The Vine Luton - August September 2018 - Issue 28

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Local News / What’s On / Local Directory

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Connecting local people to local businesses I Bramingham I Bushmead I Icknield I Barnfield I Stopsley I Wigmore I

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Local News

What’s On Puzzles

MARRIAGE

Is It Worth it?

By Martin Lewis

GO WILD!

In The Garden with Adam Frost

What’s On

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Proud ToTo BeBe Local Businesses Proud Find Us Inside Highly LocalCommended Events Highly Commended Insidethis thisissue... issue... £8 under 12s free. For on-line tickets and more CUSTOMER CAREEXCELLENCE EXCELLENCETickets AWARD Local News CUSTOMER CARE AWARD O n . information visit www.caritasharmony.co.uk or call ineDiHowe rector Local Offers TheVJackie y.co.u 01582 599520. welcome!

Revitalising Dunstable Woodside Update k 686 All Luton Hoo Link 10 Eden Our Doorstep?

LocalOn News 8 Bedfordshire Walking Festival 12 Local News Last Christmas post Dates 14 Martin Lewis: Money Matters 20 TeamSport Competition 18 Dying To Be-creative Stoptober 16 Travel: Croatia 22 Martin Lewis:Christmas Money Matters Home Made 18 At Summer Safety Caring For Houseplants 26 Home: 28 APets: Pensioners View

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22 In InThe TheGarden Garden: Go Wild 28 32 Office Rental 32 4U: Calories 34 Looking UpArona 24 Body Auto:Change SEAT 34 Mercedes C220 AMG 36 Puzzles 26 Autos: Puzzles 36 Puzzles 38 Travellers 30 A Looking Up Tale TheTo Gunpowder 38 Snippets: 44 Win! Tickets Aladdin Plot

46 Pensioners 48 AOut & About View 48 Out & About

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

5

local News

www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

Luton Hoo Walled Garden Historic Garden Open To The Public

August and September are the fascinating and there are quizzes perfect months to visit the Luton to occupy them in the walled Hoo Estate Walled Garden. garden itself.

Younger children are very Open every Wednesday from welcome in pushchairs, or just to 10.30 - 16.00 there is plenty to do toddle around. Children's workand see in this volunteer garden shops are held during the sumrevival. Guided tours, included in mer holidays - every Thursday the entry price of ÂŁ5, are carried from 10-12 noon. Places must be out throughout the day which pre-booked ÂŁ10 per session and give a real insight to how the must be accompanied by an adult. garden has developed and there Ring 01582 721443 or email are tours too of the Edwardian office@lutonhooestate.co.uk farm buildings.

The shop selling fresh produce The Shooting Lodge Cafe serves and plants from the garden is refreshments and light lunches located amongst the back sheds, and is found by walking through where the original buildings the Woodland Walk an atmosstill stand including the potting pheric area where your imaginashed, with World War II graffiti, tion can run riot when you glance head gardener's office, and mess at the fallen trees and logs. room. Luton Hoo Honey is also Children, in particular, find this available.

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Entry is via the A1081, between Luton and Harpenden. Take West Hyde Road/Newmill End turning and turn left into entrance gate, follow the signs to the Walled Garden.

Postcode LU1 4LF. There is no entry to the walled garden from the Luton Hoo Hotel.

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

7

local News

Step Into Autumn September is a great month for walking, the air is cooler, it feels fresher and colours begin advancing through the trees. In Bedfordshire the whole county begins that change and is a great place to enjoy a walk.

The 9th Annual Bedfordshire Walking Festival

between The Ramblers and The Peoples Post Lottery but we won't come knocking at your door, we won't come ringing your bell so do yourself a favour and come and The Bedfordshire Walking Festival join in.

Informative guided walks offer 8th to 16th September offers lots an insight into the places, people of opportunities for people of and buildings around them provalmost all abilities. Whether it is one of the walks for health of be- ing that first appearances can be tween 30-90 minutes, an informa- misleading. In this part of the county there is a 4.5 mile approxitive guided walk of around two hours, a half day walk of around 3 mately 2.5 hour linear walk from hours, or for the really serious, full Leagrave into the centre of Luton and finishing at St Mary's Church days of between 12-21 miles.

For the family an evening of Trails on Saturday 8th, whilst on Sunday 9th at 11-00am come along to and Tales for older children with Houghton Hall Park for a one an afternoon version for younger ones. Why not take the train, with hour guided tour discovering the developments made in the park a ride on the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway and return including the Kitchen garden. On Thursday morning an insight into on foot along the Grand Union "Old and new Leagrave" whilst Canal.

Further afield there are informaFood lovers can enjoy first coltive walks within the Greensand lecting food from the hedgerows then going back and transforming Country and North Bedfordshire. the goodies into Jam and more at Those preferring walkers walks of a half or full day from should Clophill enjoy two from Whipsnade Tree For some people health walks Cathedral or one from Stockare a lifeblood and this year at wood Country Park on Sunday Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis, Toddington and Dunstable. 16th and during the festival from Walks for Health is a joint venture Harlington, Sundon and Freemans

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Common in Luton Rounding off the nine days over the weekend of 15th & 16th is the annual Greensand Ridge Challenge 40 miles across the Greensand Country. If you can't do both days why not come for one.

One of the most attractive features of the festival , organised

by The Bedfordshire Ramblers and supported by local councils, is that almost all the walks are free and do not require booking so you can just turn up. Some, mostly the health walks it is better to phone the leader beforehand. Where booking and charges are necessary these are shown in the programme and bookings along with payment can be made via the festival web site.

There isn't space to extol all the virtues of the festival and its walks extending northwards to Bedford, Poddington, and Swineshead and, East to West across the Greensand Country. Only a few have been mentioned so why not explore Bedfordshire on foot this September after picking up a programme or visiting the festival website www.bedswalkfest.co.uk

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local News

Baby Boom At

Keepers at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will have their hands full this summer, following the arrival of six new additions to the Whipsnade family.

First to make a splash were two California sea lion pups. Adventurous male pup Hanno was born to first-time mum, Lara, on Sunday 10th June followed by the more laid-back male pup Oakley, who was born to second-time mum Bailey, on Saturday 23rd June. Team Leader Tim Savage was overjoyed at the new arrivals and said: “They’ve both had a little splash in the pool, but neither of the pups are strong swimmers yet. Over the next month they will learn to dive, and practice holding their breath” June 23rd proved to be an exceptionally busy day at the Zoo. As well as Oakley the sea lion, keepers were thrilled to welcome four endangered Amur tiger cubs as seven year-old Amur tigress Naya gave birth following 108 days of pregnancy.

Team leader Donovan Glyn said: “It’s incredible news for us just to have endangered Amur tiger cubs born here at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, but to have four of them is just amazing, especially when you consider there are only 500 left in the wild”.

Summer visitors to the Zoo will be able to see Hanno and Oakley learning to swim alongside their mums, dad Dominic and the rest of the sea lion clan. If you’re lucky, and patient, you might also catch a glimpse of the tiger cubs. Their keepers didn’t expect the cubs to make a proper appearance outside for another few weeks so were surprised to see mum Naya bringing them out of the den at less than a month old. They put the early outings down to the hot weather and expect that over the next few weeks the cubs will be out more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Get the full story and see video clips of the new arrivals, including the moment Naya gave birth, at www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

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Money Matters By Martin Lewis

Is There Any Point In Being

MARRIED?

You meet someone, fall in love, and hearts pop out of the sky when you look at them. They’re the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

@martinslewis

But is there any point in actually being married?

Much of the answer is mixed up with complex competing views on tradition, religion, convention and emotion. Many have happy, long term stable relationships without wedding ceremonies. Yet as the Royal Wedding has heightened conversations about the institution of marriage, I thought it worth explaining what difference it makes to your finances too.

Marriage, and these days civil partnerships too, still count in many UK laws and rules. People talk about couples who live together and are unmarried as ‘common law partners’ - yet that’s just a phrase - it doesn’t usually give you rights.

So, here’s my list of the seven main financial rights of marriage - including civil partnerships - over just co-habiting (don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger), you’ll note, many of them involve death!

1

You can get a free £900 tax break if you’re married.

This is deliberate government social engineering to reward marriage through the tax system. It was launched three years ago and applies where one is a basic 20% rate taxpayer and the other a non-taxpayer.

The non-taxpayer can apply to have 10% (£1,190) of their tax-free allowance shifted to the taxpayer. This means £1,190 of income they were taxed on at 20% is now tax-free – a £238 gain this year done via altering your tax code.

If eligible you can back claim to when it started too,

14 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

so that’s a cheque for £662 – making a total of £900.

It takes five minutes to do at: www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance – it’s the non-taxpayer who must apply. If you’ve questions read my www.mse.me/marriagetax guide for full help.

2

You may get a bigger state pension if your spouse dies.

If your married partner dies you may be able to get extra payments from their pension or national insurance contributions as long as you’ve not already built up the full basic state pension entitlement yourself, as well as inherit some of their additional state pension.

Exactly how much depends on a range of factors such as retirement date and more. And if you’re not at the state pension age yourself and remarry before you reach it, you won’t be entitled to it. There’s more info on the exact rules at: www.gov.uk/state-pension/inheritance.

It’s also worth noting many workplace, personal and private pension schemes will only pass on benefits to a surviving partner if they are married too.

3

Your spouse won’t pay inheritance tax.

When you die, any money, property or assets left to your spouse is automatically exempt from inheritance tax.

4

Unused inheritance tax allowances can be transferred.

There’s no inheritance tax to pay on the first £325,000 of anyone’s estate. Tax is only paid above that. If any of this is unused when your spouse dies, then the remainder can be passed across to you.

For example, if a wife left everything to her husband, so there was no inheritance tax to pay, her entire £325,000 allowance would pass across to him too. So now when he dies, he has a £650,000 allowance.

The same also applies to any unused portion of the £125,000 property allowance (which reduces tax left to children on sale of a house).

5

You can inherit your spouse’s ISA allowance.

While savings and investments kept inside tax-free ISAs are liable for inheritance tax, the ISA allowance itself can be passed on to a spouse. So if they’ve £30,000 in ISAs you get this on top of your own ISAs.

6 Die will-less and your unmarried partner may get nowt.

If you’re not married, share a home with your partner, and don’t have a will - even if you’ve been

together thirty years and have 17 kids - if you die, that means nothing. Depending on how the home ownership is structured they could even lose that. So a will is crucial.

For those who are married, laws known as intestacy rules do give some protection, though exactly how it works depends on which part of the UK you live in. Even so making a will so you can decide exactly where your assets will go is by far the best protection. And it needn’t be that costly, sometimes it’s even free, for full help see www.mse.me/cheapwills.

7

You can boost your savings interest or capital gains allowance.

Savings and investments can be freely moved between spouses – without any risk of later inheritance tax, or capital gains tax.

Of course these days with the personal savings allowance letting basic-rate taxpayers earn up to £1,000 interest a year without tax, most people don’t pay tax on their savings any more. Yet if you do, then moving savings to use up the other’s allowance, or to the one with the lower tax rate, makes sense.

Plus if you’re selling something (like shares) which will attract capital gains tax, you get an annual allowance of £11,700 profit tax-free. If you’ll go over this, you can pass some of the asset to your spouse first, to use up both your allowances.

Although Money Matters is based on extensive research and personal knowledge, Martin Lewis is not necessarily qualified in the given field/subject. We would therefore always recommend that readers take this information as advice and do their own research before committing.

Issue 28 • August / September 2018

15

Travel

Croatia Sail to the Islands Mljet in the south is wild and unspoilt, two thirds of the island covered in forest. The name means ‘honey isle’ and some claim this is where the nymph Calypso kept Ulysses spellbound for seven years. A few fishing villages are sprinkled along the shore while part of the island is protected by a National Park.

There are two lovely saltwater lakes, shimmering turquoise and blue, and shaded trails fragrant with pines. Also accessed from Dubrovnik is the Elaphite archipelago, a haven of pine forests and olive groves. Only three of the islands are inhabited, including Lopud, famous for sands, rare in Dalmatia, and Kolocep, barely 300 residents but claiming seven pre-Romanesque churches.

Slightly further out into the Adriatic, Vis is the last inhabited Croatian island before Italy, with mountains rising to nearly 2000 feet and vineyards spreading in fertile valleys. Set in central Dalmatia, Vis boasts some of the best wine in the country, such as

Croatia is fringed with over 1000 islands, an amazing sight, especially from the air - lush emerald green, long, thin or perfectly circular, bordered by white cliffs and beaches, crisscrossed by tiny ribbons of road that seem to lead to nowhere. One could spend a week or more sailing through this romantic seascape but stay in one of the glorious Dalmatian resorts and you can cruise for a day on a nostalgic galleon, dropping anchor here and there to explore a few of these offshore gems.

the red Plava and the honeycoloured Vugava, excellent with freshly-caught fish or lobster. The island has two small townships, Vis, where a medley of architecture reflects a turbulent past and Komiza, where boats head for the romantic Blue Lagoon on nearby Bisevo.

Of course, you could spend a whole day sailing through this enchanting maze without landing at all, gazing at dolphins pirouetting in the waves and rugged mountains towering on the mainland, but when the boat approaches Hvar, even the most jaded traveller is keen to explore.

Havr greets you with the fairytale town of Jelsa, all donkey and cycle rides, fishing nets drying in the alleyways, rose gardens, sunflowers, waterside restaurants and pastel-hued Venetian palaces dipping their toes in the sea. The fragrance of lavender lingers on the square and now and then a whiff of Croatian folklore echoes under the parasols. It’s well worth leaving the crowds to wander

16 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

through the lanes for a glimpse of local life and to the chapel on the hillock for the breath-taking panorama.

From the resort of Baska Voda, it’s just under two hours to Hvar but the return trip includes a stop on Brac, the largest island in central Dalmatia, world famous for the local stone used to build the White House in Washington.

Bol is a pretty little town with red roofs and white walls nestling around the harbour. It’s a couple of miles to the beach, by land train or on foot, along a shaded promenade where souvenir stalls sell lace and Brac stone turned into clocks or candle holders.

Finally you reach the long broad spit of the Golden Cape, jutting out into the sea, a favourite spot for windsurfers and sun worshippers. The pebbles are as white as the stone and the water is beautifully clear but in the distance the galleon beckons, ready to conclude the cruise in time for a perfect Adriatic sunset.

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

17

Pets

Keeping Pets S afe In The Sun Veterinary charity PDSA is urging owners to keep their pets safe in the sun, to protect them from dangerous conditions such as heatstroke and cancer.

PDSA vet, Olivia Anderson-Nathan, said: “Although we might be aware of the risks of the sun to ourselves, many owners are unaware that our pets face the same dangers of sunburn, heatstroke and even skin cancer.

“Heatstroke, for example, can have devastating consequences. Bear in mind on a hot day that dogs can’t control their body temperature the way we can. They are wearing a fur coat, and as they only have sweat glands in their paws they mainly cool down through panting, which isn’t very effective.

“One of the most dangerous causes of heatstroke or hyperthermia is leaving pets inside a vehicle during warm or hot weather. But leaving them in the garden for too long without shade, or taking them for a walk during the hottest part of the day, can also be very dangerous. Any dog can get heatstroke, but this is especially important for owners of flat-faced, overweight or chronically ill dogs to consider, as they will be at even greater risk.”

The temperature inside cars during warm weather can rapidly soar, leaving pets inside at risk of suffering fatal heatstroke. The charity warns that common measures like parking in the shade or keeping the windows open are not effective, as temperatures inside the car can still sky-rocket in these circumstances.

Exposure to heat and direct sunlight can cause serious cases of heatstroke and excessive sun exposure can even cause skin cancer in some unlucky pets with light-coloured fur, which affords even less protection from the UV rays.

www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

PDSA tips for pet safety in the su n • Limit your pet’s exposure to direct sun-

light, especially during the hottest part of the day.

• Use a pet-safe sun cream recommended by your vet, especially on pets with white or thin fur, focusing on the nose and ears.

• If you see unexplained sores or ulcers on your pets’ skin, see a vet urgently. Early diagnosis and treatment may save your pet’s life.

• Never leave pets in cars, conservatories or caravans, even for a short time. Even on a cloudy day with the windows open, the temperature can soar dangerously high in just a few minutes, which can cause fatal heatstroke. ‘Not long’ is too long.

• Avoid exercising pets during the hottest hours of the day. Instead, go out early in the morning or in the evening. Keep strenuous exercise to a minimum and give them constant access to cool, indoor areas.

• Make sure your pets always have access to fresh water.

For more pet care tips visit

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

19

In Theen Gard

Go Wild This Summer

Garden designer Adam Frost has spent his career urging people to think about wildlife in their gardens, and now the RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal-winner is encouraging parents to get their children into the great outdoors this summer to help reverse the decline of British wildlife.

The State of Nature report, carried out by a coalition of conservation organisations, revealed that 60% of British wildlife is in decline, while at the same time, a further research found two thirds of British school children want to be taught more about gardening and to engage with the outdoors.

Inspired by these findings, Frost came up with a plan for parents on how to bring their children into the garden and to attract wildlife at the same time.

1 Create a planting plan

Mix together plants that are both beneficial to people and wildlife, such as fruits, vegetables and herbs, with shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants, to create an area where there is produce for humans and wildlife. Recommended plants that attract wildlife include sunflowers, wild strawberries, thyme, herbs and firethorn shrubs which offer nectar and berries to a range of wildlife.

2 Grow salad crops

This requires regular attention and will give children something to focus on right up until they eat them.

Seeds should be watered every

evening and given plant food once a week. Lettuce and other salad leaves can be sown in spring and summer.

6 Set up bird feeding and cleaning stations

Look closely for plants in your borders where flower heads have fallen off and seeds are growing. If the seeds are brown, get the children to help you pick them and put them in a warm place to dry out ready to plant for next spring.

Birds come to gardens to feed, breed, nest and rest. To make sure your garden is accommodating, introduce a bird house, feeding station or a bird bath - all of these are a must for budding young bird watchers. The water in a bird bath needs to be at least 2.5cm deep and should be placed in the open away from areas where cats may hide.

4 Create a compost heap

7 Store logs

3 Go seed collecting

This is a great way of encouraging kids to recycle garden waste and also helps them understand the natural cycle of growth and decay.

Create three tightly fixed walls in your chosen area and begin filling it with organic materials such as grass clippings, weeks, straw, manure, shredded newspaper, kitchen waste, plant cuttings and soft prunings.

5 Take games outdoors

Go on a treasure hunt or play hideand-seek to encourage children to explore the garden and stimulate their curiosity about the outdoors.

If you have daisies in the garden, teach them to make daisy chains.

20 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Plenty of wildlife makes its home in dead wood, and other animals use it as a source of food. Children can help make this into a proper wildlife shelter in a small, shady spot so that it remains cool and damp. If moving wood, check beforehand that nothing has already made itself at home.

8 Make an insect box or ladybird house

Create a small space to attract spiders, bees, lacewings and ladybirds, where they can seek refuge from predators and from the cold. Screw together four lengths of wood and fill it with hollow canes. Place the box in a sheltered area and on the fence so the insects can find it.

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

11/07/2018 12:51

21

In Theen Gard

Jobs To Do...

August & September

Lilly

They have the most glorious, heady scent in summer along with beautiful blooms in shades from white and pink to gold and coppery amber.

There are so many varieties, whether you want compact and colourful or tall and exotic ones. Some varieties are perfect for summer pots, such as the Asiatic and oriental hybrids with short stout stems and fresh green foliage. Try Lilium ‘Mona Lisa’, a highly scented type reaching 40cm in height, with open blooms or pink and white flushed deep pink towards the centre.

Lilies are just as happy in the flower border, filling in the gaps where others have run out of steam in midsummer. Trumpet lilies such as the white Lilium regale look fabulous in the border, while L. Pink Perfection

Best of The Bunch

Group can reach 1.5m in height and their dusky pink petals look amazing grown next to the purple foliage of Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’. The coppery amber tones of the African Queen Group flower later and work well with some of the hotter colours of crocosmias in late summer. In borders, plant bulbs 15-20cm apart in early spring, burying them at least three times their depth and laying the bulbs on theirsides when planting to prevent water from becoming trapped between the fleshy scales, which can rot the bulb. Plant them in a sunny spot and you should have wonderful results. When blooms have faded, cut off the flower heads but leave the stems and keep watering and feeding to promote the bulbs’ strength for next year.

• If you’ve returned from holiday and your hanging baskets and pots look dry, straggly and irredeemable, chuck out the contents and think about planting up some autumn and winter plants.

• Continue to remove faded flower heads from marginal aquatic plants and cut off or pull away any excess growth.

• Prune summer-flowering shrubs over three years old, as they finish flowering.

• Repair, clean and disinfect the green house during the quiet summer period, putting all the plants outside temporarily.

• Continue to cut sweet peas to encourage more blooms.

• Finish feeding plants which will be left outside all winter. The soft, sappy growth produced by feeding beyond the end of August may not survive the winter.

• Inspect your lawn to assess which areas will need renovating in the autumn.

• Order lily bulbs for autumn planting.

• Begin planting winter-flowering, dwarf bulbous irises such as I. histrioides, I. danfordiae and I. reticulata in sunny, welldrained sites.

3 ways to...

Improve results with climbing roses

Good Enough to Eat!

Preser ving Herbs

If you want to save some of your summer herbs to use in the winter months, you can do this by either freezing or drying them.

Parsley doesn’t dry well so you’re better off chopping it up finely and placing it in ice-cube trays with a dessert spoonful of water per cube.

Bunches of woody herbs such as rosemary, which goes so well with roast lamb, can be hung up in small bunches to dry in a cool place out of sunlight. When they are dry, rub the needs off the stems and store them in dry jars.

Sage leaves can also be picked in summer, dipped in boiling water and again in cold to keep the colour, then placed on baking sheets to dry in the airing cupboard, before storing in screw top jars.

Save coriander seeds by spreading them to dry on a shallow tray before storing in a glass jar in a cool dark place.

22 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

1 2 3

When tying in branches, bend them down horizontally to help produce more flowers and keep the plant in its allotted space.

If your soil is light and sandy, install an automatic watering system to reduce the incidence of fungal disease.

Mulch twice yearly in spring and autumn and leave the pruning of repeat-flowering climbers to spring.

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auto Biographies

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SEAT Arona FR 1.0 TSI

Someone at SEAT must have bought a blooming big bag of ‘A’ letters at a Spanish car boot sale a while ago.

We’ve had a succession of models with names beginning and ending in that letter: Arosa, Alhambra, Altea, Ateca and now comes the Arona – the latest in a line of cars that have progressively built up the profile of the VW Group owned brand to a level where their popularity is considerably higher than in the past.

SEAT are going places – just like the customers who are finding the sporty aspirations of the latest models to their liking.

Arona – an Ibiza SUV - is a baby version of the popular Ateca, and the twin exhaust outlets on the FR version sampled here add to the sporty appearance of the newcomer, and further enhanced by the two tone paint finish – copper bronze body topped by a grey roof and tidy alloys.

It shares the same chassis and engines as the popular supermini but obviously sits a bit taller on the road.

There’s a more than sensible amount of standard equipment on board for your sub 20k price tag.

The 115ps 1.0 litre three cylinder engine under the bonnet has had plenty

words of praise heaped on it since the VW Group introduced it a while back, and it’s safe to say it does a creditable job of moving the Arona around.

Maybe it sounds less refined than you’d expect a smart car like this to be and there is some noticeable vibration through the pedals quite a lot of the time but it scores on efficiency, a willing little worker buzzing away and imbibing the Arona with acceptable performance.

The fact the engine is used and adapts well to so many VW Group products speaks volumes about its useability.

A sub 10 second 0-62 and decent torque makes it well able to keep up with and in some instances out-perform the rest of the traffic around it.

Ride quality is more than acceptable for a car of this ilk and there’s a decent amount of interior space for the occupants. It’s maybe not what you’d call luxurious but then that’s not what you’re buying into at this level of the market. Not yet anyway.

It’ll give you good, honest family motoring and when you want it, a bit of dynamic driving too as the drive select button gives you a few option settings.

Matching the claimed fuel economy is something you could spend a lifetime

24 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

trying to achieve, and if you work the three cylinder hard it develops a thirst, but there are diesel variants that sip instead of gulp at the contents of the tank.

SEAT have taken a different approach to the Arona line-up by not having an entry level model with everything extra which traditionally very few people would ever buy anyway, so as a result the residual values are expected to hold up well, as they do with Leon and the popular Ateca. The poor reputation of the past has been successfully dispelled.

Variants on offers here in the UK include SE, SE Technology, FR, FR Sport, XCELLENCE and XCELLENCE Lux. Engine choice is a pair of 1.0 three cylinders (95 and 115ps), a 1.5 150ps petrol and two 1.6 diesels (95 and 115ps).

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Issue 28 • August / September 2018

25

Puzzles

                           

                       HARMER GUTTED   

Puzzles ss Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles

         

Answers on page 30

Across

Down

1. Notch (4) 3. Raider (8) 8. Spoken (4) 9. Resounding (8) 11. Dissembling (12) 13. Muddy (6) 14. Spruce (6) 17. Potency (12) 20. Flying (8) 21. Scoff (4) 22. Determined (8) 23. Brink (4)

1. Beginner (8) 2. Bell-tongue (7) 4. Vinegary (6) 5. Hateful (10) 6. Play (5) 7. Chide (4) 10. Fortuitous (10) 12. Jam (8) 15. Feign (7) 16. Endeavour (6) 18. Skips (5) 19. Den (4)

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27

10km

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SPOOKTACULA

GLOW WALK

Walk, glow and

party for

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7 2 OCTOBER from 6pm

Keech Hospice Care, Luton

Sign up at:

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Registered Charity No. 1035089

SAPPHIRE SOCIAL CLUB Sapphire Social Club - this social club caters for the unattached aged 50+. We meet weekly in Hitchin and organize a variety of social events every month. No joining fee for the first two months. Come along and meet new friends.

Tel Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for details www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk KNIT AND NATTER GROUP Every Tuesday, 10am-12pm Join our friendly Knit and Natter group every Tuesday at Lewsey Library.

Come and share your experience, or get some great hints and tips, and meet new people.

Tea and biscuits provided.

The group is always looking for donations of wool; knitting needles etc. so if you have anything you no longer need, just drop it off at the library.Free, donations welcome

LUTON POETRY SOCIETY Last Saturday of every month, 2-4pm at Luton Central Library. £3, free for Poetry Society member (£20 annual membership) Our meetings usually take place on the last Saturday of each month at Luton Central Library (3rd Floor) For more information visit www.lutonculture.com/luton-libraries or call 01582 547 418

WOMEN’S WORLD

Meet 3rd Wednesday of the month, at St Anne’s Church Hall, Crawley Green Road, at 8pm.

Join our friendly group of ladies for talks, activities and outings. For more information about our next meeting ring Lynne on 01582 617470.

5TH STOPSLEY GUIDES Girlguiding Luton South Division are looking for new girls aged 5+ & volunteers to join us.

We are part of Girlguiding UK and enjoy taking part in new things, working towards interest badges and having lots of fun.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more can register online: www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus and this will list a full selection of groups available closest to you or you can email us pr.lutonsdiv@bedsguiding.org.uk

FLEXERCISE EXERCISE Thursday 2 -3 £3.50 Warden Hill Community Centre Gentle Exercise for Older People - Men and Women -With No jumping about or running around, the class includes WARDEN AFTERNOON CLUB low impact and every exercise you will Meets every Tuesday 2 - 4pm be faced with will have a specific benefit Warden Hill Community Centre (rear to your body and your unique make up. of the Warden Tavern) The class is aimed at improving and We are a recently established group of maintaining flexibility and balance, thus LUTON WRITERS’ CLUB friendly ladies and gentlemen who meet enabling you to be confident and enjoy Every other thursdayat 5.30pm weekly for companionship, activities life. For more info Tel Lorraine Luton Central Library and refreshments. If you would like 07868 030540 A free club, open to those interested some company, or know someone who in writing. would benefit from joining us, please BEDFORDSHIRE GUILD OF THE PARKSIDE SINGERS come along any Tuesday - everyone is WEAVERS, SPINNERS & DYERS. Do you enjoy singing? very welcome.

A friendly group of textile crafts people The Parkside Singers is a lively mixed For more information contact Sue on who meet in choir, singing four-part harmony music 07706895444 or Flitwick Village Hall twice a month. including pop, songs from musicals and email sueblee@hotmail.co.uk First Tuesday evening of each month some choral favourites such as Ave 7.30 - 9-30 and Verum and The Lords Prayer.

YARNIES KNITTING AND Third Saturday, all day, 10.30 to 4.30.

Call Claire on 01525 753110.

STITCHING GROUP IN LUTON We welcome visitors interested in WHO- We are a friendly group who seeing what we do, so please pay a visit LUTON AND DISTRICT meet to chat and use lovely yarn to knit, to our website PHILATELIC SOCIETY crochet, braid, stitch, weave.... www.bedsguildwsd.blogspot.co.uk If you collect postage stamps, postcards WHERE- We meet at the Balcony Bar, or postal history why not come along Venue 360, Gypsy Lane, Luton, LU1 WIDOWS & WIDOWERS CLUB and meet fellow collectors? We usually 3JH. www.venue360.co.uk. There is We are an active Widows and meet on the first Friday of the month* plenty of free parking and Luton Park- Widowers club. at Bushmead Primary School, Luton, way station is 5 mins walk away.

Meetings are held locally and new LU2 7EU from 7.00pm to 10.00pm.

WHEN- The second Wednesday of members are always welcome.

Your first visit is free! New members every month at 7.30pm.

If you would like to make new friends are always welcome.(*Dates may Everyone is welcome to join us, begin- and join in our many outings and activichange if the school is closed). ners or experienced stitchers. Just turn ties please ring Jenny 01582 672766 or Call Fin on 01582 453244 or email up or for more information contact Val 01582 659717 or email Carol at finodon@hotmail.com for a proShirley alongyarn61@gmail.com or visit carol.hodges@ntlworld.com gramme of events or more information. us at www.ravelry.com Issue 28 • August / September 2018

29

Looking Up!

Answers

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky

Step On It

August and September 2018

HARMER WARMER WORMER WORKER WORKED WORDED

See Mars from your Garden: Look towards your south or south-east on any clear evening this August and September and you won’t fail to notice a bright orange-red ‘star’ hanging low in the sky. This is Mars. It passed its closest point to Earth for 15 years at the end of July, but right now Mars is at its most visible in the evening sky. A global dust storm is currently raging on the planet. It has lifted millions of tonnes of Martian dust into the atmosphere, plunging much of the Martian surface into a permanent darkness.

Across: 1 Nick 3 Marauder 8 Oral 9 Resonant 11 Hypocritical 13 Turbid 14 Dapper 17 Powerfulness 20 Aviation 21 Jeer 22 Resolute 23 Edge Down: 1 Neophyte 2 Clapper 4 Acetic 5 Abominable 6 Drama 7 Rate 10 Accidental 12 Preserve 15 Pretend 16 Effort 18 Omits 19 Lair

mark@plumbingandgas.org.uk

mark@plumbingandgas.org.uk

Watch a Storm of Shooting Stars Light up Bedfordshire’s Night Sky: August 10 – 14 sees the peak of the annual Perseids Meteor Shower. This year it coincides with a new moon, the absence of moonlight giving us a darker background sky against which to see up to a hundred shooting stars per hour split the heavens. For best results look high overhead from 11pm until 3am when the sky is at its darkest.

Crossword

Catch the International Space Station in September: From late September we welcome back the International Space Station to our evening skies. Look out for a bright star-like object sailing silently across the sky on a roughly west to east trajectory from Sunday 23 September through until early October. Timings to view the space station vary each evening, but will generally fall between 7:15pm – 9pm.

By Seb Jay - Image Credit: Mars - Hubble/NASA Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk

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It is not The Nottingham’s or Harrison Murray’s policy to accept instructions where there is a Sole Agency Agreement in existence, until that agreement has expired or is terminated.