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Inside this issue...

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o.uk 6 8Revitalising Race For Dunstable Life

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Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the content of advertising articles in Whilst every care hasand been taken published to ensure the this magazine are accurate, publisher content of advertising andneither articlesthe published in orthis its magazine editorial contributors accept and are accurate, can neither the publisher hereby disclaim contributors any liability to any party and to loss or its editorial can accept orhereby damage causedany by liability errors. Neither do they disclaim to any party to loss reflect the opinion ofby this publication. or damage caused errors.

NeitherThe do Vine they does notthe officially endorse any advertising reflect opinion of this publication.

The Vine material thisany publication. does notincluded officiallywithin endorse advertising No part of this publication reproduced material included withinmay thisbe publication. without permission.

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10 10 Eden On Our Doorstep?

Power Court 12 Local News 14 Martin Lewis: Money Matters 20 TeamSport - Competition 17 Mothers Day Competition 22 Martin Lewis: Money Matters 18 Wellbeing: Procrastination 26 At Home: Caring For Houseplants Pets: Preparing For A Baby 28 20 In The Garden In The Garden: Growing Fruit 32 22 Body Change 4U: Calories Auto: Mercedes A180D 34 24 Autos: Mercedes C220 AMG AMGLine 36 Puzzles 26 Puzzles The Gunpowder 38 28 Snippets: The South Plot Competition: 46 A Pensioners View Copy deadline 30 Looking Up Copy deadline for next issue: 48 Out & About for next issue: March 18th November 2019 18th

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

7

RACE FOR LIFE

MAKE A DATE - JOIN THE RACE FOR LIFE LUTON

Stockwood Park

Sunday 7th July 2019 PEOPLE in Bedfordshire are being encouraged to get 2019 off to a great start by making a date to join Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

This year, for the first time, Cancer Research UK is inviting everyone in the area – women, men and children - to join the Race for Life. There are events for people of all ages and abilities taking place at Stockwood Park on Sunday, 7th July.

Courtney Culverhouse, Cancer Research UK’s Luton Event Manager, said: “Our Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting.

They help people with cancer by raising money for research, including clinical trials which give patients in Luton access to the latest treatments.

“You don’t have to be sporty to take part. You don’t need to train or compete against anyone else.

All you need to do is go to the Race for Life website, pick an event, sign up and then have fun raising money in whatever way you like.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.

“Taking part in our Race for Life events enables like-minded people to get together and remember

loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those who have survived. At the same time, they are helping to make a difference to people with cancer, right now.

She added: “Our Race for Life events have been women-only since they started, over 25 years ago.

But we now feel the time is right to open them up so that everyone - women, men and children – has the chance to participate together.

“One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer, at some point during their lifetime.

Sadly, this means nearly everyone is touched by the disease, either directly or through a loved one or friend.

Courtney continued: “This year, we’re urging mums, dads, nans, grandpas, brothers, sisters, friends and workmates to show their support by joining the Race for Life. It’s a perfect example of everyday people doing an extraordinary thing – uniting in a common cause to beat cancer.”

Thanks to everyone who raises money, Cancer Research UK is able to fund research to fight 200 types of cancer. The good news is more people are surviving the disease than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

9

local News

NEW STADIUM AT POWER COURT

APPROVED Luton Council Development Committee approve a new stadium for Luton Town at Power Court History was made last month as the Planning Control Committee at Luton Borough Council approved planning permission to build the new Luton Town stadium at Power Court. This momentous decision ends almost 70 years of waiting for the Club who have been trying to relocate since the 1950s.

footballing ambition to another level. If Leicester City in a new surrounding can win the Premier League, then so can we, it will increase our support base and make sure Luton Town are permanently financially viable going forward," he said. His comments were met with applause from the room.

During the meeting, the Development Control Committee was addressed by Luton Town Chief Executive Gary Sweet, and 2020 Developments associates Sean McGrath and Michael Moran who laid out the many benefits that the new stadium would bring to the Club and the community at large.

The Club revealed Power Court as the preferred location for their new stadium in December 2015 when artists' impressions of the stadium were first revealed to the public. During May 2016 further details of the plans for the new stadium were introduced to the public at a series of exhibitions in Luton over ten days. The exhibitions opened in the Eric Morecambe Lounge at Kenilworth Road before moving on to Venue Central in Bury Park and closing at The Hat Factory in Bute Street. Many thousands of people attended, including sup-

In his closing remarks, Gary Sweet also demonstrated the Club's ambition, were the developments to go ahead.

"It would instantly elevate our

10 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

porters of the Club and residents, providing an opportunity to meet with the development team, ask questions and raise concerns.

Feedback across the ten days was overwhelmingly positive, with a 98% approval rate among those who visited.

In August 2016, 2020 Developments submitted the applications for Power Court and Newlands Park to the council which were validated shortly afterwards. During the period of public consultation, close to 11,000 letters were submitted to the Council in support of the developments, with residents, members of parliament and public figures all adding their voices in favour.

Since then, the council have diligently been going through the necessary, and complicated process of scrutinising the applications, and while it has been a long, drawn-out and at times,

frustrating process, the council should be applauded for leaving no stone unturned along the way to making this evening's historic decision.

The gravity and importance of this decision should not be under-estimated. For Luton Town Football Club, and its loyal supporters – the security of a new home at Power Court means that we can look to the future with great optimism. It means that the Club will be able to compete at a higher level, and to progress towards our ambitions for more success on the football pitch. But also, and perhaps even more importantly, that we can continue to provide a place for the people of Luton to gather with friends and family as a community, as we have since the Club began in 1885 – almost 135 years ago.

Kenilworth Road is and always be a 'spiritual-home' for most of today's loyal

supporters. It has been a venue for countless great matches over the years, whether wins, draws or defeats. It has played host to many of the greatest teams, and players the world has seen, both from our Club and others, and has endured two world wars and many great social upheavals along the way. It has been a constant in the lives of Lutonians, and Luton Town supporters.

It has seen friends and loved ones come, and go.

But the future of our Club, lies with our young supporters. Your children, and grandchildren. Tonight's decision means that they too will have the opportunity to witness their own unforgettable moments and experience the sense of belonging, wonder and joy that Luton Town Football Club can deliver.

It's a powerful feeling. And that future will be at Power Court.

The iconic new stadium will also provide many fantastic opportunities to Luton and its townspeople. Thousands of new jobs will be created, along with new public spaces and facilities that Luton has been lacking for many years. Above all it will bring muchneeded regeneration to Luton town centre - revitalising Power Court, an area that has been largely unused for well over a decade.

COME ON YOU HATTERS!

www.Lutontown.co.uk 11

Issue 31 • February / March 2019

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13

Money Matters By Martin Lewis

It’s Time To Stop

Debt Threats @martinslewis

the NHS’s huge Adult Psychiatric Morbidity survey, reveals that 100,000 people in debt attempt suicide each year and those in debt are three times more likely to have considered suicide than others.

It’s time to change this

Two of the changes Money and Mental Health is calling for are…

• Debt threat letters need to stop

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 requires companies to write debt letters in a certain way.

When lenders send letters to people struggling to repay overdrafts, payday loans, credit cards etc, the law says that they must include the following text in capitals or bolded (ie shout at them)…

Far too many vulnerable people are at risk because of antiquated legislation that near forces companies to bully them. New authoritative figures show over 100,000 people in debt attempt suicide each year in England alone, and 420,000 consider it.

A new campaign by the charity, The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, which I am proud to have founded in 2016, and still chair, is campaigning to change the law.

It’s not ‘only money’

Finance is a wellbeing issue. Debt and mental health are a marriage made in hell.

You are four times more likely to be in debt crisis if you have a mental health problem than everyone else, and the recovery rate for people in debt receiving some type of mental health treatment is less than half of that for those who aren’t in debt.

The new research we’ve done, based on analysis of

14 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THE ACTION REQUIRED BY THIS NOTICE BEFORE THE DATE SHOWN THEN THE FURTHER ACTION SET OUT BELOW MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU [OR A SURETY].

The last thing vulnerable people struggling with debts need is a bunch of near-thuggish letters using language they can’t understand, threatening them with court action.

Thankfully, attitudes to mental health have changed in the last 40 years. It’s time that the legislation on debt letters was updated too. Money and Mental Health is calling on the Government to change the rules, to make letters easier to understand and signpost people to help. If you agree, sign the petition supporting this at www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/debt-threats

• Regulation of debt enforcers and bailiffs

If creditors can’t get their money back, they often call on debt enforcers/bailiffs to collect what’s owed.

While there is guidance on how they should behave, they’re not independently regulated and reports of threatening and unlawful behaviour persist.

Tracey Rogers’ son Jerome, who was a motorbike courier, took his own life at the age of just 20 in 2016, after receiving two £65 traffic fines. Within three months they escalated into over £1,000 of debt after the council passed on his debt to aggressive bailiffs - who clamped his bike so he could no longer work.

Tracey feels strongly that the intimidating letters he received - and the threatening bailiffs who came to the door - were a big factor in his death, rather than the debt itself, and that if the letters hadn’t been so frightening, and if Jerome had been able to get the right support, he would still be here today.

It’s time for independent regulation of bailiffs by the Ministry of Justice to protect those in acute distress from aggressive collections.

If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with debt…

Before talking finance, if you need help with suicidal thoughts, contact the Samaritans at any time on 116 123. If you’re worried you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 – ask to stay on the line while you wait for help to arrive.

1 Get free one-on-one help

I’ve been the Money Saving Expert for so many years now my hair is greying. Crucially, I’ve NEVER come across any situation where the debt hasn’t been solvable.

It’s not always quick or easy, but there is always a path.

The best route is to get free one-on-one help from a non-profit debt agency. Work things through with www.citizensadvice.org, www.stepchange.org or www. nationaldebtline.org.

If you can’t cope with things then www.capuk.org offer emotional support as well as debt support.

All are there to help, not judge. Don’t let fear or embarrassment stop you. The most common comment I get afterwards is “I finally got a good night’s sleep”.

2 Know your bailiff rights

Hopefully you’ll be working with a debt counsellor, but even so it’s worth knowing these bailiff and enforcement action rules.

- They can’t turn up at your door without sending a letter first.

-

In most cases they can’t force their way in. Once you know they’re coming ensure you keep doors and windows locked. If they turn up, stay calm and don’t be intimidated. They may try and persuade you to let them – you don’t have to. Talk to them through the letterbox if needed. You can record everything in case they break rules.

-

They rarely take goods the first time they come, they’ll usually try and get you to make a payment towards what you owe.

-

They should leave if you refuse to open the door. If they get aggressive, call 999.

- Bailiffs shouldn’t lie about who they are, climb through windows, break down doors, push past you, or enter when there’s only an under 16 in.

-

If they are collecting unpaid court fines, or if you haven’t paid what you agreed on the first visit they can use a locksmith for entry. They should show you a court warrant for this.

3 Sort through your finances

Get a trusted friend to help if you can’t cope. They could open your mail from creditors to take the panic away, or speak to firms on your behalf.

If you’re struggling to budget look for a bank account or an app that will let you split your money into separate ‘piggybanks’ (like www.monzo.com or www. squirrel.me), to help you stay inside your limits.

Check you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to. Website www.mind.org.uk has good information and there’s an assessment on www.entitledto.co.uk.

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 31 • February / March 2019

15

Health

New Dunstable Clinic Delivers Unique Service For Parents To Be

Dr Jacqueline Bamfo and her team of experienced midwives are thrilled to share news of the opening of the Aster Baby Scan Clinic in the Health and Wellbeing Suite at Dunstable’s exceptional Priory View Development.

‘Aster Baby’ opened its doors in November 2018 and is run by the exceptionally talented and experienced Fetal Medicine specialist Consultant Obstetrician, Dr Jacqueline Bamfo, whose ambition was to offer a service which she believes is unrivalled in the region.

She explained: “We are different, we are accessible and we believe we are unique because we offer the most specialist services on the private market”.

The specialist services on offer include a range of pregnancy scans, including gender and 4D scanning which can be streamed directly to most smartphones, and the most sophisticated non invasive screening tests available on the market. The clinic are also excited to offer clients high quality classes focussed on pregnancy, labour, birth and infant feeding prep, delivered (no pun intended!) by a team of skilled, passionate and experienced midwife practitioners.

This unique offering of services, by the team at Aster, is an achievement Dr Bamfo is extremeley proud of and something she hopes will contribute towards the regeneration of Dunstable, she explained: “If you are not eligible for, or want advice additional to NHS classes, our team of midwives can provide an exceptional level of preparation for your parenting journey, which we believe will far outstrip any other private classes widely available in Beds, Herts and Bucks”.

“We offer additional services such as ‘birth debrief ’ counselling, pre and post pregnancy advice/counselling, and access to the external independent services of our team which include Hypnobirthing classes and Bereavement/pregnancy loss”.

Looking to the future, Dr Bamfo is keen to add to the services on offer and hopes to introduce new ways to advise expectant parents in the area, she said: “As the service grows, we will be offering more, very exciting, additions to the options we provide and we will be manning a blog keeping all hopeful, expectant and existing parents abreast of our operations, studies and research pertinent to the childbirth journey so keep an eye out for this in the coming months”.

For further information call: 01582 943 770 www.asterbabyscan.com

16 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

ant)

(Expect

y C a o D mpetitio s r e h t o n M ~ ~ WIN! WIN! WIN!

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To be in with a chance of winning simply tell us...

Where is the Aster Baby Scan Clinic clinic located?

Email your answer, name and contact telephone number to win@thevinemagazine.co.uk

Enter online at www.thevinedirectory.co.uk Competition closes on Monday 18th March. Two winners will be chosen at random & notified shortly after the competition ends. T’s & C’s apply.

Issue 31 • February / March 2019

17

Health & Wellbeing

Procrastination school to choose for the children, you have to pick wisely as you will have to live with your choice, so lots of research is justified. But other decisions do not warProcrastination can be the death knell of many prorant a lengthy investigation. If you are indecisive about jects that could have seen success, if only … which fitness class to join, think about the bigger picWhat skills do we need to avoid failure to finish? ture: does it really matter what exercise you do, as long as you do it? Surely some exercise is better than none?

Too much choice makes it harder for us to decide, it’s If your instinct is telling to just get on with it, trust it. called the paradox of choice. Think of the those endless So often the first thought on the subject is correct, the trips around the supermarket isles. The more types of rest is procrastination. something you see, the harder it gets to decide. Whilst you can buy two kinds of bread just in case, it is not quite Prioritise possible when it comes to a washing machine or a sofa.

Do the important tasks first. The sort of decisions that Before you know it, the excitement turns into a chore have the biggest impact should come first. So bite the as you endlessly research the subject, learning about difbullet, call that important client first and get the big ferent types of the product you want, and soon you feel task done. Then you can deal with the hundreds of as if you were doing a degree course. Then you realise emails cluttering your inbox. Consider how writing one that life is too short to spend hours researching washing difficult letter can take an hour but so does deleting machines or types of sofa, and you abandon project. and replying to many emails. Ask yourself which task is Task status: incomplete. Feeling: failure. weighing heavily on your mind. Then do that task first, and the rest will go quickly.

Do you get excited about lots of new goals and ideas,

only to abandon them before they reach completion?

Some ideas are meant to stay just that, ideas A lot of what we think up is not that great. Even Thomas Edison knew it, and he invented the lightbulb, but not before a lot of trial and error. So do what he did, don’t beat yourself up by calling it failure, just inventing 10,000 ways that don’t work. Then let go of them and move on.

It is okay to trust your gut feeling sometimes Some decisions are too important to simply flip a coin.

From medical treatment to what house to buy or what

18 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Create a deadline You are probably already familiar with the problem described as work stretching into the time slot available.

In other words, the more time you have, the longer you will take to complete a task. The solution is to break up your to-do list into smaller, more manageable tasks and put a deadline on each. Don’t start working until you’ve made a list with deadlines. Then keep ticking the items off and feel good about it.

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

19

’re Expecting u o Y f I y Prep Bab r u F r aring You Pets

Bringing a baby into the world is a time of great excitement and change but it’s important not to forget about our fury friends during the big transition.

If you own a pet they will often be used to your undivided attention, so it’s important to be prepared when adapting to life with a newborn baby and a pet.

PDSA Vet Olivia AndersonNathan says: “Growing up with a pet can be great for children’s mental and physical health. Playing with a cat or dog can help keep them active and they may seek out the nonjudgmental company of pets for emotional support when they’re upset. But to make sure the relationship between pets and children is successful, it’s important to make sure your pet’s experiences are positive too.

• Try not to reduce the level of exercise your dog is getting, as this is essential for their mental and physical well-being. Use a dog walker or ask friends and family to help when the baby arrives if you are unable to walk your dog yourself. Bored dogs can develop unwanted behaviour.

• If there are any rooms in the house that will become ‘pet free’ when baby is born, begin enforcing this well before the birth to help your pets acclimatise to the change. Similarly, bring the baby’s cot, play pen, highchair and other items into the home well in advance and supervise your pets while they take in the smells and “With careful preparation and con- sights of the new equipment. The more familiar they are with the sideration, your pets should still feel that they have a secure place in items the better, as they won’t be worried or curious about them the family.” after your baby has arrived.

• As soon as you’re planning to • Create a den or provide a space have a baby or early in your pregyour pet can retreat to when it all nancy, check your pet’s vaccinations, worming and flea treatments gets a bit too much. A cat tree, or accessible bed on a high shelf in a are all up-to-date. quiet room is also useful as some • Gradually reduce the amount cats feel safest when they are up of attention you lavish on your high. pet throughout the pregnancy – a • A few weeks before your due sudden noticeable drop in attendate, start carrying around a tion once the baby comes could ‘pretend baby’ – a doll in a baby be unsettling for them and their blanket is ideal – so your pet gets behavior could change as a result. used to the sight of this. Reward

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your pet for being calm and relaxed when you are carrying the doll, but if they jump up or do anything that would be dangerous for a real baby then just turn around and ignore them. Don’t punish your pet for inappropriate behaviour, or they could learn to associate you carrying a baby with negative experiences.

• Get them used to the sounds and smells involved with a baby.

Use a socialisation CD or recording to play baby crying and fussing sounds so they’re not new to your pet when your baby arrives.

• When your baby comes home for the first time, greet your pet in a quiet room with no interruptions. A baby should never be left unattended with any pet, so install safety gates well in advance to keep dogs out of certain areas. Cats can get through an open door very quickly and silently, so be mindful, and consider using a screen door or a tent that fits over the cot to prevent your cat from getting too close.

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www.cladwinds.com Issue 31 • February / March 2019

21

In Theen Gard

it u r F n w O r u o Y Grow ’ sy & Yummy!

It s Ea

As the winter gloom persists, it's a welcome escape to think ahead to summer and the possibility of growing delicious, juicy red fruits which are a taste of warmer weather.

Raspberries, blueberries and other easy-to-grow fruits such as redcurrants will combine beautifully and are easy to grow.

Raspberries, for instance, are among the most versatile fruits - they freeze well and make the most wonderful jam and the great thing about them is that you don't need a really sunny place. They will crop in a bit of dappled shade because they are basically a woodland plant.

You don't need a lot of space as you can grow them in a row, up wires, or make a little hedge at the back of your vegetable garden or herbaceous border. Scottish raspberries are always the best varieties so go for types including 'Glen Moy' and 'Glen Ample'. With autumn-fruiters chop them right down to the base in really early spring and they'll come back year after year.

Other fruits which are easy to grow and make great additions to

summer puddings include blackberries, blueberries, redcurrants and strawberries.

Strawberries will spread hugely so are easy to propagate by taking the runners and dipping them into little pots of compost. When you've done that, take them away to make a fresh strawberry bed.

Put them round your flowers if you don't have enough room elsewhere and they'll make good ground cover and you'll get a lot of fruit that way, but keep suckers to a minimum once you've grown on what you want.

If you are a beginner to gardening and can only grow one ingredient for your dessert, grow a blackcurrant bush.

It's completely straightforward, will fruit prolifically and will just get better and better. The maintenance is simple. Every few years you just take out a third of the oldest wood and that's it. You can even grow a bush in a big half barrel container, provided you don't use proprietary multi-purpose compost. You'd need a loam-based compost because the plant will be there a long time and you need really rich soil.

22 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Like gooseberries and redcurrants, blackcurrants tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but prefer welldrained, moisture-retentive soil.

They prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade. Avoid frost pockets, as frost can drastically reduce yields.

One bush should yield about 4.5kg (10lb) of fruit, In small gardens they can be grown in containers.

Bare-root blackcurrants should be planted in late autumn, while containerised plants can go in at any time of year, as long as the soil is not too wet.

If you decide to go for blueberries, they require a moist, acid soil, can be grown in pots of loam-based ericaceous compost and also provide an ornamental feature thanks to their warm autumn colours.

Just growing a little row of raspberries or a few strawberries, which are both cheap enough, will repay you 100 times over.

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

23

Mercedes-Benz A180d AMG Line

AS the Monty Python chaps would say, now for something completely different…..

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get in a car of this ilk with plenty of adjustment and the seats offer excellent support. Ideal so you can get comfortable and marvel at the dual screen infotainment set up – the same as fitted in the more up market E and S-Class,

No longer does the Mercedes-Benz entry level model fall over and wave its wheels in anguish at the sight of a Akeman Street roadside Elk. Tring To be fair, it hasn’t for some time now Hertfordshire and the latest fourth generation model HP23 6AP to carry the name is so well sorted it’s almost race track ready.

Forserves Infomation 020 7942 6171 If racing to improve theTel: breed, and you can’t deny the three pointed Explore exhibitions and events at star has been dominant with a big D in www.nhm.ac.uk/tring.

F1 these last five years, then the beneficiaries are you and I once it filters down Two seven inch screen sit next to The new Bear baby Merc is a refreshing leap each other inside a single frame, one a Polar Trail instrument display and the other forward, and none more so than on the digital 1st - 31st December, *10:00 - 17:00. £1 housing sat nav and media. The five inside, and it is now a very serious alterExplore the galleries for hidden polar bears and win a chocolatey native to the other premium brands. It’s backlit air vents – three in the middle, surprise! Set off on a journey around the Museum to find 12 lost wider, longer, and packed with the sort one either side – also do service in the polar bears. Discover which animals live with the polar bears in of technology you’ll find in an S-Class. S-Class. the Arctic and find out a few facts. (*Sunday 14:00 - 17:00) Its bigger footprint on the road means There’s a touchpad in the centre console to control the infotainment screen there is also more space inside what is Toddler Time at Tring which is also touch sensitive. The steera very well put together cabin – and Weekdays until 8th February. 14.30 - ing 17.00.

Free wheel has controls for other funcinterior space wasn’t one of the boxes Borrow something special and help your toddler explore and also the opportunity to tions and there’s you’d have ticked on earlier versions. play around the Museum. Enjoy five differentpick activities fromwhich one of 64 ambient lighting 30mm might not sound a lot but it rotate from day to day: Daring Explorers, Ocean Adventure, colours should you so wish. does make a real difference. The rear Find your Friends, Butterfly Quest and Animal Safari.nothing Pick up too subtle about the AThere’s doors, for example, are bigger, allowing your resources at admissions and enjoy them in the galleries.

Class when you view it from the front, easier access and exit.

Every day in term time.

Suitable for children aged 3 5. its wider stance giving it a more aggresThe driving position is as good as you’ll

What’s On

Slipper Wednesday

auto Biographies

By Rob Auchterlonie © Wheelwrite.co.uk 2019

sive look and a distinctive one at that.

AMG Line adds a front apron with a front splitter in chrome and diffuserlook rear apron, along with a smart set of 18 inch AMG alloys.

That stance is one that promises a decent ride and it doesn’t disappoint, cornering flat and true and displaying a limpet-like ability to grip the tarmac.

Sampled here is the 1.5 litre diesel version with its derv-sipping average economy figure of 68.9mpg and a low 108g/km of CO2.

The auto box is accessed via Mercedes’ unique lever on the right hand side of the column. Up for reverse, down for drive, and press the button on the end for park, though there are paddles on the flat bottomed steering wheel so you can play with the seven speed auto box.

Safety features figure highly on the standard specification list – Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, ATTENTION assist, Speed Limit assist and cruise control all feature.

For the adventurous there are four selectable drive programmes – Eco, Comfort, Sport (which peps up the 1.5 diesel no end) and Individual.

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

25

Puzzles

Answers on page 30

Across

Down

7. Courage (5) 8. Futile (7) 9. Ban (7) 10. Worth (5) 12. Artifice (10) 15. Capsized (10) 18. Virago (5) 19. Supply (7) 21. Mortification (7) 22. Prognosticate (5)

1. Catching (10) 2. Explore (5) 3. Beloved (4) 4. Disconcert (3,3) 5. Cantankerous (8) 6. Enthusiastic (7) 11. Universally (10) 13. Improper (8) 14. Rumour (7) 16. Purify (6) 17. Pivot (5)

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01582 539179 or 07789 730580 Issue 21 • October / November 2015 53 59

Issue 31 • February / March 2019

27

Music

IN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WI

THE SOUTH (featuring members of The Beautiful South) Return to Play Harpenden Public Halls on Thursday 7th March

And We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away!

To celebrate their 10th year anniversary and 30 years since The Beautiful South released ‘Song For Whoever’, The South are back this Spring, with a March 2019 - UK Tour playing shows up and down the whole of the UK. The South are an impressive 9 piece band who feature former members of The Beautiful South including

singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. Since Dave Hemingway, the original singer, left the group at the end of 2016, Gaz has moved across to front the band with Alison and taken on vocal duties.

They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South and bring back the full flavour and arrangements with this exciting live band.

After a successful year of touring the theatres and festivals of the UK up

and down the country, The South are keeping alive all those timeless songs - A Little Time (the 1990 number one single), Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Song For Whoever, Old Red Eyes Is Back, Good as Gold, Don't Marry Her plus many more singles and album tracks as well as a few choice South originals. All performed again live, these songs span an impressive 20 year career starting way back in 1989!

Come on! Let’s Carry On Regardless!

To be in with a chance of winning 2 tickets to see The South at Harpended Public Halls tell us...

What song by The Beautiful South reached Number 1 in 1990?

Email your answer, name and contact telephone number to win@thevinemagazine.co.uk

Enter online at www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Competition closes Friday 1st March. One winner will be chosen at random and notified shortly after. T’s & C’s apply.

Nature's Healing Hands ART CLASSES IN DUNSTABLE LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST Specialising in:

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SOCIAL CLUB IN SAPPHIRE 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

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.

WARDEN AFTERNOON CLUB Meets every Tuesday 2 - 4pm KNIT AND NATTER GROUP Warden Hill Community Centre (rear of Every Tuesday, 10am-12pm the Warden Tavern) Join our friendly Knit and Natter group We are a recently established group of every Tuesday at Lewsey Library. friendly ladies and gentlemen who meet Come and share your experience, or get weekly for companionship, activities and some great hints and tips, and meet new refreshments. If you would like some people. company, or know someone who would Tea and biscuits provided. benefit from joining us, please come along The group is always looking for donations any Tuesday - everyone is very welcome. of wool; knitting needles etc. so if you have For more information contact Sue on anything you no longer need, just drop it 07706895444 or off at the library.Free, donations welcome email sueblee@hotmail.co.uk

impact and every exercise you will be faced with will have a specific benefit to your body and your unique make up.

The class is aimed at improving and maintaining flexibility and balance, thus enabling you to be confident and enjoy life. For more info Tel Lorraine 07868 030540 BEDFORDSHIRE GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS & DYERS. A friendly group of textile crafts people who meet in Flitwick Village Hall twice a month.

First Tuesday evening of each month 7.30 - 9-30 and Third Saturday, all day, 10.30 to 4.30.

We welcome visitors interested in seeing what we do, so please pay a visit to our website www.bedsguildwsd.blogspot.co.uk

WIDOWS & WIDOWERS CLUB We are an active Widows and Widowers club.

LUTON WRITERS’ CLUB YARNIES KNITTING AND STITCHING Meetings are held locally and new memEvery other thursdayat 5.30pm GROUP IN LUTON Luton Central Library WHO- We are a friendly group who meet bers are always welcome.

Free club, open to those interested in to chat and use lovely yarn to knit, crochet, If you would like to make new friends and join in our many outings and activities writing. braid, stitch, weave.... please ring Jenny 01582 672766 or Val WHEREWe meet at the Balcony Bar, THE PARKSIDE SINGERS Venue 360, Gypsy Lane, Luton, LU1 3JH. 01582 659717 or email Carol at Do you enjoy singing? carol.hodges@ntlworld.com The Parkside Singers is a lively mixed choir, www.venue360.co.uk. There is plenty of free parking and Luton Parkway station is 5 ALL IN ACCORD MUSIC GROUP singing four-part harmony music including Monday but could be at any time pop, songs from musicals and some choral mins walk away.

WHENThe second Wednesday of every T: 01438 515177 E: georgecaple@aol.com favourites such as Ave Verum and The month at 7.30pm.

We are a small Accordion based amateur Lords Prayer.

Everyone is welcome to join us, beginners group who play for pleasure and give Call Claire on 01525 753110. or experienced stitchers. Just turn up occasional concerts to friends and relations, LUTON & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY or for more information contact Shirley with about 30 in the audience. We need If you collect postage stamps, postcards alongyarn61@gmail.com or visit us at a couple more enthusiastic Accordion or postal history why not come along and www.ravelry.com players in order to rebuild to around nine meet fellow collectors? We usually meet members or so. We also need a good on the first Friday of the month* at Bush- 5TH STOPSLEY GUIDES pianist and would be delighted to include Girlguiding Luton South Division are mead Primary School, Luton, LU2 7EU Clarinet and perhaps Saxophone. Music from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. Your first visit is looking for new girls aged 5+ & volunteers from marches to classical to blues, but not to join us. free! New members are always welcome. modern Pop. We have a good following (*Dates may change if the school is closed). We are part of Girlguiding UK and enjoy taking part in new things, working towards around Hitchin.

Call Fin on 01582 453244 or email finodon@hotmail.com for a programme of interest badges and having lots of fun.

BRAMINGHAM WOOD VOLUNTEERS Anyone who is interested in finding out events or more information.

We the Bramingham Wood Volunteers more can register online: in conjunct with the Woodland Trust and LUTON POETRY SOCIETY www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus and this looking for volunteers to help maintain Last Saturday of every month, 2-4pm at will list a full selection of groups availthe floor of this beautiful ancient wood, Luton Central Library. able closest to you or you can email us famous for it wild flowers and Spring £3, free for Poetry Society member (£20 pr.lutonsdiv@bedsguiding.org.uk bluebells. If you think you can assist with annual membership) either ground work or administration we Our meetings usually take place on the last FLEXERCISE EXERCISE would like to hear from you. We meet Thursday 2 -3 £3.50, Saturday of each month at Luton Central every other Saturday for a few hours. If Warden Hill Community Centre Library (3rd Floor) you would like more information please Gentle Exercise for Older People - Men For more information visit contact us at and Women -With No jumping about www.lutonculture.com/luton-libraries or info@braminghamwoodvolunteers.co.uk or running around, the class includes low call 01582 547 418 www.braminghamwoodvolunteers.co.uk

Looking Up! Bedfordshire’s Night Sky

Answers Step On It

February & March 2019 Spot the Constellation of Orion: On any clear night this February and March look south mid-evening and you’ll find the constellation of Orion. You may know Orion from the three stars in a row that form Orion’s Belt.

In ancient Greek mythology Orion is the hunter. Look for a large rectangle of four bright stars surrounding the belt. The top two stars are his shoulders, the bottom two his feet.

Over to the right is a curve of fainter stars forming Orion’s shield (or bow), and look too for his sword as a line of fainter stars extending down from the belt inside the rectangle.

Looking South, mid evening in February

Catch Venus & Jupiter in the Morning Sky: The first two weeks of February are a great time to look for the two brightest planets in our night sky. Both Venus and Jupiter are located low down to the south-east just before daybreak. Jupiter is less bright than Venus but is easier to spot being higher above the horizon.

Venus is further down to the lower left, just hovering above the landscape as it starts to get light.

Find Mars and the Pleiades: From 23rd March until early April Mars buzzes the Pleiades star cluster (Seven Sisters). Look to your west at nightfall to find the red planet. It’s an easy spot with the naked eye. Close by you’ll see a tiny grouping of stars that looks like a miniature saucepan in the sky.

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

30 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

LOVER LOWER TOWER TOWEL VOWEL VOWED

Crossword Across: 7 Nerve 8 Useless 9 Embargo 10 Value 12 Subterfuge 15 Overturned 18 Shrew 19 Furnish 21 Chagrin 22 Augur Down: 1 Infectious 2 Probe 3 Dear 4 Put out 5 Perverse 6 Zealous 11 Everywhere 13 Untoward 14 Hearsay 16 Refine 17 Hinge 20 Rear

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Issue 31 • February / March 2019

QUALITY KITCHEN FACELIFTS

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