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Issue 21 March 2021

LO C

ITI

TAKE AWAY SPECIAL

OUR POPULAR DELIVERY BOYS’ REVIEW IS BACK! ALSO INSIDE

THE TRAVEL BLOGGER PHOTO FLASHBACK DIDDY DIRECTORY

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Competition Winner

February a big well done to:

Rachel Tyler Who was the closest to spotting the hidden drone pilot in last month’s photo & won £25. See below for last month’s location

NOTE FROM THE EDITOrS Welcome to the March edition of LivingLife Magazine. We hope this edition finds you well. We are still in lockdown and as such life remains quite difficult at the moment, but at least we can look forward to the arrival of spring and the promise of warmer weather. This month’s cover photo was Inside, we would like to incapturedyou by Kate troduce to McBurney Jas Parmar, (John’s during an evening who iswife) Bedfordshire’s Liberal stroll acrossCandidate the farmers Democrat forfields Police and Crime Commissioner. Jas is near Henlow Village. Compecampaigning for our streets to be safer, check out his article tition Winner to find out more.

| Andrew Martin |

JULY

Get in touch with us: We would love your feedback on what you enjoyed about this edition, and of course, any areas where we could improve.

01462 414265

admin@livinglifemagazine.co.uk

DISCLAIMER

The opinions expressed in LivingLife magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publishers take no responsibility for any errors or omissions in LivingLife Magazine. The content is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

Last month was an interesting month. We encountered a flooded underpass in Arlesey, witnessed amazing icicle formations during the big freeze, an abandoned car in Shefford was eventually towed away, and a new resident moved into Fairfield Gardens. Have a look inside the magazine to view | John McBurney | our fascinating ‘Photography Flashback’. As spring is almost here, gardens will soon be ‘springing’ to life. If you have a beautiful garden and don’t mind showing it off then we would love to feature it in our ‘Beautiful Gardens of Bedfordshire’ feature. If this is of interest, please do get in touch. It is a difficult time for small businesses at the moment, if you can, please support our advertisers where possible and please also mention LivingLife Magazine. Remember, it is Mother’s Day on Sunday 14th March. Big respect to all the fantastic mums out there!

Kind Regards, Andrew & John

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 8 11 12 14 16 18 20 21 22 24 26

delivery boys’ takeaway special the travel blogger diddy directory lockdown pilates (Part 1) green waste initative nothing beats a clean oven local businessman for pcc scene by you crossword answers photo flashback margaret’s walks march Crossword

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food & drink

DELIVERY BOYS’ REVIEW by John McBurney & Andrew Martin

We check out the local restaurants & eateries eat on the go. It is also very filling and will keep you going until lunchtime. The bacon roll was everything you would expect, a nice, tasty, white roll, buttered (of course), with thick slices of bacon, plus a squirt of ketchup. Perfect if you fancy something a little ‘lighter’. Ordering is simple, you can phone up and pre-order for collection, or you can simply turn up and ‘grab & go’, although Sunday Roasts will Due to the Covid-19 crisis, it’s not been need to be pre-booked as they sell out fast. possible for our delivery boys to visit and review local pubs and restaurants, however, Well, what can we say? Once again we take our as lockdown has continued we decided to do hat off and we congratulate Anne who has quite a ‘Takeaway Special’, and our first takeaway literally turned a bad situation into something destination… The Railway Steamer in Shefford. successful and beneficial to the community. The pub offers something for everyone and it Back in the December 2020 edition, the was most definitely the best breakfast we have pub’s landlady, Anne, described her journey eaten for a long time. and how she has managed to keep her pub alive during this global health crisis. It is an So, this weekend, why not get your kids out inspiring story, and now, during lockdown, the walking and treat yourselves to a bacon roll & pub remains ‘open for business’, providing a hot chocolate. Go on, you deserve it! takeaway food service. On this occasion we had a long day of delivery ahead of us, as such, a substantial breakfast was required. The pub provides a breakfast takeaway menu which includes a full English breakfast wrap, bacon or sausage rolls, baps, or sandwiches, pastry sausage rolls, and cake, drinks & juices. So, for breakfast, we ordered two breakfast wraps plus an additional bacon roll. The breakfast wrap has it all, containing rashers of bacon, sausage, beans, hash brown and of course a fried egg. The wrap works really well, holding the contents securely inside, which is good, especially if you are on the move and need to grab something quick and 6

This Month’s Review

The Railway Steamer 141 Clifton Road, Shefford, SG17 5AG

01462 814414

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ACRE WOOD DAY NURSERY

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r e gg o l B l e v The Tra W

elcome to my monthly blog bringing you all the updates from my day-to-day work as a personal Travel Agent during the Pandemic, as well as top tips and ideas for your next trip… whenever that may be. Travel Counsellors is an independent network of travel consultants, specialising in tailor made and meaningful, sustainable travel for both business and leisure. We work around the clock at a time to suit our clients, and this week we were named as the “unsung heroes of travel industry” for our continued one to one assistance to people with bookings affected by the pandemic.

Big Travel Trends for 2021/2022

s lockdown fatigue grows, we are seeing slow but steady increase in bookings for later this year and into 2022. There are some trends emerging which I would like to share for your inspiration.

Private Pools

It’s hot right now to book a villa or hotel suite with a private pool. Aside from it being very aesthetically pleasing to look out from your bed and see your own glistening pool... it reduces contact with other guests and gives maximum privacy for those “working from home” this summer.

Big Bucket List trips

No more requests for – Anywhere hot – what have you got? It’s about ticking off your list of travel goals. Visiting Lapland, and staying in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights. A short break in Monaco, but adding a helicopter transfer – arriving in style! Christmas in New York, but upgrading to Business Class. We have all been reminded that life is short... and we want to get out and LIVE! My top pick for 2022 would be an escorted tour of Japan including watching Sumo Wrestling, and visiting tea houses in Kyoto.

Booking Far Ahead

Many operators brought forward their release dates to enable us to book travel in 2022 and in some cases even 2023 to allow people to forward plan, spread payments and remove anxiety about what will happen this year.

New Hotels

This summer sees some amazing properties open across Europe. I am most excited about the brand new IKOS Andalusia, in Southern Spain. The newest addition to the IKOS group which holds the accolade of being the ‘World’s Best All Inclusive Resort’. It’s opulent and luxurious and it’s due to open in April. I have been invited to go and see it – if the borders are open in time… watch this space.

@jens_travel_inspo

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ased our:

Do your finances need a spring clean? Book a complimentary financial review with Shefford-based Nicholas Turner to help make sure you’re on the right track Nicholas Turner e: nturner@kdw.co.uk Chartered Financial t: 01462 632 260 m: 07393 340 029 Planner w: www.kdw.co.uk v:

Pensions Investments Tax Planning Equity Release Life Insurance Past Performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. KDW is a trading style of KD Wright Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration No: 509886.

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LOCAL business

Contribution thanks to

Zanna Newton

Pilates Classes Delivered from the Essex Countryside Part 1

Zanna Newton Pilates

07719 862371 www.zannanewton.co.uk

uring the week of the 16th March 2020, when the severity of the COVID pandemic was emerging, it quickly became clear that my Pilates classes would not continue from my regular hall venues in Stotfold and Melbourn. My final “real-life” classes took place on the afternoon of Friday 20th March and with help from my daughter Sophie, back home early from university, I was able to deliver my very first online Pilates class at 9.30am the following Monday, 23rd March! That day, four classes were delivered from my house in Stotfold, but after that evening’s Government announcement, about what was to be the first national lockdown, I decided to pack a bag and join my partner, Martyn, at his house an hour away, on the Essex-Suffolk border. Classes have continued from there ever since. By Autumn I was keen to deliver face-to-face classes as an option for my clients, many of who have been with me since I started teaching 16 years ago. In September, as restrictions eased, I restarted two hall classes, with strict social distancing and sanitising measures firmly in place of course. But as we all know less than two months later, all face–to-face classes were sadly cancelled once again, due to the second national Lockdown in November. Back to Zoom it was! Zoom has become a part of our daily lives, be it for keeping up with Pilates classes, with work or for keeping in touch with loved ones. The online Pilates classes have evolved over the past year. In those warm summer months of 2020 we had fun taking part from the garden. Occasionally due to rain, or indeed computers overheating in the sunshine, we had to make a dash back indoors! In the dark winter months I invested in photography lamps to improve my image quality during class so that details of each exercise could be seen clearly. Everyone has also bought new small pieces of Pilates equipment, such as a resistance band or small Pilates ball to use at home. The regular weekly Pilates class timetable has been supplemented with what I call “Lockdown Special 40-Minute Focus Classes”. These are shorter additional classes that can more easily be fitted into a busy day at home between work and home schooling. We have done “abs focus, stretch & relax and even a legs & bums” class to music…which was a lot of fun and with some classic exercise-class old tunes it took us back a few years! Thank you to everyone for your continued support and encouragement. It would have been so much harder without all your kind words and many emails of appreciation.

To be Continued next month... 12

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Zanna has been leading her ‘highly recommended’ Pilates classes since 2004. Classes are available live on Zoom; one-oﬀ sessions are available to try as well as whole courses. Check the website to see class availability and book online.

www.zannanewton.co.uk

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community

GREEN WASTE FOR CHARITY

Local business fundraiser for hospice charity Branching Out Tree & Garden Services, a business based in Lower Stondon, have teamed up with Garden House Hospice Care and will be providing local residents with a weekly garden waste collection service. Branching Out, who are a licensed waste carrier, will make the collections every Friday. They can provide free quotations and 50% will be donated to the charity. Kerrie Morris, from Branching Out, said the following: “Branching Out are so grateful to be busy during these strange times, it is only right to give something back, we are great believers in ‘paying it forward’, so as of next week every bit of green waste collection that we do on a Friday, 50% of all money earned will be going to Garden House Hospice Care.” Harry Folgate, Garden House Fundraising Co-Ordinator, added the following: “It really is so kind of you and your company to reach out and fundraise for us during a really difficult year. The funds you will help us raise are going to make a huge difference to the lives of all our patients and their families.”

GREEN WASTE FOR CHARITY Working alongside ‘GARDEN HOUSE HOSPICE CARE’ we are providing local residents with a

FRIDAY, Call us NOW

We are a licensed waste carrier and recycle all garden waste.

50% TO CHARITY FREE QUOTATION

& GARDEN HOUSE HOSPICE CARE 14

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local business

Contribution thanks to

Roy Heathcote

Ovenclean: is this The Key to a Happier Life? A

Ovenclean 0800 840 7127

recent study, which has been published in the journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’, conducted by psychologists across 3 countries, has proven that people who spend money to save time, are actually happier and have better life satisfaction, then those who use the money to buy goods. Following the survey of more than 6,000 individuals, a two-week experiment was undertaken. The first weekend individuals were asked to buy things that would save them time – such as paying for someone to clean for them, and the second weekend they were asked to spend it on material objects such as wine and clothes. The reduced anxiety as a result of freeing up time when spending money on services such as a cleaner, meant people were happier and experienced increased life satisfaction, when compared to spending money on material possessions. Psychologist professor, Dr Elizabeth Dunn, from the University of British Columbia in Canada, who worked alongside colleagues at Maastricht University and Harvard Business School comments, “Money can in fact buy time. And it buys time pretty effectively... so my take home message is, ‘think about it, is there something you hate doing that fills you with dread and could you pay somebody else to do that for you?’ If so, then science says that’s a pretty good use of money.’’ As most will agree, cleaning the oven is Britain’s most hated household chore, and is a pretty arduous task if done thoroughly, so using a company such as Ovenclean to take care of it for you will not only save you time, but given the results of the research above, will actually make you happier than spending the money on new clothes or homeware, for example.

TIME TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN? LET US DO THE JOB YOU HATE

Ovenclean is one of the UK’s original oven cleaning companies. Your local Ovenclean specialist Roy Heathcote is able to clean all domestic oven brands and models, including electric ovens, gas ovens, ranges, microwaves, hobs, extractor fans and also barbecues. All removable components such as racks, doors and glass are cleaned using specialist equipment in the fully-equipped Ovenclean liveried vans. Ovenclean also use a no added caustic system, ensuring customers benefit from a safe and hygienic environment, leaving the oven ready to use as soon as the clean is complete! So why not save yourself some valuable time, decrease your stress levels, and actually become happier – call Roy, from Ovenclean today on 0800 840 7127 16

BEFORE

Ovens Grills l Extractors

AFTER

Filters BBQs l Microwaves

Hobs Ranges l AGAs

I’m simply delighted at how sparkly clean my oven and hob look now! It really does look like the cooker is brand new again!

Call Roy Heathcote or go online for a quote

0800 840 7127

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Crime & Policing

Contribution thanks to

Jas Parmar

Local Businessman and former Police Officer standing for PCC for Bedfordshire

FB@JasParmar4PCC Jas4bedspolicecc@gmail.com

as Parmar, a longstanding Clifton resident and Postmaster is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the 2021 Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections in Bedfordshire.

Jas believes that his key attributes such as leadership, experience, trust, and a focus on public service are key credentials for being an effective PCC. Jas is the epitome of the people’s representative who promises to work in collaboration with the community and the police to ensure that policing are current, accountable, fair, measured, and responsive. Jas said “I am a dedicated local resident having lived in Clifton with my family for over 33 years. I have operated many successful businesses across Bedfordshire. As a former Metropolitan Police officer with 5 years’ experience, I understand the issues we all face.” Jas has also served as a Bedford Borough Councillor and Non-Executive Director of East London (NHS) Foundation Trust. For the past four years, Jas has been a member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) to Bedfordshire Police; this includes representing community issues, supporting and at times scrutinising police and being a member of the recruitment panel. Jas said, “As a victim of a recent serious gun crime, I understand the impact of crime on victims and will fully support the need to place victims at the centre of any policing and priorities”. “Crime in rural Bedfordshire is of great concern to me and our residents and businesses. Despite Govt. promises, Bedfordshire Police remains grossly underfunded. The lack of police visibility and delayed response often leads to a loss of trust in the police. If elected, I will make visible community policing one of my top priorities. I believe that mobile police stations especially in rural communities will address many of the issues and bring the police and communities closer”. Jas believes that true community safety can only be achieved by strong policies that aim to cut crime whilst delivering an equitable and efficient service, his aim is to focus on what really matters and to dedicate resources to the safety, health and welling of the people of Bedfordshire. Jas said “I believe that I have the right experience, attributes and qualities to undertake the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, and I am confident that I can meet the obligations of the office of the PCC and deliver a safer neighbourhood for ALL residents of Bedfordshire.”

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SCENE BY YOU Your chance to share your favourite photos

Oops.... We made a mistake!

Last month’s image 2 of Mount Pleasant Golf Course, was actually submitted by Chris Gravett

Submit your photo for the next edition www.livinglifemagazine.co.uk/myphotos

5 A big thanks to this month’s submissions

3 20

Bob Snedker

Chris Mills

Ellen Gillespie

Linda Parcell

Stephen Dobie

Sun rise Cockshoot Arlesey Church in winter Snow over Mount Pleasant Golf Course Carpenter at work Spoonville in the snow, Shefford

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21 Please support your local businesses -Don’t forget to mention LivingLife

Photography Flashback It’s been an eventful month! We look back at some of the

fascinating images captured by our photographer and our readers... Collated by John McBurney Beautiful ice formations appear during big freeze

Photo Credit: Endersby Wedding Photography

Photo Credit: Mark Cox

Flooded underpass under the A507 near Arlesey. Anyone fancy a swim?

Pix Brook Academy – A brand new school for Bedfordshire

A new resident moves in at Fairfield Gardens.

An abandoned car in George Street, Shefford, is finally towed away!

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Margaret’s walks Keeping fit during lockdown

Margaret’s Walks was compiled by a local walking group made up of a few friends, including Margaret.

Margaret & Bill

Now 87, Margaret has been exploring the local Bedfordshire countryside for many years. The walks take you across countryside, by rivers and streams, woods and hills, plus interesting buildings, villages and streets.

Walk Number 25. Henlow / Clifton / Langford (about 3½ miles) Park near Henlow Church then walk back to the main road, turn right and cross over. Take marked path on the left, through allotments and bear right past houses to Clifton Road. Turn left towards Clifton and walk for about 10 minutes till you get to the crossroads with Church Street. Turn right along a ‘country’ dead end road. Walk for about 10 minutes with fields on the right, until you get to gate. Go through and follow track ahead, but after about 60 yards take the parallel path through the woods – it leads you back onto the track. At the ‘crossroads’, at the end of the trees, turn right and follow foot path to river. Turn right and go across meadow on a worn path, through a gap in the hedge to the service road for the sewage plant. Turn left and continue to the road towards Langford. Turn left onto this road towards Langford Nurseries. Just before the nurseries, there is a marked footpath on the right, which goes alongside them. Follow this to the farm. Turn left. Continue along side of field to the far hedge. Go through gap into Henlow Millennium fields and continue towards church in distance on the right. Follow the path to a gate, and then pass through the church lychgate, through church grounds and back to the church. 24

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Spot the Drone Pilot

Win

£25

It’s competition time! The drone pilot who captured this image has been magically removed from the photo, can you deduce exactly where he is positioned? Place a cross (‘X’) where you think the drone pilot is standing (just like ‘Spot the Ball’ puzzle), then take a photograph of this page with your phone or device and submit your entry here: www.livinglifemagazine.co.uk/drone Close date 15/3/2021. Only 1 entry per person. Judge’s decision is final.

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puzzles

The March edition

CROSSWORD Answers on P21

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