affinity magazine november 2011

BEAUTY - FOOD - DRINK - HEALTH - FITNESS - STYLE - INTERIORS - MOTORS - WHAT’S ON

November 2011

PerfectlyPampered

Gareth Gates

It’s a wrap

All fired upAF

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Your FREE Monthly Magazine

Jewellers of Distinction

MILLMAN

TEL 01234 354026

2 Church Arcade Bedford

Ge-nius

Affinity MagazineNovemberMaster4page_Layout 1 copy 20/10/2011 15:26

Clubs nationwide

0844 571 2811

New...children’s swimming lessons starting in JanuaryLimited spaces available, call to book

50657_03_FF_1011 Bedford Childrens Swimming Lessons Ad.indd 1 12/10/11 13:27:17

The BBC Good Food Show Winter is the

perfect place to find everything you need for

Christmas all under one roof. With 21 years

experience of putting together the country’s

biggest and best Food event, The Good Food Show

offers a great festive day out.

Be inspired by top chefs live demos. Some of TV’s

favourite foodie faces will be cooking live on stage

on the supertheatre sponsored by Sainsbury’s.

Star names including James Martin,

demonstrating an alternative Christmas Dinner,

Rick Stein, John Torode and Gregg Wallace who’ll

be creating his classic Christmas pudding.

Christmas Theatre – Get some great ideas for

Christmas treats by taking a tasting session on

this stage – alternatively pick up some fantastic

tips for making your own treats including

Christmas cookie icing, marzipan fruit making

and Christmas cake decorations.

World Cheese Awards - If you’re planning on

providing the most brilliant cheese board for your

guests then where better to get inspiration from

than the World Cheese Awards. Over 2500

different cheeses, that’s 40 tonnes, will be judged

by the worlds top cheese experts.

Shopping – With over 400 exhibitors it’s the

perfect place to pick up gifts for your friends and

family. With some fantastic producers’ including

Kelly’s Turkeys, English Provender and Scotland

Food and Drink, find something original for

Christmas Day.

Drinks - Stock up your drinks cabinet with a

whole range of fantastic drinks suppliers from

Glengoyne Whisky to Port from ‘Spirits of the

Place’ or pick up something really different from

Demijohns Liquid Deli.

MasterChef Experience – See all your favourite

MasterChef faces live on stage including John

Torode, Gregg Wallace, Dhruv Baker and Tim

Anderson and the newly crowned Celebrity

MasterChef Champion – the perfect place to take

any MasterChef fan for a pre-Christmas treat. Plus

watch amateur cooks create their signature

dishes live on stage to be judged by John and

Gregg in the MasterChef Live Challenge sponsored

by Plenty.

Tickets start at £20.50 and are available from:

www.BBCgoodfoodshow.com or 0844 581 1360

Affinity has 5 pairs of tickets to give away to this delicious event. For your chance of winning

simply quote “Good Food Show Winter” and send to [email protected] by 14th November

Winners will be notified by 16th November

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Prepare for Christmas

4

Affinity Magazine_Layout 1 copy 21/10/2011 16:34 Page 2

Christmas is coming, bringing with it that mad dash

to buy. We’ve took the hassle out of searching for

gifts this month and next and are spreading a little

cheer with our gifts for him, stocking fillers for kids

and eco gifts to help you get started.

Our choice of coats and accessories in this month’s

fashion shoot should keep you warm this winter.

And if you want some family fun why not book

tickets to see this years Pantomime Aladdin at

Milton Keynes Theatre starring Gareth Gates and

Paul Burling, and check out our interview with

Gareth Gates on page 56.

There is also a chance to win a familly ticket to see

this great show, so don’t miss out.

Finally don’t forget to enter our competition to win

tickets to the BBC Good Food Show in November –

an early Christmas present to yourself

Until Next Month

Enjoy

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��Cover imageModel - Louisa VaccaroLocation - EmbankmentJacket - Claytons, Bedford

are You

Missing aTrick?

Affinity is an aspirational, luxury lifestyle

magazine for Beds and Bucks. It features the

best in homes & interiors, music & events, food

& travel, beauty & fashion as well as interviews

with celebrities and local personalities.

Undeniably chic, and of a quality unrivalled in

the area, Affinity is the perfect medium to target

the affluent people in your area.

With copies distributed free in Bedford and the

surrounding Beds, Bucks and Cambs villages,

the average readership per issue being

approximately 50,000, you can’t fail to get your

business noticed.

Our digital online eMagazine has links direct to

advertisers websites thus creating even more

potential customers.

It is vital that your reputation doesn’t disappear

during the present economic climate. It's during

these times that 'smart' advertising becomes

imperative.

Advertising plays an important role during these

times and should not be put on the backburner

as a way to keep costs down.

Advertising your business does not necessarily

mean spending a fortune and long term

committment will always far outway a one-off

advertisement placed here and there. A well

planned consistent prescence will almost always

pay off in the long run.

So don’t be left behind – for all your advertising

needs please contact:

Jane Fry

[email protected]

[email protected]

01234 215523

07809 499669Follow us on Facebook and visit our website

www.affinitymag.co.uk

Welcome

Jane x


.

CONTENTS4 BBC Good Food

12 Back to the 60’s

22 Gifts 4 Him

25 Winter Warmers

40 Bright Sparks

44 Relishing Reading

52 Perfect Primula

56 Gareth Gates

60 Northern Lights

64 What’s On

For All Your Advertising Needs

Contact:

[email protected]

01234 215523

07809 499669

All adverts are printed in good faith.

Affinity cannot take responsibility for

the content of adverts.

Advertisements are accepted on the

understanding that description of

goods and services are accurate.

Reproduction in whole or in part is

strictly prohibited.

Printed in the UK by Regal Litho

01908 270400

www.regallitho.co.uk


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The River Great Ouse winds its way through

the town giving Bedford what has been

described as one of the finest riverside

settings in England.

Bedford’s Victorian Embankment is a historic

location with plenty of green space,

wildlife including swans, geese and

ducks and of course rowing, kayaking

and canoeing.

The town's history goes back to

Saxon times, and was important in

the reign of King Alfred before the

Danes attacked it in 1010.

The River Great Ouse passes through the town

centre and is lined with gardens. Within these

gardens stands a war memorial to the fallen of the

First World War. The memorial was designed in

1921 by the sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger and

depicts a Knight vanquishing a dragon.The

inscription reads:

“To Bedfordians who died, many in early youth,

some full of years and honour, but who all alike

gave their lives for their country”

The Embankment Gardens were linked to Mill

Meadows on the other side of the river by the

Suspension Bridge in 1888, and Bedford Park was

inaugurated on the same day as the opening of

the bridge: a Victorian ensemble with café,

bandstand and lodges.

So now that the temperatures have

dropped and nights are longer,

what better way to enjoy the

historic Embankment than the

annual Fire and Light Festival and

Christmas light switch on.

This year’s event, takes place on

Tuesday 29th November at 7pm where it kicks off

with the lights officially being switched on

followed by a fantastic ‘Fire and Light display’

This spectacular show is designed to be seen and

enjoyed from the full length of the Embankment.

So why not wrap up warm and join the party

atmosphere as the historic Embankment is once

again lit up with this fantastic festive display.

“TheEmbankment

has been describedas one of the finestriverside settings

in England”

Embankmentthe

9


Heart Breakfast

Stuart

Natalie

Hi Affinity readers!

You can’t fail to have noticed

that the live X Factor shows

have begun and while Simon

Cowell is reportedly not happy

with how the show is rating at

the moment, the new judges

seem to have settled in really

well.

Our favorite has to be Kelly

Rowland, who told us that she

listens to Heart for inspiration

when thinking about her song

choices for the girls. She also

told us what she does to keep in

shape! “Two hundred sit-ups I

do, maybe every other night. I

did it the night before. I couldn’t

do it last night, I was way too

tired. I probably won’t do it

tonight because I’m tired, but I

will do it tomorrow night. My

trainer, she says one of the ways

you bust belly fat is at night and

it’s right before you go to bed,

so I follow that. So between that

and not eating three hours

before I go to bed is really

important to me... But I do try to

work out at least three to four

times a week. I’m going to start

working out with contestants,

my girls, and I’m really excited

about that. We’ll be jogging and

running together and singing

and that’s fun. That’s bonding

time, that’s time that I get to

know them and

really get into

talking to them.”

Wow, we’re

exhausted just

thinking about all

that exercise…!

Last year’s

winner, the

gorgeous Matt

Cardle, who

released his

brand new album

Letters last

month, also came

in and talked to

us about what he thinks of the

new X Factor judges. “I think

Kelly is incredible. I think Gary

is doing a great job but Simon

has got the best ‘err’ in the

business. When he goes ‘err’,

everyone takes a breath in and

thinks, ‘What’s he’s going to

say?’ I used to freak out every

time he said it. I think there’s a

little bit of that missing, but

Gary is doing a great job and

Tulisa is fitting in really well.

Louis is just doing his thing

which he will do until the end of

time.”

And former X Factor judge

Danni Minogue has been in the

news following rumours that

she was in talks to become a

judge on Britain’s Got Talent.

We wanted to know if the

rumours were true! “I don’t

have any TV booked in for the

next year”, she told Heart. “I

haven’t even made any

decisions about it but there’s

always stuff in the pipeline.

Let’s see what happens!” So we

wondered, if the

call did come,

would she be

tempted? “I don’t

know. At the

moment, for me,

it’s all about

family and being

back in Australia.

We’ll see what

happens but I do

love the show. It’s

so funny, you’ve

always got a dog

trying to sing in

tune and I’m

trying to imagine

the Queen watching that!”

As if that’s not enough, we’ve

recently announced that Heart’s

Artist of the Year 2011 is the

multi million-selling Bruno

Mars. To celebrate, we are

hosting an exclusive and

intimate live gig with Bruno in

London this month – and you

could be there! We’re giving

away tickets, so keep tuned to

Heart and visit heart.co.uk

See you next month!

Stuart & Natalie

Stuart and Natalie present

Heart Breakfast every

Monday–Friday at 6am-10am

across Herts, Beds, Bucks,

Northants and Milton Keynes

on 96-104 FM, digital, and

online at heart.co.uk

10

with

&


11

Choosing the perfect giftcan be tricky,particularly as theaverage person spendsover £100 on unwantedgifts each year. So withthe season of goodwillupon us, for this monthand next I have sourceda few eco friendly giftideas for your nearestand dearest to treasure.

by Alessia Stoles

the QueenGreenof

Eco Gifts for Christmas

2 Mum – Any mum will

love this beautifully

stylish eco gift made from

upcycled cement sacks this Ele

washbag is sure to be loved by

any mum. You can buy one for

£11.99 from ganesha.co.uk.

5 Dad - For any trend

conscious dad, this

stylish pair of cufflinks are

made from genuine

decommissioned firehoses.

They are £35 from

ethicalsuperstore.com and

50% of the profits are donated

to the Fire Fighter Charity.

4 Brother – Brothers

can be the toughest to buy

for but you can’t go wrong with

this Glow Brick it’s a glow-in-

the-dark light bulb, trapped in a

solid acrylic brick. This is £21

from ethicalsuperstore.com

3 Grandma – If there’s

one thing guaranteed to

make Grandma happy it’s

pictures of her family this

gorgeous photo album made

from jeweled sari silks, with 30

handmade paper pages. Available

at £22.50 from ganesha.co.uk.

7 Sister – For the girl

who has everything and

who hasn’t got room in her

handbag for a chiwuwa opt for

this funky doggy wheat

warmer. Made from organic

cotton, filled with wheat and

lavender, you just need to pop

her in the microwave for a

couple of minutes and this

little doggy will keep you

warm for up to two hours. £27

from showpony.co.uk.

6 Kids – What kid

doesn’t like playing

with cardboard boxes so

kids will love this recycled

cardboard den. Kids will

disappear for hours! Get

yours for £34.95 fro

mimimyne.com.

1Grandad - This

handmade, fair trade wooden

game is finger flicking fun for

everyone! Perfect for Grandad at

Christmas. Available from

fairwindonline.com for £49.50

12

4

3

76

5


Winter Spirit

You might notice that there seems to be a lot of sixtiesfashion hitting our favourite High Street stores! Withsmock dresses, and “Peter Pan” collars being the highlightof this Autumn/Winter, it’s only right to complete the lookin true sixties style.

‘s

Step 1 After your usual cleansing

routine and before applying any

foundation to your face, apply

some base on your eyelids and

around your eye. This will help

with the eyeshadow to stay put

for longer and reduce the

amount of creasing. If you don’t

have an “official” eye base,

concealer and foundation can

do the trick.

Step 2Using matt finish eyeshadow,

select one of the lightest colours

in your palette, either white or a

cream/ivory shade. Apply all

over your eyelid and blend the

colour lightly up to your brow

bone, keep the heavier layers on

your lid.

Step 3Either with a soft kohl eyeliner

or black/grey eye shadow, draw

a rough line along the contour

between your brow bone and

eyelid. This is easiest with a flat

brush to get the initial line in

place. Once you are happy with

the positioning of your line, use

a round blending brush to pull

the colour along and blend.

Step 4With a black liquid or gel liner,

apply along your lash line as

close to the root as possible.

Flicks for this look are optional,

although going by true Twiggy

style, aren’t a must (some of you

may breathe a sigh of relief

there!).

Step 5 Now using a white eyeliner

pencil, draw along the inner line

of your bottom eyelid. This

opens up your eyes giving them

a wider appearance.

Step 6(Optional) To enhance the wide

eyed look, you can blend and

smudge a small amount of black

or grey kohl eyeliner

underneath your bottom lashes,

again, keeping as close to the

root as possible.

Step 7 Now for the pièce de résistance,

the eyelashes! This is where the

whole look comes together. Coat

your natural lashes with a

generous layer of mascara,

60

12


before applying your strip

lashes. Once they are securely in

place, add another layer of

mascara to your falsies to really

bulk them up.

Step 8With your bottom lashes, the

idea is to get that “clumped”

look. So rather than sweeping

your mascara wand delicately

over your bottom lashes so they

feather beautifully, layer the

mascara on by moving your

wand from left to right, over and

over again. You can even “fake”

few a bottom lashes by using

your liquid liner to draw a few

on yourself.

Step 9

Finish the look by applying your

foundation, powder and a light

dusting of pinky blusher, topped

off with a light shade of lipstick

and voila… enter the age of the

60’s.

HOT TIPWith this time of yearleaving you breathingfrost smoke, why not hotup the look with a boldcolour on the eyelidunderneath the blackcontour instead of themonochrome black andwhite shades.

For a more classic look this

Autumn/Winter, warm up your

features ready to step out in the

frosty and crisp air. Try vamping

up your lips with lots of deep

plums, reds, berrys and even

purples. A very key look for this

time of year when Christmas

do’s are being planned and

booked into your diaries. It’s

probably one of the quickest and

easiest looks to achieve too,

although can require a touch of

bravery.

Watch out for Decembers

Affinity Magazine, where I will

be giving you tips on how to create

an evening look from a day

makeup ready for the Office Party

using these shades.

So with that in mind, here are a

few shades that have been big on

the catwalks this year for the likes

of Gucci and YSL for you to

acquaint yourselves with, until we

meet again next month…

This Seasons Shades -

Introduction

For bookings and enquiries:

[email protected]

www.sabinaventriglia.co.uk

Sabina

13


Owner Gail Walker’s philosophy is “To provide

you with a warm, calm and relaxing

environment in which you can unwind and

leave the stresses and the strains of daily life behind for

a while. Our aim is to keep treatments as natural as

possible at The Retreat while still

providing individual and exceptional

care for you, your skin and your

wellbeing!”

And this is exactly what happened when

I went to trial their new Strawberry

Laser Inch loss treatment. This new

treatment is non-invasive, pain free

with no side effects.

I must say I was very dubious this couldn’t possibly

work in just 10 minutes!

I arrived at the salon to be met by Gail and her staff;

who were all lovely and friendly and made me feel at

ease straight away.

I went into one of the treatment rooms where the whole

procedure was explained to me and my measurements

were then taken (I decided to go for my wobbly

tummy!)

I laid on the couch for 10 minutes with a belt of laser

paddles round my stomach – The procedure was not

uncomfortable it just felt like a nice warm sensation on

my tummy.

Now for the moment of truth - I stand up and I feel as if

my tummy is tighter it feels as if I am holding it in but

I’m not!! But the truth will show on the tape measure –

WOW I have lost an amazing 3 inches, what would I

have lost for the full 20 minutes? I can’t believe this I

look in the mirror and my tummy is

definitely flatter!

And just to prove it wasn’t a fluke and

is for men as well as women my

husband gave it a go and he lost 3.5

inches on his tummy, as I write this 5

days later both of us agree our

stomachs are still flatter!

I can’t rave about this treatment enough it does exactly

what it says – no hidden gimmicks just genuine inch

loss.

If anyone wants to try for themselves before commiting

to the full course give Gail a call and she will be only to

happy to accommodate you for a trial.

The cost is £800 for a course of 8 treatments over a 4

week period (2 per week).

I know what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks leading

up to me fitting into that sexy dress for Christmas!!

For more information or to discuss this or any other

treatments call Gail on:

01234 721187, www.RetreatHarrold.co.uk

Situated in the heart of historic Harrold in thebeautiful North Bedfordshire countryside, you will

find The Retreat. It is a place to unwind, relax andrenew both body and mind.

laser inch

loss hasarrived

Strawberry

14


Relaxing Body &

Beauty Massage

07789 583533

www.massage-bedford.tk

3a Newnham Street, Bedford, MK40 3JR

Near Peacocks Auction house

- Eastern body massage - Facial, Neck,

Shoulder, Back massage - Chinese deep

tissue massage - Swedish Oil Massage -

Aromatherapy - Mix of allOpening Hours:

10am - 10pm

7 days a week

Bedford’s Newest

Beauty Room

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package offer 1back massage mini facial blow dry

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Call: 01234 72 11 87 Click: www.RetreatHarrold.co.uk Visit: 72 High St, Harrold, Bedford, MK43 7BH

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Open four late nights

until 9pm, Saturday’s

& Sunday’s


The Power PlateThe Power Plate is a vibration training device that

features in gyms, training centres and private

studios around the world. The machine was

originally invented for Russian astronauts to

prevent their muscles from wasting away and

their bones from becoming brittle whilst on space

missions. The concept was then modified by Guus

van der Meer in 1999 and in 2000 the Power

Plate was born into the commercial health and

fitness market.

Now the Power Plate is found in over 100

countries around the world and is used by

professional athletes, medical practitioners,

celebrities and personal trainers.

Some of the professional sports teams and

athletes using the Power Plate are Chelsea FC,

Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Lee

Westwood, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and

some of the celebrities include Dannii Minogue,

Claudia Schieffer, Jonathan Ross, Simon Cowell

and Hilary Swank.

So how does it actually work?The Power Plate platform vibrates up and down

by 2 or 4mm, depending on the setting you

choose, at a rate of 25-50 times per second. The

user would stand, squat, lunge, sit, balance, press

up or crunch on the plate whilst the plate is

vibrating. The vibration stimulates an involuntary

reflex muscle contraction which makes the

muscle relax and contract at the same rate the

plate is moving (25-50 times per second). This

phenomenal muscle contraction helps to shape,

strengthen and condition the muscle which can

lead to some truly amazing results.

The Power Plate has recently been certified as a

medical device manufacturer under the European

Medical Devices Directive (MDD) legislation. This

means that all Power Plate products are certified

as safe, reliable and effective for use in a medical

environment. This was a huge step for Power

Plate, it meant that people were taking this

product very seriously and the gimmick of the

‘wonder machine’ was now actually proving to be

true.

I am always asked if vibration training actually

works. I know it does sound too good to be true

but when the product is used correctly the results

speak for themselves. There are research papers

from all around the world to back up the claims

and I want to share with you my top three health

benefits the Power Plate can help you achieve:

There are numerous other benefits to using

vibration training dependent on your specific

goal.

If this hasn’t convinced you about the Power Plate

then come and visit my studio and try it out for

yourself! Christmas is FAST approaching so why

not set yourself a goal for your Christmas party

and use the Power Plate to help achieve it.

16

Last month I shared with you two greatpieces of fitness equipment, this month I

wanted to tell you about a third, myfavourite piece.....

PlatePower


Julie Holl 07808 739651

[email protected]

www.julieholl.co.uk

17

Increased Bone Density

Osteoporosis is reaching

epidemic levels in our

aging population. In July

2006 a study reported

that Osteoporosis is

expected to triple over

the next 50 years. The

Power Plate has proven

to reduce this risk. Not

only does the vibration

strengthen our bones,

making them less brittle

but by using the Power

Plate you increase your

strength and stability

which makes you less

likely to have a fall in the

first place, which could

lead to broken bones.

Increased flexibility:

Personal trainers are always

harping on about the need to

improve your flexibility but

why? Tight muscles can cause

pain and postural problems

which in turn can lead to

injuries and back problems. If

your job requires you to sit for

prolonged periods of time

then your muscles adapt to

that and become tight in

certain areas - particularly

your hips, lower back and

around the neck and

shoulders. Some simple gentle

stretches can reduce these

pains which can also lead to

better posture. If you play

sports you can notice a huge

difference when your body is

more flexible especially sports

such as tennis, golf and

football. By using a Vibration

device you can increase your

flexibility with a few simple

stretches and massage

techniques.

Weight loss

Of course any kind of

exercise can lead to weight

loss but we don’t always

have time to do 3 hours

every week at the gym and

if we’re entirely honest not

all of us actually enjoy it.

However research suggests

that three 30 minutes

sessions on the Power Plate

can reduce your body

weight and body fat

percentage substantially.

I have been training one

lady and she could commit

to just one Power Plate

session per week and she

achieved 41lbs weight loss

in 9 months. (Her success

story can be found on my

website

www.julieholl.co.uk/news/S

uccess-Story---Well-done-

Jo-Bampton/) So if time is

an issue then great results

can still be achieved.


Headaches are quite complex in Ayurveda

as, depending on where they originate,

or the root cause and imbalance in the

body, the treatment will vary. However, if you

have a pounding headache with pain over the

temples, 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice (do not

use during pregnancy) taken no more than three

times a day may well help.

Water with fresh lime, a little salt and sugar act as

natural re-hydration mix and will help relieve a

headache as a result of de-hydration.

Coconut water is also a great hydrator and

therefore, beneficial for recovering faster from a

hangover. It’s very cooling too, so will counteract

the heating effects of excess alcohol.

Don’t forget the liver!

With increased alcohol consumption, along with

complex and heavy meals, the liver comes under

strain. One of the best remedies to protect the

liver and help detoxify the body efficiently, Milk

thistle. But, it will become more effective taken

with a cup of fresh mint tea.

Indigestion & over eating

I have two Ayurvedic remedies for acute

indigestion, both very simple and, effective, using

kitchen remedies, readily to hand and easy to

prepare when you’re feeling rather delicate.

Lime juice:

In a cup of warm water -warm is important -

squeeze the juice of ¼ lime and immediately

before drinking add a ½ teaspoon of baking soda

and knock it back quickly.

Garlic:

To a chopped clove of fresh garlic, add a good

pinch of baking soda before eating it.

Both of these remedies work by alkalising the

digestive system. However, if you suffer from

chronic indigestion, a more potent formula will be

needed to be taken over a longer period of time to

settle the imbalance in the body.

Acid stomach

Add a good pinch of baking soda to 2 tablespoons

of Aloe vera juice or gel which will immediately

relieve the hyperacidity

1 teaspoon of lime juice, ½ teaspoon of sugar and

¼ teaspoon of baking soda added to a glass of

warm water is an excellent natural alka-saltzer.

Again if the Heartburn is chronic, longer term

treatment will be required.

Bloating

The number one remedy for bloating is fennel,

often taken as tea and the gentle aromatic spices

such as cumin and coriander, added to food or

drunk as a tea settle the gut.

If you have difficulty sleeping after eating late or a

rich meal, chamomile tea is used by many

cultures to settle the stomach and induce a

peaceful night’s sleep.

Hangover

Headaches

Carolyn Wood-Herbalist and Naturopath

07944886502ayurvediC HeaLTH TiPTo stimulate digestive juices before a large meal take 1 teaspoon of crushed fresh ginger and add a little

Himalayan rock salt – don’t use table salt, a squeeze of lime would be great too. Take this 15 minutes

before eating. It will really help in digestive complaints.

The Christmas party and festiveseason is fast approaching, atime to forget diets and enjoywonderful food, wine, rich

desserts and no doubt chocolate in abundance. However, if wehave overdone it, help is at hand with some simple store cupboardremedies to aid speedy recovery from over indulgence, hangovers,headaches and indigestion.

Dehydration

18


Beauty Roxanneby

26 Greenview Close, Kempston, Bedford

Beds, MK42 7BG.

Tel: 07872 146804

Email: [email protected]

www.beatybyroxanne.co.uk

I also have a beauty room at:

Savills Hair & Beauty Salon, Potton, Beds.

Beauty by Roxanne has been established

for 3 years.

My aim is to provide you with somewhere you can

be pampered by a friendly, professional and

experienced therapist.

There is a wide range of treatments that you can

choose from including: Facials, Body treatments,

Manicures, Pedicures, Spray tanning, Gel nails,

Eyelash extensions, Waxing and much more.

With all these treatments I only use the highest

quality products, this helps achieve the best results

and leaves you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Mention

Affinity and

receive

10% offfor existing and

new clients

Hypno-Band

▪ How would you like to enjoy all the benefits of a

surgical gastric band, but without the painful surgery

or cost?

▪ The Hypno-Band hypnotherapy system creates a

state of mind where you will believe you actually

have a gastric band fitted!

▪ You will eat smaller portions and still feel satisfied.

▪ The Hypno-band system is a long term solution to

your weight problems.

Contact me today for full details:

07710 493601 [email protected]

www.total-therapy.co.uk

Other services include:Total Therapy

Weight Loss System

Licensed practitioner

Stop Smoking

Weight Loss Program

Anxieties Relaxed Childbirth

Phobias

07867807813

[email protected]

www.fionalouisephotography.co.uk

‘Capture that

Magical Moment

and Treasure it for

a Lifetime’


It’s the time of year

that you don’t need

any excuse to get

dressed up and sparkle!

There’s not many tips really,

but the greatest is:

love what you wear!

Make the most of the

opportunity to embrace

your inner princess and

dress up to the nines but

wear what feels good; if you

end up wearing something

that you don’t feel totally

comfortable in it will show.

Plus you could be in your

outfit for a long time so it

needs to be wearable and if

possible, comfortable.

So, go ahead and sparkle...

time

Prom Dress £65

NextSide Flower SatinBandeau Dress £65www.lipsy.co.uk

Sequin Playsuit £90

Bag £30 Belt £28

Warehouse

Tuxedo Jacket £49, Tuxedo

Trousers £38 M&Co

Corsage Drape Dress

£65 www.lipsy.co.uk

Spot Frill Sleeve Dress

£69 M&Co

Scarlet Red Hot Bow

Cocktail Dress £95

www.itsvintagedarling.com

www.greenandbrown.eu, 0800 9545279

party


Whatever your reason for visiting Claytons,

Bedfordshire’s largest independent men’s and

women’s clothing retailer, you will find yourself in a

shop offering beautiful, stylish, quality products.

Claytons is owned and run by Bev and Tim Garner and Matthew

Sweeting, who work alongside their 10 members of staff in large

open-plan premises on the first floor at Hatters.

Claytons originally opened its doors in 1905 in The Arcade in

Bedford’s town centre. It was a menswear shop until 2005 when

the company added a womenswear department that now stocks

an exciting collection of clothing including labels such as Fenn

Wright Manson, Oui, Pomodoro, Taifun, Nougat and Crew to

name but a few. Gerry Weber and Masai are just two of the new

additions expected in January. Claytons also stocks beautiful

individual evening dresses, ideal for parties, balls, cruises, proms

and weddings, all individually priced and starting from under

£100.

In the spring of 2009 Claytons moved out of The Arcade to its

new home at Hatters , Goldington Road, Bedford. Here the

atmosphere is warm and welcoming; you can browse the clothes

at your leisure and are made to feel relaxed. The members of

staff are extremely helpful and nothing is too much trouble.

Claytons is in the process of extending its giftwear section, which

includes interesting gifts for everyone. New stock is arriving

regularly so if you’re looking for presents this Christmas, or just

because you fancy buying yourself or someone else a gift, then

look no further – you decide.

Within womenswear you will find a beautiful range of individual

jewellery, again very reasonably priced, starting from as little as

£8.95. Other accessories include hats and fascinators as well as a

large selection of scarves.

In the menswear department brands include Polo Ralph Lauren,

Lyle & Scott, Crew, Barbour, Eton, Robert Graham and Barkers

shoes. Claytons offers a range of menswear to suit everyone:

whether it’s traditional or modern, smart or casual, you will find

exactly what you are looking for.

Claytons is definitely worth a visit whether it’s to buy yourself a

stunning dress for a special occasion, add some of this season’s

essentials to your wardrobe (whether you’re male or female) or

buy a gift for a friend, then you need look no further than

Claytons. Everything is under one roof, you can have a coffee

while you’re browsing and you don’t even need to worry about

parking because there is ample FREE parking. Don’t take my

word for it though – go and see for yourself!

Claytons at Hatters

532 Goldington Road

Bedford

MK41 0DX

01234 352429

www.claytonsonline.co.uk


22

just

Sex Drugs And Rock N Roll

necklace £70

www.jupiter-rocks.co.uk

Next scarf £15Next

Babyliss 8 in 1 grooming

system £75

jacamo

Man Tin £6.50

www.berryred.co.uk

Union Jack keyring £6

www.welovebritish.co.uk

Subutteo cufflinks £19.99

www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

Crab cufflinks £32

Hanworth Interiors, Bedford

Vintage Jack weekend

bag £160

www.lilyandlime.co.uk

Wild & Wolf scrabble

flask £17 Debenhams

4 him

Jean-Paul Gautier gift set£39.50 Debenhams


Describe yourself in three words?

Sincere, loyal, patient

Saturday night you can be found where?

Having fun with family and friends, usually at someone's

house. Sometimes in a restaurant. Always somewhere

where one can have a conversation without

having to shout.

Describe your 9 - 5?

It’s actually 8 -6! Interacting with people in out-patients

and trying to spot the ones who would benefit from

having their limbs surgically re-arranged can be great

fun! Other days are spent "doing the deed" in the

operating theatre - my equivalent to a fantastically

kitted out garden shed/workshop. It is challenging as no

two cases are ever the same. It is never "routine". Seeing

patients who are mobile and pain free after their

surgery is very rewarding.

Best holiday destination and why?

It has to be Tanzania. Climbing all 19,341 feet of Mt

Kilimanjaro was both horrendous and fantastic. In doing

so I managed to raise about £2000 for a local hospice.

Going on safari in tented camps with lions prowling

around at night is awesome. The hot air balloon ride

over the Serengeti is unforgettable.

You can’t leave the house without?

My I-phone! Best toy ever invented - and it has some

practical value too.

Describe your ideal woman?

I'm going to invoke the 5th Amendment here - I'm

married.

If you could be anyone or anything dead or alive

what would it be?

A springbok. But I may need to re-consider after the

rugby world cup. (If you hadn't guessed, I'm South

African)

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I'm not sure I could do much - my family would get to

the cash first. With the remaining scraps I would buy a

helicopter, learn to fly it and then travel to all the remote

parts of the world (with my tent). I can't think of a

better way of getting deep into jungles, around

mountain ranges and to desert islands.

What do you love most about your job?

Every day is different with new challenges. The

difference my hands can make to a person's life gives me

a tremendous sense of satisfaction and worth.

Your top 3 movies?

The Bourne Identity, Inception and Finding Nemo!

What 4 people dead or alive would you invite to a

dinner party and why?

Derren Brown - His brand of magic is pure genius and I

would hope to see some close up. Who knows - with a

little help from some wine he might even give away a

secret or two!

Dylan Moran - He has to be the funniest man on the

planet. With him there there would never be an

awkward moment.

My Dad (rest his soul) - To answer all those unanswered

questions about life and the universe. He was a very

wise man.

Nelson Mandela - He is the epitome of what we should

all strive to be. Having him at the table would be such an

honour.

Your most extravagant purchase and why?

It has to be my convertible. Totally useless in England

for 364 days of the year, but it does wonders for the

mid-life crisis!

What makes you stand out in a crowd?

I try not to stand out. I prefer to "people watch".

of the month

Age: 50

Occupation: Orthopaedic Surgeon

Resides: Bedford

Phillip Edge

man

23

Phillip Edge (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon)

The Manor Hospital, Biddenham, Bedford,

07974514793, 01234 369043,

[email protected]


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Opening Hours:

Mon-Fri 10-7.30pm

Sat 10-3pm

Sun 11-2pm

Millfield House, Miller Road, Bedford, MK42 9NZ

For bookings call us now on

01234 [email protected]

Free ParkingGift VoucherTo.....

From.....Body Bronze

£5Can be

used on all

purchases

over £25

Body BronzeBody Bronze

Tanning SalonTanning Salon


Tue & Wed 10am - 6pm

Thu & Fri 12pm - 7.30pm

Sat 10am - 4pm

Bare Beauty

Tel: 01234 360575

Millfield House, Miller Rd, Bedford, MK42 9NZ

Bare BeautyAnita & Jaz at Bare Beauty invite you

to a truly indulgent experience. We offer

treatments for both men and women in a

very professional, yet relaxed

atmospherewhere. The therapists are fully

knowledgeable and approachable.

We pride ourselves in listening to

customer’s needs and tailoring treatments

to suit the individual.

Vouchers are available all year round for

that special occassion, specialist packages

including girls’ parties, wedding packages

and ladies day out pampering.

e-raze tattoo removal

utilises a specially

designed inorganic

chemical remover

developed by Rejuvi

Laboratory California

which is applied in the

same method as the

original tattoo, it's

designed to draw the

tattoo pigment out of the

skin, removing the

unwanted tattoo.

Tattoo removal

for body tattoos

and permanent

cosmetics

Semi Permanent

Make-Up

Call us on: 07971 456636

www.creativebeautybedford.co.uk

15% OFFAll treatments if booked

in Oct/Nov 2011

Creative BeautyAt Creative Beauty my aim is to

ensure all of my clients leave

feeling fantastic and looking

their absolute best.

Semi-permanent make-

up is the perfect way to

accentuate natural

beauty and removes

the need to worry

about touch ups during

your day.

Gift Vouchers

Available For That

Special Christmas Gift


Ingredients

1 lemon cut in quarters

½ gallon apple cider

1 inch knob of fresh ginger

1 orange cut in quarters

1 or 2 (2”) cinnamon sticks

Pinch of allspice (optional)

5 whole cloves

How

to make

Put all ingredients in a non

aluminium saucepan. Place

over a medium heat and bring

to the boil. Reduce heat and

simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain mixture and serve hot

in mugs, or place in a punch

bowl and let guests help

themselves.

Ingredients

15ml raspberry fruit liqueur

25ml spiced or dark rum

15ml lemon juice

100ml pressed apple juice

1 tsp sugar syrup

Dash of cinnamon and nutmeg

How to make

Mix the fruit liquer, rum, sugar

syrup, lemon juice and the warm

apple juice together. Then top

with boiling water and add a

dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish off with a cinnamon stick

to garnish.

Ingredients

28 floz whole milk

7oz unsweetened baking

chocolate

1 cup crème fraîche or heavy

cream

1/3 cup of sugar

Vanilla essence

2 tbsp cocoa powder (sprinkle

on the top)

11/2 cup of fresh or canned

whipped cream (for top)

How to make

Heat up the milk, cream and

sugar over a low heat and let it

simmer – DON’T let it boil.

Take off the heat and add the

chocolate (chopped into

pieces) and vanilla. Stir until

chocolate melts and it

becomes smooth.

Pour into mugs and top with

whipped cream and powered

cocoa.

Ingredients

1 cup black tea

15ml Rum (Amber)

45ml Cointreau

80ml Orange Juice

How to make

Pour all the ingredients

into a pan and heat until it

boils. Serve with a slice of

orange and cloves.

armers

hot mulled cider

raspberry hotspiced rum

sunset tea

chocolat al ‘affinity

It may be freezing outside, butyou can warm up the chillynights with these wintercocktails. We've got a tipple totantalize every taste bud

winter

W

26


This month I’m trying out a

relaxing aromatherapy massage

at J’adore . Everything here is

focused on providing a therapeutic

and holistic range of treatments to

relax the body and mind – nothing

is too much trouble and they do

everything they can to meet your

expectations and ensure your

experience is one to remember.

This is something that I highly

recommend especially if you’re

feeling a little tense and want to

shut the world out and unwind.

The massage takes about 30

minutes and is well worth the time

and money, you come away feeling

as though all the stresses and

strains of life have been taken away,

added to this the delightful smells of

the aromatherapy essential oils

which relax or invigorate you

depending what ones are chosen

between you and your therapist,

this treatment is a must on a regular

basis allowing your body and mind

to re-energise and rebalance.

Donna my therapist made me feel

completely relaxed and worked her

magic with the oils we chose, she

informed me this type of massage is

excellent for tension, stress and

healing it’s a deep pressure massage

and I was so relaxed I was falling

asleep.

I came away from this treatment

feeling as if I could just drift through

the rest of the day without a care in

the world, highly recommended

you’ll be amazed how chilled out

you feel afterwards.

J’adorerelaxation by

Beauty By Chloe

Relaxation By J’adore

This months offers:

45min Dermalogica

Facial & 30min

Aromatherapy Back

Massage only £40.00

Universal

Contour Inch

Loss Wrap only

£40.00

Free Facial

Massage with all

Aromatherapy

Massages

Chloe’s Beauty & Relaxation, 34 St Andrews Road, Bedford, MK40 2LW

Tel: 01234 328 288 www.chloesoames.co.uk

All beauty and relaxation treatments offered &

Gift vouchers available.

Disabled access and free off road parking

Tel: 07710 478 118

Email: [email protected] www.Dancevybz.com

All ages & abilities welcome

WANNA DANCE IN A HIP

HOP CREW AND TAKE PART

IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

COMPETITIONS OR JUST

LEARN DANCE FOR FUN?

Mon-Olney-6pmTue-Harrold-4.30pmWed-Rushden-7pmThur-Bromham-4.30 & 5.30pmFri-Sharnbrook-5, 6 & 7pm

Services we offer:- Home Sitting - Fostering- Pet Taxi - Special Offers

Tel: 01234 343433 Mob: 07904361307www.homealonedogwalking.co.uk

Do winter walkies leaveyou feeling cold, wet

and blue?Then we'll take Doggy

out for you!

Please call 01234 268616 or 07749 [email protected]

Very competitive rates, unbeatablequality and fully insured

Regular or one off cleansat a time to suit you

• Home• Business• Housekeeping• Ironing• Deep cleans

A complete cleaning service

Chloe’s Beauty and Relaxation

Relaxation by J’adore

34 St Andrews Road Bedford

01234 328288


Red Passigatti scarf £9.95Claytons

OuῚ lambswool mix masculinestyle camel coat £215Oui bootleg jeans £99Apanage navy & carameltop £69.95Claytons

See off the plummeting temperatureswith this season’s coats all courtesyof Claytons (within Hatters,Goldington Rd, Bedford)

Faux fur leopard print hat £27www.forherfromyou.co.uk

Faux fur hat in Moscow £32

www.forherfromyou.co.uk

OuῚ faux fur feather look with tiebelt gilet £159

Apanage white frill blouse £89.95Oui black leather trousers £199

Claytons

Camel faux fur trapperHat £27www.forherfromyou.co.uk

Wrap Up

Faux fur scarf assorted

colours & styles £29.95

Claytons


Faux fur ear muffs £12


Faux fur boot topper

in Moscow £20


Taupe baby alpaca wrap £59.95

www.pressies4princesses.co.uk

Black boiled wool coat withfaux fur detachable collar £149

Red & black animal printApanage top £69.95Claytons

Taifun shaped camel coat

with button detail & feature

collar £250

Claytons

Fenn Wright Manson graphitegrey wool & cashmere mixmilitary style coat £349Claytons

Barbour black jacket £129.95Passigatti scarf £44.95

Claytons

Multi-coloured Passigatti

scarf £24.95

Claytons


It's not always easy being a teenager! It's not

always easy being a parent to a teenager!

Trying to communicate with a monosyllabic

teenager is every parent's worst nightmare.

One psychologist likened the teenage experience

to the launch of a space craft. With 12 years or so

of training behind him, a boy makes his way to the

launch pad. He climbs aboard Adolescent One as

his parents bite their nails back at Mission

Control.

The engines roar into life and their son rockets

into the stratosphere. And then... they lose all

contact with the space ship. His mother is

beside herself. He'd promised to ring

when he got to the moon and anyway,

has he forgotten his dental

appointment next Tuesday?

But there's no communication.

Nothing. Well, not exactly nothing: the

radio operator manages to pick up what

sound like grunts – though nobody can decipher

them. The years go by until a whole decade has

passed and suddenly – signals from outer space!

He's still alive!

More remarkably, he's discovered the power of

speech again – whole sentences are heard. The

parents watch as his capsule bursts into earth's

atmosphere. All their fears are over: their boy is

back!!!!!!!!

If we've done our job well, the sorrow of losing

our children to adulthood will be sweet sorrow. If,

however, we are living with conflict in the home,

fighting with our teenagers over different values,

battling for our personal standpoints, and using

our parental role to enforce our authority, then

we may lose our children to more than adulthood

- we may lose them altogether.

And if we don't solve our differences now, we may

miss our last chance.

Adolescence can be tough on parents, but it's not

easy for the teenagers either. Everything is

changing.

Have you ever wondered why teenagers are so

physically awkward? The reason is that different

parts of their body grow at different

rates: you'd be awkward too if your

head, hands and feet grew faster than

the rest of you! And recent research

shows that even their brains are

changing. The part of the brain that

gives us the ability to make sound

judgments is one of the last bits to

develop.

That's why teenagers simply can't understand the

logic of not going out with their friends tonight,

so as to be fresh for the exam tomorrow.

But the changes aren't just physical; teenagers are

on a journey into independence – though they

desperately need to know their parents are still

there for them. The psychological goal of

adolescence is to become independent from

parents and establish their own identity and

place within society. This involves building their

own friendships and controlling their own

emotional responses. Making their own decisions30

“holdme tightly as i

grow, but pleasedon’t let me see

you holdingme”

Copingwith

teenagers

On the

Couch


and moral choices based on consequences and

conscience rather than fear of punishment.

Developing their own beliefs and plans for the

future. It is an exciting time for teenagers, but also

a very scary and challenging one. A time when the

support and encouragement of parents is

paramount to their successful transition into

adulthood.

How to cope

Pick your battles – if we choose to fight every

battle – untidy bedroom, bad attitude, homework,

blue hair, curfews, choice of clothes –not only will

our teenagers believe we're always on their backs,

but they'll never understand which of these issues

really do matter to us. We have to fight the most

important battles – and take the hit in the

popularity stakes – but we can't fight them all.

Don't - read school reports as a prophecy of a

teenager's future life, with some teenagers the

academic battle will be both bloody and lengthy,

for it is here that the long-term view of the parent

(university, career path, marriage, children,

comfortable retirement) and the short-term view

of the teenager (watching Eastenders, going out

tonight) come into sharpest conflict.

We know the value of an education, so we cajole

and bribe and yell. Nevertheless, in the midst of

all this course-work warfare, we should

remember a vital principle: don't read the score

at half time!

Be There - contrary to how it may seem at times,

your teenager does want to talk to you. But you

need to let it be in their time and at their own

pace.

Be Consistent - research shows that consistent

limits and boundaries which also respect the

young person's boundaries will best help them to

create their own sense of security whilst in inner

turmoil.

Be Approving – research has confirmed that both

males and females have higher self esteem in

early adolescence if they know that they have the

approval and support from their families.

Be Reassuring - a lot of teenagers are scared by

the feelings they're experiencing and the new

responsibilities that they have to take on. They

need lots of reassurance that they're not going

mad and they will cope.

Be Patient - while teenagers are trying to find the

right balance of behaviour and independence,

they often swing too far in the opposite direction.

But in time, the pendulum will swing back and

settle in a more comfortable position.

Be Ready - to discuss the rationale behind your

behaviour and your rules. Remember that they

are learning from you how to be and think like an

adult.

Be Honest - sometimes you will feel stressed and

emotional yourself. Don't be afraid of letting your

teenager know how you feel. Each time you do,

you're showing them that it's ok not to be perfect

and it's ok not to have all the answers.

Be Gentle - even though your teenager may act as

though they're indestructible, they're emotions

are still very fragile - so handle with care.

Be Loving - remember that while your child may

seem to be pushing you away, they still need your

love. A teenagers silent plea is often "hold me

tightly as I grow, but please don't let me see you

holding me!”

Remember this is only a phase. It is normal for

teenagers to drift away from and even reject

their parents. But it's also normal for them to

come back and develop a meaningful

relationship that will last the rest of your lives.

31


32

In 2013 Captain Nemo strides onto the big screen

in David Fincher’s remake of 20,000 leagues

under the sea, so let’s hope he’ll have a pair of

these Sony

DEV-5s slung around his neck.

The world’s first digital binoculars are not only

capable of recording in HD but also 3D. Add in

zoom, autofocus and steadyshot and you have all

the refinements an inhumane scientific genius,

hellbent on hunting down innocent craft and

inflicting seaweed cigars on the world, could

want! They are in the shops from this month, just

in time for Christmas.

the Ultimate Spyware

This Month – A tale of two journeys.

Last week I endured a return journey to London

with our trusted local rail service. Through no

choice of my own, I was forced to stand all of the

way there, and yes you guessed it, all of the way

back. Part of my hot cramped journey to hell and

back was entertained by two middle aged

gentlemen loudly surmising the decline of Britain

and generally giving it a whole lot of ‘this

wouldn’t have happened in my day’, followed by a

very large slice of ‘we used to rule the world,

whatever happened’. The conversation got me

thinking and for a short moment I almost agreed

with my fellow packed sardines but then my mind

wandered to this century’s greatest and most

important development, maybe even mankinds

greatest leap forward – the Internet.

It is very easy to subscribe to the school of

thought that it’s America that leads the way

forward in the tech world; Facebook, Google,

Microsoft and Apple alone make this hard to

refute but let us not forget that it was an

Englishman, Tim Berners-Lee who over 20 years

ago invented the internet. Once again the

Englishman tinkering away with a vision and a

passion takes a leap of faith and takes the first

steps forward into a new age. We’ve had the Stone

Age, Bronze Age and Industrial Age to name a

few; but in the future when our distant relatives

look back at our time this will be the Information

Age or Technological Age where we laid the

foundations for what was to come, and it will be

Tim Berners-Lee who is remembered for this. An

Englishman who invented the internet and rather

than make millions from its use, presented it to

mankind for free with no patent or ownership

and changed the way we exist in an exponential

way.

We may moan about this little Island not being

what it once was and to a certain degree be

correct but if there is one thing for sure, it doesn’t

matter if it is music, entertainment, science,

technology or discovery the people that inhabit it

reach far and wide and drag the world forward

with us. Tim Berners-Lee has changed the way we

communicate, connect, shop, bank, work and find

love and I just for one moment wish I had put my

thought’s aloud to aforementioned gentlemen but

that just isn’t the English way!

Leigh Millard, Banilla Web Applications

www.banilla.co.uk

f the WebOBest


Irecently went to Spain to watch the best team

in the world, Spain, play Scotland in a qualifier.

Scotland must be the only nation that gets an

allocation of 1,600 tickets and yet manage to have

12,000 of the 30,000 fans inside the stadium are

Scottish.

Absolutely amazing support and although Spain

were different class on the night, those fans never

stopped encouraging their team from start to

finish. I really went over to see Craig Mackail-

Smith play and after scoring his first goal for

Scotland in the previous game when they won 1-

0, I was very proud that one of our players had

done so well against the World Champions.

I am sure Craig Mackail-Smith has a great

international future after his impressive display.

Talking about crowds, we at Peterborough have

been punching way above our weight for several

years now. We continue to be the ‘entertainers’ of

the Football League. However in our recent game

against Cardiff City, where we won 4-3 in a seven -

goal thriller, our crowd was the lowest in the

Championship all season of only 6,300.

Although the Posh fans have been magnificent

home and away, Darren Ferguson’s side deserves

much better support than what we are getting at

the minute. In fact, the same evening the crowd in

a Conference game, Luton Town v Wrexham was

7,500 so it just goes to show you it can be done.

Also, Stuart Pearce, the England under 21

manager called Ryan Bennett into his squad for

their qualifying game in Norway, which again, for

Peterborough to have an England under 21

international is miraculous. Long may it continue.

Up the Posh!

33

Barry Fry

Fry’sfootie corner


Bedford Swan Hotel will be hosting an 18th Century

beer and food festival from November 3rd - 6th.

The Coach Room, alongside The Embankment, will be

filled to overflowing with 30 real ales, ciders and

perries as well as locally - sourced Taste Real Food

dishes.

Entrance is just £3 per head, which includes a

branded glass and beer guide (free entrance for

members of CAMRA Campaign for Real Ale and Taste

Real Food Members).

Thursday 3rd - a celebration of the Earl of Sandwich

with White Park Sirloin (12 noon to 1am)

The sandwich was named after the 4th Earl of

Sandwich who first asked for his meal of meat to be

tucked between two slices of bread so he could carry

on playing cards.

Friday 4th - Sausages to go with the beer and the

sounds of a 10 piece "Decibels of Bedford Town

Band" - local musicians with an international

reputation plus other entertainment. (12 noon - 1am)

Venison and sausages will be on sale - including some

of those in the Bedford's Best Traditional Sausage

competition which is being launched at this event

Saturday 5th - Music from Pearl Handled Revolver &

other entertainment. (12 noon – 1am) Merry Ale and

Taste Real Food to sample from a produce sale.

Sunday 6th - Live Jazz music over lunch time with

other entertainment. (12pm - 10pm) Plus a feast

table to tuck into including Gloucester old spot pork

and Greensand Ridge lamb.

Call (01234) 346656 or

www.bedfordswanhotel.co.uk

Join Taste Real Food at www.tasterealfood.com

Bedford Swan Hotel

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Wow, what a month! My first month as

President of Beds Business Women has

already proven to be productively hectic and

lots of fun. We have almost 100 new members for a

brand new year of networking events. Thank you to all

existing members for rejoining and new members who

have come on board. We look forward to welcoming

you all.

40 ladies booked onto our first network session of the

new season in October. The novel event entailed

travelling between two venues for lunch, networking

throughout the journey. A key element is member’s

one-minute business presentations about their

business. I emphasis the importance of using the time

to tell members what you do, what exciting plans you

have for the month and what business you are looking

to do . Attendance is vital for report and report is vital

to pick up new business. Thank you Barfordian

Coaches who gave their support for our October

Networking Trawl.

BBW awards will be approaching their 13th successful

year on Thursday 17th November. They aim to salute

and recognise the success of women in business across

the county. The venue Bedford Blues Rugby Club is a

perfect marquee setting and for a daytime event has

attracted almost 200 male and female guests. The

excellent Lara Morgan will be our guest speaker – In

her 19 years in the business, Lara revolutionised the

hotel amenities industry, built a successful, forward-

thinking organisation, faced some very tough

decisions, and finally sold her majority stake for £20

million. Guaranteed to be a sell out, it will be an

excellent networking opportunity, chance to meet new

faces and the ability to create new business. Ticket

prices are £25 for members, £30 non-members or

£250 for a table of ten. Book your place before

Thursday 10th November on the www.beds-

businesswomen.org. I would like to thank our judges

for this year Ian Pryce – Principal of Bedford College,

Ian Cording – Chairman of Federation of Small

Businesses and Sam Pirani Commercial Director of

Premier Newspapers.

I am pleased to report that BBW members are already

working together – I for one have my new beauty

business at The Embankment Hotel, launched a new

jewellery range in my salon courtesy of Splash Out

Accessories, introduced Creative Beauty’s semi

permanent make up services to 5th Avenue to

compliment Botox and Chemical Peel services offered

by Enhance Cosmetic Solutions. I am looking forward

to hearing successful business report with my BBW

team.

My salon 5th Avenue join forces with Bedford based

businesses, many of them BBW members for the Keech

Toy Drive 2011. We raise lots of money for the children

of Keech and drop off presents at Christmas time. All

sponsors have toy drop off bins and ask for your

support with a donation of a brand new toy with a

minimum value of £5.00.

We were tickled pink with the generosity of Bedford

Blues fans and BBW members at the rugby club’s

annual Ladies day to support breast cancer awareness.

The 5th Avenue’s team members offered hair and

beauty services in the marquee and raised £870.00 on

the day.

Here are some diary dates that I strongly recommend:

Friday 4th - November Firework Display at

Biggleswade Town Football club proceeds to St Johns

Hospice, Moggerhanger.

Thursday 17th November - BBW Business Awards

2011, 11am-2.30pm.

Friday 19th November Charity Ball for St Johns

Hospice at The Sharnbrook Hotel.

Our BBW Christmas network will be on Thursday 15th

December with guest presenter Heather Dallas at The

Horse & Jockey, Ravensden.

Keep a fresh eye on what’s new, don’t forget to “like”

our new Beds Business Women Facebook Page to keep

you in the loop. I look forward to sharing all new news

and give you the update about the network trawl in my

next write up.

See you soon.

Kerry Cash

President BBW

www.beds-businesswomen.org

For enquiries - [email protected]

42


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44

Working in Education we are often asked by parents what they can do to help

their child learn and of course there are many different things parents can do,

but one of the simplest yet most effective ways to help children learn is

through reading.

Whatever the age of your child, reading is

not only beneficial to their learning but

also fun and something that can be

enjoyed by the adult as well as the child. Tiny

children and toddlers enjoy curling up on a

parent’s knee and having a ‘story’ read to them.

They may not understand it all but they will take

in the way we read from left to right, enjoy

pointing at pictures and make associations

between certain pictures and words. It’s no

surprise that many families read stories just

before bedtime as it is an immensely soothing

activity. Even as adults the idea of curling up by

the fire with a good book will be appealing to

many. Don’t rush young children to read simply

enjoy the story and they will be learning lots

simply through listening to you read to them.

As children grow they obviously learn more about

words as well as pictures and it is often helpful to

point out particular words. As most parents know

young children love repetition and there is a great

sense of security to be found in familiarity. It isn’t

unusual for young children to want the same

story read to them night after night they will

enjoy the predictability and may enjoy ‘reading’

some parts with you.

When sharing a book, it is also great for learning

to talk about what you are reading, ask your child

Relishing

reading


For more information on programmes to help with reading : 07921193479

[email protected] www.attunededucation.com

what they think might happen next or have

discussions about similar experiences they may

have, for example “do you remember when we

went on the train to visit grandma”.

As children grow the stories you read with them

often become more complex but it is really

important to make sure that reading is still fun. As

children are learning to read they will often bring

books home from school that they have to read,

but until a child is a confident reader they will

still enjoy stories being read to them as well.

Comprehension levels are often way ahead of

their own reading ability which means that they

will still enjoy and learn from a story that you

read to them which may be something they

wouldn’t be able to read at all on their own. Even

when children can, technically, read the words in

the book it takes a lot of concentration for them to

read, often having to stop to sound out words that

are unfamiliar, and still hold onto the ‘plot’. It is

useful then to separate the reading they do and

the soothing bedtime story, or exciting adventure

story that you read to them,

As children get older, it is helpful to remember

that reading doesn’t just happen with books,

many children enjoy magazines and lots of

computer games can involve reading as well, and

of course social media and texting all involve

reading activity

One of the most important factors in encouraging

your own children to read is simply role

modelling it yourself. If they see you enjoying

books and reading they are much more likely to

want to do it themselves. So it is important to

make sure there are a variety of books and other

reading materials in the home.

We are very lucky today to have some brilliant

children’s authors and simply no shortage of good

books to suit all tastes. Reading stories that their

friends have read is a great way to get children

talking about books and stories and many schools

have ‘book days’ when children can dress up as

characters from their favourite stories etc.

We are all aware that children are naturally

inquisitive and love asking questions. Reading,

quite literally, opens up new horizons to them. I

remember reading ’Journey to the River Sea’ by

Eva Ibbotson with my daughter who then wanted

to look up where the Amazon river was in an

atlas.

The importance of reading to learning is being

recognised more and more and many schools

encourage parents to read with their child every

day even if just for ten minutes.

But of course I am also aware that a number of

children and young people struggle with reading.

Like anything we find difficult it becomes

something we try to avoid. As a parent if you

think your child is having trouble with their

reading it is worth discussing this with their

teacher. But if at all possible try to avoid reading

becoming a battleground. Each child is different

but if your child shows reluctance to read

themselves it is important you keep reading to

them, while also encouraging them to read or

investigating why they may be reluctant. There

are different reasons why children struggle with

reading but for many, they may have simply

missed the connections between letters and

sounds or perhaps struggled with blending

sounds together. The importance of phonics to

reading is now well recognised and the

government are now suggesting phonic

assessments for children at certain ages.

Programmes are available to help children with

reading and spelling or indeed to help adults who

have struggled with reading.

It is very easy to be tempted to think we can help

our children learn through buying the latest

electronic gadgets or complicated software, and

these have there place but reading is still an

activity that almost all children will benefit from

AND relish. It doesn’t take a huge time

commitment, is relatively cheap and can be done

almost anywhere. So if you want to invest in your

child’s learning……get reading.

45


the Fox at Carlton

46

the Chase restaurant

incorporating the opening of

Welcome to.......


Situated in the rural

Bedfordshire countryside in

the village of Carlton is The

Fox, it’s full of character,

wonderfully cosy and friendly.

The Fox Inn has always been a

village pub, but now they wish to

promote the opening of the new

separate restaurant called The

Chase. Their aim is to bring you

homemade food whilst you wait,

using fresh local produce, with a

varied menu that changes all the

time, so we decided to try it for

ourselves.

As soon as we walked through the

door David our host couldn’t have

made us feel any more welcome,

there were already a couple of other

diners in the restaurant, even

though it was early and they were

keen to recommend different dishes

to us. The plans for The Fox are not

only to promote the restaurant but

they are adding theme nights

including Tapas, Greek Mezze and

one that we will definitely be

attending The Medieval Banquet on

12th November. They also serve a

delicious Sunday Lunch.

Not only do they cater for functions

such as wakes, anniversaries,

birthdays etc they also hold a yearly

beer festival as well as stocking real

ale, the car park is exceptionally

large so there’s no worry of arriving

and struggling to find parking.

Now lets look at this delicious menu

and see what tempts us, this is a

very difficult decision it is making

my mouth water just reading it but

after much deliberating and the

help of the other diners we opted

for Ham Hock terrine with warm

bread and homemade piccalilli and

Beer Battered Calamari served with

spicy mayo dip and garnish. The

strong tangy taste of the homemade

piccalilli combined with the ham

hock on fresh home baked bread

was absolutely heavenly. The batter

on the calamari was light and crisp

allowing the tender flavours of the

fresh calamari to come through,

simply divine.

The mains looked just as wonderful

Rainbow Trout pan-fried in white

wine, lemon and garlic sauce, oven

roasted with almonds and served

with seasonal veg and it didn’t

disappoint the trout was so fresh

and tender, the sweetness of the

white wine sauce with the flavours

of the almonds and fish were

impeccable. My husband opted for

The Fox Mixed Grill – burleys

sausage, minute steak, bacon,

homemade burger, tomatoes,

mushrooms and hand cut chips this

certainly didn’t disappoint, the

burger was totally homemade and

the steak was cooked rare exactly

how he had asked for it – his words

not mine ‘ you will never taste

another sausage like this’ absolutely

delicious!

The food was delightful and so tasty

that I though I wouldn’t be able to

fit in a homemade dessert but then I

saw the chocolate mousse that was

on offer and forced myself!!!! It was

a chocolate lover’s heaven and just

melted in the mouth. My husbands

choice was the Homemade Lemon

meringue pie with homemade ice

cream his comment “The

best/tastiest lemon meringue I have

ever tasted’ (quite a compliment

from someone who himself was a

chef for 15 years!)

This is the kind of meal you expect

to find in a top class London

Restaurant, I can’t sing its praises

enough and the prices are so

reasonable starters are £4.50 and

mains average £10.

Go and discover this hidden Gem

with absolutely delicious food for

yourself, I guarantee you will not be

disappointed and will return time

and time again!

The Fox

35 High Street Carlton

MK43 7LA

01234 720235

www.thefoxatcarlton.co.uk

47


Chicken & Rosemary

Stew

‘’The Don’s Delicious Dining’ is exclusive to Affinity, eachmonth ‘The Don’ will be sharing delicious recipes foryou to WOW your family and friends with!!If you would like the services of ‘The Don’ for privatedining in your own home, please contact him at

[email protected]

Ciao everyone!

This month I bring you a very

traditional Italian dish which is

cooked toward the winter months.

It is not so much a restaurant dish

but one that is cooked in many

homes in Italy.

A wonderful ingredient is spelt. It is a nutritious

grain used as far back as the ancient Egyptians.

It has a deep nutlike flavour.

You can find it in your local health shop. It can be

used in many of the same ways as wheat

including bread and pasta making (lovely in

soups). If you have a wheat intolerance this is a

good substitute and works well with most

people.

There are variations to this stew but I have

found that this works so well with the

ingredients mentioned , they all seem to come

together and give a wonderful flavour.

You have to admit it looks lovely, and is so quick

to prepare as well.

48


Recipe

6 skinless & boneless

(optional) chicken thighs

250g peeled potatoes, cut into

quarters lengthways

2 sliced onions

2 tbls pearled spelt

2 crushed garlic

cloves

2 good size sprigs of

rosemary chopped

2 tbs aged balsamic

500ml chicken stock

3 tbs olive oil

Chopped parsley

Ingredients

Heat the oven to 190� gas

mark 5.

Fry the chicken thighs in a

little olive oil to seal the

flavour and brown them.

Scoop out of pan.

Add the onions and cook till

soft.

Add the Balsamic vinegar.

Add the rest of the ingredients

Bring to a simmer.

Transfer into a casserole dish.

Place in the oven for

approximately 1 hour.

Get the family or friends

around the table put in some

chopped flat leaf parsley and

serve.

BUON APETITO!49


Annie’ssticky toffee pudding

Ingredients

8oz chopped dates

2tsp bicarbonate of soda

8oz butter

8oz caster sugar

4 eggs

8oz self raising flour

Sauce

4oz butter

4oz dark brown sugar

½ pint double cream

MethodPut dates in a pan and cover with water, bring to

boil and simmer until soft. Take off heat and add

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda and leave to cool

completely.

Cream together butter and sugar, then beat in

the eggs. Stir in the cooled dates and fold in the

flour.

Put into a buttered baking dish (approx 7” x 10”)

and bake for approx 50 – 60 mins on 190C or

Gas mark 5.

Whilst in oven make the toffee sauce, gently

simmer the butter, dark brown sugar and double

cream in a pan until it looks like toffee.

Pour half the sauce over the pudding and place

back in the oven for 5 Minutes.

Remove and serve pouring over even more toffee

sauce.

When you're in a stylish society, you want to appear

knowledgeable about your table manners, your cutlery

and don’t forget your wines. You must be able to

distinguish between the soup spoon and the dessert

spoon. You need to know enough not to put your elbows

on the table. And last but not least you must be able to

talk about sparkling wine, as it is different from

champagne.

Actually, in a sense, champagne is not different from

sparkling wine, because all champagnes are sparkling

wines. However, not all sparkling wines are champagnes.

Feeling confused?

A sparkling wine is a carbonated wine. It is called

'carbonated' because it contains a large amount of

dissolved carbon dioxide, which is the same stuff that

imparts the fizz and sizzle to popular drinks like Coke.

Champagnes too, have a fizz similar to your Coke. They

are carbonated during the second fermentation stage

(double fermentation) of the grapes, which is once more

than what normal wines have.

Thus, Champagne is a sparkling wine in this sense of the

word. But you can't call any sparkling wine champagne.

In fact, the name 'champagne' is legally protected in

many countries in Europe and elsewhere, so people can

sue you if you falsely label your product as champagne.

We all know champagne is the most well known and one

of the costliest of the sparkling wines in the world, but

there are many other sparkling varieties of exotic wines

produced in other countries and regions, that are very

good in their own right. For example, there's the

excellent Sekt of Germany and the distinguished Cava of

Spain. The Spumante of Italy also has a long and

distinguished tradition among sparkling wines. The Cap

Classique of South Africa is not a very old variety, but

some people prefer it to the European brands.

So when you want to

celebrate any occasion with

champagne but your purse

isn't up to the mark to buy the

genuine stuff, you can try one

of these not-so-pricey and

great quality sparkling wines

instead of indulging in fake

champagne at a cheaper price.

This is just what you want for a cold winter’s

evening, cosy and comforting and indulgent.

You might need a brisk walk afterwards

though!

Sparkling Wine

ChampagneV

Walter Petipierre

Wine & Champagne Critic


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Jamie Oliver Mugs £8.99 each

Debenhams

Pink Pig Torch £4.99

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Wind up Robbie Robot

£16 Hanworth Interiors

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Origami £11

Hanworth Interiors

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Pirate Island £12.50

Hanworth Interiors

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Pirate Ship £12

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SAUSAGE ROCKETS

Make your bonfire night go witha bang, with these delicious

sausage treats.

Ingredients8 large sausages

1 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp golden syrup

225g ready to roll puff pastry

Beaten egg to glaze

Sesame seeds

Red and orange pepper

MethodWith a little adult help grill the sausages until

golden all over. Cool. Heat the oven to 220C or

gas mark 7.

Insert a wooden skewer through each sausage.

Place on a plate. Mix together the soy sauce and

golden syrup and brush over the sausages.

Unwrap one sheet of pastry and cut into 8 strips

from the shorter end. Wrap around the

sausages in a spiral, taking care not to stretch

the pastry, place on a baking sheet and brush

with egg glaze then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden.

Cut each pepper in half then cut out triangles

and insert them in the tips of the skewers. You

may like to insert a further longer wooden

barbecue skewer to make the spirals look more

like rockets.

stocking

fillers

Boys Personalised Bracelet £6.50

www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.com

Wooden pop-up toaster

£8.50

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G

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Cheery little flowers, each a perfect circle of

pretty petals, primulas are usually associated

with the springtime.

But, there is in fact a primula for almost every

season: this pink variety, pictured, is evergreen

and blooms in deepest, darkest winter.

They are very rewarding plants to grow, flowering

for months on end and requiring very little

maintenance; many types can be seen growing

quite happily in the wild with no TLC at all.

Coming in the appealing range of colours, from

deep purple and maroon through to pink, scarlet

and numerous shades of yellow, cream and white,

you can find a variety to suit virtually every area

of your garden, from sun traps to shady spots.

Pictures and information from the RHS book

Garden Plants and Flowers Through the Year, by

Ian Spence and published by Dorling Kindersley,

Hardback £16.99

Primula

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Flower of the month

Prune established apple and

pear trees (excluding fans,

pyramids, cordons and espaliers).

Remove any dying, dead or diseased

branches.

New hardy trees, shrubs, roses and

climbing plants can be planted

during mild spells.

Insulate greenhouses and check

heaters and thermostats are

working properly.

Continue to plant tulip bulbs until

the end of this month, plant them in

patio containers or directly into the

garden.

Toadstools often appear on lawns

at this time of year. They don’t tend

to do any harm, but remove them if

you have small children around.

Raise all patio containers onto pot

feet to stop them from water

logging and put new compost on

the top if needed.

November is the last chance to

plant out winter bedding such as

daisies. Forget-me-nots, wallflowers

and winter flowering pansies.

November tips


Pruning

Crown Lifting

Crown Reduction

Tree Removal

Crown Thinning

Sectional Dismantling

Stump Grinding

Hedge Work

Garden Clearance

Tel: 01234 330796

Mobile: 07866 554673

Email : [email protected]

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undertaken is carried out with

respect for you and your property.

Please call for a Free quote

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With a supermini’s emissions, the Evoque

is set to end Land Rover’s gas-guzzling

reputation once and for all. Factor in

stunning looks, handling closer to that of a sporty

coupé than a 4x4, and all the ride comfort and

sophistication you’d expect from a Range Rover

and it’s as breathtaking to look at as it is to drive.

Whether you pick the stunning coupe or a

practical 5-Door model, the Range Rover Evoque

brings dynamic handling and styling to the classic

Range Rover Package of luxury and all terrain

performance.

As you would expect from a Range Rover, the

interior features high quality materials and

craftsmanship, allowing customers to specify a

lavishly appointed cabin with soft leather and

beautiful tailoring. There is also an array of

options from alloy wheels in alternative finishes

to illuminated aluminium and chrome tread

plated to personalise it further.

Technology lovers aren’t left out with an 8-inch

high definition touch screen display with optional

dual view technology that allows a passenger to

watch a DVD whilst the driver follows the

navigational instructions.

But how does it drive? Combining both style and

54

It’s one of 2011’s most eagerlyanticipated new cars.

This model rewrites the 4x4 rulebook –much like the original Range Rover did

in 1970.

The Range Rover Evoque


55

substance, the Range Rover Evoque offers sure

footed capability in challenging on and off road

conditions – using a unique combination of

technologies to maximise performance and comfort

– including a Terrain Response system with settings

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The Range Rover Evoque represents accessible,

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Acceleration: 0-60mph in

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Gareth GatesGenie-us

56


Pop and musical theatre star Gareth

Gates, fresh from his critically acclaimed

role in the 25th anniversary tour of Les

Miserables, will be taking panto-goers on

a magical carpet ride this Christmas in the title

role of Aladdin. In this years fun-packed family

pantomime at Milton Keynes Theatre (09 Dec–15

Jan)

Since catapulting to teen idol status back in 2002

in the original Pop Idol, Gareth has enjoyed a

succession of number one singles, including his

version of Unchained Melody, the 2nd best selling

single of the 90’s, and his success hasn’t stopped

since. In 2008, Gareth donned the sequins and

lycra to take part in the hit TV show Dancing on

Ice, before making a change in musical direction

by accepting the lead role in Joseph and His

Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - an ideal start to

his theatrical career. During this time Gareth also

tackled his first pantomime as Prince Charming,

in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre. In

2009 Gareth wowed audiences up and down the

country as he took the role of Marius in the 25th

anniversary tour of Les Miserables.

We caught up with Gareth for a chat about panto,

bands and his plans for the future

You’ve recently finished a Worldwide and

West End tour of Les Miserable, where you

played Marius, now you’re playing Aladdin

which is a completely different character, what

would you say is the difference between the

two in your attitude to rehearsals, Is it just as

grueling for panto? Is panto more fun?

Sure it is, Marius was a great venture for me, I am

quite new to theatre I had done Joseph prior to

that then I did Les Mis which again was very

different, being new to acting I am sort of learning

on the job. Les Mis was the best type of show to

learn on the job, going through a whole range of

emotions and it served me very very well, I really

enjoyed it. Panto’s different, it’s much more fun

and less rigid and the audience interaction is

quite refreshing after doing a job like Les Mis for

so long. Equally though, I approach both jobs as a

professional I am just as enthusiastic and hard

working –the reason I do panto is it’s great fun

and a great release

I read that you’ve recently formed a new band,

is that right?

Yes that’s right. We were hoping to have some

new material out by now but I’ve just been too

busy, it’s something we are all very passionate

about so I think it’s going to happen next year

now, possibly mid year

Have you got a name for the band yet?

No that’s something we’re thinking about, we’re

starting from scratch, the idea came about when I

was on stage at a gig with the band who play with

me and it was going so well I just thought I’m at

my happiest here I’m at my best here so why not

perform in a band with these guys, so, yes it’s very

organic we are going to write everything together

and find a name and find a direction then we’ll be

ready to release some stuff.

So are you saying you miss the whole

singing/record industry thing?

Yes when I’m in theatre I do and vice versa when

I go back into singing/recording I miss theatre. I

will always want to juggle the two from now on – I

enjoy both jobs, if you can call it a job, well

actually it’s very hard work so yes you can Ha ha

So in comparison how does the two compare

in regards to rehearsals, time spent away from

home and your family?

It’s a mixture, I did a year with Les Mis on tour

then six months in the West End. Whilst I was on

tour I was away from home, although my family

came with me when they could, but when I was

performing in the West End I was able to live at

home so it really depends on what sort of theatre

you’re doing, as a recording artist it’s very much

all travelling and not really having a base for a

little while which is quite hard because I have a

daughter now and I don’t want to spend that

much time away from her

So will she come and watch you in panto?

Absolutely yes, this will be the first year she’ll

understand what’s going on, one of her favourite

Disney movies is Aladdin and so Daddy will be

Aladdin this year and I think she’ll be really

excited.

Previously you’ve appeared in Cinderella and

Snow White, is there a panto that you would

love to appear in?

Every year I get asked that and I have always said

Aladdin so here I am, I don’t think there’s many

other roles for me there’s Dick Whittington, Jack

and the Beanstalk – but Aladdin is my favourite.

57


Finally Gareth what’s in store for you after

Aladdin?

There’s a fair few things happening that I can’t say

about yet – however watch this space!

One thing I am doing in the very near future is

recording a documentary on stammering for the

BBC it’s called Gareth Gates stammer house, we

are getting six stammerers and they are going to

join me and Chris on the Maguire programme. We

are going to teach them how to gain control of

their stammering and follow them in their real

lives afterwards as well , we will help coach them

and monitor their progress, and that’s happening

very soon

Very very soon?

Yes, I think it’s on mid November, we start

recording in two weeks – Also something else that

is quite exciting is I have just opened my own

performing arts school in Bradford, myself and

Jonathon Wilkes have joined forces

(www.gateswilkesacademy.com) we run a few of

these groups and I thought whilst I’m in Milton

Keynes I would love to look at bringing one here,

particularly as we are doing Aladdin which is a

child based show. There may well be some

children in the audience who have that desire to

perform, so yes we are hopefully going to open

that .We have got so much out of this industry it’s

about giving back and giving children the chance

to perform. We know lots of people in the

industry lots of experts, actors, singer’s

choreographers etc who will be involved so it’s a

very exciting venture.

Aladdin is on between 9th December – 15th

January at Milton Keynes Theatre, call the box

office on 0844 871 7652 or go online

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FAMILY TICKET* FOR THE OPENING NIGHT OF THIS YEAR’S MILTON KEYNES THEATRE PANTO, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

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A MAGICAL FUN-FILLED ADVENTURE FOR ALL THE

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FRI 9 DEC - SUN 15 JAN

0844 871 7652 (bkg fee)

GROUP SALES 01908 547609www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes (bkg fee)

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For many people the top of their ‘Bucket list’

of things to see are the Northern Lights,

Natures own spectacular light show.

And one of the most frequent questions is “when

is the best time for me to see the Northern

Lights?”

At first, this question may seem as tenuous as

“how long is a piece of string?” and “can you tell

me when lightning will strike?”, by choosing a

Norwegian coastal cruise with Hurtigruten into

the Arctic Circle will significantly increase your

chances of seeing them. Although Hurtigruten

always state very clearly that the Aurora Borealis

is a natural phenomena and therefore cannot be

guaranteed, but they do have a few tricks up their

sleeves.

Firstly, what are they? The indigenous people of

the Arctic Circle, including Norway’s Sami people,

believed the lights to be the souls of the departed

and that they wielded great power. Myth and

legend aside, we now know that the lights are

simply the result of electrically charged solar

particles travelling at very high speeds into the

Earth’s upper atmosphere where they cause the

rarefied gasses there to glow with a green, red or

purplish light. As always the scientific explanation

takes away the romance and mystique of the

folklore but that doesn’t take anything away from

the eventual, jaw-dropping display.

So, if the lights’ appearance can’t be guaranteed,

how can you at least increase your chances of

seeing them? As with everything else, there’s a

time and a place!

It’s interesting to note that the lights are in the

sky 365 days a year, day and night, but of course

you can’t see them in the day-time, so our tip is to

get inside the Aurora Oval when there’s a pitch-

black, cloud-free sky. In Norway, this means

travelling between October and March. In winter

2010/11, there was some spectacular activity in

February & March and our group from Bedford

were even lucky enough to see them from the

aircraft too! If you can schedule your trip so you

miss the moon, that can also help because a

bright moon can dull the effect of weak light

displays. The good news is that Scientists have

predicted that winter 2011/12 is going to be

60

Northern Lightsthe majestic


another great year for high Aurora Borealis

activity.

Most people think that the Arctic Circle is the

place to see the lights. True. But the real place to

have the best chance of seeing the Northern

Lights is beneath something called the Aurora

Oval, a belt that roughly occupies the world’s 60-

70° latitudes. This is the epicentre of Northern

Lights activity. It is of course possible for the

lights to stray outside of this oval (they

occasionally reach the north of Scotland) but your

chances of seeing them dips significantly.

But you can spoil your chances of seeing the lights

even when you are inside the Aurora Oval by

situating yourself in a town or other place bathed

in artificial light. Light pollution obscures activity

in the sky, the further away from it you get, the

better your chances are of seeing the Aurora

Borealis.

And this is where Hurtigruten comes into its own.

Their fleet of ships sail beneath the Aurora Oval

from Bergen to Kirkenes 365 days per year, far

from the trappings of artificial light ensuring that

you have the best chance possible to seeing this

spectacular light show. Hurtigruten also offer a

fantastic choice of exciting winter excursions

including snowmobiling, dog sledging and over-

night stays in a snow hotel. This winter, you can

enjoy their comprehensive choice of voyages from

as little as £492 per person on a half board basis.

What a wonderful way to experience one of the

world’s greatest phenomena.

Just remember to pack an extra pair of socks

because it can get a little bit chilly! But as the

Norwegians like to say, “there’s no such thing as

bad weather, just bad clothing”.

61

Please call Sue Alexander at Eagle Travel on

01234 348882 or visit Eagle Travel at

11 Goldington Road, Bedford

[email protected]

www.eagletravel.co.uk.


Discover your.....

Destiny

Sue has over 30 years experience in the psychic field, is an authority on crystals and psychic

energy, and is a world renowned Tarot reader and teacher. Each month readers are welcome to

send their questions in for Sue to answer at [email protected]

Sue also offers private readings on a one to one basis, workshops, courses and much more,

please visit her website www.sanctuarybedford.co.uk or Tel: 01234 327090 for further details

Readers Questions

One of my dreams is I have killed my whole

family (my wife and three step children, the

worst being my eldest step daughter with a

pitch fork) - I wake up very disturbed

The dreams that you are attacking your step

children and family show a deep set fear of being

thought of as hurting them by actions that you

unwittingly take . Because your step children can

be antagonistic, the fears that sometimes your

frustration with them can come across as anger.

The pitchfork is an implement which can be seen

as both weapon and a tool, and it shows that

subconsciously the way that you try to help

change things (using the tool) is often taken badly

by the children (who in the dream are only

encountering it as a weapon) this shows a feeling

of being misunderstood . Because you eventually

stab the children in this nightmare, this shows a

fear that you know that you are seen as doing

things wrong, but are frustrated because you

cannot find another way of handling issues and

being understood.

I am always being chased by things I can't see I

keep running into darkness

The fearful things in the darkness are to do with

feeling incapable of seeing where these issues

come from, and a need to calm things down so

that your family are safe, and together, despite

worries that you feel that you have to keep to

yourself.

It can say that by trying to help change things you

feel that you are always taken wrongly, and you

would see that drastic changes need to take place

before you can relax, but you feel that you cannot

undertake these as you would be thought of

badly

Take a stone from the garden (a fairly large

smooth one if possible,) and write on it in felt pen

or laundry marker, some of things which are

difficult in your life, which you want removed.

For example: lack of money, pain , and hurt, or

housing problems, and write the words five

times around the stone in small writing, and then

take it to a lake or river, and throw the stone

gently in the water, and watch the ripples rise and

fade away. Do this three times over a month, and

the feelings which are associated with the

problems will begin to lessen, giving you the

strength to begin to sort the problem out.

At the same time that you write the problems on

one stone, write the solution on another,

For example: More money to spend, decreasing

pain, and somewhere better to live, and write

these three times around this second stone, this

needs to be planted alongside a bulb or large

seed, plant three of these stones over a month.

This gives the solution the power to grow.

Allow time to reflect on your actions as you do

them, as this in itself helps move things forward.

The use of stones to remove difficulties


Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is best known as a stone of protection

that may be worn to guard against psychic attacks

This was worn especially in the breast plates of

Egyptian High priests and priestesses, and

famously in Tutankhamen’s funeral headdress as

Pharaoh to protect him on his journeys in the

nether world.

Lapis Lazuli quickly releases stress, bringing deep

peace.It brings harmony and deep inner self-

knowledge. It encourages self-awareness, allows

self-expression and reveals inner truth, it’s also a

stone which promotes compassion and morality to

the personality. It is said to stimulate objectivity

and clarity and encourage creativity.

Lapis Lazuli is a stone of truth and confidence. It

bonds relationships, aiding in expression of

feelings and emotions.

In the region of health it is thought to boost the

immune system, purify blood, lower blood

pressure, alleviate insomnia and vertigo, and

overcome depression.

Little wonder this is thought to be a magical stone.

Crystals which promote peace of mind

Zircon

In years gone past Zircon was said to aid sleep,

bring prosperity, and promote honour and

wisdom in its keeper. The name is thought to

come from the Persian word 'zargun', which

means 'gold-coloured' because of its natural

tawny state. Natural zircon today suffers on

account of the similarity of its name to cubic

zirconium, the laboratory-grown diamond

imitation. Many people are unaware that there

is a beautiful natural gemstone called Zircon.

Zircon occurs in a wide range of colours,and is

sometimes heat treated for better effect, for

many years the most popular was the clear

and colourless variety, as it looks very similar

to a diamond, and makes a good cheaper

alternative in jewellery.

For use in healing, the natural rough

gemstones are often sold in a matrix, or mass

of other stone, with their double pyramid

shape half hidden within the mass.


Tues 1st – Sat 5th NovemberStepping Stone Theatre present their first production

John Godbers ‘Bouncers’

The Place Theatre – 7.30pm

Tickets from www.theplacebedford.org.uk and 01234

269519

Wed 2nd NovemberKimbolton School Fireworks

Kimbolton School, Kimbolton, PE28 0EA

Fun Fair and Food starts at 6.00 pm, entry on the

evening £10 per Adult / CHILDREN UNDER 16 ARE

FREE. Music, Fireworks and a Laser show start at 8pm

Hog Roast, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fish and Chips in the food

area.

We hope you enjoy one of the largest fireworks shows in

the region for 2011 and you have a safe and enjoyable

evening.

Thurs 3rd NovemberFlower Arranging Demonstration by ‘Fleurette’ 7.30pm

Rutherford Hall, Bedford Modern School, Manton Lane,

Bedford. Bedford Hospitals Charity GAMMA PLUS

APPEAL Admission £15 to include a glass of wine

Tickets available from 01234-356051 and 01234-

783181

Sun 6th NovemberOlney Annual Firework Display

Recreation Ground, East St, Olney

Gates open at 5pm, with the fireworks starting at

around 6.30pm.

Mon 7th NovemberAlpine Garden Society, Bedfordshire group

7.30pm Village Hall, Wilstead MK45 3BX, £3

An illustrated talk by Sally Petitt of Cambridge Botanic

Garden on 'Where do I Belong? An Introduction to the

Taxonomy of Alpines'.

Fri 11th NovemberPsychic and Pamper Evening 7pm – 10pm

Blunham Village Hall, Blunham

Two Clairvoyants, a Palmist and Tarot, Massage,

Reflexology & Reiki. Manicurists & Pedicurists

Jewellery, Handbags, Paintings, Cards, Candles,

Temporary Tatooist, Aloa Vera and Body Shop Stalls

Entrance £2.50, Includes glass of wine/juice, Grand

Raffle – Bar also open

Sat 12th NovemberRenhold Christmas Fayre

Renhold Village Hall 11am - 3pm

We will have a range of stalls & crafts: Books,

Woodwork, Christmas decorations & cards, Toys, Cakes,

Tombola, Paintings, Raffles and lots more.

Refreshments will be served all day.

Stallholders please contact; S. Day 01234 771328

Sun 13th NovemberBedford Biggleswade Cats Protection Grand Christmas

Bizarre 2.30pm

Village Hall Fishers Close, Green End Road, Great

Barford - Tombola, Lucky Dip, Manicures, Grand Raffle,

Cake Stall, Refreshments and lots of other stalls.

Entrance Adults 30p Chilren Free

Sun 13th NovemberBedford Wrestling Spectacular 3.00pm

Bedford Corn Exchange

Non-stop action as the stars of the grappling game

battle it out in Bedford's first Winner Stays In

tournament, where the winner remains in the ring to

take on the challenge of the next wrestler while the

loser is eliminated.

Plus a special added attraction as 2011 Bedford Rumble

Trophy winner Kris Kay clashes with Wonder Kid Jonny

Storm in a fight to the finish return match, with no

rounds and no time limit.

The Central Box Office: 01234 269519

Fri 18th NovemberAn Olde English Christmas 4.30pm

Middleton Hall The Centre MK

We are delighted to announce our theme for this year.

An Olde English Christmas, traditional in nature, within

a beautiful Dickensian setting. At 4:30pm on 18th

November, Santa will deliver Christmas to the centre:mk

with his festive parade, accompanied by local schools,

the Milton Keynes City Orchestra and a singalong in

Middleton Hall, to open the grotto and train. After

Santa’s parade, join us as we open a spectacular outdoor

ice rink around the Christmas tree in Queens Court at

7.30 pm.

64

November 2011

What’s Onyour guide to .........


Fri 18th NovemberShopping on ice 7.30pm The Centre MK

Get your skates on! A spectacular outdoor ice rink opens

The elegant outdoor ice rink will create a fantastic

Christmassy atmosphere in Queen’s Court this year.

Bookings for the ice rink are now open Prices: Peak:

Adult: £8.50 Child (under 12): £7.50 Off Peak: Adult:

£7.50 Child: £6.50

Fri 18th NovemberMotown's Greatest Hits – 8.00pm

Bedford Corn Exchange. The ultimate celebration of the

sweet sound of MOTOWN is back by popular demand!

In its 8th successive year this stunning 100% live show

combine’s first class music together with the slickest

choreography.

The Central Box Office: 01234 269519

Sat 19th NovemberChristmas Fayre and Coffee Morning 10am – 1pm

All Saints Church Hall, Kempston, Church End

Kempston support group for Sue Ryder St John’s

Hospice, Moggerhanger Christmas Cards & Goodies,

Books, Gifts, Jewellery, Cakes, Jams etc. Admission £1.50

which includes refreshments.

Sat 19th NovemberChristmas Craft Fayre 10.30am - 3.30pm

St Mark’s Church & Community Centre, Calder Rise,

Brickhill, Beds - Craft stalls. Refreshments, Father

Christmas, Hands on Wood Turning, Homemade Cake

Stall etc. Get your Christmas Presents early.

Fri 25th NovemberGift Fair & Pampering Evening 6 – 9pm (In aid of St

John’s Hospice) St Mark’s Church & community Centre,

Calder Rise, Brickhill

A variety of stalls selling a range of gifts, food items and

refreshments. There will also be a selection of taster

pampering treatments on offer.

Entrance fee £1 per adult

For enquiries email: [email protected]

Sat 26th NovemberChristmas Crafts 10.30am – 4.30pm

The Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney

Make beautiful Christmas cards, tree decorations and

gifts for your family with our craft days.

Contact 01234 711516

www.mkheritage.co.uk/cnm/

Sat 26th NovemberTraditional Jazz night

The Village Hall, Pavenham, Bedford MK43 7PH

An informal concert by ’The Antique Six’, a highly

acclaimed Traditional Jazz Band. A hot supper is

included in the price. Bar. Tickets sell quickly so an early

application is recommended, 7.30pm £18 per person

(no concessions) Tickets are available from Derek Bliss,

01234 823821

Weds 30th Nov – Sat 3rd DecThe Bedford Hospitals Charity Christmas tree festival

10am – 5pm

St Pauls Church, Bedford

£2.50 children under 16 free

65

If you have an event you would like us to mention please email [email protected]

Last month’s competition winners:Reading with Sue - Caroline Benson from Milton Keynes

End of Everything - Julia Burgess from Bromham

The picturesque village of Castle Ashby offers

you the unique combination of peaceful, easy

rural shopping and walking in the gardens of a

Stately Home.

Explore the tranquil gardens and relax over a

morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. Browse

around the interesting variety of shops in the

old converted farm buildings where you will

find special gifts, crafts, and clothing for any

occasion.

Why not go and see for yourself!

www.ruralshoppingyard-castleashby.co.uk


3

3

5

5

62

6

4

2

1

SUDOKUThe object is to fill the grid so

that the numbers 1 to 6 appear

once in each row, column and 2

x 3 box, with no repetitions.

The answer to

this puzzle will

be in next

months issue.

6 1 5 2 3 4

4 2 3 1 6 5

3 6 2 5 4 1

1 5 4 6 2 3

2 4 1 3 5 6

5 3 6 4 1 2

Clinical psychologist Tony Hill has had a good run.

He and police detective Carol Jordan have put

away scores of dangerous criminals and have a

clearance rate that colleagues envy or resent. But

there is one serial killer who has shaped and

defined their careers, a person whose evil

surpasses all others.

Jacko Vance, an ex-celebrity and sociopath whose

brilliance and utter lack of remorse have never

left Tony’s mind in the ten years Vance has been

locked up. Now Jacko has broken out of prison

and, with a mind even more twisted and cunning

than before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on

Tony and Carol for the years he has spent in

prison.

Tony doesn’t know when Jacko will strike, or

where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him

to feel fear like he has never known before – and

devastate his life in

ways he cannot

imagine…

This novel is so

gripping it puts

your life on hold

it’s everything a great detective

novel should be, pacy, gripping, clever and stylish

an absolutely fantastic read.

Quiet night in with………

WIN! WIN! WIN!We have a hard back copy of this book to give away

please email ‘Val McDermid’ to [email protected]

by the 13th November 2011 for a chance of winning.

66


If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call our clinic TODAY for our consultation and health check.

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Affinity Magazine Cover_Layout 1 copy 20/10/2011 15:11 Page 2

BEAUTY - FOOD - DRINK - HEALTH - FITNESS - STYLE - INTERIORS - MOTORS - WHAT’S ON

November 2011

PerfectlyPampered

Gareth Gates

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