February/March 2015
the
SPECIAL feature
MK SOUTH VILLAGES
Food and Drink Awards 2015
In this issue...
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ON THE COVER 16 Buckinghamshire Food &Drink Awards 2015 31 Win a High Street voucher COMMUNITY 10 Brownies Tackle Science 28 Kia needs a forever home 30 What’s On
CONSUMER ADVICE 19 Getting “ripped” off 20 Autobiographies 28 Cohabitation Change HOME & GARDEN 12 Wallpaper know how 22 In the garden ENTERTAINMENT 23 A Classical Celebration 26 Puzzles
TRAVEL 6 Castles of Kent
HEALTH & FITNESS 24 It’s In the eyes Copy Deadline for the April/May 2015 issue is 16th March 2015
editor: Andrena Carden-White advertising: andrena@thevinemagazine.com Telephone: 01525 222473 Mobile:0797 155 4604 Publisher:The Vine Magazine Limited
Hello and welcome to this February/March issue. In this issue we are celebrating everything Food and Drink with the Bedfordshire and the Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards 2015 and I am proud to say that The Vine Magazine is sponsoring the Best Pub category. Please get behind your local and be sure to nominate them.
There a 6 Vine Magazine publications Leighton Buzzard, MK South, Aylesbury, Luton, Dunstable and Dunstable Villages a total distribution of 64,000. For full contact details of all our magazines and distribution visit www.thevinemagazine.com
As usual there is plenty to read and lots of information about what’s on in the area. Don’t forget to enter our prize draw too. Andrena The Vine Magazine
We do our best to get things right but neither the publisher or contributors will take any liability for loss or damage by errors. The Vine Magazine Limited does not officially endorse advertisements. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission
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A Travellers Tale
Leeds Castle.
Castles And Cathedrals In Kent By Paul Heley Rochester Castle keep
Rochester Cathedral from the keep
Canterbury Cathedral
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A
couple or so summers ago, I leapt (but, to be true, I don't do much "leaping" now!) on my trusty steed of a motorbike and headed for the south-east corner of the country (a place I rarely visit because London gets in the way). I was aiming at Rochester for starters because it has both a castle and a cathedral - what more could I wish for? Apart from its association with Charles Dickens, Rochester's history goes all the way back to having been one of the first Roman strongholds in AD43. It was later a Saxon village in the kingdom of Kent and it was then, in AD604, that the Kentish King Ethelbert built a wooden cathedral. Following the Norman Conquest, a stone cathedral was built in 1088 boasting a central spire, two towers at the rear and four turrets at the front in a wonderful Romanesque style. It's interesting to note that its west door bears a remarkable similarity to that of our own Priory church. Just across the road (so to speak) is Rochester Castle standing on the banks of the River Medway and offering splendid views over the surrounding area from the tallest keep in England at 115 feet. Like the cathedral, it is of Norman origin having been built in the reign of William 2nd in 1088. Throughout its considerable history, it has been a line of defence against invaders from the continent as well as having undergone sieges during various civil wars in this country. Consequently, its walls and other buildings are in a rather sorry state and it is only the keep which still stands proud and from which a wonderful view overlooking the cathedral is possible. Next day, I continued along the old Watling Street to Canterbury and visited the cathedral - the home of Anglicanism. Its history reaches back to AD597 when a "cathedra" and monastery was first set up by St Augustine who had been sent as a missionary by Pope Gregory the Great. The Venerable Bede records that Augustine used the remnants of a former Roman church as a base; but it was not until Norman times that the first "real" cathedral was started very soon after the Conquest in 1070. Since then it has undergone many changes and alterations before we arrive at the magnificent building which we have today. Canterbury cathedral is best known as the scene of the murder in 1170 of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, by four knights acting (so they thought)
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on the orders of King Henry 2nd. The killing was never Henry's actual wish, and his fevered outburst "will nobody rid me of this turbulent priest" was completely misinterpreted. However, as penance for the outrage and for his part in it, Henry submitted himself to a serious flogging by the monks and underwent various other acts of remorse. But he was never truly forgiven and the spot where the murder took place is commemorated in the area called the Martyrdom. The cathedral has the usual abundance of exquisite areas, rooms and anterooms such as the Nave and Chancel, the Chapter House, the Cloisters, the tomb of Thomas Becket, and the Crypt which dates from the 11th century. They are each very special and beautifully presented. Something very unexpected happened while I was in the cathedral. I noticed that the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, was sitting by himself against the wall - so I went and spoke to him. He was very approachable and we chatted for a few minutes and he told me he was waiting for a film crew to come along and complete a documentary which was being made. He is the only person of international acclaim I've ever spoken with - a better choice than some of today's so-called "celebrities"! The next day it was back to castles again; this time Leeds Castle (which many people assume, for obvious reasons, to be in Yorkshire but, in fact, is near the small village of Leeds near Maidstone). It has been described (but much disputed by rival attractions) as England's loveliest castle. It is certainly very grand and has been in existence since having first been built during the reign of Henry 1st in 1119. Since then it has been the favoured residence of Edward 1st, sieged and captured during the reign of Edward 2nd, and refurbished as a private residence for Catherine of Aragon by Henry 8th (when they were on friendly terms!). During the English Civil War of the 1640s it was not ransacked (as many other castles were) because its owner at the time sympathised with the Parliamentary forces. Since then, it has undergone many alterations and improvements as a private home. Built on an island in a lake, it has a beautiful setting and is a very popular tourist attraction.
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COMMUNITY
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Please take a look at our website http://www.rspcaonline.co.uk for more Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels information on the "We are an independent re-homing process. Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds LU6 1QY charity which carries Our shop in Ampthill I am Mabel the resident dog at Appledown out vital animal welfare is always looking for Rescue and Rehoming Kennels in Eaton Bray. I need a home! work throughout the donations of unwanted local fromRussell Luton,cross aged This is Chipolata, shearea, is a Jack goods or food donations and 4-5 years. She Dunstable is bigger than theLeighton average Jackfor the animals. We do through to might be Russell, but weBuzzard can’t decide what she not receive government crossed with! Chipolata is an active little dog and Ampthill, Toddington funding and as Beds needs a home where she will get plenty of exercise and Flitwick. South and attention. She could live with a male dog but not RSPCA is a separately registered branch a cat. We think she may have lived outside in the At the moment we are past but she loves a cuddle and will enjoy the of the RSPCA we are fullupwith Cats, Kittens opportunity to curl in front of the fire and be responsible part of for raising and Bunnies which family life! She cannot live in Luton. are funds locally." available for adoption,
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If you feel you could offer Chipolata, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff are happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under seven, so please This is Chipolata, she is a Jack Russell cross ask aged for details.
4-5 years. She is bigger than the average Jack RusCould sponsor kennel help us for a dog while it is waiting to find a new sell, but weyou can’t decideawhat shetomight be care crossed Please contact fordog details. with!home? Chipolata is an activeus little and needs a home where she will get plenty of exercise and Call: 01525 220383 Visit our Website: www.appledownrescue.co.uk attention. She could live with a male dog but not Lion Brian us Philips and Bletchley Brownie 6 th Group E-mail: appledown.kennels@btinternet.com Follow on Facebook! a cat. We think she may have lived outside in the Lions Club of Bletchley Milton Keynes Help the Brownie (Reg. Charity No. 1116848) past but she loves a cuddle and will enjoy the opwith a donation of £300 towards a trip to the Science portunity to curl up in front of the fire and be part of Museum in Birmingham. They have currently have a unit family life! She cannot live in Luton. of 40 brownies and they have just begun working towards If you feel you could offer Chipolata, or any of our their Science Investigator badge. other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is necessary to help our local communities. Our staff are happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restrictions on rehomREMOVALS ing dogs to families with children under seven, so please ask for details. STORAGE Could you sponsor a kennel to help us care for a SHIPPING < FREE estimates dog while it is waiting to find a new home? Please < Local, national & international moves contact us for details. < Packing services & materials available
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At Home In The Garden Go along to any DIY store or specialist decorating shop and you will see lots of different types of wall coverings, but how did they originate? The first type of paper was introduced in Egypt around 4000 BC and was called papyrus. It was from about 200 BC that the Chinese started to put glued rice paper onto their walls, and around 105AD that they began to make paper from textile waste. Knowledge spread from the Chinese to the Middle East via prisoners in the eighth century. It took until the twelfth century for papermaking to reach Europe. English manufacturing methods became world famous, and in the eighteenth century wallpapers from London workshops were highly sought after. Initially, hand painted papers imitated architectural details or materials like marble and stucco, but eventually other patterns emerged. The 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are known as the Golden Age of Wallpaper as some 400 million rolls were sold during that period. The industry was revolutionized after WW2 when plastic resins were added to make wallpapers stain resistant, washable, and more durable. Whilst the popularity of wallpaper has ebbed and flowed in the intervening years, there is now more variety than ever and a wide price range. The choice of wallpaper can affect the mood and style of a room and can influences the selection of furnishing. To get the best effect from any paper however, it is important to hang it correctly, so we have â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pastedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; some great tips opposite...
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The Vine Magazine sponsors search to find
Buckinghamshire’s Best Gastro Pub An exciting new set of county food and drink awards have been launched in Buckinghamshire – and The Vine Magazine is delighted to announce that we're proudly sponsoring one of the categories – Best Gastro Pub of the Year. The awards call on the public to scour the nooks and crannies of the counties for the best independents and vote for them on the websites mentioned in the advert below.
to Andrena from The Vine Magazine speaks Mike form Secklow Sound radio show
“Our vision is to highlight the very best of Buckinghamshire's quality food and drink sector,” said Damian Cummins, director of the Buckinghamshire Food & Drink Awards. “From pubs to brewers, from coffee shops to butchers, we are galvanising a mass movement of the most important people, the customers, who know the true meaning of quality when they taste it, drink it and are served it so well.” The winners will be decided solely by votes from members of the public that have been lodged on the awards website www.bucksfoodanddrinkawards.co.uk Karen McGeeney, communications director for the awards, said: “Voting is at the centre of the action but even General Elections won't have seen anything like this!
“We're already busy campaigning across Facebook and Twitter as well as traditional media generating excitement and encouraging nominations and votes. Look for Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards on Facebook and follow the hashtag #BucksFinest on Twitter for the latest updates. “We're so excited about championing the best of the best and promoting quality in Buckinghamshire.” Awards could not happen without sponsors and Buckinghamshire Food & Drink Awards is proud to be associated with brilliant brands such as The Vine Magazine. Visit the awards website to find out more about the categories and sponsors, to nominate and to vote at www.bucksfoodanddrinkawards.co.uk
the
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www.bucksfoodanddrinkawards.co.uk
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Many businesses from all categories were already nominated ahead of the official launch day on the 12th January The Vine Magazine are sponsors of Bedfordshire and the Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards 2015. It is particularly exciting to sponsor the search for the Best Gastro Pub of the Year as so many of our fantastic local pubs are in the villages The Vine covers. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to receive recognition. This will be a hotly contested category with so many good pubs to choose from. Be sure to nominate your local pub, or local businesses in any of the categories; everyone who enters is in with an excellent chance and supported with promotional packs to help get the votes in.
Alfonso and Joanne Bravoco, (pictured above) of the nominated Mamma Concetta
trattoria and bistro in Woburn Sands, said they were surprised to be anonymously put forward for the voting. “It's wonderful that we've been nominated and we have already been busy encouraging people to vote for us,” said Alfonso.
Pictured below: Kavita Pal, Director, Tree Hotels, including The Tree, Cadmore End, Stokenchurch, High Wycombe
Bob Foster, of Missoula, in The Hub, Milton Keynes, said: “Any nomination is a great nomination. We are already working hard to get the vital votes.”
The face off: representatives of Mastee (Bletchley) and B-Town (Milton Keynes), both nominated
Rob and Jenni Sawyer, of Mayo Brothers butchers in Chesham (pictured above) Bois (Amersham area), said: “We're not aware of who nominated us, it came out of the blue and was a brilliant surprise. We have already printed off hundreds of leaflets for our customers.”
Get nominating!
Visit the website to see a full list of nominees and categories. To advertise your business in our next awards feature and get the most from your nomination call 01525 222473
Consumer Clinic
By Jonathan Vernon-Smith
How to Get Ripped Without Being Ripped Off If you’re anything like me, you’ll have completely overindulged during the festive period. In fact, I think I ate about 17 turkeys and drank my bodyweight in Harvey’s Bristol Cream. Sadly, the result of this gluttony is that the New Year requires a little vigorous exercise and healthier eating to get back in shape. You can listen to The JVS Show every weekday morning from 9am on BBC Three Counties Radio
Indeed, it’s generally this time of the year when many of us look in the mirror and race to the nearest gym, happy to sign ourselves up to expensive, long term contracts. But how do you protect yourself against getting ripped off in the process? Over the years, I have dealt with many complaints about gym membership deals. Sometimes this is because gyms are unreasonable in their approach but sadly, more often than not, it's down to pure naivety from consumers. Gyms are businesses, not charities! They have sales advisors in most gyms whose sole responsibility it is to sign up new customers. They are generally paid by commission, and are highly trained to persuade you to sign yourself up for at least a years’ worth of keep fit expense. They seem so nice, so friendly, so understanding and so kind. However, don’t underestimate them. Without you agreeing to join the gym, they don’t get paid. That is their motivation. Be aware that when you sign up to a gym membership, you are entering a legally binding contract. Unless there is a cancellation period outlined in the terms and conditions, you are legally
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obliged to pay your membership fees for the entire length of the contract. If you're concerned that you'll only bother to go for the first two months, then agreeing to a year long (many contracts are 18 months or two years) is a pretty stupid thing to do. If you decide to cancel, you'll probably be liable for hundreds of pounds worth of fees. What about exceptional circumstances though? Often consumers will come to me saying "I took out gym membership and then lost my job the following week" or "I signed up to a gym but had a bad car accident and haven't been able to use it for 6 months". Of course exceptional circumstances can help your case when attempting to cancel, but unless it states that cancellation is allowed under exceptional circumstances in the terms, you'll still be liable for the full membership costs. So when CAN you cancel a gym membership? Obviously if the service you receive from the gym is poor (for example many of the machines don't work) then you can make a good case for cancellation of the contract. Also if you can prove that some of the terms and conditions in your membership agreement are
unfair you may stand a chance, but be prepared for a fight. In my experience gyms can be some of the most aggressive organisations to fight as a consumer. They often have legal departments that are very used to arguing with unhappy gym goers who want a quick way out. If you are uncertain over your motivation to attend the gym, it is worth noting that many gym chains will offer special memberships that can be cancelled easily, or are on a pay as you go basis. It may be best to start with one of these until you've properly decided whether you like it or not. You may conclude from this month’s article, that I'm an antigym person. I'm not! Honestly! If you are motivated, they can be fantastic places to fight the flab, feel better about yourself and improve your health. Just approach gym membership with your eyes open and you'll not come unstuck months down the line. Happy Fat fighting!
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The 7th Bletchley Seed Swap Saturday 14th February 2015 From 10am to 2pm Admission £1 At Freeman Memorial Methodist Church Hall Buckingham Road Bletchley, MK3 5HH (Just round the corner from Bletchley Railway Station) As well as seed swapping, there will be a Gardeners’ Bring and Buy stall. We love to talk about gardening, and enjoy giving advice. We proudly serve delicious home made refreshments, including light lunches. Please bring your homegathered seeds and any unwanted commercial seeds. No seeds to swap? We suggest a donation of 50p for each packet taken home. £1 entrance on the day. For the first time we have invited a commercial seed company to attend:-Thomas Etty Esquire, Heritage Seedsman and Bulb Merchant. aims to help preserve genetic diversity. and to collect and distribute varieties that are suited to local conditions. For more details, please contact Jan on 01908 372138 or Theresa on 01908 375142 bletchleygardenclub.org
auto Biographies
Toyota RAV 4
By Tim Barnes-Clay www.carwriteups.co.uk
t about their car.Geneva They named its The 1994 motor ketplace has evolved and matured ity, ease of access, lofty view of the road show signalled the arrival in line with customers’ changing requirements and preferences. ous packaging, versatility and reassuring of a new kind of vehicle, Generally speaking, two decades en when the going gets tough. ago, this type of car was regarded one that would revoluas a substitute to sporty hatchtionize the towards world mo14’s RAV4 points an even stronger backs and coupes. Today its popy use.tor The result isAt a car is more ularity refined market. thethat time is among families wanting a more fun car over multi-purpose teriorfew styling, a more airy cabin and loadpeople could have vehicles (MPVs) and estates. r comfort and higher levels of safety. predicted the effect Over the years, Toyota has wback with the current RAV4 is the old-worked hard to keep the model the Toyota RAV4 would erior. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a major firmly at the heart of its segment, make.all the same. The car is without forfeiting the entertainings noticeable
to-drive uxurious, especially in ‘Invincible’ D4D quality that defined the The initial Recreational Activ- 2.2 original RAV4. ut theity cabin stillwith looks at least a decade old. It’s Vehicle 4-wheel drive When it came to creating the RAV4) uplooks a newverylatest ity or (hence anything. In opened fact it all hard-model, Toyota talked to sector for compact, manoeuvrable mainly the switchgear that looks reallyexisting dated.RAV4 customers around sport utility vehicles (SUVs). thepure globe to understand what was heel, much of that is forgotten once the Toyota had unpresumptuous aspi- best about their car. They named iving rations takes over. The car, RAV4 is smooth and for its new expecting its manoeuvrability, ease of acnchy. Indeed, itssales all-wheel capability is worldwide of onlydrive around cess, lofty view of the road ahead, When 8,000 orders ingenious packaging, versatility cated4,500 than models. ever before.
swamped the Japanese automaker and reassuring capability, even in the first four weeks alone, when the going gets tough. gratedproduction Active Drive System volumes had has to bebeen developed As a result, 2014’s RAV4 points e engaging “sport” mode, with gadgetry to doubled. towards an even stronger focus on Tothe begin with, itof was avail- power family use. The result is a car that adjust amount twisting able as aand three-door with a tween theonly front rear axles. is more refined with better exterior 2.0-litre petrol engine and either styling, e whyfive-speed the RAV4manual was, and is, such a hit. It is a more airy cabin and or four-speed load-space, greater comfort and thanksautomatic to this car that the SUV market transmission. Measurhigher levels of safety. m a niche become vitalmore feature ofThe theonly drawback with the curing justto3.96m longa(little ority. than today’s Toyota Yaris), it was rent RAV4 is the old-fashioned unlike anything else at the time. interior. Don’t get me wrong, it’s The public had an appetite for the not a major issue – but it is noticenew kid on the block, however, able all the same. The car is unand in 1995 RAV4’s first full doubtedly luxurious, especially in year on sale – almost 6,800 were ‘Invincible’ 2.2 D4D Auto guise, sold, quickly establishing it as the but the cabin still looks at least a fourth best-selling car in Toyota’s decade old. It’s not poor quality 14-strong British line-up. or anything. In fact it all looks Twenty years on, and the RAV4 very hard-wearing. It’s mainly the is almost unrecognisable. That’s switchgear that looks really dated. because the compact SUV mar-
TS
20 d: 115mph
PROS ‘N’ CONS
Spacious √
Behind the wheel, much of that is forgotten once the pure pleasure of driving takes over. The RAV4 is smooth and gracefully punchy. Indeed, its all-wheel drive capability is more sophisticated than ever before. Toyota’s Integrated Active Drive System has been developed to offer a more engaging “sport” mode, with gadgetry to automatically adjust the amount of twisting power distributed between the front and rear axles. It’s easy to see why the RAV4 was, and is, such a hit. It is undoubtedly thanks to this car that the SUV market developed from a niche to become a vital feature of the motoring majority.
FAST FACTS Max speed: 115 mph 0-62 mph: 10.0 secs Combined mpg: 42.4 Engine: 2231cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo diesel Max. power (bhp): 148 at 3600 rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 250 at 2800 rpm CO2: 176 g/km Price: £29,305 on the road PROS & CONS Spacious √ Punchy √ Grip √ Driving Position √ Dated Interior X
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In The Garden
in your garden you People often ask me, “Is there something always, “My greenhouse.” couldn’t live without?”... My reply is
A
The Greenhouse Effect
greenhouse has many benefits, chief of which for me is that it extends the gardening year. With a greenhouse you can potter in your garden all year round, and grow a range of plants which simply wouldn’t thrive without the extra protection. Before choosing a greenhouse you will need to check whether your local planning authority imposes any restrictions. While you don’t normally need planning permission, building regulations do have to be adhered to. Buy the biggest greenhouse you can afford that will fit comfortably on to your plot - you will always fill it! But even if you can only afford a tiny one - my first one had a base of just 4’ by 5.5’ (1.2m by 1.7m) - it will still be a worthwhile investment. The aluminium- framed types are very sturdy and relatively cheap. Wooden-framed constructions are more attractive though, and often better in a small garden where everything has to earn its keep. Western red cedar is good because it lasts a long time and weathers really well. Greenhouses are even more useful if they are heated. I started out with paraffin heaters, but found they produced a lot of condensation and were messy and smelly. Electric heating is best, and very economical if you fit a system thermostat so that it only switches on when necessary. Apart from heat the most important factor is ventilation. In high summer this is vital to prevent your plants from cooking. Automatic arms which open the vents at a pre-designated temperature are really useful. External blinds are also very good as they prevent sun scorch. Finally, fit staging along one edge of the greenhouse for your pots, and dig a soil or gravel bed on the other side for things like tomato plants. Now all you have to do is plant some seeds and invest in a few tender perennials.
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Great Greenhouse Tips Fit your greenhouse to level foundations. Orientation isn’t important , but make sure it isn’t in the shadow of the house, or overhanging trees. Ventilate well. Any electrical work must be carried out or certified by a qualified electrician to comply with part P of the building regulations. Don’t be tempted to use a household electric heater. It won’t cope with the damp conditions in a greenhouse. Fit a water butt to the down pipes at either end of the greenhouse to conserve water.
PODIATRIST / CHIROPODIST HCPC Registered
Julia Reading B.Sc (Hons) M.Ch.S Full range of podiatry and chiropody Treatments available 15 Windsor street Bletchley MK2 2LN CLASSICAL CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S SUCCESS Milton Keynes City Orchestra (MKCO) is celebrating International Women’s Day, in association with MK Community Foundation, on Saturday 7th March at The Venue Walton High. MK Community Foundation is one of the first organisations in the UK to regularly mark this important day and MKCO is delighted to create a unique 2015 celebration.
her global performances and her work as Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music.
MKCO is a freelance orchestra with the depth of musical talent to create an all female orchestra, under the baton of worldclass Conductor Sian Edwards, to celebrate the exceptional talent and work of women in the classical music industry on this special night.
Anita’s career has brought her to England from her home in Australia and in between she has performed in many of the great opera houses around the globe.
It is a delight to welcome back Sian Edwards, who has helped shape the creative work of the orchestra in recent years and who receives outstanding reviews for
The concert showcases Mozart Symphony No. 38 and Shubert Symphony No. 3, the melodic Wagner Siegfried Idyll and much loved arias from the Marriage of Figaro, sung by internationally renowned Soprano Anita Watson (pictured).
Tickets for this unique concert priced at £10 and £22 under 18 ticket £5, are available through www.mkco.org . Celebrating women and their achievements is recognised all over the world on this day and this concert is created for all to enjoy.
Mobile: 0774 647 2781 Mon, Tues pm and Fri Evening appointments and home visits available.
shelly’s beauty
Collagen boosting facials Hair and beauty treatments Collagen boosting facial or body treatments (radio frequency).....£60 book 2 facials Diamond skin peeling and get your (microdermabrasion).....£50 3rd half Skin peels.....£20-£60 price Express brows by Shel.....£15 Hair treatments start from £10 for a dry cut please call for full prices. Pondside, 1 Southend (Pond Lane) Milton Bryan, MK17 9HS 07967 456 297 shel.french@gmail.com
Health Beauty & Wellbeing
By Maulia Selvarajah, BSc (Hons) MCOptom
Diabetes is the third leading cause of sight loss in the Eye diseases are also a common find at the opticians. country (source: www.RNIB.org.uk). In the UK alone They can occur at the back of your eyes, without there are 2.9 million sufferers, according to the NHS causing any symptoms for you to be aware of. It is and about 850,000 people who have the condition only in the late stage of eye diseases, like, glaucoma but are undiagnosed (source: www.NHS.co.uk). How and retinal detachments that you notice sudden would you know? Of course, seeing the GP would problems in your eye. This just shows how vital it be the most obvious answer. But don’t worry if you can be to get your eyes checked out. For example are one of many who don’t like paying the GP a visit, retinal detachment is when a layer at the back of the there is another answer. That answer is to have an eye slowly begins to peel away. Sounds creepy right? eye test with your local optician. It doesn’t happen in everyone, but the risk factors When was the last time you had a health include being very short-sighted, or playing check? For most people visiting the a lot of contact sports. The only changes g in e Se GP for regular health checks is a bit a person may be aware of is bright ’t n is the optician daunting. Nevertheless visiting white flashes of lights in the corner of ses, s la g t the local opticians can be more their vision and an increase in black u o b a t s ju comfortable and can also answer dots that come in different sizes and t u o b a s it’ many health related questions you shapes and appear to float about in your the may have. vision. Usually when optometrists taking care of Going to the opticians isn’t just about see these signs you can expect to sit in lth a e h eye checking if you need glasses or not. hospital on the same day. Now don’t start Many people think it’s expensive. There are panicking, the treatment the hospital will give is many opticians that provide free eye tests and offers highly successful so it should be alright. or discounts on the frames. Nowadays seeing the It is very important to get children tested as well. Eye optician is more than just glasses, it’s about taking tests usually start at 3 years old. The tests done will care of your eye health. probably be slightly different to an adult test. Looking There are various tests that can be done by the at 3D pictures, and checking colour vision is all part optometrist. One of them includes looking into the of the eye examination. Tests can be done to spot back of the eye and checking for health problems early signs of a lazy eye. If your child is getting freand eye diseases. Health conditions such as diabetes, quent headaches, an eye test should be done to rule high blood pressure and high cholesterol can all be out glasses. Children don’t always know if what they detected just by checking the back of the eye. In most see is blurry or clear, and the sooner they are seen by opticians now they have a ‘Fundus Camera’ this is a an optometrist the better it is. clever piece of equipment that allows the optician to Eye tests should be done every two years for adults take a photo of the back of the eye. Optometrists can unless specified by the optometrist. Children should then sit down and talk to you about your photos and be seen every year. So if you haven’t had a test yet, show you if there is any problem. Pretty clever right? get yourself to your opticians!
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INVISALIGN OPEN DAY 5th March 2015 2pm until 7:30pm
Special Open Day Package Includes • • • •
Free Consultation £750 Off Invisalign Full Free Whitening Complimentary Voucher for a Photography Studio Session
Refreshments provided and the opportunity to meet with our highly trained team and experts from Invisalign
Offer is limited to 10 patients so book early to avoid disappointment Call a member of our welcome team for more information or to book your place on 01525 384894 Cherry Trees Dental 56 Soulbury Road, Linslade Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 2RN
Proud to sponsor Buckinghamshire’s Gastro Pub of the Year
Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles
3 2 4 3
2 9 7 8 2 9 3
Sudoku 数独 1 6
7
9 2 6
8 4
3
6
MUSTY
5 6
7
Each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 just once. This can be done by applying logic -you don’t have to guess!
Crossword
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SUCKS
ANSWERS ON PAGE 31 Across
Down
1. Rosy-cheeked child (6) 5. Sloped style of printing (6) 8. As soon as possible (abbr) (4) 9. Trivial, unimportant (8) 10. Air turbine (8) 11. Currency of Ireland (4) 12. Jewish greeting (6) 14. Undamaged (6) 16. Heroic, majestic (4) 18. Scare, intimidate (8) 20. Wall art or defacement (8) 21. Offer praise to God (4) 22. Official order (6) 23. Sycophants, toadies (3,3)
2. Marijuana (7) 3. Swift, speedy (5) 4. Difficult or unpleasant first-time experience (7,2,4) 5. The quality of being totally dependable or foolproof. (13) 6. Illness (7) 7. Situated within (5) 13. The Devil (7) 15. Incinerate, burn (7) 17. Clean-out, purify (5) 19. Aspires, wishes (5)
Looking Up!
In Beds & Bucks
TheNight Sky February & March 2015
By Seb Jay Image by Jeff Barton
See Venus & Mars tango over the western horizon: Don’t miss out on the March Solar Eclipse! Friday February sees a celestial encounter fit for Valentine’s night romance as Venus and Mars tango over the western horizon at dusk. On 14th February look low to the west from an elevated location like Dunstable Downs. Bright Venus is unmistakable in the fading twilight. By 6:20pm Mars will be obvious too as a dull orange ‘star’ located slightly above and to the left of Venus. The two planets draw even closer together over the ensuing week, so do keep watching them if you have the chance.
Discover amazing Jupiter in a telescope:
As darkness falls over Bedfordshire in February and March this year another bright ‘star’ will be shining over towards the east and south-east. Jupiter is a must-see object in a telescope. Even a small telescope reveals Jupiter’s four Galilean moons in orbit around the giant planet, while larger telescopes let us glimpse cloud detail in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
20th March 2015 sees the UK experience a deep partial eclipse of the sun. From Bedfordshire just over 85 per cent of our warm yellow friend will be temporarily consumed by the moon’s disc. The event begins at 8:30am and lasts until 10:30am. Mid-eclipse, and the deepest darkness, is at 9:30am.
seb@darkskytelescopehire.co.uk Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk
Hi everyone, my name is Kia and I’m looking for my forever home. The team at HULA don’t have any background history on me as I was a stray, however they have found me to be a very sweet girl and they know I love human company.I love being out and about but I will need to go to training classes. I do pull a lot on my lead...what can I say, I’m excited to be out, so I’ll need training on this too. I’ll need someone around most of the day, but I can be left for short periods to start with and have this gradually increased. I can be quite dominant around other dogs so would like to be the only dog in the house. The team here is socializing me with other dogs though. There’s nothing I love more than my food, but I do eat it too quickly so now they feed me in an anti-gulping bowl! Thank you to Bridget Davey for taking my photograph she is a specialist in animal photography www,bridgetdavey.com To find out more about adopting Kia or any of the dogs, kittens and don’t forget bunnies that are looking for their forever home visit the Hula website www.hularescue.org we are open to visitors Tuesday to Sunday 1-3pm
IT’S THE LAW!
C
Resolution proposes a new law that will
ohabitation Rights Bill create a system that is genuinely fair for The law may be about to change cohabiting couples. Under the proposed until it does Osborne Morris and Morgan reforms, couples in a committed relationship who have lived together for a minimum advise caution. At present, cohabiting couples have few legal rights as compared to their married counterparts. A separated cohabiting couple, do not have rights over each other’s property, pensions or even maintenance even where one cohabitee has relied on the other for income. This maybe about to change however, as the Cohabitation Rights Bill has had its second reading in the House of Lords and has passed through to Committee stage. Steve Kirwan, who leads the group Resolutions work on Cohabitation Law reform, comments, “Ultimately, the law needs to reflect the standards of modern society, and in the case of cohabitation, it does not. More couples are living together than ever before, with an estimated 2,859,000 cohabiting households in Britain – that’s a significant portion of the country who are currently served by outdated and unfair laws. The current law on cohabitation is in desperate need of change and we believe that even Lord Marks’ Bill, whilst welcome, does not go far enough to address the inequality in the current system”.
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period or who have a child together would have the right to apply for certain Financial Orders, similar to those currently offered to married couples upon separation. This right would be automatic unless the couple chooses to ‘opt out’.
Until the Cohabitation law is in place however, caution is advised and cohabitants should continue to seek legal advice at significant points in their relationship, not only when the relationship breaks down, but for example when a property is being purchased for their occupation, to ensure fairness. You can read the full Bill at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/ cohabitationrights.html Sheena Shah Solicitor & Head of Family & Matrimonial at Osborne Morris & Morgan for any enquiries please contact Sheena.Shah@ommlaw.co.uk or telephone 01525 378177.
Texting isn’t marketing. Is it? MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Saturday 14 February 2015 10.00am - 4.30pm
98% of texts are opened within 15 mins
Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BN
25% response rate for SMS messages
Adults: Children: Families:
£5.00 £3.00 £10.00
Entry discount if you travel by rail and use free bus from Milton Keynes Central or Bletchley stations.
• Over 40 layouts • 30 traders • A great value day out Cafe open for breakfast from 9.00am
Loyalty programs have been proven to increase opt in rates by up to 5 times 91% of people have their mobiles with them at all times 87% of shoppers use coupons and mobile coupons generate an average redemption rate of 10-25%
www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions
Still think texting isn’t marketing? Bee Text Marketing aims to help you increase your profits and grow your customer base. We can help you to do this by creating engaging communication strategies with your customers using a combination of text, mobile coupons, mobile landing pages, loyalty programs and more. We use cutting-edge mobile marketing technology, integrated with email marketing and social media to help you communicate in ways that build rapport, trust and loyalty to attract new and retain existing customers. Don’t worry if you haven’t done this before, it’s easy to operate and we will give you access to our innovative mobile marketing dashboard so that you can create campaigns in minutes at the touch of a button. Mobile phone use is increasing all the time and is becoming the preferred choice for people when searching for information, finding places to go or buying products. Tap into these exciting opportunities and let us help you build a buzz for your business.
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Out and About in
COMMUNITY
BEDS & BUCKS 14TH FEBRUARY Valentiine’s Day
WHAT Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition Admission: £5.00 adult, £3.00 children, £10.00 family (discounts offered if you travel by train and free connecting bus) Website: www.mkmrs.org.uk/ exhibitions . Over 40 layouts and 30 traders offering something for everyone, from families to experienced modellers. 40+ layouts and 30 traders WHEN 14th February 10am-4:30pm WHERE Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Stantonbury MK14 6BN WHAT Concert, Cakes and Choral Evensong If music be the food of love... . To mark Valentine’s Day, the recital will have the theme of love . Tickets (including tea & cakes): £5 at the door (accompanied children £3). (Attendance at the Choral Evensong service is of course free.) All proceeds will be donated to the Church’s organ
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restoration fund. WHEN Sunday 15th February. Concert 4.00pm, Tea & cakes 5.00pm, Choral evensong 6.00pm WHERE St Barnabas’ Church Waterloo Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2NR 17TH FEBRUARY Shrove Tuesday
15TH MARCH Mothering Sunday
WHAT Olney Pancake Race On Shrove Tuesday every year the ladies of Olney, Buckinghamshire compete in the world famous Pancake Race, a tradition which dates back to 1445. The 2015 race will be held on Tuesday 17th February. The race starts at 11:55am. Children from Olney schools also take part in their own races. Olney competes every year against the women of Liberal, Kansas, USA. This is a friendly competition in its 66th year in 2015. WHEN Tuesday 17th February 111:55am WHERE: Olney High Street
WHAT Woburn Farmers Market WHEN 15th March Where Woburn, Beds
1ST MARCH St David’s Day WHAT Sky-diving for Keech Hosice Care We need adventure-loving, thrill-seeking fundraisers to jump from 10,000 ft in a sponsored tandem skydive This jump takes place on one day and there is no training required apart from a briefing with the instructor before hand. For more information call the Events Team on 01582 707940 or email events@keech.org.uk WHEN Sunday 8th March 2015 WHEREHinton Airfield nr. Brackley, Northamptonshire:
17TH MARCH St Patrick’s Day WHAT Bark in The Park Bring your four legged friend along to meet other dogs and discover a new dog walking route. These walks will be on lead at a moderate pace that is suitable for healthy dogs over twelve months of age. The walks will last approximately 1.5 to 2 hoursPreregistration prior to attending the walks is essential. Please email events@theparkstrust.com Price: £1 per dog WHEN 21st March 10am WHERE Furzton Lake, MK, meet in car park V4 opposite National Bowl. WHAT Stewkley Players’ present their 113th production ‘The 39 Steps’. A hilarious version of a spell binding thriller and currently showing in the West End to excellent reviews! Tickets go on sale on March 2 from the box office (07845 48494 167). WHEN 25th to 28th March at 8pm WHERE Village Hall, Stewkley 29TH MARCH British Summertime
Answers Step On It MUSTY DUSTY DUSTS DUCTS DUCKS SUCKS
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There are no cash alternatives. The winner will be selected from an independent person not associated with The Vine Magazine. The winner will be contacted through Facebook, our best efforts will be made to contact the winner but if we are unable another person will be randomly selected. This promotion is run by The Vine Magazine Limited and open to anyone 16 years and over. The prize draw ends at midnight on 20th March 2015 and winners will be notified by 31st March 2015. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the promotion will be directed to Sponsor, not Facebook.
He’s moving into my home, will he be able to claim part of the property if we split up?
I don’t want to lose my family business, I wonder if she’ll agree to a Pre-Nup?
For advice on separation, divorce and pre-nuptial agreements
Call us now and speak to one of our Family Law experts.
Call: 01525 378177 info@ommlaw.co.uk www.ommlaw.co.uk
Outstanding legal services Offices in Milton Keynes & Leighton Buzzard
Authorised and regulated by the SRA, No: 00058549
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© 2011 Osborne Morris and Morgan Solicitors