the vine luton - april & may 2015 - issue 8

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April / May 2015

Issue 8

What’s On

Puzzles

Local Business Directory

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• Conservatories • Windows • Doors • Aluminium Seamless Guttering• Garage Doors • Car Ports • GRP Flat Roofing

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Editors:Scott NightingaleShelly Nesbitt

For advertising & editorial: Shelly Nesbitt01525 22237907852 [email protected]

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the content of advertising and articles published in this magazine are accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept and hereby disclaim any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors.Neither do they reflect the opinion of this publication. The Vine does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication.No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission.

Luton International Carnival 6 A Brief History Of Luton Hoo 8Bank Holidays 10The History Of Easter Eggs 12Martin Lewis Money Page 14Puzzles 16Looking Up! 17Consumer Clinic 18Health, Beauty & Wellbeing 20At Home 22In The Garden 24Auto-biographies 26Out & About 28

Copy deadline for our next issue - 18th May

Vinethe

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Luton International Carnival 2015 will take place on Sunday, 24th May.Everyone is invited to enjoy an incredible day of free family entertainment. The town will burst into life as the carnival atmosphere sweeps over Luton.Sound sites will be situated across Wardown Park and the town centre hosted by local DJs who will be getting everyone in the carnival spirit, playing the sounds of Salsa, Soca, Drum n Bass beats and many more.Visit Wardown Park to experience the array of stalls and grab a bite to eat, with food from all around the world, you'll be spoilt for choice! Look out for the variety of enter-tainment on offer and visit the fairground to get yourself in a spin!Don't miss the highlight of the entire day, the carnival procession which will leave from Wardown Park. Follow it through the streets of Luton to St. George's Square, where the carnival bands will showcase their amazing costumes and moves, before heading back to the park to continue revelling in the celebrations.Let the explosion of carnival move you!We look forward to seeing you there!

Luton International Carnival 2015

Sunday 24 May 12:00 - 19:00

For further information please email:[email protected]



6

Luton International Carnival 2015 will take place on Sunday, 24th May.Everyone is invited to enjoy an incredible day of free family entertainment. The town will burst into life as the carnival atmosphere sweeps over Luton.Sound sites will be situated across Wardown Park and the town centre hosted by local DJs who will be getting everyone in the carnival spirit, playing the sounds of Salsa, Soca, Drum n Bass beats and many more.Visit Wardown Park to experience the array of stalls and grab a bite to eat, with food from all around the world, you'll be spoilt for choice! Look out for the variety of enter-tainment on offer and visit the fairground to get yourself in a spin!Don't miss the highlight of the entire day, the carnival procession which will leave from Wardown Park. Follow it through the streets of Luton to St. George's Square, where the carnival bands will showcase their amazing costumes and moves, before heading back to the park to continue revelling in the celebrations.Let the explosion of carnival move you!We look forward to seeing you there!


Sunday 24 May 12:00 - 19:00

For further information please email:[email protected]



www.thevinemagazine.com

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01582 454184 WWW.JAMESAYRESFLOORING.CO.UK

[email protected] 593 Hitchin Road, Stopsley, Luton, Beds. LU2 7UN

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For further information about Luton Hoo Walled Garden and events in 2015 please contact us

ToursDiscover the gardens, its history and restoration with a guided tour.Tours take place at 11:30, 12:30 and 2pm. Pre-book a dedicated tour for groups of 15 or more.

ProduceVisit our produce stall offering a range of delicious, seasonal fruit and vegetables from the gardens. Take home one of our plants or a jar of Luton Hoo honey.

RefreshmentsEnjoy a light lunch in beautiful surroundings. Our cafe serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes, snacks and savouries.

Something incredible is happeningand we’d like you to see it for yourself

Luton Hoo Walled GardenAn inspirational restoration project

Open every Wednesday from 6th May until 30th September

11am - 3pmEntry: £5

eshments

Special Event:“BOOK FEST INTRODUCES”Wednesday 29th JulyDetails and tickets coming soon

The Walled Garden at Luton Hoo Estate was designed by Capability Brown in the late 1760’s for John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, noted botanist and prime minister under George III. As the Es-

tate evolved under new owners and management, the garden changed to match the fashions of horticulture in the 19th and 20th centuries, but as with many great estates, the gardens suffered a decline after World War II and by the late 1980’s the Luton Hoo Estate’s Walled Garden stood dilapidated, overgrown and neglected.

Today, the site comprises a five acre garden, surround-ed by the original 18th Century octagonal wall, and a range of glass houses, which consist of a timber-framed Mackenzie Moncur glasshouse dated circa 1908, together with a peach house, a vinery and further glasshouses. There is also a selection of rare service buildings which give an insight into the way in which a garden of this size would have been organised and run in Edwardian times. These include the head gardener’s office, potting sheds, carriage houses, boiler house, stables and propagation greenhouses.

The rebirth of the garden is being run by the Estate Management team and a dedicated team of volunteers, who are involved in a range of activities. The propa-gating greenhouses and the potting sheds are once again begin used to cultivate plants that were grown in the times of Lord Bute and tools that were found dur-

ing the last century are being conserved so that future generations of gardeners can see the equipment used by their predecessors.Although it has been estimated that £10 million needs to be raised to fully restore the garden and its structures, the project so far has already captured the imagination of many and the support and enthusiasm generated so far is crucial for its continued success.

There are pre-booked group options and speakers can be booked for an illustrated talk to your club or society. How to get to the Walled Garden:A1081, between Luton and Harpenden. Take the Newmill End turning, turn left after 100 metres and then follow signs for the Walled Garden. Postcode for Sat Navs: LU14LFThere is no entrance to the Walled Garden from the Luton Hoo Hotel.









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Many of us will rejoice at the thought of two bank holidays during May. UK bank holidays have been in existence since the 1871 Bank Holidays Act when initially four specific days were created as days off. There have been additions over the years including New Years Day in 1974 and the first Monday in May in 1978. An extra bank holiday was created as a one off event in 2011 for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April, and in 2012 for the Queens Diamond Jubilee on 5th June. Bank holidays can be declared by statute or Royal proclamation, the latter is also commonly used to move those holidays that would otherwise fall on a weekend to a week day. There is no automatic right to time off on these days but many employ-ers do pay staff to take the day off or if they work they pay them additional wages. There are frequent campaigns for further bank holidays to be added, commonly in relation to the main Saints days, St David’s, St Patrick’s, St Andrew’s and St George’s for example. Bank Holidays are now frequently chosen as dates for special events and many will choose to book holiday for the full week that includes a bank holiday in order to spend time with family and friends.We can look forward to two bank holidays this May with the Early May Bank Holiday falling on Monday 4th May and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25th May.

Bank Holidays

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Easter without chocolate eggs would be like Christmas without presents. Simply unthink-able! And yet the tradition of giving chocolate at Easter is relatively recent, dating back 120

years or so to the late nineteenth century.Easter is a Christian festival that commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Occurring in Spring, which is regarded as a time of renewal and birth by many faiths and cultures, the egg has been used as a symbol of birth and fertility since well before Christianity. Originally painted bright colours to celebrate the sunlight of spring, decorating and colouring eggs became popular during the Middle Ages, when they were dyed red to symbolise the blood of Christ. For-bidden as a food during Lent, eggs were hard-boiled, decorated and then given to children at Easter as good luck symbols.In the eighteenth century, pasteboard or papier mache eggs with small gifts inside became popular and by the nineteenth century these had evolved into cardboard eggs covered in silk, lace or velvet and fastened with ribbon. Faberge produced its first egg in 1883, and elaborate eggs made from silver and gold, ivory and porcelain - some inlaid with jewels - followed.The first chocolate eggs were made in France and Germany in the early nineteenth century, not long after the first eating chocolate was invented (prior

to this chocolate was enjoyed as a drink). But the chocolate couldn’t be moulded and early eggs were solid. Chocolate eggs didn’t truly gain in popularity until Cadbury entered the market in 1875. Their early eggs were made from dark chocolate with a plain, smooth surface. Filled with dragees (small, hard sweets), they were decorated with chocolate piping and marzi-pan flowers. The range gradually increased until in 1893 Cadbury was producing 19 different lines, but it wasn’t until 1905 when the company introduced Cadbury Dairy Milk that the sales of Easter eggs re-ally received a boost. All-chocolate eggs did not immediately replace the novelty eggs of the Victorian era, however, and Cad-bury continued to produce a fancy cardboard egg filled with chocolates until the early 1930s.The first crème eggs appeared in 1923 as a forerun-ner to the Cadbury Creme Egg, launched in 1971. An instant hit, it has now become Cadbury’s most popular egg, with over 500 million being made every year, though shell eggs still form the largest sector of the Easter egg market. So, we have Cadbury to thank for our modern day Easter egg, and in particular their invention of Dairy Milk. How ironic, then, that this year they should recently decide to replace the nation’s favourite chocolate on their most popular egg with an alterna-tive! Will Easter ever be the same again?

kThe History Of

Easter Eggs

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14

The Martin Lewis Money PageMartin LEWIS Tackle your bills

Winter is coming. Don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in the white stuff to sort your bills. Here, prevention truly beats cure – tackling your bills now means you can take the financial bite out of winter chills…

Free loft insulation and even boilers (for some). While the loft insulation free-for-all's ended, some will still be entitled to some serious free energy-saving measures. Most of the big six energy firms offer free boilers, typically worth £2,000, and free insulation, usually worth about £300. Crucially, you don't need to be with the energy provider to get it, but you do generally need an income under £16,000, and to be on income-related benefits or pension credit. I can’t definitely say you’ll qualify, but it is worth checking. Alternatively, the well-meaning but stuttering Green Deal initiative is designed to let you pay for things like underfloor heating, double glazing and solid wall insulation, from the 'savings' you make on energy bills. Deciding whether it’s right for you is complex, so for full help read www.moneysavingexpert.com/greendeal

Save £100s and beat the hikes. Rather surprisingly, fixing energy, where you lock in a set rate, is now cheaper than a normal switch. Five of the big six energy providers have now announced hikes, and their best new prices are costlier than the cheapest fixed tariffs. So right now you can get the very cheapest deals available, and it comes with no-hike certainty. The only exception to this is a variable (ie, subject to hikes) tariff from minnow Spark Energy – though it hasn't hiked (yet?), needs paying upfront, and feedback ain't great, so I’m ignoring it.

The cheapest fix comes from E.on for a year, but slightly longer and only a touch more are deals from EDF or Npower. Crucially, these two have no exit penalties. So on the off-chance the Prime Minister delivers the price cuts he’s promised, and the even more unlikely event that they’ll be so substantial that other tariffs elsewhere are cheaper, you'll be free to leave.

However, always do the numbers for your own circumstances. To check if you can save (you may be on an older, cheaper deal), and who your winner is, you can use my Cheap Energy Club top fixes comparison at www.cheapenergyclub.com, or do a standard

comparison on any Ofgem-approved comparison site – just search for The Confidence Code at www.ofgem.gov.uk to see the full list. If you're not online, use a comparison with a phone service, such as Energyhelpline on 0800 074 0745, or uSwitch on 0800 051 5493.

Paying energy bills by monthly direct debit’s up to 6% cheaper. If you can, do, as it’ll usually mean discounted bills of up to 6% less, so contact your provider to check. Though always do regular meter readings for accuracy, as your bill is estimated. If it’s too high, you have a right to ask for it to be lowered.

Got electricity only? You can still save. With electricity only, you can still get a cheap fix to save - just follow the info above. For those on Economy 7, assessing is trickier. It’s only really a boon for those who use at least 40% of their energy at night. If not – don’t bother. Full help to decide at www.mse.me/eco7

Can you find your stopcock? No sniggering - winter frozen pipe bursts can create an average £7,000 of damage, often worsened as many scrabble round searching for their stopcock - the mains water off switch - for ages as their home floods.

Take the time to find it now – mine is under the kitchen sink. Others find theirs in the bathroom or inside a cupboard. If yours isn’t working, you may want to call a plumber now, before it’s a problem.

Choosing between heating and eating? If you're seriously behind, or in general financial hardship - as far too many are after the hikes - you may be eligible for special help. Call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 to check. Plus if anyone in your home was born on or before 5 January 1952, you're due up to £300 in tax-free winter fuel payments. Payments should be made automatically, but if you’ve never had it before then you may need to register - see www.gov.uk.

Plus anyone on specific income support, jobseekers' allowances or pension credit gets £25 in cold weather payments for every 7 days it's sub-0 C.

@MoneySavingExpert

For those with existing debts there are record deals available right now to let you cut the cost

and save £100s or £1,000s.

DEBT

Yet as the old adage goes, banks are companies that’d lend you an umbrella when the sun shines and ask for it back when it rains. So getting cheaper credit when in debt is tricky – however I have developed credit card eligibility check-ers which can help you check what debt cutting cards you’re able to get before you apply. If you can lower the interest cost, then more of your repayment clears the actual debt, not just services the interest – meaniing you’ll be debt-free far quicker. So here are the key debt cost cutting need to knows…

I make no apology for saying…. stop borrow-ing. If you're struggling, borrowing to make ends meet just elongates the problem - making it even costlier and more difficult. The tips below will help, but if you keep adding to the debt nothing will fix it. So take a deep breath, do a budget and examine all your spending to see if you can cut back.

Best buys are only best if you can get them. While there are many great rates on offer, you need to pass a credit score to get them, and many fail at that hurdle. Worse still when you apply it leaves a footprint on your file and lots of those in a short space of time can hit your future credit worthi-ness. I've given evidence to Parliament on this 'anti-shopping around' system - little's been done. So to fight back on my site we’ve built a free eligibility calculator – which tells you which cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. Just as importantly it does this without leaving a footprint on your file that lenders can see – so you can home in on the right one, minimising applica-tions. To try it go to www.MoneySavingExpert.com/eligibility.

Shift credit or store card debt to 35mth 0%. A bal-ance transfer’s where you get a new credit card that repays debts on the old credit or store card(s) for you, so you owe it instead at a lower rate. The longest 0% deals for those new to the card company now last nearly three years (a year ago they were 30 months), but as with many things in life longest isn't always best. Aim for the lowest fee card, ensuring you've enough time to clear it. Top picks and golden rules at www.mse.me/balancetransfers.

Shift your overdraft to 0% too. Debit cards can be debt cards too - if you're in your overdraft it's often more costly than credit cards, especially if you bust your limit. So there are two ways to get out of this. a) Switch to a 0% overdraft: Top bank for custom-er service www.firstdirect.com offers a £250 0% overdraft (you must pay-in £1,000/month) and for accepted new switchers a free £100 - which should help reduce the overdraft straight away. For some www.nationwide.co.uk 0% overdraft may be bigger, but it's only for a year and is 50p/day after. b) Shift it to a 0% 'money transfer' credit card. A few balance transfer cards also let newbies 'money transfer'. This is where it pays a lump sum into your bank account, which can then clear your overdraft so you owe it instead. Top pick is www.mbna.co.uk which gives 24 months 0% money transfers for a one off 2.2% fee (though it's 22.9% rep APR after the 0% ends). Yet be careful, follow the balance transfer rules above and for more picks and full step-by-step help see www.mse.me/moneytransfers.

The Martin Lewis Money Page

Can you cut the cost of existing loans? It’s complex, as you need to factor in that most loans charge up to two months’ interest to repay them early. • Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Full options in www.mse.me/cheaploans. • How much can I save? Someone who is 2 years through a 5 year 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off with a 4.9% loan, could save around £1,000.

Don’t pay all debts equally - attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, includ-ing overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that’s clear, move to the next highest.

I’ve never seen a debt crisis that isn’t solv-able - don’t give up hope. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. Yet for some, it’s much worse than that. Do any of these apply to you... • You can’t meet even just the minimum monthly payments. • You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year’s salary. • You have sleepless nights or serious depression/anxiety over your debts.

If so then you’re likely in a debt crisis and that means the solution you need is totally different. The most important thing I can tell you is I’ve never seen a debt crisis that isn’t solvable. It may not always be quick or easy, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is to go for free, one-on-one debt counselling help from www.adviceguide.org.uk, www.stepchange.org, www.nationaldebtline.org or, if you’re struggling emotionally too www.capuk.org.

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PuzzlesPuzzlesPuzzles

Across

1. Prejudice based on ethnicity (6)5. Erotic fixation (6)8. Hope, desire (4)9. Addictive drug (8)10. Sacred songs or hymns (6)11. Marrying twice without divorce (crime) (6)12. Dull heavy noise (4)14. Sick (3)15. Female (4)16. Horror-struck (6)18. Place of Christian worship (6)20. Nazi symbol (8)22. Military force (4)23. Iconic Australian city (6)24. Twinging, hurting (6)

Down

2. First sign of the Zodiac (5) 3. Breathed in (7) 4. Short item of ladies’ clothing (4,5) 5. A long way away (3) 6. Strip of leather, shoe (5) 7. Sparkle, glitter (7)11. Warm headwear, ski-mask (9)13. Main road, carriageway (7)15. Hungarian soup or stew (7)17. Set-fire with criminal intent (5)19. Pungent spice (5)21. Evergreen climbing plant (3)

Crossword




1 26

3 9 7 62 8

4 3 7 2 93

9 2 8 54 6

6 3 7

Sudoku 数独

Each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 just once. This can be done by applying logic -you don’t have to guess!

WIDES

PAPER

Answers on page 30


April Shooting Star Bonanza: April sees the return of the Lyrids Meteor Shower across Bedfordshire. Peak meteor activity occurs on the night of 22 April – 23 April when skywatchers will be able to catch a hundred or more shooting stars streaking across the sky from the east / south-east between 10pm to 3am the following morning.

Take a Journey to the Edge of the Galaxy: Spring is a great time to explore the outer reaches of our galaxy. Out here, in the galaxy’s halo, lurk ancient spherical clumps of stars known as globular clusters. Each cluster con-tains hundreds of thousands of stars that are almost

as old as the universe itself. The Hercules Globular Cluster, located in the evening sky towards the east not far from the bright star Vega, can be seen with binoculars on a moonless night from the Chilterns.

Find Four Planets in One Evening: The first two weeks in May this year are a great opportunity to see four planets with the naked eye. Mercury is first up. Look low down to your west sixty-minutes after sunset for a shimmering orange dot of light in the evening twilight. Higher up towards the west is dazzling Venus – the brightest star-like object in the night sky. Up and to the left of Venus is a slightly less bright Jupiter, while low

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April and May 2015

Image: Hercules Globular Cluster by Dave Eagle

By Seb Jay

www.thevinemagazine.com18 19

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

You can listen to The JVS Show every weekday morning from 9am on BBC Three Counties Radio

Consumer Clinic

How to Find a GOOD Estate AgentGod love ‘em, they’re the people we love to hate. ESTATE AGENTS!

I should make it clear at this point that a very dear member of my family is an estate agent, so I like to think I can approach this months’

article with a level of fairness for a much criticised profession. However, some of them really are AWFUL!

The fundamental problem with the industry of estate agency is that you don’t actually need any qualifica-tions to become one. Any wide boy with a gift of the gab can quickly carve out a career as an estate agent. Depending on who they’re working for, and the influences around them they can quickly pick up some very nasty habits. I, like many people have been amazed at the ability of some estate agents to not only stretch the truth to encourage a deal to go through, but to lie through their teeth.The responsibility for finding a good estate agent lies solely with the seller (vendor). It can be infuriating as a buyer when you find a property you love that is on the market with a dishonest, un-reliable and unprofes-sional estate agent. There’s nothing you can do about it. In fact, I have pulled out of property deals before due to the estate agent representing the vendor.When you are selling your house, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Keep an eye on the market in the months leading up to the decision to put your prop-erty on. See which agents are selling houses/flats that are similar to yours. Ask your neighbours and friends in the area who have used an estate agent recently what their experience was like. Only look at companies that are prominent in your local neighbourhood and preferably those that have staff with experience.When you have a list of 3 or 4 reputable firms, get them all round

to value your property. Be open and honest with them and inform them that you are speaking to a number of agents. Tell them that to secure your business you’ll be looking for them to do a deal on their commission. I personally NEVER pay more than 1% of the sale price to an estate agent (with todays house prices I think that's quite enough!). Introducing a sliding scale of commission can also be a motivating factor for them to get you the best price for the property. Look at the pictures they take of other properties to make sure they either use a professional or have the ability to showcase a house or flat nicely. Try calling them and speak-ing to those who answer the phone. Do they sound friendly, approach-able and bright? Make sure that the contract is reason-ably short. You don’t want to be tied to the same estate agent for the next 6 months if your property fails to sell.Finally for sellers (and I speak from experience) DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KEYS WITH AN ESTATE AGENT. When selling my last property I made this mistake. In their desperation to get the sale to go through they took my buyer into my property without asking my permission first. Sadly I realised at that moment that my es-tate agent had failed to see my flat as my home, and could only focus on the commission they stood to make from selling it.For the buyer, you have much less control. This can be an absolutely horrible position to be in. There are

some things you can do to help the process though. 1. Use your own mortgage advisor. The estate agents will try everything they can to get you to use ‘their’ advisor. Don’t listen to a word of it. They are legally obliged to pass on any offer to their client, and cannot force you to use their chosen mort-gage company. 2. Use your own solicitor. Again the agents will want you to use their conveyancing company. This will probably be a large company that is more like a conveyancing factory acting on behalf of thousands and thousands of customers all over the country at any one time. Do you really think you’re going to get the best, impartial advice from them? Particularly when you consider they have a business relationship with the estate agent who doesn’t get paid unless the sale goes through. 3. Try to get the contact details of the vendor. If you can speak to the ven-dor directly you can ensure that the estate agent is passing on accurate information. If you take all of my advice and still have a problem with an estate agent, please remember you can always contact me and my team at [email protected]


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20

Health Beauty Wellbeing&

Hands & FeetMost of us neglect our feet. They spend much of their lives covered up – out of sight and out of mind – and yet I for one love to give them the occasional pamper and am convinced they thank me for it!A pedicure, professionally done, is a therapeutic treatment for feet which can support chiropody if you have foot problems, can assist posture by helping you to walk more comfortably and can soothe and relax you whilst being done.Typically, a pedicure will begin with a soak of your feet in warm, scented water which will

both cleanse and soften the skin. This is then followed by an exfoliating rub

to get rid of dead skin. Salts and minerals are used, but exfoliation may also be done with pumice, especially on the heels or ball of the foot.

A massage of the feet with creams and aromatherapy oils follows, to

refresh and soften the skin. You may also be treated to a massage of the lower

leg.Finally, cuticles will be clipped and nails cut and shaped before nail polish is applied to send you away with pretty toes! Any style of polish can be applied, from a French pedicure with white tips to gel polish which gives a long-lasting glossy finish which dries instantly.With summer approaching, now is the time to get your feet ready for those open toe sandals!

A healthy diet is important. Eating proteins, and food or supplements that contain vitamins B and E will help you have healthy, strong nails and soft and supple skin. Regularly moisturise your hands with a good quality product. Winter tends to dry out our skin so use a heaver lotion during the colder months. Massage lotion in when you apply it to help it soak in. If your hands are particularly rough add Vaseline. Protect your hands with gloves when washing up, cleaning, gardening or doing other chores. Use lukewarm water when washing your hands and never use normal dish soap as this tends to be too harsh and can dry the skin. Trim your nails every two weeks or more often if required. When filing your nails file in one direction rather than using a seesaw action. Apply a scrub to your hands with a good exfoliating agent once a week to get rid of dead skin. In addition to moisturisers, hand creams and scrubs try a cuticle cream or lotion to stop cuticles drying out. If you paint your nails, always use a base coat so that your nails don’t stain. For extra pampering, go for a manicure once a month.

Look after your hands & feet and they will serve

you well!


Health Beauty Wellbeing&

Hands & FeetMost of us neglect our feet. They spend much of their lives covered up – out of sight and out of mind – and yet I for one love to give them the occasional pamper and am convinced they thank me for it!A pedicure, professionally done, is a therapeutic treatment for feet which can support chiropody if you have foot problems, can assist posture by helping you to walk more comfortably and can soothe and relax you whilst being done.Typically, a pedicure will begin with a soak of your feet in warm, scented water which will

both cleanse and soften the skin. This is then followed by an exfoliating rub

to get rid of dead skin. Salts and minerals are used, but exfoliation may also be done with pumice, especially on the heels or ball of the foot.

A massage of the feet with creams and aromatherapy oils follows, to

refresh and soften the skin. You may also be treated to a massage of the lower

leg.Finally, cuticles will be clipped and nails cut and shaped before nail polish is applied to send you away with pretty toes! Any style of polish can be applied, from a French pedicure with white tips to gel polish which gives a long-lasting glossy finish which dries instantly.With summer approaching, now is the time to get your feet ready for those open toe sandals!

A healthy diet is important. Eating proteins, and food or supplements that contain vitamins B and E will help you have healthy, strong nails and soft and supple skin. Regularly moisturise your hands with a good quality product. Winter tends to dry out our skin so use a heaver lotion during the colder months. Massage lotion in when you apply it to help it soak in. If your hands are particularly rough add Vaseline. Protect your hands with gloves when washing up, cleaning, gardening or doing other chores. Use lukewarm water when washing your hands and never use normal dish soap as this tends to be too harsh and can dry the skin. Trim your nails every two weeks or more often if required. When filing your nails file in one direction rather than using a seesaw action. Apply a scrub to your hands with a good exfoliating agent once a week to get rid of dead skin. In addition to moisturisers, hand creams and scrubs try a cuticle cream or lotion to stop cuticles drying out. If you paint your nails, always use a base coat so that your nails don’t stain. For extra pampering, go for a manicure once a month.

Look after your hands & feet and they will serve

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Golinska Foot CareFootcare for all the family
















































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Ok, so spring is officially here and we break out the DIY and home improvements in gusto!!! However we are all guilty of rushing off to the nearest showroom when it comes to planning big works like kitchens and bathrooms thinking we will see the best range and value for money choices??? Part is true, you will see a great range, you will sit for hours planning work tops, and door handles, but as much as these are both prac-tical and pretty there is something often overlooked!

When designing working/functional space lighting is a HUGE element that is often uncovered? What is best for your home? What is best for your north facing kitchen/diner, or south facing bathroom? These are questions I bet you will never hear from the designer/sales person across the table? You’re sent off with your quote and a paint chart ready to embrace your build with enthusiasm.

BUT STOP! If you plan the lighting, you will not only be able to make better choices regarding the colouring of your room, but also you will be able to give the builders/tradesmen better information and HOPE-FULLY, save both time and money later on. So once you have your ideas, work out what you

want, then what you need! Would you like a decora-tive pendant? Do spotlights work best? Do you want to dim overhead lighting to create different atmospheres? Do you want lights for specific tasks? Do you want lights in cupboards that are dark and difficult to see? Is age and eyesight against you?

Task lighting ‘What’s that?” LED? Halogen? Strip Light-ing? All of it sounds very complicated and expensive! Honestly it really isn’t. Some versions come with a higher price tag, but up to a 20-year guarantee so in the life of your property it will end up saving you money. Buy the right lighting solutions and not only will you not be up and down ladders changing bulbs, but also you will save money on your energy bills.

So next time you are in the market for a large purchase such as a kitchen or bathroom, ask your designer if they can help with selecting the right lighting for the area? You will be amazed at how much a room can be altered just with lighting alone.

Lighting

At Home&In The Garden

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22

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April Pleasure ProjectsIn The Garden

April is a great month for a garden project; one which can be achieved in a morning or an afternoon, and which improves a few square metres. You’ll feel you’ve achieved something wonderful and if you break the whole garden into

a series of small projects it suddenly appears more manageable. Here are three to get you started.

Lawns always look bedraggled after the winter. Remove dead grass by raking the surface with a wire toothed rake. Improve drainage on heavy soil by spiking it with a garden fork every 6 inches (15cm) or so, to a depth of about 4 inches (10cm), giving the fork a good wiggle each time. Sweep sharp sand into the holes with a broom. Then mow the lawn with the blades set on high and remove the clippings. Two weeks later apply a combined weed killer and fertilizer. If you’re lucky it will rain within 24 hours. If not just water it in. Mow weekly to keep the lawn thick and healthy.

Don’t forget an all weather seat so you can sit and contemplate all your hard work over a cup of tea or a nip of something stronger. Teak from renewable resources is fantastic but cast iron or aluminium is also good, though you’ll need a cushion to protect your posterior on cold days! Position it in a sunny area. Buy a few flower-ing daffodils, tulips and pansies and plant them in a pretty pot next to the bench, then sit back and enjoy.

You don’t need a huge patch to enjoy growing strawberries. Plant a few in pots as a treat. Buy young, rich green plants which have been certified virus-free. Plant 3-4 in a 12 inch (30cm) clay pot. The crowns (where shoots meet roots) should be level with the compost surface. Water them in and stand in the shelter of a house wall. If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame they will establish more quickly and fruit earlier. Pinch off any runners which form.

The Lawn

Seating

Strawberry Pots

24

April Pleasure ProjectsIn The Garden

April is a great month for a garden project; one which can be achieved in a morning or an afternoon, and which improves a few square metres. You’ll feel you’ve achieved something wonderful and if you break the whole garden into

a series of small projects it suddenly appears more manageable. Here are three to get you started.

Lawns always look bedraggled after the winter. Remove dead grass by raking the surface with a wire toothed rake. Improve drainage on heavy soil by spiking it with a garden fork every 6 inches (15cm) or so, to a depth of about 4 inches (10cm), giving the fork a good wiggle each time. Sweep sharp sand into the holes with a broom. Then mow the lawn with the blades set on high and remove the clippings. Two weeks later apply a combined weed killer and fertilizer. If you’re lucky it will rain within 24 hours. If not just water it in. Mow weekly to keep the lawn thick and healthy.

Don’t forget an all weather seat so you can sit and contemplate all your hard work over a cup of tea or a nip of something stronger. Teak from renewable resources is fantastic but cast iron or aluminium is also good, though you’ll need a cushion to protect your posterior on cold days! Position it in a sunny area. Buy a few flower-ing daffodils, tulips and pansies and plant them in a pretty pot next to the bench, then sit back and enjoy.

You don’t need a huge patch to enjoy growing strawberries. Plant a few in pots as a treat. Buy young, rich green plants which have been certified virus-free. Plant 3-4 in a 12 inch (30cm) clay pot. The crowns (where shoots meet roots) should be level with the compost surface. Water them in and stand in the shelter of a house wall. If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame they will establish more quickly and fruit earlier. Pinch off any runners which form.

The Lawn

Seating

Strawberry Pots

25

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26

auto Biographies

By Tim Barnes-Claywww.carwriteups.co.uk

The latest Nissan Qashqai, which went on sale in January 2014, is available in four time-honoured grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna.

The model tested here comes in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come to that in a bit. Firstly, here’s some background.The second generation, fam-ily oriented car is now longer, lower and wider, giving it a more imposing stance while maintain-ing a raised driving position. The vehicle under review is front-wheel drive, the set-up which Nissan says will account for most sales, but all-wheel drive is avail-able too. The Qashqai's exterior looks modern and there’s a better quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore family use. The range-topping Tekna model features an array of technologies that highlight the Japanese motor manufactur-er’s lead in the crossover market. But hang on, what is a crosso-ver vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built on a car platform, combin-ing characters of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with elements from an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues such as tall interior packaging, lofty seating, high centre of gravity and elevated ground-clearance with car-like handling and good fuel economy.

Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The Nissan benefits from darkness piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it excels when it comes to kit. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, a large glass roof, heated seats, and front and rear parking sensors. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen display, DAB digital radio, and smartphone connectivity.The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review car came with turbocharged petrol power. But it turns out that the Nissan doesn’t need anything huge under the bonnet to deliver a first-rate drive. Motoring through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2-litre engine packs a punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit.Despite its modest size, the engine’s low weight and more fuel-efficient operation also mean it’s cleaner and more economi-cal than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of 50.4mpg.Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innova-tive safety features which helped it confidently pass all Euro NCAP's tests to record the maximum five-star rating.

Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant. On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents.

Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all indi-viduality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.

Max speed: 115 mph 0-62 mph: 10.9 secs Combined mpg: 50.4 Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve petrpl turbo Max. power (bhp): 123 at 4500 rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 140 at 2000 rpm CO2: 129 g/km Price: £23,800 on the road

FAST FACTS

PROS & CONS Safety √Economy √Driving position √Kit √Space √Individuality X

Nissan Qashqaiauto BIOGRAPHIES New Nissan Qashqai

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Writer www.carwriteups.co.uk @carwriteups

The latest Nissan Qashqai, which went on sale in January 2014, is available in four time-honoured grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna. The model tested here comes in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come to that in a bit. Firstly, here’s some background. The second generation, family oriented car is now longer, lower and wider, giving it a more imposing stance while maintaining a raised driving position. The vehicle under review is front-wheel drive, the set-up which Nissan says will account for most sales, but all-wheel drive is available too. The Qashqai's exterior looks modern and there’s a better quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore family use. The range-topping Tekna model features an array of technologies that highlight the Japanese motor manufacturer’s lead in the crossover market. But hang on, what is a crossover vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built on a car platform, combining characters of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with elements from an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues such as tall interior packaging, lofty seating, high centre of gravity and elevated ground-clearance with car-like handling and good fuel economy. Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The Nissan benefits from darkness piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it excels when it comes to kit. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, a large glass roof, heated seats, and front and rear parking sensors. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen display, DAB digital radio, and smartphone connectivity. The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review car came with turbocharged petrol power. But it turns out that the Nissan doesn’t need anything huge under

the bonnet to deliver a first-rate drive. Motoring through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2-litre engine packs a punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit. Despite its modest size, the engine’s low weight and more fuel-efficient operation also mean it’s cleaner and more economical than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of 50.4mpg. Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innovative safety features which helped it confidently pass all Euro NCAP's tests to record the maximum five-star rating. Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant. On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents. Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all individuality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.

FAST FACTS Max speed: 115 mph

0-62 mph: 10.9 secs

Combined mpg: 50.4

Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve petrol turbo

Max. power (bhp): 113 at 4500 rpm

Max. torque (lb.ft): 140 at 2000 rpm

CO2: 129 g/km

Price: £23,800 on the road

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Safety √ Economy √

Driving position √ Kit √

Space √ Individuality X


auto Biographies

By Tim Barnes-Claywww.carwriteups.co.uk

The latest Nissan Qashqai, which went on sale in January 2014, is available in four time-honoured grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna.

The model tested here comes in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come to that in a bit. Firstly, here’s some background.The second generation, fam-ily oriented car is now longer, lower and wider, giving it a more imposing stance while maintain-ing a raised driving position. The vehicle under review is front-wheel drive, the set-up which Nissan says will account for most sales, but all-wheel drive is avail-able too. The Qashqai's exterior looks modern and there’s a better quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore family use. The range-topping Tekna model features an array of technologies that highlight the Japanese motor manufactur-er’s lead in the crossover market. But hang on, what is a crosso-ver vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built on a car platform, combin-ing characters of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with elements from an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues such as tall interior packaging, lofty seating, high centre of gravity and elevated ground-clearance with car-like handling and good fuel economy.

Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The Nissan benefits from darkness piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it excels when it comes to kit. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, a large glass roof, heated seats, and front and rear parking sensors. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen display, DAB digital radio, and smartphone connectivity.The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review car came with turbocharged petrol power. But it turns out that the Nissan doesn’t need anything huge under the bonnet to deliver a first-rate drive. Motoring through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2-litre engine packs a punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit.Despite its modest size, the engine’s low weight and more fuel-efficient operation also mean it’s cleaner and more economi-cal than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of 50.4mpg.Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innova-tive safety features which helped it confidently pass all Euro NCAP's tests to record the maximum five-star rating.

Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant. On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents.

Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all indi-viduality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.

Max speed: 115 mph 0-62 mph: 10.9 secs Combined mpg: 50.4 Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve petrpl turbo Max. power (bhp): 123 at 4500 rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 140 at 2000 rpm CO2: 129 g/km Price: £23,800 on the road

FAST FACTS

PROS & CONS Safety √Economy √Driving position √Kit √Space √Individuality X

Nissan Qashqaiauto BIOGRAPHIES New Nissan Qashqai

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Writer www.carwriteups.co.uk @carwriteups

The latest Nissan Qashqai, which went on sale in January 2014, is available in four time-honoured grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna. The model tested here comes in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come to that in a bit. Firstly, here’s some background. The second generation, family oriented car is now longer, lower and wider, giving it a more imposing stance while maintaining a raised driving position. The vehicle under review is front-wheel drive, the set-up which Nissan says will account for most sales, but all-wheel drive is available too. The Qashqai's exterior looks modern and there’s a better quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore family use. The range-topping Tekna model features an array of technologies that highlight the Japanese motor manufacturer’s lead in the crossover market. But hang on, what is a crossover vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built on a car platform, combining characters of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with elements from an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues such as tall interior packaging, lofty seating, high centre of gravity and elevated ground-clearance with car-like handling and good fuel economy. Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The Nissan benefits from darkness piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it excels when it comes to kit. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, a large glass roof, heated seats, and front and rear parking sensors. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen display, DAB digital radio, and smartphone connectivity. The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review car came with turbocharged petrol power. But it turns out that the Nissan doesn’t need anything huge under

the bonnet to deliver a first-rate drive. Motoring through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2-litre engine packs a punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit. Despite its modest size, the engine’s low weight and more fuel-efficient operation also mean it’s cleaner and more economical than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of 50.4mpg. Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innovative safety features which helped it confidently pass all Euro NCAP's tests to record the maximum five-star rating. Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant. On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents. Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all individuality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.

FAST FACTS Max speed: 115 mph

0-62 mph: 10.9 secs

Combined mpg: 50.4

Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve petrol turbo

Max. power (bhp): 113 at 4500 rpm

Max. torque (lb.ft): 140 at 2000 rpm

CO2: 129 g/km

Price: £23,800 on the road

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Safety √ Economy √

Driving position √ Kit √

Space √ Individuality X

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· Extensions · Maintenance· Driveways

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STOCKWOOD DISCOVERY CENTRETel: 01582 548600

Lost Landscapes28th Mar - 19th Jul Free

A photographic exhibition exploring the evolution of land-scapes; those that have been lost, changed or been rediscov-ered and questions what may happen to our landscapes in the future.

Afternoon of Discovery: Fri 17th April, 2.30-4pm & Fri 15th May, 2.30-4pm £7/£5 concessions

A look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts.Tea & coffee included.

Wedding Open EveningThursday 7 May, 6.30pm. Free

Come and look round the wonderful setting and beautiful gardens which will help make your day perfect.

Working WednesdaysWed 27th May, 12-2pm Free

Go along to Stockwood Dis-covery Centre to see stationary steam engines in all their work-ing glory.

Stockwood Country FairSun 5th & Mon 6th April, 11am-

4.30pmCome along and join us for a taste of the countryside at Stock-wood Discovery Centre

• Birds of Prey• Animal petting farm

• Giant Inflatables• Craft & Gift Market• Have-A-Go Archery• Live Demonstrations

Adults - £4, Concessions and Culture Card holders - £3, Children - £3, Under 5s - Free

Steam FairSun 17th May, 10am-4pm Free

A chance to enjoy this year’s magnificent working steam engine and stationary engines in all their glory. In addition to the visiting engines, two of the museum’s own historic engines, lovingly restored and cared for by volunteers, will be on display. Family event

SAPPHIRE SOCIAL CLUBSapphire Social Club - this social club caters for the unattached aged 50+. We meet weekly in Hitchin and organize a variety of social events every month. No joining fee for the first two months. Come along and meet new friends.Tel Joyce 07960 440417 or Ian 07900 890583 for detailswww.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

THE PARKSIDE SINGERSDo you enjoy singing?The Parkside Singers is a lively mixed choir, singing four-part har-mony musicincluding pop, songs from musicals and some choral favourites such as Ave Verum and The Lords Prayer. Call Claire on 01525 753110.

LUTON POETRY SOCIETYLast Saturday of every month, 2-4pmLuton Central Library£3, free for Poetry Society member (£20 annual membership)Our meetings usually take place on the last Saturday of each month at Luton Central Library (3rd Floor)February’s theme is ‘Valentine’March’s theme is ‘Choices’For more information visit www.lutonculture.com/luton-libraries or call 01582 547 418

HOMESTARTHave you got just 2 to 3 hours to spare each week to support a local young family who are struggling to cope? The charity Home-Start is looking for caring parents and grand-parents. All training and support is given and expenses paid. It’s a great

way to gain new skills, make friends and really make a difference to your community.Tel: 01582 [email protected] www.home-startcentralbeds.org.uk

BREAKOUT SOCIAL CLUBWe are a club for the over forty fives, not a singles club but a social club for people who enjoy going out but are on their own, where they can meet like-minded people, with a varied monthly programme covering Disco’s, Pub lunch’s, walks, parties and much, much more, we meet once a week in the front bar at the Conservative Club, High street North DunstableFor more information please contact Sandy on 07813 262556

WARDEN AFTERNOON CLUBMeets every Tuesday 2 - 4pmWarden Hill Community Centre (rear of the Warden Tavern)We are a recently established group of friendly ladies and gentlemen who meet weekly for companion-ship, activities and refreshments. If you would like some company, or know someone who would benefit from joining us, please come along any Tuesday - everyone is very welcome. For more information contact Sue on 07706895444 or email [email protected]

THE BOGTROTTERSThe Bogtrotters (Dunstable and District Walking and Hostelling Group) are a group of about 90 walkers, hikers and hostellers. We run a surprisingly diverse range of activities, including half and full day walks, hostelling trips, meals and evening activities.New members are always welcome. Prospective members are invited to get in touch via the website, give us a ring or just turn up to an event or walk.Enquiries@dunstablebogtrotters.co.ukwww.dunstablebogtrotters.co.uk01582 865966 Sue or Julian

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Out About&• Clubs • Groups • Events• Community

WARDOWN PARK MUSEUMTel: 01582 546722

LISTEN!Continues until 19th April Free

Immerse yourself in an accessible interactive exhibition of sound.A quirky collection of much loved sound making objects curated and created by Graeme Leak.Gently ringing chimes, lightly amplified dripping water, environ-mental drones, retro tape loops and the sound of your own footsteps combine in LISTEN! to make a space where the noise of the world can be left behind for some moments of contemplation and wonder. For info 01582 546 722

Music in the MuseumSun 3rd May, 2pm £5

Enjoy live music in this unique set-ting. Spaces are limited. For info 01582 878 100

POETRY CLUB FOR YOUNG WRITERS.

Reviving young Love, for Literature!The Parish Centre, Bramingham Park, LutonFirst Saturday of each Month 1.30pm – 2.30pmProfessional Home Tuition are creating a platform for young poetry writers to showcase their work. The Poetry club aims to help the writers enhance their skills and share theirwork with others. Poets will meet other like minded individuals who have the same passion for writing and reading poetry. PHTS say,’The club aims to revive love for Literature for the younger, gadget loving generation’.The club is open to all students from ages of 8 to 13.Yearly membership of £10 and then £2 per visit.To register your child or for further information call 01582 528 368.

5TH STOPSLEY GUIDES Guides is our section for girls aged 10 to 14.By becoming part of a worldwide community of girls who learn together and share skills and experi-ences, Guides have the chance to get out there and do something really different.Members take part in a wide range of exciting activities at their regular meetings, and at special events or holidays. Girls can get involved in anything from adventure sports to performing arts, travel and taking part in community action projects. If you are interested in joining please visit www.girlguiding.ork.uk/joinus We are also looking for volunteers - Girl-guiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. By volunteering with us, you can help us create amazing opportunities for thousands of girls around the UK.Guiding happens thanks to more than 100,000 amazing volunteers – men and women like you who give their time to ensure that we are active all over the UK, and beyond. Girlguiding welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, faiths and abilities. We are flexible and volunteering can be arranged to fit around a busy lifestyle. If you are interested in finding out more please visit www.girlguiding.ork.uk/joinus

THE WILDLIFE TRUSTBirds on Blows - Spring WalkSat 25th April 8am - 11am £3 Adult £2 Child. Meeting at Skimpot Rd/Hatters Way LU4 4GYTo Book Sue Turner 07706131942Spring Has Sprung - Guided WalkSat 16th May 10am - 12.30pm £3 Adilt £2 Child. Meeting at Houghton Regis Chalk pit - lake view LU5 5GJBooking Required - Ruth Sneath 01525 874317Butterflies Of TotternhoeWed 20th May 11am - 1pm £3 Adult £2 Child. Meeting at Totternhoe National Trust Car Park. Booking Required. Sue Turner 07706131942Birdsong Workshop for beginners with breakfast

Sat 30th May 7am - 9.30am £3Meeting at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit - Lake View LU5 5GJBreakfast follows to book Ruth Sneath 01525 874317

CHILTERN GATEWAY CENTRETel: 01582 500920

Cadbury Easter Egg Trail3rd - 6th Apr, 11am - 3pm £2

Become an Eggsplorer at Dunstable Downs. Use the clues to navigate your way around the trail and collect a Cadbury Egghead prize when you make it back to basecamp.

Spring Flowers19th April 2pm - 3.30pm £4

Discover floral signs of spring on a guided walk with the Ranger Team at Sundon Hills Country Park. Meet at Sundon Hills Country Park, main car park. Sundon Hills Country Park is located in Sundon, nr Streatley. Please follow signs from the A6 at Streatley.

Dawn Chorus3rd May 4.30am - 9.30 am £4

The walk will leave at 4.30am, re-turning to the centre at approximate-ly 7.30am for breakfast. Discover the beautiful sounds of the Dawn Chorus on an early morning guided walk. Learn about the different calls and identify bird song with our guide, then head back to the Chilterns Gateway Centre for a well-earned breakfast.

Discover the Duke of Burgundy16th May 2pm - 3.30 £4

Explore Whipsnade Downs and discover the Duke of Burgundy butterfly on a guided walk with the Ranger Team

Beautiful Butterflies30th May 2pm - 3.30pm

£4 booking essentialExplore Whipsnade Downs with the Ranger Team and discover more about the beautiful butterflies that call the Downs home.

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THE DUNSTABLE ORBIT CLUB

Tel: 01582 890270

CHILTERN GATEWAY CENTRE

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

“The more you put in, the more you get out” is certainly true for the members of Dunstable and District Orbit Club. Since its inception over 20 years ago, the club has raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities from events such as quizzes, race nights, stalls at Carnivals etc. However, there is more to Orbit than the com-radeship and teamwork involved in organising fundraising events. The emphasis is very much on having fun in all their activities including a wide range of social pursuits such as archery, 10-pin bowling, cinema/theatres, guided walks, progressive meals etc. The club plan events to suit all budgets and many of them are free or at a low cost. Membership is only £10 annually. The club is keen to expand its social and charity events and hopes newcomers will bring fresh ideas along with them. Meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Dunstable Rugby Club, Bedford Road , Houghton Regis , LU5 6JW from 8 pm. You’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome. For more information contact Mark on 01582 539379, Julie on 01582 535761 or the website at www.orbitclub.org.uk/dunstable

We are an independent social club for ex-Rotarians and simi-larly minded people and have been in existence for nearly 3 years. We are named ‘The Watling Street Club’ as our mem-bers form a link along the Watling Street. We meet every Thursday evening at the ‘Old Hunter’s Lodge’ Whipsnade for a meal and speaker.New members are welcome. For more information contact John Stevens 01582 668033We are also holding a ‘Bridge Evening’ at Eaton Bray Village Hall on 5th February, 7pm until 10.30pm. The tables will be set for 4 players per team and entries are for a complete team at £10 per person.The format is competitive, in a fun way, with prizes. Supper is included, but bring your own drinks and glasses please. There will also be a raffle with some nice prizes. All pro-ceeds support local charities and good causes.For tickets contact Verna & John Dent 01582 704642

We meet every Monday (except bank holidays) in Chews House in High Street South, Dunstable, from 1pm to 5pm. We would welcome new members of all standards and you do not need a partner. If anyone is interested please call: 01582 664485

DUNSTABLE BRIDGE CLUB

WATLING STREET CLUB

For details of events and demonstrations throughout the year please contact the Visitor Centre on 01582 500920

Spring Craft Fair 9th-10th April11am - 4pm

Marvellous Craft Fair showcasing our local craftsmen. Come and browse our craft fair with lots of new spring and summer products from local craftsmen. Enjoy the beautiful view over the vale of Aylesbury with a coffee or lunch in our cafe.

Children’s Cake Decorating WorkshopWednesday, 13 April 2011

10am - 11am11am - 12pm 12pm - 1pm

Easters here! Why not celebrate by creating some yummy treats. Decorate cup cakes as Easter bunnies, Easter eggs and more, with Hayley from Crafty Crea-tions. Price includes tuition and all ingredients and 4 cakes. All tickets £6

Easter Trail and Activities22nd-25th April

11am - 3pm Come and follow the Easter Egg Trail.Solve the puzzle and claim your chocolate prize. Decorate an egg and have your face painted. Enter a competition to design your own Egghead. All Tickets £2

Dawn ChorusSunday, 01 May 2011 4:30 am - 6:30 am

Listen to the Songbirds singing at the start of a new day. International Dawn Chorus Day is an annual celebration of the world’s oldest wake-up call - the dawn chorus- and the beauty of bird song. Join us on the Dunstable Downs and listen to the song birds singing at the start of a new day. Enjoy a breakfast bap and coffee or tea in the cafe after the walk. All Tickets £8

Priory House Heritage CentreDunstable

Tel: 01582 890270Local History Talks

with Tea/CoffeeThursday Afternoons

2.30p, - 4.00pm£4.50 per person

April 7th Boudicca Warrior Queen of the Britons. Was she a maraunding barbaric rebel, or

a C1 patriotic freedom fighter?


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17

Discover magic, pure and simple magic. Grow food,

cook food and share food and do it in public places.

These are the words of Mary Clear co founder of Incred-

ible Edible Todmorden set up in 2007 with her friend

Pam Warhurst. Together with the help of their commu-

nity they have grown being Incredible into a worldwide

revolution with 300 IE’s all over the world.

I run my own gardening business and most of my work is for

the elderly. I have seen how lonely some folk can be when

everyone is out at work, everyone has stuff to do and no

one has time for their each other. I wanted my neighbour-

hood restored so I thought what better way to do this than to

make a beautiful garden that grows food for us all to share,

so I began!

February 2013 on a snowy winter’s day I started by writ-

ing to Dunstable Council and asking can you help, they

said ‘Yes’. Central Bedfordshire is our landowner and has

provided huge support. So together with some willing

volunteers we built this garden. We now have 5 raised

beds filled with 40 bags of horse manure topped off with 8

tonne of top soil all donated and collected for free. The beds

produced strawberries, tomatoes, fennel, coriander, mint,

thyme, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, mixed salad leaves,

lettuce, spring onion, radish, swede all donated for free.

We were involved with Anglia in Bloom this year and

helped to bring home GOLD. We have been visited by Mr J

Chatterley Dunstable Town Mayor and he is in full support

of our community garden. We had a massive raspberry

plant over the half term holiday and planted over 30 fruit

canes all donated for free.

Next year the garden will be used for the students from

Barnfield Vale Academy as the garden for their Enrichment

Option. This will involve teaching them all about com-

munity, nature and sustainable food production, in a way

that will inspire them to look outside the box and see the

potential for expanding this project.

We will be hoping to have a seating area in the garden for

people to take the time to sit and have their lunch after do-

ing some work in our garden. Meet and take the time to talk

to each other after harvesting the free vegetables and fruit.

We are not funded by anyone; we rely on volunteer’s dona-

tions of their time and donations of plants and materials

from the local businesses and the local community.

If you feel you are able to support our project by working in

the garden or a donation of a plant or a few roles of weed

suppressant membrane and a few bags of mulch every tiny

bit of help is received with open arms.

Maybe a tree surgeon could deposit some free chippings

directly to our garden or a landscape gardener has extra

supplies or a grab lorry driver could remember us if he has

some topsoil to dispose of. We could use all of these things

for our herb spiral we want to make next year. We would be

truly grateful.

Big love, smiles and nice tea to share

Sahira (pronounced Syra)

Like and share our Facebook page Incredible Edible Dun-

stableFor more information contact me on

01582 519132 or 07905 116623

INCRedible

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4


The word on the street is that DUNSTABLE ROCKS,

the closing event for Dunstable Town Council’s Sum-

mer of Music, is going to attract phenomenal crowds.

This FREE event is headlined by legendary soul singer

Alexander O’Neal, famous for a wide range of classics

which includes ‘Cri tic ise’, ‘Fake’, ‘Never Knew Love

Like This’, ‘Saturday Love’ and ‘Secret Lovers’.

It is recommended that if you want to grab a prime view-

ing spot, you should arrive early. O’Neal is reputedly the

best pure singer to come from the 80s soul era, releasing

a string of memorable hits that are still on radio playlists

across the UK to satisfy regular ‘radio requests’. This

soul legend has an undying passion to perform and on

Saturday, 18 August 2012 you can enjoy his celebrated

act ABSOLUTELY FREE .

DUNSTABLE ROCKS will open at 12 noon with local

performances along with bands Subset, The Call Up and

Gin House Delta. Back by popular demand, after a very

popular set last year, is exceptional cover band ‘Leech’

who will once again deliver a string of popular, sing-

along, dance-along tunes getting Grove House Gardens

up on its party feet.

Keeping the party atmosphere going, Back to Black, the

Amy Whinehouse Experience will take up the reins with a

performance that encapsulates the look, the mannerisms

and the voice of Amy. ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’ Nathan

Moore, lead singer of Brother Beyond, takes to the stage

as the final act before the eagerly-awaited Alexander O’

Neal. Brother Beyond’s first hit, ‘The Harder I Try’ made

number 2 in the charts and we expect lots of female fans

for this 80s hottie!!

There will also be a variety of good quality food on sale

and our wonderful outside bar, BarWorx, will be there to

supply both alcoholic and soft drinks. So what are you

waiting for? Put Dunstable Rocks, Saturday, 18 August in

your diary now. And don’t forget to arrive early to secure

a prime position.

We want everyone to have a fantastic time, so to ensure

this; only a reasonable amount of alcohol will be permit-

ted on site and due to the enormous crowds expected at

this event, it will not be permissible to erect gazebos or

picnic tables because of lack of space.

SATURDAY, 18 AUGUST 2012

Grove House Gardens 12 Noon - 10pm

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24


With Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to

win the Tour de France and an outstanding ending

sequence to the Olympics featuring a hoard of

chrome bedazzled scooters to the backdrop of The

Who's 'Pinball Wizard', mod culture has reaffirmed

it's place as a truly heritage piece of everyday British

life in the nations psyche. Unknowingly created in

the smokey, dark jazz clubs of Soho in the 1950's

and rising in popularity to it's salad days in the mid

sixties following a swathe of media coverage follow-

ing clashes with leather clad rockers on the south

coasts holiday resorts, mod has always been typified

by smart, clean cut individuals with an obsessive sar-

torial attention to detail and penchant for tailor made

suits and Italian scooters - forever set in cinematic

stone in The Who's legendary cult film, Quadrophe-

nia. Mod culture has remained firmly rooted in Brit-

ish culture ever since and can be seen even today

in Dunstable with the formation and rising presence

and popularity of the towns very own scooter club

- Ready Steady Go! SC. Formed in the summer of

2012 by a group of long standing mods, some new

to Dunstable, to raise the profile of the town and

mod culture, Ready Steady Go! were named after

the legendary TV music show of the 1960's. Found-

ing member Micky Fallows explains more; "We all

came together and met during the summer of 2012

through the mod scene and felt the town needed a

scooter club with some glitz and glam. The public

love nothing more than seeing a line of scooters

dressed in chrome and lights. It raises a pride and

excitement in people with a piece of British culture

that they can all identify with in some aspect or

another." The group first met at the Four Kings Bar

& Bistro on High Street South in September with

16 colourful and shiny steeds sat proudly on the

forecourt. "It was a great day. Two of us have moved

up this way from Watford and we were happy to

have a few of the guys from down there come up

and say hello." Following the buzz and excitement

the first meeting created amongst the scootering

fraternity, the groups second major meeting the fol-

lowing month saw over 100 people on 60 scooters

turn up in the town to support the club with a line

of classic Lambretta's and Vespa's stretching half the

length of High Street South. "We were absolutely

stunned if we're honest." Micky continues. "We had

clubs come down for the day from Aylesbury, Milton

Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Oxford and a few other

towns. The support has been incredible. The towns

shoppers and residents were out taking photos,

beeping their horns as they drove by and coming to

chat and have their pictures taken with the scooters.

It just goes to show that mod culture is very dear to

most people whether they are immersed in it or not.

It's a huge piece of British heritage and culture and

something the majority of people remember from

different parts of their lives and can identify with."

Since then club has had a continually growing core

membership and to this end have made the Four

Kings Bar their permanent home, meeting every

Thursday evening for a get together. Other founding

member Paul Quin says; “We meet every week, just

to catch up - either on the scooters or if the weather

is bad we head down by car. We always love to

see new and younger faces come down, so pop

along and say hello and get involved. We have lots

going on and coming up. The Four Kings have been

amazing, welcoming us with open arms and playing

us some good music when we show up too.” In ad-

dition to their weekly get-together and large monthly

weekend meetings, the club are now focussing the

support they have been given into running some

charity events for their nominated charity - the Keech

Hospice childrens services - with the first being an

evening of sixties/mod/soul music to be held at the

Four Kings Bar on Saturday 23rd February. Member

David Savage explains; “We have managed to get

the areas finest DJ’s from the best local mod clubs to

come together for the night to hopefully help us raise

lots of money for the Keech, and have a top night as

well!” Tickets for the charity night can be purchased

from from the Four Kings Bar, Hetty Spaghetty cloth-

ing, Vinyl Revelations record shop or online through

the clubs website. The club are always happy to

receive new members to club, as Micky concludes;

“Anyone wishing to get involved should come down

to the Four Kings on a Thursday evening. Whether

you are on a scooter or not, we don’t sit about talk-

ing boring mechanics. It’s all about a love for mod

and sixties culture and being proud of it’s place in

Dunstable.”

Dunstable

Scooter Club

5


4

Dunstable Glider Pilots selected for British Women's Team Helen Hingley, seen here with her own LS4

glider, has been chosen to represent Britain

in the 2013 Women's World Gliding Cham-

pionship to be held in Issoudun , France , during July. Fellow Dunstable pilot Melissa

Jenkins has been selected as the British Team

Captain.Helen has been flying at the London Gliding

Club for 5 years, initially wanting a "holiday

with a difference" and decided to go flying

again after a 9 year break from flying light

aircraft. "I much prefer the challenge of pow-

erless flight" Helen says.She's been highly successful in cross country

competition recently, coming third in her class in the Dunstable Regionals this year and 7th out of 37 in the pre-worlds practice.

The competition will last over 14 days, and

each day over 50 women glider pilots from

around the world will be set task distances of

up to 600 kms.Understanding and then making best use of

the prevailing weather conditions in order to

find rising air and fly these huge distances -

without an engine - is the essence of gliding.

The London Gliding Club has operated from

its airfield at the foot of the Dunstable Downs

since the early 1930's. It is famous among

the aviation community for cross-country,

aerobatics and vintage gliding, and is one of

the largest gliding clubs in the world.

There is a whole world to discover on your

doorstepwith your local Wildlife Trust in 2013

Here are some of your up and coming events

for February and March this year· A Talk On Education And Community On Blows Downs Nature Reserve

Come and find out about the importance of educa-

tion and community work and the differences it

makes to Blows DownsEvent: Indoor Talk

Booking: Essential

Date: Monday 11 Feb 2013

Time: 7.45pm – 9.15pm

Location: Priory Middle School,

Britain St, Dunstable, LU5 4JA. Meet in the Dome

Price: Donations gratefully accepted

Audience: AdultA Free Event For Youth Wildlife Rangers

Event: Fun Outdoor Activity for 13 - 19 Yr Olds

Booking: Essential

Date: Wednesday 20 Feb 2013

Time: 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve,

Dunstable. Meet at Oakwood Avenue

Blows Down Litter PickCome and help the Blows Downs Conservation

Group to keep your local nature reserve looking

beautifulEvent: Outdoor Activity

Date: Sunday 17 March 2013

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve,

Dunstable. Meet at the Half Moon Lane entrance

Price: Free. Turn Up On The Day

Audience: Everyone Welcome

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Community Open DayCome along and find out more about your local

nature reserve at Blows DownsEvent:

Activities for Adults & Kids

Date: Sunday 24 March 2013

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve, Dunsta-

ble. Meet near to the Half Moon Lane entrance

Price: Donations gratefully accepted

Audience: Everyone Welcome.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For information Tel Ruth Sneath: 01525 874317


Wildlife Trust

Tel: 01525 222379 07852 453043Email: [email protected]

to non-profit organisationsAdmission: Adults: £8 / Seniors: £5 / Child: £4 (Under 4 free)

Location: Stotfold, Bedfordshire SG5 4NU

13th YEAR!

STOTFOLD MILL

STEAM FAIR& COUNTRY

SHOWSATURDAY & SUNDAY9-10th MAY 2015

For advance discounted tickets please visit www.stotfoldmill.com/steam-fair

A GREAT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY!

Open Daily: 10.30am - 5.30pm

Registered Charity No. 1086392.

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please call 01582 45 00 00







the vine luton - april & may 2015 - issue 8

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