pimms and eat strawberries and cream?

If you scored “mostly As”, congratulations - you are an exercise lover, you can probably skip this feature. If you scored “mostly Bs” read on, for you, like millions of other women, are probably exercise averse.

In fact, a recent study by Sport England found two million fewer women than men took 24

regular exercise in the UK. And, while they would really like to take part in more active pursuits, 75 per cent of women were reluctant.

Unfortunately, this anxiety is having a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing.

For experts recommend adults between the ages of 18 and 64 should be doing at least twoand-a-half hours of moderate intensity aerobic exercise a week. Alongside this, they should also be doing some kind of muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.

Yet, thanks to the very sedentary nature of our society - where many of us sit at desks all day and get ferried around in transport - we have fewer opportunities to, quite simply, move our bodies. And studies have revealed long periods of just sitting can increase a person’s chances of being overweight and obese, or developing type 2 diabetes or cancer. It can even lead to premature death.

It’s not just our physical health which can benefit from exercise.

Studies show it can help

improve our mood and help us combat symptoms of depression.

It can also help us sleep better.

Why we don’t exercise But, for someone who has a phobia of exercise, these facts may as well fall on deaf ears, for the biggest challenge anyone will face when the realisation dawns that they need to start exercising is getting out of the front door.

Indeed, Louise Jordan, a selfconfessed exercise phobicturned-fitness-instructor, agrees the hardest part of exercising is actually motivating yourself in the first place.

“I always feel at my most tired after putting the children to bed and cannot imagine then putting my trainers on and going out and exercising,” she said.

And it’s not just tiredness. The next hurdle we - as women - have to overcome is the overwhelming - yet completely unnecessary - fear of looking ridiculous jumping around in our gym kit. Louise agrees this is a common apprehension.

“I’ve been to exercise classes

MILITARY Exercise

25

in the past where you felt like everyone was looking at you, and that everyone was laughing when you went wrong,” she explains.

Indeed, being judged by others was precisely the problem Sport England discovered was holding women back from exercising. It found the three reasons women avoided fitness was because they were concerned about their appearance, were worried they were not able to do the exercises or, as mums, felt guilty they would be judged for doing something self-indulgent.

Louise overcame her fear of exercise after attending a new exercise, in which participants took part in dance routines that combined toning and cardiovascular elements.

“I just loved it,” she said. “No one was staring at me and it didn’t matter if you went wrong.” She enjoyed it so much she bought a franchise and began her own classes, Louise Bunny Hop. She puts huge emphasis on the fact that no one is judging each other.

Everyone is there to have fun and get fit.

Since starting the group Louise has found that in fact, an hour or twos’ worth of exercise each week has helped women in all sorts of ways they could never have imagined. Some have seen dramatic weight loss others have seen their confidence soar, many have made new friends and some have even overcome illnesses such as post-natal depression.

Instead of feeling guilty about escaping from difficulties or problems at home or work, Louise encourages the mums who attend to use the class to wallow in some well-deserved “me time”.

“We live in a culture of blame,” she said. “But it’s important we keep ourselves fit and healthy

26

and it’s important that we are happy in our own skin.

“It’s like going out with your friends and having a giggle,” she said, “rather than killing yourself exercising.”

For exercise shouldn’t be a chore. And once we get over the fact there is an exercise for all of us, and it can actually make us feel pretty good, then we can find a way from which to achieve the maximum benefits. Here are a few ways to get you going…

Set yourself a goal “In order to motivate yourself, firstly you must focus on your own goals and keep them in mind,” says Louise.

Whether your goal is to lose a certain amount of weight, get down to a particular dress size or to complete a 10km charity run, by setting yourself a target you are giving yourself a reason to exercise.

Find an exercise which suits you If you are enjoying yourself, you are more likely to stick to an exercise regime and reap the maximum rewards. Keeping fit does not have to involve going to the gym, or freezing on a muddy pitch (unless, of course,

that’s what you enjoy). It can be as relaxing as going for a swim or as fun as going dancing with your friends (see our list, below, for more ideas on easy exercising).

Choose an exercise which helps you achieve your goals If you want a flatter stomach, for example, you might want to find a class which helps strengthen and tone your abdominals - such as Kettlercise or Pilates. If you want to get more fresh air and improve your stamina, you might want to start hiking, rowing or triathlon training.

“Sports England’s This Girl Can” has more tips on various activities and their benefits http://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/

Start small Be realistic, set yourself achievable goals and don’t overdo it to begin with. If you are new to exercise, or have not done any physical activity for years, start by going for a gentle swim, walking for ten minutes a day, or jogging for five minutes, then slowly build this up. This not only makes the task of exercising seem less onerous, it also trains your body and mind, more effectively, in getting into the habit of exercise.

Programmes such as “Couch to 5k”, which is available as an app for your mobile phone, work on this principle. It guides you through achievable, weekly, running schedules which begin with a combination of walking and running and build up to a thirty minute run in week nine.

Look for exercises with interval training Interval training sounds hardcore, but in fact, it’s the epitome of minimum effort, maximum benefit exercise.

According to a study carried out by academics at McMaster University, Canada, alternating short bursts of intense exercise with brief periods of rest can provide the same benefits as hours of long term strenuous exercise.

So, if going for a long cycle ride or walk is simply not your thing, doing a quick spell of high-intensity interval training will take less time yet deliver the same results.

Louise explained her exercise class used this technique and it has proved highly effective.

“We are taking your heart rate up and down. We start with a cardio section, then we slow down, taking the heart rate down, to do our toning section.

Then we go back to our cardio,

And the “Couch to 5k” app mentioned earlier involves interspersing high intensity running with slower, walking or ‘rest’ periods.

Louise explains that the beauty of this technique is that people don’t realise they are putting in any effort.Yet it is one of the most effective ways of burning fat. During the highintensity part our bodies burn carbohydrates, but during the rest phase, they burn the fat needed to provide energy for our bodies to recover. This process continues for hours after exercise, and it’s this - combined with a healthy eating plan which can help with weight loss.

Get a friend involved Once you have found an exercise to suit you, the challenge is in keeping up the momentum. And what better way to ensure you stick to and enjoy an exercise class or sport than to get a friend involved.

If you go wrong at an exercise class, and your pal is there, you can laugh it off. If you want to go running, but find it dull, a jogging buddy could ease the monotony.

Louise said: “It is very easy to convince yourself not to exercise. However, if you have a friend relying on you too it is not easy to give up.”

Be kind to yourself If you miss a class, a day’s running, or just generally fall off the exercise wagon one week it’s essential you don’t beat yourself up about it.

“Pick yourself up, and start again,” advises Louise. “Fitness is a long-term goal, not a short-term fix, even if you go to a class and have a few breaks or take things easier than you normally would you are still doing a million times better

than if you are sitting at home with a pizza.”

And, on the subject of comfort food, Louise is a huge advocate of, simply, staying at home and having a pizza sometimes.

“Treats are important,” Louise adds. “Don’t ever deprive yourself, just make sure there is a balance.”

Exercise? What exercise?

(Activities which keep you fit, without you realising) • Dancing - whether it’s ballroom, latin, street dance, ballet, tap or jazz, or lindyhop, dance is an effective way of exercising without effort because it’s fun.You will be concentrating so hard on learning the steps, you won’t realise you are working out.

• Yoga is great for people who suffer with exercise phobia as, not only does it increase physical activity and improve strength, flexibility and balance, it’s also relaxing. Meditation and deep breathing can play a huge role in this exercise, which is helpful for people who suffer from depression or stress.

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• Gardening can burn calories and strengthen muscles. In fact, a study in 2013 found three hours of gardening can have the same effect on our bodies as a high-intensity gym work out.

What’s more it also allows you to be creative and productive.

• Playing with your children.

Playing chase, hide and seek, football, cricket, rounders or just taking them for a bike ride will not only get your heart rate going, it will tire the kids out too!

• Walking the dog is a moderate intensity exercise that will also benefit your faithful friend.

See if there is a dog-walking group local to you, or get some hound-owning pals involved to make it more sociable.

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taking our heart rate up again.”

When England came crashing out of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 the deflation felt by the nation was tinged with a hint of something which can only be described as resignation.

After all, England’s performance has descended to such a low since the glory days of World Cup Italia 1990 - when Pavarotti, a tearful Gazza and a thrilling extra-time goal turned us into a nation of football lovers - we have come to almost expect defeat. We are, quite simply, reconciled to it and so, some might argue, are the team. But shift your focus, if you will, away from the men’s game and into the arena of women’s football where the story is very different indeed…

For while the blokes have been greedily cleaning-up the banknotes, loudly guzzling Cristal champagne and generally being panned by the media, the girls have been quietly making some serious sporting strides. In fact, they are doing really rather well, as you will be able to see for yourself this summer when the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Canada.

England’s women’s team is currently (at the time of going to press) sixth in the FIFA world rankings. The men’s team is 15th. They have been chalking up victory after victory in the World Cup qualifiers with almost a confident ease.

And now they are heading to Canada to compete in an international tournament which will see them, in their first game, go head to head against FIFA’s third-ranked France. The huge success of the women’s international team has, of course, filtered down to the grass roots. And, as a result, the sport has become incredibly

popular, with some highlyskilled and proficient players coming through, transporting the game to a higher level.

“A few years ago, a woman would make the team if she could kick a ball,” explains Sophie Davis, a footballer and referee from Hampshire. “But not now, it’s really competitive.”

But Sophie, who is also the Royal Navy’s football development officer, said it was the Olympics which gave the game of women’s football a huge boost, and saw its popularity soar. For if you cast your mind back to the London 2012 event you may well recall Great Britain’s women’s football team beat Brazil, Cameroon and New Zealand to finish the group stages top of their set. They lost to Canada in the quarter finals, but their progress was enough to inspire a new generation of budding international players.

“There has been a general air of excitement amongst English female footballers due

to the success of the team at the Olympics,” Sophie said.

“And, as happened during the Olympics, I expect an increase, especially amongst players of the younger ages, during a wellpublicised event such as the World Cup.” So, what is it about football that makes it such an attractive sport for women? According to Sophie, it is as much to do with the social side as the sport itself.

For, it provides a way to exercise and hang out with mates at the same time.

“I believe the social element of football makes it a great sport

for women and girls,” she said.

“I have played football since the age of 12 and have built up very close relationships through the sport. “Many of my best friends I have met through the sport.

It allows me to keep fit and socialise with my friends at the same time.”

In fact, going to the bar for a few drinks after the game is as much a part of the sport as the training in building team morale and spirit.

And, the Royal Navy believes friendship and socialising is so crucial to women’s football that one of its recent recruitment posters focuses on a group of

women hanging out together after a game, instead of playing football. For while women’s football is certainly enjoying a surge in popularity, there is still a long way to go in the recruitment process. Sadly, many women and girls are put off playing the sport through a combination of reasons from peer pressure, lack of confidence in their fitness levels or being swayed by negative stereotypes of women footballers.

In her role as football development officer, Sophie has sometimes had to overcome the frustration of spotting a player with huge potential, who is reluctant to take their talent further and play for a team. Their unwillingness, she reveals, is often down to the fact none of their friends are interested. But Sophie said they could be missing out on a whole new source of friendship and comradeship that women’s football offers.

Another barrier has been the negative stereotypes of women footballers. But Sophie believes this myth is now being blown apart. “The England Women’s team have made it more acceptable to be feminine and play football, there has been a breaking down of stereotypes and this has been positive,” she said. The door is also opening to women who don’t necessarily want to play traditional 11-a-side games, for which they have to make weekly commitments.

The FA has done extensive research to find out what women and girls want from football and have responded by creating tons of new initiatives to make it more accessible.

For example, if you want a flexible and informal way to try football, the FA now runs regular sessions which allow women to literally just drop in and have a kickabout. ‘Just Play’ is aimed at women of all ages, levels of fitness and ability who don’t want the ties of

committing to a team, or who just want to see if they enjoy football. If you are interested in taking part, Sophie recommends contacting your local County FA to find out what is available in the local area.

“I would certainly recommend females aged 16 plus start at an informal ‘Just Play’ session,” she advised. “Many of the sessions offer a ‘bring a friend for free’ week – going along with a friend is a great way to find the encouragement to attend.”

You don’t need to be particularly fit, sporty or experienced to take part either.

The higher the level you are aiming for, the more fit you will be required to be. ‘Just Play’ requires you to simply just turn up!

Meanwhile organisations such as Kent FA are also working hard in the campaign to inspire the future generation of women footballers by targeting much younger par ticipants. According to Charlotte Richardson, marketing and communications officer of Kent FA, community coaching has done much to improve participation in the sport. She explained that players also delivered sessions in schools to increase the number of girls playing football and to give them the opportunity to play together, and not necessarily with the boys.

Gillingham Ladies football club, said there was a buzz amongst women footballers around the World Cup, but she hoped that excitement would spread beyond the women’s football world. “Lots of us will know players or have played with or against players that will be selected to go to Canada so you can always relate to the tournament and follow the journey the girls will be taking.” But, she added: “I don’t think many people away from women’s football even know the tournament is on this summer. If the games are televised and at a suitable time for all I would hope that people would watch and support the girls throughout the competition.”

For anyone who is reluctant to watch the women’s game, or who thinks it’s not as exciting as the male version, think again.

The game is different, but the action is equally as thrilling.

Charlotte said: “I went to the women’s final at Wembley [in

the Olympics] and watched USA and China. To be in a stadium that big, and which was sold out for a women’s fixture, was incredible. It was a game that I’ll remember for a long time.”

Women’s football is not just about playing a sport, it’s also about comradeship and building character. Charlotte explained that the women who played football for the Olympic Great Britain team were fantastic role models for younger girls who were aspiring to play football.

For their dedication, passion, motivation, ability to work within a team, communication skills and – above all – hard work saw them achieve something very inspiring. And now, it is hoped, the England team will do the same in Canada.

For more information about the FA’s ‘Just Play’ initiative, go to http://www. thefa.com/my-football/ justplay/

Charlotte said there were now so many more chances for girls to play. “When I was growing up there weren’t really any opportunities to play with a girls’ team under the age of ten. Nowadays there are lots of options for young girls to play in all-girls teams and this will improve the confidence and self-belief that they can play no matter what their ability level is. “You will never get laughed at or picked on, and you will always be encouraged by others and coached and helped to improve and get better.”

Charlotte, who also runs the communications team at 29

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Peace of Card Cards and Invitations for all occasions.

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From abstract to functional, non-functional to concrete, no form is set in stone and I love dabbling in anything from designing and making jewellery to painting and creative writing.

www.lougilmoregeorgeartist.co.uk

Knitty Gritty Bespoke hand knitting I mainly knit clothes for babies and toddlers as this gives me the greatest satisfaction. I love to knit these up and see them being worn by the kids - although usually the grown-ups are more excited initially and the kids like the wrapping!!

Items knitted to your personal requirements.

You choose: colour or colours accessories (e.g. preferred buttons), age/size and any other individual requirements you may have.

As well as clothes, my new line is unique, handmade cards, with knitted garments or other items on the front. These can all be removed as used either to dress small doll or teddies, or as Christmas decorations to hang on your tree for years to come.

www.knitty-gritty.vpweb.co.uk

Lizzie Houlbrooke Interna onal Psychic Tarot Card Reader.

Private Si ngs & SKYPE Readings. Strictly Confiden al.

Tel: 07767 275545 www.lizziehoulbrooke.com 30

Alannah Leigh Horsfall Partylite Independent Consultant PARTYLITE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW CONSULTANTS INDEPENDENTLY FROM YOUR OWN HOME? WANT TO WORK HOURS THAT SUIT YOU? ARE YOU DEDICATED AND THRIVE ON SUCCESS?

LOOKING TO WORK

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED • BE YOUR OWN BOSS TRAINING AND BUSINESS TOOLS PROVIDED alannah.partylite.co.uk | alannah-leigh@hotmail.co.uk | 07564 063107

Just for Her are looking for interesting and relevant articles about the Service community…

Handmade Designer Jewellery www.lucyloudesigns.co.uk

If you have something you have written, ideally with pictures too, then please send your articles into mail@forcespublishing.co.uk.

JustHer for

Cheel Soaps of Distinction

Keep snug & stylish on a cool Summer’s eve like Rosa the dog and Rufus the cat by wrapping up in a Quilt

by Lisa Watson

uilt One off q ons are commissi elcome. always w uch with Get in to iscuss Lisa to d further.

See all of our quilts at www.quiltsbylisawatson.co.uk @lisawatso

Simply Special Contact Dawn Cowan Email: crazydancerdawn@msn.com Tel: 07724 518193

Simply Special offers affordable table favours for special occasions including weddings, birthdays, Easter and more!

We can also make gift baskets for babies.

Hand made cards also available for all occasions.

“I sell traditonal handmade natural soaps and use natural new and reclaimed materials to decorate and present them!”

Large range of soaps available that include: • Rosemary and Lime • Bois de Rose • Lavender • Tea Tree • Aloe Vera • Bergamot and Witch Hazel • Oatmeal and Wheatgerm Oil • Lemongrass • Orange and Grapefruit • Cinnamon • Lemon and Green Tea • Peppermint and Poppyseed • Shea Butter • Shaving Soap • Organic Cocoa For more information please call 07968777090 or visit my ebay shop at

www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Cheel-Soaps-of-Distinction

Make money with

Usborne Books Ask me how Jill Scott

www.jillsbooks.co.uk 07714021477 jillscotty2003@yahoo.co.uk

Rebecca Mughal rebeccamughal@hotmail.co.uk

07884440385

www.prettyperfectbouquetsandboutonnieres.co.uk 31

NORTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Would you like to see your article published?

Wouldn’t it be simpler to lose weight if you had someone to prepare your food, control your portion size and count your calories?

Just like a celebrity’s personal chef…

K

evin Dorren started Diet Chef because he wanted everyone to be able to have that same advantage.

No more labour intensive cooking, no more worrying about calories, no more counting points or struggling with portion size.

Kevin was originally a chef by training and is incredibly passionate about food so it’s important to him that everything available on Diet Chef is delicious and healthy with no nasty ingredients. Working together with the Executive chef, Kevin hopes to ensure there is a great range of food to choose from with lots of new dishes and innovations.

Diet Chef has grown a lot in the last 5 years and are now the largest diet home delivery company with over 80,000 customers!

Although weight loss results may vary and be different for each individual, with help of Diet Chef ’s delicious diet food and healthy portion sizes, it could be just what you’ve been looking for! Here’s what Kelli Lord had to say about her experience…

“

I’ve always been a yo-yo dieter and in denial about my size and health, but I never really saw it as a problem, until I realised I was hiding what I was eating from my family.

I knew something needed to change and quick.

I confided in my best friend, who suggested that Diet Chef may be a good way forward. I went online almost immediately and placed my order.

After three months on the plan I managed to lose just under 3st and am so happy with the results. I have the energy to play for hours with my children, where before I was always too tired! I feel amazing and the compliments just keep flowing. As a family, we now eat much healthier and a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables.

32

“

I recommend Diet Chef to everyone who asks how the incredible change has happened!

Kelli

A couple of us here at Just for Her have given Diet Chef a try and were extremely pleased with the results…

Natalie’s Review I consider the word ‘diet’ a swear word and have struggled on numerous occasions not to stuff my face with whatever I could get my hands on! I am not overweight but knew I would benefit from losing a few extra pounds gained through pregnancy (my girls are 3 and 2, can I still claim baby weight?!) The day the Diet Chef package arrived in the post, my excitement was at an all-time high and I was eager to get started. When your breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks are delivered, it removes the stress of trying to work out what you should or shouldn’t be eating. A definite plus as I have previously felt overwhelmed with calorie counting and given up before noon! I loved that I could go online and choose from lots of different options and this meant that I didn’t end up with food I didn’t like. I’d say day 3 was the hardest. The initial excitement had worn off and I wanted a takeaway. That said, once this passed, I found the diet pretty easy and was pleasantly surprised at how great the food was. Although I wasn’t a fan of the granola, this was only because I don’t like natural or greek yoghurt and in fact, when I ate it on its own, it tasted pretty good. I loved the pasta pots for lunch and my favourite dinner was definitely the chicken in black bean sauce. I was dubious to start with, but actually really enjoyed the protein bar meal replacements and although it would probably defeat the object of dieting, I would happily sit and eat 10 of the cranberry protein snack bars! Having completed the diet for 10 days, I lost a total of 6lb, 1.5 inches around my waist and an inch off each thigh. I am ecstatic with the results, am at my goal weight and would definitely recommend Diet Chef to anyone looking for a hassle free diet that works.

Sally’s Review I’m a girl who hasn’t a sweet tooth but loves her alcohol. I have the weight to loose and was extremely interested in trying this diet.

I have to say I was sceptical as to whether I could stick to it. I’m one of those that if I don’t eat enough I tend to go a bit jittery and get the shakes. I can hand on heart say I have not felt that way on this diet, not once. I’m not going to lie, I had two days in the middle of week one where I was hungry and found it difficult, but once I was past it I have found it easy since then.Your stomach gets used to smaller portions - in fact it opened my eyes to how big my portions were before. We took this trial for two weeks, week one

www.dietchef.co.uk

I lost 4.5lb’s and week 2 I lost 3lb, I lost inches all over. I stuck to 1200 calories a day and I do exercise but nothing exciting, Zumba on a Monday and a couple of runs (small ones) a week. I have an admission to make, week two happened to co-inside with my friend’s birthday, which consisted of a meal out on the Friday and a very alcoholic night out on the Saturday. So if I had stuck to the diet 100% on week two, I truly believe I would have seen at least another couple of lbs off.

The week straight after the trial my husband has been off work, we have eaten out nearly every day and I really feared I would wreck what I had lost in the two weeks. Because I was used to smaller portions I ate less in the day and then I had whatever I fancied at night but halved the portion and only ate half. I have never had control, but I genuinely felt full enough to stop......I still lost a lb this week.

I loved Diet Chef so much that I’m carrying on with it. I was lucky enough to catch it when it was on GroupOn so bought it for minimal money. I started again this week.Yes you have to add fruit, veg and dairy to the diet but that doesn’t amount to much.

I’m definitely not an organised person and I’m always leaving the house with seconds to spare, which means I grab what I can for lunch. Diet Chef is so good for those on the run. I sat one day with my meal replacement protein bar whilst my daughter ate her McDonalds. I thought I would be gutted but they are actually really nice and really did fill me up. I have been so impressed with the quality of the food. Don’t you find that when you try diet foods (usually freezer - microwave) they have a synthetic taste or are blatantly full of salt? I haven’t found that with Diet Chef at all. The snacks........where do I start, all of them I love, but I particularly liked the cranberry protein bar. I would highly recommend you trying one of each of the meals (you can choose what you like) and seeing which you like the best. I have been surprised by some of the meals I have really enjoyed, in particular the soup. I’m not really a soup type of gal but they are filling and tasty. How easy that none of the meals have to be refrigerated, not one. It’s so exciting when your big food box arrives (how sad) it’s like Christmas.

In all honesty I didn’t think this would be a diet for me. I didn’t know if I could stick to the meals and I certainly didn’t think I’d like it enough to continue after the trial. My colleagues in the office are now giving it a go too after seeing me stick to it. I would recommend this diet to everyone.

33

Skin Weapons!

PROBLEM #1 – OILY SKIN Looking for a new way to banish oily skin?

Try brewing one cup of tea with a black tea bag and refrigerate until cold. Splash the tea on your face and don’t rinse it off.

Once done regularly, you should notice a difference.

PROBLEM #2 – MAKEUP REMOVAL Struggling to find a decent make up remover? Grab a jar of coconut oil and watch as it removes all trace of makeup.

Make sure it is the extra virgin kind, apply it to your face and/or eyes and wipe away with a face cloth or cotton wool pad. As an added bonus, you can also use coconut oil as a hair mask and body moisturizer!

PROBLEM #3 – SPOTS Thought nappy rash cream was just for babies bums? Think again! For a quick way to get rid of redness, swelling and soreness, apply a dab of nappy rash cream. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it takes affect.

34

PROBLEM #4 – SENSITIVE SKIN If you’re struggling with sensitive skin which gets easily irritated then try soaking a face cloth in a mixture of milk and ice cubes. Place the wrung out cloth on your cleansed face and leave it for at least 10 minutes. The pH level and protein in the milk, combined with the cold temperature of the cloth will leave your skin feeling instantly better.

PROBLEM #5 – SCARS Many of us are left with red marks and scars having suffered from skin blemishes or acne.

To help fade these, try rubbing your skin with the juice of a raw potato! You may feel silly, but potatoes contain enzymes which can help to promote healthy skin and are extremely cheap in comparison to shop bought products. Simply cut a potato in half and rub it over the problem area.

NORTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Forever Blowing Bubbles

HANDMADE GIFTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS. Handmade Bath Treats.

Home fragrances & Glittered personalised gifts. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=209932152369536 https://m.facebook.com/GlitterGaloreGifts Louise Williams: 01138 082191 or 07960 859698 www.foreverblowingbubblesgifts.co.uk

Launching the new season!

Elegance! Tranquility!

Find your retreat with your favourite scent!

Take time to reminisce, daydream and relax!

Scentsy the flameless wax warmer offers a safe, long lasting way to enjoy fine scents!

Over 85 scents to choose from!

Guarantee with with all warmers!

Hazel 07768510191 hazelwade2004@yahoo.co.uk scentimentaldreams.scentsy.co.uk www.facebook.com/scentimentaldreams

Be creative, earn extra cash and have some fun!

It’s easy with Stampin Up! ® Host a party, workshop or become a demonstrator.

Contact Camilla Hutton

01772 933190 or 07957 750402

www.lythamcrafts.co.uk

Phoenix Light Julia Emerson

Psychic Artist Reiki Master Teacher Angel Tarot Card Reader Angelic Usui Reiki Master Shamanic Healing Pracitioner Crystal Therapy Practitioner Tel: 07527 773568 Email: phoenix_light@sky.com www.phoenixlight.co.uk 35

JustHer for

Directory for the Wiv es, Girlfriends and

ed?

FATHER’S DAY

GIFT GUIDE

Just for Her are looking for interesting and relevant articles about the Service community…

If you have something you have written, ideally with pictures too, then please send your articles into mail@forcespublishing.co.uk.

JustHer for

Families of Military

Personnel

Happily

EVER AFTER

Ten things NOT to say to a

Military Wife

Keeping Fit

is NOT a

MILITARY

Exercise

Su mmer of Love… 70s Fashion

Wi n ets to the Good Foodtick Show Su mm er

Directory for the Wives, Girlfriends and Families of Military Personnel

Find us on

@justforhermag

36

ISSUE 5

Are you

2015

Would you like to see your article published?

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Bon Ami Cottage Craf ts 29a Market Place, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7EF 01638 715305 bonamicottagecraf ts@hotmail.co.uk

w w w.facebook.com/BON-AMI-Cottage-Craf ts

“You think it, We will cut and paint it” Personalised hearts, signs and home decor

Want to build a Business around your current life ?

As a part-time Herbalife Distributor you can earn extra income from day 1 whilst helping family and friends achieve their nutrition goals.

You could help people to improve their: • nutrition • weight management • general wellbeing • energy levels • sporting performance • skin care and you can build a team to help even more people.

For an informal chat and to discuss how you could earn an extra income, contact Lesley on 07946 247 810 or email lesley98303@yahoo.co.uk TODAY!

G.S. Cakes

Fresh chocolate brownies and fudge made in a variety of yummy flavours.

Perfect gifts for that special occasion, birthdays and weddings. All our treats are handmade and made to order upon request. The possibilities of styles and flavours are endless at G.S.Cakes! So enquire today and arrange a consultation.

07843 085010 Email G.S.Cakes@live.co.uk facebook.com/G.S.Cakes

GetitRight – The Forever Living Opportunity Forever provides ordinary people with an opportunity to build an exceptional financially secure future in a world where financial security can seem increasingly difficult to achieve, and where jobs are often at risk. This is a chance to start a business with real potential, uncapped income, and proven results, while still being able to achieve that elusive worklife balance.

• Extra income • More time and freedom • Meet new people • Be your own boss • Retirement income • Help others • Work/life balance • Achieve your potential • Career satisfaction • Work from home

To find out more Call Ade on: 07949 319294 please visit us at: www.getitright.myforever.biz email: getitright4flp@gmail.com fb: facebook.com/Getitrightflp

37

EAST MILITARY CATCHMENT

Wow Health and Beauty Herbwand Crafts A fantastic range of Health and Beauty products from British Company Xenca, including Five a Day+ (The amazing green superfood), Revitalise Collagen, Botanical Skin Care, Organic Makeup, Weight Management products and more.

Collagen Revitalise Collagen is an essential part of the human body, as well as all animals.

However not all collagen works the same nor is of the same quality as Xenca’s Revitalise Collagen Hydrolysate. Many top athletes now take this particular collagen and it has been shown in many clinical trials to be beneficial for easing joint pain, improving skin and hair condition as well as cartilage and muscle repair.

If you know someone in pain then they should try a few months on this amazing collagen, which comes in capsule or the extremely cost effective powder, the difference should be obvious.

Five a Day+ is an amazing and unique blend of super concentrated nutrition.

Among its many reported health benefits, this natural food supplement has been found to boost energy, aid detoxification, improve recovery and improve mental concentration. It may also lower cholesterol and produce a measurable reduction in biological age.

herbwand.crafts

Art Deco Ladies Hand Knitted With Love

To order any products, which can be posted directly to many different countries as well as within the UK, or to veiw more of our products please visit Sue Walshe online at www.xencasue.com or google

‘xencasue”

All items are handmade with love & a unique touch of class

Xenca Revitalise Collagen (Collagen Hydrolysate) is proving to be incredibly beneficial for the body, though not all other collagens you can get are as good as Xenca’s I can assure you. If it works on these sports people who are pushing their bodies to the limit at over 65 years of age, surely it will be of great benefit to everyone, including you.

Art Deco Ladies specialises in creating a range of beautifully unique hand knitted acessories.

07986 134534 artdecoladies@yahoo.co.uk

artdecoladies1

07979 934392

www.jazziejemsboutique.co.uk

Start your own business selling ethical and organic health and beauty products, as an Independent Consultant with NYR Organic for only £95. Free website, free training, work when it suits you. Sounds good? Then contact: http://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/amandathompson and click on “Join Us” to find out more!

Heather Nickless free online marketing tips

www.heatheranickless.com 38

A LUSCIOUS quick poll of the Just for Her team confirmed that mascara is our must have beauty item. If we were stranded on a desert island, though we couldn’t agree on who with, we would all want mascara!

Imagine our excitement then when we received some NYX mascaras to review for our lovely readers. It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it!

LASHES ZA ZU, this mascara is more expensive so we had to take that into consideration. Another great mascara for adding length, it was really black on the lashes and lasted well into the evening.

NYX ZA ZA ZU

NYX Doll Eye

This was our favourite of the 3 and surprisingly, it’s actually the cheapest! The brush was lovely and thick which improved application and left our lashes looking fuller and longer.

This mascara has the benefit of being waterproof and stood up well to our ‘scientific testing’ of showering, sweating, and crying (with laughter!). It lasted pretty well but fell short in the other categories. If you just want a mascara for daytime, or you’re a ‘one coat and I’m done kind of girl’ then it may be for you but for those of you that like dark, full lashes, we’d definitely stick with one of the other two.

NYX Lush Lashes Although almost as good as ZA

Name

Length

Fullness

Ease of Application

Waterproof

Brush

Durability

Overall Mark

ZA ZA ZU

9

9

9

NA

8

9

9/10

Lush Lashes

9

8

8

NA

8

8

8/10

Doll Eye

6

6

5

8

6

7

6/10

39

SS15 LOOKBOOK

This Summer, it’s all about the 70’s!

Faux fur gives way to suede, dresses are longer, trousers are cropped and patterns and crochets are key. To finish off your look, think oversized hats and sunglasses and tassles on your bag!

New Look Crochet playsuit £24.99, Dorothy Perkins Tan felt floppy hat £14.00, Phase Eight Erica gladiator sandal £69.00, George at ASDA Ombre sunglasses £3.50, George at ASDA Tan suede tassel bag £18.00

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Accessorize sorbet aztec floppy pastel hat (March)£22.00, Dorothy Perkins sunglasses £8.00, Accessorize Miami lunge crochet swimsuit £32.00, Wedge heel sandals from New Look, F&F Fringed X-Body Bag, white £14.00

Dorothy Perkins

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>> SS15 LOOKBOOK

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Monsoon SS15 Mirror Midi Dress & Macrame Waistcoat, Necklace from Marks & Spencer, George at ASDA White crochet panel maxi dress £25.00, Dorothy Perkins Waistcoat £85.00, Dune Mariella sandal - £85

Accessorize Opp Floppy (May) £15.00, New Look Cream and Black Edge Sunglasses £7.99, Phase Eight Milena Crochet Blouse £69.00, Debenhams tassel bag, Debenhams H! by Henry Holland Shorts £28.00

Next Floral wide leg trousers £36.00, Marks & Spencer Hat, Next Sunglasses £12.50, Primark UK Cork platform sandal, £8 (in store 23.4.15)

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EAST MILITARY CATCHMENT

pavodb@gmail.com

patricialynn61@hotmail.co.uk

WORK FROM HOME BUSINESS

Do any of these tick your boxes? ✓ stay at home parent but would love to earn an

extra income flexibly around family commitments?

✓ facing redundancy from the forces? ✓ enjoy your career but need more time/money/ challange?

✓ coming up to retirement with excellent leadership skills but wondering where to use them?

✓ need to top up or indeed provide a pension?

If so, we need to talk.

To find out how you can build an extra or replacement income of ÂŁ200 - ÂŁ5000 + per month (with training and support), from anywhere in the world (no need to worry about posting). With the advantage of setting your own hours around family/job commitments.

Take ownership of your future.

Work smarter not harder.

You supply the NEED we supply the vehicle to get it!

Call Emilio 07843 047624 or Patricia 07950 301390

South Hill Designs are a rela vely new company from the USA. Be one of the first ar sts in your area. With a ground floor opportunity like this, the only way is UP and the SKY is the LIMIT!! Join my team and build your own team too. I am a stay at home parent and work around my children. It’s the best decision I ever made.

• Be Your Own Boss • Financial Freedom • Up To 40% Commission • New Party Plan Business • Work As Much As You Want • Or As Li�le As You Want • Fantas c Support And Leadership Offers • Brilliant Incen ve Trips • No Deadlines

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Helping people gain better health and beauty with nature

‘Perfection’ MakeUp By Xenca The amazing ‘Perfection’ make-up, by Xenca, is here at last. The vast majority of products are organic and suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

The only non-organic products are the Eyeliner and Mascara.

To order any products, which can be posted directly to many different countries as well as within the UK, please contact me.

Brenda Gibson Simply B Health & Beauty Mobile: 07932 660687 Email: xencabrenda@gmail.com Simply B Health and Beauty Independent Xenca Associate: 1298

44

EAST MILITARY CATCHMENT

Handmade fun Jewellery inspired by British Culture through time from Ancient Britain to the 20th Century

Diana Sian Crafts Jewellery and gifts

Diana.Sian.Crafts@outlook.com www.facebook.com/DianaSianCrafts www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DianaSianCrafts www.gotshop.co.uk/seller-profile/diana-sian-crafts

Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and more...

Silver plated or sterling silver fittings available www.retrologygifts.co.uk | sales@retrologygifts.co.uk | 07919 341339

Your Thoughts in Words

crea ng personal poems for every occasion Birthdays, Christenings, Funerals, Weddings - give a personalized gi that will be treasured for years to come.

From Love Story Invita ons to Vows; Table Plans to Favours; Speeches to No ces, contact me for that personal touch to your big day.

Business wording assistance, C.V or Personal Statement wri ng

Contact Charli at www.facebook.com/yourthoughtsinwords.1 or on 07903 690354

ALOE MAGIC UK

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Health, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Beauty, Personal and Skincare, Sports, Products for the whole family, home and animals!

Fragrance your home with slow warming, scented wax without a flame, toxins or soot Choose from over 40 decorative warmers and 80 different scents Find me on Facebook: hayleysscentsyindependentconsultant or online www.hayleystevens.scentsy.co.uk

Contact me now to see how I can help you make a difference FOREVER! We can also hold product parties in your home for your friends and family!

The host will receive 15% off to spend towards the products as well as a gift!

There will also be a free prize draw for all who attend! So book now!

Do you need a change? Be your own boss? Work flexible hours? Earn an extra income with amazing rewards?

Then call us to find out more!

For more information contact Sushma Bragg An Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products

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01205 723993 / 07877 265725 Website: aloemagicuk.flp.com Email: sushmabragg@flp.com us on www.facebook.com/aloemagicuk

Forever Living Products based at Longbridge Manor, Warwick CV34 6RB Forever Living Products is a member of the Direct Selling Association.

Approval code 982 SA

45

Love Quote Map Print by OF LIFE & LEMONS £15 www.notonthehighstreet.com

Personalised Chunky Leather Identity Bracelet by SUZY Q £39 www.notonthehighstreet.com Chocolate Pizza £18.99 www.firebox.com

Cardboard Smartphone Projector £19.99 www.firebox.com St Christopher Necklace by HERSEY SILVERSMITHS £49 www.notonthehighstreet.com

Silk Pocket Square Personalised Child’s Drawing

by MW STUDIO £29.75 www.notonthehighstreet.com

46

Scrubba Portable Washing Machine £39.99 www.firebox.com Personalised ‘Why My Daddy Is Brilliant’ Book by LOU BROWN DESIGNS £15.95 www.notonthehighstreet.com

FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

2015

S

unday June 21st 2015 is a day to celebrate and be thankful for dads everywhere! Military dads give extra meaning to the phrase ‘my dad is my hero’ and for a gift as great as he is, look no further! There is something for everyone and we’ve made sure we’ve included gifts that dad can take with him, wherever he may have to go…

3Doodler - The Worlds First 3D Printing Pen £99.99 www.firebox.com

Chocolate Adjustable Spanner by SCHOKOLAT £10.60 www. notonthehighstreet.com Baby Scan Wallet Keepsake Card by CLOUDS AND CURRENTS £25 www.notonthehighstreet.com

47

T

raditionally, the term ‘stepfamily’ has been shrouded in negativity.You need only visit your local theatre during panto season to see examples of bullying stepsisters and vain, evil stepmothers giving merged families a bad name.

But while there can, indeed, be a variety of challenges in being part of a stepfamily there is also much to be celebrated about gaining another child, or new sister, for example. From increasing a child’s resilience to providing much-needed perspective, in many cases the positives can outweigh the negatives.

That is not to say being in a stepfamily does not involve any effort, however. And when two families join together, there will always be problems which need to be overcome - particularly in the early days.

Indeed, in a 12 month period over 2,000 enquiries to charity, Family Lives’, free website were stepfamily-related. Jeremy Todd, chief executive of the charity, which provides parenting and family support, said: “A large number of calls concerned teenage behaviour (19 per cent), and issues around relationships and separation, some calls were also about bullying, which can take place between step-siblings.

48

“Worryingly, over half of calls were from stepparents calling about their own emotional wellbeing.” Because, say Family Lives, while being in a stepfamily is nothing unusual and is, in fact, extremely common, when two families merge it’s always tricky initially. It is very normal, for example, for children to feel confused, particularly soon after the break up. They may also feel guilty or responsible for the fact their parents have split.

Suzie Hayman, an agony aunt and stepparent, said when any relationship ends and a new one begins, the previous break-up will always be carried over in some way.

When children are involved, both the children and the break-up are being brought into the new relationship, she explained. And the way children and adults perceive that new relationship tend to be in stark contrast.

“For adults it’s a beginning,” explained Suzie, “for children it’s a very different thing. Even if they’ve come out of a family that was bad, it was still their parent - to them it’s an ending.”

Hostility can emerge from the child towards their new stepparent, and - even - from the stepparent towards the child. Suzie has lots of tips for working through problems which arise in stepfamilies, but where a new partner is unwilling to take on the children she is unequivocal “The child comes first,” she said.

For stepfamilies who are determined to make a success of their new circumstances, Suzie offers three golden rules to adults.

Firstly, be mature and recognise that the children come first. Secondly, to communicate, listen to your child and understand how they are feeling. And, thirdly, adults must co-operate - with both their old and new partners and family.

She believes that to create harmony in a new stepfamily, the separating parents must be ‘the grown-ups’ and therefore finish their arguments and move on. “They are no longer partners,” said Suzie, “but they are still parents. They need to start co-parenting and to view themselves as a new family.”

Communicating and finding out from your children, by listening to them, about their fears and anxieties is also essential, as is letting them know you understand. It’s essential, Suzie advises, that you are also willing to look for help if things get really difficult.

Crucially, you must remember that being in a stepfamily can have huge advantages to both children and adults and can actually enhance and add breadth to family life. As a stepmum herself, Suzie knows all-toowell how rewarding it can be and also how much a new stepparent and stepchild can bring to a family. For example, Suzie was able to provide much-needed objectivity to issues that arose surrounding her stepson’s

upbringing. And while she in no way replaced her stepson’s mother, she was - and still is - able to act as another role model within his life.

Indeed, many people enjoy being part of the larger family unit that a stepfamily can provide and it can create a refreshing injection of perspective, not to mention, new energy into the hothouse atmosphere in which an enclosed nuclear family can often become bogged down.

Jeremy Todd of Family Lives agrees: “In spite of initial trials and tribulations,” he explained, “there are real plus points about stepfamilies.

Children and adults can flourish. Evidence suggests that living between two households can make a real difference to children’s sociability, flexibility, independence and resilience.” He said sharing the care of their children can provide welcome breaks and a sense of shared responsibility and provide children with more people from which they can gain support and guidance.

“It takes time to build a new family, for new relationships to develop and existing ones to feel secure again. Children often have a greater capacity to adapt to new lifestyles, and with time and effort it’s possible for the new living arrangements to feel completely natural to them,” he added.

Four steps to stepfamily harmony…

One - Finish ‘unfinished business’ Suzie advises separating parents to end any arguments, “love your children, more than you hate each other”, she said. “Your children need you not to be fighting.You are no longer partners, but you are still parents and you need to co-parent.”

It is also essential that new partners have no hostility towards the children, and are fully prepared to take them on.

Two - Communicate Being able to communicate is essential in a stepfamily. Suzie said it is important to listen to your children’s fears and concerns and to acknowledge and accept any negative feelings.You must also let your children know that you understand. Suzie advises using phrases such as “I can see you find this hard” or “It’s okay to get upset” to ensure your children realise that it is not wrong or unusual to feel those emotions.

Communication, in the form of Skype, social media and the telephone, are also vital in families where parents have separated.

“Children need access to the other parent,” said Suzie, “this is the one situation where I encourage mobile phones - lots of pictures, lots of chatting, Instagram and sharing.”

Parents should also communicate and work

together to ensure arguments and confusion are kept to a minimum. This can be really useful, for example, when deciding where the children will spend Christmas each year.

“Sit down and make a ten-year plan,” advises Suzie.

Three - Co-operate As a stepparent, it’s important you cooperate. Suzie said you must accept you are an addition to the child’s family, but you cannot replace their parent. “It’s a delicate tightrope,” she explained. That tightrope becomes even more fragile when two sets of children are brought into a new stepfamily. Jeremy, of Family Lives, stressed how important it is to be fair to all children.

In arguments you should try not to side with your own children rather than your partners’.

However, it’s also important you co-operate with the children’s needs. Jeremy advises all children have some privacy and space they can claim as their own. But ultimately, you must ensure the lines of communication are kept open. “Keep talking,” he urged, “with families joining together it is important to make time to listen to everyone’s views and see if there are ways of doing things that will keep most people happy.”

For advice from Family Lives call 0808 800 2222 or www.familylives.org.uk 49

MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

YOU WON’T READ ANOTHER STORY LIKE THIS ONE IN THIS MAGAZINE!!!

Hello, I’m Heather. I’m now 47 (age 45 in the photo – two Christmasses ago :-) ) and I have 4 children, aged 18, 16, 8 and 6 (phew!) plus 1 high-testosterone, high-maintenance husband who sometimes feels like a 5th child!! LOLOL! I love him dearly, but I think you know just what I mean! :D :D :D Anywayyyy ... back to my story ... I’ve had a serious challenge with sleep disturbance and deprivation ever since I became a mother 18 years ago. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is crazy lack of energy – especially when it’s time for the afternoon school run ... and I’d be typically dropping asleep in the evenings on the sofa (or in my kiddies’ room at night! They’d put me to bed!)

If you have young children too, then you’re probably living it right now!

This was my experience until several years ago, when said husband brought home something for me to try, which he claimed would help me with my energy challenge... I was a bit sceptical at first, but 11 years later I’m still having it for breakfast!!! My healthy Herbalife shake – which is filling (full of protein, healthy carbs, fats and fibre, plus vitamins and minerals) yet leaves me feeling light and not at all heavy or bloated. I have this along with an energising, hydrating, fat-burning thermojetics tea – great morning cleanse (that also helps my ... errrm ... ‘flow’ – but that’s another story ...) It worked so well for me I shared it with close friends (as gifts). They too had some life-changing experiences (see one friend Yvonne, in the photos below) so I now do it as a business, part-time around my kiddies (and husband, of course!)

Business aside though, I continue to take it everyday because the great nutrition has kept me young, trim, toned and frisky :-) even though I only get haphazard exercise (though really, I’m constantly on the go, especially with my younger 2 children!) And with my current crazy, rushy morning school runs (sounds familiar?) it’s so quick & convenient for breakfast.

I strongly recommend for you to try it – no strings attached! It’s fit for vegetarians, comes in 9 delicious flavours (including a “free-from” flavour with no dairy/gluten/soy) and I give an unconditional, no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee. Simples! :-) I suggest you start with our 6-day trial (normally sold for £10) and for the first 20 Just 4 Her readers who respond, I’m giving them away FREEEEEEEEE! Just give me a call on 07887-553554. Or look me up on Facebook (Heather Reid based in Telford, Shropshire). Visit my (new) YouTube channel (Heather Reid) Or send a quick email to support@repositionyourlife.com Thank you!

P.S. Ooops! no space for Yvonne’s photos

I’ll have to do a pinned post or something like that on my FB page – or save it for next quarter ... Also, offer is for one trial pack per household!

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AZ to

Once a very American event, the baby shower is growing in popularity.

Whether it’s for you or you’re arranging a shower for your friend or relative, here’s our A to Z guide on planning the ultimate celebration…

b ac ANNOUNCEMENT So whilst it may not be the first thing that comes to mind after that second line has appeared, sooner or later you’ll be asked, or will ask, if there are plans for a baby shower. Generally held in the latter stages of pregnancy, when there’s a bump to paw over, you need to decide how you’re going to let everyone know the details. Thanks to the wonder that is the ‘internet’ you can now send a quick group email and receive almost instant replies. This is a great way for those living abroad and cuts out the postal delays. If you’d prefer to go down the more traditional route then there are hundreds of invitations to choose from that you can either buy, or make yourself. If you really want to do something different, then why not think outside the box, and create ssomething omething fun like a ‘ready to pop’ balloon with w ith all the details printed on or a ‘bun in tthe he oven’ boxed iced bun with the details inside.

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BUDGET

A crucial first step in planning a baby shower is deciding on a budget. The purpose of the shower is to celebrate the impending arrival and make a fuss of the mum to be. Whether you have £50 or £500, it can be done, you may just need to be a bit more creative if you don’t have a lot to spend!

CAKE

A cake makes a perfect centrepiece for the table and adds that extra special party feel. With sites like Pinterest and YouTube, there’s no shortage of ideas and tutorials; from the frankly vulgar and inappropriate, to the sickeningly sweet, it’s not difficult to make it look like you spent a fortune on a professionally made cake. Perhaps a less daunting task for the novice baker, cupcakes are a great option and can be created with limited time or funds.

de h gi

INTERNET

GAMES

DECORATIONS

Love them or loathe them, they can be a great way to get everyone involved and provide entertainment for the shower.

The list is endless and will depend largely on where you are hosting the shower and how much you have to spend.

Colour is an important factor and don’t be afraid to shy away from the standard pink, blue or yellow. There’s no need to go crazy, think subtle and sophisticated, calming and chic.

Bunting is a classic and a great place to start.

Teamed with some balloons and your fabulous cake, you’re on to a winner. To add a more personal element, how about decorating the room with photos of the parents to be as youngsters, adding an insight into what the new arrival may look like!

A particular issue for military wives and girlfriends is that they may be living miles away from some of their friends and relatives. Queue the internet!

It isn’t unusual now a days to hold a cyber-shower to include those people that can’t be there. Another touching alternative if the mum to be is away, is to send a baby shower pack. Ask her friends and relatives back home to write messages and advice, design a onesie (see Onesies below) and record a video message and post it to her as a show of love and support.

HOST

ENTERTAINMENT

Whilst we’re not suggesting you hire a three piece string quartet, it is well worth considering what it is you will be doing at the baby shower. Guests might not know each other and if left to their own devices, an awkward silence may ensue. Games are an obvious choice but if they aren’t your cup of tea then how about some pampering? If budget allows, there are many therapists that offer group pamper sessions and they may even have specific baby shower packages. If this isn’t an option, you could buy facemasks and equipment for a ‘do-it-yourself ’ manicure/pedicure for minimal cost.

Don’t forget that the mum to be probably hasn’t been able to reach her own toes for a while though and make sure she has hers done for her! Another alternative is getting crafty with guests creating an array of items for the baby or mum to be.

If you’ve been asked to host a baby shower, it can feel like a big responsibility. You may only know your pregnant friend/relative and it’s a daunting task trying to organise a group of people you don’t know. Make sure you’re clued up on exactly what the mum to be wants and doesn’t want and don’t be afraid to ask for help from other invitees. Most importantly, enjoy the day too and unless the mum to be’s waters break during a game of ‘Ice Ice Baby’, don’t panic!

f k FAVOURS

Many may not feel this is necessary however it is nice to send your guests off with a little keepsake of the day and a thank you for attending. If you know the baby’s sex, why not send each guest home with a pink or blue nail polish and thank you tag.

How about a bag of ‘ready to pop’ popcorn or a ‘baby powder’Yankee tea light?

For those on a tight budget a simple thank you card will more than suffice and guests will be grateful for the gesture.

j

JUGS

We’re not being smutty, we’re talking jugs of drink!

Whilst you could of course serve the standard soft drinks, how about looking up some ‘mummy mocktail’ recipes…

KIT

If you’re pushed for time, there are plenty of baby shower ‘kits’ available that will save you a huge amount of effort. Dependant on how much you have to spend, kits start with downloadable files for you to print your own invitations, banners and thank you cards, and extend to fully supplied decorations, food, games and favours. If you’re not the crafty type and are looking for convenience, this may be the perfect option.

Try looking at sites such as eBay, Etsy, Amazon and Party Pieces.

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o n m l

LADIES

Traditionally there would only be ladies at a baby shower however this is 2015 and if you’d prefer the men folk there, then invite them too. Just don’t tell them we suggested it! If a lot of your guests have children, you could also consider inviting them too and plan the entertainment accordingly. Call it a baptism of fire for the ‘mum to be’!

MENU

NAPPY CAKE

Our regular readers will recall the nappy cake feature in the last issue, in which we showed you how to make your own. For those of you who don’t know what it is, it’s a ‘cake’ made from nappies and other items for baby such as vests, hats and comforters. This is an impressive looking gift and sure to put a smile on the mum to be’s face! Check out our last issue online for the complete guide or, if you don’t want to create one yourself, we highly recommend you contact Nappy Days Gifts at www.nappydaysgifts.co.uk who will be happy to create one for you!

P

A selection of nibbles always goes down well and gone are the days when a few soggy sausage rolls will suffice! If you’re holding the shower in the afternoon then a popular suggestion would be afternoon tea.

Who can resist a cute, mini sandwich or a scone loaded up with butter, clotted cream and jam?! If morning is your preferred time, then why not consider a breakfast buffet of muffins and bagels, warm croissants with butter and jam and a selection of fruit? Your drinks menu could include tea and coffee, fresh juices and hot chocolate. For those who want a little tipple, it is perfectly acceptable to serve a Bloody Mary or Bucks Fizz before noon! In the summer months, a barbecue is a great, casual way of serving food and when all is said and done, no one will turn their nose up at a good old fashioned buffet, particularly if you’ve done your research and serve some clever, baby inspired, foods.

r

RECORDING

ONESIES

A pack of white babygrows (or vests), some fabric pens or paint and a bit of imagination is all you need to not only entertain guests, but provide the mum to be with some really useful and personal gifts. Give each guest a babygrow and a pen and let them channel their inner Donatella Versace, creating unique ‘onesies’ that can either be worn, used to decorate the nursery or preserved in a memory box.

They say a picture tells a thousand words so imagine a video!

Providing everyone is comfortable with it, snippets of video are an unbeatable way to capture the memories of the day and allow guests who could not be there the chance to see what the mum to be got up to. If Dad’s not invited (or has shied away from proceedings) he too can share the experience and maybe one day, the child can too! Whilst no one’s likely to sit through a three hour recording, clips of the best bits such as the games or present giving will be treasured.

PRESENTS

Now this is a tricky one. One of the main reasons given for not wanting a baby shower is the fear that friends and relatives will view it as a ploy to get presents. Whilst no one’s denying it is nice to receive gifts, that isn’t what it’s all about.

If you’re really uncomfortable with it, then why not let guests know that their presence is all that’s required and that the mum to be would prefer it if guests didn’t bring anything.

Remember though, that most guests will want to bring a present and you’re probably worrying unnecessarily. A great alternative is to ask every guest to bring a book for the new arrival to start their library. Books are easily accessible, loved by children and parents alike and can be bought for very little money.

q s QUIZ

What’s not to love about a quiz?! A great way to entertain guests, you only have to google ‘baby shower quiz’ and you’ll find hundreds of printable quizzes and ideas for questions online.

SNAPSHOTS

A great icebreaker is to ask all guests to bring a photograph of themselves as babies. Line them up and ask everyone to guess who is who. A sure fire way to get everyone giggling as they see how much people have, or haven’t changed!

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V u x w y t

VENUE

THEME

From eco-friendly to animals, pampering to books, a theme can help with organisation and make the event more streamlined. Does the mum to be have any hobbies or special interests? Perhaps she’s into all things vintage and would love a 50’s style baby shower. For a keen gardener, how about a ‘garden party’ theme or a ‘welcome to the world’ shower for the globe-trotting mum to be. Whatever you decide, allow yourself some flexibility and don’t beat yourself up if not everything matches.

UNEXPECTED

Unless you are prepared for your heavily pregnant friend or relative to suddenly go into labour, it probably isn’t a good idea to thrust her into a dark room where 20 people scream surprise! Having said that, a surprise baby shower can be lovely, particularly if the mum to be is reluctant to have one for fear of looking like a ‘gift grabber’. If you do intend to keep it secret, make sure everyone is aware and come up with a believable plan in order to get her to the shower location. Mum’s the word!

WISHES

A really special gift, and one that’s very personal, is a book of wishes and advice. Ask each guest to write one thing they wish for the newborn and one piece of advice they can offer the new parents.

This book could then be saved and read only when they bring the baby home or perhaps the first time they’re feeling down due to sleep deprivation and the constant worrying and guilt that seems to come as an unwanted freebie with their little bundle of joy!

A deciding factor in where to hold the baby shower will be how many guests you’re inviting. If the guest list is extensive it may be worth hiring a room or hall somewhere. For a smaller number, an obvious choice is at the mum to be’s home but bear in mind the upheaval and mess this could mean. She may prefer to be in the comfort of her own home but make sure that you corner some invitees to stay behind and clear up afterwards. Alternatively, perhaps it could be held at the organiser’s home?

Less hassle for the mum to be, no cost and setting up can be done as and when required.

z

X-RATED

A risqué shaped cake or a ‘pin the sperm on the egg’ game may be hilarious to the mum to be and her friends but will Great Aunt Margaret find it quite so funny?! Take into consideration who exactly will be attending and plan accordingly.

YOGA

OK, so admittedly there were not many options for ‘Y’ but yoga isn’t completely ridiculous! Pregnancy yoga, a relatively new craze, is gaining popularity and could be a fun activity with a difference.

If there isn’t a yoga buff amongst amongst you then there are an abundance abundance of DVDs that you can can purchase, press play and begin begin to channel your inner peace.

Zzzzz

When you’re heavily pregnant, tiredness is a killer so remember this when you’re looking at timings.

No one wants to be playing games for 6 hours whilst the mum to be has fallen asleep in the corner and therefore 2-3 hours will probably be plenty. If you are planning a full day event, make sure there is plenty of opportunity for rest and relaxation.

So there it is, it’s up to you now! We’d love to hear and see how you get on so be sure to send us your pictures and stories to justforher@forcespublishing.co.uk or tweet us at @justforhermag

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By Charlotte Rivers & Emily Gregory The arrival of a new baby is not only cause for celebration, but also the perfect opportunity to get creative.

Handmade for Baby goes beyond the usual sewing-orientated titles, to include a wide range of crafts such as paper cutting, felting and crochet, as well as featuring simple home dÊcor ideas for the nursery and styling ideas for parties and photo sessions‌

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25 Keepsakes to Create with Love

A

ll projects are kept easy and achievable – no specialist skills or equipment required – appealing to infrequent crafters and friends who may feel less confident about their craft skills, but still want to contribute something special and handmade to the baby shower. Stencils are provided throughout the book where applicable, and galleries at the end of each chapter showcase an inspirational selection of finished projects, highlighting the fantastic results that can be achieved with different craft techniques.

Standing apart from the other baby craft project books, Handmade for Baby is unique in its handy organisation of projects into the following chapters or stages: Pregnancy announcement; Preparation; Baby Shower; New Arrival; First Month, and First Birthday.

Original and inventive ideas are suggested for each stage, from wall stencils and themed bunting for the nursery (preparation) to baby handprint party invites (first birthday).

The book has a lovely light, fresh, contemporary feel, featuring beautiful watercolour illustrations that accompany each step-by-step project.

Featuring a beautifully varied selection of adorable projects for babies and toddlers, Handmade for Baby offers a wealth of inspiration and practical advice for new parents, friends, family, and crafters of all kinds looking to make gorgeous handmade keepsakes that will be treasured for many years to come.

Handmade for Baby - 25 Keepsakes to Create with love

by Charlotte Rivers & Emily Gregory. Published by Apple Press, £12.99.

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Law of Attraction Free – Especially for You 10 Top Tips for Military Wives

www.rosetodd.com/just4her 58

I stood in the pre-dawn light. It was cold and damp as the dew had not yet settled.

I pulled my dressing gown closer to me and cupped my hands around my coffee mug. And I waited.

I waited; now and then sipping lukewarm coffee. My husband was a helicopter pilot in the air force and we were fighting a cruel and bitter war. I’m not implying that war is anything but cruel and bitter, but unlike some wars where the forces fight on behalf of another country, we were fighting for our own survival. It was a bitter, harsh war with indescribable horrors.

He had gone to work at about 3am. I got up when he did and we drank tea together, talking about anything but what was important. I had learnt not to ask when he would be back because he didn’t know. And we both avoided the fact that we didn’t know even if he would be back.

Then I heard what I’d been waiting for – the sound of rotor blades chopping the air. The sound grew louder as the helicopters flew close to the house. And I counted them out. One first, and then two and three. The fourth went over and then, there was a few minutes quiet, and then the fifth one went over. Then all was quiet.

I went back inside. It was a school day and life went on. The children kept life moving forward.

An hour or so later I heard the thunder of powerful engines coming closer and went outside to wait and count. Within a few minutes three Canberras flew over in formation. Five helicopters and three Canberras. I had no idea when they would be back. I sent them all off with my love.

That evening around dusk, as I was locking up the house against terrorist attack, I heard a far-off, dull drone and I

went outside to wait - and I counted the Canberrsas home. All three back, present and correct. Thank God. Then back to the evening routine of baths, supper, stories and prayers. At last I sat down to watch the TV- but always halflistening - and always waiting. Hours later, I heard the tell-tale chopping sound of a helicopter. I opened the top half of the kitchen door so I could look out and count them home. Four came in close together – but no sign of the fifth.

I made a fresh cup of tea and sat at the kitchen table. And I waited. Half an hour or so later, I heard the fifth helicopter. It almost flew over the house. I knew he’d returned safe, and with a deep sigh of relief, I went to bed.

Those days were hard. Life was hard for us all. And the days when he came home where not easy either. Of course he was pleased to be home, but it always seemed as if he was in a ‘different’ place: a place he wouldn’t or couldn’t share with me.

The years went by and the politicians told us the war was over. We were delighted that he would now be home and we could live as a family again. During the war, life brought its own challenges to the country and all of us. But I was not really prepared for how difficult home-life would be, now he was home permanently.

Sometimes it was almost as if we were living with a Jekyll and Hyde. In retrospect, he was suffering from physical, emotional and adrenal exhaustion; was jumpy from living on the edge and depressed at the same time and neither of us recognised it. And there was more - but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

I’m sure too, that in one way or another her you can relate to what I’ve said. Going to war is hard but sometimes coming home me from war can be even harder.

My saving grace was that I’d been en brought up to see the positive in life. fe.

Without my positive attitude, I would not have coped well at all. There were days ys when it was impossible to find anything ng positive to focus on. Oh, how I wish h I knew then, what I know now, especially ally about something called …

When you know how this Law works you can change and improve your life: (this has becomes such a cliché – but its true) you can have, do or be anything you want in life.

I have been consciously creating my life over the last 25 years. During this time I’ve gained a deep understanding of how the Law of Attraction works. In the process, I’ve stumbled, fallen over and got up again. I’ve learned effective techniques and developed easy to use tools to help when we feel as if we’ve hit a brick wall.

In these last few years, I have become a Law of Attraction Coach, specialising in helping people to create happy and successful lives.

You can create an exceptional life. You can be happy, successful and have peace of mind.

I have written a special e-book for you: Law of Attraction: 10 Tops Tips for Military Wives. This book is written with you in mind and gives you 10 simple things you can do help you have a happy life. It’s a gift to you from me.

If you would like to find out more about the Law of Attraction and how to change your life and create a better future, simply download my free short e-book, Law of Attraction: 10 Top Tips for Military Wives from my website. www.rosetodd.com/ just4her (PS – I’ve slipped in another gift for you there too) Rose Todd Law of Attraction author, speaker and coach (including Skype coaching) workshops and webinars.

The Law of Attraction Have you heard about the Law of Attraction? It is a natural Law, just like ke gravity; but this is the Law that creates es our lives and our world. This is the Law aw w that ‘makes things happen’.

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MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

Keeping The Home Fires Burning

PAPER Paper Panda started in 2010 with Louise Firchau making typographical lyrical papercuts from recycled paper‌

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PANDA J

ust for Her are huge fans of Paper Panda, but for those who haven’t yet come across your work, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

What originally got you into Paper Cutting?

I have always loved typography and I was browsing Etsy one day and found a typographical papercut. It was really simple but I was smitten. I couldn't afford to buy it but was so taken that I wanted to try and make my own papercut design. So I did! I never intended to make a living from making papercuts, it was something I made for myself but quickly grew to love it.

How long did you paper cut for before starting up Paper Panda?

When I first started I was a freelance graphic designer with a gift shop too. I gave both up after the first year of papercutting as there just wasn’t enough hours in the day. My husband gave up his freelance art career a year after that to help me, too. He currently designs the fairytale series of papercuts.

How did the name Paper Panda come about?

It was the result of a ten minute brainstorming session. Not a great deal of thought was put into it to be honest as I never expected the page to be of any interest other than to my friends! I would like to say that it was due to the paper being black or white, that paper cutting originates from China, hence panda...but no, it just sounded right.

Which media platforms can we follow you on?

Website: www.paperpandacuts.co.uk Instagram: Paperpanda1 Twitter: Paper Panda Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaperPandaPapercuts Pinterest: Louise Firchau Obsidian Art Gallery, Buckinghamshire for original & laser cut pieces

Do you sell your paper cuttings anywhere other than eBay? I sell my original pieces through the online shop for people with fast fingers as they disappear very quickly once released for sale and through the Obsidian Art Gallery, who in fact had a Paper Panda and Friends exhibition on at the end of last year. On eBay, by beginning at 99p on auction, people can determine their own price.

The online shop also sells an array of other goodies, including all the items a papercutter may need, and that I use myself, as well as other gift items featuring the designs. There are also a few shops here and there that we sell wholesale too.

We recently saw your 'Mouse in the Manor House' paper cut soar to a fantastic £745 on eBay. Such a beautiful original. What is the most a Paper Panda has ever sold for? £2500 to a private buyer. I do have a group of very special ladies that buy a lot of work from me and greatly support me. I am very grateful for them.

Like you are to so many of us, do you have a paper cutting idol or someone who inspired you at the beginning?

Julene Harrison. I just adore her work and always have, she's amazing!

What are your can’t-live-without craft room essentials?

I used the same Swann Morton barrel since the day I started paper cutting until a few months ago when it finally broke. I also have calipers that I make eye holes with, I would be pretty lost without those. A good sloped surface is essential and a daylight lamp.

We have seen that you also like to make purchases from independent businesses online. Which are your favourite so far?

Oh that's a tricky one, I like so many. I am totally in love with everything that Annie Montgomerie makes and also the artwork of The Litus Gallery. I recently commissioned a beautiful original painting, in fact, from The Litus Gallery, which is now proudly continued over page >> 61

hanging by my desk and is also available as an exclusive print in the PP online shop.

What do you do to make your workspace an enriching & inspiring place to be?

I currently work on an antique architect’s desk, but as far as inspiration goes, I like to surround myself with quirky oddities, vintage advertising, typographical posters, art dolls and the plain 'odd' because, well, it's fun isn't it?

When do you feel most creative?

There isn't a set time every day, but when creativity 'strikes' I just keep cutting until I fall asleep, it's a great feeling.

Do you paper cut daily and do you set yourself working hours?

Yes I do, even at weekends and no, not having set hours is what makes this job awesome!

Whilst researching you and your business we have come across many paper cutters who began with your starter kit.

How does it feel to know that so many people follow you & inspire to paper cut like you?

It's incredible! I get lots of letters and emails and even gifts from people who I've unknowingly inspired and it's always great to hear.

Here at Just for Her, two of our girls have been lucky enough to try the beginners kit out; one is a craft fan, the other not so much…

Here’s how they got on: Sally’s Review I have followed Paper Panda on Facebook for a very long time now. I love Louise’s cuttings and it’s been amazing to see how much Paper Panda has grown in popularity.

I received my Paper Panda beginners kit at the end of last month and I love it! I have been considering getting one for a while now, and have hinted to the husband on numerous occasions, but he didn’t really understand what it was about and thought I was literally just paying for paper.

For £30 the beginners kit contains everything you need to get started; a self-healing cutting mat, scalpel (and extra blade), a practice template, various Paper Panda templates and the allimportant Paper Panda badge! I found the practice templates really hard, especially the SSSS, however I jumped straight in at the deep end and went for the ‘If you can dream it you can do it’ template and was so pleased with the results. I’ve got to admit I’m a little addicted now! It’s a really therapeutic craft.

Louise has a beautiful shop online, where you can purchase items with her designs on, templates to cut your own and of course what started it all, her framed cuttings. Louise also now holds cutting courses and training days… That is definitely on my ‘to do’ list!

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Not bad for a couple of beginners...!

Jo’s Review Firstly, I’d just like to say that I am not a crafter. At least not anywhere other than Pinterest! When I was given the opportunity to try out Paper Panda’s starter kit, although excited, I was not in the least bit hopeful that I would be able to produce anything worth keeping. How wrong I was. Although I struggled with the practice tasks, once I moved on to one of the actual templates, I loved it and was pleasantly surprised with my efforts!

Whilst it is in no way comparable to the amazing artwork that Louise creates, the finished piece looks lovely and will soon be proudly displayed on my wall at home. I found paper cutting to be extremely therapeutic and would highly recommend you buy a kit and give it a go! I will definitely be purchasing some more templates and plan to adorn my walls with many more pieces of Paper Panda artwork.

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MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

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confidence in achievement is what we aim to give you via, well, purely physics.

It’s all in how Big Kni ng works and what it uses. Put big with big and you get big. You bet your life you do. So we use Big Knit Needles from 400mm L 25mm diam., right up to 1.2m L 28mm diam, with a small rug size inbetween.

We put these together with our Big Knit Yarn which is 2.5cm (1”) in diameter, is the recycled selvedge of commercially woven wool and – just as important for me – comes with colour & pa ern already woven in. Big needles plus big yarn = big s tches = big rows. Your kni ng grows at an inch a row, so, in spite of what you may feel about past dishcloths, you will achieve a professional quality fireside rug in 4 hours. It is inevitable. It’s purely physics. There are no complicated s tches or shaping, no tension squares, no backing or sewing bits together. And you get to choose your own, very o¡en unique, colours to suit your home. All our tex les are available in kit form, so whether you want to make a rug, sofa throw, pouffe (store your spare duvets & pillows in these), cushion, bedrunner, seat pad – oh, we could go on and you will certainly want to – there is nothing over 5 hours to make. How good is that!

Unless, of course, you are making a whole room rug on the 1.2mL needles. A great excuse not to sit next to someone on the sofa.

And it’s not only big people who can handle the bigger needles. Small people, ages 5 and over, can, too. The smaller of the three available sizes, that is. Mums have made rugs for their daughters’ rooms, daughters have made their own, sons have knit Sleepover Sacs and on it goes. Great to work together on something which can be achieved in such a short me. Which is why it works for small people. And big people with no pa ence. Big Kni ng can be a me filler with a purpose. Boredom has no chance, obsession a be er one.

And what be er place to share a

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This is kni ng, but not as you know it.

Big Kni ng is fast, it’s fun, it’s definitely different and it comes with such a list of posi ves that you’ll want to grab those big needles and start your kni ng now.

Our field of opera ons is the home and if we told you that you could knit a rug in 4 hours, a pouffe in 3 and a cushion in 2 (and that’s just for starters), would you believe it? Well, if you’ve ever had a bad experience with a dishcloth, we can understand why you wouldn’t, so here’s the how and why to help you, star ng with a quick introduc on to the who.

My name is Ingrid Wagner and I am a tex le designer & ar st who runs her own business. I have lived and worked all over the world, including several stays on army bases in Germany with my sister & brother-in-law who is now ex-military, and so I am expert in packing & unpacking in a short amount of me, though not, I would guess, as expert – perhaps some mes reluctantly so - as some of you who may be reading this. UK based, my tex le business does up to 20 UK shows a year and sells online. I love colour and I don’t have much pa ence when it comes to making; which is why Big Kni ng – and not li le kni ng - works for me. Pride &

new obsession than at a Big Kni ng workshop, or Big Kni ng Party, say, at a Wives Club, where everyone has the chance to have a go. A great reason for ge ng together with other regimental wives when husbands are away on exercise or on ac ve duty abroad. Learn to make your own tex les for your home or how about communally crea ng a very big rug - to auc on off, if you can bear to part with it, of course. Ideas are what spring from a social me together.

You would have your own. And what happens if you don’t know how to knit?

It’s not a problem. You would be able to learn very easily & quickly with bigger needles. They make kni ng accessible.

They make it fun. Contact me directly for more details on this one.

As a painter, I love colour and as a tex ler, I love working with the warmth of wool. But I’m not a tradi onal kni er or cra¡er. I’m interested in fast results and in a quality product without complica ons. You get both with Big Kni ng. Check me out on YouTube (Ingrid Wagner), Facebook (Ingrid Wagner Rug & Art Crea on) and our website www.ingridwagner.com where all other contact details are given. We’d love to hear from you.

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EVER AFTER 66

brilliant solutions for you…We have asked brides and grooms who had weddings during the credit crunch and recession for their tips on how to cut some corners when organising a wedding: Buy the dress from a charity shop In a world where vintage fashion garments are coveted as much as designer items, and where the most on-trend people create their own look by blending new styles with old, going to a charity shop for your wedding dress is more than acceptable.

Weddings are supposed to be romantic, fairy tale affairs. But more often, they end up being timeconsuming and expensive…

Clare Regis, a mum-of-three, was overwhelmed with compliments about her bridal gown on her big day. Little did her guests realise that her dress cost her £100 from Oxfam.

“With such a big family,” Clare said, “we couldn’t afford to spend more than £4,000 on the entire wedding.”

“Most dresses I was looking at were so expensive I would have literally blown our entire budget on them. So I looked into buying something from Oxfam. No one had a clue it was second hand, it didn’t look second hand and everyone was shocked when I told them where I bought it.”

Oxfam has 11 bridal stores across the UK. And you can browse dresses online. There are retro and vintage gowns, classic bridal dresses and items which are more formal.

Prices start at just over £100.

The other place to go for cut price bridal dresses is eBay. Most gowns will have been worn only once and will have been cleaned, so you will really be grabbing yourself a good-quality bargain. It’s always worth checking out the sales at bridal or department stores too. After the wedding, consider selling the dress on eBay again – this will enable you to recover some, or even all, of the cost.

Get married out of season The summer months are the most popular times to tie the knot, while November, January and February are the least likely to see much wedding action, thanks to the bad weather. With so few people booking venues, hiring caterers, using the services of photographers and the like, there is plenty of room to negotiate on prices, and there is more likely to be availability. In fact, you can make savings of thousands of pounds at some venues by having your nuptials on a Thursday or a Sunday.

A

ccording to the figures the average wedding in the UK costs a whopping £24,000. Time wise it’s as much of a burden with brides and grooms taking, on average, 18 months to organise their Big Day. But, let’s face it, most of us don’t have £24,000 lying around to splash on the deposit of a house, let alone a one-day event. And, with many weddings – thanks to deployment or work commitments – often needing to be arranged in a shorter time frame, there’s often less than six months to spare, let alone 18!

However, help is at hand. If you are balking under the stress of finding the cash for your nuptials, or need to find ways to organise your wedding more quickly, we have some 67

Danielle Woodward, a 40-yearold sub editor, and her husband David, from Bromley, got married on a Sunday in a bid to save some cash. She said: “Having the wedding on a Sunday reduced the cost substantially. It cost us around £3,500 to hire the location for the day but it would have been double that on a Saturday.”

Get a friend to take the pictures Wedding photographers can cost as much as £1,000 or more to hire for the day. If you know someone, a close friend or family member for example, who is either a professional photographer or a decent amateur why not ask them?

Julie Gannon, a 36-year-old school cook, said she asked her best friend to take the pictures at her wedding after getting jaw-dropping quotes of as much as £1,500 from local photographers, who were also quite rigid about the type of shots they would take.

“My friend Ruth had taken official photos at another friend’s wedding and I really liked what she’d done. She offered to take mine as our wedding gift, so I jumped at the chance,” said Julie.

“I actually felt more comfortable being photographed by a friend and she was more flexible.”

Julie also set up a Facebook page to allow her friends to share photos they had taken of the big day.

Go wholesale Everyone knows that as soon as you mention to a caterer, flower supplier, stationery creator or any other business you want their product or service for a wedding, the price soars. The answer is, of course, to not mention the marriage bit. But this is often tricky, especially if you need to provide details of locations, for example.

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Another way of getting around this is to see if you can source your items at the wholesale stores used by the florists, caterers and other wedding providers.

Robyn Halliday did just that after discovering a florist would charge her £1,250 for all her requirements. So she concocted Plan B. “We bought the flowers wholesale for about £100. The church’s ‘flower lady’ did the arrangement at the church for a small fee of £100, much less than the florist, and the profits went to the church.

“We made our own centrepieces [for the tables] and I made my bouquet which saved £150.” Altogether Robyn and her husband Darren paid £1,000 less for their flowers than if they had got the full package from the florist.

Get guests to contribute instead of buying a present Weddings can be a financial strain on the guests too. So, why not help your guests reduce the financial burden and save some money yourself by asking them to use their skills or creativity to contribute to the wedding instead of buying a present?

Danielle asked her friend to make the cake for her wedding and she was delighted with the results. The cake cost Danielle absolutely nothing but allowed her friend to provide her with a personalised and unforgettable present.

If you have friends in a band, why not get them to play at your reception? Or if you have a friend or family member who is a hairdresser or beauty therapist, could they do your hair and make-up? Do you know someone with a strong, confident voice? Ask them to be the Master of Ceremonies.

There are many ways you can get your friends and family

Cook your own food Robyn and her husband Darren not only saved money on their flowers, but did their own catering on their big day. They had a picnic lunch earlier on in the proceedings, where guests bought their own lunch to eat on the lawn of their wedding venue. And then, in the evening, they and a team of volunteers rolled their sleeves up and cooked dinner themselves. They had also already saved a packet by hiring a village hall instead of a stately home or hotel for the reception. It cost just £250.

Robyn said: “We hired a cooker, gas stove, fridges, pots and pans and got the food wholesale from a market, at a cost of £500. It cost us approximately £12 per person for a three course meal. The equivalent, from a caterer, would have cost around £45 per person.

“The village hall also had a large stock of plates, glasses and cutlery which we hired for £25 – much cheaper than from Waitrose or caterers.”

Naturally, the down side to this money-saving method is that you might not want to do your own cooking – it’s hard work and means you’ll spend less time with guests. Some couples taking this route often ask family members or friends to do the catering. Either way, it will certainly save you cash, so if you are keen to slash the cost, it could be worth it.

Use social media Save on the costs and hassle of sending out invitations by inviting people to the wedding via Facebook. If you are organising the wedding at short notice, this will save you time as you won’t have to wait for invitations to be made and posted. There are downsides - Great Aunt Ethel might not

have an account, and therefore might need her own personal invite. However, the majority of your guests will find it an easier and simpler way to RSVP. This also has the added bonus of saving you time on collating RSVPs, and chasing people who have not replied.

You could also set up a Facebook page for wedding guests to provide them with information on the venue, links to hotels and the wedding present list. It will provide a fantastic forum for guests to share photos and memories of the wedding after the big day too.

Five more tips for cashstrapped, time-poor brides and grooms…

• Free make-overs are available at department store cosmetic counters.You usually pay around £25 for a session, but the cost is recouped with samples.

• Making stationery yourself is another way to reduce costs.

Robyn and Darren paid out only £50 by making their own invites, thank you cards and order of services.

• Table cloths and chair covers can also be homemade. Not only will you save money, but if they are good enough you can sell them on eBay afterwards.

• Wine and champagne costs can be reduced by purchasing them in bulk from supermarkets, who often offer 25 per cent off deals when six or more bottles are bought. Wait until your favourite wine is on discount for even better deals.

MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

involved – it will save you money and time and they will no doubt be incredibly flattered you asked.

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• Forget flash cars and get a friend or relative to drive you to the wedding venue. Or, if you have a friend with a quirky vehicle – a camper van or vintage mini – ask them to take you. Look into reception venues which are close to the place your ceremony is being held so you can ditch transport altogether and walk.

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Your Design / Shutterstock.com

Are you ed?

By Jonny Rock Chuck out your ideas box…

Yes, you may have a decade’s worth of inspiration, ideas and at-some-point-in-the-future’s stuffed in there, but do you really look through it? Or does it just sit in the back of your wardrobe, vaguely aggravating you with its presence?

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“A useful tool, helping you discover and curate ideas, projects and interests”

Y

ou’ve probably heard of Pinterest but have been unsure what the point of it is, how to use it, or just “cba tbh”. For those not in the know, Pinterest is a virtual inspiration board. A useful tool, helping you discover and curate ideas, projects and interests; you can pin visual bookmarks (images which then link back to their source website) of any interesting stuff you find on the web, or on Pinterest.

What’s the fuss?

The term “pin” is quickly becoming as ubiquitous as sharing or tweeting. In an evaluation, held in the US in May 2014, Pinterest is starting to overtake Twitter in popularity and has around 53 million active monthly users (or 22% of the 16-and-over population of the US), 80% of which are women. Think of all the ideas out there just waiting for you chance upon them.

How does it work?

You can take any visual media - photos, infographics, etc. and pin it onto your account. Other users may chance upon your pinned image and may decide to like or repin it (similar to a share or retweet).

You’re aren’t just limited to Average Joe user content too, hundreds of businesses have joined in and use it to showcase their brand. Any website that wants to do well will now have a “Pin It” button, next to the usual Facebook shares, Twitter tweets and Google+ posts.

Keeping your stuff separate Pinterest has found an interesting solution to the multi-account problem. For example, many people will have two Twitter accounts. One for business, one for pleasure.

This phenomenon is especially prevalent amongst freelancers – you wouldn’t want people you’d like to work with, have to read the drivel you spout at friends. Having multiple accounts is great for keeping your working life separate, but it’s a pain in the bum dealing with all of them. Pinterest, on the other hand, allows you to create boards.

Once you’ve created one, you then pin relevant content to it.

Think of the devastation you could cause by having your recipes, design inspiration and Ryan Gosling perv-pics all in one place.

Your followers might love your recipes and design inspiration – but Ryan Gosling?

Nah. By pinning them to individual boards other users can choose to follow all, or some, of your boards, depending on their interests. By curating your content your followers will only receive updates for the ones they’ve subscribed to. Keeping your pervy pictures safe and their streams uncluttered.

I don’t want random people watching me Don’t worry. As the administrator you have complete control.You can create a community board anybody can pin on; a board only admin can post on; or an invitation only area.

This multi-tiered structure is unique to Pinterest and goes hand in hand with the board system – helping you keep your work life and personal separate, it’s also a great way to plan hen/stag-dos, surprise parties or share private content with friends.

Is it good for business?

In a word, yes. Pinterest can be an incredibly powerful resource for anyone, from a small side business to aspiring global business owners and Mumtrepreuner’s.

Before signing up for a business account, you should first get comfortable with the platform as a user. Know what content brings in followers and see what causes likes and re-pins. Once you understand how to entice people to your personal account, you’ll be ready to join as a business – which gives you access to metrics. Allowing you to see what content on your website is popular on Pinterest.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The scrapbook-esque quality of Pinterest is one of the main reasons it has gained so much traction and has such a large, passionate, dedicated user base of individuals and businesses. Be careful, however, you may think your ideas box is out of hand, but just wait for the moment you realise you have several thousand pins. Prepare the brown paper bag, and take slow deep breaths.

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Our superb range of glamorous and decorative lights will transform your home at the flick of a switch. Whether you want to create an impression with an eyecatching statement in the hallway, add an inviting ambience to the living room, bring romance to the bedroom, or create a soothing glow in the nursery, we have the answer.

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SHAKESPEARE COMPANY A summer evening at the Rutland Open Air theatre to see a production by the members of the Stamford Shakespeare Company is a magical experience…

Join the thousands of people who attend the annual Stamford Shakespeare Season in the delightful grounds of Tolethorpe Hall. The Season attracts over 34,500 people every year throughout the UK and overseas.

The fabulous garden overlooking classic English parkland is the perfect setting for the Rutland Open Air Theatre nestling in the grounds of the Elizabethan Tolethorpe Hall, just a few minutes off the A1 near Stamford.

Throughout the summer months the Stamford Shakespeare Company will be offering three plays:

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TOM JONES (Based on the novel by Henry Fielding) Step back in time to the bawdy, fun-loving world of the 1700s with the hilarious romantic comedy of Henry Fielding’s masterpiece Tom Jones.

Adapted for the stage by Joan McAlpine, we follow the life of Tom from his discovery as a babe in the bed of an honest, kind-hearted landowner, through his adolescent misdemeanours and on to the growing awareness of his attractiveness to the ladies of all ages. But Tom’s youthful recklessness brings him not only into the arms of a number of amorous women but also to the condemned cell. As he is led

to the gallows there is a great commotion - will he hang, or will he escape the noose to marry his only true love Sophia?

ROMEO AND JULIET The greatest love story the world has ever known set amid the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.

Taking place in Victorian England with the Capulets portrayed as a gypsy family and the Montagues as traditional landowners, the bitter conflict between the families forces Romeo and Juliet to conceal their passion. The forbidden nature of their love leads to the inevitable tragedy. This tale of “a pair of star-crossed lovers” includes wild gypsy dancing and fortune-telling, murderous rivalry and thrilling sword fights.

HENRY V 2015 is the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt and we will be commemorating this famous victory with this rousing and inspiring play. Prince Hal, the playboy of 15th Century England turns military commander and statesman to defy the overwhelming odds of France on the bloody fields of Agincourt. Comedy, Romance, Treachery, Triumph and Disaster combine to paint a vivid picture of life and death in 15th century France and England.

The raked, 600-seat auditorium with comfortable seating is protected from summer showers by a unique permanent canopy making it the only theatre of its kind in Europe.

www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk

COMPETITION To win a voucher for two seats to see any one of the three plays (Mon / Thurs) simply answer the following…

1. Who are the star-crossed lovers?

2. In Henry V where in France did the battle take place?

3. In Tom Jones who is Tom’s true love?

To be in with a chance of winning send your answers, along with your name, address and phone number to competitions@forcespublishing.co.uk or Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0RU Closing date: Fri 1st May

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MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

Hoap0120

Would you like to be your own boss?

Well now you can.

You need to be self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a need for the finer things in life. If this is you please contact Georgina Simpson on the number or email below for more information about this business opportunity.

Tel: 07841 826336 Email: youhadmeataloe@gmail.com Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products Aloe Vera Drinking Gels, Supplements, Skincare and Personal Care Products

Forever Living Products, Longbridge Manor, Warwick. CV34 6RB, members of the Direct Selling Association

Ann Wall

Independent STAMPIN’UP! Demonstrator.

Do you like to make cards and other paper cra ?

Love to party and share crea vity with friends?

Or are you looking to start a small business?

Be crea ve using fabulous coordina ng products.

Great for home decor, wedding sta onery, crea ng a beau ful party theme and much more.

Please contact me on

07712 139925

or annwall@shearwatercairnterriers.co.uk

Magpie Jewellery Exquisite Handmade Semi-Precious Gemstone, Dress Jewellery & Wedding Flowers Tammy Taylor • Tel: 07816 943086 • taylor.tammy@ymail.com

Staffordshire Tarot Reading Tarot , Clairvoyance , Crystal Ball & Angel Cards all for just £25.00

I am Psychic Tarot Reader & Clairvoyant, I read the tarot cards intuitively , its like I just glance over them as if they were not there. Now I do not ask questions , if I do it’s maybe 1 or 2 through out the whole hour of your reading, so that I give you the best possible reading.

I will look at Love, Relationships, Work, Business, Money, Health, Law, Family and many other things.

So please feel free to call or text me any time, day or night.

Peter Dykes 07583846626

www.staffordshiretarotreading.co.uk

Enabling ordinary people to live extraordinary lives Earn additional income by recommending services.

Work when you want.

No catalogues. No stock.

To find out more contact - Clare Adele Howe 07989 932871 hello@clareadele.com

www.clareadele.com

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MIDLAND MILITARY CATCHMENT

ARTbyKLog

is a mixed media artist specialising in painting, needle and wet felting items and hand crafted greeting cards. My emphasis is on colour and lots of. My items are unique and quirky and will bring a touch of colour to any home.

ARTbyKlog’s mission is to bring colour and interest wherever possible. Commissions welcomed for pet portraits, personalised pics or a whimsical interpretation of your favourite photograph.

Contact Details Mobile 07826707479 Email artbyklog@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/artbyklog

NORTHERN ISLAND CATCHMENT

RECRUITING WELLNESS COACHES NOW! • No experience required • Part time or full time hours (your choice) • Work around other commitments • Work from home • Full training given • Limitless earnings • Commission base from 25% - 50% Contact Gulnaz Personal Wellness Coach

07966769551 gulnazamjad@hotmail.com

Independent Distributor

Crystal Angels Holistic Healing and Beauty Lisburn, Bt28 3rz Tel 07742335486 Email : crystalangels@live.co.uk Facebook Crystal Angels Petsy Hughes Aromatherapy full body massage with essential oils £40.00 Upper body massage £30.00 Indian Head Massage £30.00 Reflexology £30.00 (with acupuncture plus £10.00) Energy Healing and crystal therapies £40.00 Spiritual readings and soul coaching sessions £40.00 Auricular acupuncture £20.00 Acryllic Nail extensions £30.00 Gelish Nails £20.00 Manicure and pedicure package which includes file and paint £30.00 Additional offers available on request Vouchers for sale also as a perfect gift for loved ones Work from Lisburn but also can come to you.

Party packages also available.

Teaching therapies Learn IET Basic level, Intermediate level and advanced level £125 each.

This includes full certificate and booklet with continued support.

I also provide meditation and empowerment workshops. Please contact me with any queries if interested in a girls night in with a difference and create your own tailor made pamper party.

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This year Armed Forces Day will be on Saturday, 27 June 2015. It is an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets.

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Across the country people are getting involved: communities hold local events and businesses show their support.

Guildford, with its strong historic and present day military links, has been chosen to host the prestigious Armed Forces Day national event on Saturday 27 June 2015.

Guildford Borough Council is planning an exciting line-up of events including a special service at Guildford Cathedral, a formal parade in Guildford High Street, and a spectacular military show at Stoke Park followed by ‘picnic and proms in the park’.

An impressive air display will complete a memorable day.

Mayor of Guildford, Cllr David Elms will lead the Council’s team organising the

event. He said: “Guildford will be the focus for the whole country and this wonderful celebration will allow local people and the wider community to thank all those working within our Armed Forces. We expect to welcome tens of thousands of residents and visitors. I hope that everyone enjoys their time with us on this special day.”

There will be many more events held up and down the country in support of Armed Forces Day… Find out how you can get involved and what's going on in your area so that you too can celebrate Armed Forces Day in support of our nation.

www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Help us fill boxes to send to our Troops

M

y name is Chris Webster and I am the founder of ‘ShoeBoxes for Our Heroes.’ We are a husband and wife team - I run the Facebook and Twitter campaign with help from a great admin team and my wife, Sherian does all the packing of boxes and paperwork. Our team deserve a huge thank you as they work around the clock in their own time to ensure all our addressees get boxes. We now have 70 senders dotted about the UK and are always in need of goodies to send to our deployed.

We started off in April 2011 and since then have sent over 7500

Crisps, boiled sweets, dried fruit, cakes, jaffa cakes, Haribo sweets, porridge oats, tinned fish, chewing gum, biscuits, noodles, cup-asoup, coffee sachets, tea bags, hot chocolate, juice drinks, small pots of fruit and pasta.

Wipes, sun cream, roll-on deodorants (male and female), toothpaste, shower gel, hand sanitizer, lip balm, men and women’s toiletries.

Puzzle books and pens.

No glass jars or aerosols, thank you! morale boxes to our deployed worldwide. We have looked after many naval ships too and were guests at the homecoming of HMS Diamond and HMS Bulwark. We have a very close bond with the families who we send the parcels for and have remained friends for years.

Currently we are very busy with the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and as a team have sent 100s of morale parcels to RFA Argus.

We are hoping to become a charity to help more of our deployed forces. We also support charities like ABF, where we are doing the Cateran Yomp in June, as a team we have raised over £3500 so far! On May 10th, to remember our

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL Chris Webster on 07803 814119 PayPal donations: sherianandchris@hotmail.co.uk or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ShoeboxesForOurHeroes Twitter: twitter.com/sb4oh_hq

fallen heroes, we have a charity football match Vs 1 Yorkshire Regiment, hopefully my side will have some celebs! We are looking for mascots for the game to come out with the players, as well as ball boys and girls so if you can be of any help, please get in touch!

Anna Kelton, double gold rower from Team GB Invictus Games a patron of ShoeBoxes for Our Heroes

Charlene Pieri, one of the original MWC Chivenor and a patron of ShoeBoxes for Our Heroes

Support ShoeBoxes for Our Heroes by purchasing a wristband for only £2 + 60p p&p 79

WALES MILITARY CATCHMENT

talogwitch

ANCIENT WISDOM FOR MODERN TIMES

You Bring - We Bling We make bespoke hand-made items, from wedding stationery to our fabulous shoes and loads of quality items in between. We pride ourselves on offering our unique friendly service to help you personalise your items whether they are a gift for someone or for your own special day.

Call 01685 267 377 E: enquiries@blingthingwales.co.uk W: www.blingthingwales.co.uk

Handcrafted in Wales, healing jewellery and many wonderful pagan collectables, embued with Goddess wisdom and Celtic magic.

WelshWitchEmporium www.talogwitch.etsy.com

MayflyMosaics.com

Mosaic Mayhem mayflycas5567@aol.com

ANNIES MYTHICAL EMPORIUM We are a small company dealing with anything mythical. We sell dragon/faerie/angel figurines.

We also sell handmade gifts and cards.

AnniesMythicalEmporium

SOUTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Lou Lou’s Very Vintage Jewellery Personalised Jewellery As Chic Boutique Individual As You...

Shabby Chic Home Decor - For the style you love Unit 4, Trinder House, Free Street, Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1EE

www.loulouschicboutique.co.uk Email: loulouschicboutique@aol.co.uk 10% discount on your first order, using code J4H10

veryvintagejewellery@gmail.com

www.veryvintagejewellery.co.uk

Chairoplanes 4 Fun 01206 503562

Sprees Little Posies Artificial flowers for all occasions.

SpreesLittlePosies 80

07957 947078

We are a family run business based in Essex covering events throughout the year with our children’s Chairoplane ride, Mini Octopus ride, Toyset carousel, traditional Swing boats and Bouncy Castles, medium slides and ball pools.

We are a very popular attraction at school fetes, country shows, fun days, seasonal events and much more with all our rides and inflatable’s.

We cover all types of events; for more information please ring us as we would love to hear from you!

www.chairoplanes4fun.co.uk

SOUTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

WHAT CAN I EARN? A new lifestyle. Choose your hours, be your own boss, and enliven your world with amazing products • Commissions up to 30% (when you qualify for monthly sales award) • Lucrative bonuses and awards • All-expenses-paid trips to destinations like Hawaii, the Bahamas, Greece, or New York City

HOW DOES SCENTSY HELP ME SUCCEED? We’ll support you each step of the way: • • • • •

Personal Website FREE for 3 months (£10 month after that) FREE online Workstation to run your business No inventory to manage Live phone support World-class training

For further information visit: zonawickless.scentsy.co.uk/join or call 07779 427109

Unique Hand crafted Items.

Vintage wedding jewellery and handmade vintage wedding accessories.

Perfect for proms, festivals & other special occasions too!

• Tiaras • Fascinators • Bunting

• Lace Cuffs • Headbands • Rings

• Bridal Bouquet • Large Selection of Vintage Jewellery

and much more!

Definately Different You can also find us at ‘The Craft Tea Gift Shop’ in Warwick Street, Worthing

www.definatelydifferent.com 81

1. ‘House of Bath’ Petite Garden Chimenea with a Bronze Effect Patina £69.95 2. ‘Tesco’ Picnic Hamper in Cream £25 3. ‘House of Bath’ Easy Hanger Planters Drainpipe Baskets £14.95 4. ‘Cuckooland.com’ Marina Outdoor Rug in Eggshell Blue & White £49.95 5. ‘Homebase’ Ontario 6 seater dining set 6. ‘Sainsbury’s Home’ Stripe Picnic Rug £8.00 7.‘M&S’ Bellagio Floral Deck Chair £69.00 8. ‘Wilkinson’ Enamel Watering Can Green £12.00 9. M&S Outdoor Fairy Lights 10. ‘Dotcomgiftshop’ Butterfly Hotel £12.95 11. ‘Dotcomgiftshop’ LED Battery Powered Hurricane Lamps £12.95

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Whether it be a spot of gardening or sitting enjoying the sunshine, Spring has finally arrived so we can start thinking about spending more time outside…

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Tesco Metal Folding Bistro Table £30, Bistro White Chair £20, Pitcher £8, 15cm Clear Bowl £4,Tumbler £3,Wine Glass £3

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The 2015 East Anglian Game & Country Fair will take place on Saturday the 25th & Sunday the 26th April, at The Norfolk Showground, Norwich and Just for Her have 10 pairs of family tickets to give away…!

T

here will be lots of new displays inc luding The Essex Dog Display Team which is generally accepted as the premier and longest established dog display team in Great Britain and Europe. The team appeared at Crufts for a record breaking eleven years and they were also invited to display at the Five Nations Rugby Tournament at Twickenham for the Calcutta Cup, England – Scotland match. They are the only civilian dog display team ever to be selected to appear at The Royal Tournament in front of Her Majesty The Queen, Prince Phillip and the Royal Family. Working with many different breeds of dogs (the majority of which have been rescued); the team produce a professional highly entertaining, action packed and informative display. The central feature of the display is a 100ft long by 8ft high ramp, which the dogs negotiate at high speed through hoops of fire.

There are excellent equestrian displays and workshops at the East Anglian Game & Country Fair. UK Horseboarding Arena Demos “somewhere between scurry racing and wake boarding” describes Arena Boarding. Teams take on the clock around a course of gates, set to challenge the best boarders and horse riders, from long straights into sweeping bends and ninety degree turns. In terms of motorsport it is more like rallying or Formula 1. Teams have to work together to achieve the right racing line to take the bends and complete the course.

New board technology has meant that board riders can get more grips in the corners, but as the track gets scrubbed out, you will still see them power sliding round the bends kicking up dust like a rally car. This part of the sport has become so technical that board set-up, and even tyre choice has become critical. The teams push their boards to the limit as they fight it out, trying to shave 100ths of a second off their times. As will always happen, when sportsmen push themselves and their 84

April 25th & 26th 2015

equipment to the limit, sometimes they find the edge. Crashes are frequent, - with the teams’ motto seeming to be “we will not win by going slower.”

An absolute must-see spectacle - you will not be able to take your eyes off it, as teams achieving already unbelievable speeds, get faster with each race.

Richard Maxwell, our Horse Behaviourist, was in the Household cavalry with “Monty Roberts” and he will be demonstrating twice daily in the round horse pen, where you will be able to see the special understanding and training techniques that Richard uses to help horses overcome some of their fears. This is a fantastic opportunity to see Richard using traditional and natural techniques on horses that have been brought to the game fair by their owners for Richard to work on and this will be the first time that Richard will have seen the horse he is going to be helping.

N & J Heavy Horses is a family run business which has been running for around 10 years, performing horse drawn carriage work up and down the country, such as weddings, proms, fetes and carriage rides in the town of Southold. Their two Perchons aged 7, three Shires aged 9 to 11 and one Clydesdale aged 6 will be performing musical demonstrations which are fun for

all ages with all different types of music; modern and oldies and is set to be enjoyed by all in both the Main and Countryside Arenas.

Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation (Sat) present an invitation to see working equitation ridden by the riders who have represented Great Britain in the European and World Working Equitation Teams.

These fine horses will demonstrate the grace needed to be at the top of their sport.

The quest of lightness on their hooves, no involuntary movement, any direction easily and the art of doing nothing will all be demonstrated during their arena time.

We have a fantastic line up of more free events to watch in the Main and Countryside Arenas. Ring displays also include 6 times FITASC Sporting World Champion, European Champion and English Open Champion John Bidwell performing his world famous off the hip trick shooting with an automatic and pump action shotgun shooting from the hip over his shoulders and from between his legs, this is a rare opportunity to see John’s display.

West Norfolk Hunt will be taking the hounds for a parade of the ring, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Flight of the Falcons, Ferret Racing, Fly Fishing, Berkley Owls, Sheep Dog and Duck Display, Lurcher Displays, Gun Dog demonstrations and much more.

The Mid-Norfolk Gundog Club has been providing its members with training and competitions for 30 years and this year the Club celebrates its 25th anniversary

as a Kennel Club Registered Society. The Countryside Arena demonstrations illustrate the stages of training for spaniels and retrievers as they are prepared to become working gundogs. Trained gundogs have a vital role in any form of responsibly conducted game shooting. In the Main Ring, the roles and work of spaniels and retrievers are demonstrated in the context of the shooting field. Mid Norfolk Gun Dog Club will be running the Gun Dog Scurry competitions and a Team Gundog Working Test - a competition for trained gundogs that simulates the problems the dogs will encounter when working. The competition, introduced to the East Anglian Game and Country Fair last year, is an ‘Open’ standard competition for teams of three experienced dogs and handlers representing clubs and societies from across East Anglia and takes place over both days of the fair. Expect and enjoy first class work and a keen but friendly competition from some of the best gundogs and handlers in the region.

Whether you are a practicing falconer, nature enthusiast or not the falconry village is sure to keep you entertained. There will be mini events going on all day in the arena, lure swinging competitions, talks on hunting and a chance to practice you skills at catching a ‘wild injured owl’ plus several stands to browse along with expert advice from falconers.

The Forestry Villages hosts The East of England Cutters & Climbers Competition and Pole Climbing Competitions.

The forestry arena will be a buzz of activity with chainsaw carvings, felling 85

with the Salmon and Trout Association, ferret racing and archery to paintballing and crossbows. Take a helicopter pleasure flight over the showground, try the air rifle range, hold a bird of prey or take a ride in a Landrover on the off road 4x4 course.

demonstrations, tree climbing and pole climbing competitions. Tree workers from around the UK will be competing at this rare opportunity to see a working forestry village.

If Bear Grylls is your thing then Woodland Ways Bushcraft & Survival will be demonstrating their vast knowledge of bushcraft & survival techniques. There will be opportunities throughout the day to get ‘hands on’ and learn some skills for yourself. They will also be running ‘Pigeon Plucking’ competitions on their stand over the weekend. Find out how quickly you can prepare a pigeon for the table without using a knife.

Norwich Vikings Trials Motorcycle Display will have a range of riders from those on modern bikes to those who prefer the classic bike and classes for all abilities.

Riders will be taking their bikes around a purpose built obstacle course from old oil drums to large tree trunks. This will all take place within the forestry arena.

Our game fair country kitchen has a great new line up with a variety of cookery workshops and demonstrations taking place over the weekend from a selection of local chefs, including Celebrity Chef Chris Coubrough, Roger Hickman, Andy Snowling, Eric Snaith and Na Hansell plus many more. The Cookery Theatre is housed in the centre of the busy food hall where you will find a wide variety of exhibitors from Norfolk and across the UK bringing unusual and mouth watering food and drink to the show for our visitors to sample, enjoy and purchase.

Fine & Country Educational Zone: A wide variety of some of the best Independent schools from across the region will be on view in the New Fine & Country educational zone. This large marquee gives all the visitors the opportunity to meet some of the staff and pupils from these schools and see some of the teaching and learning environments in a friendly environment. Come & join the Fine & Country team in the marquee for a complimentary hot drink.

There are over 300 shopping stands with a wide variety of products from fashion and footwear to gun makers, eco products, fishing products and home improvements, plus craft halls and gift marquees. The main bar will be serving a great selection of local beers and drinks over the weekend and the 86

Sheringham shanty men will be performing during the day.

We are delighted to announce that Norwich Antiques Market has again been added to the line up for this year’s show.Visit their stand on Avenue E for a great selection of stands selling antiques, collectables, vintage and retro goods. They are the oldest, biggest and best monthly antiques fair in Norwich.

K9 Aqua Sports© will be holding its ‘K9 Jump Jet©’ Competition, which is the Long Jump for dogs into water, with Heats at 12.00pm (Midday) & 2:30pm on both days (Saturday & Sunday) of the show and the K9 Jump Jet© Finals will be held at 3.30pm on the last day (Sunday) of the show with the top Teams Dogs that have jumped the furthest distance within the 4 Heats Dogs, Fly ball Dogs, Gundogs, Obedience Dogs or even the Families Pet Dog are welcome, as long as they are over 6 months old and healthy. All K9 Jump Jet© Heat Participants will receive a Participant Rosette with Placement Rosettes for Top 6 Teams in each Heat.

Enter your dog into the Dog Agility and Jumping competitions and ‘have a go’ arenas, the Pet Dog Show or even the popular Terrier & Lurcher Show which takes place on Sunday at 11am. This will be a qualifier for all major championships as well as the East Anglian Championship.

Children of all ages will be able to take part in countryside activities and meet several animals. Stands at the event for little ones include Red Barn Farm, Woodbine Alpacas, Scratby Donkey Rides and of course Heart Radio.

Whether you want information about the Game Fair prior to buying tickets or want to know what is happening next in the Main Arena during the weekend or to save your car park location, the Game Fair app is your essential guide to a great day out for all the family, available to download FREE from ‘The App Store’.

Join in and ‘have a go’ at a range of country activities from clay shooting with John Bidwell’s High Lodge instructors or enter the 40-bird re-entry shooting competition for men, women and juniors. Fly fishing

For more information and to purchase tickets: www.ukgamefair.co.uk 0871 230 1102

COMPETITION To be in with a chance of winning one of 10 family tickets simply tell us who the Horse Behaviourist is that will be at the show. Send your answer, along with your name, address and phone number to competitions@forcespublishing.co.uk or Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0RU Closing date: Fri 17th April

Independent Distributor

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Earn extra money part-time?

Run a thriving international business with limitless potential?

Make a positive change in people’s lives?

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For a distant healing, phone 01367 240379 evenings

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With Herbalife’s unparalleled business opportunity, all of this is possible and more.

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Contact Jane • jfransen@talktalk.net • 07930-325077

Fluff n Stuff Needlecraft

EmanyHandmadeGifts

With a range of beautiful, high quality but affordable garments and gifts, all products hand crafted at Fluff ‘n Stuff are made with the individual in mind, with bespoke pieces available on request.

As well as working with commercially spun yarns we spin our own from British sheep fleeces and luxury materials such as alpaca, merino, silk and even llama! We also work with a variety of gorgeous fabrics.

Fluff ‘n Stuff goods are available by mail order and from our studio in Reigate, Surrey. Do contact us for more details and updates of new products and a list of prices on our facebook page.

The Courtyard Studio, Unit F, Courtyard Business Centre, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7QT Tel. 01737-222797 Mob. 07988 493805 www.ukcraftfairs.com under “knitting” fluffnstuff

Unique fused glass Handmade gifts from Wiltshire, England Designed and made by Emma and Marion email:mandmconstance@btinternet.com

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ EmanyHandmadeGifts

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SOUTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Crystal Care

Further information 07503 154 747 lemontwist567@gmail.com

SOUTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

COSY CANVAS Fernleigh Crockhurst Hill Worthing West Sussex BN13 3EE

www.cosycanvas.co.uk The gourmet coffee is produced by Organo Gold, a global network marketing company determined to spread the word of the superior herb. This exclusive ingredient has the ability to improve the body’s self-healing mechanisms, as it has been reported to oxygenate the body, as well as providing natural body detoxification. It also supports quality of sleep, helps to reduce blood sugar level and boosts energy.

Healthy Gourmet Coffees So how can you benefit yourself, friend, family and others?

Enjoy the taste and become a customer of our products.

Alternatively if you cant get enough of the luxurious taste of the healthy products, become a distributor and buy your products for FREE Or become a business builder and build your coffee business online with the support of a large organisation.

What ever option you prefer the 1st step is to contact me on

+44 (0)7956 355383 info@healthygourmetcoffees.com www.healthygourmetcoffees.com

Handcrafted items all made individually with love. www.eetsy.coom/uk/shop/bootneckkbabbies twitter.com/am mandannewland3 bootneckkbabbiesplymouth www.stallaandcraftcollectivee.co.ukk • 07928462724 • raachhhanmeg@yahooo.co.uk

A family run business which offers all the service you would expect in a local independent store but available online.

Our aim is to offer you the best in Eco/Organic products along with fun quality gifts and toys.

www.growing-needs.co.uk 88

Decorated with Japanese & Italian papers.

Personalised baby bunting. artangles@gmail.com Artangles Crafts 02072 094010

SOUTH MILITARY CATCHMENT

Handmade small boxes & chests perfect for jewellery/ tea/sewing/bits and bobs.

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Time, flexibility & your own part time home-based business that will give you a lifestyle and an extraordinary income forever... all alongside your existing commitments... ...A business that is professional, fun, ethical, simple & hugely rewarding in the massive organic health and wellness sector. Whatever your background, whether you are currently working or looking for a change or a second income, if you are ambitious & self motivated and enjoy helping people, this could be for you.

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An opportunity to build your own successful home based business (part time or full time) and a secure income for life...

TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT: Hanneke Legerstee on Mobile: 07582134094 www.facebook.com/hanneke.legerstee

Beautifully Handcrafted Products made in the UK We are a family run business selling handmade artisan cufflinks and ladies jewellery for the sporting gentleman and woman, created from recycled rifle, pistol and shotgun cartridges and fishing tackle.

We recycle spent cartridge cases (either shot ourselves or carefully sourced) and through a number of processes turn them into beautiful, polished sporting cufflinks using only the highest quality sterling silver and gold backings and chains.

Whether it is your first stag, a perfect left and right woodcock, your sons / daughters first pheasant or any other cherished event, why not let our craftsmen help you turn your memorable sporting moment into a stylish pair of cufflinks that will be cherished and loved forever.

Manor Cottage, Upper Wield, Alresford, Hampshire. SO24 9RU

01420 562550 info@parkerscufflinks.co.uk

www.parkerscufflinks.co.uk

get your mug now from charliebitme.co.uk 89

A nation who love traditions, Britain wouldn’t be Britain without its vast array of wacky events! We’ve found out about some of the best so if you like the idea of chasing cheese down an extremely steep hill or fancy your chances at the World Egg Throwing Championships then here’s our pick of some of the ‘must visit’ events…

The Maldon Mud Race

Cheese Rolling

Sunday 26th April 2015 Promenade Park, Maldon www.maldonmudrace.com The Maldon Mud Race is an annual event which attracts over 15,000 spectators and 300 muddy competitors who race to be the first to complete a 400 metre dash over the bed of the River Blackwater to raise money for local charities. The event now includes and ‘Duck Race’ as well as a traditional steam funfair and other family attractions.

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2015 Cooper’s Hill, Gloucester www.cheese-rolling.co.uk This world famous, annual event, sees competitors hurling themselves down the steep, grassy slopes of Coopers Hill, near Gloucester, in pursuit of Double Gloucester cheeses. There are several races throughout the afternoon, including ones for men and women and the race starts with the master of ceremonies rolling a 7- 8 lb (4kg) Double Gloucester cheese down the hill. Dozens of competitors run, roll and somersault down the hill after it and it’s impossible not to fall over due to the rough uneven slope with a 1:2 gradient. Along with a few cuts and bruises, the winners take home the cheeses.

Stilton Cheese Rolling Bank Holiday Monday 4th May Stilton, Peterborough www.stiton.org Hundreds of villagers and visitors line the wide main street to enjoy traditional bank holiday entertainments and watch the teams battling for the Stilton Cheese Rolling trophies. Contestants compete in teams of 4, either all men, all women or mixed juniors and each member has to roll the cheese at least once during its flight. Beginning outside The Bell Inn and The Angel and ending at the cross roads between the bottom of Fen Street and Church Street, it’s a knockout competition with quarters, semis and a grand finale.

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World Pooh Sticks Championships & Stick Day Sunday 7th June 2015 Langel Common on the River Windrush, Witney. www.pooh-sticks.com In association with Cogges, entry can be either as an individual or team of 4 (separate championships). Entrants must chose a stick which is then dropped into the stream and the winner is the owner of the first stick to float from under the bridge

The Cotswold Olimpicks Friday 29th May 2015 Dover’s Hill, Chipping Campden www.olimpickgames.com The Cotswold Olimpicks, which celebrated its 400 year anniversary at the same time as the 2012 London Olympics, is an annual event which attracts thousands of spectators.

Featuring many well-known countryside games such as tug-of-war, obstacle races and wrestling, there are also a few more bizarre ones! The highlight of these, has to be shin-kicking which involves two competitors filling their trouser legs with straw (to help reduce the pain) and kicking each other using steel toe-capped boots until someone cannot stand it any longer and gives in! The festivities close with a huge bonfire and firework display followed by a torchlight procession to the town square of Chipping Campden where Morris dancing and other entertainment takes place.

The original Pooh stick scene illustrated by E. H. Shepherd

World Egg Throwing Championships Sunday 28th June 2015 www.eggthrowing.com Between Helpringham and Swaton on the B1394 which joins the A52 and A17 Roads, Halfway between Boston and Grantham in Lincolnshire.

The World Egg Throwing Championship consists of teams of 2, a tosser and a catcher, starting at 10 metres apart and spreading further after each successful catch. If the egg is dropped or broken, you’re out and the top 5 go through to the finals. Other events include The World Target Throwing with Accuracy Challenge, The World

Lawnmower World Championships

World Conker Champion

ships © Jez Shimell 201

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World Conker Championships ©

Jez Shimell 2014

Russian Egg Roulette Championship, The Egg Throwing Static Relay, The Under 13’s World Egg Throwing Championship and The World Egg Trebuchet Challenge!

World Snail Racing Championships Saturday 18th July 2015 Congham, Norfolk www.scase.co.uk More than 200 snails slug it out every year in the World Snail Racing Championships held at Congham in Norfolk. Part of the Congham Fete, the World Championships have been hosted here for more than 25 years. Races are held on top of a table with a damp cloth spread out and heats are held throughout the afternoon before the grand final. The event is taken very seriously, particularly by young competitors and the winner receives a silver tankard stuffed with lettuce leaves.

World Hen Racing Championships Saturday 1st August 2015 Barley Mow Inn, Bonsall, Derbyshire www.world-championship-hen-racing.com The race takes place along a 30 foot track, under strict world championship regulations, and anyone with a hen can take part! Free to spectators the event has gained international acclaim and proves popular with adults and children alike.

British Lawnmower World Championships Saturday 26th September 2015 Coneyhurst, West Sussex

www.blmra.co.uk Lawn mower racing was started back in 1973 by an Irishman called Jim Gavin. Like many other motor sports there are several categories that you can compete in and events take place up and down the country throughout the year.

World Stone Skimming Championships Sunday 27th September 2015 Easdale Island, near Oban in Argyll, Scotland A fond childhood memory for many, stone skimming is now a sport and competitors can fight it out for the best stone skimmer title! Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter and each competitor is allowed 3 skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones. For a skim to qualify, the stone must bounce at least 3 times and is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks. A ‘Pre-skim Party’ is also held the night before where there is a licensed bar and live music to get you in the mood!

Harvest Festival of the Pearly Kings and Queens Sunday 27th September 2015 Guildhall Yard, London www.pearlysociety.co.uk Every year, the Cockney Pearly Kings and Queens gather in London for a harvest thanksgiving festival, dressed in their traditional costumes of suits, dresses and hats. The elaborate outfits can have as

many as 30,000 buttons sewn onto them and can weigh as much as 30 kg or more.

The festival begins with a procession of the Pearly princesses who take fruit and vegetable produce to the church as thanks offerings. The tradition of the Pearly Kings and Queens can be traced to London’s street traders who used to elect representatives, known as ‘Kings’ in order to defend themselves against competitors and the police. The tradition of sewing pearls onto their clothes can be traced to 1875 when an orphan boy called Henry Croft wanted to help the poor of London. To attract attention to his charitable work, he made himself an entire suit covered in pearl buttons. He died in 1930 but his relations carry on the tradition of dressing in pearl embroidered outfits with stars, moons, suns, flowers and mystic symbols on them.

World Conker Championships Sunday 11th October 2015 Ashton, near Oundle, Peterborough www.worldconkerchampionships.com Watch this great spectacle as modern day gladiators fight for glory armed only with a nut and 12” of string! Organised by Ashton Conker Club, since 1965, teams from all over the world meet for the competition. The competitors play on eight white podiums in the playing arena and go through rounds until the winner emerges and is led to the Conker Throne.

There are separate men’s, ladies and junior competitions and monies raised help charities for the blind and visually impaired.

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GRANDSLAM

MADNESS

F

resh off the road from their sell out 2014 arena tour, Madness are pleased to announce a series of Outdoor shows in what will be the UK’s Greatest Live Open Air Tour… Ever!!

The tour runs from May 29 to September 26 2015, taking place at some of the greatest and most prestigious sporting venues around the country, including racecourses, cricket grounds, rugby and

football stadiums. These shows will offer the concert goers the unique experience of an outdoor event with a festival vibe, set within these iconic huge green spaces.

The band said, “Come see, come see! The world’s strongest band perform incredible feats live! Marvel as Madness lift an enormous set of polished pop songs high in the air, single handed! The UK’s biggest open air tour ever! Rolling into a town near you, soon.”

FULL TOUR DATES: Friday 29 May – Lincoln City Football Club Saturday 30 May – Gloucester Rugby Wednesday 03 June – Chelmsford City Racecourse Saturday 06 June – Portsmouth Football Club, Fratton Park Friday 26 June – Newmarket Racecourses Saturday 27 June – Doncaster Racecourse Sunday 28 June – Sussex County Cricket – Hove Thursday 02 July – Silverstone Circuit Friday 03 July – Haydock Park Racecourse Saturday 04 July - Carlisle Racecourse Sunday 05 July – Montrose East Links, Montrose Scotland *EXTRA NEW DATE ADDED* Thursday 09 July – Epsom Downs Racecourse Friday 10 July – Chepstow Racecourse Saturday 11 July –Rhyl Outdoor Events Arena Friday 11 September – Kent County Cricket – Canterbury Saturday 12 September – Gloucestershire County Cricket – Bristol Sunday 13th September – On Blackheath London Friday 18th September – Yorkshire County Cricket – Leeds Friday 25th September – Wolverhampton Racecourse Saturday 26th September – Durham County Cricket – Chester Le Street

Madness are rightly considered to be one of the most important acts that Britain has ever produced and it’s difficult to think of another band with such longevity that still draws huge crowds as well as new generations of followers.

Fans will be treated to the bands inimitable quirky pop classics such as “House of Fun”, “Baggy Trousers” and “My Girl”, alongside some of their new material, the band’s first new recordings in three years, in which they continue to express their musical genius.

A band of the people, who inject fun into everything they do, the tour promises to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest bands in the world play some of their biggest hits, as well as some of their exciting new material. In the last 5 years the band have released two of their most critically acclaimed albums, ‘The Liberty of Norton Folgate’ and ‘Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da’. At the end of 2014 they embarked on a hugely successful arena tour, including a date at London’s O2 Arena.

Tickets for GRANDSLAM MADNESS are available from: www.lizhobbsgroup.com www.ticketmaster.co.uk www.grandslammadness.co.uk

Links: Twitter - @MadnessNews Facebook - https:// www.facebook.com/ madnessofficial

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WIN TICKETS With hundreds of different animals, amazing animal action displays and fun and informative talks and demonstrations, the London Pet Show sponsored by Gocompare.com is the ultimate day out for pet lovers, owners and families and Just for Her have 10 pairs of tickets to give away‌!

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rom the cute and cuddly to the weird and wonderful, the London Pet Show is the place to discover everything you need to know about dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas, micro pigs, ponies, parrots, miniature horses, hamsters, fish, geckos, and lots more!

Meet animal experts and celebrities including reptile expert Crocodile Joe and Channel 4’s Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick, who will present his wonderful SuperVet Live show in the Super Theatre.

Don’t miss out on the live features. With the spectacular SuperDogs Live competition, new Hill’s School for Dogs, Rabbit Show Jumping

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Just for Her is offering 10 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to UK’s favourite pet show. To be in with a chance of winning simply tell us what your favourite animal is and why. Send your answer, along with your name, address and phone number to competitions@ forcespublishing.co.uk or Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0RU Closing date: Fri 1st May. Tickets are valid any day and are limited to one pair per winner. So what are you waiting for? Send your entry today!

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Destination

Relax

Relaxation is not usually associated with holidaying with two young children but we achieved just that at the Columbia Beach Hotel in Pissouri Bay, on the South Coast of Cyprus. For the first time in my husband’s sixteen years of service, we took an indulgence flight aboard the Voyager from RAF Brize Norton. The luxury of avoiding busy international airports and travelling aboard a brand new jet with a first-class service delivered by the crew, created the perfect start to a special holiday…

By Susie Buchanan

Arriving in darkness at the Columbia Beach Hotel in our Cypriot hire car, complete with shoddy gear stick and a road map which looked more useful as a sunshade, we were greeted by an impressive foyer of marble and twinkling lights. The refreshing cool as we stepped inside, accompanied by the warm Cypriot welcome, instantly revived us enough from our 12-hour travelling fog to go straight to dinner whilst our bags were taken to our room.

We were led to the poolside where a gleaming rectangle of turquoise shone through the night, to a table on a veranda overlooking the sea. The Bougainvillaea scented breeze rustled in the palm trees above our heads whilst the waves lapped lazily against the beach below. The moon

lit a milky path across the sea revealing a glimmer of what we would wake up to tomorrow. With a glass of fizz in hand, the unobtrusive beat of live music in the background and the children content with a long-awaited plate of food, I felt my holiday had truly begun.

Luxury has become something we don’t expect with children in tow but the Columbia Beach Hotel exceeded all our expectations. We have often been disappointed when brochures depict a slightly glossier image of what you find on arrival, but not in the Beach Hotel’s case.

Our suite was thoughtfully designed with families in mind. The children slept in a cabin concealed by sliding doors with their own bathroom for middle-of-the-night visits. Our super-king bed was dwarfed on one side of a large living area with comfy sofa and chairs for times out of the sun. The main bathroom, with its Mediterranean décor and marble decadence, provided a haven in which to wash off the sun-cream at the end of the day. Outside, the double balcony was the ideal place to admire the view over the pool and the sea beyond, perfect for a nightcap. With the kids snugly tucked in their beds, we couldn’t have been happier.

Going all-inclusive is the ultimate break from family life. No meals to prepare or snacks to rustle up for hungry mouths.

Our kids loved the buffet-style where they could help themselves to a colourful array of Cypriot and International cuisines. With

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Fact File: Average daytime temperature in August: 30°c Average night-time temperature: 21°c Flights from RAF Brize Norton aboard the Voyager: £100 return per person Family Sea View Suite, Full Board, at the Columbia Beach Hotel in August: £450 per day

such good food on offer, we somewhat hesitantly ventured up to nearby Pissouri Village to dine in a more traditional setting beneath the vines, but were glad we did.

After an evening of Cypriot hospitality, music and dancing in the streets we felt satisfied to return to the tranquil sanctuary of the Beach Hotel.

Most of our days revolved around the swimming pool. With two competent swimmers, I was able to settle myself beneath a shady umbrella on a comfortable sun-lounger and still have a clear view over the top of my book. More often than not we were all in the pool together or choosing a drink at the pool bar. The Beach Hotel’s grounds, carefully landscaped and shaded by jasmine and citrus trees, made our chaotic home life seem a world away.

We quickly adapted to the Mediterranean lifestyle with siestas to avoid the hottest part of the day and letting the kids stay up well past their bed-time. For those who wanted it, there’s a Kids Club and if you were lucky enough to find a moment in between dips in the pool and the next chapter of your book, a spa. For fitness fanatics prepared to forfeit relaxation for an exercise regime, there’s also a gym, tennis and squash courts.

Steps from the poolside lead down to Pissouri beach, just two kilometres long and nestled at the foot of the dramatic, sun-bleached cliffs of Cape Aspro. It made a pleasant afternoon stroll with the added advantage of the clear, warm sea to dip in and out of at leisure. There are the usual

activities of sailing and being pulled behind a speedboat on an inflatable, but our kids were young enough to find jumping waves and building sandcastles exciting enough.

With everything we could want at the Beach Hotel, it was an effort to drag ourselves away but the prospect of being blessed with eternal beauty by swimming around nearby Petra tou Romiou, otherwise known as Aphrodite’s Rock, was too tempting. For Geographers it is more interesting as a sea stack than Aphrodite’s birthplace but the coastline is breath-taking to all. With my daughter studying Romans, we couldn’t turn down a visit to Kourion archaeological site. With its fully restored amphitheatre and houses of Eustolios, Achilles and the Gladiators, complete with mosaic floors, it’s an impressive sight. Free to roam amongst the pillars and along the boardwalk surrounding the public baths, with the sea in the distance, you could almost imagine it as the bustling city it once was. The nearby stadium, silent except for the cicadas, offers a rare glimpse into life in the 2nd Century B.C. But be forewarned, ruins are hot so an evening visit is more advisable with kids in tow.

For a cooler excursion, the lush green of the Troodos Mountains are a pleasant

reprieve. A drive up to Mount Olympus offers amazing views and a break from the poolside. Driving past trucks loaded with watermelons, it was easy to imagine ourselves on one of Richard Scarry’s adventures. Enjoy the mountain air perusing the gift shops and visiting the 17th Century monastery in the village of Omodos and sipping a drink in Platres, before continuing up to Troodos Square for lunch with a view.

Don’t be tempted, like we were, to take the scenic route back down again otherwise you risk the inevitable combination of kids and windy roads!

It is not often we visit somewhere we want to return to again, but the Beach Hotel had all the essential ingredients for a successful holiday. We’ve occasionally been put off by the expression ‘family-friendly’ for fear of multiplying the negatives of kids on a bad day but instead the atmosphere was one of calm sophistication. It was never difficult to find a peaceful spot when you wanted it. I had left the frazzled mother back in England and replaced her with a picture of serene elegance wafting in a sarong and straw hat and for once the effects lasted more than just a few days after our return to mayhem.

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Journey into the Unknown with Gary Wright and Karen Quarcoo Could this be the start of your journey into the unknown... perhaps you’ve started your journey already, and are seeking guidance, confirmation and/or insight.

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©Botond Horvath / Shutterstock.com

CITIES A TO Z

Anyone who has been to Budapest will know exactly what makes it one of Europe’s best-loved city break destinations; you’re really getting two cities for the price of one. Bisected by the mighty Danube the city has something of a split personality. On the west side of the river is historic Buda; the ancient heart of the capital. On the east side is industrious Pest; defined by handsome boulevards and the familiar sights and sounds of European commerce.

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Szechenyi spa bath

Each side of the Danube has its own temptations: To the west hilly Buda corrals together some of the city’s finest monuments with the Roman ruins at Óbuda providing the obvious historical starting point. For a lesson in medieval architecture wander the cat’s cradle of narrow streets that surrounds the picturesque castle district. Keep an eye open for the Fisherman’s Bastion; a group of seven towers that symbolise each of the seven Magyar tribes that founded the nation.

On the east bank of the Danube is low-lying Pest; the capital’s business and administrative centre and the country’s economic powerhouse. Besides the impressive neo-Gothic Parliament building you’ll find an impressive collection of department stores, boutiques and markets selling everything from antiquarian books to lace tablecloths. However, it’s after dark that Pest really comes into its own; when the myriad of bars and all-night clubs begin to wake up.

Budapest is a pedestrian-friendly city and

most of the ‘sights’ can be easily reached on foot. However, if you fancy something different then head for Margaret Island and hire a bringo; the Hungarian interpretation of a tandem bicycle. http://www. budapestinfo.hu/en - Official tourism site for Budapest.

After an afternoon in the saddle there’s no better way to unwind than in one of the city’s fabled public baths. There are more than thirty thermal springs scattered throughout the city, but they don’t come any grander than the stunning art nouveau spa in the Gellért Hotel. Admittedly admission is pricey, but the experience is unforgettable. Anyone travelling on a tight budget should head to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths on the Pest side of the river.

Not so long ago Budapest flights were both expensive and erratic. However, the increased competition brought about by the arrival of no frills airlines has driven down prices and greatly improved quality.

City Breaks in Budapest are now a much more realistic proposition and it’s difficult to know who’s more excited; the Hungarian

tourist authorities or the budding citybreaker?

Budapest is just two hours and thirty minutes from London and there’s an impressive range of airlines to choose from. Some of the best deals can be found through online travel agents such as expedia and opodo, and there are a growing number of budget airlines that are also worth having a look at (such as Easy Jet, Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Air Berlin). Both the UK’s and Hungary’s national carriers (British Airways and Malev) also operate direct daily flights between the two capitals.

All Budapest flights land at Ferihegy Airport, which is conveniently located 25 km north east of the city centre. Terminal One handles the lion’s share of civil traffic (Terminal Two is largely given over to freight) and has recently benefited from a multi million pound makeover. On arrival you’ll find all the usual amenities, ranging from car hire to currency exchange, and friendly (if slightly overworked) Tourist Information desks.

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Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest,View from Fisherman's Bastion

Ferihegy Airport is well-connected to the local public transport network and there are a number of ways of getting into central Budapest. Arguably the easiest, and certainly the most expensive, way of making the forty minute trip is to catch a cab. Taxis queue up outside the arrivals hall eager to relieve first-time visitors of as many forints as possible. If you decide on a metered cab; make sure that the meter is running; otherwise establish a firm price before leaving the airport. If you’re travelling on a tighter budget, the Airport Minibus operates as a collective taxi which represents good value for money. The third option is to hop on the No. 93 bus as far as Köbánya-Kispest, where you can then join the underground metro.

Security has been heavily increased in recent years; so expect a lengthy check-ins and spot checks throughout the airport.

Try to arrive at least two hours prior to departure.

While most European capitals are financially off-limits to budget travellers, Budapest represents real value for money.

Pensions and private rooms feature heavily in Budapest’s accommodation scene and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to find a bed in the historic city centre.

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One of Budapest’s favourite pensions is Gizella Panzió (Tel: 1/249-2281), although its hillside location means that it isn’t the easiest place to get to. Another lofty option is the well-regarded Hotel Citadella (Tel: 1/466-5794) which is situated within the old citadel walls which crown Gellért Hill and has great views over the Danube.

Private rooms are also available throughout the city and can be easily booked through one of Budapest’s numerous accommodation agencies. When making a reservation it’s important to establish exactly where you’ll be staying as some private rooms are marooned in the suburbs.

Whereas pension prices usually include breakfast; private rooms don’t, although you can usually order a simple continental breakfast for a small supplemental charge.

Another budget option, and one that is often overlooked, is to think about renting a flat. Charles Apartment House (Tel: 1/201-1796) has a good selection of clean and comfortable flats scattered through the districts of Buda. All apartments come with fully furnished kitchens where guests can experiment with local ingredients and recipes. Most apartments are let on a weekly basis.

Anyone planning on staying in a hostel should contact Mellow Mood Ltd (Tel: 1/413-2062) who continues to devour all Budapest’s hostelling competition. During the summer they operate 11 hostels in the capital although this figure shrinks to just two in the quieter winter months. For a comprehensive rundown of hostels across the country contact the Hungarian Youth Hostel Federation (Tel: 1/395-6530).

If you haven’t booked anywhere when you arrive; you’ll have the thankless task of dealing with the aggressive touts that populate the airport, rail and bus stations.

Take everything they say with a large pinch of salt and don’t be disappointed if the reality of your accommodation falls considerably short of their lyrical sales pitch.

Instead head for the Tourist Office.

Budapest hotels run the gamut from backpacker’s doss houses to sumptuous palaces fit for a Magyar prince. Rooms are relatively cheap by European standards and you’ll find that by splashing out a few extra forints your money goes a long, long way.

Art Otel Budapest Situated on the Buda riverfront, the Art Otel is an architectural triumph; incorporating four eighteenth century baroque houses and a new building into a single satisfying whole. The renowned American artist Donald Sultan designed the interior and millions of dollars worth of artworks are scattered throughout the hotel. Be sure to ask for a room with a view of Matthias Church or the Fisherman’s Bastion and prepare your wallet for some punishment.

Sofitel Atrium Budapest The Sofitel Atrium Budapest (formerly the Hyatt Regency) was recently crowned the ‘Greenest hotel in Hungary’.

Presumably the award refers to this contemporary building’s eco-friendly credentials; nevertheless you do get the distinct feeling that you’ve arrived in an enormous garden centre. The impressive central atrium climbs ten storeys high, with each balcony dripping luxuriant foliage. However, it’s the view of Castle Hill across the Danube that steals the show.

Car Hire If you are staying in Budapest for more than a day or two; it’s worth thinking about hiring a car to visit some of the nearby attractions. Lake Balaton is arguably the city’s most popular day trip and boasts the impressive statistic of being the largest lake in Central Europe.

From Budapest it’s an attractive 60 km drive through picture-postcard countryside to the lake’s shores. Once you’ve parked your hire car you can have a go at a wide variety of water sports or unwind in one of the numerous thermal spas that rings the lake. The oldest and most celebrated spa resort is at Hévíz, whose therapeutic mineral powers are so concentrated that guests aren’t allowed to soak for more than 20 minutes.

Hiring a car will also allow you easy access to a number of Budapest’s historic satellite towns. The medieval town of Szentendre was once an artists’ colony and today houses some of Hungary’s best commercial galleries. If you drive further north you’ll arrive at Esztergom; once the capital of Hungary and home to the country’s largest Basilica.

Car hire in Budapest is a relatively straightforward process. On arrival at Ferihegy Airport you’ll find representatives of all the major car hire companies, such as Budget, Europcar, Avis, National Alamo, Hertz, and Sixt. However, for the best deals you’ll have to book online before you arrive. If you aren’t having much luck at the airport; there are a number of local car hire companies in Budapest that are worth investigating.

In order to rent a car in Budapest you’ll need to show a full driving licence which you have held for more than a year. Many car rental companies will only hire cars to drivers aged between 25 and 65 so it’s a good idea check before setting off.You may also be asked to leave your credit card details or a deposit to cover any insurance excess. Once you’ve been allocated a hire car give it a thorough inspection for damaged bodywork, after all there’s no reason why you should have to pay for someone else’s poor driving Fisherman's Bastion

Hotel Gellért The elegant Hotel Gellért has been a city landmark since first opening its doors in 1918. The hotel’s Art Nouveau spa attracts visitors from across Europe and even if you can’t afford a room for the night the baths should still figure high on your agenda.

Hotel Astra Vendégház Located in the picturesque neighbourhood of Watertown (on the west bank), the hotel Astra Vendégház is a welcome addition to Budapest’s collection of mid-range hotels. From the lobby it’s a short walk below the Castle District and the banks of the Danube beyond. A handful of rooms are en suite, but as they fill up quickly; you’ll need to book early.

Hotel Citedella A perennial favourite with budget travellers the Hotel Citedella’s location is to die for. Situated within the old citadel walls perched on top of Gellért Hill the hotel’s views are breathtaking.

The only real drawback is that; after a day’s sightseeing, the long slog up the hill might just finish you off. The Hotel Citedella is effectively both a hotel and a hostel and consequently attracts a diverse clientele.

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Margaret Ellis • Energy Healer • Crystal & Shefa Healing • One-to-One Sessions • Retreats & Workshops • Effective way to deal with many health & wellbeing issues • Distance Healing Contact m.ellis.301@btinternet.com or 07792 420581 for more information

Ken Johnson Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products Tel: 01905 451 988 Mob: 07814 184 721 ken@aloevera-freedom.co.uk www.aloevera-freedom.co.uk Forever Living Products is a member of the D.S.A. (Direct Selling Association). Code: HO.735 SA

High Quality Health & Wellbeing Products Founded in 1978, and operating in over 150 countries, Forever and its affiliates have become the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of aloe vera and bee products in the world. Avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides, our patented stabilisation process ensures our aloe vera is essentially identical to the inner leaf gel.

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Toy Store Pint Sized People sell original and fun products for children of all ages.

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0843 289 7729 729 www.pintsizedpeople.co.uk 108

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Lenastrol Leonard Fleet’s Astrology Services www.personalhoroscope.co.uk len@lenastrol.co.uk Home of ‘real astrology’ based upon your unique personal; time, date & place of birth.

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Personal horoscopes including birth chart Predictions - looking at any year ahead Children’s horoscopes Love & compatibility(Synastry) – for lovers (or platonic/business partners) • Location astrology (the astrology of place) – are you living in, or moving to, a fortunate place in the world for you?

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Angel Treasure Trove Personalised cards and invitations handmade in paper or cross stitch.

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I want to help you move on with your life Are you struggling with anxiety, addictions, guilt, regrets, fears, phobias, uncertainties, grief, weight issues, PTSD?

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I now work flexibly and part-time around my children under a global umbrella company which holds the prestigious Investors in People Gold Award, working in the health, well-being, beauty and sports industry. You can work flexibly around your existing commitments and build your business at your own pace with all the support and encouragement you need.

So if the same old thing keeps giving you the same old results; If like me you were struggling with work-life balance and soaring childcare costs or have been made redundant. Give me a call or drop me an email and I can show you another way.

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Simply Class

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Delicious of Wantage is always striving for excellence, offering a bespoke service for any event. A highly experienced and motivated team works with the client to ensure any dietary requirements, including diabetic, celiac, allergy, vegetarian, vegan and religious requirements are met.

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JUST HOGLICIOUS If you want to try something different for your public event or wedding, try a hog roast from Just Hoglicious You can enjoy a beautifully prepared hog roast for your party or special event in South Wales and Glamorgan.

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The hog roast will be fully prepared and cooked at the venue of your party We also provide event catering in the form of Buffets and Paella Parties Maybe you don’t want a traditional sit down meal for your wedding, or you need a practical and enjoyable way to feed your guests outside. A hog roast might be the solution you need for your event catering problems.

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JustHer

ISSUE 5

for

Directory for the Wives, Girlfriends and Families of Military Personnel

Are you

Happily

ed?

EVER AFTER

GIFT GUIDE

2015

FATHER’S DAY

Ten things NOT to say to a Military Wife

Keeping Fit

is NOT a

MILITARY Exercise

Su mm er of Lo ve… 70 s Fas hio n Win tickets to Good Food Sh ow Suthmem

er