MK Pulse January 2023

Visit your local Milton Keynes Showroom today.

Available in both uPVC and aluminium, we can manufacture and supply windows in any style to suit your home.

Windows Doors Conservatories

We offer a wide range of contemporary and classic conservatory designs to suit any home.

Whether you are looking for double or triple glazed, sliding or bi-folds, composite doors, our range of doors are fully customiseable.

Orangeries

Established in 1978, Win-Dor is the leading home improvement specialist for Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

We offer an extensive range of stylish windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries; all of which are available in a wide choice of colours, and are backed by our 10 year guarantee.

We are local company that prides ourselves on going the extra mile for our customers and providing a truly brilliant service.

With a combined floor space of over 15,000 square feet, our indoor showroom is filled with a comprehensive range of beautiful windows, doors and conservatories, all available for you to browse at your leisure.

With the festivities mostly complete, now is the perfect time to take a break. Why not visit the new Willen Hospice coffee shop in The Point for a warming drink and a freshly baked home-made cake? You can pop in to the store downstairs while you’re there.

You can find out about some new fundraising challenges for this year too, in addition to the popular running and cycling events. What do you know about Mount Kilimanjaro, for example, or would you be interested in skydiving?

If you’re already missing the seasonal celebrations you can wear your finest outfits again for the Willen Hospice Gala Dinner on 11 March at The Point. It will be transformed into our own Hollywood Dolby Theatre for the event.

Shrove Tuesday isn’t too far away either, so it’s time to prepare for pancakes. In Olney they are getting ready for the historic Pancake Race on 21 February, fully equipped with costumes, frying pans and pancakes for the traditional 415-yard dash – it’ll be quite a sight!

For those of you who are fond of taking part in a musical event or two at the Craufurd Arms you’ll be interested in Sammy Jones’ nostalgic look back at its history. You’ll be surprised to discover its part in Wolverston’s social history, along with its near neighbour on Stratford Road, the Picture Palace.

On a more serious note, did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in the UK? A simple blood test can provide an early diagnosis that can improve outcomes. More than 200 men made appointments for a special testing event in Milton Keynes supported by MK Dons, their Supporters’ Association, and local employers. That’s a very worthwhile initiative.

KerryWhatever your resolutions for this year are, I wish you well with them.

CONTENTS

in:

Guise,

Brickhill, Browns Wood,

Clifton Reynes, Deanshanger, Emberton, Emerson Valley, Filgrave,

Gayhurst, Giffard Park, Great Linford, Hanslope, Harrold, Haversham, Kents Hill, Kingsmead, Lavendon, Lathbury, Loughton, Middleton, Monkston, Monkston Park, Newport Pagnell, Newton Blossomville, Oakridge Park, Oakgrove, Odell, Old Farm Park, Olney, Pennyland, Ravenstone, Shenley Church End, Shenley Brook End, Shenley Lodge, Sherington, Simpson, Stoke Goldington, Tattenhoe, Turvey, Tyringham, Walnut Tree, Walton Park, Wavendon Gate, Wavendon Village, Weston Underwood, Whaddon, Willen, Willen Park, Woburn, Woburn Sands, Woughton on the Green and pick up points across MK.

These

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50sqft of boarding and a lightall fully fitted in less than a day from just £444! But it’s not just the affordability of the package that makes Home Counties Loft Ladders stand out, as manager Jamie Oakley explains: ‘Our watchwords

are Quality, Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen, so our customers are assured of the best job.

Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford.

Our business relies on referrals and we get a huge amount of our calls from people who have been

referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, call Jamie free on 0808 301 9552 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Cloudy2Clear, A Local Service With A Smile.

Established for over 16 years, Cloudy2Clear windows have become the UK’s leading company for domestic glass replacement. Customers are no longer needing to risk their windows by using the dreaded double glazing cowboy down the road, instead, now they can join over 320,000 happy customers and have their glass replaced in an affordable and ethical manner. Remember, a failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have

any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid any future costly problems.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Stephen Moon it became clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money. The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window

once the unit has failed. Stephen commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www.cloudy2clear.com

“W

hen we opened our store downstairs at The Point back in the summer, it was always our intention to open a coffee shop on the premises later in the year. I’m delighted that we are now up and running,” says the hospice’s associate director of commercial Mark Rawlins.

The coffee shop, located in the main store, is offering a selection of home-made cakes, hot and cold drinks and snacks. The cakes, cookies and scones are freshly baked each day by the Hospice kitchen.

Some of the original bingo table-andchair cubicles remain, creating a sense of nostalgia for those who remember The Point as a bingo hall.“The current economic situation means that many local people are looking for more affordable gifts, clothing and household items and visiting The Point gives them an opportunity to stock up on essentials at a fraction of high street prices,” says Mr Rawlins. “The coffee shop provides an area where they can relax with family or friends, and take a break while shopping.”

It is the second coffee shop that Willen Hospice has opened in the past three years. The first, in Woburn Sands, has proved to be a popular destination for local supporters and a vital way for Willen Hospice to use its in-house bakery facilities to help the shops raise funds.

Transform your kitchen

It can take as little as two days from start to finish to give your tired-looking kitchen a fresh new look.

It’s so easy… Swapping the doors and drawer fronts will dramatically change the look of your kitchen. An amazing transformation without the stress, upheaval and mess that comes with a traditional replacement.

Dream Doors is a one stop shop for all your kitchen needs with a huge choice of doors, worktops, sinks, taps, appliances and accessories.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Not only does it serve as the most functional room; it is usually the most social one, so it makes sense to create a space which meets your needs.

So, whatever your lifestyle is it any wonder so many of us spend time planning our dream kitchen?

We offer a personalised service from start to finish to help each of you realise your dream.

A new kitchen is said to add an average of between two to five percent to the value of

Dream Doors

can change

as much as you want. From a simple facelift – replacement doors, maybe a stylish new worktop and perhaps a sink we can transform a kitchen in just a couple of days. Everything is installed by our local skilled tradesmen, the waste removed, and a new kitchen ready to use in the blink of an eye. We can also provide a complete new bespoke kitchen should you prefer.

So, whether you are looking for a quick transformation or a total redesign, Dream Doors has it all.

For ideas and inspiration, give Dream Doors a call and let them bring your dream to life. Call 01234 852151 and speak to Mark or Riana to arrange for your free no obligation quote.

“Excellent job - and done a lot quicker than anticipated. Very pleased with the result. Team very friendly and knew what they were doing.”

Customer from Bedford, July 2022

Source: Checkatrade.com

Dream Doors transformed this kitchen with a bright, modern refurbishment

They’re on their marks… they’re set…

The runners, dressed in a skirt and head scarf and clutching their frying pan and pancake, will race the 415yard course from the town’s Market Place, down the High Street, to the finish line outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church.

Tradition has it that Olney’s Pancake Race first took place in 1445, with one legend having it that the race commemorates the medieval parishioner who when hearing the church bells realised she was late and ran to join for the Shriving service with pancake and pan in hand.

One thing is certain: the race has been run every year since 1948, except for 2021 due to the pandemic. In 1950 the Pancake Race became an international event when the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA issued a challenge to Olney. In a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually. Both races are run on a timed basis and the winner is declared after times are compared through a transatlantic web link between Liberal and Olney.

Ahead of the race itself, Market Place is a hive of activity. This year’s event begins with a special pancake breakfast, prepared by celebrity chef Lesley Waters. The organisers have arranged stalls, even more pancakes, music, a grand raffle and races for local nurseries and school children.

Immediately after the race, competitors and visitors will move to St Peter and St Paul’s Church for a special Shriving Service to mark the start of Lent. Some of the famous Olney Hymns, written by Rev. John Newton and the poet William Cowper, will be included in this special service.

For more on the Olney Pancake Race, visit olneypancakerace.org.

Olney is also marking the 250th anniversary of the hymn Amazing Grace in 2023, composed by the Rev Newton in the weeks leading up to his New Year’s Day service at the church in 1773. The hymn has gone on to inspire and become famous around the world.

For more information on the celebrations, go to cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk

The women of Olney are under starters orders as they prepare for the historic Olney Pancake Race, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday (February 21).

G E R M A N , I T A L I A N & B R I T I S H

I T C H E N S

Participants in 2022 race to the finish line outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Olney

Local kitchen design expert wins top award

Simon, pictured, won the category for the ‘Kitchen Design of the Year (under £40k)’ for his design for a local client who had recently renovated their period home and added a contemporary glassfaçade extension.

The kitchen had to occupy parts of both the original building and the new glass extension and Simon worked closely with his client to create a design that united the two areas as a single space, perfect for their large family and for entertaining.

The resulting design, which clearly caught the judges’ eyes, emulates the look and feel of a trendy industrial-style London bar, with contemporary kitchen units alongside the property’s original exposed brickwork.

The Designer Awards celebrate residential and commercial

kitchen, bathroom and architectural design products in the UK and worldwide. Now in its 20th year, the established event attracts world-renowned designers and architects as well as senior professionals within the design industry.

Speaking of his achievement after the awards ceremony in London, Simon said “I am thrilled to have won this award. It was a great project to work on and I’m very proud to have created a wonderful kitchen that my client is delighted with.”

Simon has 20 years of experience in the kitchen industry and opened Discover Kitchen Interior Design in 2019.

Based at Crossinglands Business Park in Aspley Guise he has already built a reputation in the local area for offering bespoke kitchen designs and outstanding

DISCOVER kitchen interior design

customer service. He offers a range of kitchen styles from contemporary German handleless to traditional British painted inframe and shaker styles.

Simon said: “I have a different way of working from many kitchen designers. I won’t simply recreate the layout you already have in your kitchen or take a formulaic approach to your new extension. Instead, I’ll look at your space with fresh eyes, come up with ideas

Simon Cull Award winning kitchen designer

you would never have thought of, and even suggest moving a window or door if it improves the way your kitchen design will work.”

Simon Cull, owner of Discover Kitchen Interior Design based in Aspley Guise has won a top award at the prestigous 2022 Designer Awards.

The winning kitchen had to occupy parts of both the original building and the new glass extension

Join the Ousedale Sixth Form Family

Ousedale Sixth Form has a long tradition of success, consistently achieving excellent results at GCE Advanced Level in all subjects and vocational routes. They have excellent study facilities and all classrooms are fitted with the latest technology. With over 400 pupils in their Sixth Form, Ousedale are proud to offer an ambitious, broad curriculum.

The standards expected and achieved at Ousedale Sixth Form are high, with the combination of personal development and academic achievement. They are proud of their pupils who go on to a wide range of destinations from university to apprenticeships, or employment. Typically, one third of their pupils go on to a Russell Group University and a number go on to study at Oxbridge in addition to Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. Whatever route pupils take, they will be there every step of the way not only from their exceptional Teachers and Pastoral Team but also from their dedicated Careers Team and Widening Opportunities Team.

Committed teachers use their excellent subject knowledge to ensure that all pupils, and particularly pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

Here’s what one of their pupils has to say: “I am currently studying Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science. I joined Ousedale in Year 12 as an external pupil from another school and what led me to take this decision was the wide variety of subjects on offer in addition to the blocking system which allowed me to take subject combinations which were not possible at other Sixth Forms. Staff are very supportive and passionate in their teaching, which I believe has been integral in my academic success. At Ousedale I also have access to great facilities such as the Study Centre which provides a dedicated area for Sixth Form pupils to be able to work. After I have completed my A-Levels, I intend to go to university and study for a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.” Samuel, Ousedale Sixth Form pupil.

Ousedale’s Sixth Form Open Evening takes place on Thursday 5th January 2023 6pm-8.30pm

To book tickets for the event and view their prospectus, visit their website: www.ousedale.org.uk

Students are: Well prepared to leave Sixth Form and pursue their goals… Sixth Form students feel that sta support them well. Students appreciate the varied sessions on personal development…

Samuel - Ousedale Sixth Form pupil

Is a Kitchen re-spray the new way to update and save?

Many of us have thought about repainting our kitchen cupboards as a way of refreshing them without replacing, especially now we have had more time at home lately.

But concerns over the finish achievable and how well the paint would last usually puts us off making a mess of things.

Now local company FX-SPRAY MK is offering a complete professional paint spray service for kitchens.

It is a quick and simple process that leaves your kitchen looking brand new, says FX-SPRAY MK. The company removes and sprays 90 per cent of the kitchen off site, which means that very little work has to be done in your home, in turn meaning minimal disruption. An average kitchen can be completed within a week and home owners continue to use it during the process.

FX-SPRAY MK only use specialist products and having the latest spray equipment means the company delivers that brand new factory finish. A colour matching service to all major paint brands gives a huge choice - you can even go with a two-colour scheme.

“Can

Jason Thompson, FX-SPRAY MK

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre this January. Think of it as a new year pick-me-up about taking risks, finding love and making the most of second chances, no matter where you are in life. Hayley Mills is among the stellar cast doing justice to the stage adaptation of the Sunday Times Bestseller, turned smash hit film. She spoke with Pulse Magazine’s Sammy Jones

t’s a lovely, lovely show,” Hayley says with conviction, “It’s very positive, the people are real. It’s life affirming, and that’s why I really wanted to do it.

“I felt we need to be reminded about human beings and our resilience... and how you never really, until the day you die, stop discovering things about life and about yourself, and I mean good and positive things.

“However old you are, as I say in the show, whether you are 18 or 80 you still can find love.”

Hayley is clearly smitten by Deborah Moggach’s work.

“I wanted to do it instantly when I read it,” she admits.

I imagine that doesn’t happen too often?

“No, it doesn’t actually. But I feel this is what the world needs now,” she says with a little laugh.

“Apart from the seven people in the show in their 70s, there are much younger Indian actors who are fabulous and gorgeous and a joy to watch dancing. It lifts us all up actually – the people on the stage and the people in the audience.

“It’s a real tonic.”

Hayley plays Evelyn in the show, the role made famous by Judi Dench on the big screen, but she will step away from the character at the end of February.

“I will have done four months and four months touring is enough,” Hayley thinks.

“You get a bit repetitive, you have to be very careful and diligent that you don’t just repeat yourself, you have to stay 100% focused all the time to keep it alive and fresh, and to keep it spontaneous so the audience feels that you’ve never said that line before, and you’ve just had that thought for the first time.

“It’s a good challenge, but also the thing about a long tour is you learn so much about the character you are playing – even after weeks and weeks you will suddenly understand a line

they say in a completely new way. You start joining up the dots in a really interesting way. I realised that just after the 10th week of doing it.”

‘Our spirits are ageless’ “I

Off stage, there is a real feeling of camaraderie among the cast that only comes with a long stint on the road.

“It brings the company very much together – we all depend on each other so much more, we all get to feel like a family and we’re all experiencing the same thing away from home; funny old digs, lumpy mattresses and all those things...

“When we get together at a new theatre, it’s a new challenge, new dressing rooms and new audiences, but after a while you have to stop and refresh. For me, the end of February will definitely be the right time to leave.”

Food can be a bit of a faff when you are on the road, too – not least if you try for a plant-based diet, as many of Hayley’s family members do.

“What I found is that touring is very hard for vegetarians. Very hard,” she emphasises, “I eat fish, so I am not strictly a vegetarian, because I haven’t got the energy. I always lose a lot of weight when I tour too, and that’s not particularly healthy.

“When you are travelling you can’t carry your olive oil, salt and pepper and condiments....

“Sometimes you are far away from shops and don’t have cooking facilities or time to go shopping.”

The conversation turns to the bigger picture, and the difficulties faced by touring actors.

“It’s not very easy in this country, touring,” Hayley says, “Theatres are struggling to keep their heads above the water and actors are not served well in terms of subsistence and accommodation.

It has diminishing returns. But we love the business we are in and we don’t want to make it impossible for producers to put on great productions.”

When we speak, Hayley has been colouring up the stage in Woking – close enough to head home post-performance, and her partner has been dishing up the nourishment.

“But a lot of the time you live on sandwiches from Tesco...”

Hayley comes from a family who have been responsible for entertaining generation after another; her father John Mills is one of this country’s most beloved actors; her mother Mary Hayley Bell worked as an actress, and was also revered as a writer, most notably for Whistle Down the Wild. Hayley’s sister Juliet is an actress, and it was Hayley’s aunt, Annette, who accompanied Muffin the Mule on television.

Despite that family pedigree, or perhaps because of it, Hayley admits to struggling with self-doubt around her acting abilities for a long time.

“It was different when I was a child, it was very instinctive and I loved doing it,” she told me of those early years, “It was only when I got older and started judging that I became self conscious.

“But that self awareness and judgement, although it’s painfully excruciating and difficult and can impede you, it can also be the spur - it can be the thing that drives you.

“It’s just one of those things – it’s like being thrown off a horse, you’ve got to get right back up again. Nobody’s life is one success after another...it’s like a temperature on a chart, it goes up and down, the peaks and valleys of life.

“We learn more when we go into the doldrums, than we do when everything seems great.”

Despite huge hits on the small and big screens, with hindsight she would have opted to go to drama school.

“When I went into the theatre, I had no technique, and you learn that. It’s taken me over the years to understand the balance and the timing, when the audience is bored, or restless or enjoying it. It is almost like a dance, you can’t just go on the stage and play the scene and not be aware of ‘them out there,’” she says, mentioning the audience, “Even though it should appear that you are completely involved in the scene you are playing. You have to have that sixth sense.

I think I always had that because of working in front of the camera.

“The camera was my audience, but it was also my friend. I wasn’t stressed, I wasn’t scared, I liked that. I knew it was watching and I knew the camera understood what I was doing.”

Still, if she needed advice, in her father she had the perfect ear to bend.

Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas and Rula Lenska - leading the feel-good comedy of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“He never complicated things, he always said ‘Just be truthful,’ like Polonius’ wonderful speech in Hamlet; ‘To thine own self be true,’ and that is true as an actor; to have to be truthful.”

And you need to remember a few basics...

“Speak up, and don’t bump into the furniture, and remember there are lots of deaf people at the back of the stalls and get your voice out there.”

What about advice of a more personal nature?

“When I went to him with personal troubles, most of the time he would spend a long time thinking about what I was saying, and then he would just say, ‘Do the right thing.’ His advice was very simple, and sometimes I would get very frustrated,” she laughs, “...the right thing for who? What is the right thing? That’s what we struggle to find, isn’t it?

“At the end of the day, life is a big puzzle...”

During her formative years, Hayley worked extensively with Walt Disney on films including Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and That Darn Cat!

She remembers Walt as “a very decent man, a good man. He wasn’t exploitative, he didn’t make inappropriate advances or any of that.”

Aa a youngster with a successful career in movies (she made her first, Tiger Bay, at the age of 12), Hayley’s time was spent juggling film sets with boarding school. It was a unique position.

“Trying to integrate everyday life in a boarding school and enormous amounts of fame is a tricky thing – like two very different horses galloping in opposite directions,” she explains.

Her experience with Walt Disney is poles apart from the industry today, which seems to be a far less salubrious place, judging by the stream of stories newspapers delight in sharing.

“Kids today? Oh god, talk about a minefield. It really is. I think social media is a horrible invention, frankly. I don’t think it is helpful at all. I think relationships were much better when we called each other on the phone and wrote letters.

“Emails are ok, but I hate social media – it is fake and it is phoney. No holds barred.

“Because they are in the safety of their home, people can say these things online. It’s a bit like when people get into their cars –because they are in the safety of their metal vehicle, they can shout and scream and be rude to other drivers because they can get away with it.

“We are insulated in our cars, and we are insulated on social media and it is full of hypocrisy.

“As you say, it’s vitriolic and it makes people feel even more isolated and like everyone else is having a wonderful life and everyone else is so popular...”

In case you’ve not understood the tone, she really doesn’t like social media.

“It’s b*llshit, it’s dreadful,” she announces, a profanity that sounds even more cutting coming from Hayley’s mouth.

“But as far as navigating through the business, young people have to be very strong minded and very well grounded and to have come from a very strong and secure family background, I think – to get through it, and to have their values intact and stand by what they believe and know to be right.

“It’s terribly difficult, and I admire those that manage it.

“It is so easy to get swept off to the unreal world of fame, money, success and the whole thing.”

Rula Lenska and Paul Nicholas, two other actors with equally long and successful

careers lead the cast with Hayley in The Great Exotic Marigold Hotel

But make no mistake, this is a theatre group who are uniformly young at heart.

“That’s something else I say in the play; we may actually be old as far as the years go in number, but inside we are exactly the same, and that’s the thing about the people who have travelled to India for all their different reasons to live at the Marigold Hotel. It gives them an opportunity to rediscover their intrinsic self.

“Our spirits are ageless,” Hayley insists, “We may feel ill and sad and disappointed about life, but the spirit burning inside is ageless, and eternal, of course.

“I think the play connects to that quality in every single member of the audience, who feel that about themselves and who feel joyful and hopeful.

“It’s tremendously positive and uplifting, and people love that...”

> The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel plays at Milton Keynes Theatre Tuesday, January 24 - Saturday, January 28, 2023. To book tickets visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

...We may feel ill and sad and disappointed about life, but the spirit burning inside is ageless, and eternal, of course.”

Richenda Carey as Dorothy and Nishad More as Sonny Kapoor with Hayley

Rula Lenska as Madge, Marlene Sidaway as Muriel and Hayley Mills as Evelyn

Feel like a movie star at Willen Hospice’s Oscars-themed Gala Dinner

This iconic venue will be transformed into MK’s very own Hollywood Dolby Theatre, ready to welcome guests for a night of glitz and glam. There will be a delicious three-course meal, fantastic entertainment, music and a high-end auction hosted by special guest and celebrity auctioneer, TV’s Charlie Ross. Nikki Poole, Community Fundraising & Events Manager said, “Our Gala Dinner will be the highlight of the 2023 calendar in Milton Keynes. We are delighted to be hosting it at The Point, a location, which I am sure, will bring back many memories for our guests. “At the Hospice, we are starting to see the effects of delayed treatments due to COVID-19, and at the same time, the Cost of Living Crisis

is having a huge impact on our fundraising. This event, and the generous guests who attend, will be making a huge difference to local families who need our support.”

There will be a delicious three-course meal, fantastic entertainment, music and a high-end auction

Willen Hospice is the only adult Hospice in the local area, and care is provided completely free of charge. The charity’s team of dedicated staff and volunteers give specialist

support to patients and their family members, to help deal with the physical and emotional effects of both their illness and treatments.

Patients are cared for both at the Hospice and in the community by the Willen at Home team. The charity’s Therapeutic and Wellbeing services also help with quality of life through physiotherapy, occupational therapy, counselling, complementary therapy, social groups, like gardening and crafts, and social care, supporting families and children.

To provide this care, Willen Hospice needs to raise £5.9 million every year, that is £11 a minute. The money raised from events like the Gala Dinner will help Willen Hospice to continue providing specialist, compassionate care for local people facing an incredibly difficult time.

The dress-code for the Gala dinner is black-tie, and tickets can be purchased for £100 for an individual seat, or £1000 for a table of 10. To book visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk/ gala.

Feel like a Hollywood movie star at this black-tie event, hosted in the home of the UK’s first multiplex cinema. Enjoy drinks on arrival, a three-course meal, music and a high-end auction hosted by celebrity auctioneer, Charlie Ross.

Willen Hospice are inviting local people and businesses to attend their glamorous Gala Dinner, on Saturday 11th March at The Point, the home of the UK’s first multiplex cinema.

Financial protection and rights

for unmarried partners and unmarried parents in the event of a break-up.

According to the Office of National Statistics, in 2019 there was a decline in marriage rates in the UK with some couples choosing to cohabit instead. There remains a general misconception that unmarried cohabiting partners have the same legal and financial rights as those who are married under the principle of being common-law partners or having a common-law marriage. However, this is not the case, and this distinction is especially important when considering financial matters following a breakdown of the relationship.

Following a breakdown of a marriage, a spouse can rely on the Matrimonial Clauses Act 1973 (MCA), which provides a right to a financial claim against all assets of the marriage regardless of how the assets are held; however, this right does not extend to unmarried cohabiting partners. Cohabitees’ rights are limited only to assets held in joint names. If the family home is held in the sole name of one partner, the other partner can only make a claim if they can prove they have a beneficial interest in the property by establishing a Resulting Trust, a Constructive Trust, or Proprietary Estoppel (we talk more about this in our next article).

savings, personal belongings, inheritance, and specify next of kin, who keeps the pets, and who pays off any debt and household bills in the event of a relationship breakdown.

The terms of any agreement should be reviewed periodically as and when there are any changes in circumstances, such as children or new property/assets being purchased. In this way, both parties know where they stand, and expectations can be managed to prevent or minimise arguments following the breakdown of a relationship.

Although the agreements can be relied on to show intent, they are not technically legally binding. Although the agreements can be enforceable, there are no guarantees that the agreement (all or part) will be upheld in court. The terms of the agreement must be carefully and specifically drafted. Raising the subject to a partner can also potentially lead to an uncomfortable conversation and will need to be approached carefully and sensitively.

Artemis House, 4 Bramley Road Milton Keynes MK1 1PT

In essence this means that upon a breakup, there is no automatic legal entitlement to assets held in the other party’s sole name, including but not limited to property which the parties are not living in, pensions, or savings. This is regardless of the duration of the relationship or if there are any children of the relationship.

If there are children from the relationship, an unmarried parent can still apply for child maintenance depending on how much time the children are spending with each parent and the disparity in the respective incomes of each parent. In certain circumstances, it is also possible for an unmarried parent to make an application under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 for ‘top-up maintenance’ or a property transfer for the benefit of the children. Under s.14 Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, a non-married parent can also ask for the sale of the family home to be delayed until the children are adults and financially independent. Although there are options available to unmarried partners to help provide some protection in the event of a breakdown of the relationship, the law in this area is very ambiguous. The party claiming a financial interest would need to prove their case with documentary evidence in support and/ or circumstantial evidence. In the absence of any written agreement between the parties, it would be a case of one person’s word against the other.

The court is likely to place weight on a Cohabitation Agreement which has been properly drafted and executed, provided there are no overriding circumstances which render any of the provisions invalid. For example, if an agreement states that one partner is not to have a beneficial interest in a property, but there is a Declaration of Trust stating that that the partner is to receive a certain percentage of the net proceeds in the event of a sale, the existence of the Declaration of Trust may override the provision in the Agreement stating that that partner has no beneficial interest.

The existence of a Cohabitation Agreement which is entered into freely by both parties and with each having had the opportunity to exchange information about their respective financial positions, is more likely to be upheld by the court. It is also important that both partners have been given the opportunity to take independent legal advice without unreasonable time pressures being imposed.

Declaration of trust

When unmarried partners jointly own property, it is advisable that they agree and sign a Declaration of Trust outlining how the proceeds of sale will be divided upon the property being sold. A Declaration of Trust allows the parties to clearly specify their respective financial shares of the property, thus protecting their own and any third-party interests.

Declarations of Trust are particularly helpful when one party may have contributed more to the purchase of the property than the other, or where a third party (often a parent) has financially contributed towards the property.

The above information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.

Heald Solicitors disclaims and excludes any liability in respect of the contents of this article or for action taken based on this information. If you need legal advice, please contact a solicitor.

Cohabitation agreements

Cohabitation agreements allow both partners to clearly set out their expectations, responsibilities and obligations in the relationship and confirm how assets are to be dealt with and distributed if the relationship breaks down. Similar to how married couples enter into pre-nuptial agreements, a cohabitation agreement can show intention and offer protection and security to both parties. The agreement can set out how the parties will manage their finances in the event of a relationship breakdown, specifying who owns what and in what proportion. It can cover a wide range of areas such as how a property and its contents is to be divided; it can provide for the division of pensions,

Should one party continue to significantly contribute to the property financially, for example by making higher mortgage contributions or by paying or carrying out renovations to the property (leading to an increase in value), the Declaration of Trust can be drafted and/or updated to reflect the proportionate increase in their beneficial entitlement.

Although the prospect of discussing Cohabitation Agreements and Declarations of Trust might seem quite challenging and unnerving for an unmarried couple entering into new living arrangements, the benefits of having both these documents drafted, agreed, and signed, can minimise the stress and unpredictable turns that life can otherwise take.

Keshini Rajendra and the Heald Family Department deal with separations and divorces with kindness and good sense.

WED 1ST FEB ‘23

Brick Lane Music Hall PantomimeGoldilocks & The Three bears *Adults only* Price: £75 per person Includes entrance fee and lunch.

Brick Lane music hall is a delightfully unique and intimate theatre venue andThis year’s panto is Goldilocks & The Three bears. With a variety of singing and comedy with plenty of atmosphere and audience feedback all set in a charming Grade II+ building. Before the show you’ll be served a delicious lunch. *Please make us aware of any dietary requirements at booking*

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at10am and leaves London at 5.15pm.

MON 13th FEB ‘23

London Museums/London Leisure Day

Price: £25 per person. *Free entry into all museums, but please check each museum website as you may need to book an entry time*

Come face to face with dinosaur skeletons and discover fascinating exhibits from the natural world at the Natural History Museum, experience the wonders of science first hand at the Science Musem or visit the Victoria & Albert Museum and see one of the greatest collections of art and design objects in the world. The coach will drop you on Cromwell Road (outside The National History Museum) all three museums are within walking distance of each other.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 8.30am and leaves London at 5.30pm.

SAT 18th FEB ‘23

Cadbury World Price: Adult £45, child £39 (4-15yrs), Under 4s free of

Uncover a world of chocolate delights and enjoy a fascinating fun packed day out! You’ll learn how your favourite confectioneries are made, play in virtual chocolate rain, and add your favourite treat to a delicious pot of warm melted Cadbury Dairy Milk. Discover the origins of cocoa bean, before hopping aboard the magical Cadabra ride, and meet the infamous Cadbury drumming gorilla.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 9.30am and leaves Birmingham at 3pm.

SAT 15th APR ‘23

Andre Rieu

Price: £130 per person Includes entrance ticket.

Seats are in Block D/E/F which is floor seating.

World Resorts Arena, Birmingham

Andre Rieu’s romantic and joyful programs include a mixture of light classics, waltzes, music from film and opera as well as pop songs, performed by his Johann Strauss Orchestra the biggest private orchestra in the world.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 3.30pm and leaves Birmingham approx. 10.30pm.

daytrips@billscoachhire.co.uk | www.billscoachhire.co.uk

Stacey Bushes, 1 Hollin Lane, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK12 6HT

Step back in time and stroll along Wolvertonʼs Stratford Road where two venues once vied for attention. Decades later, one of them is relegated to memory, but the other is still flourishing, Sammy Jones has the history...

pint goes hand in hand with a gig at The Craufurd Arms for many people today, but back in 1907 when it opened its doors for the first time, things were quite different; the venue had been built by the Peopleʼs Refreshment Association, and temperance was to be applauded.

Todayʼs heavily stocked bar would have caused much upset with those responsible for erecting the premises.

Before Milton Keynes was a twinkle in the eyes of its developers, Wolverton was one of the bustling towns in the area. Less than 70

years before The Craufurd Arms opened, the town had sprung up to house those earning a living at The Works.

It was a new railway town, and a place where people worked hard together, and in those close-knit communities of old, they enjoyed letting their hair down together too. The lack of alcohol mattered not a jot. Music was all the fun needed.

By the 1940s, traditional dances and big band sounds were staples at the venue, with acts like The Rhythm Aces proving to be major draws.

“Back then, there was no television and only one radio channel which predominantly offered news and set shows, and little else, apart from cinema,” Dennis Lyman recalled, “We went for something to do, for exercise, and to meet people.”

“The bands always played tunes that you could sing to as well as dance to.

“Because of the lack of anything else to do, you created something else of your own and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. You would still get the occasional drunks in, but they were forcefully ushered out!

“The area was full of musicians then, because everyone played in the local troupes,

like the Bradwell Silver Band. Thatʼs how many people learned to play, and they would then play the dances in the evenings.

“When war came, if anything, the dances became more frequent - you didn't sit at home and mope, you got out there and got on with it!”

The 20th century was a period of rapid change, and within two decades, the town had gone from wartime blues, through the dawn of rock & roll and into the swinging 60s.

At that point it was local bands like The Fenders who were stage-stepping, and by the 1970s, funny folks like Mike Reid and Roger De Courcey – with his sidekick Nookie Bear – were jostling for position on those venue flyers.

In 1979, The Specials and The Undertones were among those who stopped by, and another relatively unknown group of youngsters from Sussex took their turn at the venue the same year.

That band – The Cure - would go on to shift more than 27 million albums.

Freddie Fingers Lee, who had been heavily influenced by Jerry Lee Lewis, and also played with Screaming Lord Sutch and Ian Hunter, was a curious performer.

Barber's Picture Palace brought the magic of moving pictures to Wolverton in 1911

Barber image and advert courtesy of The Living Archive

The Craufurd advert referred to the ‘One-eyed king of the boogie-woogie piano and a great rock 'n' roll act,ʼ and that was certainly so - Freddie would regularly remove his glass eye and pop it in a pint of beer during performances!

The pubʼs backroom had gone from hosting polite dances to ska artists over the course of four decades, but although it continued to welcome live music on an ad-hoc basis, it wasnʼt until 2009 when the foundations of the venue we know today were set down.

When Jason Hall took on the venue it heralded a new era, and 14 years on – now with co-owner Max Harvey – it is firmly established on the touring itinerary of artists nationally and internationally.

Big bands gracing the small stage have included Skindred, Soulfly, Reel Big Fish, Slaves, Idles, Supergrass main man Gaz Coombes, Therapy? and Wolf Alice.

“We will continue to build on the foundations we have set,” Jason promises, and that includes continuing to extend a helping hand to artists in the area.

“The local music scene is a community with all walks of life and we want to be the catalyst that helps this grow into something beautiful.”

Next door to The Craufurd Arms, Barbers Picture Palace could once be found keeping busy and taking attention too.

George Barber had already opened a cinema in Bletchley when he opened The Palace in Wolverton, back in 1911.

Film was a new phenomenon and the forward thinking businessman was at the fore of this exciting entertainment which gave the townʼs residents the opportunity to settle back with some escapism.

A French detective story, Zigomar, was the first film to air. It would have been an exciting innovation, but it was over quickly; lasting for little more than half an hour.

In those early days, it was more about moving pictures rather than high-definition quality.

We have 4DX sensory cinema today, but any interactive experience back then would have been supplied by the person sucking the mint humbug in the next seat along, or fidgeting behind you, kicking the back of your chair!

Decades of on-screen entertainment followed at The Palace, but with Barber passing away in the 1940s, the venue subsequently got moved on and troubled times followed.

1961 was hardly underway when the venue shut up shop permanently, but a businessman from Dunstable was eyeing up the property with plans to turn it into a music mecca.

Eddie Green knew what to do too; having already enjoyed huge success with The

California (‘The Caliʼ) Ballroom in Dunstable, which he had launched to ‘keep young boys and girls off the streetsʼ.

Rock 'n' roll was in its infancy and music would replace film as the regular form of entertainment.

The Palace continued on its musical journey after Eddieʼs death in 1964, although it was chasing some of the same audiences who frequented Bletchleyʼs Wilton Hall.

The Palaceʼs cheeky adverts went all out to lure audiences from across town: ‘All the prettiest girls in Bletchley go to the Palace, & to prove it, admission before 9.30 for pretty girls 3/6.ʼ

Such advertising would never make it onto the newspaper pages today.

The dimly lit venue had one large dance floor, but operated across two levels; while headline bands performed downstairs, their supporting artists would entertain on the first floor.

Artists who performed there included crooners The Walker Brothers, pop players Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, beat group The Undertakers and American singer Brenda Lee.

Almost-local favourites The Barron Knights were among other names passing through.

Many of the artists who played The Palace would do another set over at ‘The Caliʼ the same day, which would maximise exposure for artists, and doubtless door fees for the promoters!

On occasion, there were daytime dances –staff members at key employers including The Works and McCorquodale would down tools and pop across the road for a quick dance during their lunch break, before getting back on the ‘shop floorʼ.

Bingo became a thing too, and it wouldnʼt be too long before the game won the war of entertainment – instead of full houses watching live artists, it became a place where people would sit, felt tip pen in hand, in the

hope of achieving a full house on paper. The times they were a-changinʼ again.

Bingo continued for decades, until the eve of the new millennium in fact, but the venue is now used as a place of worship.

Meanwhile, next door at The Craufurd Arms itʼs the business of music that continues as usual, which involves a constant stream of new blood, established acts, local bands and occasional legends who show up at the leading venue. Have you popped in yet?

> Additional info: Milton Keynes – Wired For Sound, a 350-page history of music in the new city. Visit FB @miltonkeyneswiredforsound for more information and to order yours.

Milton Keynes Museum is one of the best interactive museums, a perfect outing for all ages, staffed by friendly volunteers, and highly recommended by visitors on TripAdvisor.

This feature was written by Milton Keynes Museum. Find out more about forthcoming events and see our opening times at: miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk

The Craufurd and The Palace on Wolverton's Stratford Road

In 1979 a little-known band called The Cure played in Wolverton

An important piece of art with a message, and a lot of nature features in this month’s Pulse Pics - together with the launch of an important new centre to benefit the community.

This impressive sculpture, known as the Knife Angel, is currently in situ outside Stadium MK. Also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, the 27ft creation is made from approximately 100,000 bladed weapons that have been collected in knife amnesty bins during police operations across the country. The Knife Angel’s arrival marked the launch of a month of action against violence here in the new city.

Lord Lieutenant Countess Howe, the King’s representative in Buckinghamshire, has officially opened the new Willen Hospice building, a significant milestone in the hospice’s 40-year history. “It is a great honour to be able to thank all those who have contributed to this project coming to fruition,” Countess Howe said, “The final outcome is not about bricks and mortar, it’s about the many people who will benefit from it.”

Colin Kempster grabbed these great shots at the Flood Plain Nature Reserve – a heron in a reflective mood, and a very leggy prancing Great White Egret See more of his superb images on Instagram @pixbycurvy

A baby elephant enjoyed her first taste of Christmas at Whipsnade Zoo after keepers created a woody winter wonderland for three-month old Asian elephant Nang Phaya to explore. The 20 foothigh forest of Christmas trees were also perfect for snacking on!

Many of us live in fear of arachnids, and it’s unfortunate because truth be told, spiders are our friends, and the beauty of their webs is a sight to behold on a crisp winter morning. Malcolm Levey snapped this beautiful creation in Stony Stratford

Pic: Gill Prince Photography www.gillprince.com

Pic: ZSL Whipsnade

Pic: Malcom Levey

Pic: Colin Kempster

How you can help prevent an MK cat-astrophe

Unlike our canine companions, pussy cats are altogether more independent, and we are used to seeing a swaggering tom mooching down the road. But is that a much-loved moggy, or could it be one of the many stray cats that Milton Keynes has?

With numbers of strays and ferals on the increase, the Milton Keynes and North Bucks branch of the RSPCA wants you to help curb the numbers. Sammy Jones found out more...

The ‘problem’ of stray cats really is a big one; in 2022 the MK and North Bucks branch of the RSPCA has taken in close to 450 cats and kittens, and strays account for around half of that number.

“We live in this weird urban area with lots of green spaces in-between and we do have a relatively big feral cat population, which is something we are trying to help manage,” explains branch chair Gillian Scott.

“We’ve always had a problem with it, and there are lots of reasons why; people aren’t neutering their pets; the cost of living, and it can be harder to get them neutered because there is a significant shortage of vets across the UK.”

Sometimes, young cats escape the home before they are ready, and they don’t return – they become the next generation of street dwellers. And there is still a small element of irresponsible cat owners who let them breed, exacerbating the problem.

Struggling with the cost?

Getting your cat neutered is important. It is a one off fee, but the cost can be anywhere between £40-£80 for a male cat, and £50 - £100 for a female.

Many animal charities offer financial assistance to those who need help.

Do the right thing and help avoid a cat-astrophe! Contact the RSPCA or Cats Protection to see how they can help you.

These beautiful stray cats from MK are now living happy lives in stables

With your help the RSPCA wants to make a significant drop in those numbers.

“If people are aware of cats that are potentially living stray – perhaps a cat looks like it is injured or unwell or is in a dangerous situation, they should try to take that cat to a local vet. If they can’t do that, they should try to contact one of the local animal charities who can go out and trap the animal.

“If it’s not in immediate danger, looks well and like it could be owned, we can do things like supply paper collars to identify or come out and scan the animal, to determine if it is actually a stray or not.”

And those animals that are roughing it then get added to a waiting list to be brought in from the cold, or the local branch liaises with other rescue groups across the city to see who might have space to help.

And not every cat will go into a home –some are trapped, neutered and released again. The decisions are taken on a moggy by moggy basis.

“Milton Keynes creates lots of places for cats to set up and reproduce. We recently trapped some cats on Winterhill, and there were places where food was available, but it was obviously a less than ideal situation; mothers having kittens next to a horrendously busy dual carriageway.”

Male cats will wander and succumb to the perils of the roads, and there is an increased risk of fighting. If you’ve ever been awakened by two cats showing teeth and claws you’ll know that the noisy encounters are brutal.

Why should I get my little boy snipped

It will stop him spraying to mark his territory, which is an unwanted smelly practice! He will also be less likely to wander and face all of the associated dangers, and getting him snipped will protect him from FIV.

And those scraps increase the potential for infectious diseases; FIV is lifelong and compromising.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the cat version of HIV, and one of the most common infectious diseases in cats. It attacks the immune system, and normally harmless bacteria can cause severe illnesses. Transmission usually occurs through bite wounds from an infected cat. And what about the little ladies?

“Female cats in heat attract males and often there’s this narrative that female cats are tarty and slutty, and really that’s not true,” Gillian stresses, “Putting it bluntly, you are letting a four month old cat out to effectively be attacked by your neighbours’ cat because someone else hasn’t neutered their animal. It sounds horrendous because it is, and labelling it as tarty is just not appropriate, but we seem to use this language of acceptance around this happening to young cats.

“The number of young cats coming into the branch who have kittens is difficult, and traumatic. The cats have hormonal responses which make them care for the kittens, but would you really choose for a young cat to become a mum at that age, and potentially become infected with things like FIV and FIP through that engagement with a potentially stray male?”

The nastiness can be passed to the kittens too: “It potentially gives them a life sentence. They are still babies, they are children...”

It all sounds quite gloomy, but as mentioned, we can all play our part in turning the tide for the better. And there are other ways to help the charity in general.

“We are always looking for people to volunteer in a number of different roles, and we’ll be doing much more work on that imminently. People can donate funds to us, or they can donate items through our Amazon Wish List. They can come and volunteer with us and they can fundraise or volunteer in one of our shops,” Gillian invites.

If you can spare the time, the RSPCA can put it to good use!

> Much more information is available by clicking to rspcamiltonkeynes.co.uk

One little stray in the city had hopes of filling his belly when he came across a discarded can, but he actually ended up with his head wedged inside the tin. It led to a weeklong cat hunt before specialist trappers from the RSPCA in Milton Keynes managed to catch him and release him from the horror.

“He was scared and went into fight or flight mode,” explained a spokesman, “Despite his desperate plight and not having eaten for days, he was determined to avoid us.”

Once he had been caught, the troubled little boy, now named Finn, was quickly taken to the vets where the can was removed. Finn was very underweight and was given fluids, antibiotics and pain relief.

He is on the mend, but the ordeal has made him hypersensitive to noise and he has cotton wool in his ears to assist recovery.

“He is doing well but has been wild for a little while, so we are trying to make him understand the benefits of being caught!” Gillian said.

Why should

get my little girl spayed?

The numbers of unwanted cats and kittens are huge, and rescue centres are bursting with felines all desperate to have a home of their own, but few takers. Getting your little girl spayed before she turns four months old is the responsible thing to do – and doing it at that young age means that she doesn’t get pregnant while she is still a kitten.

A troubling ‘tail’ with a Finn-tastic end!

I

Chickpea was left behind when her owner moved

Beautiful Bee - a stray Kitten

Poor Finn had to be rescued when he got his head stuck in a discarded can

‘If this helps just one person, it will be amazing’

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among the UK’s male population. However, a simple blood test can catch the disease early, with the likelihood of successful treatment much improved. And more than 200 men made appointments for a special testing event in Milton Keynes.

One in eight UK men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

For those aged over 50, for whom there is a family history of prostate cancer or among the UK’s black population, the probability is higher.

However, if caught early, the disease is highly treatable and is often diagnosed through a blood test that analyses levels of PSA – a protein made only by the prostate gland.

A total 229 men booked appointments for a PSA Test event, held at Windmill Hill Golf Club in Bletchley and organised by Milton Keynes Prostate Cancer Support, which works to raise awareness of prostate cancer and support those diagnosed with it or other prostate problems, as well as their families.

“In its early stages, prostate cancer generally produces no symptoms so it is important to diagnose the disease at this time when a wider range of treatment options can be offered,” said MKPCS trustee Jo Baker.

Among those booking an appointment was Milton Keynes resident Darren Jordan. “In and out in two minutes with a small amount of blood taken and it was literally that simple,” he said. “It was warming to see so many blokes supporting it and getting tested as well.”

Specialist phlebotomists provided by the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust were on

hand to carry out the tests. Milton Keynes Deputy mayor Cllr Mick Legg and his wife Mandy greeted visitors as they arrived for their appointment.

Support for the event came from MK Dons FC and the club’s Supporters Association. Employers including Santander, Network Rail and Mercedes-Benz also promoted the testing to their employees and families.

The event was sponsored by Milton Keynes-based building maintenance specialist Plumbing & Gas Solutions. “If this helps just one person, it will be absolutely amazing,” says founder and managing director Carl Yeomanson.

Donations on the day swelled MKPCS coffers by around £200. “Every donation is gratefully received and allows MKPCS to continue to provide the community support and to fund future PSA testing events,” said Jo.

>> MKPCS is run entirely by volunteers. Find out more at www.prostatemk.org

Deputy mayor Cllr Mick Legg and his wife Mandy helped to greet visitors at a recent PSA test held at Windmill Hill Golf Club in Bletchley

Private Physiotherapy Services offered in Milton Keynes

At The Saxon Clinic, we offer private physiotherapy services ranging from post-operative, sports and exercise, hand therapy, paediatric physiotherapy, and lots more. All these services can be accessed privately without the need for a referral.

Daniel Kirby Physiotherapy Manager

What does The Saxon Clinic Physiotherapy have to offer?

The Saxon Clinic Physiotherapy team have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to

assessing, treating, and managing Musculoskeletal and Orthopaedic conditions. The team will work with you on an individual basis to reach your goals and targets.

We use a wide range of treatment techniques including speciality treatments such as Shockwave Therapy, Acupuncture, and our stateof-the-art Anti-Gravity treadmill.

What makes The Saxon Clinic’s Physiotherapy department unique?

We are a team of authentic and compassionate people who strive to better ourselves to improve the experience and outcome for our patients. We work closely with

our consultants at the hospital for support, advice and high-quality assessments and diagnostics.

What do you love about working in physiotherapy?

Physiotherapists go into the profession for one reason, to make a difference in people’s lives. We are caring, and empathic and we love building relationships with our patients. These relationships help build trust to allow us to work with our patients to meet their rehabilitation goals. There is nothing more satisfying than giving patients hope and seeing them return to their normal activities.

To book in with our specialised team, please call us on 01908 889901 (option 1, then option 3)

If you are looking for a friendly, effective, and down to earth therapist who can help you from the comfort of your own home then Carlee is here for you.

She is a fully qualified and insured cognitive behavioural therapist and counsellor with over nine years’ experience in autism, anxiety, depression, couples therapy, divorce and more. Miss C.L. Loveday BSc (hons), Dip (CBT), NLP Prac, Dip.Hyp

Walking back to happiness

The new year is almost here – and the best resolution you can make is to put your health first, and that includes your foot health. When you are ready to take that first step, Healthy Feet MK are waiting to help...

Let’s be honest, the majority of us don’t afford our feet the respect they deserve. They work hard for us, and in return they get a cursory trim and are plonked inside a heavy boot, or crammed into those ill-fitting heels. We moan when they ache, but in the main don’t really do anything to keep them comfy.

To be fair, I have spent lots of time and money on my feet – over the past four years I have tried a variety of fairly pricey over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments with little or no success, as I tried to take control of an infection which has been present for much longer.

Those nail brushes that promise results ‘in as little as seven days’ haven’t worked even after months of treatment. Painting a liquid onto a massively thickened nail will do nothing – it needs to penetrate the nail plate, and it can’t.

It took me years, and a lot of wasted money, to understand that.

My doctor offered oral medication, while warning of the potential for nasty side effects, and limited success. I had to admit defeat; my nasty nails were here to stay.

But a chance glance at a Facebook post back in the summer changed all that.

Those ‘before’ and ‘after’ images you see that look too good to be true (and often are) grabbed my attention.

But this Facebook post was from a local business, so I decided to pick up the phone and inquire about this revolutionary new laser treatment they were promoting. It might make for a good ‘feeture’!

A couple of weeks later, I’d kicked off my flipflops at Healthy Feet MK and my nastiness was on show before business owners, mother and daughter Liz and Kirsty, who have 16 years of shared experience in foot health.

While I cringed at the state of my feet, they spoke about why, no matter how bad the state of yours, you should take steps towards better foot health.

“Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body, so it’s important to take care of them,” Kirsty said, “Poor foot health can lead to all sorts of problems – and not just for the elderly.

“If you have a build up of hard skin or a painful corn or verruca you might walk in a different way to avoid the pain, which can cause issues with your joints or your back. And complications

Before treatment...

...and after

The well-appointed treatment space at Healthy Feet MK in their new premises at The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park

in people with diabetes are common – and can be due to poor blood flow and nerve damage. “Regular visits allow us to monitor their feet and keep them safe.”

But as anyone struggling with nasty foot issues will agree, getting those tootsies out for a professional assessment isn’t easy. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

“We don’t judge,” Liz said, “Fungal and thickened nails, hard skin and verrucae are the most common foot and nail complaints that people come to us with. We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable, and we can promise that whatever you are struggling with, we will have seen it before – and probably much worse!

“We want our clients to leave feeling better about themselves. Our vision with the clinic was to create a space that is ‘in-between’ a doctor’s surgery and a beauty salon.”

This new Lunula Laser treatment that I have signed up for is used specifically for tackling fungal infections, known as onychomycosis, and it seems to make turning nasty nails into nice ones a breeze.

“We were becoming increasingly frustrated with the amount of clients we had with fungal nails who had paid a lot of money for over the counter treatments that weren’t working,” Liz said, “Some had been to the GP and been offered oral medication, but they weren’t happy to take it because of the toxicity on their livers.

“After lots of research, and based on results proven in clinical studies, we decided to invest in the Lunula Laser – we liked the fact that it’s a cold laser with very little risk of side effects and it’s completely pain free.”

The treatment is simple – you slide your foot into the machine and let the laser do its thing while you sit and have a natter. One beam is anti microbial which kills the fungus, and a second redirects blood flow to assist the immune system to beat the bugs. It takes 12 minutes to treat each foot, per session and is completely painless.

As few as four treatments can be enough to banish the infection. The machines aren’t widely available and it’s not cheap; the cost is £150 per treatment. But if, like me, your feet are affecting your confidence, spending £600 to banish the nastiness and regain confidence is absolutely worth every last penny.

The laser tackles the fungus and stimulates new clear nail growth, with no adverse reactions to the nail bed, toe or foot. It can also help to repair and recondition damaged nails, and it works with fingernails too.

Sessions should take place monthly, and it can make a real difference – and it really has for me.

Kirsty took images before each treatment, and the before and after comparisons are quite startling. My disfigured nails, ravaged by infection for so long, are already returning to normal, and as the nails continue to grow out, the results should become even more apparent. But those images (pictured left) tell you everything you need to know right now.

Being honest, I definitely didn’t expect to see such a marked result. I still don’t like my feet, but I do keep swiping those before and after pictures on my phone, because I love seeing normal nails again. I know that this coming summer, for the first time in years, when I pull on my flip-flops I won’t feel ashamed – and that feeling is priceless.

Liz (left) says, ‘We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable’

‘Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body’ says Kirsty (right)

Anyone struggling with onychomycosis is prone to reinfection, and a once a year ‘top up’ under the machine might be necessary.

At Healthy Feet MK, I’m not exceptional – just another Lunula success.

“We have had amazing results so far, and have lots of happy clients who thought they were all out of treatment options,” Kirsty said.

The business has just moved to new premises offering better access for all, and can now be found in The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park – a 10 mile distance from both Milton Keynes and Northampton. Clients also have access to an on-site cafe, and can enjoy trail walks in the beautiful countryside, which is another bonus of booking an appointment –you can enjoy a little ‘me time’, too.

Kirsty and Liz advise clients to visit them every six to eight weeks for treatments or simply to maintain foot health.

“We visit a lot of elderly people who wish they’d looked after their feet more when they were younger, but it’s never too late to start,” Liz encourages, “Regular appointments help us to get on top of any issues before they become too problematic. That said, we’d rather people visit us as much or as little as they are able to, rather than not at all.”

While I’m grateful that Healthy Feet MK were on hand to help me, I still don’t get the attraction of working with feet all day.

“We get asked about this a lot,” Kirsty smiles, “For us, it’s not necessarily about the feet themselves, but more about the positive difference we can make to a client’s confidence and comfort.”

Healthy Feet MK also offers a wide range of routine treatments, from dealing with hard skin and diabetic foot care, to corn enucleation, and the following pedicures, reconstructions and treatments...

Medical Pedicures

A relaxing treatment which incorporates a routine foot care treatment with a foot soak, exfoliation, cuticle softener and foot massage.

Nail reconstruction

A popular treatment using a hybrid flexible gem to construct a temporary nail which helps to cover any that the client may feel conscious about –perhaps due to fungus or damage. It’s a great option for a special occasion, such as a holiday.

Plasma verruca treatment

It is virtually pain free and no paddings or dressings are required. The plasma pen works on a verruca by disrupting the virus that hides in the skin. It will evaporate the skin cells around it, which prompts an immune response from the body to fight the virus and clear the verruca.

They’ve succeeded on both counts. For more information about the Lunula Laser treatment and to see how Liz and Kirsty can help you, visit healthyfeetmk.co.uk

From dreary to dewy –essentials that your skin

will love!

As we welcome in a new year, it’s a good time to stop, take check and put yourselves first! Here are some skin essentials to get you off to a flying start...

Farmacy’s Green Clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm is such a hit that Sephora sells a jar every two minutes! It’s an adaptable little tub; perfect for all skin types, its gentle formula delivers high-performing results – stubborn makeup and pollution residue doesn’t stand a chance.

Green Clean has sunflower and ginger root oils to cleanse and nourish the skin, moringa extract to refresh and banish impurities and papaya extract to exfoliate.

Green Clean – guaranteed to clean up!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

Are you suffering with irritating dry skin? Farmacy’s Honey Savior is an all-in-one skin repair salve, capable of tackling nuisances on the face, body, hands and lips, thanks to an intense combination of honey, propolis and royal jelly.

Use it to target problem areas, or as a daily part of your skin care routine - and it’s kind on the finances too; a little goes a long way!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

If you spend all of your time in an air-conditioned office, work from home with the heating on (less likely now, we know) or have to deal with the great outdoors and all that blows your way, your skin might benefit from a little light misting every once in a while – and Heritage Store’s Rosewater & Glycerin hydrating facial mist is a quick and easy treat. Perfect for dry and combination skin, it helps to hydrate and refresh, while locking in necessary moisture – reach for a spritz and go from drear to dewy!

RRP: £11.49

Get it: Superdrug branches at centre:mk and Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre

When we think of dry skin, we seldom think of that on our head, but our scalp needs TLC, and Aveda’s brand new vegan Scalp Solutions Collection soothes irritations, and fights the look of premature scalp aging using plant power. An overnight scalp renewal serum will get to work while you clock up your Zzzz’s, but the range also includes an Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, balancing shampoo and replenishing conditioner and protective mist, and don’t forget the scalp brush.

RRP: Prices vary per product Get it: Exclusively at Selfridges from January 6, and nationwide from February 7. Also at aveda.co.uk

The winter chill is just as damaging for our skin as the summer sun, and when you add in that none-too-healthy festive diet we’ve all just enjoyed, our skin is possibly showing the effects!

Lush’s Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask is full of summer goodness; chamomile, seaweed and rose are among the ingredients helping to soothe, cleanse and relax tired skin. As it’s packed with fresh ingredients, it will need to jostle for space in your fridge and be used within 28 days. Instead of reaching for the naughties in the chiller, reach for this tub for a cool way to softer skin.

RRP: £10 Get it: Lush in centre:mk, at the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton, or online at lush.com/uk

A divorcee’s guide to the ‘Quickie Divorce’

When you google ‘Get a Divorce’, the first search returned is the Government website. After that you will see several adverts from services promising you a ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ service –

“Get a divorce In Weeks £199 – No courts and no solicitor fees”

“Quickie divorce”

Emily Pope Solicitor - Divorce and Family Law

“24 hour service – start your fast divorce today” Almost too good to be true, right?

Right!

There is no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’. This article explains the current divorce process to illustrate why the reality is that currently in England and Wales divorces are taking a minimum of 6 months from start to finish.

The process

1. Application for divorce submitted (either jointly, or with one party doing their own application)

2. Application is sent to your spouse to approve (in joint applications) or to acknowledge service (sole applications).

3. Once approved/acknowledged, the application goes back to the court to check thoroughly and issue. This usually takes a few days, but if there are errors or if you have applied for help with fees, it can take some weeks. The court fee is £593.

4. Application issued by the courts once checked. This starts the 20 week ‘waiting period’ before the divorce can be progressed further. The government introduced this waiting period to ensure that couples took time to think about their divorce and avoided hasty decision making. It is a time for reflection and for many couples a time to negotiate and try to reach agreement regarding their finances.

5. After 20 weeks, the conditional order can be applied for. Again, the court checks the application and sets down a date (usually a couple of weeks away) to pronounce the conditional order.

6. Conditional order made. At this point, it is vital that parties ensure an agreement is in place and lodged with the court in relation to their finances. You cannot assume that your financial claims will be dismissed automatically on divorce.

7. There is a further 6 week waiting period after the conditional order is made before either party can apply for the conditional order to be made ‘final’.

8. Final order application submitted. The final order is made relatively quickly once the application has been made.

What does this mean for you?

Well, as far as fees are concerned, unless you are eligible for help with fees (e.g. because you are in receipt of certain benefits) then a divorce is going to cost you a minimum of £593.

Timings wise, there is a minimum 20 week wait and 6 week wait within the divorce process. This means that a divorce is going to take a minimum of 26 weeks even if all parties (including the court) action everything within seconds of receiving it.

The reality for prospective divorcees is that there is no such thing as a quickie divorce. You could pay any solicitor or online service any amount of money to assist you, but the reality is that you will be waiting over 6 months for a divorce.

What else can you be doing during the 6 months? Those 6 months do not need to be wasted. You can use the 6 month period to reach agreement between you in relation to arrangements for children and your finances.

By seeking advice at the outset, you can ensure that you are using the time as productively as possible, so that once your divorce is finalised, you can rest easy knowing that everything has been dealt with.

The eye in the MK sky

It’s never normally good to admit that you look down on others, but Chris Read is the exception. His pastime has helped him in a personal capacity and is giving pleasure to city residents who are seeing things quite differently, too. It’s fair to say that things are well and truly on the up, as he told Pulse’s Sammy Jones.

There was a time not so long ago when a mention of the word drone would conjure up images of male honey bees, and it was our under threat pollinators who influenced the naming of the UAVs (unmanned aircraft systems) that we are all now very familiar with.

Once associated with military use, over the past decade or so they have become useful tools, assisting with everything from surveillance and traffic monitoring to firefighting. They are even employed to make deliveries!

Earlier this year, we looked up to find one looking down on us at a gig in the new city.

Like our army of delivery robots, they are appreciated and used by many, but they raise the hackles in others.

Whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent the numbers of people using

drones for personal use has gone sky high, if you take our meaning.

Newport Pagnell man Chris Read is one of those invested in the technology – and his striking images from across Milton Keynes brought him to our attention.

“I’ve always enjoyed taking nice photos and using different angles, and the technology of drones interested me,” he said, “To be able to combine the two was a huge attraction. There aren’t many methods of photography that can capture from the angles a drone can!”

Working with drones gives a different perspective, and that is something that even helped Chris with his own mental health journey.

“Mental health, particularly men’s mental health, is still an area that is still not talked about enough. Mental and physical health is something that we all have, after all.

“Anxiety and overthinking has been an issue for me for some years, and I’ve never really found the solution,” Chris said, “People would tell me to ‘look at it differently’ when referring to an anxious subject, but I would always say that I didn’t get it, because I can only see what I can see.

“What photography showed me is that you can take an object or a building and look at it from different angles and see a different image. It helped me to understand that in a mental capacity - just because I’ve seen something one way immediately, it doesn’t mean I can’t change my angle and see something a bit differently!”

Chris only discovered his new hobby in August but, thrilled by some fantastic bird’s eye views of the area, he decided to share his results online. He set up an Instagram page which is currently nudging 750 followers and his images are causing a stir on social media with 1000s of likes.

“I enjoy people’s reactions and interactions with the posts, but I find it quite overwhelming to think so many people are interested in what I capture!” he admitted.

Chris is often met by intrigued members of the public when he is out with the drone, but he hasn’t encountered much in the way of negativity – people are more interested in the laws of flying these clever little machines.

“I’m always open and explain the laws for the category of drone that I am flying – you can’t just buy and fly a drone, there are qualifications required and I find that once people hear you are qualified and authorised they feel more comfortable.”

To date, Chris has provided unique views of some of MK’s most popular places and landmarks: from the Dons Stadium to Campbell Park, and the green splendour afforded by Salcey Forest.

Chris has captured Christmas light parades and secret rooftop gardens and all sorts of dramatic alternative shots. And if you think you’ve seen enough roundabouts to last you a lifetime, think again – they are quite beautiful when viewed from the air. Honestly!

It will come as absolutely no surprise to know that Chris is a one-man PR machine for UAVs

“They are certainly necessary,” he says, resolutely, “The amount of work they can save a person having to do, and the height risks they rule out, make them an asset.

“A prime example is roof inspections where hours of erecting scaffolding and sending people up can be eliminated by a drone taking images in a much smaller time frame.”

But what about those people who do see them as another invasion of privacy?

“Recreationally, I think the first thing I’d say is if a drone is above, it is likely to be photographing something a fair distance away from its actual location. A drone sees nothing that the Google plane, Google earth or hot air balloons or helicopters haven’t already seen!”

Chris and his flying ‘bot’ were on hand at the annual firework displays in Newport Pagnell and Olney – which is definitely ‘up there’ when it comes to his favourite captures so far.

“It was something I’d not tried before and certainly took some work to get it just right.

CMK is always a pleasure to capture from above too, and at night time the reflections and lights look fantastic.”

While his drone time is for pleasure just now, the motor trade worker would certainly hope to combine business with pleasure in the future.

“It’s definitely something I’d like to turn into a business, while also keeping the recreational element to share with others. I have already been asked to assist by estate agents, and for the roof inspections I mentioned!

“I want to continue shooting things from a perspective that others don’t generally get to see, and grow my online platform while continuing to enjoy my hobby.

“I will put myself forward for charitable causes too, and have recently established a relationship with Willen Hospice to support them as much as possible; everyone around MK has some connection with them and I am happy to give them my time.

“I also see it as a way of giving back to the local community who have got my pages out there!”

> Follow Chris on Instagram @droneovermk and @chrisreadaerialphotography

Chris with his trusty drone camera and (main image) a stunning view of Willen Lake

Chris has captured the essence of the city from the sky, (above) looking down on Christ the Cornerstone and (left) Central Milton Keynes with the striking Hotel La Tour in the foreground

It’s official - Naseem is the UK’s Curry Queen!

Namji Restaurant has put Milton Keynes firmly on the map for Punjabi cuisine – by taking not one, but two awards at this month’s seventh annual Asian Food & Restaurant Awards (AFRA) event.

Dozens of eateries competed for the title of Best Restaurant of the Year in Buckinghamshire at the glitzy awards show held in London, but Namji fought off spicy competition to take the award.

Owner Naseem Khan went home with a gong of her own, too – she can now officially be known as the UK’s Curry Queen of the Year!

“I was absolutely staggered to win the award for Best Restaurant for a second consecutive year,” Naseem said, “It is such a hotly contested category, and I am so proud of my whole team who are all responsible for Namji’s success.

“Being declared the UK’s Curry Queen was something I never expected. It’s a wonderful endorsement of all we do.”

Naseem opened Namji in Wolverton back in 2017, and her second branch, in Xscape in Central Milton Keynes, has proven a huge hit with locals and visitors alike since opening its doors last year.

“I’d love to be able to share the secret behind the success, but the recipes are a Namji secret!” She said, “This title really belongs to my

late mother, Munawar Sultana – all the recipes are of her creation, so I accepted the award on her behalf.

“Food has always been at the heart of our family time, and her passion lives on through Namji. She would be thrilled to bits by this award.

“Namji’s success is only possible because of the support I get from my husband Malik and my son Adi. They push me to achieve and are so patient - it really is a group effort.”

Her restaurants aren’t the only places where Naseem serves up courses – she also set up

her charity Give Back 2U UK to educate and advance skills of women from ethnic minority and disadvantaged backgrounds which is making a difference locally.

During the pandemic, Naseem opened up a soup kitchen to help families in need, and as the cost of living crisis deepens, her kitchens are busier than usual too; each week Namji delivers 100s of meals to the homeless and the vulnerable across Milton Keynes.

“It’s important to feed mind, body and soul,” Naseem said, “I feel immensely privileged to be able to help people through the restaurant and the charity.”

Naseem with one of her awards in her restaurant in Xscape, and celebrating with son Adi (left)

Some of the delicious dishes on the menu at Namji

Sprouts and Wensleydale

METHOD

1. In a large frying pan start by toasting your chorizo if using. Once this has become nicely crunchy, set aside. For a vegetarian alternative read from step 2. 2. In the same pan add your butter and shallot diced and let this sweat for about 1 or 2 minutes. Add your rice and toast for 2 minutes. If using some wine, now is the time to add and let the alcohol evaporate. Once your rice is toasted, start by introducing your liquid, make sure the stock is at the same temperature as the rice.

2. Add about 150ml at the time and continue until you have the last liquid in your jug, making sure that the previous has been fully absorbed. Add your sprouts and the last part of the stock and let simmer. In the meantime prepare your cheese sauce. To the small pan, add your milk and crumbled cheese and bring to a vivid simmer. Whisk lightly until the cheese is completely melted. Your risotto should be cooked. Take this off the heat and add your creamy sauce.

Olneyʼs secret hidden Kitchen

foodie Emma Norris kicks off 2023 with a review of the Olney Kitchen.

Last month, I took a trip to a really picturesque spot in the heart of Olney: Olney Kitchen. Considering I’m a big foodie AND I’ve lived in Newport Pagnell for most of my life, I was confused when I was invited to visit – I really thought I knew all of the independent restaurants in my area, yet I hadn’t heard of Olney Kitchen before. After checking Google Maps, I was even more baffled as it was a restaurant just off Market Square – how could I not have stumbled upon this restaurant when I know the area so well?!

When I pulled up to park in Market Square car park (which I shortly worked out was situated mere steps from the entrance) I was still confused – where was this place? All of a sudden I spotted the branded awning across the street, just next to Olney Butchers. This quaint and hidden spot really did look beautifully welcoming, so I was excited for the meal to come. To gain access, you have to walk down a florally-adorned covered pathway which genuinely has to be one of loveliest entranceways to an eatery (that I’ve seen, at least!) in the Milton Keynes area; draping artificial flowers, whitewashed brick walls and Victorian-style wall lights lit the way to the doors of the restaurant.

As we visited on a Wednesday evening, Olney Kitchen was pretty quiet with just a handful of staff and only a few tables occupied, but you can certainly tell this would be a bustling spot a little nearer to the weekend. You enter directly into the bar area – conservatory-style ceiling windows would make this a gorgeously airy space in the Summer, but on this dark autumnal evening, we were cosily lit instead by large candelabra chandeliers.

The restaurant also pays homage to its hometown, with pictures of Olney through the ages on the walls.

Staff who showed us to our seats instantly put us at ease and were incredibly welcoming and attentive. We had a selection of tables to choose from in the huge, open-plan restaurant area (with tall, barn-like ceilings) and opted for a central circular table; there were booths available too, which would be a great choice for a more intimate dining experience on the busier weekends. The tables that were occupied, on this evening in particular,

spanned the generational divide – from toddlers to grandparents, the family-friendly environment is mirrored in Olney Kitchen’s old meets new décor.

The first thing we noticed when looking at the menu was the incredible value. Before I detail the price of each dish individually, it’s worth noting that the total our abundant dinner, Coke and a cocktail, came to was less than £46 (between two) which, especially in the current climate, is fantastic value for money. The second thing to note is also the vast array of food on offer at Olney Kitchen: from pasta and pizza to a huge selection of burgers, plentiful vegetarian options, seafood and grilled meat, there really is something here for everyone. We opted to share the baked dough balls with garlic butter to start, priced at £2.99, as we really wanted to ‘start small’ and try their unorthodox pizza (a nod to ‘Café Brio’ – the previous restaurant before Olney Kitchen, renowned for their unusual pizzas) and the towering burgers on offer. We then shared the

intriguing Peking Roast Duck Pizza (£9.95) which was topped with hoisin sauce, mozzarella, julienne carrots, onion and crispy crushed wontons – traditionalists and Italians look away now – but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Our burgers arrived promptly afterwards and they were absolutely huge. I’d seen these on their Instagram account (@olneykitchen) and, I have to say, they were even more impressive in real life. My guest opted for ‘The Boss’ – a juicy burger patty topped with crispy sautéed onions and mushrooms, bacon, two slices of melted cheddar cheese and spicy pepperoni – which was served with a basket of fries, for an incredibly reasonable £8.90 and I went for the server’s suggestion, ‘The Bad Boy Burger’ at £13.90. Also served with fries, this absolute mountain consisted of a patty, pulled pork, bacon and extraordinarily oozy melted cheese, topped with two BBQ wings and two crispy hot wings. A veritable feast!

Olney Kitchen also offer collection so, if you’re unable to dine-in, this would be a great option. They occasionally host Jazz Nights which, I would imagine, would be a perfect fit for the relaxed, rustic and spacious surroundings – so be sure to check out their website (www.olneyskitchen.uk/olney) for more details!

olneyskitchen.uk/olney 01234 717000

> If you would like your restaurant reviewed get in touch mkpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmaroseeats

Pulse

The Bad Boy Burger

Olney Kitchen offers a cocktail menu

The attractive entrance to the restaurant

Peking roast duck pizza

It’s official - Pantone have announced that their pick for COTY 2023 is Viva Magenta! This is a shade deeply rooted in nature, descending from the red family and expressing a new signal of strength. his vivid colour is described as being both powerful and empowering as a new animated hue that revels in pure unapologetic joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint. We absolutely adore this shade, and to help you get inspired we’ve gathered a selection of images from our clients to help you embrace this electrifying statement colour in the New Year.

DIGGING DEEP Recycle responsibly

For a few weeks it is at the centre of our celebrations – decked out in baubles and bling, it’s somewhere to pile gifts underneath, and an object of desire for those homes who have resident puddy-tats!

Lots of effort goes into choosing ‘the one’ when it comes to our Christmas tree, and we spend ages decorating it, and giving it pride of place during the festive season.

And then? January hits and it’s out with the old and in with the new, and that includes the tree.

If you want to enjoy a real tree, you should act responsibly when Christmas is over, too. You definitely don’t want to throw it out with the household waste and expect refuse collectors to deal with it. The last thing you want to do is send it off to landfill.

If you opt for a tree with its roots attached, it is possible to replant it. In fact, some tree nurseries will even take them back for another year, and then the same tree can spend Christmas with you in another 12 months. How cool is that?

But if you can’t replant your leafy pal, there are still plenty of ways to be environmentally sound.

Real trees are biodegradable and will rot away in a year or two without any assistance, save for initially cutting it into small pieces. Then pile the pieces up in the garden in a shaded area and let it do its thing. It will be out of your way and, rather than add to the environmental burden, as it slowly decomposes the tree will be used for food and shelter by many insects and wildlife. If you have a little space in your garden to do this,

the soil will be improved by its arrival too, so it really is a win-win.

Other ways to be smart and sustainable?

If your tree isn’t so big, why not pop it in a heavy, stable pot that won’t be at the mercy of any winds, and replace your festive trinkets with bird feed balls and treats?

Food is scarce for birds during the harsh months of winter; they will welcome the food source and your garden will become a hot spot for our feathered friends – watching them from the warmth of your home is a fantastic way to decompress and appreciate nature.

You’ll have your own live version of Winter Watch! The only thing missing will be Chris Packham, sadly. You’ll even get to identify individual birds and will see their different personalities. And we write from experience.

It’s a great way to encourage children to take an interest in nature too, and they will enjoy making simple fat balls and seeded treats – a quick google will give you lots of ideas.

Apples and pears that are bruised or past their best can also be hung and will be welcomed by little beaks.

Top Tip ...

Fresh rhubarb from the garden... do you take yours stewed with custard, or cooked into a yummy crumble?

Rhubarb crops over a long period, and can flourish in all types of garden soil.

Now is the time to plant dormant crowns, but fight the temptation to harvest during the first year – pick from year two, and always leave more than you take, to encourage active growth.

The leaves are suitable for composting, but are absolutely not edible – they are toxic.

Oh, and while we all consider the tasty stalks to be a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable!

Another way to take care of your Christmas tree is to hand the responsibility to Willen Hospice! Their recycling initiative has proven a hit in recent years and it supports the fabulous work of the hospice.

In 2023, they will be collecting from the postcodes MK1-MK19, MK43, MK46 and LU7 between January 6 and 8.

You book your collection online and leave a minimum donation of £10 – the charity receives no money from recycling the trees.

All decorations need to be removed, and the tree needs to be outside your property by 8am on January 6 – all collections should be complete by January 9.

If you have a particularly large tree that is 8ft or more in height, do be sure to mention that when you book your slot.

Bookings close at midnight on January 4. The trees will be transported to dedicated sites where they will be chipped and recycled as mulch for use on public land, Parks Trust land and farms in the area.

> To book, visit willen-hospice.org.uk and click the news tab to follow the link.

Pic: Flickr

Start a log pile in a corner of your garden with your old Christmas trees and create a haven for insects and wildlife

Making the world a better home

Aforward-thinking approach to increasing sustainability is at the heart of an ongoing mission at T&K Home Improvements to be a leading competitor in their industry.

This approach to business means while products and services are still affordable, it is not at the expense of the environment.

The business, which celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2023, works hard to find innovative solutions and build partnerships with other companies who share similar ethics to ensure sustainability for their products and customers for many years to come.

A lot of hard work and determination means the business can now boast CHAS, SMAS & Constructionline Gold Accreditations. In addition, the highly coveted Environmental Management System Standards, ISO 14001 has been awarded year after year. These

standards reflect the importance the business puts on health and safety and sustainability working practices.

The ISO 14001 is also held by leading glass manufacturer Saint Gobain, one of T&K’s trusted partners. The framework follows a cycle – plan, do, check, act which allows businesses to drive continual improvement and achieve environmental goals. Saint Gobain’s commitments includes a decision to manufacture and supply glass to only UKbased businesses helping to reduce transport emissions and air miles.

Another partner is Veka, a specialist in recycling materials. Old windows and doors are too valuable to be taken to the landfill site. Instead, materials like aluminium and glass are recycled and an environmentally-process turns the uPVC into pellets which can be used to create high quality doors and windows.

T&K Home Improvments are leading the way with their approach to offer customers environmentally sourced and produced products.

T&K Home Improvements offer a range of environmentally sourced and produced products for your home

Not only do they look good but improvements in thermal efficiency improve heat retention and lower fuel costs.

The same approach to sustainability, which is not a recent decision, is reflected in T&K’s operations. Solar panels, installed more than 20 years ago, continue to power the factories and have saved over 16,000,000 million plus air miles and counting.

Adrian Timbers, Sales and Marketing Manager, said: “It’s important to take a step back and look at how our long-term plans and processes are having an impact. It’s easy to get immersed in the dayto-day running of the business without looking at it from another perspective, we are always looking to put the customer and the planet at the heart of what we do and like to take a step back to ensure we are continuing to do so.”

In the last year there has been a £1 million investment to fund four new fuel-efficient Volvo FM Rigid trucks with five more on order. These trucks meet the latest Euro 6 emission standards with aerodynamics capable of improving by fuel efficiency by 50 per cent compared to previous models.

Other projects include the Wellingboroughbased production facilities undergoing a complete facelift. This includes the replacement of old toilet systems and hand dryers which again reduce consumption by up to 50 per cent.

Adrian said: “T&K is committed to taking a proactive approach. We want to maximise what we can do to help make the home improvement sector more sustainable and will continuously look for new ways to try to improve this for years to come. This is our commitment to customers and in return we hope they have the confidence to see the value of taking the decision to improve their home with a company that cares.” Take a look behind the scenes - sign up for a free tour of the Wellingborough factory to see first hand just how much work goes in to creating your doors, windows and conservatories. To find out more scan the QR code >>

T&K Home Improvements is a family run business that has provided quality windows, doors and conservatories since 1979 in Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas. To find out more about high performance energy efficient glazing options and how much you can save visit our website: www.tkhi.co.uk

T&K guarantees the work unconditionally for ten years with the fitting undertaken by the familyrun company’s team of experienced fitters.

We want to maximise what we can do to help make the home improvement sector more sustainable”

– Adrian Timbers, Sales and Marketing Manager at T&K Home Improvements

Cosy Curves

As we welcome in yet another new year, we pack away our decorations and recently made memories from the festive period. The first months of the year can often feel longer than the others, dragging on with bleak weather and the continuation of short days without the relief of festive cheer; it can feel an age until we notice the lighter evenings, first buds of spring, lambs in the field and the temperatures beginning to rise towards summertime again. The almost primordial temptation to hunker down and hibernate through these months can be overwhelming, juxtaposed with the desire to see this new year as a boundless opportunity for change, growth and reinvention, of ourselves as well as our surroundings.

Just as the curves of our bodies after an indulgent festive period should be celebrated, so should curves within the home! No longer should our interiors feel austere, straight and sparse, reinforcing the feeling of chill in the air, and the bleak feeling of the dark winter. The emergence of curves and comfort trends within

the home has been happening slowly over the past couple of years, with some even suggesting it is a natural reaction to our enforced time at home during the various lockdowns in the earliest years of our decade. Having to spend so much time in our own homes didn’t just mean that some of us saw the existing flaws to redesign, but also that our theoretical checklist of “must haves” at home changed too. People now want to differentiate home office spaces from comfortable evening places. We want to be able to move through our whole house with ease and autonomy and for it to be able to perform as both office and home – on the one hand looking chic and sophisticated, but on the other - cosy, welcoming and relaxing, somewhere where we are comfortable spending a lot of time. The latest trend of curves taps into all these desires.

Product designers have a helping hand in this, bringing us pieces of furniture and accents for the home with more curved silhouettes and increasingly fluid and natural looking lines. Think round or free form coffee tables, naturally shaped and raw edges to dining tables, hallway consoles with semi-circular ends, demi-lune tables and cabinetry, sofas and chairs with rounded backs or arms and deep, well-filled, squishy cushions. Of course, we’re not suggesting you need to rush out and replace every item in your home with a curved equivalent solely to be able to achieve a cosy winter equilibrium! But updating a worn-out piece of furniture to one with a softer outline, or adding a circular shaped accent here and there, can be all you need to achieve the desired effect. Try a round or wavy mirror in place of

one that is rectangular, introduce curvaceous lamps and planters, or even change something as simple as your square edged table lamp shade to a version that is drum shaped.

To take things a step further, you can add curves as a structural or architectural element, creating archways instead of door openings or building an arched or organic shaped bookcase into a fireplace recess. If such drastic and permanent changes aren’t possible, then why not try experimenting with paint. Paint blocking using curves can be a great way to direct flow through a space, or to delineate between one area and another. We are not all blessed with endless rooms in a large house - for some, one room might have

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash www.romo.com

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash

to double as a sitting room, office, dining room and kitchen. Using paint blocking techniques, well placed curvaceous furniture and clever pools of light that can be changed for any given use, can create a fluid space, that tricks the mind into feeling like there are many different rooms and areas within one. Something that one can’t help but be mindful of at the moment is the increasing cost of living. Homes should be our sanctuary, our safe space; warm and inviting. Whilst interior design may not be high on your priority list currently, when it comes to spending, keeping warm surely will be. Luckily, designers have got our backs here too. As with curves, soft and tactile textures are being seen as a big trend that’s here to stay. Think knitted blankets, upholstered footstools and furry cushionsitems that can look great in the home and also help to keep you warm during these last couple of months of winter. Muted tones ensure the mind stays calm and comforted too, use palettes of soft terracottas and pinks, or combine sage greens with greige and off-whites. These colours are relaxing for our senses and work well with natural textures such as pale wood, stone, jute and cork (currently in vogue), all of which help to create a cosy space. Lift the muted natural colours with accents of black, a darker jewel tone, or pops of gold accessories, any of which will help to prevent a space feeling washed out.

However you choose to step into this new year, you can rest assured that in 2023 style does not have to forgo comfort, and comfort can be an important component of style!

The inspiration of colour: Art to bring you positive energy in 2023

The use of colour in our environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. With the experts of fashion, paint and design having made their colour trend forecasts for next year, we’re pleased to see a focus on creating a positive feeling.

So what do these colour trends look like, and how are our artists bringing these colours into their pieces?

Honey Yellows

Dulux has announced Wild Wonder as their colour of 2023, creating a warm glow and connecting us with nature to help us ‘feel better in our homesʼ.

This natural warmth seems like the perfect place to start our exploration of trending colours with its rich positivity and sumptuousness. While the examples of such warm yellows on the walls of the Rose Gallery provide very different perspectives, each promotes a feeling of boldness and vibrancy which shines.

Versatile Lavender

Another colour with origins determinedly in the real world, lavender can’t be ignored. 2023 brings us a new take on this purple shade - providing calm and serenity, freshness or - harking back to it’s royal history - richness and decadence.

Pinky Red or Reddy Pink

We’re looking at you - Pantone’s Viva Magenta, “vibrating with vim and vigor… rooted in nature… an animated red that revels in pure joy”. Uplifting, vibrant shades which make a statement with boldness and warmth radiating equally, bringing a surprising range of opportunities for contrast and coordination. Artist Craig Alan has great examples of this bold colour in his work.

Rich Blues and Jewel Shades

Warm Neutrals

Creating warmth in your home can also be achieved with textures and patterns with many experts reminding us of the importance of neutrals within our interior palette. The paint company Behr announced their colour of the year as Blank Canvas. Such neutrals and beiges bring calm into our space, something many designers have recognised as essential.

On the walls of our gallery, you’ll see beige is certainly not boring in the stunning cityscapes of Alena Carvalho or the vibrant animal stories of Bev Davies.

Identified by experts across platforms and reflecting what we’ve already seen, rich deep hues are lifting our spirits and emotions.

While blues are versatile, providing depth and strength to colour palettes across the spectrum, the more vibrant and luxurious the shade the better.

Creating energy with colour

Whatever energy you need in your space, calming neutrals, warm yellows, vibrant reds and rich jewel shades can bring you peace, inspiration, hope and joy. We know that colour has the power to lift and nurture, as art does, so enjoy discovering new colour energy in your home!

Natalie Trembecki Gallery Correspondent www.therosegallery.co.uk

Dan Crisp

Barry Hilton – Sweeping Skies

Bev Davies – Fox

Alena Carvalho – City

Craig Alan

Competition congratulations

Aiimi visit and Hospice opening

Iwould like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year!

I hope you have enjoyed the festive period with your family, friends and loved ones.

Christmas Card Competition

Every year I run a Christmas Card Competition amongst schools in my constituency and this year was no exception. This year I have received a couple of hundred entries coming from over 11 schools. I am pleased to congratulate Enia from St Mary’s Wavendon CofE Primary School as this year’s winner! Her artwork will be featuring on my card that is going to family, friends and colleagues. Also, I would like to mention Batoul from Glebe Farm School and Sofia from Oxley Park Academy who were the runners-ups.

Back To School Bot Competition

As you will remember, I ran the Back To School Bot Competition with Ben Everitt MP earlier this year. Last month, a pupil at Christ The Sower School was announced as the runner-up of the competition. Following her success, the design was printed onto a

delivery robot which will now roam the streets of Milton Keynes to make deliveries. The contest was run over the summer holidays for students across the city by Starship Technologies and the Milton Keynes MPs to show off the innovative skills of MK’s young people.

Aiimi

Recently, I visited the offices of Aiimi in Central Milton Keynes. I met with the CEO, Steve Salvin, and the team at Aiimi to learn more about the business. Aiimi are a British company that specialises in data and artificial information, helping to deliver more reliable and efficient services. Whilst having a tour of their facilities, I heard about the companies and organisations that Aiimi have helped with their technology and consulting services. The list includes Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Anglian Water, and it continues to grow. Also, I learned about how Aiimi’s research and development has helped to set them up for success.

New facilities At Willen Hospice

Another visit I attended was to the Opening Ceremony of the newly extended and refurbished facilities at Willen Hospice. I was pleased to hear of the positive impact this work will have on those in Milton Keynes with a life-limiting illness, now and for many years to come. On the visit, I was given a tour of the new facilities and saw the specialist services that Willen Hospice are able to provide to residents to ensure best end of life care to all those who need it. I was excited to learn about the plans to open up their doors to members of the public to use their café space, providing Willen Hospice an additional income stream.

As we head into the new year, my team and I will always be happy to help you where we can. If we can do anything for you, please do get in touch with me on the contact details provided.

School visits, Knife Angel and helping the homeless

Happy New Year! It’s now been three years since I was elected to represent Milton Keynes North and I could not be more proud to be your Member of Parliament. There is no doubt it’s been a tough few years with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the effects of both causing such an impact on our economy, but we have still achieved so much I am proud of. We’ve funded and opened the brand new Maple Centre at Milton Keynes University Hospital Milton Keynes has finally been made a city. We’ve set up Op Deter and recruited more police officers to tackle knife crime. We’ve reduced the number of people living homeless. And we’re continuing to invest in education, healthcare and supporting those most-in-need across Milton Keynes.

I will continue to work for the people of Milton Keynes North throughout 2023 as I campaign for better bus services, a new hospital for Milton Keynes, investment for MK:U, support for our rural communities, extra funding for homelessness and rough sleeping and boosting our local small and medium sized businesses.

Knife Angel Comes To Milton Keynes

It was a humbling experience to witness the Knife Angel as it visited Milton Keynes as part of a month of action against knife crime. I met with the team at the MK Dons Sports and Education Trust (MK Dons SET) to hear about the incredible work they had been doing with schools and young people across the city on prevention, as well as having the ambition to sign up 10,000 new anti-violence ambassadors. The visit of the Knife Angel comes on top of the work we have done with Thames Valley Police, the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service to make sure we can say: if you are caught with a knife in Milton Keynes, you will spend time behind bars.

£321k To Tackle Homelessness

Starting on one of the points mentioned above, I’m delighted the Government has provided Milton Keynes City Council with a further £321,034 worth of funding to tackle homelessness across the city. The additional funding from the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant - Winter 2022 will allow local authorities to

target support to those who need it most to help prevent rough sleeping and homelessness. The Government has provided significant and decisive support to support people through the global increase in the cost of living including through the Energy Price Guarantee which will help households with their energy bills over the winter, and a further £37 billion of support for the cost of living this year. Over the last few years the Government has provided millions of pounds to Milton Keynes to support with homelessness and rough sleeping, both for prevention and supporting those already living on the streets.

Road Closure Issues

I’ve received a lot of correspondence from residents frustrated with multiple road closures in their area at the same time which has caused travel chaos. I wrote to Milton Keynes City Council, with Iain Stewart MP, raising my concerns about this and pushing for more consideration to be put into when and where these road closures take place. While we understand road closures inevitably need to happen, if there are too many in the same area at the same time they cause huge issues for residents and local businesses. It was also a problem raised with us at a recent local business roundtable hosted by Sophie Etc.

Ben speaking to students at Walton High’s Brooklands Campus

Ben at the Knife Angel

Help is available

for MK residents over the winter months

Over the next few months, Milton Keynes City Council will continue to roll out the £3.3m Winter Plan to help people through the cost-of-living crisis. There is no doubt that every family will be feeling the crunch by now, with the impact of rising energy bills, the cost of food and falling wages taking its toll. Below is a breakdown of some of the support available to you right now, should you need it.

Call the Warmth and Wellbeing Helpline for free energy advice

As temperatures continue to drop, we are encouraging families to call the City Council’s Warmth and Wellbeing Helpline. This free service offers advice to residents on how to get support with soaring energy costs, as part of a package of assistance set out in the £3.3m Winter Plan.

Those who require assistance can call freephone 0800 107 0044 to get expert advice from the National Energy Foundation’s Better Housing Better Health team, who will assess your situation and suggest help – this could include explaining how to get better energy deals and how to apply for grants to make your home more energy efficient. The team will also advise on wider issues such as avoiding debt, loneliness and accessibility. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Become a member of your local food larder to get discounted food

Food larders are becoming an increasingly popular way for families to get core food items at a fraction of the price. These subscriptionbased clubs allow people to pay a weekly fee, which is just a few pounds, and have access to lots of surplus food and items from supermarkets and other retailers.

The City Council has given £20,000 to SOFEA, the charity which runs food larders across the city, to ensure they can stock an additional 14 tonnes of surplus food. This donation will provide the equivalent of 2,300 family-size weekly shops.

Food larders are vital projects that reduce waste while allowing local families to cut their spending. Anybody can become a member of their local food larder; those using SOFEA’s larders don’t need to be means tested or on specific benefits. You can find your closest food larder by visiting www.sofea.uk.com

Six new City Council-funded Homework Plus clubs have opened in Milton Keynes, meaning that there are now eight across the city. At the clubs, school pupils get support with their homework, including internet access, and a substantial meal. This scheme was launched in 2022 to help local organisations run after-school clubs for children and young people, and we have provided grants for those interested in setting up the clubs. There has been great interest in the clubs so far, and they provide a safe place for the younger generations to socialise and learn while having a warm and healthy dinner. This is especially important given the rise in the cost of living, so I am pleased that people are taking advantage of this support. The weekly sessions are held

Send your children to free Homework Plus clubs for support and a free meal

Pete Marland Leader of Milton Keynes City Council

Homework Plus clubs funded by the City Council offer homework support and a substantial meal

Things are a little bit quieter as we exit 2022 and look forward to a new year of stage-stepping, but panto is still here to raise some cheer, and there are a couple of other tempting productions worth leaving home for. Sammy Jones has more...

We might be looking to a new year, but at Milton Keynes Theatre the Christmas sparkle continues with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs performances carrying through to Sunday, January 8.

The start of the new year is traditionally a drear; we’re all counting the pennies (now more than ever), pay day seems forever and a day away, and the weather is woeful.

Bad times. But a trip to theatre-land will transport you to sunnier climes. Who doesn’t want some of that? And with Lesley Joseph, Rob Rinder and the aptly named Paul Chuckle leading the cast, you’ll be in safe hands. Satisfaction, and smiles, guaranteed.

We should also mention the Relaxed Performance (Jan 5, 1pm) which will deliver the same awesome production enjoyed by a typical audience, but with an atmosphere and attitude that will make everyone feel safe and comfortable – because panto is there to be enjoyed by everyone.

When the panto season ends, New Adventures will return with another opportunity to fall in love with Matthew Bourne’s gothic romance, Sleeping Beauty (Jan 17-21).

This is your invitation to enter a wondrous world of magical fairies and vampires, where the timeless tale of good vs evil is turned upside down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder. Will Princess Aurora ever find her true love again?

Fang-tastic times and new lives in sunnier climes

It’s a warm comedy about taking risks, finding love and embracing second chances – in the most surprising of places.

A great production needs an equally adept cast to shine to its fullest, and those taking care of casting business haven’t shirked any – they’ve secured a trio of aces; namely Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas and Rula Lenska.

New Adventures are taking this show to 16 venues across the UK, making it the most wide-ranging, large tour of any dance company in the UK.

With Tchaikovsky’s fang-tastic score and Bourne’s unparalleled choreography, audiences will be taken from the halcyon days of the Edwardian era to the modern day in this strikingly beautiful work.

Bourne’s brilliant catalogue includes Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Car Man, and two of our favourites, Play Without Words and Edward Scissorhands. But it was Sleeping Beauty that became the fastest selling production in the company’s history when it premiered a decade ago.

Enjoy the sumptuous sets and costumes, evocative lightning and masterly storytelling as New Adventures wow you – and that’s a given.

When the cast have tip-toed their way from the venue, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will take you on the journey of a lifetime (January 24-28).

You know the film already; you’ll have followed the eclectic group of British retirees embarking on a new life.

“I am delighted to join the company of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as this beautiful story of love and the importance of new beginnings receives a new life as a fantastically feel-good show,” said Hayley, “Tales that warm the heart and lift the spirit are a much-needed tonic at this time...”

Marigold writer Deborah Moggach is just as excited to get this show on the road: “I’m so thrilled that my characters are stepping into a new life on the stage,” she said, “They’ve been waiting impatiently for the curtain to rise, and none of them is getting any younger. We’ve assembled an amazing cast, so I hope they bring you plenty of laughs, and some warm sparks of recognition.”

Read our exclusive interview with Hayley on pages 16-18.

Last up this month, a couple of musical one-nighters, with The Illegal Eagles (Jan 29) ‘playing’ tribute to The Eagles, obviously, and a night celebrating sibling success with The Carpenters Story (Jan 30).

From the top: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Paul Chuckle in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Pic: Johan Persson

Film Reviews

the MENU

FILM OF THE MONTH - Star Rating: 4/5

In terms of films set in restaurants so far this year, The Menu’s a very different dish to Boiling Point. Where that film was gripping, gritty one-shot drama, The Menu is black comedy with a slice of horror. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Margot Mills who travels by boat to Hawthorne, the ultra-exclusive fine dining restaurant led by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). The only catch is that his menu proves more deadly than culinary for his patrons…

Ralph Fiennes’ dependable thespian presence is perfect for the film’s funny-dark duality. He delivers the evening from hell with mannered formality and without giving so much as a wink to the audience. The whole film wouldn’t work nearly as well if it wasn’t played completely

straight, and it means we can root for Margot despite how gradually, ridiculous(ly evil) the “menu” gets. She’s very out of place amidst the entitled, deeply flawed guests (including a funny performance by John Leguizamo as a sleazy actor).

The film deliciously satirises the pretentiousness of gourmet food and of the upper classes in general without descending into crude power fantasy. It also serves up the downfall of these very deserving diners (Nicholas Hoult is great playing Margot’s “partner” Tyler, an utterly slimy piece of work) with generous helpings of schadenfreude as Slowik lays bare their dirty secrets. Is The Menu an acquired taste? You won’t know until you try it… ✪

Star Rating: 1.5/5

Continuing the theme of eating the rich on private islands, it’s what writer-director Rian Johnson’s sequel to murder mystery Knives Out is all about. Glass Onion briefly ran in cinemas before streaming on Netflix and it features charming acting from a starry cast including Edward Norton, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista as they congregate at Norton’s character’s home to stage his own murder (this obviously doesn’t go to plan). They make the film very watchable throughout, even if Daniel Craig’s returning detective Benoit Blanc, with his thick Kentucky accent, is really overplayed at times. It unfortunately all leads to a pretty ridiculous reveal before a downright indulgent ending, though these certainly fit Johnson’s forte for subverting expectations in facile ways. ✪

The sad reality is that the tiresome handwringing over whether Disney “allowed” Strange World to bomb because it features an openly gay main character, is slightly more engaging than the film itself. The underworld our protagonists explore to save their home’s energy source is certainly strange, and realised with typical digital perfection, but the storytelling takes way too many shortcuts getting to the beats we all see coming. The intergenerational drama between the Searcher family, divided between wanting to explore and wanting to stay put goes firmly through the motions rather than being truly adventurous. Henry Jackman’s stirring musical score is the only good discovery here. ✪

If you somehow run out of things of watch over Christmas, I still wouldn’t recommend rushing to see this “comedy” musical streaming on Apple TV+. Think A Christmas Carol mixed with the Tim Allen comedy The Santa Clause, with Will Ferrell’s Ghost of Christmas Present trying to get an “unredeemable” media consultant (Ryan Reynolds) to change his ways. It’s so determined to be ironic that the whole film carries a predictable, smarmy flatness, and any time it tries being more dramatic it’s weaker than a used Christmas cracker. Given all that, it’s an unbearably long two hours. Not even the songs written by Pasek and Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman) save it; they’re more energetic than enchanting, featuring overdone choreography and Will Ferrell’s less than optimal singing voice. ✪

While the sorely-felt absence of Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther certainly can’t be held against this film, the sequel Wakanda Forever is both terrible and terribly long. It’s just another one to add to the recent depressingly bad run of Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Apart from a couple of mostly well-executed scenes marking the death of King T’Challa (and Boseman himself in a meta way), the film drowns in its aquatic villain’s endless backstory, the very stupid plot and just as lame fight scenes. The MCU’s recent decay is best summed up by the film’s intended replacement for Iron Man. Rather than Tony Stark, the character whose journey started this whole filmic behemoth in 2008, it’s a college student who’s impossibly good at everything except having a compelling character. ✪

by Jordan Adcock

The Craufurd raises the volume for the new year

Wingmen might be a new name for you, but the members behind the moniker are familiar enough, with musicians from The Stranglers (Baz Warne), The Damned (Paul Gray) , Ruts DC (Leigh Heggarty) and Johnny Moped (Marty Love) making up the unit.

The band are coming this way imminently to play for you - they will be live at The Craufurd Arms on January 20, exactly a week before they release their debut long-player.

Were it not for the devastation afforded by Covid, Wingmen would never have become ‘a thing’.

Stripped of their chance to get out live with their respective bands, the fellas created a new musical union and got to work on the self-titled opus.

Theirs is a musical union that sounds like the sum of all those aforementioned legendary bands, while also sounding nothing like them. It’s a special thing, as guitarist Leigh realises: “If someone had told my teenage self that I’d know members of The Stranglers, The Damned, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Johnny Moped and for

that matter The Ruts – let alone that one day I would be in a band with them – I’d have probably told them that they were mad,” he said, “It’s worth having a dream sometimes.”

In 2022, rising USA stars Dirty Honey swapped their homeland for large spells in Europe, winning over audiences at their own shows, and taking the opportunity for tasty exposure stage-sharing with artists including musical behemoths Kiss and Guns N’ Roses.

The quartet cut loose their dirty blues news on the acclaimed album, Dirty Honey EP/ LP and now they’ve decided to stick with us – the band has announced an extensive European headline tour with 30 shows across 13 countries.

They hit the road in mid-January, and Dirty Honey will be here in the new city for night number two of the road trip, with a date at the Wolverton venue on January 22.

If they live up to expectations, Dirty Honey won’t be playing this size venue for too much longer – go grab those tickets for the Craufurd bash while you can.

On January 30, Pip Blom will play as part of the Independent Venue Week celebrations. The Dutch indie quartet have two albums in the racks for you to investigate in advance; Boat and Welcome Break have served the band well, and their blossoming fan base has been snapping up tickets for this date – don’t leave it to chance if you want to be stage front. Buy now.

New York’s Undeath will be at the venue at the end of the month (Jan 31) to air good hearty tracks like Fiend For Corpses and Defiled Again, lifted from their current album, It’s Time...To Rise from the Grave

That album was Decibel Magazine’s No1 album of 2022. That’s quite the accolade. The band grew up on a healthy diet of

Get yourself in a spin

We gave you the lowdown on Off The Record, Willen Hospice’s new hub for all things music, in Pulse a couple of issues back. It is turning into a popular stop-off point for those who love their sounds, and with more and more donations coming through the door, some champion rarities are hitting the shop floor.

A 1980 radio promo for the album Get Happy by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is one of those currently looking for a vinyl

loving new owner, or perhaps you’d rather shell out the cash on a first pressing of Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality elpee? This embossed sleeve version is missing the original poster, which dramatically affects its value, but it will still set you back a pretty penny.

From vinyl and CDs to books, instruments, magazines and memorabilia, the little store is crammed with goodies - pop in and take a look for yourselves.

Thrower, to name a few,” said frontman Alexander Jones, “These bands are our north star. We love classic, essential death metal, but we’re also into the more recent stuff too. Bands like Fetid and Cerebral Rot. We take inspiration from the past, the present, and make it our own. We want to serve the genre we love so much.”

> Tickets for all shows can be booked through thecraufurdarms.com

> Off The Record is located at The Point in CMK, and opens seven days a week.

Pip Blom are at The Craufurd on January 30

Dirty Honey (top) and Undeath are both at the Wolverton venue in January

Pic: Rick Horn @ if films

The year in review –how was it for you?

Harvey

How was 2022 for you?

2022 was very surprising. With all the uncertainties and negativity in the world I thought it would be a struggle to be a music venue. But honestly, this feels like one of the best years we’ve ever had. And now we have the strongest music scene we’ve had for 10/15 years.

Your favourite gig

Multitude. Three stages of incredible emerging talent and more than 500 people through the doors throughout the day.

Biggest surprise

Being offered Hard- Fi’s first show back in eight years - after they had just sold-out London’s Kentish Town Forum in minutes.

The best thing that happened this year Cancer Bats writing lyrics about us.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Continuing to build on the momentum of this year, and also the release of our first ever Live at The Craufurd vinyl/DVD. And potentially having one of my favourite ever bands doing an intimate warm-up...”

How was 2022 for you?

We have had one of our biggest years for acts and industry figures visiting our venue. It’s really great to start being recognised by the heads of the industry as a culturally relevant grassroots music venue.

Your favourite gig

A.A. Williams in November. She played in 2021 and I didn’t know what to expect until someone told me, ‘these are right up your street,’ so I caught a bit of the soundcheck and was instantly blown away. I made sure I didn’t miss the latest show!

Favourite local release Torus – Sail EP

Biggest surprise

The launch of our first all day local festival, Multitude, and how well it was received. It showed that when bands and venues work together magic can happen.

The best thing that happened this year

The return of Hard-Fi and how well the venue was received by them.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

I’m really looking forward to planning Multitude 2023 and to restart work on our venue accessibility, which was interrupted by Covid. We want our venue to be an accessible and safe space for everyone who enjoys music. We can’t wait to kick off 2023 with more live music and events than ever!

How was 2022 for you?

In the nine years I’ve been at The Craufurd, this year was one of the best for the venue, not just in quality of the acts, and people returning to live music clubs, but we’ve had a really positive year of comments from the greater music industry –booking agents, labels and managers.

Your favourite gig

It’s really tough to pick just one, but I’ll say our one-day Multitude Festival, as it was such a great day of music and really busy all day, with folk really making an effort to check out all the acts on the three stages.

Favourite local release

Eddz – the Happiness Doesn’t Always Last EP.

Biggest surprise

Seeing so many young people turning up, really clued up about music and getting into live music – it’s very refreshing.

The best thing that happened this year

Torus got signed to a record label, released an EP on vinyl and really got out there and did it, inspiring the next kids along the way too.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Surviving. And that’ll be my 28th year working in live music.

Max

co-owner Craufurd Arms

Paul Rivers Craufurd Arms promoter

Jason Hall co-owner Craufurd Arms

Paul’s favourite local release

Max Harvey’s favourite gig was performed by A.A. Williams (above)

Jason Hall with pigeon friend (left) and Paul Rivers (right)

#WhatsOnPulse

Milton Keynes Aviation Society

10

15 February – AGM and Photo Competition (via Zoom)

14 March - “How the Hurricane came to be” by Howard Cook

Meetings (except February) at Kents Hill Community Centre, Frithwood Crescent, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6HQ

Doors open at 7.30pm with lectures at 8.00pm.

Visitors are always welcome. Entry is £5.00 for visitors or free for members (annual fee £22)

For further information please contact Chris Bosworth (cj.bos@ntlworld.com or 07860 629494) or visit our website www.mkas.co.uk/lectures

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Until Sunday, January 8

Christmas isn’t over until the panto curtain comes down, so if you want a little more festive fun, a trip to MK Theatre will keep the magic alive a while longer. Hi-ho, hi-ho: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Willen Hospice Christmas Tree Collection Friday, January 6 – Monday, January 9

An easy way to dispose of your real Christmas tree – it’s environmentally sound and will benefit Willen Hospice. Collections (from MK1-MK19, MK43, MK46 and LU7) must be pre-booked by January 4. Tree-mendous: willen-hospice.org.uk

Trainers: a global obsession Until February 26

The temporary exhibition examining the design, technology, cultural influences and environmental impact of the trainer continues at Abington Park Museum. Walk this way: northamptonmuseums.com

Northampton Town and County Art Society

Until January 29

Alongside the work of members, the 105th annual exhibition features a selection of pieces by non-members, giving visitors the opportunity to view a wide variety of styles and subjects. Entry is free – the display is in Art Gallery 1.

Creative class: northamptonmuseums.com

Tuesday, January 10

Join Jonathan and his pals, including members from The Mojo Blues and The Shufflepack, for a special live session at Bletchley Blues Club. A special postChristmas fee of a fiver will get you in. All together now: bletchleybluesclub.uk

Jonathan Townsend & Friends Blues Extravaganza

Present our next Lecture events:

January – “Imperial Airways: National asset or national joke” by Graham Smith

Pic: © C Bosworth

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

The Cher Show visits Northampton’s Royal & Derngate in January

The Cher Show – A musical Tuesday, January 10 –Saturday, January 14

Charting the meteoric rise to fame of the music icon turned Hollywood royalty, who flew in the face of convention at every turn. Three West End stars will play Cher through the ages. As seen on Strictly! Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves: royalandderngate.co.uk

Alzheimer’s Society Singing for the Brain® Monday, January 16, 2-3.45pm

Sessions use singing to bring people with dementia together in a friendly and stimulating way. Contact before attending by calling 01908 232612 or by emailing chelsea.gadd@alzheimers.org.uk

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Tuesday, January 17Saturday, January 21

A decade has passed since it premiered at Sadlers Wells, and now Bourne’s brilliance returns to Milton Keynes. Anyone for a little gothic romance?

Tiptoes and Tchaikovsky: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

Wednesday, January 18, 8pm

She may be only 19 years old, but Jeneba is a star in the making for her prowess on the keys – and currently holds the Victoria Robey Scholarship to The Royal College of Music, studying piano with Vanessa Latarche.

Classical music fans will enjoy works by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Beethoven and Debussy at this Milton Keynes performance. Songs in the key of: stables.org

Sounds of the ‘60s with Tony Blackburn

Wednesday, January 18, 7.30pm

Enjoy an evening of 60s classics played by the Sounds of the ‘60s All Star Band & Singers at Northampton’s Derngate, with DJ ace Tony Blackburn hosting proceedings. Contact: royalandderngate.co.uk

Blues Jam Night

Wednesday, January 18, doors 6.30pm

Amps and backline will be provided, all you need to do is turn up with your sticks, guitars, basses, mics or whatever is your choice of cool. Get musical any time through to 10pm. Show what you can do: bletchleybluesclub.uk

The Counterfeit Seventies

Friday, January 20, 7.30pm

A rollercoaster ride through the era that brought you glam rock and new waves, with the music of Slade, Sweet, T’Rex, The Bay City Rollers and many more.

Bye Bye Baby: thecorecorby.com

January Highlights

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (piano) Wednesday 18 January, 8pm Jeneba KannehMason is already captivating audiences with her maturity in performance and interpretation. On the night she will perform works by Beethoven, Debussy, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Man of the World: The Music of Peter Green Friday 20 January, 8pm Guitarist Remi Harris and his band perform a new show celebrating the life and music of Peter Green, founder of the original Fleetwood Mac.

Moonage Daydream (15) Sunday 22 January, 7.30pm

Told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never-before-seen footage, performances and music, Brett Morgen’s feature length experiential cinematic odyssey explores David Bowie’s creative, musical and spiritual journey.

Martyn Joseph

Saturday 28 January, 8pm

For just one man with a guitar, Martyn Joseph creates performances that are hugely energetic, compelling and passionate. His most recent album 1960 was MOJO magazine’s Folk Album of the Month.

Full programme details:

The Stables, Wavendon

Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Box office: 01908 280800 stables.org

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty visits MK Theatre in January and catch Tony Blackburn’s Sound of the 60s at Northampton’s Derngate

Pic: Johan Persson

Peaky Blinders

– By Order of The Old Savoy

Friday, January 20, 7pm

Enjoy a lavish evening of food, drink and table entertainment, with staff and actors in full Peaky Blinders attire at this immersive experience. Tables can be booked in groups of 10 people or shared tables of up to 10 people.

Causing a commotion: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Vegan Market

Saturday, January 21, 10.30am-4pm

A large variety of vegan street food vendors, artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers and zero waste champions come together for the twice yearly event in Bletchley’s Queensway.

Meat free and marvellous: veganmarkets.co.uk

80s Mania

Saturday, January 21, 8pm

Come on, the 80s rocked – every track was a winner, even if the fashion wasn’t!

This multi-tribute concert will deliver music by 28 chart topping pop players, with tributes to Duran Duran, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Bananarama and Dead or Alive.

Like a record, baby: stables.org

Dirty Honey

Sunday, January 22

Having spent much of 2022 in Europe, L.A’s rockers are back over here for more, and call in to Wolverton’s Craufurd Arms as part of an extensive road crawl.

Riff it up: thecraufurdarms.com

Stewart Lee

Monday, January 23, 7.30pm

After a decade spent delivering high concept shows, Stewart is shaking off the excess and returning to the stage in a streamlined, solo stand-up mode.

Basic Lee: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Scoundrels

Tuesday, January 24

Steeped in blues and tempered in rock and roll, this mob are a punchy, raw six-piece R&B band.

‘Sounds’ alright: bletchleybluesclub.uk

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Tuesday, January 24 –Saturday, January 28

Journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as the smash-hit film enjoys a stage outing with a superb cast including Hayley Mills, Rula Lenska and Paul Nicholas.

Life affirming: atgtickets.com/ miltonkeynes

Gareth Gates in The Best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Wednesday, January 25

Join Gareth and cast members from the smash hit musical Jersey Boys on a nostalgic musical journey which pays tribute to the four lads who started singing under a streetlamp, but went on to become one of the biggest selling groups of all time. Oh, What A Night!: thecorecorby.com

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club Friday, January 27, 7.45pm

Jonny Awsum, Jamie D’Souza and Iszi Lawrence will bring the smiles at The Underground, with compere Dan Evans. You ‘avin a laugh? royalandderngate.co.uk

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club Friday, January 27, 8pm

The monthly club also enjoys an outing at The Lab in Corby with Alistair Barrie, Jo Neary and Don Biswas with your compere Brendan Dempsey. This bloke walked up to me: thecorecorby.com

The Meatloaf Songbook Friday, January 27

Celebrating the music of one of rock n roll’s true legends with Craig Halford leading you through hits including Bat Out of Hell, Paradise by the Dashboard Light and Dead Ringer for Love in Northampton.

I’d Do Anything: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Future Sounds of Drum & Bass Saturday, January 28

Bringing the best of local talents together. Those set to appear include Tom Pearce, Brady, Lady Elusive, Nitr8 and many more. It’ll be another sell-out success at Unit 9 in Old Wolverton.

Looking ahead: skiddle.com

Martyn Joseph Saturday, January 28, 8pm

Singer-songwriter Martyn has issued 32 albums in a career spanning three decades, and he’s racked up thousands of live shows – and a few of those have been at the Wavendon venue. A next level raconteur. One man and a guitar: stables.org

Megaslam Wrestling: Live & Loaded Tour Sunday, January 29

Get ready for edge of your seat, death-defying moves as the stars of Team Megaslam and Team Nasty take to the ring at The Old Savoy for matches suitable for the whole family. Slammin’: theoldsavoy.co.uk

The Carpenters Story Monday, January 30

Take your seat for a journey through the glittering career of pop’s most famous brother and sister duo, with marvellous musical moments including Close To You, We’ve Only Just Begun and Rainy Days & Mondays

Yesterday Once More: atgtickets.com/ miltonkeynes

Pip Blom Monday, January 30

Celebrate Independent Venue Week with Dutch indie quartet Pip Blom at The Craufurd Arms – tickets are limited, so hurry. Welcome Break: thecraufurdarms.com

Undeath Tuesday, January 31

‘Skull crushing death metal’ at Wolverton’s music hub. If you like it heavy, you’ll love these US players.

Devil signs: thecraufurdarms.com

Catch The Scoundrels at Bletchley Blues Club and some wrestling action in Northampton at The Old Savoy

Martyn Joseph is at The Stables in Milton Keynes on January 28

Mazda giving it large

Mazda, a brand that deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. But as with all manufacturers in recent years, they’ve been forced into chasing profits, which means SUVs. And with that, their latest and biggest vehicle for some time is here, the CX-60.

It’s big. Very big. Think Volvo XC90 big. In fact, that’s probably its main competition to be honest.

The CX-60 is incredibly slab-sided, that’s not a bad thing, but there’s just no real flair to the design as seen on the stunning Mazda 3. But in all reality, an SUV is an SUV is an SUV, they all look pretty identical.

There are two engine options to choose from, a 2.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid or a 3.3-litre mild hybrid diesel, producing 323 and 251 BHP, respectively.

The hybrid system on the petrol couples a 173 BHP electric motor with a 17.8 kWh battery, making 500Nm of torque which gets put down onto the tarmac via an all-wheel drive system. 0-62 is a scarily rapid 5.8 seconds. Impressive for a car weighing nearly 2.2 tons.

And yes, you do feel every bit of that weight. This is no Maserati Levante. Which made the ‘Evo Triangle’ and surrounding roads an odd choice for the CX-60 launch event.

Granted, nobody will ever be hustling one of these along the finest Welsh mountain roads. On turn-in, it almost feels like the back end follows the front after a short pause. Undulations also generate an extra ‘bump’ as the CX-60 settles back down.

Around town, the school run and motorway plodding will be absolutely fine, so the above is a moot point.

There’s an all-electric range of up to 39 miles from that fairly large battery, that is if you stay under 62 MPH, which should be plenty for most short commutes.

Inside is where the CX-60 stands out most. The interior quality is second to none, easily on par with the likes of Volvo and, dare I say it, those two German brands too.

Mazda interiors always feel a step above the likes of Ford, Renault etc., but the CX-60 takes things to a new level. The detail in the stitching on the dash, for example, is incredible. Brushed silver trims adorn the doors and centre console, while the switchgear feels solid and expensive.

The 12.3-inch infotainment screen features Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay as standard; there are also two USB-C ports in both the front and back.

Rear seat legroom is excellent, as you’d expect, but if you have a taller-than-average driver up front, it shrinks a fair amount. Headroom is also good unless you’re approaching 6 foot, then you’ll just start to brush the roof.

Boot space measures 570 litres, which increases to 1726 with the rear seats down. A flat load lip makes it easy to remove heavier items, and there’s also a 12V socket which is handy. The rear seats also split 40/20/40.

I love Mazda as a brand; I really do. But the CX60 seems an odd choice for European markets.

Huge great engines that will scare people off at face value and at a time when petrol and diesel costs are about as unpredictable as our weather.

With prices starting at £45,420, it’s a big, well-equipped car for the money, it just needs to attract the right buyers and tug brand snobs away from their regular choice.

ADAM TUDOR-LANE runs the rule over the Mazda CX-60

View from the Far Kerb

Apparently, there is a lot going on in the world outside the distribution area of Pulse. Some of it is bad enough to have various parties question the continuing health of our planet. They blame humanity for everything that is going wrong.

Douglas Adams wrote in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy about humanity coming down from the trees being a mistake with some claiming, ‘that no one should ever have left the oceans’.

He may have had a point.

Perhaps we should not be looking for better ways to harness the power of the waves, wind or sun. No, science needs to be looking for a way to establish devolution in the human race and so promote the growth of gills along with a tendency to slither back into the sea. Rising sea levels would no longer be considered a threat but a treat for early adopters of a fully aquatic lifestyle.

Fish life hasn’t a reputation for possessing high intelligence. For those about to quote the ‘fact’ about dolphins being brighter than domestic dogs, please note that they are not fish, nor do they have gills. Sharks are fish and haven’t developed weapons of mass destruction during their 450 million years of existence. It seems Douglas Adams had a very good point.

We should look to another great mind for an indication of how best to proceed. Shakespeare wrote: ‘If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly,’ Macbeth.

Basically, we should crack on and resolve the issue sooner rather than later and not establish talking shops, focus groups and committees to endlessly discuss the matter. The sooner we all return to the sea, the better. If done speedily, we could all be swimming

around without having turned the whole world into dry, dusty desert or radioactive wasteland. Instead, we would leave the fauna to frolic through the flora without fear of being blasted by the effects of our allegedly advanced way of life.

Of course, there would need to be a period of adjustment. For instance, the huge supermarkets would find that their customer base would drastically decline as eating became an issue of devouring whatever came close rather than struggling to push a shopping trolley using only fins instead of hands at the end of arms. Indeed, as fish we would experience a great deal of difficulty in fishing out cards from wallets or purses in order to pay for goods at a checkout.

Did anyone see what I did there? Great levity while discussing the very real difficulties one might experience once we have all returned to the seas.

Basically, we should crack on and resolve the issue sooner rather than later and not establish talking shops, focus groups and committees to endlessly discuss the matter.”

Books and reading will become very difficult. We already have plastic banknotes, proof against moisture. Book pages can be next.

All electrical devices would have to be made waterproof. However, with our return to a simpler life, no one will have the ability to construct anything; waterproof or otherwise, and so we can concentrate of not being eaten by those sharks.

PHIL O’HARA

Flavour of the Times - Happy New Year, everyone. It’s been tough in 2022, unremittingly so for many, but I hope this column has been some help in navigating your way through it.

The big change that begins this year is Pluto moving into Aquarius. If you remember, when Pluto moved into Capricorn from Sagittarius, it was the financial crunch/crash and the end to the ‘free money’ era. A more solid, down to earth flavour was felt by us all, very Capricorn and ‘austerity’ described it very well.

CAPRICORN

December 23 – January 20

A long blast of Capricorn earth energy will have been felt at the solstice and this dark winter seriousness continues into the new year until Venus changes signs to Aquarius on the 4th when things start to lighten up. Hidden emotions may bubble up just after the full moon but tempered perhaps by some appreciation of where there is love and affection in your life.

AQUARIUS

January 21 – February 19

You will definitely get a boost this month as Venus walks into your sign on 4th bringing a little unpredictability, maybe even a little cash from an unexpected quarter. Conversations are still a bit serious though. You will need to wait for the new moon in Aquarius on 22nd for the real sense of liberation in how you feel.

PISCES

February 20 – March 20

Neptune has been stuck in your sign for so long, you may have despaired of ever shaking off some of the feeling of drifting and directionless activity. Now, though, it is moving forward again and should give you a little help in seeing where you are going by dropping some of the baggage you have been burdened by. Lighten the load!

ARIES

March 21 – April 20

Not your best time of year, of course, but we are heading for more Aquarian times, which you much prefer. It will start to give you ideas for the Spring, which is still on the far horizon but a few rays of optimism may find their way back into your life on some levels now. Thinking time, not doing time, I would suggest!

We get our first hint of this between March and July when Pluto goes back into Capricorn for some unfinished business before going into Aquarius properly this time next year, where it will stay for the next 25 years. My worry this time is that despite Aquarius’s reputation for fairness and liberation, it also rules technology. We may see AI and digital technologies pushing forward to take over our lives even more than they already have. I would say that we should be much more careful about this than we seem to be.

TAURUS

April 21 – May 21

It’s quite an inventive time at the beginning of the month up to the full moon on 7th but as Aquarius starts to make its presence felt, you may feel there has been too much conversation and you’d like a little more action, please, as Elvis had it! Make the most of the opportunities for meaningly communication with others.

GEMINI

May 22 – June 21

As always, the winter solstice is sobering for you and you won’t be your usual flamboyant self during the dark of the winter. But there are other aspects to your personality and things like quiet meditation and perhaps some yoga are going to do you a lot of good at this time. Any actions you try to take now may not achieve the results you are looking for.

CANCER

June 22 – July 23

The full moon in Cancer on 7th of the month illuminates a moment of conflict and contradiction between your home life and your public life or career. Despite the discomfort (or maybe because of it!), this makes it a good time to ponder what matters most to you in life. There is definitely a positive balance to be struck now as you look to the year ahead.

LEO

July 24 – August 23

You should examine the need for more give and take in your relationships on 8th, just after the full moon. You may wish to ponder on whether you are too demanding of others. Where does this actually come from; what insecurities lurk under that mask of confidence that you wear? If you have never considered this, now is a very good time to start!

Everyone is affected differently by these astronomical movements. To really understand what this means for you on a personal level during 2022, I would recommend that you consider booking a comprehensive personal astrological consultation that is completely specific to you and your life. This will illuminate many things that you may not have considered and it will enable you to really take advantage of the positive energies and avoid the negative ones throughout the year.

VIRGO

August 24 – September 23

The moon may well activate all sorts of emotions around 11th of this month. This won’t last long but it’s worth paying attention to what bubbles up – all sorts of buried hurts may pop up and knock you a little off course. It may prompt you to think about some of your old established mental habits and ways of thinking and whether these are holding you back in some way.

LIBRA

September 24 – October 23

You could find yourself reminiscing about the past as the full moon approaches on 7th. Are the challenges that this throws up relevant to your current situation, though? Maybe not, so the process of letting these go could start now in anticipation of a new ‘you’ emerging this year. Your home/life balance may also be a part of this process.

SCORPIO

October 24 – November 22

This full moon on 7th January is full of tension for you as there are a number of aspects of your life that seem to be up for grabs right now. Unfortunately, you won’t feel as if you are getting anywhere with it until after the middle of the month when things start to relax and you may get some unusual insights that seem to ‘break the code’ for you.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 – December 22

Mars goes forward again on 13th and this gives you a bit of an energy boost, particularly when the moon opposes it on the 18th. After that you are heading for the new moon in Aquarius which activates your natural optimism again around 22nd January. New ideas and a new world may seem like possibilities again.

Chart readings with me start at £67 and last for an hour on Zoom or Skype. Please go to www.astroguidance.co.uk for more details and to book a session. You can also text or WhatsApp me on 07866 727743 or email me at howpark@aol.com for more information.

If you are interested in discussing and learning more about astrology, why not pop into my Facebook group The Astrocafe | Facebook.

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