MK Pulse May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

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Issue 151 | May 2022

The magazine at the heart of Milton Keynes and Bucks

County-wide news, views and stories

What’s going on in your local area

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CONTENTS

From the

Editor

May 2022

Kerry Lewis-Stevenson

S

o many local businesses took part last year in the first Cycle Challenge in aid of the Milton Keynes charity, Ride High.

Now there are new 50- and 100-mile road routes and a 100-mile relay route. If you haven’t already entered this year there’s still time to get into top condition for 14 August.

You can also take part in the Milton Keynes Museum History Festival on 7 and 8 May to see the Viking encampment and battle demonstrations. You can also discover more about Medieval England and what the Romans did for us too.

On a more serious note, our feature articles focus on the tragedies in Ukraine, sharing inspiring stories of real-life responses from local people.

Philippa Symes, owner of Hustle Gin, has already contributed many essentials. Now she’s collecting handbags of every shape and colour to fill with all the personal items so many women had to leave behind.

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NEWS

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UKRAINE

Milton Keynes resident Nataliya Lawson, who grew up in Ukraine, set up Help Ukraine BAMK. Already 12 lorries packed with supplies have been sent with the support of her fellow volunteers.

18

LEGAL

26

GOLF

In Stony Stratford they are growing hundreds of sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, while retired Newport Pagnell resident, Simon Page, is cycling to raise funds. His aim is to reach 626 kilometres – the distance between Kyiv and Poland. Can you use #626challenge to raise funds too?

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LOCAL HISTORY

34

PULSE PICS

44

FASHION

Don’t forget the important Midday, Midnight and Mini Moo dates coming up this summer to help Willen Hospice raise its target £125,000.

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BEAUTY

48

FOOD & DRINK

Finally, up until the end of this month, you can win a pair of tickets to the Towcester Food Festival on 12 June. You can also take part in our competition to win one of five pairs of tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show.

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HOME & GARDEN

54

COMPETITION

64

MUSIC

67

WHAT’S ON

70

THEATRE

71

FILMS

73

PUZZLES

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YOUR STARS

Kerry Read previous editions online: www.pulsemagazine.co.uk 01908 465488 mkpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk 17 Stilebrook Road, Olney, Bucks MK46 5EA Connect with us on socials: /pulsemagazines @pulsemagazines mkpulsemagazine FINISHED READING? PASS PULSE MAGAZINE TO A FRIEND OR PLACE IT IN THE RECYCLING.

The deadline for advertising in the next edition of Pulse Magazine is MONDAY MONDAY 8TH9TH FEBRUARY MAY Published by MK Pulse Limited MK Pulse cannot take responsibility for the content of the advertisements, editorial or the services provided by the advertisers. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are accurate. All artwork is accepted on condition that permission has been given for use in MK Pulse. Reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. ©MK Pulse

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LOCAL NEWS

T

he event took place for the first time last year, attracting teams of cyclists from local businesses. Now the event is back, bigger and better for 2022 with new 50and 100-mile road routes and a 100-mile relay route too.

Teams of up to eight can enter, or individual riders can join one of the charity’s guided groups led by an experienced cyclist.

The road routes will start and finish at Ride High’s base at Loughton, with scheduled stops and roaming support throughout. It is a fun and friendly challenge, open to everyone aged 18 or over, and there will be a celebratory barbecue and medals hand-decorated by the Ride High children to welcome the cyclists back.

James Farmbrough, an accountant at professional services firm RSM in Milton Keynes, took part in 2021. “Great route, supportive volunteers and a really special medal,” he says.

“I have had dozens of medals over the years but none as meaningful as this one.”

Ride High supports children whose challenging circumstances and traumas make everyday life a struggle. They use horses as a vehicle to help transform their lives. Now in its 13th year, Ride High has helped to transform the lives of more than 1,700 children and young people. > The Cycle Challenge takes place on August 14. For more details and to enter, visit www.ridehigh.org/cyclechallenge.

Get on your bike to help charity’s work with children Colleagues from businesses across Milton Keynes are preparing to enter this year’s fundraising Cycle Challenge in aid of Milton Keynes charity Ride High.

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

Teams of up to eight can enter, or individual riders can join one of the charity’s guided groups led by an experienced cyclist.

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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”.

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Love Your Home - Protect Your Windows - Save Money For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

7

LOCAL NEWS

Meet the ancestors at the Museum There are troubling times ahead at Milton Keynes Museum, but it's all for your entertainment!

T

his May, the Museum is inviting visitors to get even closer to the past, with the return of its popular History Festival – and the Vikings are making their long-overdue return, setting up camp and giving battle demonstrations.

It's not for the faint-hearted!

The living history weekend – running across the weekend of May 7 & 8 – will also include Roman traders demonstrating their wares and selling goods.

Twelfth century reenactors are making tracks to the Wolverton Museum, and you'll be able to step back to the dark days of the Medieval period.

New for 2022 is MK Museum's 1940's re-enactment group who will be setting up camp in the Museum garden to show what life was like during the difficult decade.

The government was suggesting that everyone should take a holiday, but with petrol rationing, trains utilised by troops and everyone's pockets feeling the pinch from the wartime devastation, people were urged to 'holiday at home.'

Sounds not unlike recent times!

The History Festival is a colourful, lively, engaging weekend taking you through the centuries and letting you get closer to our ancestors who were living, working, fighting and playing during key periods in this area's history.

“Our re-enactment events are always calendar highlights, and with the pandemic

Twelfth century reenactors are making tracks to the Wolverton Museum, and you'll be able to step back to the dark days of the Medieval period.

having caused its cancellation in 2020 and 2021 we are thrilled to be able to bring the History Weekend back this year,” said Museum director Bill Griffiths, “It's a brilliant event, and it's not every day you get to interact with our ancestors!

“Of course the rest of the Museum attractions will be open too, so come along and support your local, friendly Museum – I'll see to it that the Vikings are on their best behaviour!”

> For something completely different, try the annual rally by The Old Lawnmower Club over the weekend of May 21 & 22.

The sound of the mower and the smell of freshly cut grass epitomise hazy summer days, and even though we don't all enjoy dragging the cutter around, we all love the results of a tidy and trim garden.

After Covid forced an October meeting in 2021, The Old Lawnmower Club – which boasts more than 500 members worldwide - is hosting its annual rally at the Museum in the more conventional month of May this year.

Anyone with an interest in the development of these invaluable garden assistants will want to pay a visit with 100s of mowers expected to line up, and they serve as a fascinating look at machinery through the years.

In addition to the rare mowers on show from club members, the Museum will have its own fine collection on display - and the Museum really is a cut above the rest, with some of the earliest examples in existence.

For more information, ticket prices and opening times, click to miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk

Take it home: The message from youngsters on litter Meet the youngsters who have cleaned up in the annual Litter Poster competition run by The Parks Trust and the waste and recycling team at Milton Keynes Council.

KS1 winner, Any Fulton of St Mary Magdalene Catholic School, in Greenleys holding her winning poster

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he designs by Any Fulton, of St Mary Magdalene Catholic School, in Greenleys, and Riona Hoi-Yan Chin, who goes to Portfields Primary School in Newport Pagnell, were selected from hundreds of entries from schools across Milton Keynes.

They each receive a free session with the outdoor learning team at The Parks Trust to learn more about the natural world and some litter pickers to help them to protect the environment.

The posters were put up as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s national Spring Clean: #GBSpringClean last month.

“Inspiring the younger generation to look after their environment is crucial to our future and the wildlife in Milton Keynes,” says Sarah Griffiths, leader of The Parks Trust’s outdoor learning team.

“We hope everyone will see these posters in the parks and in local parishes and it

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

reminds them to take their litter home and recycle.”

Each year it costs The Parks Trust £350,000, which equates to about 13% of their annual operational cost, to remove litter and service bins across the 6,000 acres of parkland and green space in Milton Keynes that it looks after. The trust hopes that the winning posters, which are also displayed on park and local council noticeboards, will encourage people to not litter and to take their rubbish home if the bins are full. > For something completely different, try the annual rally by The Old Lawnmower Club over the weekend of May 21 & 22.

The sound of the mower and the smell of freshly cutsKS2 epitomise hazy winner, Riona Hoi-Yan Chin, who goes to Portfields Primary summer days, and even though we School in Newport Pagnell with don't all enjoy dragging the cutter her poster (above)

LOCAL NEWS

S

he is pictured after the official Declaration Ceremony at The Church of Christ the Cornerstone in Milton Keynes, attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant The Countess Howe, past High Sheriffs of Buckinghamshire from the last 20 years, Mayors from across Buckinghamshire, judges, magistrates and guests.

She succeeds the outgoing High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire George Anson and will be in the post for 12 months. Of his year in office Mr Anson said: “Being the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire has opened my eyes to the tremendous contribution made to our community by essential service providers and volunteer organisations.”

He described his year in office as “very special”.

Ms Brock added: “I look forward to giving my service in support of the peace and wellbeing of our county. Like many of my predecessors, I am keen to support initiatives that help to build stronger communities as well as those that prevent crime

‘I am keen to support initiatives that build stronger communities’ Former Mayor of Milton Keynes Debbie Brock has been appointed the new High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. and reoffending, and I am also keen to understand the ways in which victims of crime are supported.

“I have a broad theme of Inclusion and taking the lead from my hometown of Olney marking the 250th anniversary of Amazing Grace being sung on 1st January 1773, looking at the way modern slavery and exploitation are tackled today.”

Serene Taylor was appointed as the Under Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, and Ms Brock’s predecessor George Anson was appointed as the Deputy Under Sheriff. All appointments were witnessed

by Neil Arnold, chair of Buckinghamshire Magistrates.

The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the UK, after the Crown.

Debbie Brock - ‘I am keen to support initiatives that help to build stronger communities as well as those that prevent crime and reoffending’

The High Sheriff is appointed personally by The Queen at the Pricking Ceremony held in March each year and the origins of the Office date back to Saxon times, when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the King for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown. Today there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales.

The role of the modern High Sheriff is ‘to uphold and lend active support to the principal organs of the Constitution - the Royal Family, the judiciary, the police, the prison services and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, and all recognised church and faith groups’.

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

UKRAINE

Bags of Love to show we care

FOCUS ON

UKRAINE

Back in February, Philippa Symes was spending her time sorting her botanicals as the co-owner of local company Hustle Gin. Now though, those botanicals are jostling with bags as Philippa’s latest idea, to benefit ladies displaced by the atrocities in Ukraine, goes from strength to strength.

Philippa had already donated to the cause, but the Lavendonbased lady wanted to do something more, and Bags of Love was born. Sammy Jones found out more...

“I

saw the huge generosity of people throughout the UK and the world, and as a family we contributed with blankets, toiletries and other needed items, but I still felt at a loss and helpless,” Philippa told Pulse.

“I wanted to reach out on a deeper level if I could, to show solidarity with the women who were fleeing Ukraine with their children.”

And she chose to make a difference by launching the charity initiative Bags of Love.

“Many of the women would have left handbags as an unnecessary item when fleeing their homes. I thought that having a handbag with small essential items could possibly help,” Philippa says, explaining her reason behind the venture.

She set up a Facebook page, and appealed for donations of new or preloved bags. The trickle soon turned into a sea as ladies rummaged for unused bags at home to donate to the novel idea.

In less than a month, One of the Bags of Love Bags of Love exceeded expectations by a considerable amount.

“The bags are coming in daily, but we have lost count now – we know that around 1400 have gone to Lutsk in Ukraine,” she says.

“Items have been chosen with care - lipstick, luxury hand cream, perfume, emery boards, mascara, compact mirrors, those sorts of things. And every single bag has been hand labelled with a message from who it is from.

“Some women have written cards and letters - and one lady here has received an email back from a woman in Ukraine who has received the bag she sent - it has come full circle.”

Bags of Love has struck such a chord in the community that a new permanent space is being sought to help store and sort the donations. And they’ll need it; things are only

set to get busier still, as word of the appeal spreads nationwide.

“We have a strong team working with us, and many more who would like to work alongside us – the support is fantastic,” Philippa said.

Bags of Love is a new idea brought about by those devastating images and stories coming out of the embattled country, but this charity venture is here to stay. I presume it will continue for as long as there is a need?

“Yes, indefinitely, I’m sure,” she says, “There will always be refugees, and there are millions displaced.”

For the recipient of one of these bags, the selection of toiletries represents a very welcome bit of normality, ‘a token of kindness’ is the official line. But more than that, the bags show recipients that people thousands of miles away care about them. And that is priceless.

Philippa’s brain keeps ticking over, and she has now launched a sister appeal; Bags of Love for Children. The team of volunteers is now inviting people to donate pre-loved children’s backpacks that can be filled with soft toys, notebooks and things like that.

“We decided to do this when we received a video from Poland showing children whose parents have been killed in the war being given our bags. Two million children have been displaced. We decided we needed to act immediately to give them their own.”

If you have any pre-loved handbags or bags for children that can help swell the appeal, please label them for the relevant age, and continue to drop them off at Mooch in Olney.

Alternatively, they can be mailed to Bags of Love, c/o Faculty room, 37D Market Place, Olney, MK46 4AJ > You can make a connection and follow updates by tapping to Facebook: @bagsofloveandkindness

Philippa with some of the many donations

Suggested items for the Bags of Love...

• Toothpaste • Hand cream and shower gel • Shampoo • Conditioner • Comb • Hairbrush • Lip balm • Facecloth • Tissues • New unused make up • Perfume • Hair Bands • Hair clips • Gloves • Scarf • Notebook • Purse • Jewellery

Suggested items for the Bags of Love for children: • Clean soft toys • Old lego (that has been washed) in a ziplock bag • Notebook and pen • Colouring book • Crayons • Mini torch • Children’s Beanie hats and gloves • Children’s jewellery • Sweets • Compact games/puzzles • Plasticine in a small tub • Lip balm (older children) • Mindfulness colouring or similar for teenagers • Yoyo • Dobble • Snap playing cards or similar • Knitting needles and wool • Crochet • Jewellery with beads • Coloured string for bracelets

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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UKRAINE

‘Thank you for the sense of togetherness’

FOCUS ON

UKRAINE

It’s one thing to watch the horror being unleashed on Ukraine from the comfort of your sofa and to sympathise. But imagine watching your homeland being attacked, knowing that your friends and family are still there. Milton Keynes resident Nataliya Lawson knows exactly what that feels like, as she told Pulse’s Sammy Jones.

N

ataliya grew up in the West of Ukraine, in Lviv. She came here 20 years ago while studying English, “I wanted to see what it was all about,” she said, “I ended up staying here and starting a family.”

But trips home to see her parents, cousins and friends have, until recently, been an annual event. What has been happening over the past few weeks came as no surprise to Nataliya, but it was no less shocking when the attacks began, and the news reports became decidedly dark. It was traumatic.

“I remember watching it with tears flooding down my face,” she said, “I was scared. I felt completely helpless and I felt guilty for not being there to support the people I care for and do something. I felt angry, extremely upset, confused. I don’t even know what other words to find to describe it...

“If I hadn’t come to the UK? I think I would be on the front line now with a gun in my hand,” she says, matter of factly.

“I would have no choice but to use it, would I? If someone is firing at you, coming to your home, hurting or killing your children and your parents, you are going to do something about it, defend them, stand with your brothers, your friends and your colleagues.”

Lviv is in the West of the country, and, says Nataliya, the situation is nowhere near as bad as the one faced by residents in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Bucha or Mariupol.

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“...but they do get attacked in Lviv, and air-raid sirens happen all the time, day and night. People are expected to leave their beds and run to shelters, but to be honest they don’t really exist. So-called bomb shelters are basements – and the flats above are mostly nine storeys high or even higher; if they collapse, people will never get out.”

Missiles have devastated some places in Lviv, including, famously, the International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security. That attack in March stole the lives of 35 people and left a reported 134 more injured. The centre is just a 15 minute drive from Nataliya’s family home.

Her cousin also had a lucky escape from a missile attack on an oil base in the densely populated part of the city: “He was riding a bike home from work and was just 150 metres from the blast...”

And yet this part of the country is functioning as normally as possible, Nataliya says.

It seems almost ridiculous to think of people going about their day to day business, but there is a need for normality, she tells me.

“People understand the country needs to stand, they can’t stop going to work because then the economy will collapse, the shops will collapse... food still needs to be produced, medicines need to be made, the hospitals need to work. Residents need to keep it as normal as they possibly can, with little businesses and cafes open... places that are sources of income.”

But most remarkable of all, is how residents organise themselves to fight against the aggressors.

The people of Ukraine have shown the world that they are resilient and willing to defend their homeland. Their spirit and determination has been truly inspirational.

“I think it is a genetic history that your body remembers subconsciously,” she says when asked where her people get that strength and steely determination from: “Ukrainians have been defending their freedom, their unity and national identity for centuries. We may be different people with different political views, different beliefs, but when it comes to defending our country we will stand together, no matter where in the world we are.”

Lviv is the cultural capital of the country, with beautiful buildings and statues dating back to 1256, when Lviv was founded. Many places in Lviv are a part of UNESCO heritage, the central square is effectively ‘a museum under an open sky’. People prepare sacks of sand in their free time, in an effort to protect history – and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

“In their spare time after work, they come together to make food, to bake bread for those who are standing on the outskirts of the city to keep watch.

“They make metal hedgehogs to stop the tanks. Women and girls make camouflage nets for the soldiers on the front line, people volunteer in warehouses to sort the humanitarian aid that is coming in and to help in every possible way they can.”

Nataliya is in direct contact with family and friends at home, and she has friends in Kyiv who she has known since they attended nursery school together.

“Some are in suburban areas, and others refuse to leave because their husbands are serving...’

All men aged between 18 and 60 have to remain in the country to fight.

“They don’t want to leave them behind.”

Meanwhile, she also has cousins and an aunt in Russia: “When all of this happened it became very apparent that they are completely proRussian,” she said.

Despite the distance between her and her immediate family, Nataliya felt a desperate need to do something to help the people of Ukraine.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

UKRAINE

Nataliya: ‘Thank you for coming together, for donating, for supporting us’

“I couldn’t bear the negative energy, I needed to channel it somehow to stay sane and make a difference. I decided to make a few calls to my friends whose parents and family are in Kharkiv, initially just to find out how they were, as Kharkiv was being attacked by heavy artillery. We thought we could maybe organise a local drop-off point for donations,” she recalled.

In just three days residents in Milton Keynes had donated a big van load worth of items.

“From then on we had tons of humanitarian aid donations flooding into a little space in a warehouse in Blakelands, which was kindly donated to us by a good Ukrainian man who wanted to help. Many thanks to Amazon preparation centre E-Sell Trading Services UK.” The group, known under the Facebook name Help Ukraine BAMK, has now sent four lorries and 12 big vans full of food, medication, medical supplies, hospital equipment, clothes, toiletries, goods for children and much more to the embattled country.

“Logistics is not what I do, none of us have done anything like this before,” she admits.

The 43-year-old mother of two is at a loss to understand where she is getting her energy from.

Without these people, and their time and their efforts, we wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing. We are together in this, If Ukraine stands and wins, it will be the victory of freedom, and democracy. But if Ukraine falls, many more will fall...”

She is an HR professional working full-time for a local NHS hospital and volunteering is stealing many more hours from her day.

But long may that energy continue, because her efforts and those of her fellow volunteers are making a real difference to those most in need.

Your morning ritual might involve stumbling to the kitchen for a brew, but as soon as she opens her eyes, Nataliya reaches for her phone: “... to see if there are any urgent messages,” she shares.

And, while your phone might be full of apps for takeaways, social media accounts and other interests, Nataliya has one app that you probably don’t have, nor would you choose to; it tells her every time there is an air-raid in Lviv, enabling her to keep tracks on the safety of her family. Think about that for a moment.

As the war continues, so too does Nataliya’s work to support the refugees and fighters at home, and she has a message for everyone in the area who has helped with the success of the Ukraine Appeal and Help Ukraine BAMK so far: “I would like to say a humongous thank you; thank you for coming together; for donating; for coming to see what we do; for joining in; for supporting us; for growing this community and for the sense of togetherness”.

“Without these people, and their time and their efforts, we wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing. We are together in this,” she says with passion, “If Ukraine stands and wins, it will be the victory of freedom, and democracy. But if Ukraine falls, many more will fall...” > Make a connection on Facebook: @helpukrainebamk

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

15

UKRAINE

Using plant power to show solidarity Community group Stony Stratford in Bloom came up with a bloomin’ great way to engage residents and show support for Ukraine.

C

ommunity group Stony Stratford in Bloom is doing what it does best to show its support for the people of Ukraine; by using petal power.

They have teamed up with The Patch MK to turn the town into an even cheerier place this summer, with 100s of sunflowers – the national flower of Ukraine being sown.

The Patch has donated 300 seeds to the cause, and SSIB volunteers Anne Ratcliffe and Anu Chundur have swelled that number even more.

S

Simon and the team from Help Ukraine BAMK

hocked by the devastating scenes coming from Ukraine, Simon Page wanted to get hands-on and help make a difference to those displaced by the war.

And the retired Newport Pagnell resident didn’t need to look far; he made a connection with the Help Ukraine BAMK group.

Simon is now spending his time as part of a hard working team of volunteers helping to collect, sort and send aid to the embattled country from a unit in Blakelands.

“Twenty-four pallets went out last week.

People started donating clothes, nappies, women’s toiletries, sanitary products, everything useful.”

Alongside the expected goods, there are some less obvious items coming in: “We get one or two other things too; military helmets and body armour, things like that...”

Unsurprisingly, a number of ex-pat Ukrainians are involved in the BAMK group: “What you see on the news is bad enough, but when you 16

“At the face of it, we wanted to do something, and somebody was planting some in their garden because their neighbours were Ukrainian and they thought it would be a nice gesture of support,” said Judy Deveson, chair of the group.

“I thought, ‘why don’t we pick up that idea and use it to fill the town.’ As Stony in Bloom it is a relevant thing for us to do, and it is also very good for the environment.”

Residents can collect seeds and grow their own flower, or, if you don’t feel that confident, you can pick up one of the many little plants that SSIB will be growing for the cause.

“People are giving us donations for the seeds and plants that we give them and we are giving that money to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal, and money is already coming in. It’s a great way for us to show our solidarity with Ukraine,” Judy told Pulse.

The green-fingered collective will also be planting seeds at the Wolverton Road Rec and on the London Road allotments – but not quite yet: “We’ll be planting them after the danger of frost has passed. At the end of May you can be pretty sure you will avoid any sneaky frosts.”

Joe Gurney runs Mount Mill Farm which people flock to every summer to visit The Patch, famous for its spectacular sunflower field. He said: “We have a close connection with Ukraine in that one of our most popular attractions and crops is the sunflower.

FOCUS ON

UKRAINE

Roz Gurney from The Patch with SSIB chair Judy Deveson

“When we saw that Stony Stratford and Old Stratford were planning to raise funds for Ukraine by growing them, the least we could do was to help our community to help those unfortunate communities in Ukraine by supplying the seeds.”

“Hopefully all of our actions, however small, will contribute towards being a huge help for those who most desperately need it.” > If you would like help ‘grow’ the initiative, visit FB: @stonyinbloom

Are you up for the #626challenge? listen to their stories first hand, it’s just horrible,” Simon says.

The group is also in need of money to purchase supplies like military medical equipment.

“All men have got to stay back and fight in Ukraine, and they were given a gun, but they weren’t given body armour – only the military got that.

“We need to generate money in order to save lives,” Simon explained.

So he put his thinking cap on and came up with the #626challenge as a way to swell the coffers.

“I wondered how far it is between Kyiv and Poland, and give or take it’s 626km, so I thought I would cycle that amount. If I can raise £1 a kilometre, that’ll be great.”

And his #626challenge is inspiring others to embark on their own sponsored events.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

“One guy is doing press-ups, another lady is making ribbons, and so on...”

Even if money is too tight to mention, there are still ways to contribute.

“A lot of people haven’t got a huge amount of cash right now because of rising fuel prices and energy bills,” Simon said, “Donating money may be too much for some, but you could do something, or make something.

“Me raising £626 is nothing, it’s just a drop in the ocean, but if we could get it to snowball and have people do 626 of anything? Then we can start to make a significant amount of money,” Simon says. > To learn more about Ukraine BAMK visit FB: @helpukrainebamk

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13/12/2021 For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

14:32 17

LEGAL

Why use a local Property Solicitor?

A solicitor's local knowledge of the area is always something that could prove useful to you in your sale.

Conveyancing specialists at Heald Solicitors look at the benefits of choosing a local property solicitor.

Awais Mahmood and the Residential property team provide effective and proactive advice when buying, selling or remortgaging your property.

Artemis House, 4 Bramley Road Milton Keynes MK1 1PT

1. Buying or selling your home is expensive– why leave it to chance?

Moving home isn’t easy. At every step of the process, there can be problems. With house moving ranked as one of the most stressful points of life, it is makes sense to use a specialist.

Here at Heald Solicitors we are accredited by the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme and have been based in Milton Keynes for over 30 years. Our highly experienced team has a wealth of local connections, be it with estate agents, mortgage advisors, surveyors, accountants or other solicitors. This helps us to complete your transaction with increased accuracy, knowing the area and potential matters that may arise, ahead of many others.

2. A more personal service to suit your needs.

Over the years the internet has become so important. Nowadays you can do almost everything online but when it comes to moving home, there are many benefits to using a local solicitor rather than a remote or online conveyancer. For most people, especially first-time buyers, the business of buying a house can be bewildering. Whilst many questions can be raised with solicitors by telephone or email, it’s often better to deal with these face-to-face. Being able to meet our team in person can help ease many of your concerns as they crop up.

Not only this but having a physical office locally can be helpful when there is a need for the collection or receipt of documents and time is critical. Last minute delays can be very costly if exchange or completion deadlines are missed. Where documents are posted, this can add to stressful delays. Has the letter arrived? Has it got lost?

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.

3. You pay for what you get.

It is a lot more likely that you will get caught out by unforeseen expenses when using an e-conveyancer. A local solicitor will know the price you are quoted is correct and be able to tell you which searches apply to the area, allowing you to prepare for any additional fees. So, even if it seems like using an e-conveyancer is saving you

money, they will often add on additional fees and disbursements at the end. Our comprehensive fee quotations are fully transparent. Any unforeseen complications during your matter will be discussed with you at the time so you are kept informed of any additional costs that may be payable.

We will give you our direct dial telephone numbers so you can always speak to someone. We will also keep your estate agent up to date to help the whole process run more smoothly.

4. Peace of mind We often find that while moving home, clients require additional advice. What are the implications of joint ownership of property? What if your will is no longer right for your situation? We offer all of our clients access to a full range of legal services. When these questions crop up, we can offer swift and comprehensive in-house solutions.

Using a local solicitor with plenty of accessible free car parking takes one more anxiety away. Our team at Heald Solicitors are always happy to arrange an appointment to meet with you face to face.

If you are looking for a high-quality conveyancing service that will give you peace of mind, our residential conveyancing team would be delighted to help you. You can find out more by visiting our website or calling Awais or Elaine on 01908 662277.

Find out more at: www.healdlaw.co.uk 18

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

19

Anniversaries are a bit of a strange one. Why do we celebrate? Does anyone care? What's the point? In March this year, Home Instead Milton Keynes celebrated its 10 year anniversary and we’re celebrating with good reason.

Over those ten years we've provided quality, meaningful care in peoples' homes across Milton Keynes and the surrounding villages. We've grown as a business, in experience and as a team, always trying to improve and do the very best for our clients and our Care Professionals.

When Sue Prosky set up the business in March 2002, it was personal reasons that ignited her passion to change the way care was perceived.

Celebrating our 10 year

anniversary

Sue's mother had been battling cancer for ten years. The family had been doing its best to support her but, as is often the case, her relatives didn’t live close by. Inevitably they had to call on professional care for their mother and experienced the care industry at first hand. It was only then that Sue became aware of the huge negativity surrounding the industry. It became Sue's mission to change the face of care, by demonstrating the positive side of good care and by providing help which actually enhanced people’s lives.

That’s the reason we are celebrating; we're proud of our people, what we've achieved as a company and always keeping Sue's vision central to the care we provide. The Quality Care Commission awarded us Outstanding for Care, of which we are justifiably proud.

join us

Call 01908 774333 or email sarah.marquiss@miltonkeynes.homeinstead.co.uk If you like our story and ethos, then we’d love to hear from you because we arewww.homeinstead.co.uk/miltonkeynes always looking for new team members. We match our clients to our Care Professionals and our visits are a minimum of an hour. They aren't rushed and there is time to chat. No matter what your background, our Care Professionals are given all the training needed. Want to know more?

Call Ali Marklew for an informal chat or email us: 01908 774333 ali.marklew@miltonkeynes.homeinstead.co.uk Home Instead Milton Keynes, Global House, Vincent Avenue, Crownhill, MK8 0AB © 2022 Home Instead, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Each Home Instead franchise office is independently owned and operated.

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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We can carry out all types of repairs for classic and vintage Mercedes-Benz. From minor servicing work to full restoration in association with our local bodyshop.

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

21

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General Building and Insurance Work Painting & Decorating Electrician Services Extensions & New Builds Refurbishments Work Fire & Flood Damage Loft & Garage Conversions Kitchens & Bathrooms

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

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any 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.

“Can any kind of kitchen can be refinished or is respraying just for solid wood?” As long as your kitchen is in reasonable condition, FX-SPRAY MK can refinish it., even carrying out minor repairs and changing handles as part of the process.

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

Jason Thompson, FX-SPRAY MK

Why replace when you can refinish?

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.

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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.

22

FX-SPRAY MK also treats doors, windows and furniture.

For more information or a free quote, email jason@fxfinishing.co.uk or visit www.fxfinishing.co.uk

Email for a quote or visit our website for details; Call Jason: 07980 320162 email: jason@fxfinishing.co.uk

www.fxfinishing.co.uk 14

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Fitted furniture & Joinery Composite doors *booking now for spring 2022 PVCu windows *booking now for spring 2022

February 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

ADDICTION

Who are DAFS?

(Drug & Alcohol Family Support)

D

rug and alcohol addiction brings feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness and isolation for the person with an addiction, but it also affects their families, who often struggle on alone. Whilst our loved ones are in 'active addiction', the ripple effect causes untold heartache and devastating mental health issues for family members, as they watch their loved one’s struggle.

evenings which have been great in providing a different environment for people to come together and focus on something positive for a few hours.

DAFS is a group of volunteers from different backgrounds who have lived experience and who 'get it'. We fully understand how hard it is to share how we feel with those who have not experienced this awful 'family disease'.

We refer to and receive referrals from partner agencies involved in work with drug and alcohol addiction such as

If you have lived experience of a loved one with drug and/or alcohol addiction and would like to volunteer with us, please get in touch. We need people who can facilitate meetings or help with fundraising.

SFAD

Offering a safe, confidential and nonjudgemental place where affected others (18+) can come together to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with others who understand, we support those affected to become stronger, to cope better, to take back control and slowly rebuild their lives, regaining a sense of purpose and identity. We also build friendships and a feeling of belonging, so that no-one feels alone. We encourage self-care.

We also have a private Facebook page and a 24/7 private Messenger group which has been invaluable in providing support for each other during those times like the early hours or over the Christmas period.

Community Led Initiatives, SAMAS and ARC. We work with Arthur Ellis MHS, a local organisation, to commission 1:1 mentoring to improve well-being for people who join DAFS with additional support needs, raising funding through grants and group fundraising activities.

Who are DAFS?

>

DAFS are a small team of volunteers who focus on supporting and empowering families of addicted loved ones without judgement or exclusion.

We work in partnership by sharing lived experiences, offering compassion and understanding.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL FAMILY SUPPORT

DAFS try to offer a variety of ways for our families to meet and interact with others in similar circumstances, as we feel it can often bring perspective and a sense of calmness to an otherwise chaotic life, particularly when loved ones are living in the family home.

We aim to raise awareness, reduce feelings of isolation, help build selfconfidence, self esteem and self worth.

We motivate families to live their lives, laugh again and to have HOPE for the future.

WE COMFORT

We offer regular face to face meetings and we also invite guest speakers from other services such ARC or CarersMK to provide practical information, or it could be somebody in recovery who can give hope to families that lives can, and do, change and show that recovery is always possible given the right support.

HURTING FAMILIES

Get Support!

Join us on Facebook!

We can offer online support using Zoom or Teams technology to those who cannot attend face to face, whether this is due to distance, child care or shift patterns etc.

We offer a morning drop-in service once a week and can also interact with people over WhatsApp or phone.

In addition, we also organise activities such as walks, picnics and crafting

www.facebook.com/groups/MKFamilysupportgroup

in partnership with

SAMAS

Speak to Lynn or Val..

Tel: 07598346244 or 07874849659 or Email: dafsmk@mail.com

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SUPPORT, ADVICE, MENTORING AND ADVOCACY SERVICE

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

23

WED 18th MAY ‘22

FRI 27th MAY ‘22

Price: £30 per person. Includes entrance fee.

Made famous by Beatrix Havergal who established her School of Horticulture for Ladies here from 1932 to 1971, it’s now home to eight acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens, a quality plant centre and garden shop, gallery and gift shop, museum and tea shop.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 9.45am and leaves Waterperry Gardens at 3pm.

Price: £40.00 per adult, £37.00 over 65s, £34 per child 5-15yrs. Includes entrance fee.

Explore the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to young royals for over 300 years. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria's re-imagined childhood rooms and the magnificent King's State Apartments. Visit the Sunken Garden which was recently redesigned to celebrate the life of Princess Diana, a statue of the princess now stands in her favourite spot in the garden.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 10am and leaves Kensington Palace at 4pm.

TUE 24th MAY ‘22

Cotswold Wildlife Park £37 per adult, £33 per child 3-16yrs and Over 65s. Includes entrance fee.

Take a walk on the WILD SIDE! Stroll around the park and get eye-to-eye with giraffes, watch rhinos graze on the Gothic manor house lawns, walk with lemurs.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 9am and leaves Cotswold Wildlife Park at 3.30pm.

Waterperry Gardens

Cromer Day Out

Price: £25 per adult, £15 per child (3-16 yrs), under 3s free of charge.

Kensington Palace

WED 1st JUN ‘22

FRI 3rd JUN ‘22 Cromer is a traditional seaside resort, Cromer pier which is home to a lifeboat station and Pavilion Theatre, where the UK’s only remaining traditional end of the pier variety show takes place each summer.

Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 8am and leaves Cromer at 4pm.

Bekonscot Model Village & Windsor Cruise with lunch £60 per person. Includes entrance to

Bekonscot Model Village, two hour Windsor cruise with fish & chip lunch. Bekonscot Model Village has over 90 years of history, with a huge model railway and 1.5 acres of well-kept gardens. 2 Hour cruise will sail along the Thames taking in the sites of Windsor castle Leaves from Bill’s Coach and Minibus Hire at 9am and leaves Windsor at 3.45pm.

Call 01908 613000

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

25

GOLF

AF GOLF STORE

SUITS GOLFERS TO A TEE

Milton Keynes’ newest golf centre, AF Golf Store has built a reputation for coaching golfers and offering sound advice on buying new clubs and putters, as well as professional club fitting. MK Pulse went along to meet the friendly team at their Bletchley store.

G

olfers are all driven by one common goal – to get the ball in the hole.

For some individuals it can be a painful, testing journey while others may have that touch of magic.

It helps to have the correct clubs to suit your style which is why a growing number of players are putting their trust in AF Golf Store.

The store in Milton Keynes, an Aladdin’s Cave for golfers from the first timers to those who have turned professional, has a refreshing approach to customer service. Forget buying clubs off-the shelf, AF Golf Store includes a free personal fitting service for golfers looking to buy a new set or just want to replace a well-loved driver or putter.

The store stocks all the well-known brands but marketing and Events Manager, Chris Hattersley, said: “Rather than focussing on brands we take an unbiased view, so each customer finds the right clubs to suit their game.

“Since we started off the aim was to offer something different to customers. We want to 26

listen to customers and find out what is important to their game.”

Each customer will have different needs. One might have a low handicap while another may just be starting to play. They will want different things from their Left to right: Greg Tilbury (Custom Club Fitter), Ryan Walters (Store clubs. Along with custom Manager) and Elliott Appleby (Custom Club Fitter/Golf Professional) fitting, the company has a Build Centre which offers anything from a repair or replacement of a clubs that offer the same outcome. What does club shaft or grip to the building of a new set make sense is to see if it is possible to find of clubs. clubs that offer performance gains, rather than “We know that each golfer has different selecting a favourite.” requirements, and we want to make sure we The committed team who between them can listen and deliver what each of them want have notched up thousands of hours playing for their game. the game, are headed up by director Alan “Sometimes, rather than investing in Fletcher who set up AF Golf Store in 2019 a complete set of clubs, a customer is alongside Retail Director, Ollie Fullerton. The encouraged to consider the ones that give first store was in Cambridge near to where regular results across the 18 holes,” said Alan had earned an enviable reputation for his Chris. “There’s little point in carrying lots of coaching and professional services.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

GOLF Golf Professional, Elliott Appleby will soon get your game back in swing

supporting community initiatives. One of the latest was to support a golf day to raise funds for the MK Dons Sport and Education Trust.

Chris said: “It is important to us that customers feel comfortable when shopping in our stores and can work with our team to get the right equipment for the way they want to play the game” The store offers an expert express club build service

He saw an opportunity to offer a bespoke service to each customer rather than simply selling equipment which might look good but fails to bring benefits to the individual’s game.

Another store opened in Peterborough followed by the Milton Keynes enterprise with the promise of more to follow in the coming years. The business is committed to

CLUB FITTING: How does it work?

The initial part of the session will give the customer a chance to talk about their game, needs and preferences like changing the flight of a ball. Any injuries that affect how the customer plays can be taken into account when looking at the best club choice.

After a warm-up in the store’s indoor studio, the fitter will start to gain dynamic and impact data using the hi-tech Trackman 4 technology.

This will measure for length, lie and angle, grip size and type.

The outcomes can vary from player to player but there are real benefits from getting clubs that meet personal specifications from increased ball speed and distance to better control and performance.

Chris said: “We get really good feedback from customers. Our advice is purely based on performance on products and the golfer in front of us.” > Visit the team at AF Golf Store, 9 Peverel Drive, Bletchley, MK1 1NL

Clothing not only has to look good it must meet the demands of playing golf.

Not only is there a huge choice in clothing for men with brands such as Nike, Under Armour and Boss, but ‘The Ladies Golf Store’ is one of the largest in the United Kingdom with a wide range of clothing, accessories and shoes.

Footjoy is the latest brand available in-store alongside collections from Ping, Swing Out Sister, Galvin Green, J Lindeberg and Adidas.

The store also stocks a wide range of items for women from clubs and bags to gloves and trollies.

Gemma Fletcher is the member of the team dedicated to all the buying and merchandising of the selections which meet the different needs of women wanting to find clothes that suit their style of play.

Gemma said: “We know people might buy clothes online but at the store they can try on different items and find the best fit for them.”

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

27

Leave a lasting legacy

WRITE A WILL IN THREE EASY STEPS

This May, we are partnering with local solicitors and Will-writing specialists who will waive their usual fee in return for a minimum suggested donation to Willen Hospice.

1

Consider what gifts you would like to leave, and to whom

To find a participating solicitor, please visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk/willmonth

2 Visit our website for participating solicitors

3

Make a telephone appointment or go online to write your Will

Alternatively you can request an information pack by emailing legacies@willen-hospice.org.uk Full terms and conditions at www.willen-hospice.org.uk/willmonth Registered charity number 270194

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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LOCAL HISTORY

Pic: Paul Lindsay

The new galleries at Milton Keynes Museum

A passport to the new town

The Museum is fortunate to be offered lots of historical bits and pieces that help us to accurately tell the story of Milton Keynes, but sometimes it is the smallest items that prove to be the richest of deliveries.

W

e were thrilled to be gifted a Passport to Milton Keynes information pack by local resident Wendy Carpenter recently, which throws a light on the blossoming new town in 1979.

The packs were given to residents on their 18th birthday, introducing them to the delights of new town living with a range of leaflets exploring services, facilities and opportunities in the area.

In an introductory letter, Albert Eley, the Mayor of Milton Keynes wrote: 'The leaflets are designed to show you the immensely varied opportunities to develop new skills and make 30

new friends, whether you have grown up in the Borough or are relatively new to the area.

They are an invitation to you to become personally involved in those aspects which appeal to you most, perhaps helping to run local organisations and societies.

There are many ways in which new voters can enjoy and influence life in Milton Keynes, making it more pleasant for us all...'

In 1979, there was no multiplex cinema, no ski-slope, no vast office blocks and if you did want to hook up with your pals, you would have organised things without the ease of mobile phones and social media.

But no-one will have missed mobile phones, because they weren't a factor in 1970s living.

Back then, things were much simpler, but MK was already making its own way, and writing its own headlines.

In 1979, the centre:mk opened its doors, and the glass mall marked a new era in shopping locally. The complex was the longest shopping centre in Europe, and catered for all your requirements under the one roof – what a novelty!

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was on hand to officially open the building.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

LOCAL HISTORY

Royalty visited too; HM the Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh when she opened the council's new civic offices.

But our passport guide was issued at the start of the year, and so those launches were yet to happen.

The 'Milton Keynes February Festival' wasn't the snappiest of event titles, and it offered a range of 'polite' music, with opportunities to see Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra, a production of La Traviata by Opera For All, and two shows by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

If you wanted something with plenty of colour and pop, Showaddywaddy was not to be missed at Bletchley Leisure Centre.

Tickets then were £3. If you want to go and see them singing Under The Moon of Love today, you'll need to shell out an average of £25.

If you wanted to book tickets, you didn't head online and tap in your preferences – instead you would fill out the form and send it back with your payment – in the form of a cheque or postal order.

Aside from the festival, sharp movers might have enjoyed stepping out with the North Bucks Scottish Country Dance Society, and proof that you can never have too much of a good thing; the Milton Keynes Scottish Country Dance Society was up and running too.

Harry Secombe visited, (for younger readers, he was one of the Goons – a very popular and zany radio show and a well known baritone) with support from the Band of the Royal Artillery, but there was no mention of the punk movement or the New Wave artists still sweeping the country.

As an incentive to get involved in MK events, the passport pack came with a voucher entitling the bearer to a ticket up to the value of £1.25 for a concert or play – to be redeemed within six months of issue.

Sport fans were in luck though, with basketball, martial arts, swimming and rugby all on the menu, and if your interests lay elsewhere, Milton Keynes had its own Soldier and Wargaming Club, Archaeological Society and Flower Arranging Club.

An impressive A-Z guide to Leisure was also part of the package received by new voters and provided a fascinating snapshot as to what was happening, from adult education to the intriguingly titled woodcraft folk.

Pic: Living Archive

HM the Queen visits Central Milton Keynes, acccompanied by Lord Campbell in 1979

Showaddywaddy played the February Festival in Bletchley, in 1979

Under M for Museums, the Stacey Hill Collection, which would become Milton Keynes Museum, is listed, and the annual Folk on the Green musical event in Stony Stratford was as popular then as it is today.

Anyone wanting to hit the hard things would be able to seek direction from the Marshall School of Drumming in Bletchley.

Yep, the Father of Loud responsible for the iconic amplifiers once had a shop in the town as well, in addition to the factory.

If you 'fancied a swift half' in 1979, there were 55 public houses across the new town from which to choose.

Superman was the big screen smash at the start of the year, but with The Point not even thought of, back then a night at the cinema involved visiting one of our charming town picture houses – The Electra in Newport Pagnell, or the Studio Cinema in Bletchley.

“I think it came in the post,” Wendy remembered of this info bundle, “Back then, it was a night out at the local working men's club or the pictures,” that people looked forward to, Wendy said.

Not that Wendy made the most of her free voucher: “I married young and had small children, so was busy with that...”

As Wendy was now an adult and allowed to vote, there was a handy guide included in the super little pack of information explaining what the Borough Council, MK Development Corporation and Bucks County Council were responsible for; breaking down everything from housing and planning to parking and rates, for those who remember that precursor to the Council Tax of today.

One other illustrated document delivered a 'Who's who in local government' in bite-sized pieces – which plenty of people would find useful today! The artist was Eugene Fisk who wrote several illustrated books about Milton Keynes buildings and people.

The illustrations included one chap holding a placard saying, 'Milton Keynes is dying for a hospital,' although it would be another five years before we got one, and another demanded, 'A new hotel for Milton Keynes.'

Of course the town centre now has so many, that one has to wonder if people book up to stay here purely so they can sightsee the other hotels! > Milton Keynes Museum is YOUR Museum and we are always looking to preserve local history for future generations. Your stories are our stories. We had never seen one of these passport packs which we are thrilled to have taken into our collection.

Once complete, the passport will be one of many artefacts celebrating the new town of Milton Keynes, in our New Gallery.

Perhaps you have other items of similar interest?

Please make contact by messaging us on FB @mkmuseum or email press@mkmuseum.org.uk Some of the illustrations in the passport pack

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

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine 11/04/2022 | May 2022 33 12:16 pm

PULSE PICS We’ve enjoyed a baby boom (of sorts), brilliant fashion, a meeting with the Body Coach and more...here are this month’s Pulse Pics.

Pic: Sammy Jones

This stunning butterfly was snapped enjoying the greenery on a beautiful summer morning in Campbell Park.

Pic: Woburn Safari Park

Congratulations to Bradwell Silver Band who came away triumphant from the London and Southern Counties Regional Championship – our brass band took first place and now get to represent the region in Cheltenham later this year.

Pic: Sammy Jones

The catwalk returned to the centre:mk for its Spring Fashion Weekend, exploring this season’s must-have styles. Shoppers were treated to makeup masterclasses, talks from stylists and giveaways, and of course those all-important fashion shows.

Pic: Sammy Jones

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The baby boom has begun at Woburn Safari Park – with 11 new adorable arrivals. Leading the way was an endangered ring-tailed lemur baby, weighing a tiny 30 grams at birth. Other fresh faced babies include four meerkat pups and six wallaby joeys, joining the troops at home in the Foot Safari.

The Body Coach paid a visit to Milton Keynes to meet fans and sign copies of his new best-selling page-turner, Feel Good Food.

Joe Wicks, whose exercises helped to keep the nation healthy and motivated throughout lockdown, was greeted by a great crowd of supporters when he popped to Waterstones bookstore in Midsummer Place – the store sold out of every last book!

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

Star baker and television presenter Nadiya Hussain has launched a new range of headscarves and turbans in collaboration with Next.

“I have been part of the design process at every stage, from colour to fabric and size,” said the Milton Keynes resident, “...

My headscarf is an extension of me, just like hair, but not hair.”

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35

Willen Hospice partners with MK College to promote sustainable fashion

WILLEN HOSPICE

Leave a lasting legacy...

If writing a Will is on your to-do list, help is at hand.

This May, Willen Hospice is partnering with local solicitors and Will-Writers who will waive their usual fee to write your Will in return for a suggested minimum donation to the Hospice.

To make an appointment with one of our partner solicitors visit www.willen-hospice.org. uk/willmonth. Alternatively, email legacies@ willen-hospice.org.uk for further information.

In the words of one of our supporters: “We have pledged a gift to Willen Hospice in our Will as a way to thank them for the love

fr

F ear y OF alw a % brid 1 M 20 ted 5-3 lec 1 Se om

In the Willen Hospice Bridal Boutique, Dresses range from just £50 to £600

and care they provided to dad during his final moments, It’s our way of giving something special back to them after we are gone, having the confidence knowing that our gift no matter how big or small will make a huge difference to the lives of patients and their loved ones long into the future”.

As part of their vision to promote sustainable fashion and offer affordable clothing, Willen Hospice have launched an exciting new partnership with MK College fashion and photography students. The students have been busy helping the Hospice to select seasonal ranges of clothing which are now available in the Midsummer Place flagship store. The students enjoyed modelling some of their selection while their fellow photography students helped to document the process. The collaboration will continue with a unique upcycling project and a new co-brand which will be launching soon.

Planning a wedding?

Dying Matters Awareness Week

Find the dress of your dreams! Browse the vast selection of new, vintage and pre-loved wedding gowns in the Willen Hospice Bridal Boutique, in Leighton Buzzard. Dresses range from just £50 to £600. You’ll also find beautiful bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride, proms and party dresses.

Book an appointment in-store or by calling 01525 854420.

Donate your dress Once your big day has come and gone, why not free up wardrobe space by donating your dress? You could be helping someone else to make beautiful memories whilst raising vital funds for Willen Hospice. You can donate your dress at any Willen Hospice shop.

Willen Hospice will be proudly supporting Dying Matters Awareness Week, 2-6 May, it is an opportunity to get the Milton Keynes community talking about dying and grief. It is only through these conversations that Willen Hospice is able to personalise its specialist palliative care and respect individual wishes. The local charity wants everyone to be #InAGoodPlace when they die – whatever that means for them.

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

TRANSITION TOWN

Sustainable Energy at Home With energy bills rising, and cheaper tariffs being tough to find because of the increase in the regulator’s price cap, the main way to save during this energy crisis is simply to use less.

T

here are a range of things that we can all do to reduce the amount of energy that we use in the home to cut spending on energy bills and to bring down our carbon emissions for the planet. Here are a few ideas to get started: Cut down on how long you spend in the shower – amazingly, for most of us the shower is the item that consumes the most electricity.

It’s important to consider how energy-intensive it is to deliver, treat and heat the hot water for your shower, so shaving off a few minutes from your shower time will save on energy as well as precious water.

Turn down your heating thermostat - just turning this down by 1 or 2 degrees saves CO2 and money. After all you can always improve your own insulation with an extra jumper.

For bonus savings, smart control systems and improving your home’s insulation to keep heat trapped inside in summer and out in winter can help massively. (We just have to balance the savings against the cost of buying the kit.)

Only boil sufficient water in your kettle for your needs. For bonus savings, heat a mug of water for tea or coffee in the microwave which uses a lot less energy than most kettles.

Switch to a 100% renewable electricity supplier – One of the simplest and biggest impacts that we can make to reduce our carbon emissions in our homes is to switch to an electricity supplier that utilises 100% renewable electricity. The Energy Savings Trust identified these companies as reputable suppliers of electricity from 100% renewable sources: www.goodenergy.co.uk www.greenenergyuk.com www.ecotricity.co.uk www.octopus.energy

just turning this down by 1 or 2 degrees saves CO2 and money. After all you can always improve your own insulation with an extra jumper.

When replacing appliances, opt for A-rated goods – Although they can be slightly more expensive, in most cases the additional energy savings A+ appliances make over 1 – 2 years will cover the original additional expense.

Replace your old gas boiler with a more efficient heat pump or air-source or ground-source heating system.

If your home is properly insulated, installing a heat pump is one of the most efficient “green” renewable heating technologies you can use to replace your old boiler to

heat both your hot water and central heating and make long-term cost savings. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a newly launched government grant to help property owners with £5,000 - £6,000 off the upfront cost of installing a heat pump.

Consider fitting solar panels - Solar is a renewable energy source and by having panels fitted to your house will mean that you can create your own electricity and not have to rely on the national grid; protecting yourself against price hikes from big utility providers and reducing your electricity bills each month in future.

> For more information on Transition Town Milton Keynes, visit: www.transitiontownmk.org or email: transitiontownmk@protonmail.com

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

37

LOCAL NEWS

A sporting book to go bat-ty over

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ricket fans will be bowled over by an in-depth new book, which explores the rich and colourful history of Thornborough Cricket Club (TCC), writes Sammy Jones.

The page-turner has been pieced together by two generations of former players from the club; Brian Goodger, who enjoyed a five decade link with TCC and his nephew, Pulse Magazine’s designer Simon Goodger, whose love affair with the village club began as a young supporter in the 1970s before he went on to play for them.

“It will appeal to cricket fans at large, but also to anyone interested in social history,” explained Simon, “It’s a really interesting story to see how a little village produced the club, and just how everything evolved.”

Cricket As It Should Be Played: An Anecdotal History of Thornborough Cricket Club is brimming with recollections and stories, and with 70 years of memories there is a lot to say, and a fair amount of humour features too.

The book has been illustrated with many charming images; one favourite must surely be an image of the team from the early 1900s, in obligatory bowler hats, with one player puffing on a pipe!

M

eta-Noya is the brainchild of students at Denbigh School in Shenley Church End who ared taking part in this year’s Young Enterprise National Business Challenge.

Meta-Noya translates from Greek as “the journey of changing one’s mind, heart or way of life”. The team, pictured, have created ‘peace of mind packs’ which aim to stimulate the senses and relieve stress as they focus on the wellbeing of young people in light of the challenges they have faced during the pandemic.

Every year the Young Enterprise organisation tests the enterprise skills of students across the country by challenging them to create a product and sell it to the public. Students must produce a business plan, a marketing strategy, conduct consumer research and sell as many products as they can.

‘Meta-Noya’ has been selling its ‘peace of mind packs’ – which contain incense sticks, herbal tea, candles, oils and sweet treats – at school events and through social media (@meta-noya on Instagram, Pinterest, & Tik Tok).

Head of school Andrea Frame said: “Meta-Noya has taken every opportunity both in and out of school to spread the word about its ‘peace of mind packs’ and they are proving popular. It is great to see 38

The idea of a book came about in the summer of 2021 when Simon started a Facebook group for former players and supporters as a way of ‘passing the legacy on and enjoying some reminiscences’ and as group numbers swelled it became clear there was a desire to compile the history in a book.

By the time it was suggested, Brian had already been putting the recollections to paper.

“Brian, my dad and I have prodigious memories and can recall amazing detail – including stuff that we probably shouldn’t remember. Some of it is borderline libellous, I’m sure!” Simon laughed.

“The old umpires and the things they got up to make for great reading. In the old days, both teams had an umpire and each would cheat as bad as the other.

“That changed over time when the league would send a neutral umpire, but even then they were open to persuasion. There is a story of a captain plying an umpire with ale before the game, just to make sure they got all the decisions they needed in the match later on!”

The book collates memories of its earliest recorded days from the early 1950s, before giving a fascinating insight into a small rural

community beginning to find its feet in the modern world in the 1960s and 1970s, through to the here and now.

All proceeds from the £10 read will be going to the venture founded by the club; Allstars and Dynamos which offers children a chance to have fun while playing sport - with a definite nod towards cricket, of course.

They are on course to raise close to £1000 for this good cause, thanks to the generosity of everyone who has already purchased a copy.

“It’s an initiative started by the club some years ago to get kids having a bit of fun, getting out there and enjoying themselves. I think it is brilliant; that’s how you learn to play a sport. It appealed to mine and Brian’s sense of where the proceeds should go,” Simon added. > There are just a handful of copies left of Cricket As It Should Be Played: An Anecdotal History of Thornborough Cricket Club, to order drop an email to brian_goodger@sky.com or simon@simongdesign.co.uk

Denbigh Young Enterprise Entrepreneurs focus on Wellbeing Wellbeing of young people is the focus of a new enterprise aiming to make it big in a national competition.

The team from Denbigh School alongside their ‘peace of mind packs’

that they have developed a product that focuses on the wellbeing of young people after the challenges they have faced over the last two years.

“We are very proud of our Young Enterprise Programme here at Denbigh which challenges students to show that they can be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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HEALTHCARE

Sustainability in dentistry

How is sustainable dentistry eliminating toxic substances from your body?

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he UK uses 300 million toothpaste tubes every year, equal to around 75,000 kilometres of plastic. This is approximately 1/5 of the distance from the Earth to the moon!

Similarly, amalgam filling in restorative dentistry has led to an increase in mercury emissions, which pollutes the soil and water resources and has negatively affected 50,000 people in 2017.

With sustainable practices embedded into everyday work lives, green dental clinics aim to protect their patients from harmful substances by opting for environmentally friendly healthcare resources, reducing wastage and pollution.

Why are we concerned?

Plastic is a hazardous waste due to its long decomposition process and slow degradability.

Did you know that it typically takes 500 years for a toothpaste tube to biodegrade in a landfill fully? This means that every tube we have ever used in our lives is still out there somewhere, adding to the ever-increasing plastic footprints in the ecosystem and spreading harmful toxins.

40

On top of this, mercury from amalgam filling contributes to around 10% of overall mercury consumption worldwide; Its discharge contaminates water and threatens the aquatic organisms we consume. By ingesting these organisms, we are put at risk of developing mercury poisoning and other health problems that are considered fatal.

Embedding sustainable practices in our dental clinic is an absolute priority. We ensure our planet is liveable and safe for ourselves and the next generations!

What are we doing to help?

Sorriso Design Dental Clinic was mostly built with sustainable sources such as eco-friendly paint and recycled material.

Instead of using the harmful amalgam filling, we have opted for safer substitutes such as composite resin filling. We have also installed filters that provide clean water free from toxins, avoiding wastewater pollution into our oceans.

Not to mention that the clinic is mainly paperless. Our dental software allows us to manage our business electronically. Receipts, consent forms and treatment plans are

emailed to patients, which reduces paper wastage and pollution.

Most importantly, we collect plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrush packaging, electric and battery toothbrush heads, and toothpaste cartons to send to the correct recycling centre. This will help to reduce carbon and plastic footprints that negatively affect the environment.

As a green alternative, we are promoting Parla toothpaste tabs. They provide a sustainable range of plastic-free oral products to reduce plastic pollution in the UK. What’s more, you can use their glass packaging to refill toothpaste tabs, avoiding unnecessary consumption.

We hope to inspire change and encourage our patients to think about the impact of plastic wastage on the environment.

How you can get involved: If you want to create a greener planet, bring your used toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes to your next appointment for recycling. >> To make an appointment: Call us on 01908 731 012

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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THEATRE

A hell-ish night out that is rock ‘n’ roll heaven!

The music world was shocked by the announcement of the passing of Meat Loaf in January.

He was one of the biggest characters in the industry, and his music was even bigger.

N

ow the perfect tribute to the music legend, and his musical collaborator Jim Steinman who passed away in 2021, is coming to Milton Keynes.

Bat Out Of Hell will turn up the volume on their amazing anthems when it plays at Milton Keynes Theatre between June 14 and June 25.

Bat Out Of Hell actually started life as a musical called Neverland, which isn’t hard to believe when you listen to those anthemic, theatrical tracks.

Steinman penned the musical back in 1974, with the premise being a futuristic Peter Pan story.

But back then, producers didn’t bite, so three years later the album was recorded instead. It went on to enjoy an eight-year tenancy in the UK charts and made Meat Loaf one of the most recognisable stars in the world.

It took until 2017 for the show to hit the stage, but when it did, it did so in style – with two sellout West End seasons.

Having lost both Steinman and Meat Loaf in the past year, this current UK tour is now serving as the perfect tribute to their huge talent.

“The show has always paid tribute to both Meat and Jim’s work,” said Martha Kirby, who stars as Raven on stage, “It is now our place to continue sharing their legacy and greatness.

Glenn Adamson, who plays the forever-young Strat, said: “Meat was a true inspiration of mine and I always hoped that when he was well enough to perform again that he would join us for a song or two,” he said, “He was famous for never performing a song the same way twice.

I hope we can carry that with us – he was my type of performer.”

Of course many of you will know the music, but it’s not a prerequisite that you do in order to appreciate the show.

42

Bat Out Of Hell: The award-winning musical will raise the temperature in Milton Keynes next month All pics: Chris Davis Studio

“It is just a great night out; high octane, high energy and like a party,” Glenn promises, “Just what we need after all that we have been through lately. Yes; it’s nostalgic for people who grew up with the album, but it is also a really great story that resonates with younger audiences.”

Martha agrees: “The music was what initially drew me to the show,” she admits, “I’d never heard it, but I listened to it before I auditioned and just loved it. Singing and being engulfed by such incredible music every night is something I will never take for granted.”

As we mentioned, the story has its roots in JM Barrie’s Edwardian classic, but there’s more.

“A group of teens have been frozen at the age of 18 and can’t age past that point,” Glenn says, “But Raven manages to evade the virus and to age. She meets Strat, one of ‘the Lost’, and we follow their love story.”

Martha adds: “The fact that Raven can’t age because of a strange virus is almost too scary really – she’s confined to her room and her family are shielding her.”

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

You might say it is a production that pairs pure musical brilliance with a modern reworking of a classic, garnished with a hefty pinch of art imitating life.

“And it is almost funny that when the script was written people thought it was far-fetched!”

Glenn agrees.

The album by the same name remains one of the most successful of all time – with sales in excess of 50 million worldwide.

Its sequel, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell didn’t fare too badly either; delivering the gargantuan hit, I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

“Great music is timeless and ageless,” Glenn says, “Queen, Bon Jovi, Tina Turner – this album is in the same bracket as releases by those classic artists. New audiences are coming to older music all the time. And nobody wrote rock anthems that are essentially musical theatre numbers like Jim. “I think this was his finest work and I’m just so glad that he got to make this show before he died.”

The tour continues through to October, with new dates still being added, so ‘going to hell’ is going to be easier than ever!

Glenn will be particularly happy to take the stage in Milton Keynes, though: “I’m a local boy, so all my family will be coming along,” he said, “It’s going to be so good to be at home and to see everyone.”

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FASHION

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By Cindy LGH @CindyLGH

Spring fashion is really springing this year, with florals and seasonal hues of green, lemon, pink and lilac all on-trend, and on clothes promising to out-do real flowers.

All items F&F @ Tesco

The look right now is all about hyperfeminine shapes; princess-y sleeves, pleated skirts and tiered dresses, as seen on spring-summer 22’s catwalks. There were puffy shoulders, lace, pearls and diamante detailing at Simone Rocha; ditzy florals, sequins, plus pastels worn with citrine at Paul & Joe; and tulle skirts that tumbled below the knee, trousers dotted with flower applique, and plenty of pink at Bora Aksu.

Head to Zara for your choice of embellished pieces, or into M&S for midi-dresses you’ll wear now through til summer. For pink?

Take your pick of shops on the high street.

But if pastel isn’t really your thing, see F&F for a black and cream two-piece that will work for work, or play. Just note that any of the florals you’ve gathered over the years should be plucked from the depths of your wardrobe now - it’s a timeless print that lifts black, white and denim, so think smart, re-style your old items, and save yourself some money.

Zara > £59.99

< Oliver Bonas £69.50

Zara £29.99

George @ Asda > £28

Zara £45.99

Zara £25.99

George @ Asda > £14 44

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

F&F @ Tesco > Shirt £18 Trousers £16

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BEAUTY

All things bright

and beautiful!

The sun is shining, and we’ve got some suitably sunny products ready to get you looking (and feeling) your best...

Origins Ginzing Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturizer is a lively little handbag essential.

Recommended for normal, dry, oily and combination skin, it is a skin tint and sun protection in one package.

We did say it’s lively, and small wonder; the moisturiser has added Coffee Beans and Panax Ginseng to boost moisture levels and deliver energised-looking skin pronto!

RRP: £32

Get it: Stores nationwide and origins.co.uk

Tootsies will also benefit from Voesh’s Deluxe Pedi in a Box. The complete four step pedicure system includes a sea salt soak, sugar scrub, mud masque and massage butter. Available in 14 fragrances, we’ve picked Mango Delight for a fresh and fabulous overhaul (but we’re also partial to the Lavender kit).

Nourishing, hydrating and guaranteed to get your toes feeling tip-top.

RRP: £6.50

Get it: debenhams.com

Clarins has just released a brand new version of its iconic Lip Comfort Oil, which now has an even more natural formula to nourish, protect and comfort the lips.

The tinted lip oil is available in eight shades – including Honey – and each is based on a plantpowered formula, with organic sweetbriar rose oil, organic jojoba oil and organic hazelnut oil.

Ultra-glossy, non-sticky and guaranteed to leave lips hydrated, softened and soothed.

RRP: £20

Get it: Stores nationwide and at clarins.co.uk

Here’s a great recipe for luscious lips – a soothing carrot oil from Lush.

The Carrot Stick Lip Oil also includes refreshing grapefruit and anti-oxidant parsley which come together to help you to a super soft pucker.

Cracked, dry lips?

They will be kiss-tory with this little goody.

RRP: £5

Get it: Lush stores at centre:mk and Grosvenor Centre, and online at lush.com/uk

It’s not only our skin that we need to take care of when the heat rises; our hair suffers too – it can become damaged, dry and prone to breakage if we experience too much sun.

Luckily, Aveda has come to the rescue with a Sun Care Protective Hair Veil.

This lightweight hero-spritz is a water-resistant UV defence spray which gives invisible protection for up to 16 hours. Naturally derived UVA/UVB inhibitors found in wintergreen and cinnamon bark oil help protect the hair, and the scalp, which if damaged can lead to hair breakage and thinning.

RRP: £22.50

Get it: aveda.co.uk

If you want to treat yourself (or someone else) from top to toe, reach for the Bring Me Sunshine gift set from Lush.

Bright and uplifting shower and body care beauties include Mimosa Shower gel, Lemon Zest soap, Sweet Wild Orange hand balm, Yummy Custard body wash, Honey I washed My Hair shampoo bar and the deliciously fragranced, wonderfully absorbing Repeat orange foot balm.

Guaranteed to put a spring in your step.

RRP: £45

Get it: Lush stores at centre:mk and Grosvenor Centre, and online at lush.com/uk

46

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

BEAUTY

Where your Wellbeing is the main objective

B

Rachel hopes to create a wellbeing community for her clients

irch Barn Therapies is home to a collective of wellbeing professionals with the shared goal of empowering others to prioritise their physical and mental health.

Founded by Rachel, of Birch Beauty who specialises in eyebrow treatments and comes from a holistic spa background.

Rachel wanted to create a wellbeing community for clients where they can find a variety of therapies to help them feel their best, whether that be physically or mentally.

Our focus - when our clients arrive at the Barn, our focus is on them. When they feel as though they are caring for the needs of everyone around them, we will be the ones to

care for them. We give our clients permission to put themselves first.

Our space - Set in the upper floor of a converted barn, with high ceilings and original beams, our space is light and airy with a neutral but stylish decor. It has been thoughtfully designed to evoke a sense of calm and warmth. We want guests to feel comfortable and at ease when they are in our space.

Our location - We are located on a rural business park, in Castlethorpe, close to Milton Keynes and within easy reach of Northampton.

Surrounded by open countryside, the business park boasts green credentials with all of the electricity being generated by its own solar farm.

Our practitioners - Our collective of wellbeing professionals are experienced and passionate individuals whose main focus is to empower their clients to feel their best. Being grounded and mindful enables them to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of others.

Our therapies - we have a range of therapies coming to the barn including beauty, hypnotherapy, reiki, massage and talking therapies.

We still have some treatment space available for wellbeing professionals who would like to base themselves within an uplifting and wholesome environment > Find them at: Birch Barn Therapies, Unit 3, Lodge Farm Business Park, Castlethorpe, MK19 7ES Social: @birchbarntherapies Click to: www.birchbarntherapies.co.uk

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47

FOOD & DRINK

Vegan pud’

Coconut rice pudding with papaya and lime INGREDIENTS

METHOD

70g short grain pudding rice

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Put the rice, 2 tbsp sugar, coconut milk and coconut drink in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until the rice is soft and coated in a silky coconut sauce. Add a splash more coconut drink to loosen if necessary.

Cover and set aside off the heat for 10 minutes.

2 tbsp light brown soft sugar 400ml can reduced fat coconut milk 200ml unsweetened coconut drink (such as Rude Health) 1 Waitrose Perfectly Ripe Large Solo Papaya, peeled, deseeded and sliced ½ unwaxed lime, zest and juice

COCONUT TOPPING

2. For the coconut topping, toss together the desiccated coconut and sugar, then spread out on a small baking tray. Bake for 4-5 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile, toss the papaya with the lime zest and juice.

3. Divide the pudding between bowls. Top with the papaya and scattered toasted coconut. Serve immediately.

10g desiccated coconut

COOK’S TIP

1 tsp light brown soft sugar

For a stronger cocount flavour, swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar.

Preparation time: 10 minutes plus standing Cooking time: 25 minutes Serves: 4

48

Recipe and photo courtesy of Waitrose.

Recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com/recipes.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

T

he festival was put on hold for two years during the pandemic but the organisers are delighted to be staging the annual event once more.

Founder Crispin Slee said: “It’s great to be back. We cannot wait. Summer in Towcester just isn’t the same without the festival.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to Towcester Racecourse once more for the highlight of the culinary calendar in South Northants.”

He added: “The early bird tickets have been selling like hot cakes so people are obviously keen to see us back.

“Some of our regular traders have been able to adapt and hang on over the past two years but others have disappeared.

“This year’s festival will about re-building and helping the producers and sellers that have survived along the road to full recovery.”

To mark the return of the event, children will go free. Mr Slee said: “After everything the country has been through, we want families to be able to treat themselves.”

FOOD & DRINK

Children go free as Towcester Food Festival returns!

Towcester Food Festival – the area’s biggest, summertime, gastronomic extravaganza – returns to Towcester Racecourse in June.

'Towcester Food Festival is a celebration for artisan food and drinks, with stalls ringing the racecourse'

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS

TO TOWCESTER FOOD FESTIVAL Just answer this simple question:

Towcester Food Festival is a celebration for artisan food and drinks, with stalls ringing the racecourse in large, openfronted marquees.

There are also free chef demos, live music including a performance by Towcester Rock Choir, a street food market, cheese tasting sessions and kids' cookery classes, run

by Rachel Wilson of Cookery Doodle Doo in Towcester.

Towcester Food Festival takes place on Saturday June 11 and Sunday June 12, opening at 10am on each day. Parking is free.

Tickets are now on sale. Please visit: towcesterfoodfestival.co.uk for more information.

Volunteers are needed to help stage the festival. In return, they get free tickets and a lunch voucher. Contact details are on the website.

Who is running the kids' cookery classes at this year's Towcester Food Festival? a) Abraxas b) Rachel Wilson c) Daily Bread Co-Operative To enter, email your name, address, telephone and the answer to: mkpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk PLEASE TITLE YOUR EMAIL ‘MKPulse TFF’ CLOSING DATE: 30/05/2022

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

49

HOME & GARDEN

DIGGING DEEP

Gardening with Pulse

T

hey are aesthetically pleasing, aid mental health, reduce stress and boost our mood.

House plants are little helpers, but so many of us are guilty of failing them; you pop to the local furniture superstore or hardware shop to purchase a new lock, a tub of paint or a bedside cabinet, and then your eyes make the acquaintance of the plant section.

Before you know it, you are getting back in the car with impractical purchases – and those luscious green leaves will soon be all shades of brown, and then Percy plant is put out with the trash.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. One of the most common reasons for plants expiring is overwatering.

Too much water will turn the leaves brown, and limp. Too little water will also turn the leaves limp, but they will be crispy to the touch.

So many of our indoor plants are native to the tropics, and will naturally require a warm environment in order to flourish – but that’s not to say that you should pop them in front of a roaring fire, or close to a radiator!

You don’t need to be a plant specialist to pick up on signs that they need a little love and attention – aside from the leaves looking sorry for themselves, checking the soil for excessive moisture will alert you to overwatering, or too little, and plant pots tend to be lighter if they are water deprived.

An easy way to keep things on track is to purchase a moisture meter.

Many plants love a light, draft free position, but not all do!

The simplest way to get the basics right is to pay attention to the instructions that come with any purchase, and heed them.

After my grandmother passed away, I found myself the custodian of an aspidistra plant.

These hardy, slow growing plants are most at home in cool, dark spaces. They are known as the cast-iron plant for a reason. Its arching, deep green leaves are simple but beautiful, and the plants can live for in excess of 50 years.

Except that the one in my charge is significantly older; my grandmother remembered the very same plant cheerfully sitting in her mother-inlaws home when she was a young lady.

No-one else was bothered to take in the old plant with its five wilting leaves and I felt obligated - I’ve never been able to give up on any plant that has a hint of life about it. This aspidistra was fighting hard, and it was rooted in the family!

I spoke with an expert from the local garden centre who imparted great advice on how and when to replant, and five years on, it is still part of our family. It rewards us with a new leaf or two every spring (we’re in double figures now!) and I am proud to be a fourth generation custodian of this unconventional family heirloom.

We’ve also rescued and revived an array of cacti that hadn’t been shown water for months on end – they’ve all recovered, and one is showing its appreciation by flowering.

If something is wrong with your houseplants, they will show you.

Act quickly and you’ll be able to turn your peaky plants into perky house guests once more.

Top Tip...

Summer hanging baskets give any space a splash of colour, and really cheer the mood. Now is the time to plant them up, and if you put the hard work in at the start, you’ll have more reward later; so using a good quality compost and a slow release fertiliser is advisable.

Begonia, Busy Lizzies, Fuchsia, Geranium and Petunia are all popular choices, but perhaps you might choose to grow herbs and veg in a hanging basket instead.

Chili peppers, strawberries and peas are among the top choices.

50

How does your garden grow?

Haven’t got enough room to grow vegetables?

Try Square Foot Gardening!

The ‘square foot’ garden is a way of growing as many vegetables as you can in as small a place as possible. The area needed is 120cm X 120cm, (4ft X4ft).

Measure out the plot and edge it with wooden boards, or you can try the Square Foot method with an existing raised bed.

Dig out and remove any weeds and stones from the area.

Create a raised bed that is 6-12” deep and ideally 4ft x 4ft, with string/canes splitting the space into 16 equal squares.

Add some peat- free compost to fill up the bed.

Avoid walking on the soil: it’s important to keep it light.

Planting: each square will accommodate one, four, nine or 16 plants depending on the size of the plant. Ensure the taller crops are placed at the back - a south-facing plot is best.

As for examples of what seeds or plants you could plant in each square: One small bush tomato, such as Red Alert, one potato, such as Swift, two rows of peas, four climbing or dwarf beans, four lettuce, four baby sweetcorn Minipop, 16 carrots, 16 beetroot, and spring onions.

If too many seeds germinate, simply snip off those not required with scissors, so you don’t disturb the root system of the remaining seedlings.

As you can see, you will just grow a small amount in each square, but this could also be a nice project to do with children.

Try the Square Foot Gardening Foundation on the web for more information.

Jan Taylor, Bletchley Garden Club > Bletchley Garden Club (BGC) meet each month at Freeman Memorial Methodist Church Hall, Buckingham Road, MK3 5HH. New members welcome. For details visit bletchleygardenclub.org

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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HOME & GARDEN

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or many home owners, the loft is an underutilised area because it can be difficult and dangerous to reach. Milton Keynes based loft ladder installer, Access4Lofts, whose slogan is 'Creating Space The Easy Way' can change all that, often in less than a day.

Access4Lofts Milton Keynes is owned by Kelvin Lee. Much of the work he carries out is for growing families: “I know how crucial storage space can be for large families,” says Kelvin. “I also find that a large percentage of my clients are retired people looking for the safest access to their loft available.”

Kelvin says that with space at such a premium, it makes sense to make the most of your loft. “Installing a loft ladder is quick and affordable. It's less expensive than a garden shed and it means you don't have to store everything out of the house,” he said.

Access4Lofts provides a free survey and

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Installing a loft ladder is quick and affordable. It’s less expensive than a garden shed and it means you don’t have to store everything out of the house

quote service so you can find out what is achievable with your loft area. For the full works, customers can get a retractable 3-section ladder, a new hatch, a floating floor over the loft insulation and lighting.

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Access4Lofts has full public liability insurance and all ladders and work carried out comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. >> To find out how Kelvin can create more space for you and your family or to book a free survey and quote, visit www.access4lofts. co.uk/milton-keynes or give Kelvin a call on 01908 871526

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022 53 22/02/2022 15:13

COMPETITION

Monty Don is among the presenters at the show

Win tickets to the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Pulse has teamed up with BBC Gardeners’ World Live to offer five lucky readers a chance to bag a pair of tickets to attend this summer’s celebration of gardening at the Birmingham NEC.

T

he ultimate gardening day out is nearly here! BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns, alongside the BBC Good Food Show Summer as big as ever to Birmingham’s NEC 16-19 June. This year’s Show has everything for your summer garden, from inspiring Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders to the extensive Floral Marquee and shopping opportunities.

Frances Tophill will be making her Show Garden debut and Monty Don, Adam Frost, Arit Anderson, Joe Swift plus Alan Titchmarsh will step off the screen onto the stage with plenty of expert advice. It’s going to be a great day out!

To celebrate the BBC’s 100th year, a host of displays in the Floral Marquee will be inspired by popular BBC programmes, from The Archers to the Peaky Blinders. The tearoom will also get a makeover as the NEW Paso Doble Café, inspired by Strictly Come Dancing, along with music and ballroom dancing. Plus, the House of Plants inspired by Top of the Pops! will be a blast from the past, with plenty of houseplant pizazz and inspiration.

You’re sure to go home with a head full of ideas from the Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders, bursting with ideas for wildlife gardening, sustainability, grow your own and more. Don’t miss the opportunity to solve your gardening conundrums from the Showload of expert advice on offer. From design, landscaping, pests and diseases, to grow your own, lawncare and plant identification, there’ll be a range of experts to help you.

54

A haven of colour and scent, you’ll be able to shop ‘til you drop in the Floral Marquee and Plant Village from our carefully selected, quality nurseries and specialist growers.

Plus, soak up the feeling of summer with picnics, family gardening activities and magic moments, all surrounded by toetapping live music from the Bandstand.

Returning with all its delicious trimmings, the BBC Good Food Show Summer is also back alongside the Show. All tickets include entry to both Shows, so that’s two great BBC shows in one ticket! > With something for everyone, it’s going to be a great summer day out.

Book tickets now! www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

Win a pair of tickets to BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the Birmingham NEC For your chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to attend BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer, answer the following question:

Email your answer to mkpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk Subject: MK GARDENERS’ WORLD along with your name, address and contact telephone number.

What is the name of Monty Don’s golden retriever?

Closing date for entries is: May 31 2022

Terms and conditions: Five readers will win a pair of tickets to attend BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 at the Birmingham NEC, which includes entry to the BBC Good Food Show Summer. Tickets valid for Sunday entry only, entry at 9am. No cash alternative. Travel not included.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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Email: jim@urbanrootsmk.com www.urbanrootsmk.co.uk For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

HOME & GARDEN

Glass or tile conservatory roof:

Which is best for your home?

C

onservatories are now the most popular way for homeowners to extend their home. Available in a wide range of styles, sizes and configurations, choosing which option is best for you and your home can be a daunting task. Whether you’re on the market for a brand new conservatory or you’re looking to improve an existing glazed extension T&K Home Improvements offer a short comparison on two different products that may help define your search for the perfect option.

The Benefits of Glass Conservatory Roofs Glass conservatory roofs can offer your home stunning levels of light transmission thanks to their slim sightlines. You can enjoy unobstructed views to the exterior of your home as well as enjoy the stunning modern profile of our roof designs.

They can be a fantastic addition to both modern and heritage properties, as they can create a sense of grandeur and modernism without compromising on the existing character of your home. Fully customisable, glass conservatory roofs come with a host of glazing options to meet any design preference and can increase the performance of your home. There are options for self-cleaning glazing and glazing that provides better thermal insulation to your home and keeps the hot sun out in the summer.

With energy prices rising, now is the perfect time to invest in energy efficient home improvement solutions. With modern glazing options and proper inbuilt ventilation systems, the glass conservatory roofs of today can provide you with year-round thermal regulation. Gone are the conservatories of old which became oven hot in the summer and bitter cold in the winter.

How Do Tiled Conservatory Roofs Compare?

Tiled roofs are ideal for those who want their extension to emulate the existing style of their property. Many traditional roofing styles used in homes can be mirrored in an conservatory roof with extensive colour options and interiors you can create a sense that this is a natural extension of your home.

Tiled roofs give added privacy and boast excellent thermal efficiency in much the same way as their glass counterparts. Tiled conservatory roofs offer U-values as low as 0.13W/m2K helping you save on your energy bill and keep your home a comfortable temperature all year round. >> T&K Home Improvements is a family run business that provides quality windows, doors and conservatories since 1979 in Northamptonshire and surrounding areas. To find out more on high performance energy efficient glazing options and how much you can save visit www.tkhi.co.uk.

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For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

57

INTERIORS

Summer accents

Nick Fewings for www.Unsplash.com

D

www.evieandskye.com

ive into summer 2022 with an array of fruity accessories and bright pops of colour. From juicy pinks to sunshine yellow, summer infusions is the perfect trend to get stuck into for the brighter seasons ahead.

Bold, vibrant colours can be used in small quantities as accents, to add impact and interest to a space. They tend to contrast with the rest of the colour scheme so that they stand out and highlight the areas where they are used. Being adventurous with colour can be hugely rewarding and with so many paint, wallpaper and fabric manufacturers embracing the summer vibe, now is definitely the time to experiment with your décor.

One of the easiest ways to add a pop of summery colour is to paint or wallpaper an accent wall. A single wall behind a bed or sofa creates a focal point in the room and draws your eye into the specific area, allowing the furniture to stand out against the bold, interesting background.

A contrasting fabric can be added as a cushion or headboard or you can introduce

Rosie Kinsella Interior Designer 01604 751262 www.millsandkinsella.com 58

https://www.osborneandlittle.com/

a mix of colours in a piece of art, bringing the tones of both the furniture and the wall together in one place. It’s important for the bright colours to feel connected to the overall space.

Vibrant summer colours are highly stimulating especially when paired with a crisp white background to make them stand out even more. With so many of us still partly working from home, there’s never been a better opportunity to add some colour to our workspace.

It’s a proven fact that colours can affect decision-making, productivity, creativity, and levels of happiness. At Google, head office employees gather in blue rooms to be creative and yellow rooms to make decisions.

Maria Orlova for www.unsplash.com

www.sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com

Achromatic environments (like white and grey) tend to make much less successful workspaces as the relationship between white and grey can’t arouse any change in emotions. Whilst white paint might make the walls look bright and light, employee recognition firm Altrum Recognition suggest the risk of burn out in a completely white room increases by 25%.

If you are keen to add impact and talking points throughout your house, then try to find unusual spaces to decorate. A feature such as a skylight is easy to overlook but can be a great opportunity to use a patterned wallpaper on the ceiling or to add a bright, contrasting paint colour to the frame or cross beams. Think about the light coming in through the window; it’s normally better to use summery, warm colours such as pinks and yellows rather than the cooler tones of blue, green and grey.

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

THE ARTS Another good tip is to paint the inside of objects in a contrasting colour. The outside might be neutral but a flash of vibrant colour painted on the inside can make you smile every time you open a cupboard or pull out a drawer. If you type ‘wallpaper in drawers’ into any search engine, you’ll find a plethora of colourful inspiration. According to British artist Annie Sloan, ‘colour brings joy so be bold with it’.

Summery colours and prints can be enjoyed in small or grand measure. You will only require a small amount to make quite an impact on your interior. Think of the difference a bright pair of shoes, a colourful pair of glasses or a new nail colour make to one’s appearance. As Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux puts so succinctly ‘it’s that dash of flash that gets all the admiring attention’.

The latest fabric and wallpaper collections from Harlequin and Osborne and Little offer some beautiful patterns in hot, exotic colours ideal for re-energising tired interiors. The new stair runners launched

by Roger Oates as part of a collaboration with A Rum Fellow and the latest designs

by Off the Loom both offer bolder colours creating the perfect statement carpet runner for your stairs or landing. And Byron and Byron have a superbly vibrant range of curtain poles that have to be seen to be believed. The Floral Neons range creates a powerful look inspired by the bright solid colours seen in pop art.

The past couple of years have really strengthened our relationship with the outdoors and as such there has never been a better time to embrace some summer colour in our homes. So seize the day and live your life in full colour! As Kandinsky is often quoted as saying “colour is a power which directly influences the soul”.

The Best Kitchen Wall Décor Ideas

K

itchens and dining rooms are often the busiest in the house with family life but perhaps also the space where we can have the most fun with decorating, finding artwork that transforms the atmosphere or shows your personality.

The Rose Gallery team explain styles to consider and how to create a focal point in your kitchen.

Find matching pieces Building a full ‘gallery wall’ effect can feel like an intimidating design prospect for many – choosing different sizes, complimentary photos or prints, all requires a lot of thought and a good eye.

Alternatively, artists often release a complimentary duo or triptych of paintings which do all the hard work for you. They are matching sizes, framing and tones and are an easy way to create a theme in your room.

Compliment your paint colour If colour is your thing, you may have gone for a strong wall paint to compliment your kitchen.

Art does a great job of breaking up colour, providing an interesting contrast or often to simply compliment the style and tone of your kitchen. Don’t forget, the type of framing you choose can play an important part in this too.

In this example, our customer has chosen a sepia and metallic toned artwork by John Waterhouse to compliment her rural green kitchen wall.

Bring the garden indoors

www.schoener-leben-shop.de

One wonderful statement artwork If you have a large space to fill behind your dining table, this is where you can go big with your art. One impactful painting will command attention and be the focal point of the room.

When choosing a larger piece, it is important to decide what kind of atmosphere you would like.

Landscapes promote rest and wellbeing, or perhaps you want the room to feel modern and unique. If so, take a look at a colourful urban-inspired artwork that will be a real talking point in your room. If your kitchen units and walls are fairly neutral in colour, art gives you a great opportunity to add some wow factor.

With summer approaching, our kitchen and dining rooms are often where we are closest to the outdoors and our garden becomes an extension of that space.

The art on your kitchen walls can reflect that, depicting colourful florals, birds, bees or simply reflect a love for the outdoors. Artist Inam creates textured, colourful paintings of forests.

Gemma Davey Gallery Correspondent www.therosegallery.co.uk

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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MK Council

A Clean & Green MK Pete Marland Cleaning the City We want residents to take pride in MK, and that is why it’s important to have a clean and tidy place to call home. The Council has been working hard to clean up the city and have taken a zero-tolerance approach to littering and fly-tipping. Recent achievements include: Litter wardens: our new litter wardens, which have the ability to issue fines and warnings to people who drop rubbish, gave out around 3,000 fines from January to April.

CCTV in fly-tipping hotspots: mobile CCTV has proved an effective way to catch fly-tippers, leading us to issue fines and prosecute people who think it’s acceptable to illegally dispose of waste.

Installing nearly 100 more bins: 75 dual bins and 20 smart bins have been installed throughout the city in the past year.

Improving the tips: same-day bookings have been introduced at the three rubbish tips, making it even easier to get rid of unwanted items.

Leader of Milton Keynes Council

This strategy seems to be paying off, as new data reveals that we have seen a 21% decrease in fly-tipping this year compared with 2020/21. Milton Keynes Council will continue to help tidy up our city and ensure MK remains clean and green.

Boosting Biodiversity It has long been said that Milton Keynes is the tree city – which isn’t surprising when it is home to over 22 million trees! We want to make Milton Keynes carbon neutral by 2030, and carbon negative by 2050, and your eco-conscious efforts are helping us strive toward that aim. Hundreds more trees are being planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, and we have recently started to create several ‘wildlife havens’ across the city. Five havens are being introduced to boost biodiversity and encourage nature to thrive. These will be in New Bradwell, Saffron Gardens in Bletchley, Grafton Park in CMK, Grange Farm, the Central Open Space and the Railway Walk from Wolverton into Newport Pagnell.

countless plants and wildflowers that will be planted in the new havens. I’m especially excited about the completion of Saffron Gardens, which will eventually form a much-used walkway into a new housing development, becoming a unique and sustainable way to bring residents together.

So far, the work to improve wildflower verges and meadows has benefited over 1,000 pollinating species and plants such as bee orchids are beginning to make a comeback.

Smaller works like these pair well with the larger plan the Council has introduced to help tackle the climate emergency, and there is plenty you can do at home too.

Consider planting plants and trees, reduce your consumption, minimise waste, make use of our extensive public transport system - it’s the small things that can make a huge difference and help us become the greenest city in the world.

In the coming months, we can expect to see insects and animals benefit from the

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 252442 | Email: peter.marland@milton-keynes.gov.uk | Facebook: @mklabour ADDRESS: c/o Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ 60

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

Carnival 2022 Summer of Jubilation

The Northampton Carnival, one of the county’s largest multicultural events in the social calendar, returns to the town on Saturday 11th June 2022.

Now in its 17th year, this year’s theme is 'Summer of Jubilation' which coincides with the Queen's forthcoming Platinum Jubilee. We can’t wait to see the flamboyant costumes in the parade, the creative décor of the floats and the energetic troupes as they reflect this year’s theme.

If you are a school, club, family or an individual with a creative flair, or run a stall then there’s still time to get involved – visit www.northamptoncarnival.co.uk to obtain an application from, complete and return the form to northamptoncarnival@yahoo.co.uk as soon as possible.

After two years online, we are looking forward to returning to the Racecourse Park for what will be an afternoon jammed packed with fun for the entire family.

The park opens to the public at 12 noon, with an exciting funfair, various delicious food stalls with a wide range of choices, ethnic arts and crafts, charity stalls and a variety of other activities. The parade sets off at 2 pm, from the Kettering Road to the town centre. An awesome display of vibrant colour, music and motion with incredible floats and troupes produced by local schools, clubs, organisations and charities, and the exotic revelry of visiting regional carnival troupes will thrill onlookers as they take in the breathtaking sight of the parade making its way

Costumes

Performances

through town returning to the park via the Wellingborough Road.

The stage provides a wonderful platform for local artistes to showcase their talents, if you sing, dance, mc or play in a band and would like to perform at this year’s Carnival please email northamptoncarnival@yahoo.co.uk and attach an MP3 / 4 or link to a YouTube of your performance.

Put the date Saturday 11th June in your diary to attend the Northampton Carnival at The Racecourse, Kettering Road, Northampton, NN1 4LG. You won’t want to miss this magical day … the perfect outing for the family!

Music

Saturday 11th June From 12 Noon to 7.30pm Racecourse Park Northampton, NN1 4LG

Live Entertainment on stage Spectacular Parade Exciting Fun Fair Wide range of Stalls

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

61

MPS OUT & ABOUT LOCAL NEWS

Iain Stewart

MP for Milton Keynes South

Iain watches a demostration from Ian Temple at First Avenue Supplies

Iain with volunteers at MK Money Lifeline

Iain plants a tree with Iain Standen for The Queen's Green Canopy

Bletchley Park – Also, I visited Bletchley Park to plant a tree to be part of The Queen’s Green Canopy with Iain Standen, Chief Executive Officer at Bletchley Park. The tree can be found on the bank of the lake overlooking the Mansion. It was also an opportunity to have a discussion about Iain on the East West Rail train line looking Bletchley Park and have an update on the towards Bletchley work that is going on. I was excited to learn of the new exhibitions that are on their way to the museum in the next month. Did you know that Bletchley Park are still running their local resident offer, giving Milton Keynes residents 50% off ticket prices and free return within the year?

I

hope you have been enjoying the spring weather and taking advantage of the longer days. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you with what I have been doing in the constituency over the last month.

Walkabout with Thames Valley Police – I had the opportunity to go for a walk with Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, and some Milton Keynes police officers through Ashland, Netherfield and Beanhill. It was an opportunity to discuss the recruitment of police officers, the plans to reduce serious violence, neighbourhood policing and plans to tackle knife crime.

This comes after I recently wrote to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, inviting her to come to Milton Keynes to discuss knife crime. I will continue to work with Thames Valley Police to make Milton Keynes a safer place for all!

East West Rail – I visited the site of the new Winslow Train Station on the East West Rail line. The visit was an opportunity to have an update on the work of the East West Rail between Bletchley and Bicester. I was pleased to hear of the great progress that is being made in the construction of the line between Oxford and Cambridge, passing through Bletchley. I also learned of the barriers being installed along the line that will absorb the noise and vibrations from the train, minimising the impact on local residents.

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First Avenue Supplies – Another visit was to First Avenue Supplies Ltd in Bletchley. First Avenue Supplies are an embroidery and printing company in Milton Keynes offering work on a wide range of goods, mainly workwear and PPE. I met with Ian Temple to have a tour of their facility and a demonstration of their embroidery and printing process. I was pleased to hear about the huge demand for their services, from a range of organisations including Aston Martin and Bill's Coach Hire.

MK Money Lifeline – MK Money Lifeline welcomed me to their space to share their work and explain how they help those who find themselves in debt for various reasons. MK Money Lifeline offer free, confidential money advice to anyone in the Milton Keynes area and their services are provided by a team of trained volunteers. To find out more or to get in touch with them, you can give them a call on 0300 1235 198.

If I can help you as your Member of Parliament, please do get in touch with my office on the contact details provided and we will be happy to assist.

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 Email: iain.stewart.mp@parliament.uk www.iainstewart.org.uk

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE: Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

MPS OUT & ABOUT LOCAL NEWS

Ben Everitt

T

MP for Milton Keynes North

ackling violent crime in Milton Keynes is a priority. In my last MK Pulse column I mentioned just some of the work we’ve been doing to ensure our streets are safe. I have met with Thames Valley Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, local community groups and charities such as Return MK and The Safety Centre and I have written to the Home Secretary Priti Patel to make sure we’re on top of the issue. I know people want more police officers in MK and we are recruiting more; Thames Valley Police now have more officers than ever before. The Violence Reduction Unit has just received an extra £7 million funding. And I am pleased to hear a bid will be going in to get MK funding from the Safer Streets Fund. I also joined two of our neighbourhood police officers on a walkabout in Heelands to discuss crime and policing in MK following a similar patrol in Oldbrook recently.

Ben joined two of our neighbourhood police officers on a walkabout in Heelands

Ben attends the opening of a new Bike Track in Newport Pagnell - the weather was glorious!

Visiting Hazard Alley I mentioned The Safety Centre above and it really was a pleasure to visit the charity’s Hazard Alley, which I know has been a part of the lives of many young people growing up in Milton Keynes.

The Safety Centre charity does important work both visiting schools and inviting them down to Hazard Alley for sessions to show children, as well as adults, how they can stay safe, understand risks and avoid accidents. From fire safety to road safety to talks on bullying and first aid.

I was also pleased to be shown around their new knife crime prevention zone which is set up as a food outlet and gets children involved interactively with quiz questions to understand the dangers of knives and how to react in situations. Their work isn’t all about what they do on-site at Hazard Alley they also offer to go into schools to offer classroom lessons and have adult programmes centred around first aid.

Unit 6B, Pineham Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes MK19 7DP Retro • Collectables • Ephemera • Vintage • Furniture • Glass • Jewellery Antiques • Books • Film, TV & Theatre Props • Vintage Clothing

Unit 6B, Pineham Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes, MK19 7DP

Newport Pagnell Bike Track Opening I had a fantastic time attending the opening of the new bike track at Hornbeam Park in Newport Pagnell along with the Mayor of Newport Pagnell, Paul Day, the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Mohammed Khan, Newport Pagnell South councillor Scot Balazs, Newport Pagnell North and Hanslope councillor Chris Wardle and British mountain bike slopestyle rider Matt Jones, from nearby Woburn.

It was brilliant to see so many young people at the event, and even better to see so many of them jumping on a bike and giving the new course a go. It was the perfect weather to get out, have some fun and do some exercise at the same time. This brilliant new facility is really great news for Newport Pagnell residents and Milton Keynes in general.

Meeting Makewell MK I met with the Makewell MK team, who are based in Bradwell Abbey, to discuss how they can work to support the NHS and the local community.

It was inspiring to hear from CEO and founder Jane Lambert about the vital work they have done throughout the pandemic including COVID-19 testing and supporting Milton Keynes University Hospital with the vaccine rollout.

I was also given a tour of their new clinic which has four consultation rooms and will provide physical and mental health support for people in Milton Keynes. I was even given a quick health check which looked at body fat, visceral fat, BMI, muscle mass and body water!

Over the last month I also… ▸ I welcomed the Government funding new Changing Places toilets in Milton Keynes which will improve the lives of people with disabilities ▸ The Down Syndrome Bill I have been backing has now passed all stages of Parliament and is set to become law ▸ I joined the Conservative Environment Network Parliamentary Caucus which looks at ways we can enhance our natural environment and tackle climate change

Do you have any interesting items to sell? If you are clearing out a house,

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 Email: ben.everitt.mp@parliament.uk www.beneveritt.com | Facebook: beneverittmk

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE: Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD

attic, garage, shed or barn and think you may have found something old, vintage or just amusing, then give us a call and we’d be happy to come and take a look.

gdadscollectable@aol.com www.gdadscollectables.com

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

63

MUSIC

My Chemical Romance are the big name in town this month, but there are other things happening; Canine metal, extreme metal and record fairs, an interesting proposition from the land Down Under and some top class releases from MK artists.

Sammy Jones has the details...

Can you Dug it?

Y

ou are never too young to raise your fists and yell, and Slay Duggee, the barking brilliant bunch of yappies connecting kids with the power of heavy metal, are back at The Craufurd Arms on May 1.

Great news for ankle-biters (and their grownups) alike.

The group that Steve Lamacq declared to be the Lords of Toddler Metal have racked up more than half a million plays on Spotify, performed on Britain’s Got Talent, and to date they’ve sold out every gig in advance – their first ever live show was at the Wolverton haunt and every ticket was gone in two hours.

Leave it to chance and you should prepare for an upset!

“Craufurd Arms is always a special gig for us,” said Black Shuck, “They were the first venue to ever book us, and always have the best crowd. People have driven from Wales and Southampton to see our legendary shows there.

“Slay Duggee staged the world’s first triangular circle pit there. The venue should probably be given a blue triangle heritage plaque for their wall.”

And the venue knows how to treat its canine rockers: “Jason and Paul at the venue always lay out a choice selection of chewing sticks for us backstage and serve our rider in dog bowls,” Black Shuck told Pulse, “It’s this level of commitment that makes Craufurd the greatest venue in the world.

Tuskar will bring the mother of all metal gigs to The Craufurd on May 15

64

Heavy metal fans, young and old will lap up Slay Duggee when they perform at The Craufurd Arms on May 1

“Giggers can expect metal music, circle pits, triangle pits, square pits, pogoing, stage invasions, laughs, tears, face painting...and that’s all just the kids in the crowd. It’s all ages, accessible, everyone is welcome, you don’t need to have kids, we have an adult mosh pit too.”

Tuskar returns to the haunt on May 15 in support of their hard-hitting debut album, Matriarch, which cuts a fierce concoction of sludge, doom and extreme metal.

It’s a special thing which has been garnering similarly stunning reviews, including one brimming over with compliments from Kerrang! which noted a tangible appreciation for bands like Mastodon, Baroness and Gojira, and said that the two-piece – drummer and vocalist Tyler Hodges and guitarist Tom Dimmock – have ‘the ability to meet those outfits’ superstar standards.’

And Tuskar are homegrown successes, which makes this show all the more exciting.

“We are thrilled to be taking our new album Matriarch to the stage, what better way could we celebrate than doing a hometown show at the Craufurd Arms?” Tyler said, “We are very pleased to have the awesome legend that is Our Man In The Bronze Age and Soden join us on this special occasion. The MK HERD IS DOOMED,” he promised.

For the past few years we have been told that vinyl is experiencing a revival of fortunes, but some of us never curtailed our passion (or our spending habits) for the wax.

And the finances are set to take another hammering on Sunday, May 22 with the return of the MK Record Fair at the Wolverton venue.

Entry is free and the rack flicking runs from midday to 4pm.

The bar will be open for business too; music and a swift half or three?

Sounds like the perfect way to spend a Sunday... > For more details visit thecraufurdarms.com

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

MUSIC

Have a charming time at The Stables

C

harm of Finches have a wonderful new album out imminently, and for the first time ever they have come to the UK to promote their sounds.

The Melbourne natives release songs centred on ‘love, grief and whispering trees with tight sibling harmonies and chamber folk sound; baroque folk with many stringed things,’ promises the press bumf.

Switching on their beautifully crafted cool makes the world and its nonsense go quiet for a while. And who doesn’t want that?

Listen Up...

C

ontroversially (apparently) we don’t much like Spotify, so it took us a while to log in (we’d forgotten the password) and access the link to the debut EP

by Space Pistol (FB: @spacepistol) which is unfortunate for us – because we could have been living alongside the self-titled five-track treat for longer than we have been.

This really is a feast from the MK quartet who say they are ‘a quintessential band for providing that feeling of “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore,”’ which is how the opening number Imposters Syndrome kicks off.

Space Pistol formed during lockdown. So at least one good thing came out of being policed by the drippy decision makers at the top. The sounds here might be new, but the players bringing it are scene regulars; Garry Murphy, Daniel Buckland, Jim Lucas and Joe Oxtoby are responsible for the noise.

Tap into the Charm of Finches YouTube channel and meet the acquaintance of the Aussie sisters, and then you’ll understand just why they have been clocking up tasty awards (2021 Music Victoria’s Best Folk Act and Youth Artist of the Year at the 2021 Australian Folk Music Awards) and a nomination for the hotly contested 2021 Australian Music Prize.

That aforementioned elpee titled, Wonderful Oblivion has been out for a while in their homeland, but gets its

There is an urgency to this EP, which is an accomplished slice of ultra cool riffs, grooves and all good stuff. It’s moody, layered alt-rock that is taut and triumphant with choruses that infect the grey matter. We like this. A lot.

Stand out tracks? There are none, and for all the right reasons. Imposters Syndrome, Padded Tomb, Wormhole, Exploding Whale and Someday all bring plenty to the party for different reasons. Every one of ‘em is a beast of beautiful proportions.

And you thought Covid was contagious...

Sean Grant and The Wolfgang (FB: @sgwolfgang) have followed up a supersuccessful UK tour with this month’s single release, Montreal (Watch Me Bending), a daring dose of darkgaze that treads a new path to enlightenment.

Sean has previously spoken with us about overcoming personal battles and he is using the release to document his own transformation away from a spiral of drink, drugs and selfdestruction,’ which happened following the dissolution of the first band incarnation.

“With life, you have to go with the bends and the curves, like the path or the river,” he

Charm of Finches

freedom here on May 6 and the night prior they will play the snug confines of Stage 2 at The Stables in Wavendon. > Book for a special night by tapping to stables.org

Montreal (Watch Me Bending) the new single from Sean Grant and The Wolfgang and the debut EP from Space Pistol

explains, “And if you stand too rigid then the more likely you’ll get damaged or hurt. I don’t know everything, but I’m learning,” he realises, “I think that’s the way you have to live.

‘Montreal’ and the new album feels like I’m starting to understand this more.”

If you are tempted by the musical fallout of artists including Interpol, Joy Division and Ride, let this track tickle your ears.

The album, ‘33’ will follow in July.

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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MUSIC

It’s been off and on but New Jersey alt-rock types My Chemical Romance are all set to woo the crowds and feel the love at Stadium MK this May, writes Sammy Jones.

A fine Romance

T

hey say the best things are worth waiting for, and fans of My Chemical Romance aren’t about to disagree; they’ve been patiently waiting for the Gerard Way fronted rockers to visit Milton Keynes since the pandemic saw their shows at Stadium MK postponed by two years.

The sold-out dates are on for 2022 though, and they will bring a combined audience of more than 90,000 to town in mid-May. The New Jersey quartet emerged in 2002 with their independently released debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, and things have been on the up and up ever since.

In 2003 MCR inked a deal with Reprise Records and their major label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, arrived in 2004.

Incredibly, The Black Parade album was released 16 years ago, and its lead single,

Welcome To The Black Parade has since been certified 3xPlatinum. It also settled at the top spot in the UK singles chart.

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and Conventional Weapons have added to their folder of the fantastic, and the band remains in the echelons of rock royalty – despite members originally calling time on their band in 2013 to the dismay of admirers.

They officially announced their return to the fore in 2019, and their gargantuan army of fans were ready to roll again too!

When the Stadium MK shows were originally announced in 2020, those fans clamoured to secure tickets to the gigs; all tickets to their first UK shows in more than 11 years sold out in just minutes.

Incredibly, their songs rack up more than half a billion cumulative global streams every year.

A stellar support cast will be headed up by Placebo. The first time Pulse Music caught

Placebo head up the support for the MCR show at Stadium MK

Pic: Pooneh Ghana

them on stage in Milton Keynes was back in 1997 when they played a decidedly hot and sweaty sold out date at the now defunct Pitz club.

A couple of years later, they were back in town – performing as part of The Big Day Out billing headed up by Metallica, so they’ll be able to find their way around just fine.

Placebo recently issued its eighth album, Never Let Me Go. The elpee, the first for nine years, includes the track Surrounded By Spies, which confronts the erosion of civil liberties.

“I began writing the lyrics when I discovered my neighbours were spying on me on behalf of parties with a nefarious agenda,” frontman Brian Molko explains, “I then began to ponder the countless ways in which our privacy has been eroded and stolen since the introduction of worldwide CCTV cameras that now employ racist facial recognition technologies; the rise of the internet and the cellphone, which has turned practically every user into a paparazzo and spectators in their own lives, and how we have mostly all offered up personal information to enormous multinationals whose sole intent is to exploit us.”

They’ve tucked more than 13 million album sales under their collective belt and return to the new town to offer main support at all the shows.

Lostalone and Aviva will join the line-up on Thursday, May 19, with Barns Courtney and Cassyette appearing on Saturday, May 21 and Starcrawler and Charlotte Sands signed up for Sunday, May 22. > For all the latest news, travel information and FAQs click to stadiummk.com

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

WHATS ON

#WhatsOnPulse John Illsley May 1 Join the former bass player with Dire Straits as he returns to The Stables at Wavendon – expect to hear material from his new album alongside some of those classic Straits songs.

Money for nothing: stables.org Les Miserables Until Saturday, May 21 Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production has been seen by more than 120 million people (and counting). Will you add to that number as the new staging continues its major run at MK Theatre? Bring tickets home: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes Rag Mama Rag Tuesday, May 3 Live music at the Bletchley Blues Club with the Country Blues act, who make use of a wide range of instruments.

Get the blues: bletchleybluesclub.uk Woodland Wildflower ID for Beginners Wednesday, May 4, 2-4pm A guided walk at Shenley Wood where you will learn about the different species of wildflowers and how to identify them. This Parks Trust course is suitable for those with no background knowledge, as well as those looking to improve skills.

Blooming great: theparkstrust.com Brian Downey’s Alive & Dangerous Thursday, May 5 As one of the founding members of Thin Lizzy, drummer Brian Downey sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Now hear those classic songs again; Waiting For An Alibi, Whiskey in the Jar, Killer on the Loose and Jailbreak among them. The Boys Are Back in Town: theroadmender.com ‘Claydon, Now You See It, Now You Don’t’ Thursday, May 5 Frank and Daphne Preece host this month’s talk by the Milton Keynes National Trust Association, at the Oak Tree Centre, Wallinger Drive, Shenley Brook End. Entry is £2 for members, £4 for non-members.

Questions? sue-davedee@talktalk.net An evening with Steampunk fantasy author Paul Eccentric Thursday, May 5, 6pm Join Paul as he launches The Periwinkle Perspective Vol 2, ‘Those Among Us’ at Waterstones, Midsummer Place, plus a performance from The Antipoet Book up: Visit FB @mkwaterstones

Flook are at The Stables on Sunday, May 15

The Picturedrome Comedy Club Thursday, May 5, 7pm (for 8pm start) Get the funnies with El Bandiniho, Eleanor Tiernan and MC Jon Pearson, before headliner John Fothergill takes over with cocky insults and slick banter.

Heckle at your own risk: thepicturedrome.com Typically Tina Friday, May 6, 8pm A joyfully accurate tribute to the lady with the unmistakable voice, and the best legs in the business, at Northampton’s Picturedrome.

Simply the best: thepicturedrome.com The Old Savoy Open Day and Wedding Fair Friday, May 6 – Saturday, May 7 (3-8pm Fri & 11am-4pm Sat) Includes a catwalk display of bridal and groom wear, and a variety of vendors.

If you’ve got a wedding to plan and are seeking inspiration, this is for you.

Entry is free.

Going to the chapel: thedeco.co.uk Delights & Baby Lung Friday, May 6, 7.30pm Manchester’s Delights are on the rise and rise, and being slated as ‘ones to watch,’ and fortunately you can catch them at The Black Prince thanks to the folks at SBD Promotions.

Support comes from Northampton’s Baby Lung, and Mirror Image.

Tune in: sbdpromotions.com

Watercolour Pigment Making Saturday, May 7, 10am Join Lisa-Marie Price at MK Gallery as she guides you through the paint making process from start to finish, giving tips and guidance on what to look out for when foraging for pigment. All your senses will be used during this workshop.

Book for a colourful event: mkgallery.org History Weekend at Milton Keynes Museum Saturday, May 7 - Sunday, May 8, 10.30am-4.30pm Get closer to history with visits from the Romans and the Vikings. The living history event also includes 12th century re-enactors, Roman traders, and a 1940s re-enactment group. Step back in time: miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk Buckingham Canal Society Sunday, May 8, 10am-3pm Help needed at the Nature Reserve site, no experience necessary and all tools provided (also on Thursday, May 12 and Thursday, May 26).

For details: athina.beckett@buckinghamcanal.org.uk Denton & District Gardening Club Monday, May 9, 7.30pm ‘Everything you need to know about composts,’ a talk by Geoff Hodge at Denton Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Denton, NN7 1DT Digging deep: m.pateman@yahoo.co.uk

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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WHATS ON

The Robin Bibi Trio Tuesday, May 10 British Blues Awards nominees come to Bletchley Blues Club as they continue their never-ending mission to lift the spirits of audiences with their rock of the highest order. Still got the blues: Bletchleybluesclub.uk Guns 2 Roses Friday, May 13, 8pm The most notorious tribute to Slash, Axl and Duff that you’ll find – and during their history these imitators have played with four members of the real rock n’ roll aces!

All the hits and all the attitude are promised.

Appetite for Destruction: theroadmender.com Northampton Sailing Club Open Day Saturday, May 14, 11am-4pm Northampton Sailing Club offers dinghy racing, casual sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking and wing-foiling for people of all ages. The open day is a chance to enjoy taster sessions, sailing demonstrations, boat displays and to find out more about all the activities on offer.

Water-way to spend the day: northamptonsailingclub.org MK Walking Festival: Gyosei Trail Saturday, May 14, 2pm An opportunity to take a deeper look into some of the pieces of art along the trail, and participants will be joined by one of the artists responsible.

The trail is located on both sides of the Grand Union Canal from H3 Monks Way to H5 Portway.

For more MK Walking Festival events: theparkstrust.com The Best of Broadway with The Northampton Male Voice Choir Saturday, May 14, 7.30pm Join the Choir at its annual concert, with songs from Guys and Dolls to West Side Story and We Will Rock You ready and waiting. NMVC will be raising money for charities including Prostate Cancer UK and Parkinson’s UK, so taking a seat at The Cripps Theatre at Northampton School for Boys will help do great things elsewhere.

Sounds good: ticketsource.co.uk/cripps-hall Newport Pagnell Tennis Club Sat, May 14th, 10.30am and 2.30pm & Sun 15th, 10.30am Willen Road Recreation Ground, Newport Pagnell. A small but very friendly club for players of all ages and abilities, holding Open Day Sessions to show that tennis is for everyone. Bring along your children and grandchildren for free play, fun and games.

Racquets and balls can be provided.

Love it: info@newportpagnelltennis.net

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Mapdance 2022 at The Venue MK on Thursday, May 26

Flook Sunday, May 15, 8pm Join the quartet who take inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, as they weave and spin traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with fiery technical brilliance. End the weekend on a high in Wavendon.

Innovators: stables.org Inner Wheel Newport Pagnell Tuesday, May 17, 2-4pm Strawberry Tea – everyone welcome at the Olney Centre (MK46 4EF) An annual fundraising event and raffle, which this year will be raising funds for The Redway School who provide care and education for children with complex needs. £5 entry on the day to include tea/cake/strawberries and cream. Tasty: 01908 610200

For all jazz piano fans

The Old Lawnmower Club Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, May 22, 10.30am-4.30pm Anyone with an interest in mowers will love this green event as the club hosts its annual rally at Milton Keynes Museum, with 100s of mowers on display, including some particularly rare examples.

Short ‘cut’: miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk Fuchsias and more 2022 Saturday, May 21, midday-5pm A huge selection of fuchsias and perennials for sale in Lathbury.

Gardening advice, and craft and vintage stalls with a tea garden serving homemade cakes. Live music in the church and gardens to wander around.

Entry and parking are free. Profits to Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the ancient church.

Floral fabulousness: 01908 616804 or 07487 531251

Thursday 19th May at 7.00pm Woburn Sands Big Band Appreciation Society presents top Jazz pianist Alan Houghton playing live and talking about his favourite artists, in Woburn Sands.

We meet every third Thursday at the Ellen Pettit Memorial Hall, High Street, Woburn Sands. Members £3, guests £5. For more information call Mike on 01908 234634, or David on 01908 583937. www.wsbigband.net Profits go to support Willen Hospice

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

The Sand Dragon Saturday, May 21, 2:30pm Theatrix Arts perform a magical story with songs, music, loads of puppets, changing scenery and a magic trick or two. Suitable for ages 4+ and families.

Dragon delight: stantonburytheatre.co.uk Camille O’Sullivan sings Cave Sunday, May 22, 8pm Join Irish/French singer Camille at The Stables in Wavendon as she explores the dark and light of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ music in her dangerous yet fragile theatrical style.

Jubilee Street: stables.org

Steve Harley Acoustic Band Saturday, May 28 The original cockney rebel visits The Core at Corby with a stripped back set of excellence – and he’s had 45 years of practice at this stuff; expect an ace performance.

He’ll make you smile: thecorecorby.com Toddle Tours and Child Tours at MK Gallery Saturday, May 28 Child Tours are artist-led sensory tours for families with children with additional needs, including autism spectrum disorder and profound and multiple learning disabilities. Toddle Tours accommodate families with youngsters under the age of five.

Tours last 40 minutes each.

Art for all: mkgallery.org Aspley Guide Open Gardens

Liam Ward Band Tuesday, May 24 Enjoy epic hard-driven sounds of vintage American dance music – rocking blues, west coast swing and funky, soulful roots music.

No ‘harm’ done: bletchleybluesclub.uk Mapdance 2022 Thursday, May 26 University of Chichester’s performance company comes to The Venue MK with three newly commissioned dance works.

Dynamic, theatrical and beautifully crafted.

Get tickets by emailing schools@motusdance.co.uk Woof Walk: Great Linford Manor Park Saturday, May 28, 10am Starting from the Memorial Hall car park, this group walk will take an hour and show you a new route to walk your dog. A great opportunity to socialise your pooch and meet rangers. Tail wagging: theparkstrust.com

Pic: The Parks Trust

Hedgehog Surveying for Families

Aspley Guise Open Gardens Sunday, May 29, Midday -5pm Enjoy a gorgeous selection of open gardens around the village, also homemade cakes and light refreshments served in the Village Hall from 11.30am.

Tickets £5 in the Village Square from 11.30am.

Bloomin’ brilliant: opengardens.co.uk Workshop: Hedgehog Surveying for Families Monday, May 30, 2-3pm The hog is one of the fastest disappearing animals in the country. As they are rapidly declining in the countryside, the gardens of MK are of increasing importance.

This session, at Howe Park Wood Education Centre (opposite Westcroft District Centre), will help create a survey tunnel, find out about MK Hogwatch and how to help these beautiful creatures.

Booking for you and your hoglets: theparkstrust.com Shark in the Park Monday, May 30, 2.30pm Featuring all three of the ‘Shark in the Park’ Series – ‘Shark in the Park’, ‘Shark in the Dark’ and ‘Shark in the Park on a Windy Day’ – this fin-tastic, family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on three exciting adventures.

Some-fin different: stantonburytheatre.co.uk Cluedo Monday, May 30 – Saturday, June 4 Based on the classic detective board game, and the 1985 film CLUE, this brand new play promises a nostalgic, fun and thrilling evening at MK Theatre.

Michelle Collins stars.

Could it be Professor Plum?

Atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

May Highlights The London Tango Quintet Thursday 12 May The London Tango Quintet is a unique group of five internationally acclaimed musicians performing tango music at the highest level. Music by the legendary Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla is interspersed with stunning instrumental solos.

Flook Sunday 15 May Taking inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving and spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves. 24 years after their first gig together, Flook continue to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages.

Tony Christie Thursday 26 May Tony’s exciting new tour sees him performing all of his greatest hits including I Did What I Did For Maria, Walk Like A Panther, Las Vegas and the unforgettable (Is This The Way To) Amarillo.

Joined by his superb band, this is an evening not to be missed!

An Evening with Jimmy Webb Saturday 28 May Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer and singer known worldwide as a master of his trade. His timeless hits include Up, Up And Away, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Galveston and MacArthur Park.

Mark Thomas Tuesday 31 May In his new show 50 Things About Us, Mark Thomas combines his trademark mix of storytelling, stand-up, mischief and really, really well researched material to examine how we have come to inhabit this divided wasteland that some of us call the United Kingdom. (16+) The Stables, Wavendon Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Box office: 01908 280800 stables.org

For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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THEATRE

Les backstage story!

Les Misérables is is currently enjoying a mammoth stay in Milton Keynes. Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of the legendary musical by Boublil and Schönberg is back in town by popular demand, and this new staging, complete with scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, is guaranteed to wow.

But what does it take to put Les Misérables together? Sammy Jones has been fact checking.

W

orldwide, more than 130 million people have taken a seat for a performance of Les Misérables.

It has played in 52 countries, and Valjean’s story has been translated into 22 languages.

Les Mis isn’t only one of the most popular shows on the stage, it is also one of the largest productions. It takes a cast of 33, a 14-piece orchestra and a technical team of 32 to bring the show to life eight times a week.

Moving the sets, costumes and equipment from one venue to another involves more than a couple of motors! It actually takes 14 45foot trailers to get the job done, and with just three days between the show finishing at one venue and opening at the next, it’s all hands on deck – more than 100 people are involved in ensuring the transfer goes as planned, and they work around the clock to ensure success.

If doing the family laundry brings you out in a sweat, spare a thought for those who spend their time ensuring the show costumes are pristine. Incredibly, there are more than 2000 items of costume, accessories, hats and shoes - each pair of shoes is made specifically for individual cast members.

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Those costumes are flung off in quick time, too – the female and male ensemble have up to 10 clothing changes during each performance... The Lovely Ladies actually wear their bloomers and corsets for three scenes before they are revealed!

The costumes are made brand new, but then need to undergo a process to make them look old – they are dyed to achieve the desired effect, and cheese graters and tea bags are regularly called for to distress the material!

There are 103 wigs – all made from human hair – used by cast members.

If you presume that things are a little calmer in the wings, you are very much mistaken – the place is a hive of well-timed activity.

A deputy stage manager is responsible for running each wing, and while you are relaxing in the auditorium with a G&T and something

The backstage team includes: One company manager One assistant company manager Five stage management Three touring carpenters Two automation operators Four sound operators Three touring electricians Four wigs personnel Five wardrobe personnel One retail manager Two fly men Four follow-spot operators Six stage crew Seven dressers One touring head chaperone Two travelling chaperones

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

All pics: Danny Kaan

to nibble on, the DSM is resident at the prompt desk, issuing cues to lighting, sound, automation and stage management.

And what about all of those props? They have to be checked off before the curtain rises by the assistant stage managers armed with a trusty check sheet.

If you’ve ever endured the pain of a muffled performance, you’ll know how frustrating sound issues can be. Les Misérables is highly unlikely to leave your ears short changed though – four members of the sound-department make sure everything is crystal clear.

On stage, the cast wear 40 radio microphones, all of which are hidden from view – by wigs, hats and hair.

The show also installs a full surround system wherever it plays, with around 170 speakers front of house, helping ensure the production will only ever sound great!

That’s your little peek behind the curtain of one of the most famous shows in the world.

Now when you take a pew at Milton Keynes Theatre and Jean Valjean belts out Bring Him Home, you’ll know about the bustle backstage! > Les Miserables, Milton Keynes Theatre, April 26 – May 21 Book in: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

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Film Reviews

by Jordan Adcock

OPERATION

MINCEMEAT

FILM OF THE MONTH - Star Rating: 3/5

Operation Mincemeat, where the dead body of Glyndwr Michael was used to smuggle fake documents to mislead Nazi Germany, is perhaps the most extraordinary act of deception in the history of warfare. However, this film manages to make the extraordinary, well, more ordinary, if still well-acted and directed on its own more modest terms. Colin Firth dependably plays Ewen Montagu, the naval intelligence officer increasingly distant from his wife and who settles into creating “William Martin” with Jean Leslie (Kelly Macdonald) who provides the photo of “Martin’s lover”. Matthew Macfadyen is perhaps the strongest of the cast in playing the uptight, unlucky-in-love RAF officer Charles Cholmondeley who helps refine the “Trojan Horse” plan originally thought up partly by Ian Fleming of all people (it’s a shame Johnny Flynn’s suave portrayal of Fleming is absent from the film for long stretches).

There’s a stuffy admiral (played by Jason Isaacs of course), Winston Churchill, gloomy wartime London interiors, a brief battle scene: This war film has it all, apart from really exploring the story’s most unique, fascinating aspect. I really recommend reading Ben Macintyre’s account of the deception, on which this film was based. It captures how odd the story was, including the full cast of characters and their nuances plus the surrealism of constructing a man that never was. Who was Glyndwr Michael? He lived a sadly curtailed, unremarkable life but you won’t get much impression from the film of that or the quandary of erasing his identity, which apart from one very disposable scene otherwise treats the hunt for a body as a tame comedic montage. ✪

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2

THE NAN MOVIE Star Rating: 2/5

Star Rating: 2/5

Star Rating: 1/5

The first Sonic film from 2020 was most famous for hastily redesigning its CGI version of the iconic video game character to look much more accurate and appealing.

If only its sequel had greater finesse but it’s more sluggish than sonic. It not only brings back Jim Carrey as the wacky evil scientist Robotnik, hurling out one-liners no matter how silly, or introducing more game characters in the red echidna Knuckles and the plucky Tails as a sidekick for Sonic, it weighs itself down with dragged-out filler sequences. They include a Siberian dance-off and a crashed Hawaiian wedding and like most of the film are distracting enough, though it’s hard not to notice the obligatory human supporting actors trying in vain to be as animated as their digital counterparts. ✪

Leaving it late doesn’t quite cover comedian Catherine Tate bringing her cantankerous Nan character to the big screen, over 15 years after the comedian’s sketch show ended.

And while Nan certainly delivers the swears and insults she’s known (and loved?) for, the obligation to provide a filmic narrative where she and grandson Jamie (Matthew Horne) travel to see her dying sister means lots of more drama-based flashbacks to World War II. Basically, anyone hoping to relive the show’s comedic heights will be disappointed.

Ah well, at least there’s still some decent exchanges between Nan and Jamie while on the road to Northern Ireland, where the film most resembles the original show’s dynamics. Diversions involving an animal rights extremist and garish collage animation to shift the plot along are less welcome. ✪

Think Extraneous Beasts more than Fantastic.

These Harry Potter prequel films, despite their main title, aren’t really about Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) protecting magical beasts, and they definitely aren’t as magical as the boy wizard’s story. That The Secrets of Dumbledore improves over the last film, the baffling and infuriating Crimes of Grindelwald, isn’t high praise. It has a good main cast, especially Jude Law as young Dumbledore; Mads Mikkelsen is a decent replacement for scandal-hit Johnny Depp as Grindelwald, the would-be wizard dictator who shares a secret bond with Dumbledore. But they’re all left wandering from place to place, casting lots of magic spells but without any meaningful journeys or arcs happening. There’s only the promise of an overarching story that’s barely even started three films in. ✪

Jared Leto tries playing a tortured soul in Morbius but only audiences will be tortured by this abysmal comic book adaptation. The film’s a product of Sony Pictures racing to adapt all the Marvel comics characters they’ve got the rights for (apart from Spider-Man). In fairness, Leto is working with a rubbish script as Doctor Morbius, who experiments with vampire bat blood to cure his crippling ailments. The CGI-heavy results are cringeworthy and not helped by the actor’s laughably poor attempts at charisma and gravitas. Throw in Matt Smith trying to outdo him for sheer awkwardness and the result is trashy, even strangely watchable like a train wreck can be watchable: a “morbid” curiosity, perhaps? ✪

Star Rating: 2.5/5

MORBIUS

You can follow Jordan on Twitter (@JordanReview) and read his blog at www.reviewsreflections.wordpress.com For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

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MOTORING

FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING Following on from last month’s piece ADAM TUDOR-LANE offers some simple driving tips that will further improve the fuel economy of your vehicle.

Driving on the motorway at 80 can use up to 25% more fuel than if you were to cruise along at the 70 MPH speed limit – think about that next time you want to keep up with everyone else.

If you drive a modern automatic, you’ll usually find an ‘Eco’ friendly gearing option buried in the menus. Additionally, every car from 2014 onward has a gear shift notification to tell you when you should change up for best efficiency.

Smoothness

Maintenance

ast month we went through a few tips to try and eke out some more miles per gallon; they ranged from ditching excess weight to making sure your tyres are properly inflated.

Each one gave a small, maybe marginal amount of improvement, but add them all together, and you could save a fair few quid over a year. But where it counts is how you drive, so let’s see if you can save even more money on every fill-up.

Accelerating gently and progressively keeps the revs down, the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, so it uses less fuel. Read the road ahead and decelerate by lifting off the pedal and letting the car slow down on its own rather than braking.

Stopping and starting uses more fuel than rolling, so slow yourself down early at roundabouts or traffic lights, then you don’t have to come to a complete stop.

A well-maintained car will achieve higher MPG regardless of any driving habit changes. The oil will be thinner; it can breathe freer through a clean air filter, and the spark plugs will be working at their optimum.

While main dealer servicing can be incredibly pricey, an interim service at a third-party garage can cost as little as £80, while a full service will be around £140. If you aren’t sure which local garage you can trust, sites like goodgaragescheme.com are worth a look; failing that, word of mouth is a great way to find a reliable garage.

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Speed It might seem obvious, but the quicker you drive, the more fuel you’ll use. For example, driving at 70 MPH you’ll use 9% more fuel than at 60 MPH and up to 15% more than if you were to drive at 50.

Gears You’ve got gears for a reason, and changing up early keeps your revs down. Try to change up at 2,500 RPM in a petrol or 2,000 RPM in a diesel; this will make sure the engine isn’t put under strain; it’s just above tick over, so you’ll be sipping fuel.

Some small adjustments to your driving habbits could save you money

See how much you can save While crawling along below the speed limit may not appeal to many, changing your habits for just a week may be the jolt you need to make a longer-lasting change.

Take a note of your current MPG and reset the trip computer on your car. Then, drive as economically as you can for the next week and see how your MPG differs.

Using the Which? ‘Annual fuel cost calculator’ - shorturl.at/hmyC6 will allow you to see the difference your new-found zen will bring.

Driving 6,000 miles per year with a fuel cost of 160p per litre at 30 MPG equals £1,454 in fuel.

Up that MPG by just 2, and you could save £91 a year. 34 MPG saves £171.

Jumping from 30 MPG to 38 (probably a tall ask) and you’ll have an extra £306 in your pocket.

While these may seem like small numbers, every little bit of money saved right now counts; a £300 fuel-saving this year could be money towards your insurance costs, home energy bills or simply an extra three tanks of fuel.

For more car news, reviews and motorsport action visit carwitter.com or follow us @car_witter 72

May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

PUZZLES

View from the Far Kerb

Proficiency

T

he fact that you are reading these words is due to my proficiency, despite my proficiency...

Always good to start a piece with a nonsensical opener, isn’t it?

Let me explain, but please don’t drop off or slip into a coma when I mention that it involves a computer.

A few days back I bought a new mobile phone. I wanted to use the large memory card from the old one, but it kept reporting that it was corrupted and unreadable despite various computers passing it as fit and healthy. I wondered whether I might have purchased a faulty mobile phone.

After much research I discovered that I was not alone in suffering from the malaise of apparently corrupt memory cards. Things were always the same: corrupt and unreadable in the phone, but fine on all computers.

Unfortunately the advised reasons and solutions varied greatly. So I decided to learn more and try to understand the underlying cause in order to determine which solution was most likely to be correct.

Finally I decided the way forward was to completely wipe the card and then remove its identity and reinstate it, before inserting it in my phone. I also intended to try using a file system that my Windows computer didn’t allow

SUDOKU PUZZLE Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats. Good Luck!

7

without having to delve into the murky and powerful underworld of command line utilities. No pretty pictures and helpful images.

All very clever stuff!

I managed to recreate everything, but when it came to formatting it with that file system, I received a message telling me that the device upon which I was trying to install was too large for it.

That started alarm bells ringing.

Without a shadow of doubt, the memory card was not too large for the chosen file system.

However, Windows maintained that it was unsuitable for what I had meticulously wiped. My heartbeat quickened as I carefully examined the situation to determine the problem.

I had performed all my technical ‘magic’ on the wrong device. Worse, it was the drive upon which I store my whole life – including whatever I deign to write for Pulse...

As you may have guessed, it was total disaster! I had performed all my technical ‘magic’ on the wrong device. Worse, it was the drive upon which I store my whole life – including whatever I deign to write for Pulse and elsewhere.

Not so clever now!

Data recovery was impossible.

Having spent many years in IT I know how to both recover and obliterate data. Apparently I am quite proficient in both and my expertise in idiocy had cut my legs out from under me.

Surely such proficiency should have enabled me to get out of the mess in which I now found myself?

Unfortunately, no; when I get rid of data it stays gotten rid of...

Did I really manage to have a successful career in computing?

How was it possible to shoot oneself in the foot so well? Would no one get to see my words?

Was I doomed?

Another part of my IT background taught me the importance of having comprehensive backups. Guess what else I am apparently proficient in, other than gross stupidity?

Panic over. Phew!

PHIL O’HARA

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QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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24. Rustling sound (5) 28. Run away 1. Diabolical (8) to marry (5) 5. Gateau (4) 29. East Anglian city (7) 9. Incinerator (7) 30. Ooze (4) 10. Small fragment (5) 31. Pincers (8) 11. Denims (5) 13. Ocean trip (6) Clues Down 15. Incisive (5) 1. Resist, challenge (4) 17. Slightly open (4) 2. Vitality (5) 19. In the past (3) 3. Acquires 20. Concludes (4) knowledge (6) 21. Print media (5) 4. Look for (4) 6. Put on trial (7) 23. Run out (6)

7. Type of coffee (8) 8. Take control unjustly (5) 12. Portion (5) 13. Christian symbol (5) 14. Unidentified (8) 16. Mature (3) 18. Sanction (7) 21. Groom (5) 22. Veer (6) 25. Skid (5) 26. Was aware of (4) 27. Hence (4)

Solutions to Sudoku and Quick Crossword can be found on page 74 For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | May 2022

73

Your stars LOCAL NEWS

HOWARD PARKER

THE ASTRO-GUIDE

Flavour of the Times - I hope everyone is managing to keep up with all the energy shifts going on. If it feels stressy and weird with the lack of clarity and uncertainties, that’s because it is. It’s a very watery and fluid situation and nobody quite knows where they stand any more. Election results will, I am sure, reflect this in some way. Best advice is plant your feet on the ground and grow plants or walk in nature! Nature seems to know what it’s doing better than humans these days!

TAURUS April 21 – May 21

VIRGO August 24 – September 23

CAPRICORN December 23 – January 20

GEMINI May 22 – June 21

LIBRA September 24 – October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 – February 19

Knitting fog seems like an appropriate analogy this month. The new moon in Taurus does assist you in taking some sensible actions but the brain fog induced by Neptune and Jupiter prevents you seeing and analysing situations with your usual clarity. Not such a good time to fall in love as you will have no idea of you are coming or going!

Look, watch and learn from the confusion, I’d say.

This new moon gives you a chance to follow your instincts and plough your own furrow this month. Window shopping is better than buying but at least it gives you a chance to review what you really value in your life. Tried and trusted ways of living are probably the best way to go right now. There is virtue in routine and living from day to day.

Stuck in the middle of all kinds of confusion and unable to think your way out of it? That’s because this month is not really about thinking at all or any kind of rationality. Instincts hold sway and you will drive yourself mad if you try to work it all out. Work out the bare essentials and stick to them. One foot in front of the other is fine this month.

You won’t feel as if the new moon is giving you much help until about half-way through the month when Venus and Jupiter get together in Aries. This gives an energetic boost to some of your deepest desires but this could all feel rather disconcerting and leave you more worried than excited. The full moon could get you into trouble if you are an emotional risk taker.

CANCER June 22 – July 23

SCORPIO October 24 – November 22

Mid May’s full moon could get very sexy indeed with events that threaten to lure you into some deep relationship water. I suppose it all depends how much you like diving into your own (murky?) personal depths. Alternatively, it could be someone close to you doing the diving, either voluntarily or not. Either way, it’s a potentially intense time in relationships.

As May begins, Pluto decides to go backwards.

(It doesn’t really, it just looks that way from our place on Earth). Skeletons might start falling out of cupboards now, old issues resurfacing that have never really been dealt with properly.

Unfortunately, this isn’t really the month to deal with them but at least you will get a feel for how bad some of the old patterns are for you.

LEO July 24 – August 23

SAGITTARIUS November 23 – December 22

Things are going to liven up for you next month when we hit the more vibrant Gemini energy, but May is more tricky, with confusion and indecision prevailing everywhere to create a certain amount of chaos in your mind. It won’t work to just take off somewhere because you will take it with you, I’m afraid. Best to just sit it out and keep on planning your escape!

Saturn is still opposing your sun so the brakes are still on, to some extent. Career moves are either held up or not yielding the kind results you hoped for (or think you deserve!). The learning you should take away from this is that maybe you weren’t as prepared as you thought you were and that you need to put in a bit more effort rather than depend so much on your undoubted charismas.

74

PUZZLE

SOLUTIONS

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. + , = ,

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Blundering around in the fog still? Jupiter is still exaggerating the confusing effect of Neptune and when Venus comes into the picture in your own sign as it does at the new moon, wonderful delusional love may sweep over you. Delicious and enjoyable, it might be, so enjoy it while it lasts because the honeymoon won’t last forever.

But of course you knew that, didn’t you?

ARIES March 21 – April 20

The fog is going to clear, the deeper you get into this month. Planets in Pisces at the new moon are all going to be in your sign by the end of May and you will feel the shift in gear, particularly when Mars joins them on 25th.

Stay connected to your innermost feelings until then and use the respite to recharge your batteries.

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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Sow a few seeds this month and see what happens as they grow. Literally and metaphorically, I mean. Change doesn’t happen by itself. You need to make it happen and, of course, it happens more slowly than you would like in an ideal world. But improvements can be made that will lead to bigger things down the line.

Time for you to show people a vision of the future.

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Hard to read the runes this month because structures feel as if they are falling apart all around you. Pluto is all that’s left in your sign now and the harsh lessons it has been teaching are possibly coming back to haunt anyone who has not finally grasped that change is for real and you need to move with the times. Loose ends need tidying up by September or you will trip over them.

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May 2022 | MK Pulse Magazine | 32,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Milton Keynes

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