The Vine Villages - December / January 2016 - Issue 22

Connecting local people to local businesses

News / What’s On / Local Directory

December/ January 2016 : Issue 22

FREE

Covering The Villages Surrounding Dunstable

Inside This Issue

Christmas FunSpecial

Save MoneyThis Christmas!An Essential GuideBy Martin Lewis

A Guide To

Family Days Out

WIN Tickets!Back To Bacharach at MK - Stables

Proud To Be Highly CommendedCUSTOMER CARE EXCELLENCE AWARD

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk2

Opening HoursTues - Sat: 5pm - 11pm Sun: 12 Noon - 10.30pm

~ SPECIAL GOURMET NIGHTS ~Every Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday4 Course meal and filter coffee

£10.95 per person

~ SPECIAL SUNDAY BUFFET~Every Sunday, 12 Noon - 5pm

Eat as much as you like from our wide variety of excellent Indian dishes!

Adults £9.95 Children (under 10 yrs) £6.95

New Menu

New Dishes Curry Garden

Restaurant& Horseshoes Public House

(1 starter, 1 main course, 1 side dish, 1 rice/nan)

Closed Mondays except for Bank Holidays

• 20% OFF collected orders over £15.00

• FREE home delivery orders over £15.00 (within 5 miles)

• 10% OFF Bottled Beer & Wine (Collected orders only)

• Ample Private car park

We are open

Christmas Day 12pm - 5pm

Boxing Day 5pm - 11pm

*Christmas Period Menu ~ Choose from two set menusStarter: Choice of any starter from our menu

Main: Kurzi Chicken / Lamb

This meal for 4 people consists of two whole chickensor a whole lamb leg, marinated with special herbs and

yogurt, oven cooked, stuffed with minced meat servedwith mild to medium sauce and rice / naan

Desserts: Special Indian dessertFilter coffee & mints

Starter: Choice of any starter from our menuMain:

Choice of any chef special dish from our menuserved with a choice of side dish, rice / naan

from our menu (Kurzi chicken & lamb excluded)Desserts: Special Indian dessert

Filter coffee & mints

Curry Garden RestaurantHigh Street, Eggington, LU7 9PDTel: (01525) 211814 (01525) 210796Email: [email protected] www.cgrestaurant.co.uk

£24.95 per adult£12.95 per child (under 10 years)*Booking essential. £10.00 deposit required

*From 1st November until 31st December 2015

Issue 22 • December / January 2016 3

Brendan’sPainting & Decorating

Service

Mobile: 07956 878643Phone: 01525 873179

Email: [email protected]

www.brendansdecorating.co.uk

Local painter and decorator with 25 years experience,

available for all your interior and exterior decorating needs.

Free quotes • Reasonable rates • Fully insured

Get the Beautiful Smile You Deserve!

Book your FREE Smile Assessment now.

Edlesborough Dental Practice Telephone: 01525 223175

11 Cow lane, Edlesborough, LU62HT

www.flossandsmile.co.uk General Family Dentistry * Crowns * Bridges * Dentures

Smile Makeovers * Tooth Whitening * Tooth straightening Implants * Hygienist * Sedation * 0% Finance available

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

Editor: Scott NightingaleEmail: [email protected]

Advertising & Editorial: Shelly NesbittTel: 01525 222379 / 07852 453043Email: [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.

It’s Party Time!

DRESS TO IMPRESS THIS PARTY SEASON

M&

Co; O

mbre F

lapper Dress £89, B

ox Clutch £29, B

ead Drop B

racelet £12

Marks & Spencer Per Una Ankle Grazer Trousers £45.00

Very Sequin blue cami £27.00

New Look Black and Gold Zig Zag Sequin Dress £29.

New Look Silver glitter ankle strap heels £24.99

M&Co; Boutique Sequin Shutter Dress £85.00

Matalan Black Satin True Jewel Clutch Bag £18.00

Style Guide

Summer is fantastic for being able to occupy your children with simply walking to the park or going onto the beach or all manner of summertime outdoor activities. But when it comes to the colder end of the year, it can be much harder to find some days out and/or ways of enjoying the holidays as a family. Especially when the colder weather makes it difficult to want to leave the house! However, there are several UK based Winter Wonderlands to enjoy and to tempt you away from the snug indoors!

Winter WonderlandA visit to Hyde Park between the 20th November and 3rd January between 10am-10pm every day (except Christmas Day) will lead you to, as the name suggests, a Winter Wonderland! Included on the site are an ice rink, circus shows, Bar Ice, Santa Land, the Giant Wheel, Christmas Markets, fun fair rides and daily free live music. With something on for every member of the family, it’s a great place to please children and adults of all ages. Tickets can be purchased for each attraction and need to be obtained in advance, with family tickets starting from around £20.00 and adult prices averaging between

£7-£10. The best time to visit is midweek where you’ll find a slightly slower and less chaotic pace and with so much on offer, you’ll easily fill the day! (www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com)

Days outthis Christmas

Lapland UKNothing says Christmas quite like Lapland, and the founders of Lapland UK list their mission as “making your real world magical and our magical world real.” Based in Berkshire, Mike and Alison Battle created this dream land for children in 2006 as a reaction to being disappointed with the commercial takeover of Christmas, Christmas spirit mainly being found in shops. They therefore set up a UK home for Father Christmas. Described best as a immersive theatrical experience, tours depart every 30 minutes and last three and a half hours. During this time children can go ice skating, visit Father Christmas, see the elves at work, see reindeer and huskies, and take a look inside the North Pole post office plus much more! Open from 21st November through till Christmas Eve, it’s an experience your family won’t forget with personalised invitations and an elf passport for every child. Ticket prices start at £45, and in 2015, Lapland UK is partnering the charity Rays of Sunshine. A real Christmas treat! (www.laplanduk.co.uk)

£20.00 and adult prices averaging between

invitations and an elf

A real Christmas treat! (www.laplanduk.co.uk)

Health Beauty Wellbeing&

Brows & Lashes

Internet searches assure me that no matter how over-plucked, over-waxed or over-groomed your eyebrows may be, there is hope still for beautiful, arched, perfectly coiffed speci-mens. The most extreme method might be an eyebrow transplant (yes really!), but there are other less drastic options!

Most of us ladies – and the odd gent too – need to lose a few hairs from the brow line. The easiest solution is tweezing away the stray hairs yourself, but the results are short-lived and the risk of creating the wrong shape is high. Better results can be achieved by a professional, with waxing and thread-ing methods achieving hair removal lasting around 4-6 weeks. Fair or very thin eyebrows may benefit from being tinted. Like hair dye, this changes the colour and lasts 4-6 weeks.

A popular look at the moment is HD (High Definition) Brows which focus on shape and design and promise to give you sleek, stylish brows like those enjoyed by the stars. A seven step process that includes a consul-tation followed by tinting, waxing, threading, tweez-ing, trimming and finishing with a pencil or brush to fill in any gaps, is described as more than just shaping or tidying but actual eyebrow artistry!

With your brows looking beautiful brows it’s time to move on to the eyelashes.

There are numerous mascaras around promising volume, length and thickness, and I can vouch for some of them actually work-ing! My daughter’s naturally

long lashes were taken to another level following the application of a

new mascara. But what else is on offer?

Tinting is an option if your lashes are particu-larly fair, and it’s not just for girls. I remember the difference it made to my friend’s son after his lashes were darkened. Curling makes straight lashes appear longer, and creates the illusion of wider, brighter, more feminine eyes. Lash-perming, which is best carried out by a professional, can make the results can last for six weeks, which is great for holidays or if you have any big events lined up.

Finally, how about having eyelash exten-sions? This is one of the UK’s fastest growing beauty treatments and involves gluing separate synthetic eyelashes to individual natural lashes to give a luscious, natural look. The amount of curl, length or thickness can vary according to your personal preference and the results last for 8-12 weeks depending on your natural lash growth cycle.

I was born with my dad’s eyebrows. Naturally thick, shapeless and unsightly, they looked like two caterpillars stuck to my forehead. At age twelve I followed the fashion of the day and plucked away until they were within a whisper of totally disappearing - and I was on the point of fainting! Today, my eyebrows are thin, shapeless and unsightly and I’m resigned to them looking that way forever. Or rather I was…

Christmas

Dunstable

Party

Cllr. Nigel Young, talks about the regeneration plans for Dunstable

Revitalising

and...

12fashion

Copy deadline for next issue:January 18th

2016

New ReleasesIncluding

Cinema

46

Got it covered?

Days OutOur guide to family fun over the festive period.

Star Warsand the latest from Eddie Redmayne & Chris Hemsworth

Inside This Issue

12

42

56 Christmas Tickets to

Back To BacharachAt Milton Keynes Stables

6 Local News

10 A5- Woodside Link Road

14 Hadrian Academy

16 Christmas Spirit

18 Martin Lewis Money

22 JVS Consumer Clinic

30 Puzzles

35 A Pensioners View

36 Is Your Pet Overweight?

38 Ask The Vet

40 A Travellers Tale

44 Auto Biographies

58 Out & About

7

Issue 22 • December/January 2016


Do you regret the day you paid hard-earned cash for that expensive ‘glass box’ at-tachment to your house - the conservatory? Most people do. It sits there, teasing you relentlessly, looking like it could be useful, but alas it is either too hot or too cold. Grrrrr. However one day, and it will come around, you will have some spare cash, and perhaps a need to convert into a play room for a new child, or start a new business. At this point, there is an op-tion to reinvent and transform that ‘glass box’ and put it to 100% use, 365 days every year. How? By removing the old inefficient, noisy roof, and replacing it with a proper slate roof... yes, real tiles

(albeit they are specially made, light weight and highly durable), attached to a sturdy bespoke timber frame, clad with modern super-efficient insulation, finished with top quality plaster… voila! All done by craftsmen who care about doing a superb job, within 3-5 days, start to finish. The result is a room that has building control approval and a 10-year warranty. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it, well, it’s a beauti-ful fact, and extremely affordable too. So, save this article, because the day will come when you

really HAVE to stop that glass box teasing you and turn it into something all-year-round enjoyable. And when that day comes, please call the friendly team at Nu-Look!

Do you regret the day you paid hard-earned cash for that expensive ‘glass box’ attachment to your house - the conservatory? Most people do. It sits there, teasing you relentlessly, looking like it could be useful, but alas it is either too hot or too cold. Grrrrr. However one day, and it will come around, you will have some spare cash, and perhaps a need to convert into a play room for a new child, or start a new business. At this point, there is an option to reinvent and transform that ‘glass box’ and put it to 100% use, 365 days every year. How? By removing the old inefficient, noisy roof, and replacing it with a proper slate roof... yes, real tiles (albeit they are specially made, light weight

and highly durable), attached to a sturdy bespoke timber frame, clad with modern super-efficient insulation, finished with top quality plaster… voila! All done by craftsmen who care about doing a superb job, within 3-5 days, start to finish. The result is a room that has building control approval and a 10-year warranty. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it, well, it’s a beautiful fact, and extremely affordable too. So, save this article, because the day will come when you really HAVE

to stop that glass box teasing you and turn it into something all-year-round enjoyable. And when that day comes, please call the friendly team at Nu-Look!

Don’t let it TEASE you any more…

Is your conservatory ...too COLD in the winter ...too HOT in the summer?

www.nulookroof.co.uk01908 596007

5%VAT

Read what our customers say about their fab new room on our website:

...cosy and quiet

Since 2013, we have re-roofed over 350 local customers, all delighted with the results, and the price! Book a free quote today...

NO fake discounts and NO sales pressureBespoke timber frame ♦ The industry’s best tradesmen

40-year guarantee on Tapco slates10-year warranty ♦ Building control certification

Viewings available in your area - just ask!

BEFORE

AFTER

Is your conservatory ...too COLD in the winter ...too HOT in the summer?

www.nulookroof.co.uk01908 596007

5%VAT

Read what our customers say about their fab new room on our website:

...cosy and quiet

Since 2013, we have re-roofed over 350 local customers, all delighted with the results, and the price! Book a free quote today...

NO fake discounts and NO sales pressureBespoke timber frame ♦ The industry’s best tradesmen

40-year guarantee on Tapco slates10-year warranty ♦ Building control certifi cation

Viewings available in your area - just ask!

BEFORE

AFTER

a5 half page.indd 1 16/11/2015 12:23:52

Don’t let it TEASE you any more…


local NEWS

That’s a huge thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for us in the Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business and Community awards. We were overwhelmed to receive a Highly Commended award in the Customer Care Excellence category.

Organisers Katie Horn and Vicki Stonham, of Your Marketing Needs, along with a committee, put on a fantastic evening at Dunstable Conference centre, High Street North, and a great time was had by all who attended.Now in it’s 4th year, the awards are great opportunity to celebrate and promote local businesses and community spirit. Categories included Business of the year, won by Home Instead Luton and Central Bedfordshire, and the Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement which was won by Pam Burgess who has worked tirelessly, volunteering and working in the community for more than 25 years. Congratulations to all the other well deserving nominees and winners who have worked hard to make Dunstable. Houghton Regis a great place to live and work.

Come Dine With Me is coming to Luton, Milton Keynes, Bedford and the surrounding areas and this time they're looking for COUPLES!

The third series of the successful show takes place over three days with three couples from all walks of life taking turns to host the perfect dinner party. At the end of the week the winning couple walk away with £1,000! If you're a fun-loving couple with a passion for food they want to hear from you now!You must be over 18 and not trained or working as a professional chef.The shoot will take place in the week beginning 25th January so you must be available during this week.For more information email: [email protected] call 0871 200 3939 www.channel4.com/programmes/take-part and click on 'Come Dine With Me'

Are you a Couple? Do you have a Cooking Partner in Crime?

Channel 4’s hit show Come Dine with Me is coming to LUTON, MILTON KEYNES, BEDFORD and the surrounding areas

and we’re looking for COUPLES to take part!

Do you and your partner host the best dinner parties in town? Come Dine With Me are looking for the perfect

partnership to create the recipe for success!

If you’re over 18 & have the combined skills to produce an amazing dinner party…

We want to hear from you!

Three couples. Three nights. Three dinner parties. And a £1,000 cash prize.

If you or any couples you know would like to take part contact us with your names, ages & numbers NOW!

Filming dates 25th January 2016


Tel: 0207 157 3751 (Callers from a BT landline will be charged a set up fee of 14p per call plus 10p per minute.

Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will cost considerably more.)

Think You Can

Cook?THANK

YOU


PS Oven Valeting Services We clean ovens the job you hate! Call us today for a free quote All caustic free Eco friendly products only

Small friendly reliable business with over 10 years experience Range ---Aga---Ovens and Hobs Extractor Hoods Microwave Traditional Cookers We clean them all Call Peter or Sheila 01582 521430 [email protected] All areas covered

the job you hate!

We clean ovens...

Call Peter or Sheila

01582 [email protected]

All areas covered

Call us today for a free quote All caustic freeEco friendly products only

• Range • Aga • Ovens and Hobs• Extractor Hoods • Microwave• Traditional Cookers We clean them all

PSOven Cleaning Specialists

Small, friendly, reliable business with over 10 years experience

BACK TO BACHARACH celebrates the magical music of Burt Bacharach, one of the most accomplished popular composers of the 20th Century, who together with Hal David penned some of the most memorable and iconic hits that stand the test of time. This exciting production is touring throughout the U.K. from September 2015 and is performed by 3 of the fin-est west end singers accompanied by a live 10 piece band recreating Burt Bacharach's timeless hits. Songs featured in the show include Alfie, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Arthur's Theme, Always Something There To Remind Me, Close To You, I Say A Little Prayer For You, Magic Moments, Walk On By, What’s New Pussycat?, 24 Hours from Tulsa, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head and many more.Songs everyone will remember and fall in love with again.Back To Bacharach is a fantastic show for all ages, friends and family!

We are proud to announce that Back to Bacharach have partnered with Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s leading breast cancer charity. Breast Cancer Now supports world class breast cancer research across the UK and Ireland and believes that if we all act now, by 2050, breast cancer will have taken its last life. That’s why Back to Bacharach are pleased to be supporting this worthy charity by donating £1 from each theatre ticket sold, and committing to raise a minimum of £10,000 by doing so.

At MILTON KEYNES – Stables Sunday 31st January

Are you tired of tenant issues and voids? We can remove the hassle whilst still giving

you a good return on your investment.

If you would like a truly hassle free way of letting your propertyplease contact Michelle on

01582 268780

Attention All Landlords

Sell your housefast for cash

SOLDWe are buying property in your areaQuick decisionsFast completionAny property considered commercial & residential

No FeesLocal companyFree RICS property valuation

��

��

CALL NOW for a confidential chat

01582 268780

Guaranteed rental income for 2-3 years

No agency fees

No maintenance costs

0% Voids

No dealing with tenants




��

��


01582 268780




��

��


01582 268780




��

��


01582 268780




��

��


01582 268780LET

Sell your housefast for cashSOLD

We are buying property in your areaQuick decisionsFast completionAny property considered commercial & residentialNo FeesLocal companyFree RICS property valuation

��

��

CALL NOW for a confidential chat01582 268780

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!


Puzzles

Across

6. Exceedingly (7)

7. Begin (5)

9. Devoutness (5)

10. Advent (7)

12. Incitement (11)

14. Disbelief (11)

18. Clearness (7)

19. Amusing (5)

21. Grown-up (5)

22. Aid (7)

Down

1. Characteristic (5)

2. Rope for holding

animal (6)

3. Beer (3)

4. Severe (6)

5. Maker (7)

8. Dribble (7)

11. Greed (7)

13. Contain (7)

15. Seldom (6)

16. Three times (6)

17. Mock (5)

20. Colour (3)

Crossword

FRANK

SLINK

n Buy about 350/400g per portion or you will be left with lots of leftovers.

n Leave the turkey out at room temperature for a couple of hours before putting in the oven.

n Roast the turkey on a trivet of vegetables and the giblets - this helps make a great gravy.

n Rub the turkey with lemon - it’s a natural flavour enhancer and colours beautifully.

n Allow the turkey once cooked to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes before carving.

n Buy a thermometer - a turkey is safely cooked at 72C in its thickest point.

n Don’t use tinfoil - it dries the turkey out.

n Don’t try to cook a turkey too quickly as it will dry out.

n Don’t truss and stuff a turkey - it adds too much cooking time and can dry out the turkey.

n Don’t cover with lean bacon - it just adds more salt. Use fatty streaky bacon.

n Don’t throw away the carcass - it makes a great stock, for stews and hot pots.

Top Tips on cooking the perfect Christmas turkey

Tickets are available from MILTON KEYNES – Stables Box Office on 01908 280800 or online atwww.stables.org/Whats_on/Event/Back_to_Bacharach

Back To Bacharach

WIN WIN WIN WIN

We have a pair of tickets to give away!To be in with a chance simply email your name and address to [email protected] or like our Facebook page, The Vine Magazine, and follow the instructions on the competition post.


mistydoubleglazing.co.uk01582 638247

01582 638247

mistydoubleglazing.co.uk01582 638247

01582 638247mistydoubleglazing.co.uk

Saturday 19 December

Monday 21 December

Wednesday 23 December

2nd Class and Royal MailSigned For ®1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For ®Royal Mail Special DeliveryGuaranteed ®

UK INLAND SERVICES

Friday 27 NovemberFriday 11 December

Operational BFPOsStatic BFPOs

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD HM FORCES MAIL - BRITISH FORCES POST OFFICE®

Tuesday 3 November

Tuesday 17 November

Cyprus, Eastern Europe,Greece, Iceland, Malta & TurkeyWestern Europe

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY

Last Posting Dates


Saturday 19 December

Monday 21 December

Wednesday 23 December

2nd Class and Royal MailSigned For ®1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For ®Royal Mail Special DeliveryGuaranteed ®

UK INLAND SERVICES

Friday 27 NovemberFriday 11 December

Operational BFPOsStatic BFPOs

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD HM FORCES MAIL - BRITISH FORCES POST OFFICE®

Tuesday 3 November

Tuesday 17 November

Cyprus, Eastern Europe,Greece, Iceland, Malta & TurkeyWestern Europe

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY

Last Posting Dates

At Center Parcs, we want our people to share in the success their hard work brings, enjoy a sense of wellbeing and a good lifestyle, and make the most of their time with us.We offer unique benefi ts such as:• Discounted Center

Parcs breaks• Day visitor passes• Free use of village

facilitiesAlong with more classic benefi ts such as profi t share and management bonus schemes, life insurance cover, 30 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) and company sick pay.

WOBURN FOREST

Looking for a glittering new career? Want to add some sparkle to your life? Look no further, Center Parcs Woburn Forest has a dazzling array of vacancies!We create a wonderful and memorable experience for our guests in the great outdoors, and to do this we are looking for people who want to deliver excellent service, have high standards and take pride in everything they do.

We are looking for enthusiastic team players to join us, we have opportunities to suit everyone, with fl exible working hours and competitive rates of pay plus super benefi ts.For further details and to apply please visit: www.centerparcs.co.uk and select Woburn Forest.

Center Parcs, Woburn Forest, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2HZ

www.centerparcs.co.uk


When hundreds of local residents visited recent exhibitions to find out more about the Woodside Link and A5-M1 Link roads, one question was frequently on people’s lips: “How do you know these roads will reduce congestion in our town centres?”

Residents needed to hear about Central Bedfordshire Council’s plans to introduce a series of vehicle weight restrictions – which will force HGVs to use the new Woodside Link and A5-M1 Link. Congestion in Dunsta-ble and Houghton Regis town centres will reduce, and villages from Toddington to Kensworth will be free of lorries treating their roads as a short cut. Pollution will also decrease to more reasonable levels.

A map was drawn up to see where best to place 7.5-tonne vehicle weight restrictions, a simplified version of the original appearing alongside this article. Circular red signs banning lorries will become a familiar sight at many roundabouts and junctions. Heavy vehicles will not be able to enter Poynters Road or Park Road North and will instead take the Woodside Link to

the new junction 11a. Luton Road (Chalton), Sundon Road, Houghton Road (Dunstable) and Brewers Hill Road are also to benefit from the restrictions, once the necessary procedures, including a consultation, have been worked through. We should be seeing the signs in place by the end of 2016.

Some readers may already have seen details of our plans to detrunk the A5 through Dunstable. That is part of the same plan to relieve Dunstable of congestion. Lorries will take the A5-M1 Link, then the Woodside Link, to ac-cess the industrial estates in a matter of minutes.

A traffic study in 2013 predicted that the Woodside Link would take ‘a considerable volume of traffic away from Houghton Regis Town Centre’, and the A5-M1 Link and weight restrictions will help create a similar effect in Dun-stable. Residents and businesses will soon be seeing the benefits of all the work that has gone into making these two towns great places to live and work.

If you have a question about any of this, email me at [email protected].

A5 Woodside Link RoadSet to Relieve congestion

By Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, Central Bedfordshire Council


The Christmas spirit is now in full effect, which can mean good news for our shops – and Dunstable is no different.I have often heard people say that the town is on the decline, but nothing could be further from the truth. There has been huge investment to help reinvigorate the town and, on the way, are the A5-M1 and Woodside link roads, which will help bring more people into Dunstable shops.

Already the signs are looking good. High Street North is thriving, while at the White Lion Retail Park, Next, Brantano and Sports Direct are set to move in shortly and talks are ongoing with M&S. And, over on Luton Road, there will be a Lidl, plus 100 new houses built behind it.All across Dunstable there are fewer and fewer shops to rent, so these are good signs of a town that is increasing in popularity and prosperity.

While we are attracting larger retailers to Dunstable, we need to accept that we will never compete with the likes of Milton Keynes – nor should we try to compete with them. People will go to MK to browse around House of Fraser, but will stay in Dunstable for convenience, local knowledge and local service. It is these home-grown touches that they will never find in the vastness of centre:mk.

The key to our future success is accepting that we need both types of retail offer but focusing on revitalising Dunstable as a traditional market town that can be a true alternative to other retail locations.

That’s not to say that we don’t need to continue to improve and strengthen our retail offer. We have recently announced a Market Towns Regeneration Fund that could be a catalyst for further improvements. We are also open to working with the owners of the

privately-run Quadrant Shopping Centre – who have ultimate control about how it looks and the shops that fill it – but while we will seek to influence the bigger picture we can’t influence the detail such as dictating what shopkeepers do or what they sell.

Ultimately that gets down to pure business in the sense that people will set up shop selling whatever if they think there’s a market for. In that sense, the nature of the shops on the High Street is purely influenced by local retail habits.

Instead, we need to celebrate what we’ve got, build on our strengths and seize opportunities rather than wasting energy pursuing unrealistic ambitions. Already, more than half of town centre shops are places where real expertise exists. These are chemists, greengrocers, butchers, bakers, coffee shops and even tattoo shops, among many other retailers that specialise in one particular area. These are small businesses that should be the centre points of their community as they have a more personal relationship with their customers and that can only be a good thing.

Over the next few editions I will explain why, but for now I do hope you embrace these retailers when doing your festive shopping and that you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

By Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council

Revitalising Dunstable


• Servicing • Mot’s + Class 7 • Repairs • Air Conditioning

• With Full Diagnostics Available

&

Unit A3, Portland Close, off Townsend Farm Road , Houghton Regis, Beds. LU5 5AW

:01582 472117 :01582 472116

All Ladies

are welcome!

VW / Audi Specialists& all other makes & model vehicles

Land Rover & 4x4 Specialists

30 years

experience

•GARAGEDOORSINSTEEL,WOOD,GRP&ABS

•AUTOMATIONTONEW&EXISTINGDOORS&GATES

•FREEQUOTATIONS,SPARES&REPAIRSTEL:01525220212 www.premiergaragedoors.co.uk

UNIT 7, SPARROWHALL BUSINESS PARK, LEIGHTON RD. EDLESBOROUGH, LU6 2ES


Hadrian Academy had a fantastic celebration to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of their opening. Everyone enjoyed a wide variety of things and there was great excitement to see the huge marquee on the field.

Visitors browsed photo albums and displays of Hadrian through the five decades and many brought artefacts to share. They really enjoyed finding themselves in past photos. Alison Parry, an ex pupil, wrote “It was a real trip down memory lane and so wonderful to see how the school has developed.” The school showcased lessons and achievements today, to visitors who were proudly shown around the school by both Governors and pupils. Everyone then assembled in the marquee to listen to the renowned choir sing. People remarked on the concentration of the pupils and their obvious enjoyment and pride in their singing. Margaret Brown, a teacher at the school in the sixties, wrote, “Congratulations to the children and an obviously dedicated choir leader.” After the choir the many visitors heard speeches from distinguished guests and the cake

was cut. Everyone shared cake and drinks. Pupils were excited to take home a beautifully etched glass as a piece of memorabilia, and a tasty, beautifully iced cupcake, for immediate pleasure, before returning for the evening events. The evening was a time for past and present pupils, friends, families and staff to mingle and share.They pored over the photos and chatted happily as they reminisced. The evening was helped along with a steel band making a great sound, and a wonderful family disco which caused a lot of laughter and new skills were discovered - now everyone there knows that Hadrian has a TA who can hula hoop for five minutes without stopping! This was followed by the hastily put together band, Random Selection, who entertained with a variety of songs including Disney and Musical Theatre. The band sounded great and the most popular song was Let It Go, which everyone joined in with gusto. Hadrian would like to thank all the people who attended and helped to make this such a memorable and fun cel-ebration. They are now putting together a Time Capsule to be buried and opened again in another 50 years, so that people in the future can learn about Hadrian today.

local People

Hadrian Academy Turns


The Bell in Studham...An Award Winning Pub!

01582 872460 FREE WIFI Eat, Drink, Shop, Repeat!

Celebrate Christmas with Us! Reservations are now being taken. DUNSTABLE RD, STUDHAM. LU6 2QG. 10 MIN. FROM DUNSTABLE DOWNS & THE ZOO

Email: [email protected] FUNCTIONS CATERED FORwww.thebellinstudham.co.uk 10% OFF FOOD WITH THIS ADVERT


Christmas SpiritChristmas is a time for giving. Watching TV, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this means ‘giving lots of expensive stuff ’! From September, adverts are busy barking at us about the expensive perfumes, toys, gadgets and much more that are all ‘must haves’ for Christmas. However, the real spirit of the holiday season can be found outside of the supermarkets and retail industry.

More and more companies and organisations work hard all throughout the year to make sure that people on their own or in a situation less fortunate than others, are looked after at Christmas time. And trends over the last few years have shown that more and more of us are interested in getting involved.

Here are just a few ways we as individuals (without having to spend lots of money), can make a difference...

1Check online for your nearest shelter who are always looking for volunteers to help serve Christmas dinner. Kitchen duties may not seem like a lot of fun

but dishing out seasonal food to those who would otherwise not be able to afford a meal, or who don’t have anyone to share the holiday period with, will soon make you forget that you’re technically ‘doing work’ as you find yourself immersed in community. In doing so you may realise how lucky you are and what a difference such a small gesture can make to others less fortunate.

2We all get very busy throughout the year and it’s easy to lose touch with our own families and friends, let alone people we don’t know so

well. But December is a great time to take stock and make that time. Book in a date to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, go round to your Nan’s with some old photos and have a reminisce, knock on

your neighbours door and invite them round for a slice of cake. Connect with people and you soon realise that the commercialism of Christmas is valued far less than giving your real time and effort to the people and community around you.

3Instead of popping to the shops for some more last minute presents or going online to search for other great deals; why not take the time to

instead look through your own belongings and donate things you no longer use or need to charity shops or the local homeless shelter. Look through your cupboards and see what can be donated to food banks. For you it can just mean a bit of a needed clear out, for those receiving your donations it can make a huge difference.

It is becoming more and more necessary for all of us to watch our money; but there is a big difference between ‘cost’ and ‘value’. We could all do with reducing the ‘cost’ of Christmas time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t increase the true ‘value’ of the holiday season.


01525 222876

MOTs • MOT REPAIRS • SERVICING

DIAGNOSTICS • TRACKING

AIR CONDITIONING • TYRES

CAMBELTS • BATTERIES

COLLECTION & DELIVERY

WELDING & FABRICATION

All vehicles - all mechanical work!

1 HONEYWICK LANE,

EATON BRAY, LU6 2BJ

STORAGECONTAINERS

FOR HIRE • In secure yard in L/Buzzard• Can be sited at your premises

Call Now for details

TEL: 01525 851585MOBILE: 07836 766968 / 07890 188291

[email protected]

www.the50plus.co.uk

01525 570 129

By the 50plus for people of all ages

Seasons greetings to all our customers

¥ Friendly advice ¥ Discount club¥ Locally based ¥ Free estimates

Do you have a poorlycomputer - let Philbring it back to life

from £17.50

he-fixed-my-pc.co.uk

07974 17522201525 210008

Based in Stanbridge covering Leighton Buzzard and surrounding towns/villages

[email protected]

35 years experience in System Admin. For most repairs I will come to your home or office.

Computer system repairs, software setup, virusremoval, hardware repairs & expansion, email

setup, smart TV and network setup.


Money Matters By Martin Lewis

Bah humbug. Christmas (and Chanukah and Eid) is coming, and millions will celebrate it as a retail festival. Call me Scrooge – and many do – but I’d love to ban the giving of unnecessary presents and I’ve been campaigning on it for years.

Christmas

I’m not talking about gifts for your partner and kids under the tree, but that ever growing list of teachers, extended family, work colleagues and more for whom buying feels like a chore rather than a boon. We end up with tit-for-tat giving, and the end result is by definition tat – that few want, need or use.

Now you may say to me what about the joy of giving? But there’s a cost to that too. While it may feel generous to give to someone – you are effectively obligating them to buy you back.This can misprioritise their finances. After all, if you give them a £10 bobble hat and they give you a £10 novelty pair of socks in return, the net result is they’ve spent £10 on a hat they neither wanted nor needed – which may’ve been better spent on feeding the kids. So why not set up a pre-NUPP (pre Christmas No Unneces-saary Present Pact) to say I won’t buy for you and you don’t buy for me – or at least limit the cost. Right that’s it, I shall step off my soap box at this point (if you want more of my Scrooge rantings read www.mse.me/banchristmas).

If you do need to buy (or will do it regardless), here are top tips to at least keep costs down:

Buy stocking fillers For Free Amazon delivery.

The giant e-retailer used to give free delivery on its goods (not its third party Marketplace sellers) if you spent £10, but in May it increased that to £20. Delivery costs anything from £1.50 to £6, but a new tool (developed by a clever chap called Adam who used to work for me), SuperSaver-Delivery.co.uk scours Amazon for filler items.

For example, a £19.73 hairdryer comes with a £6.01 de-livery charge so £25.74 total. But the tool shows how you can add a 29p keyring gets you over the £20 free delivery threshold, so you’d only pay £20.02, saving £5.72 and a keyring into the bargain.

Don’t spend Tesco points on Christmas lunch.

If you’re a Tesco shopper, don’t spend vouchers on a fes-tive grocery shop– you can get far better value using them on gifts (for others or yourself!).Until Sun 27 Dec, you can swap every £5 of Clubcard vouchers for £10 in various categories at Tesco, and most things in its Tesco Direct catalogue (its equivalent of Ar-gos), eg, Xbox One with Kinect £175 in vouchers (usually £350) and a Barbie Glitter Hair Doll for £10 in vouchers (usually £20). Go to www.tesco.com/boost Before that though, check if you can quadruple rewards. Redeem vouchers via Tesco Clubcard partners and you can get 3x or 4x points’ value, eg, £10 voucher becomes £40 at Café Rouge, £30 at Goldsmiths jewellers and more.

Give time not money – give gift cheques.

Whether it’s a promise to babysit for pals on demand, lets your kids have a sleepover, or give your special someone a back-rub (nudge-nudge, wink wink) – these money can’t buy gifts are fanatastic, and often mean more. To help I got my designers to make some gift cheques you can print for free, to make your promise at www.mse.me/xmascheques

@moneysavingexpert


THE LOCAL AGENT YOU CAN TRUSTProviding a friendly and professional service in all property related matters for over 23 years.

Toddington 01525 877771

Dunstable 01582 477077

Luton 01582 487487

Residential Sales and mortgages

Lettings and property management

Free valuations

Expert advice

If you are selling or renting a property in the local area we will not be beaten on fee.

We guarantee a first class service.

www.house-hold.co.uk


Money Matters By Martin Lewis Christmas

Find hidden eBay bargains with sneaky tools.

Shopping on eBay? Most people just bid, but there’s a range of hidden tools to help you track down uber-bargains.

Wrongly-spelled products attract fewer bids because many people miss them. Type a product into fatfingers.co.uk or baycrazy.com and they trawl eBay for all possible spelling mistake combinations.On a similar note, lastminute-auction.com searches hunts for eBay auctions due to finish within an hour, but which still cost £1 or less.

Whether Wiis or children’s books, eBay sellers often specify items must be collected in person. As this means fewer bids, there are bargains to be had. Tell my Local eBay Deals Mapper at mse.me/localebay your postcode, how far you’re prepared to schlep, and it maps nearby gems.

Shop online and you can change your mind.

Buy goods in store and you can only take them back if they’re faulty. So buy the wrong size or colour, or just change your mind, and you’ve no legal rights. Some stores do have returns policies that allow it – though even these can be suspended in sales. Yet buy goods online and you have 14 days to cancel for any reason, even if you just change your mind. You’ve then 14 days to send it back. So time it right and buy online, then if you spot a better deal or change your mind (as they haven’t bought for you), you can send it back.· Posh looking gifts for less at online outlets. Out of town outlet stores are famed for selling last year’s clothes at big reductions (though beware stock ‘‘made for outlets’’). Yet these days the likes of Asos, French Connection and Net-a-Porter and more than 40 others have launched online versions – some even via ebay. For a full list mse.me/outlets

Don’t know what to give? Donate to charity.

Why not simply tell friends and family you’re stuck buying for that this year that you will instead give to charity in their name – then at least you know your money is actually doing something – and it’s far nearer the true Christmas spirit. At Unicef.org.uk £12 vaccinates 100 developing world kids against polio, while £27.50 delivers a baby (provides midwifery equipment and medicines for a safe birth). Or a £5 donation pays for 50 bowls of rice to feed 50 hungry

children via GoodGifts.org.

And a final Scrooge thought – while there’s still time (sorry I can’t help it). Most people manage their Christmas the wrong way round – trying to work out what’d make the perfect Christmas with a lust list of items, gifts for all, deco-rations a tree and more. That tends to be a recipe for either debt or disappointment. Instead, it’s far better (and I accept more boring, but still better) to ask “How much do I have to spend at Christ-mas?” And then work out what the best Christmas you can have on it is. And if the answer is you don’t have much, it’s time to go, cold turkey.

WINTER WARNING! Do you know where your water cock is?

Everyone should know where their main water off-switch is, otherwise known as a stopcock. Frozen, burst pipes create an average of £4k of damage, worse if you can’t find the off switch as your home floods. So if you don’t know, spend five minutes now finding out – typically it’s under the kitchen sink, in the boiler cupboard, or outside

Free winter car check from Halfords.

Halfords.com is offering a free £15 winter car check, which includes checks to your battery, bulbs, wiper blades, oil and screenwash levels. You don’t need to book in advance, though you can online if you want, and the check should take about 15 minutes. There is no obligation to buy anything, but be prepared that staff might try to upsell you. The winter car check is on until spring next year.

Winter is a tough time for many as the cold sets in. But there are funds which may help…

Choosing between heating and eating?

If you’re seriously behind, or in general financial hard-ship, you may be eligible for special tariffs/help. Try the HomeHeatHelpline.org.uk on 0800 33 66 99.


Celebrity hairdresser, Richard Ward shares his thoughts on

essential hair care that you can save or

splurge on...

HaIRCouture

www.mycouturehair.com

Perfect Finish

richard ward

SAVEvs

SPEND

----------

----------

www.mycouturehair.com

For appointments at the Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, call 020 7730 1222 or visit www.richardward.co.uk.

Hairspray:You can save on buying a strong hold hair-spray as you just want something that does the job well. However, you should splurge on a fine hold hairspray as the ingredients will allow you to brush it out and restyle without leaving any flakes or white marks.

Shampoo, Conditioner & TreatmentsThese are the foundations of your hair styl-ing so you should definitely splurge here. You most definitely get what you pay for – we’ve recently launched a luxury range, Couture Hair, and the ingredients are far superior and have more scientific listing of ingredients. You’ll find more expensive ranges that you won’t need to use as much as they are concentrated so they last longer, often they are multi-tasking too. With an intensive conditioning masque you will only use this once or twice a week so it’s a treat and should leave your hair feeling renewed and rejuvenated so you should definitely splurge on this.

Pastes/GelsYou’re looking for texture and hold with these types of styling products and quite of-ten you’ll find that a cheaper brand perform just as well. You’re using just small amounts so as long as you’re not overloading your hair, you can look at saving on these.

VolumisersNearly all women love volume – you want that natural feel without it feeling weighed down, sticky or too heavy so definitely look at splurging here too. I prefer a spritz style volumiser as you can target specific areas.

HairdryerThis is another splurge I’m afraid! It really does pay to invest in a professional hairdryer – I’m loving the new Collexia that includes a keratin or protein treatment so it’s actually treating your hair as you dry it. Professional hairdryers are initially more expensive but you do cut your drying time down signifi-cantly and this is only a good thing for the condition of your hair.

3938 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

01582 521430


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

Be A Careful Consumer Online This Christmas

The internet has been with us since the mid 90s. Whilst it has of course brought some fantastic benefits to our lives, it has also created some

absolute headaches as well.

Consumer Clinic

The fact the entire world is accessible in our homes is a wonderful thing, but it is

worth noting that there are lots of internet companies out there, particularly those in other coun-tries that can provide a less than desirable service. So how can you protect yourself against these companies, particularly when making purchases for Christmas? The most important thing you can do, is to of course avoid buying items from dodgy in-ternet companies in the first place. It sounds simple, but you’d be amazed how many people still find some weird company online that nobody’s ever heard of and hand over hundreds of pounds. They are then amazed when they find themselves out of pocket without the goods they’ve ordered.Therefore, always make sure you research the internet company you are planning to buy from. Find out where they’re based, look for a UK telephone number, check reviews and complaints about them so you know exactly who you’re dealing with. Ensure that their delivery timeframe will ensure your gifts will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas.

Make sure you’re paying a sensible price. If a company is selling an item at a ridiculously low price compared to all other companies, there’s usually a reason why. Often the items are fake. Over the years I’d dealt with my fair share of customers who thought they were getting a great deal with ‘Ugg boots’ or ‘GHD hair straighteners’, only to find they’ve bought fakes from a

company abroad.You should always pay for goods by credit card but particularly when buying over the internet. It is worth noting that you are not protected by the consumer credit act unless you’re paying over £100, but you’re still more likely to get your money back than debit card, cheque or bank transfer. I would go as far as to say you should NEVER buy goods from a company that asks you to transfer money directly into their account.

If you decide you’re going to buy Christmas presents from an online auction site like ebay, it is worth familiarising yourself with their safety advice. You generally have fewer rights when buying goods in this way, particularly if they are second hand. Paying by paypal and ensuring that you NEVER collect items in person will go some way to protecting yourself. Only buy from highly

rated sellers, based in the UK.It is worth remembering that when you buy brand new items over the internet, you are protected by the distance selling regulations. Because you haven’t had the chance to see the item in the

flesh, you have 7 days from delivery to change your mind

and send it back for a full refund. Unless the company specifies their returns postage policy, then they are liable for the postage too. Make sure you order things online in plenty of time to allow for this, after all, you don’t want unhappy friends and relatives whose presents are NOT under the tree.

It is worth remembering that when

you buy brand new items over the

internet, you are protected by the

distance selling regulations.


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

Be A Careful Consumer Online This Christmas

The internet has been with us since the mid 90s. Whilst it has of course brought some fantastic benefits to our lives, it has also created some

absolute headaches as well.

Consumer Clinic

The fact the entire world is accessible in our homes is a wonderful thing, but it is

worth noting that there are lots of internet companies out there, particularly those in other coun-tries that can provide a less than desirable service. So how can you protect yourself against these companies, particularly when making purchases for Christmas? The most important thing you can do, is to of course avoid buying items from dodgy in-ternet companies in the first place. It sounds simple, but you’d be amazed how many people still find some weird company online that nobody’s ever heard of and hand over hundreds of pounds. They are then amazed when they find themselves out of pocket without the goods they’ve ordered.Therefore, always make sure you research the internet company you are planning to buy from. Find out where they’re based, look for a UK telephone number, check reviews and complaints about them so you know exactly who you’re dealing with. Ensure that their delivery timeframe will ensure your gifts will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas.

Make sure you’re paying a sensible price. If a company is selling an item at a ridiculously low price compared to all other companies, there’s usually a reason why. Often the items are fake. Over the years I’d dealt with my fair share of customers who thought they were getting a great deal with ‘Ugg boots’ or ‘GHD hair straighteners’, only to find they’ve bought fakes from a

company abroad.You should always pay for goods by credit card but particularly when buying over the internet. It is worth noting that you are not protected by the consumer credit act unless you’re paying over £100, but you’re still more likely to get your money back than debit card, cheque or bank transfer. I would go as far as to say you should NEVER buy goods from a company that asks you to transfer money directly into their account.

If you decide you’re going to buy Christmas presents from an online auction site like ebay, it is worth familiarising yourself with their safety advice. You generally have fewer rights when buying goods in this way, particularly if they are second hand. Paying by paypal and ensuring that you NEVER collect items in person will go some way to protecting yourself. Only buy from highly

rated sellers, based in the UK.It is worth remembering that when you buy brand new items over the internet, you are protected by the distance selling regulations. Because you haven’t had the chance to see the item in the

flesh, you have 7 days from delivery to change your mind

and send it back for a full refund. Unless the company specifies their returns postage policy, then they are liable for the postage too. Make sure you order things online in plenty of time to allow for this, after all, you don’t want unhappy friends and relatives whose presents are NOT under the tree.

It is worth remembering that when

you buy brand new items over the

internet, you are protected by the

distance selling regulations.

Call SewingMo for all your sewing needs:

Clothing alterationsDressmaking

BridalHome decor and upholstery

Vehicle upholstery

Professional, fast and friendly local service.

[email protected]

07581 396912

Gas boiler, fire & cooker, servicing, installation

& repairs cylinders etc. Heating system problems

inc. power-flushing Dripping taps

& internal plumbing issues Also solar thermal repairs & servicing

01582674829

mark@

plumbingandgas.org.uk www.plumbingandgas.org.uk

Gas Boiler, fire & Cooker, Servicing, installaon and repairs cylinders etc, heang system problems inc

power-flushing Dripping taps and internal plumbing issues, also solar thermal repairs and servicing.

563034

01582 [email protected]

Inc. LPG and park homes

01582674829

mark@

plumbingandgas.org.uk www.plumbingandgas.org.uk

Gas Boiler, fire & Cooker, Servicing, installaon and repairs cylinders etc, heang system problems inc

power-flushing Dripping taps and internal plumbing issues, also solar thermal repairs and servicing.

563034

www.plumbingandgas.org.uk

39www.thevinemagazine.com38

See The International Space Station From Bedfordshire: The first two weeks of June sees the International Space Station (ISS) pass over Bedfordshire in the evening sky. Look for a solid bright white light moving at an almost constant speed across the sky roughly west to east. Timings vary from night to night, so keep your eyes peeled between 9:45pm and midnight. On some evenings you might get to see the ISS a second time, about 90 minutes after its first passage.

Hunt Down Electric Blue Clouds At The Edge Of Space: Late summer evenings are a great time to hunt down noctilucent clouds (NLCs). These eerie electric blue strands of cirrus-like cloud sometimes appear draped over the northern horizon after dark. Sunlight reflecting off tiny particles of frozen meteor dust in Earth’s upper atmosphere are thought to cause these

strange night-shining clouds. Look out for them in the sky towards your north between 11pm and 2am.

Discover How Saturn Looks In A Telescope: Seeing Saturn for the first time in a telescope is an unforgettable experience. This June and July the ringed

planet is perfectly placed for evening viewing near the constel-lation of Scorpio. Look for it low down towards the south near a curved line of three dimmer white stars. To the naked eye Saturn appears as a bright yellow ‘star’. A small telescope is all that is needed to reveal the planet’s ring system.

Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk

[email protected]

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky Looking Up!

June and July 2015

Image: Noctilucent Cloud Display by Jan Erik Paulsen

By Seb Jay

Are you concerned about the forthcoming

changes to pension rules? Do you need to review your current plans to

ensure you do not lose valuable benefits? Mortgages, Insurance, Pensions & Investments

LOCAL OFFICE: Toddington

Contact: Philip Hadlow Tel/Fax: 01525 874100 Mobile 07768 277 532

[email protected]

Sterling & Law Group plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

www.sterlingandlaw.com

D O Y O U N E E D F I N A N C I A L A D V I C E ?

Are you concerned about the forthcoming

changes to pension rules? Do you need to review your current plans to

ensure you do not lose valuable benefits? Mortgages, Insurance, Pensions & Investments

LOCAL OFFICE: Toddington

Contact: Philip Hadlow Tel/Fax: 01525 874100 Mobile 07768 277 532

[email protected]




Are you concerned about the forthcoming changes to pension rules?

Do you need to review your current plans to ensure you do not lose valuable benefits?

Mortgages, Insurance, Pensions & Investments

LOCAL OFFICE: Toddington Contact: Philip Hadlow Tel/Fax: 01525 874100 Mobile 07768 277 532

[email protected]




A.L. HARWOOD

For All Your Building RequirementsBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICES

Family Run Business With Over 30 Years Experience!

TEL/FAX: 01582 602365 MOBILE: 07958 319213

Traditional Builder with 30 years experience

Who can cater for all your building requirements

From Hanging Doors To Your Full Extension Project


Image: Comet ISON by Mount Lemmon Sky Center

Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.

[email protected]

Looking Up!December 2015 and January 2016

See The ISS Sail Overhead…or is it Santa? Mid-December this year sees the International Space Station light up Bedfordshire’s early evening sky. Look for a bright white light moving roughly west to east at a steady pace. It won’t flash or make a noise, and it’ll be very bright – much brighter than the background stars in the sky. Best evenings to view are Friday 11 December to Wednesday 23 December between 4pm and 6pm. On Christmas Eve you’ll find the ISS moving just 20-degrees above your south-west horizon at about 5pm.

Enjoy The Maximum Of The Geminids Meteor Shower: The night of 13 December to 14 December ushers in the maximum of the Geminids Meteor Shower. If it’s a clear night stand outside in your garden and look high up towards your east and south-east from 9pm onwards. If you’re lucky you might catch one of hundreds of shooting stars set to streak across Bedfordshire’s night sky that evening.

Find A New Year Comet From Bedfordshire: Getting a telescope for Christmas? Why not use it to look for Comet Catalina. In January 2016 this bright telescopic comet can be found close to the constellation of Ursa Major, which is also known as the Plough, the Saucepan or the Big Dipper. Best nights to look for the comet are 14 and 15 January when you’ll find it close to the bright star Alkaid at the end of the Plough’s handle.

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky By Seb Jay

New Alarms Fitted or Upgrade Existing AlarmsBURGLAR ALARMSWe fit new alarms - Wired or Wirelss Systems*We can service and maintain your existing alarm*

CCTVWe fit high quality systems to maximise your security.Access your CCTV via the Internet or mobile phone.

DOOR ENTRYWe fit a range of quality video and audio Intercoms to suit your needsWe are a family run business with over 35 years experience in home security and crime prevention

www.maximumsecuritysystems.co.uk

Contact us:

For a FREE quote and consultation01582 864138 / 01525 567028DON’T BECOME A VICTIM


Cullen & SonPainting & Decorating

AndAll Types Of

General Maintenance WorkNo Job Too Small

Call Sean:07932 62622401582 608547

Will Kimberley Garden Services• Hedge cutting - High hedges our speciality• Tree work, pruning, removal• Grass cutting (one-off and regular)• Fencing new and repairs• Garden shed construction and re-felting• General garden tidy up’s• Garden clearance and maintenance• Turf and gravel laying

Contact Will for a free no obligation written estimate

Tel: 01442 255784 or E mail: [email protected]

Rocklane Riding CentreRiding Lessons from 4 years old

Tel. 01525 222402Ivinghoe Aston, LU7 9DL

"Own a Pony" Days in school holidays

Pony Rentalwww.rocklaneridingcentre.co.uk

Mob: 07976 975604Home: 01525 872335

No Job Too Small• Emergencies • Free Estimates• No call Out Charge

PlumbingRepairs & Installations

Dave Nicholson

Image: Comet ISON by Mount Lemmon Sky Center

Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.

[email protected]

Looking Up!December 2015 and January 2016

See The ISS Sail Overhead…or is it Santa? Mid-December this year sees the International Space Station light up Bedfordshire’s early evening sky. Look for a bright white light moving roughly west to east at a steady pace. It won’t flash or make a noise, and it’ll be very bright – much brighter than the background stars in the sky. Best evenings to view are Friday 11 December to Wednesday 23 December between 4pm and 6pm. On Christmas Eve you’ll find the ISS moving just 20-degrees above your south-west horizon at about 5pm.

Enjoy The Maximum Of The Geminids Meteor Shower: The night of 13 December to 14 December ushers in the maximum of the Geminids Meteor Shower. If it’s a clear night stand outside in your garden and look high up towards your east and south-east from 9pm onwards. If you’re lucky you might catch one of hundreds of shooting stars set to streak across Bedfordshire’s night sky that evening.

Find A New Year Comet From Bedfordshire: Getting a telescope for Christmas? Why not use it to look for Comet Catalina. In January 2016 this bright telescopic comet can be found close to the constellation of Ursa Major, which is also known as the Plough, the Saucepan or the Big Dipper. Best nights to look for the comet are 14 and 15 January when you’ll find it close to the bright star Alkaid at the end of the Plough’s handle.

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky By Seb Jay JustFelines Cat Care Services

Whether you are going away on holiday or just working long hours.

Operating in Toddington and the surrounding areaPolice checked and fully insuredTel: 07711 [email protected]

www.justfelines-cat-care-service.co.uk

Professional, friendly and flexible mobile cat feeding and care service for your cat

Airport TravelServices

Luxury Cars &8 Seater Vehicles

Corporate & Business Travel Specialists

00 44 (0)1582 732585Airports, Seaports and Railportswe cover all of your travelling needs

01582 732585 [email protected] www.airport-travel-services.co.uk

Family run business for 25 yearsReliability Is Our Strength

Tel: 01582 665515Email: [email protected]

www.dormansphoto.com

13 Broadwalk, Dunstable,

Beds, LU5 4RH

Digital, Film Developing & Printing & much more...

DORMANSPHOTO IMAGING LTD

T-Shirt Printing & Photo Gifts

Order Prints Online . . .

collect in-storeGet our Free APP for iPhone & iPad...

Search for “Dormans"

in the App Store.


Answers on page 62


FOR EXPERT ADVICE CALL

TRADE ACCOUNT & DIY WELCOME

DELIVERY & COLLECTION SERVICE

YOUR LOCAL ONE STOP HIRE SHOP

UNIT 21, APEX BUSINESS CENTRE, BOSCOMBE RD, DUNSTABLE, BEDS, LU5 4SB

HIRE FROM

TRADE ACCOUNT & DIY WELCOMEDELIVERY & COLLECTION SERVICE AVAILABLE

FOR EXPERT ADVICE CALL

01582 477200UNIT 21, APEX BUSINESS CENTRE, BOSCOMBE RD. DUNSTABLE, BEDS, LU5 4SB

YOUR LOCAL ONE STOP HIRE SHOP

offers4 to7 years

• Small Class Sizes • Partnership with parents

• Individual learning• Exciting curriculum

Headteacher: Mrs R Heath B.A. (Hons) PGCE NPQH www.dagnall.bucks.sch.uk

To book a tour of the school contactMrs Kathy Bovington on 01442 842473 Or email [email protected]

Dagnall School, Main Road South, Dagnall, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 1QX

Dagnall Church Of England School

Dagnall School Gardening Club!


ACL LOCKSMITHS LTDSafe Engineers

Wentworth House, 83 High Street North, Dunstable, Beds LU6 1JJ

Tel: 01582 606329 Mobile: 07860 770270www.acllocksmiths.co.uk

Over 25 Years ExperienceNo Callout Charge

OAP and Student DiscountLocal, family run business

All types of locks and safes opened, repaired and replaced

Anti snap cylinders supplied and fitted

UPVC specialists


• Hard Landscaping Ready for spring planting

• Garden MaintenanceIncluding fencing / clearance

• Building & MaintenanceBrickwork • Groundwork • Plastering • TilingDecorating • General Building • Conservatory’s

• Driveway & patio cleaning

Call Julian on 07850 984365 / 01525 636345email: [email protected]

Free Quotation Local & Reliable

Renovate Your Home & Garden

www.landscape2build.co.ukVisit our website for all services we offer

Ta

ylored Landscapes

established since 1998

Commercial and Domestic Services

Garden MaintenanceFencingPatiosTurfingDeckingPlanting

Water FeaturesSite Clearance

Free QuotationsRing 01525 380114

[email protected]

• Painting & Decorating• Bathroom & Kitchen refurb• Small repairs & Odd jobs • Damp & Mould Treatment• Fencing & Decking• General plumbing• Minor electrics and lots more .....


1 26

3 9 7 62 8

4 3 7 2 93

9 2 8 54 6

6 3 7

Sudoku 数独



Puzzles

Across

6. Exceedingly (7)

7. Begin (5)

9. Devoutness (5)

10. Advent (7)

12. Incitement (11)

14. Disbelief (11)

18. Clearness (7)

19. Amusing (5)

21. Grown-up (5)

22. Aid (7)

Down


2. Rope for holding

animal (6)

3. Beer (3)

4. Severe (6)

5. Maker (7)

8. Dribble (7)

11. Greed (7)

13. Contain (7)

15. Seldom (6)

16. Three times (6)

17. Mock (5)

20. Colour (3)

Crossword

FRANK

SLINK

Answers on page 62


1 26

3 9 7 62 8

4 3 7 2 93

9 2 8 54 6

6 3 7

Sudoku 数独



Puzzles

Across

6. Exceedingly (7)

7. Begin (5)

9. Devoutness (5)

10. Advent (7)

12. Incitement (11)

14. Disbelief (11)

18. Clearness (7)

19. Amusing (5)

21. Grown-up (5)

22. Aid (7)

Down


2. Rope for holding

animal (6)

3. Beer (3)

4. Severe (6)

5. Maker (7)

8. Dribble (7)

11. Greed (7)

13. Contain (7)

15. Seldom (6)

16. Three times (6)

17. Mock (5)

20. Colour (3)

Crossword

FRANK

SLINK


By Mike NewmanThere has been a lot of talk over the past few years that suggests that the pensioner is in a better position than those who are working for a living, this is not true and I think most people now realise that, but it still comes to light from time to time, usually due to another twist to proposed changes to the pension system by the present government.

Mike Newman is a member of The Dunstable And District Senior Citizens Club.

If you have a view on any of the issues raised why not attend one of their monthly

meetings, held on the last Thursday of the month at St Marys Catholic Social Club, West St., Dunstable.

Austerity MeasuresFreeze S.E.R.P?

A Pensioners View

Have your say{

What one has to accept is that the present pensioner, due to a lifetime of work, we paid for our pension, we paid for the N.H.S. and if we were

fortunate able to pay into an annuity and a company pension scheme. If your company did not have a pension system then you automatically went into the governments secondary pension - S.E.R.P.S as it is better known. The government controlled the amount you paid into the system, this was based on the portion taken from your personal tax. When you reached 65 then the pension you had bought became available to you and how the total was made up. Like all pensions, the more you paid in, the higher the pension, which was adjusted yearly to the cost of living - Yes, I well remember when the yearly raise was 75p - that mistake was never made again, or has it?We have to look at how the pension annual al-lotment, prior to June 22nd 2010. The factor of adjustment to the pension was by Retail Price Index (R.P.I). On June 22nd 2010 that was changed to the Consumer Price Index (C.P.I), which since its incep-tion has lowered the pension as there is always a difference between one and the other, with C.P.I being lower than R.P.I, should this ratio change,

then, no doubt, the lowest index will be used to fix the pension paid out. However, regardless of C.P.I or R.P.I the secondary pension (S.E.R.P.S) has been frozen at its present rate, certainly at the new pen-sion allotment as from next April which will be plus £2 and a few pence. The return on our many years of payment into the scheme, i.e. National Insurance Fund, leaves all pensioners short changed. I won-der what will happen in 2018 regarding the pension for those of us who are not on the new system? The government should surely recognize that we have the rights to a decent pension that keeps up with the cost of living. At the present time, unless you had one of the more higher paid salary's it is getting to the point that the pension does not meet the outgoings of millions who have to rely on tax credits and other means of keeping above poverty levels, which relies on a very complicated system of certain tax aids which are fast disappearing in these dark ages of austerity.One last question we might ask. How long before the workhouse mentality returns? How long before those who need social care at the end of their lives are moved to barrack blocks with thirty to a ward, no privacy and emblazoned over the entrance por-tal 'Abandon Hope, All Ye who Enter Here"?

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk3636 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, is advising owners to check their pet’s body shape to ensure they aren’t at

risk of being overweight.

Is Your Pet Overweight? Pets

A third of dogs and a quarter of cats are overweight or obese. Overweight pets have an increased risk of serious illnesses, reduced quality of life, and shorter life expectancy.Definitely not things most people would choose for their pets.However, one of the key problems is that with so many larger than life pets around, many owners simply don’t realise that their four-legged-friend is overweight. As-sessing your pet’s current shape and weight is the first step to giving your pet a healthy year ahead.

How to give your pet a body shape check

PDSA Vet, Vicki Larkham-Jones, has provided some tips on how to check your pet’s body shape.

For dogs and cats First stand back and look at your pet from the side, and then from above. You should be able to see a defined, tucked in waist (unless your pet has long hair).The next step is to feel your pet’s shape. Start by running your hands over their sides. You should be able to easily feel the ribs beneath your fingers, but they shouldn’t be prominent and the skin should move easily over them. Next run your hand along your pet’s back and over the hipbones; again you should be able to feel the bones quite easily under the skin, but without them feeling prominent.

Next feel under your pet’s tummy – it should tuck in and not bulge out. Cats in particular tend to carry any addi-tional weight in their abdomen, which can sag beneath them. For dogs, feel around the base of their tail; there should be no fatty bulge there. For rabbits You should be able to feel, but not see, the ribs and other bones. There should be no bulges around the rump area, or around their neck. If you spot any signs that your pet may be overweight then the next step is to consult your vet, who can weigh your pet and advise on the ideal weight range for your pet’s breed and age. If your pet does need to lose a few pounds, then your vet can provide guidance on safely managing their diet and activity levels. This is particularly important for cats and rabbits, as it can be life-threaten-ing if they lose weight too quickly. Many veterinary practices now offer free weight clinics to provide regular help and advice to owners whose pets are on a calorie-controlled diet.

For more pet care tips visit

www.pdsa.org.uk/pethealth


www.fx3000.co.uk Office 01582 604005 Mobile 07958 591041

Th The Power to turn you On

DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL ELECTRICIANS

Your Local Drainage Specialist No Call Out Fee

For All Your Drainage & Plumbing Needs

01525 222439 Steve 07944 297538

County Drainage & Plumbing Solutions

Free Estimate & Advise High Pressure Water Jetting

CCTV Survey’s Full Drain Repair & Replacement

Drain Relining Specialist All Work Guaranteed

Email - [email protected] www.blockeddrainsandplumbing.com

Your Local Drainage Specialist No Call Out Fee

For All Your Drainage & Plumbing Needs

01525 222439 Steve 07944 297538

County Drainage & Plumbing Solutions

Free Estimate & Advise High Pressure Water Jetting

CCTV Survey’s Full Drain Repair & Replacement

Drain Relining Specialist All Work Guaranteed

Email - [email protected] www.blockeddrainsandplumbing.com

www.wisechoicewills.co.uk

Call the Will Centre on:

01525 220644

FROM

£175

• You chose who manages your affairs when you can’t (accident, sickness, stroke, arthritis, loss of capacity etc.)

• Your financial and welfare interests are in safe hands Family conflict, stress and heavy costs are avoided

• LPAs are essential to adults of all ages

As important as an up-to-date Will

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Wilson Car Sales

• CARS • VANS • 4x4WANTED FOR CASH

Anything considered.Fast, polite service.

100 - 102 High Street Houghton RegisLU5 5BJ

Tel: 01582 867755Mob: 07711 231055 07961 538770

www.wilson-carsales.co.uk

Hedges & Edges

Landscaping, fencing, decking, patios, tree work,

hedge trimming, grass cutting, clearance & much more.

Fully insured. Free quotations.

Tel: 01582 608684 07825 185745Email: [email protected]

Tree Surgeon MPTC qualified


With PDSA Vet Vicki Larkham-Jones

Ask The Vet

Pets

If you have a pet question you’d like to ask Vicki, email

[email protected]

Ask The Vet

Mabel’s News

from Appledown

Hello again! I am Mabel the resident dog at Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels in Eaton Bray.

I need a home!

This is Tor, a lurcher aged 3 years. He is house-trained, good with people and other dogs. He needs owners who will be happy to carry on with his training. This affectionate dog would love to be part of a family, but would not be suitable for a home with children younger than teenagers. If you feel you could offer Tor, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff will be happy to offer ad-vice and information. We have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under 7 years of age, so please ask for details. Check our website for adoption information.

Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds LU6 1QY

I need a home!

This is Chipolata, she is a Jack Russell cross aged 4-5 years. She is bigger than the average Jack Russell, but we can’t decide what she might be crossed with! Chipolata is an active little dog and needs a home where she will get plenty of exercise and attention. She could live with a male dog but not a cat. We think she may have lived outside in the past but she loves a cuddle and will enjoy the opportunity to curl up in front of the fire and be part of family life! She cannot live in Luton. If you feel you could offer Chipolata, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff are happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under seven, so please ask for details.

Could you sponsor a kennel to help us care for a dog while it is waiting to find a new home? Please contact us for details.

Call: 01525 220383 Visit our Website: www.appledownrescue.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Follow us on Facebook!

(Reg. Charity No. 1116848)

Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels, Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds LU6 1QY

(Reg. Charity No. 1116848)Call 01525 220383 .

E-mail [email protected] our Website:

www.appledownrescue.co.ukYou can now follow us on

Facebook and Twitter!

Appledown Rescue’s Dog of the Month

This is Tor, a lurcher aged 3 years. He is house-trained, good with people and other dogs. He needs owners who will be happy to carry on with his training. This affectionate dog would love to be part of a family, but would not be suitable for a home with children younger than teenagers.

If you feel you could offer Tor, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff will be happy to offer advice and information. We

have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under 7 years of age, so please ask for details. Check our website for adoption information. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Appledown Rescue & Rehoming Kennels, Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds LU6 1QY. Call: 01525 220383 or e-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.appledownrescue.co.uk (Reg. Charity No. 1116848)

Hello again!I’m Mabel the resident dog at Appledown .

Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds LU6 1QY

I need a home!

This is Chipolata, she is a Jack Russell cross aged 4-5 years. She is bigger than the average Jack Russell, but we can’t decide what she might be crossed with! Chipolata is an active little dog and needs a home where she will get plenty of exercise and attention. She could live with a male dog but not a cat. We think she may have lived outside in the past but she loves a cuddle and will enjoy the opportunity to curl up in front of the fire and be part of family life! She cannot live in Luton. If you feel you could offer Chipolata, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff are happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under seven, so please ask for details.

Could you sponsor a kennel to help us care for a dog while it is waiting to find a new home? Please contact us for details.

Call: 01525 220383 Visit our Website: www.appledownrescue.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Follow us on Facebook!


Appledown Rescue & Rehoming Kennels,

Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds. LU6 1QY

Call 01525 220383 . E-mail appledown.kennels@

btinternet.com.www.appledownrescue.co.uk

You can now follow us on Facebook and Twitter!


My two cats are siblings, the male cat licks the female cat on the back of the neck and pulls her fur out. She doesn’t seem bothered but it can leave her sore. Any ideas why? Catherine.

This may be nothing serious, but if she does seem sore then I’d suggest getting her checked by a vet, in case there are any underlying skin problems. When a cat pulls its own fur out this can indicate stress; he may be pull-ing her fur out instead so have a chat with your vet about signs of stress and how to manage it in cats. Make sure you’re keeping up with flea treatments too, and remember to treat your soft furnishings as well as your cats!

My guinea pigs always make a ‘brr’ sound when we make loud noises, walk past them and when we scratch their backs. Why do they do this? Terry.

When your guinea pigs make noises like this they are com-municating to each other. It’s like their own little language and different sounds have different meanings. They may have learnt that making this sound gets them attention, so they are call-ing you to be stroked or fed. But as they make the sound when you make loud noises, it could also be a call that communicates

danger. Small pets like guinea pigs can be very sensitive to loud noises and vibrations from people walking past, so make sure their home and exercise area isn’t in a place that is too noisy or busy. They should have access to tubes and shelters where they can quickly run to if they are nervous or scared.

I’ve recently got two young budgies, but how do you tell if they are male or female? Alison.

Budgies are very sociable animals and need the company of other budgies to keep them happy and prevent boredom, so it’s great that you got a pair. It is best to keep birds of the same sex together, otherwise they can breed and it can be difficult to find homes for the young. At about four months of age the cere (the fleshy lump at the top of the beak) becomes coloured. In male budgies it is usually blue, and in females it is brown.

This is Yara Greyjoy, a 2 year old Rottweiler.

She has a lovely temperament and is quite obedient. Yara is a playful girl and would suit an active family with children no younger than teenagers or people who enjoy a good walk!She could probably live with a male dog. She cannot be rehomed in Luton.If you feel you could offer Yara or any of our other dogs a loving and secure home, please call in at the kennels any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our staff will be happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restric-tions on rehoming dogs to families with children under 7 years of age. Full details of the rehoming pro-cess can be found on our website.


LEATHER

CAR SEAT & FURNITURE REPAIRS

Most repairs can be undertaken

in your home by our qualified

leather technicians, or larger jobs

brought into our fully equipped

workshop.

• Rips • Cigarette Burns • Holes • Cat Scratches • Re-colouring• Colour Matching • Cleaning• Cracking • Stain Removal • Re-Padding • Spring Replacement.

Repairing leather is approximately 20% of the cost of re-upholstering

Before After Before After

RESTORATION SERVICE

Unit 26 Acacia Close, Cherrycourt Way, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4QE

Luton:01582 380 750 Leighton Buzzard:01525 888 250

Website: www.furnitureclinic.co.uk

Classic Motorcycles Eversholt

We’ll put your bike back together

www.classicmotorcycleshockliffe.co.uk

Service, Repair, Parts & Restoration

Of ALL Bikes - Classic & Modern at very reasonable rates

Classic Motorcycles, Wakes End Barns, Eversholt, Bucks, MK17 9FB

Tel: 01525 288522 Mob: 07799 294754

Call Rob on 01908 216151or 07977 206403

Guttering Problems?

Gutters CleanedLeaking Gutters repairedNew Gutters FittedAll by friendly local established companyPart of Bradnam Property Maintenance

twitter.com/pchelpcentre

10% Discounton any product orservice when quotingthis reference: LOS

“pchelpcentreprovided a very good,

fast & professionalservice”

Bill Watts, Renault Trucks UK Ltd– IT Manager

Visit our store for a wide varietyof services to the home and business

user including:

• Laptop & Desktop Repairs• Virus Removal • Data Recovery

• Screen Repairs• Home / Office Visits

PC Help Centre

A

Travellers Tale

By Paul Heley

Greek Theatre at Taormina

If you want to drive yourself mad, try to understand the complicated chain of occupiers, events, wars, asso-ciations, and resolutions to conflict which make up the

history of Sicily. From the year “dot”, it seems that just about everyone from the Mediterranean area or continental Europe has had a slice of the action at some time or another. An approximate chronology shows that different parts of Sicily have been occupied and governed by :- the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, French, Habsburgs (Spanish, Austrian and Bourbon) before Garibaldi (the well known biscuit maker) unified Italy in 1860 and included Sicily. It’s easy to understand why Sicily has been invaded so often: just look at a map and see where it is. Strategically positioned, it might be said that whoever holds Sicily holds the Mediterranean. It goes without saying that Sicily is an archaeologist’s para-dise and a few of the people on the trip had degrees in ar-chaeology or classics (which made me feel very undressed). I’m afraid I got hopelessly lost in the minutiae and the detail at times and have come to the conclusion that I’ll stick to the blood and guts of the Middle Ages instead. Archaeology is difficult - and even more controversial.The tour began with our being transported to Syracuse - a rival to Athens in its heyday - and to the Neapolis Archaeo-logical Park where I learnt the original meaning of the word “stadium”. Here, there was a long, flat, straight, slightly elevated, paved track which we were told was 188 metres, or one “stadium”, in length. This original Athenian distance has now grown to mean the place where such races are run

instead. And at lunch that day, I further learnt that “zuppa” doesn’t mean soup (as I’d assumed) but steamed mussels! Luckily, I like steamed mussels.Next morning we were taken to Aci Castello, a ruined 11th century Norman castle built on a prominent lava headland. It’s where I cursed my partial deafness because I thought the guide said there were nineteen steps to climb - that’s OK, I thought, I can manage that - but what she’d said was ninety. Not OK. Steps and I don’t like each other now that I’m ancient! After Catania, it was across country to Palermo, the capital of Sicily and next day we went round the “Big Three”; namely the Palatine Chapel, the cathedral of Monreale, and the Norman cathedral. Although our guide waxed exceed-ingly lyrical over all manner of things, for me it was the sheer magnificence of the architecture - some of the interiors are absolutely mind blowing in their brilliance. In particular, the Byzantine glass mosaics on the walls in both the Palatine Chapel and the cathedral of Monreale are quite breath taking.Palermo cathedral is also splendid in its own right but doesn’t have the spectacular impact of either the Palatine Chapel or Monreale. Built in 1184, it is essentially Norman and originally intended to rival Monreale: a battle which Monreale has clearly won. But there’s a side chapel in the cathedral dedicated to a recent Palermo judge assassinated by the mafia following some legislation he’d introduced. Our guide told us something about the mafia and described them as “ghosts in the night”; that they’re never seen by “ordinary” people; and that they operate surrepticiously. I

Sicily An Island With A Totally

Bewildering History

The Temple of Concordia A mosaic at Villa Romana del Casale


must confess I never saw any suspicious looking gents in dark clothing, dark glasses, and carrying machine guns! Sicily’s flag is similar to that of the Isle of Man: namely an im-age with three legs. But in Sicily’s case it represents the fact that Sicily is triangular in shape. So, next day, we travelled to the extreme north-western corner but, en route, did some more “archaeologising” and stopped at Segesta in order to visit the Greek temple. Once there, we were machine gunned with information from our guide and I, for one, felt punch drunk at the end. It seems that the indigenous, native Siculi had been Hellenized in the 6th century BC but then the site suffered wars with other city states seeking help from Athens and particularly from Carthage. Centuries later, it surrendered to the Romans and was then destroyed by the Vandals. Later still, it was occu-pied by both the Arabs and the Normans. What a history!Back in the coach and off to Trapani on the north western point of Sicily. It’s a pretty place with interesting buildings, one of which is a real knock-out. The “Church of Holy Souls in Purgatory” - what a cheerful name! - has a display of life images depicting the Stations of the Cross. The figures are carved in wood and dressed in real clothes. They are amaz-ingly realistic and look like they could talk.But our education for the day wasn’t over and our journey to Agrigento on the south coast was punctuated with a visit to Selinunte. Here, there had been a most important Greek city and at least five temples had been built. The only one still standing is the Temple of Hera - the last built - and shows 6 X 15 columns (approx 25 X 70 metres) and is huge. It’s very impressive. The next day was another crossing of the island with the ultimate destination being Taormina on the east coast north of Catania. But our leaders clearly thought that we needed more educational top-up and so we were taken to the “Valley of the Temples”. This meant a long walk past a line of eight Doric temples in varying states of decay. By far the best is the youngest, the Temple of Concordia, which shows 6 X 13 columns. Back in the coach to be driven to the geographical centre of the island near Piazza Armerina. This area flourished in importance during the Roman period and our visit was to the Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious villa famous for its mosaics (reputed to be the finest in the Roman world).There are many rooms whose floors are decorated with mosaics of some form or another. For example:- basic geo-metric patterns (some with faces of gods interwoven in the design); others show figures in warlike scenes, agricultural scenes, nautical scenes; some show the herding of exotic animals such as lions, tigers and elephants. But some mosa-ics have, understandably, worn away but the general state of preservation is quite amazing: and when wiped over with water take on a new life and the colours released seem as

vivid today as when first laid down roughly 2000 years ago.Having made a nice change from temples for both Val and I, we enjoyed the pleasant scenery during the rest of the journey to our hotel at Taormina. We were here for a couple of days and next morning were taken to the Greek Theatre which has superb views through the amphitheatre to the coastline and to Etna gently puffing away. It was quite an effort climbing through the tiers of seating to get to the top - but certainly worth it. Our guide spoke nineteen to the dozen but, basically, said that the arena was built by the Greeks in order to perform their plays but when the Romans

replaced them around 200 BC, it was largely rebuilt so that their preferred gladiatorial and other bloody spectacles could be staged instead. Next day was the climax to the whole trip - Etna. Our coach took us as far as it could - up to the Crateri Silvestri at about 6500 feet. Then it was decision time: whether to go via cablecar to the next level only, or to go as far as is permitted by special

‘bus. Although altitude sickness doesn’t bother me, being out of puff certainly does now, so I just went the extra bit up to something like 8250 feet but Val decided to go all the way up to approximately 10000 feet.At the top of the cablecar, it was totally lacking in colour - nothing apart from black lava. It was also decidedly chilly and rather windy so a group of us spent most of the time in the little snack bar. Val said that at the higher level, it was extremely cold (30 C) and extremely windy but that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience of walking around the perimeter of one of Etna’s higher craters. The stated height of Etna is just over 11000 feet so she was close to the top of the highest volcano in Europe. Well done, Val.So that was that. Trip over. Next day back to Catania airport for the flight home.Opinions? Lots of conflicting memories. I can’t say that I was knocked out by Sicily; some of the coastal scenery is very nice and the interior is pleasant and quite pretty. But none of it is truly outstanding. However, if you’re only interested in sun and beaches, then Sicily’s your bag.What’s more, the food, overall, was something of a disap-pointment. One hears so much about wonderful Italian cuisine that I’d anticipated some memorable meals. It didn’t happen. But we hadn’t really come for the scenery, or the food, or the wine: we’d come for the history. And we certainly got loads of that (even though most of the guides spoke much too fast). We were shown many archaeological sites and taken to a number of interesting little towns, some with splendid churches and/or cathedrals and where we could simply wander about by ourselves. In conclusion, I’m glad I’ve been. It was an interesting, and very different experience.

A mosaic at Villa Romana del Casale

Summit of Etna


must confess I never saw any suspicious looking gents in dark clothing, dark glasses, and carrying machine guns! Sicily’s flag is similar to that of the Isle of Man: namely an im-age with three legs. But in Sicily’s case it represents the fact that Sicily is triangular in shape. So, next day, we travelled to the extreme north-western corner but, en route, did some more “archaeologising” and stopped at Segesta in order to visit the Greek temple. Once there, we were machine gunned with information from our guide and I, for one, felt punch drunk at the end. It seems that the indigenous, native Siculi had been Hellenized in the 6th century BC but then the site suffered wars with other city states seeking help from Athens and particularly from Carthage. Centuries later, it surrendered to the Romans and was then destroyed by the Vandals. Later still, it was occu-pied by both the Arabs and the Normans. What a history!Back in the coach and off to Trapani on the north western point of Sicily. It’s a pretty place with interesting buildings, one of which is a real knock-out. The “Church of Holy Souls in Purgatory” - what a cheerful name! - has a display of life images depicting the Stations of the Cross. The figures are carved in wood and dressed in real clothes. They are amaz-ingly realistic and look like they could talk.But our education for the day wasn’t over and our journey to Agrigento on the south coast was punctuated with a visit to Selinunte. Here, there had been a most important Greek city and at least five temples had been built. The only one still standing is the Temple of Hera - the last built - and shows 6 X 15 columns (approx 25 X 70 metres) and is huge. It’s very impressive. The next day was another crossing of the island with the ultimate destination being Taormina on the east coast north of Catania. But our leaders clearly thought that we needed more educational top-up and so we were taken to the “Valley of the Temples”. This meant a long walk past a line of eight Doric temples in varying states of decay. By far the best is the youngest, the Temple of Concordia, which shows 6 X 13 columns. Back in the coach to be driven to the geographical centre of the island near Piazza Armerina. This area flourished in importance during the Roman period and our visit was to the Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious villa famous for its mosaics (reputed to be the finest in the Roman world).There are many rooms whose floors are decorated with mosaics of some form or another. For example:- basic geo-metric patterns (some with faces of gods interwoven in the design); others show figures in warlike scenes, agricultural scenes, nautical scenes; some show the herding of exotic animals such as lions, tigers and elephants. But some mosa-ics have, understandably, worn away but the general state of preservation is quite amazing: and when wiped over with water take on a new life and the colours released seem as

vivid today as when first laid down roughly 2000 years ago.Having made a nice change from temples for both Val and I, we enjoyed the pleasant scenery during the rest of the journey to our hotel at Taormina. We were here for a couple of days and next morning were taken to the Greek Theatre which has superb views through the amphitheatre to the coastline and to Etna gently puffing away. It was quite an effort climbing through the tiers of seating to get to the top - but certainly worth it. Our guide spoke nineteen to the dozen but, basically, said that the arena was built by the Greeks in order to perform their plays but when the Romans

replaced them around 200 BC, it was largely rebuilt so that their preferred gladiatorial and other bloody spectacles could be staged instead. Next day was the climax to the whole trip - Etna. Our coach took us as far as it could - up to the Crateri Silvestri at about 6500 feet. Then it was decision time: whether to go via cablecar to the next level only, or to go as far as is permitted by special

‘bus. Although altitude sickness doesn’t bother me, being out of puff certainly does now, so I just went the extra bit up to something like 8250 feet but Val decided to go all the way up to approximately 10000 feet.At the top of the cablecar, it was totally lacking in colour - nothing apart from black lava. It was also decidedly chilly and rather windy so a group of us spent most of the time in the little snack bar. Val said that at the higher level, it was extremely cold (30 C) and extremely windy but that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience of walking around the perimeter of one of Etna’s higher craters. The stated height of Etna is just over 11000 feet so she was close to the top of the highest volcano in Europe. Well done, Val.So that was that. Trip over. Next day back to Catania airport for the flight home.Opinions? Lots of conflicting memories. I can’t say that I was knocked out by Sicily; some of the coastal scenery is very nice and the interior is pleasant and quite pretty. But none of it is truly outstanding. However, if you’re only interested in sun and beaches, then Sicily’s your bag.What’s more, the food, overall, was something of a disap-pointment. One hears so much about wonderful Italian cuisine that I’d anticipated some memorable meals. It didn’t happen. But we hadn’t really come for the scenery, or the food, or the wine: we’d come for the history. And we certainly got loads of that (even though most of the guides spoke much too fast). We were shown many archaeological sites and taken to a number of interesting little towns, some with splendid churches and/or cathedrals and where we could simply wander about by ourselves. In conclusion, I’m glad I’ve been. It was an interesting, and very different experience.

A mosaic at Villa Romana del Casale

Summit of Etna


It’s Party Time!


M&C

o; Om

bre Flapper Dress £89, Box C

lutch £29, Bead Drop Bracelet £12







Style Guide


It’s Party Time!


M&C

o; Om

bre Flapper Dress £89, Box C

lutch £29, Bead Drop Bracelet £12







Style GuideIM

AGES

: PR

SHO

TS.C

OM

FESTIVE FASHION

ABOVE: Bonprix Sequin dress £69.99 LEFT: Stacey for Oli Gold sequin dress £80.00 Lookagain

Marks & Spencer Top £18.00

Dorothy Perkins feather cape £39.00

George at AsdaOmbre Sequin Cami

£14.00 George at ASDA Sequin Trim Jacket

£25.00

Lipsy Caged Jewel Sandals

£85.00

Miss Selfridge £79

Lookagain Pewter Metallic Skinny Jeans

£59.00


auto Biographies

By Rob Auchterlonie

FAST FACTS

Copyright Wheelwrite

FORD FOCUS motoring in miniature?

IF you saw the engine block of Ford’s 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine stripped of its bits, it would sit fair and square on a piece of A4 paper. Were you so minded, you could take it on holiday with you as it would fit in the overhead locker on a plane. Motoring in miniature then, but not necessarily when it comes to power output.

B ecause this little gem of a turbocharged unit – just three cylinders, mind you – produces 125ps, a healthy

200Nm of torque (with overboost) and, they claim, tops 60mpg on the combined cycle. Compelling reasons, then, to keep it as Britain’s family favourite. There aren’t many cars around that have enjoyed the success of the Focus. In fact there’s only really one, the VW Golf, which by coincidence is one of the main rivals to Ford’s best seller. That’s been around a whole lot longer than the Focus of course, but since it made its curtain call it’s been a firm favourite with the British buy-ing public, regularly topping the UK sales chart and notching up its first million sales in no time.. No mean feat, when it’s up against a rising tide of decent motors all vying for our money. Ford’s family sized hatchback was – and still is – the ideal car for many. It has bold modern looks, suitably

enhanced in its latest guise, it’s spa-cious and when you weight it all up, it’s a great car to drive. And now (cue the death march for a lot of its rivals) there’s a new design, more equipment and much more choice. The focus (sorry) has been on im-provements with the latest version, no mean feat when what you’ve got to work with does pretty well what it says on the tin and then some. After all, it’s already got a distinctive look, a superb chassis that makes the car a more than acceptable driving experience and a very roomy cabin for the occupants. On the road it’s much the same story as before, with a ride and handling mix that’s the envy of many competi-tors and much appreciated by those who drive a Focus day in, day out. Try one and you’ll see. Road noise seems to have been improved and in the suspension department someone has done their job well because if anything it feels even more planted on the road, no matter how many bumps you encounter. But on a car that’s the wrong side of 19 grand, you probably wouldn’t ex-pect to find window winders in the rear, or an air con system that proved a little ineffective until you dialled up Storm Force 10 on the fan. There are some tidy touches – the way the door edges are protected by a little plastic plate that slips over them as you disembark, and then slip out of the way when you shut the door (an £85 option), and the

neat blue needles on the dials in what is a bit of a bland and plasticy dash area. In fact the whole interior is a bit grey in extremis, but you do get a set of seats that offer excellent thigh and back support, as well as good legroom. It’s a mid range car but there’s no lack of interior space. It’s as roomy as the Mondeo used to be, given that the Mondeo is now as roomy as the old Granada and then the Scorpio used to be. Dominating proceedings is the eight inch touch screen that incorporates Ford’s SYNC system, and the sat nav has more info on the map than Wikipedia. It’s a real step in the right direction and easy to master, with better voice controls than before. With its new grille, it’s very much one of the Ford family, in the mould of the equally popular Fiesta and Mondeo.

Ford Focus Zetec 1.0T Start/Stop

£19,095 Three cylinder 999cc turbocharged, 125ps, 200NmSix speed manual gearbox Top speed 120mph, 0-62mph 11 secs Fuel – urban 49.6, extra urban 68.9, combined 60.1 CO2 108g/km.


www.vansarblinds.co.uk

• Free No Obligation Measuring And Quotations • All Blinds Made To Measure • Choose In The Comfort Of Your Own Home Or Workplace • Family Run Business• Large Range Of Quality, Affordable Fabrics And Colours To Choose From 01525 220477 or 01582 699565 [email protected]

Make your house a home with blinds and awnings from

Find us on Facebook

Tel: 01582 618679Mob: 07801 315140Web: www.gjsmithroofing.comEmail: [email protected]

Experts in all aspects of

Roofing & General Maintenance

✓ Tiling ✓ Slating ✓ Gutters & Down Pipes ✓ Lead Work ✓ Chimney Repairs ✓ Fascias & Soffits ✓ Flat Roofing ✓ Rubber Roofing ✓ Built-Up Felt Roofing

We supply & fit: ✓ Velux Windows ✓ Skylights ✓ Sun Tunnels

✓ Free Estimates

✓ Repairs & New works undertaken

✓ “Trust A Trader” and “EDS” approved

✓ All repair work undertaken

✓ All new work guaranteed

✓ Insurance backed guarantee available

✓ Friendly Service

Friendly staff, honest work, highly recommended...

- customer review

PLEASE CHECK OUR REVIEWS ON TRUST A TRADER

GJ Smith Roofing A6 Flyer.indd 1 23/03/2012 13:31

Approved installer of fascias and soffits.

30 year colour guarantee.Friendly staff, honest work,

highly recommended...Customer review






✓ Free Estimates








- customer review



Approved installer of fascias and soffits.

30 year colour guarantee.Friendly staff, honest work,

highly recommended...Customer review

PLEASE CHECK OUR REVIEWS ON

TRUST A TRADER

Free Estimates

Repairs and new works undertaken

“Trust A Trader” and “EDS” Approved

All Repair Work Undertaken

All New Work Guaranteed

Insurance Backed Guarantee Available

Friendly Service






✓ Free Estimates








- customer review




Roofing &General

Maintenance Tiling Slating Gutters & Down Pipes Lead Work Chimney Repairs Fascias & Soffits Flat Roofing Rubber Roofing Built-Up Felt Roofing Velux Windows Skylights Sun Tunnels

Tel: 01582 618679Mob: 07801 315140


Web: www.gjsmithroofing.com


Cinema New Releases

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

RELEASE DATE: 25th December 2015CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Tom Holland, Brendan Gleeson, Jordi Molla

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. “Heart of the Sea” reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.

KRAMPUS

RELEASE DATE: 4th December 2015CAST: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Allison Tolman

Krampus a dark festive tale of a festive ghoul, reveals an irreverently twisted side to the Christmas season. When his dysfunctional family clashes over Christmas, young Max is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil that is intent on punishing non-believers.


01525 22099407842 653832

Call Mark for a FREE no obligation quoteAll work fully insured and guaranteed.

Plumbing Bathrooms&

Plumbing - Showers, Toilets problems, Baths, Outside Taps, Drips & Leaks,

Bathrooms Installations (References available on request)

Radiators, Tiling Specialising in Full or Partial

Qualified

CityGuilds

A.L. HARWOOD

For All Your Building RequirementsBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICES

Family Run Business With Over 30 Years Experience!

TEL/FAX: 01582 602365 MOBILE: 07958 319213

Traditional Builder with 30 years experience

Who can cater for all your building requirements

From Hanging Doors To Your Full Extension Project

WANTEDAny condition - working or not. Required for restoration projects.

Cash waiting....please call Mark on 01525 220994 or 07842653832.


Cinema New Releases

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

RELEASE DATE: 17th December 2015CAST: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher

This December sees the release of the highly antici-pated episode seven of Star Wars. Set thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens sees old favourites of the original cast reunited alongside new cast members.

SISTERS

RELEASE DATE: 18th December 2015CAST: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jay RoachSisters is a new film from Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore about two disconnected sisters. They are sum-moned home to clear out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family home. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final high-school-style party for their classmates, which turns into the cathartic rager that a bunch of ground-down adults really need.

THE DANISH GIRL

RELEASE DATE: 1st January 2016

CAST: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander

A film based on a book by David Ebershoff the film is a love story inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. The film explores their marriage and work as Lili navigates the journey as a transgender pioneer.

THE 5TH WAVE

RELEASE DATE: 15th January 2016CAST: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, Alex Roe, Liev Schreiber

In the new film The 5th Wave, four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope - if she can only trust him.

Issue 22 • December / January 2016 4919www.thevinemagazine.com

30 years

experience

•GARAGEDOORSINSTEEL,WOOD,GRP&ABS

•AUTOMATIONTONEW&EXISTINGDOORS&GATES

•FREEQUOTATIONS,SPARES&REPAIRSTEL:01525220212 www.premiergaragedoors.co.uk

UNIT 7, SPARROWHALL BUSINESS PARK, LEIGHTON RD. EDLESBOROUGH, LU6 2ES

Bedroom Furniture

ContaCt us for details:v 40 Joel Street v Northwood Hills v Middlesex v HA6 1PA v Tel: 01923 510586 v www.uniquebedroomsdirect.co.uk v Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm v Closed Sun

UNIQUE AFFORDABLE FURNITUREdesigns to fit your lifestyle

We specialise in made-to-measure fully

fitted furniture for bedrooms,studies and lounges.

Visit our NEW SHOWROOM.

Office Furniture Lounge Furniture

SPRING SALENOW ONContact for details

Fitted Bed Furniture

SPRING SALENOW ONContact for details

WIDE RANGE OF BEDROOM,

OFFICE & LOUNGE FURNITURE TO

CHOOSE FROMUnit 28, Icknield Way Farm,Tring Rd. Dunstable , LU6 2JX Tel: 01525 229331Open: Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm

WE NOW OFFER FITTED KITCHENS


Over the last ten years a staggering quarter of a million older people have died from the cold. Research shows that exposure to the cold can have a devastating impact on the health of older people, who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of low temperatures. As people get older it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for people’s health. The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.

The good news is that preparing effectively for the cold weather can literally save lives. That’s why this winter Age UK will be working hard to remind older people and carers of the importance of taking simple precautions to stay warm and well.

The Charity is urging people to call Age UK Advice for free on 0800 169 65 65, and order a free copy of the Charity’s ‘Winter Wrapped Up’ guide which contains a free thermometer and provides tips on staying warm in winter. Alternatively the guide can be downloaded from www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk where contact details for local Age UKs can also be found.

AGE UK’S TOP TIPS FOR STAYING WARM AND WELL THIS WINTERl 64°F (18°C) is the ideal temperature for your bedroom and 70°F (21°C) is the ideal temperature for your living room. Check your thermostat or use a room thermometer to monitor temperature

l Keep your bedroom window shut on at night. Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.

l Stay active and when you are indoors try not to sit still for more than an hour, if you can get up. Walk around or make a hot drink.

l Eat well. It’s important to eat well, especially in the winter. Have at least one hot meal a day and have regular hot drinks, as they help to keep you warm. Also stock up on basic food items in case of a cold snap.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Although it sounds like common sense, advising people on how to stay warm in winter can actually make all the difference. Many people are not fully aware of how the cold affects our bodies differently as we age and how, if we don’t take sensible precautions, it can very quickly put our lives in danger.

“Winter can be an incredibly daunting and difficult time for older people, especially those who live alone or are housebound, so it’s vital that we do all we can to help them prepare for the colder weather. We urge anyone who is concerned about keeping warm and well over winter to get in touch with their local Age UK to find out how we can help them.”

Age UK’s Campaign for Warm HomesFor many years, Age UK has argued that improving energy efficiency in people’s homes is the long term to solution to the high levels of excess winter deaths, winter health problems and fuel poverty amongst older people in England.

Due to the closure of one of the Government’s flagship energy efficiency programme - the Green Deal - currently there is very limited support for anyone who wants to install measures to make their home warmer.

That is why the Campaign for Warm Homes is urgently calling on the Government to reform its energy efficiency programme to enable all older people to live in a warm home. For more information about the campaign and contacting your local MP, please go to www.ageuk.org.uk/warmhomes

advice on staying warm and well this Winter


Swan Decorating & Handyman Services

C&R Pest Management

Wasps, Rats, Mice, Ants, Rabbits, Moles & more...www.crpestmanagement.co.uk

Registered Professional Pest Technician

• 40 Years Experience• Fully Insured• Special Rates For OAP• CRB Checked T: 01582 206113 01525 450046M: 07500 431131

LEWIS BUILDINGCONSULTANCY SERVICES

Tel/Fax: 01525 874113Mob: 07870 326607

Drawings for extensions & Conversions

to pass Local Authority requirements

101 Leighton Rd, Toddington


C. LEWIS MCIOB

G & J GROUNDWORKRing Garry

01582 477568/07949 118011Fence Panels • Blockpaving

Shingle Drives • Paths Slabs • Steps • Gardenwalls

New Patios • RelayingSoak Aways • Drainage

FREE estimates • References availablewww.gandjgroundwork.co.uk

Tel: 01582 862245 or 07914879178

For all your BrickworkBlock Paving, Patios, Re-pointing

Fencing, Decking & General RepairsBIG or small give us a call

PLASTERING SERVICES30 Years Experience In All Aspects Of Plastering

Render SpecialistNo Job Too Big Or Small!

250 High Street North

250 High Street NorthDunstableBedsLU6 1BE

Phone : 01582 472526Mobile : 07958377463Email : [email protected]

All Work Fully Guaranteed

LEWIS BUILDINGCONSULTANCY SERVICES

Tel/Fax: 01525 874113Mob: 07870 326607

Drawings for extensions & Conversions

to pass Local Authority requirements

101 Leighton Rd, Toddington


C. LEWIS MCIOB

M. Mayling-BrownCarpentry and Building Services

www.mmayling-brown.co.uk

Email: [email protected]: 07921 656657

Mitchell Mayling-Brown

Carpenter &

Joiner

Swan Decorating & Handyman Services

C&R Pest Management

Wasps, Rats, Mice, Ants, Rabbits, Moles & more...www.crpestmanagement.co.uk

Registered Professional Pest Technician

• 40 Years Experience• Fully Insured• Special Rates For OAP• CRB Checked T: 01582 206113 01525 450046M: 07500 431131

BARB CARPETS LTDFLOORING AT ITS VERY BEST

07850 60100707702 60100701582 601007

ESTABLISHED 1976

Domestic And CommercialSamples To Home Or SiteCarpets, Vinyls, Floor Levelling

Call: Dave on Chris on or The Office on

ARC Contract Services Ltd.

Quality work at affordable prices!

•Wallpapering & Painting•Laminate Flooring•Coving •Tiling

•Bathroom InstallationsInsurance work undertaken - All work Guaranteed for 5 years

Public liability insurance coverFor FREE Professional Quotations Call Adrian

01582 539179 or 07789 730580

5958

WE VISIT YOU NO FIX - NO FEEQualified, Experienced

[email protected] 306316 – 07925 338435

Laptop & ComputerServer, Printer, Apple, Setup, Repairs,

Data recovery, Internet, Wireless, Network, Virus infection, Home/Office computer problems.

Services from £40.Your local IT support, 7 days services

BARB CARPETS LTDFLOORING AT ITS VERY BEST

07850 60100707702 60100701582 601007

ESTABLISHED 1976

Domestic And CommercialSamples To Home Or SiteCarpets, Vinyls, Floor Levelling

Call: Dave on Chris on or The Office on

DISCOVER AshridgeVisitors Centre, Moneybury Hill, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire. HP4 1LT


Children’s Christmas Trail 12 Days of Ashridge1st December 2015 - 5th January 2016. £1.00

Take a stroll through the woodland discovering more about winter and Christmas time at Ashridge. Visit the Ashridge Visitor Centre to collect your trail map and follow the trail, answer the questions and return to collect your Christmas reward. No need to book, just turn up.

Post-Christmas Walk 27th December 2015. 10.00am – 12.00pm. £7.00 adults/£5.00 children

A led walk through the woods followed by mulled drinks and mince pies at the Visitor Centre. Booking essential

Christmas

Christmas Crafts and Trail

£2 per child

Come and make some decorations in the Visitor Centre and tell us about your Christmas traditions, then walk the 12 days of Ashridge trail.

01442 851227 nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge

21st-23rd Dec, 28th Dec-1st Jan 10am to 3pm

© National Trust Images. Registered Charity Number 205846.

searching for presentsChristmas Fair Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre, HP4 1LT

Christmas pattern inspired by wallpaper at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire.

© National Trust 2014. Registered charity no. 205846. © National Trust Images/Ashridge images.

Sunday 6th December, 10am - 3.30pm

Fill yourself with festive cheer and your bags with seasonal goodies at our annual Christmas fair. Free entry. 01442 851227 | nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge Share your Christmas traditions with us on Facebook at Ashridge NT

52

Issue 22 • December / January 2016 53www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

Myths and Monsters exhibitionUntil 6th SeptemberFree exhibition, suitable for all ages

Step back in time through the pages of an ancient book to a world inhabited by weird and wonderful creatures in a new exhibition, Myths and Monsters.

Discover the truth behind unicorns, mermaids and other mythical creatures. Decide whether truth is stran-ger than fiction in this exhibition inspired by Conrad Gesner’s 450-year-old Historiae Animalium (Studies on Animals), considered to be the first modern zoological work.

Get hands-on with replicas of the real animals that inspired stories of strange beasts, explore interactive displays, and marvel at beautiful hand-coloured wood-cuts from Gesner’s book.

Many of the Myths and Monsters exhibits were gener-ously donated by the Natural History Museum London, which has a similar exhibition of the same name that tours the world.

Visiting during the week? We recommend arriving after 13.00 as Gallery 2 is also a teaching space in the mornings and may be unavailable for short periods.

For Infomation Tel: 020 7942 6171

Come and discover animal specimens from around the world, from tiny beetles to enormous bears.

Christmas Starfish10th December 2015 With 30-minute work-shops at 11.00 and 14.00 Tickets £2, suitable for all ages Create your own Christmas clay starfish. Messy play for under-5s.

12th December 2015 - 28 February 2016FreeThis stunning annual exhibition returns with an incred-ible range of awe-inspiring images taken by wildlife photographers from around the world.

19th December 2015 - 3 January 2016Trail sheet £1, suitable for all agesDiscover what animals Rudolph meets on his journey around the world delivering Christmas presents with Santa. Be sure to collect your chocolate prize at the end.

7th January 2016 With 30-minute workshops at 11.00 and 14.00Tickets £2, suitable for all agesTry your hand at making your own bird feeder, and take it home to your garden afterwards.

16th January 2016 18.30-20.00Tickets £4.50 adults, £3 children (advance booking required). Most suitable for ages 7+.Join local astronomers and a Museum meteorite expert to discover the stars above with this special talk and observation event.

For Adults 25th September Drop-in from 18.00 -22.00, Free, Join the Museum’s scientists in this annual late night event for adults, which has an Australian theme this year. Listen to expert talks, visit our pop-up bar, chat with scientists and enjoy the Museum's historic galleries at night.

Exhibitions

At Tring MuseumAkeman Street

TringHertfordshire

HP23 6AP

What’s On

Rudolph’s Christmas Trail

Bird Feeders

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Stars Above

Science Uncovered

Explore exhibitions and events at www.nhm.ac.uk/tring.

54


SAPHIRE SOCIAL CLUBSapphire Social Club meet every Thursday at The Orange Tree Steve-nage Road Hitchin from 8.30 - 11pm. We are a small and friendly group for single people aged 50+ although we have no age bar. Our members organize varied events during the month and we warmly welcome new members to come along and see if we might just fill that gap in your social life. No subs for the first 2 months. For any info call Ian 07900 890583 or Joyce on 07960 440417 or visit www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

DUNSTABLE CAMERA CLUBDunstable Camera Club, meet 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7.15pm, Con-servative Club, High St. Dunstable.Friendly atmosphere. Improve your photography in a social environment.www.dunstablecameraclub.co.uk

DUNSTABLE PROBUS CLUBDunstable PROBUS Club meets on the second Monday of the month and membership is open to retired or semi-retired professional and business men. The Club’s main object is the promotion of good fellowship. Members enjoy a variety of social activities and organized visits throughout the year and at their regular monthly meetings they are entertained by after-lunch speakers. If you are interested in joining the Club, please contact the Secretary Malcolm Partridge 01525 222711

BREATHEASYDo you suffer from a lung condition? Then why not come and join our local Support group - breatheasy - Part of the British lung foundation. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at peter newton pavilion (Behind tesco) 2 - 4pm carers also welcome As well as supporting each

other we have a variety of speakers and also arrange day trips out.New members most welcomeTel: Amanda Fletcher 01582 404479

LANGDALE CHURCH‘HATTERS TEA’- informal neighbour-hood group meets monthly on a Wednesday pm. Free tea/coffee & home-made cakes, quiz and raffle.Friends and Neighbours- monthly on a Thursday pm. Speakers and free tea/coffee. At Langdale Church.Other groups- table tennis, walking group and drawing for beginnersMake the most of our community activities and meet new people in our community. Tel Colin, Community Worker 01582602980

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 DunstableTel: Sandy on 07813 262556

NORTHALL TODDLER GROUPNorthall Village Hall, LU6 2EXJoin new mums, dads, grandparents and carers.Every Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30am (including school holidays)For children aged 0-5 years.Tea, coffee, juices and healthy snack.Come join in the fun, games and learning (inside and out)£2.50 during term time (per family)£1 per child during school holidays(Adults free & older children welcome)Tel. Stacey 07957 607592 or Sally 07963 506188

DUNSTABLE WIDunstable W.I. meet two evenings a month on the 2nd and 4th thursdays at Watling School Bullpond Lane at 7.30pm. We are a friendly group and like to enjoy ourselves. We have a wide range of speakers with different talents and crafts, and also quiz nights to test our brains. We Welcome new members so join us and make new friends.14th January 2016 - Cheese and Wine28th January - My Mothers Journey From Russia By Annette UrwinFor more Info Barbara Fisher 01582 665252

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. 01582 865966 Sue or JulianEnquiries@dunstablebogtrotters.co.ukwww.dunstablebogtrotters.co.uk

FRIENDS OF STUDHAM COMMONWe are a friendly,voluntary group whose aim is to conserve,maintain and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place for everyone to enjoy.For this purpose we meet as a work party on the third Saturday of each month (except Dec.) The work is not onerous and we enjoy the exercise and the good company –and a picnic lunch is provided! Details from Pam on 01582 872608 [email protected]

Clubs & Groups

58


NATIONAL TRUSTAll meetings are held at Salvation Army Centre, Dunstable. Guests are welcome at £3.00As well as outing we also run a holiday once per year. If you would like to join the group, please contact, Lynder Power 01582 696193 or Janr Lingham 01582 6068387th December, 2.30pm Monastic Ely by Alan Williams.4th January, 2.30pmThe Life Of Norman Wisdom by Sue Benwell.1st February, 2.30, Luton & Dunsatble Hospital by Janet Graham MBE

ARTS & CRAFTSArt & Craft for adults with learning difficulties every Wednesday 10.30am - 12.30pm & every Sat 11am - 1pm at Arttrend, rear of 440 Dun-stable Road.Please see the website www.arttrend.co.uk for all the details or phone 07794987796

THE WILDLIFE TRUST

The Chiltern SocietySouth Beds. Local Group Talk.Wednesday 20th January7.30pm - 9.00pmRay Challinor of the Chiltern Society gives an illustrated talk about this environmental group whose mission is helping to conserve the ameni-ties, heritage and landscape of 650 square miles of the Chiltern Hills.Price Entry by donationLecture Theatre, DunstableCommunity Fire Station,Brewers Hill Road. LU6 1AABooking required. For further infor-mationtel: Sue Turner 07917 055920email: [email protected]

Willow Weaving Workshop Saturday January 23rd10am - 1pm£5 per personAn introduction to some basic skills of willow weaving. You will go away from the workshop with a real sense of accomplishment. Willow weaving is a craft that has been used for thousands of years. The material is extremely versatile, enjoyable to work with as well as being sustain-able and local. Liz Wade lives locally and has been enjoying practicing her craft for a couple of years. Liz enjoys exploring and using differ-ent hedgerow materials.Suitable for adults and teenagers.Houghton Regis Library. LU5 5ESBooking required. Mobility GoodFor further information tel: Toddington Office 01525 [email protected]

Mum’s

and

Tot’s group Come and play with us,

Every Friday

(term time only)

9.30 to 11.00am

£2.00 inc Drinks and snacks for the little ones, and a cuppa for the grown ups.

A 5km sponsored fun run for all the family!

30FINISH

FINISH

Santa RunOn your marks, get set, ho ho ho!

Sunday 6th December 2015, The Embankment, Bedford

Sunday 13th December 2015, Wardown Park, Luton

Tel: 01582 707940 [email protected]

www.keech.org.uk

Charity No. 1035089

For more information or to sign up online:

Visit: www.keech.org.uk/santarun

Call: 01582 707940 Email: [email protected]

SAPHIRE SOCIAL CLUBSapphire Social Club meet every Thursday at The Orange Tree Steve-nage Road Hitchin from 8.30 - 11pm. We are a small and friendly group for single people aged 50+ although we have no age bar. Our members organize varied events during the month and we warmly welcome new members to come along and see if we might just fill that gap in your social life. No subs for the first 2 months. For any info call Ian 07900 890583 or Joyce on 07960 440417 or visit www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

DUNSTABLE CAMERA CLUBDunstable Camera Club, meet 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7.15pm, Con-servative Club, High St. Dunstable.Friendly atmosphere. Improve your photography in a social environment.www.dunstablecameraclub.co.uk

DUNSTABLE PROBUS CLUBDunstable PROBUS Club meets on the second Monday of the month and membership is open to retired or semi-retired professional and business men. The Club’s main object is the promotion of good fellowship. Members enjoy a variety of social activities and organized visits throughout the year and at their regular monthly meetings they are entertained by after-lunch speakers. If you are interested in joining the Club, please contact the Secretary Malcolm Partridge 01525 222711

BREATHEASYDo you suffer from a lung condition? Then why not come and join our local Support group - breatheasy - Part of the British lung foundation. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at peter newton pavilion (Behind tesco) 2 - 4pm carers also welcome As well as supporting each

other we have a variety of speakers and also arrange day trips out.New members most welcomeTel: Amanda Fletcher 01582 404479

LANGDALE CHURCH‘HATTERS TEA’- informal neighbour-hood group meets monthly on a Wednesday pm. Free tea/coffee & home-made cakes, quiz and raffle.Friends and Neighbours- monthly on a Thursday pm. Speakers and free tea/coffee. At Langdale Church.Other groups- table tennis, walking group and drawing for beginnersMake the most of our community activities and meet new people in our community. Tel Colin, Community Worker 01582602980

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 DunstableTel: Sandy on 07813 262556

NORTHALL TODDLER GROUPNorthall Village Hall, LU6 2EXJoin new mums, dads, grandparents and carers.Every Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30am (including school holidays)For children aged 0-5 years.Tea, coffee, juices and healthy snack.Come join in the fun, games and learning (inside and out)£2.50 during term time (per family)£1 per child during school holidays(Adults free & older children welcome)Tel. Stacey 07957 607592 or Sally 07963 506188

DUNSTABLE WIDunstable W.I. meet two evenings a month on the 2nd and 4th thursdays at Watling School Bullpond Lane at 7.30pm. We are a friendly group and like to enjoy ourselves. We have a wide range of speakers with different talents and crafts, and also quiz nights to test our brains. We Welcome new members so join us and make new friends.14th January 2016 - Cheese and Wine28th January - My Mothers Journey From Russia By Annette UrwinFor more Info Barbara Fisher 01582 665252

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. 01582 865966 Sue or JulianEnquiries@dunstablebogtrotters.co.ukwww.dunstablebogtrotters.co.uk

FRIENDS OF STUDHAM COMMONWe are a friendly,voluntary group whose aim is to conserve,maintain and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place for everyone to enjoy.For this purpose we meet as a work party on the third Saturday of each month (except Dec.) The work is not onerous and we enjoy the exercise and the good company –and a picnic lunch is provided! Details from Pam on 01582 872608 [email protected]

Clubs & Groups

58


















Five Acres Nature ReserveTravel to Truro in Cornwall to ensure not necessarily that your Christmas is white, but most definitely green! For a suggested donation of £5 per child, on the 10th December, children can visit Father Christmas in his outdoor grotto, before learning a bit more about an eco friendly Christmas including making environmentally friendly decorations to take back home with you. (www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk ) And if a green Christmas is important to you, check out www.forestry.gov.uk to find out where you can source your Christmas tree from a sustainable managed forest.

Christmas MarketsThe traditionally European Christmas markets pop up during the festive season all across the UK, with more and more towns and cities having at least a small display. Free to enter, soak up the seasonal atmosphere by walking round themed stalls with a plethora of exciting products on offer; sample a hot wine or hot chocolate and taste a crepe or German sausage to fuel your visit. Plenty of the bigger Christmas Markets also offer fairground attractions to keep the kids entertained. Find one near you at www.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html.

So whatever your budget, or wherever you are,

you’re bound to be able to find somewhere

close by to entertain and delight your

household, and find some Christmas cheer

that doesn’t just entail traipsing round the

busy shops for those last minute Christmas

presents! With so much on offer, it’ll be

worth grabbing that scarf and heading on out

into the cold!

The Harry Potter franchise have several iconic Christmas scenes and the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour is making full use of decorations and actual props and items from the films including golden partridges, baubles and presents the characters received in the films! Tickets start at £23.50 (children under 4 go free) and can be booked online. Even if the Christmas season doesn’t bring snow, the magic of Christmas will be kept well and truly alive inside the magical world of Harry Potter! (www.wbstudiotour.co.uk)

HogwartsTour

National Trust and English HeritageFor a more nostalgic Christmas feel, check out one of the National Trust or English Heritage sites for a variety of Christmassy events and activities. With prices starting from free to visit some of the properties and gardens throughout the UK; wrap up and make the most of a beautiful Wintry walk, or visit a specific event. Soak up the 1930’s Christmas at Castle Drogo in Devon, take part in the Tudor Festivities at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire or check out the programme of theatrical events and carol concerts taking part at one of the many UK sites. (www.nationaltrust.org.uk; www.english-heritage.org.uk)

Christmas Markets The traditionally European Christmas markets pop up during the festive season all across the UK, with more and more towns and cities having at least a small display. Free to enter, soak up the seasonal atmosphere by walking round themed stalls with a plethora of exciting products on offer; sample a hot wine or hot chocolate and taste a crepe of German sausage to fuel your visit. Plenty of bigger Christmas Markets also offer fairground attractions to keep the kids entertained. Find one near you atwww.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html.

St Albans Christmas MarketA 25 day event with up to 67 decorated wooden chalets selling everything from Christmas decorations and stocking fillers to statement pieces for the home. And of course mulled wine! and refreshments!

Centre MK Christmas MarketRunning up to 23rd December, Queens Court will be transformed into a bustling Christmas Market. Step outside and meander through wooden stalls selling everything from Christmas Spruce, hand-made decorations and gifts. There will also be a array of international and local foods and the Alpine Bar will be serving mulled wine.

Oxford Christmas MarketLocated in the heart of Oxford, surrounded by dreaming spires and historic university buildings, the market con-sists of beautifully decorated wooden stalls offering a selection of Christmas gifts and seasonal treats.Local choirs perform Christmas carols throughout the 11 days adding to the festive atmosphere. Opening celebrations are on Thursday 10th December.

For a more nostalgic Christmas feel, check out one of the National Trust or English Heritage sites for a variety of Christmassy events and activities. With prices starting from free to visit some of the properties and gardens throughout the UK. Wrap up warm and make the most of a beautiful Wintry walk, or visit a specific event.Soak up the atmosphere at Wrest Park and join in with the festivities including wreath making, carol concerts and even meet the big man himself and listen to his tales of Christmas past amidst the yuletide decorations.For further information on Christmas at Wrest Park and many other UK sites visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk or www.english-heritage.org.uk

Five Acres Nature ReserveTravel to Truro in Cornwall to ensure not necessarily that your Christmas is white, but most definitely green! For a suggested donation of £5 per child, on the 10th December, children can visit Father Christmas in his outdoor grotto, before learning a bit more about an eco friendly Christmas including making environmentally friendly decorations to take back home with you. (www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk ) And if a green Christmas is important to you, check out www.forestry.gov.uk to find out where you can source your Christmas tree from a sustainable managed forest.

Christmas MarketsThe traditionally European Christmas markets pop up during the festive season all across the UK, with more and more towns and cities having at least a small display. Free to enter, soak up the seasonal atmosphere by walking round themed stalls with a plethora of exciting products on offer; sample a hot wine or hot chocolate and taste a crepe or German sausage to fuel your visit. Plenty of the bigger Christmas Markets also offer fairground attractions to keep the kids entertained. Find one near you at www.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html.

So whatever your budget, or wherever you are,

you’re bound to be able to find somewhere

close by to entertain and delight your

household, and find some Christmas cheer

that doesn’t just entail traipsing round the

busy shops for those last minute Christmas

presents! With so much on offer, it’ll be

worth grabbing that scarf and heading on out

into the cold!

The Harry Potter franchise have several iconic Christmas scenes and the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour is making full use of decorations and actual props and items from the films including golden partridges, baubles and presents the characters received in the films! Tickets start at £23.50 (children under 4 go free) and can be booked online. Even if the Christmas season doesn’t bring snow, the magic of Christmas will be kept well and truly alive inside the magical world of Harry Potter! (www.wbstudiotour.co.uk)

HogwartsTour

National Trust and English HeritageFor a more nostalgic Christmas feel, check out one of the National Trust or English Heritage sites for a variety of Christmassy events and activities. With prices starting from free to visit some of the properties and gardens throughout the UK; wrap up and make the most of a beautiful Wintry walk, or visit a specific event. Soak up the 1930’s Christmas at Castle Drogo in Devon, take part in the Tudor Festivities at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire or check out the programme of theatrical events and carol concerts taking part at one of the many UK sites. (www.nationaltrust.org.uk; www.english-heritage.org.uk)


THE LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTSSunday 6Th December 7:30 pm

DAOS’ Christmas Concert has now become something of an annual event. You can join DAOS for this festive evening of cheer, songs from the shows, seasonal songs, Christmas readings, carols for all and a mince pie!We are delighted to be perform-ing this concert again at The Little TheatreTickets are only £8.00 each and you can buy yours now, on-line with no booking fee from:www.ticketsource.co.uk/DAOSLooking forward to seeing you there!

DUNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Christmas Carols and Torchlight ProcessionFriday 4th December from 7pmThe SquareFrom 7.00 pm

Dunstable Community Church Choir & Present WrappingSaturday 5th DecemberDunstable Market

Smiley Sam Christmas FloatWednesday 9th December 10.00 am – 4.00 pmThe Square/Dunstable Market

Manshead School BandWednesday 9th December

12 noon – 2.00 pmThe Square/Dunstable Market

Father Christmas FloatSaturday 12th December10.00 am to 3.00 pmThe Square

Dunstable Town BandSaturday 12th December11.00 am – 12.30 pm The Square

Christmas CrackerSaturday 12th December

10.00 am to 4.00 pm Priory House10.00 am to 4.00 pm Queensbury Academy School BandWednesday 16th December10.00 am to 12 noonThe Square

Salvation Army BandSaturday 19th December9.30 am – 1.00 pmDunstable Market

DECK THE HALLSSt Mary the Virgin, Ivinghoe.Sunday 6th December. 6pm Join the Beacon Community Choir for a musical celebra-tion of the yuletide season. The choir will sing both familiar and less well-known music by Rutter, Handel, Berlioz, Goodall and many others. The choir will be joined by the Brass Ensemble

from Aylesbury Grammar and High Schools, and

the concert will be accompanied by

Craig Nathan on the organ

and piano. The music will

reflect a wide range of tastes from classical to pop and the audience will also be invited to participate in a selection of carols. This is a concert for the whole family guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit.Mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the interval. Tickets are £10 (children under 12 free accompa-nied by an adult) avail-able from Charles Thoro-good 01296 661540, [email protected]

DUNSTABLE LADIES CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Saturday 12th December 2.30 pm St. Augustine’s Church, Mayfield Road, Dunstable. Tickets £8 on the door, including refreshments. Details from Pat Jackson 01582 520302

Out & About Christmas Fun

RUSHMERE COUNTY PARK WINTER FAYRE Sunday 6th December

Get into the Christmas spirit!Come and enjoy music and carols under cover in the marquee with a variety of stalls selling wonderful gift ideas. There will be Greensand Trust craft activities and a tombola and, of course, seasonal food and drink.We hope that Father Christmas may even put in an appear-ance!

For more information or to book call 01525 234260 [email protected], or call into the Herons View Visitor Centre, Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Road, Heath and Reach, LU7 0EB

LIGHT UP TODDINGTON EVENT Monday, 7th December 2015Our last fund-raising event for 2015 will be on Monday, 7th December 2015 in the Wilkinson Hall, Toddington when we will be providing refreshments for the lighting up Toddington event. Come along for seasonal refreshments and a variety of stalls from 6.00 pm.

HARLINGTON PERFORMS PANTOHarlington performs presents the panto of "toad of toad hall".

Jokes, songs, chases, cheers, boos, full of family funDecember 4th at 7.30pm and Saturday December 5th at 2pm and 7.30pm

Harlington village hall, sundon road, HarlingtonTickets £9 adults and £7 children and senior citizens. Box office 01525 758874 Make it extra special by letting us know about any birthdays or other special occasions.

Bucks Open Studio 4th - 6th December 10am - 4pmCome and visit our artists in residence. Opticron Trade Day5th December 10am - 4pmExpert advice on binoculars and scopes Christmas Fair Late Night Shopping 5th December 5.30pm - 8.30pmLate night shopping at College Lake Go Wild for Christmas 12th December 10am - 2pmMake some wild decorations.

Get cosy by the fire and create some Christmas finery Winter Guided Walk 13th December, 1pm - 3pmJoin us for a guided walk at this stunning nature reserve Winter Guided walk 2nd January 2016 10.30 - 12.30pmJoin us for a guided walk at this stunning nature reserve Family Fun: Sticktacular 23rd January 2016, 10am-1pmJoin us for some sticktastic adventures and discover some of the amazing things you can do with sticks

COLLEGE LAKEUpper Icknield Way, Tring HP23 5QG. 01442 826774

Please visit our website to book www.bbot.org.uk

Christmas Fun


RUSHMERE COUNTY PARK WINTER FAYRE Sunday 6th December

Get into the Christmas spirit!Come and enjoy music and carols under cover in the marquee with a variety of stalls selling wonderful gift ideas. There will be Greensand Trust craft activities and a tombola and, of course, seasonal food and drink.We hope that Father Christmas may even put in an appear-ance!

For more information or to book call 01525 234260 [email protected], or call into the Herons View Visitor Centre, Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Road, Heath and Reach, LU7 0EB

LIGHT UP TODDINGTON EVENT Monday, 7th December 2015Our last fund-raising event for 2015 will be on Monday, 7th December 2015 in the Wilkinson Hall, Toddington when we will be providing refreshments for the lighting up Toddington event. Come along for seasonal refreshments and a variety of stalls from 6.00 pm.

HARLINGTON PERFORMS PANTOHarlington performs presents the panto of "toad of toad hall".

Jokes, songs, chases, cheers, boos, full of family funDecember 4th at 7.30pm and Saturday December 5th at 2pm and 7.30pm

Harlington village hall, sundon road, HarlingtonTickets £9 adults and £7 children and senior citizens. Box office 01525 758874 Make it extra special by letting us know about any birthdays or other special occasions.

Bucks Open Studio 4th - 6th December 10am - 4pmCome and visit our artists in residence. Opticron Trade Day5th December 10am - 4pmExpert advice on binoculars and scopes Christmas Fair Late Night Shopping 5th December 5.30pm - 8.30pmLate night shopping at College Lake Go Wild for Christmas 12th December 10am - 2pmMake some wild decorations.

Get cosy by the fire and create some Christmas finery Winter Guided Walk 13th December, 1pm - 3pmJoin us for a guided walk at this stunning nature reserve Winter Guided walk 2nd January 2016 10.30 - 12.30pmJoin us for a guided walk at this stunning nature reserve Family Fun: Sticktacular 23rd January 2016, 10am-1pmJoin us for some sticktastic adventures and discover some of the amazing things you can do with sticks

COLLEGE LAKEUpper Icknield Way, Tring HP23 5QG. 01442 826774

Please visit our website to book www.bbot.org.uk

Christmas Fun

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk60 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

Out & About Christmas Fun

This Concert includes songs performed by The Hadrian Academy Choir

Tickets £7 - 15yrs and under go freeFor tickets please contact

Julia Holder on 01582873465 oremail [email protected]

LUTON CHRISTMAS ORCHARD DAYSunday 6th December ,11am - 2pmLimbury Mead on Icknield Way near the junction with Calverton Road. Roadside parking only along Icknield Way. Price £2 per child

Conservation Taster Session Help to plant a new community orchard. Try apple themed activities and go home with a unique Christmas decoration.Limited warm refreshments Please walk if possible.

Booking Recommended. For further information: Toddington Office Phone no. 01525 874317email address [email protected]

CHILTERN GATEWAY

Christmas Wreath Making4th, 5th, 11th & 12th Dec 10qm - 12 noon

Join us for our annual gathering to make wreaths with materials sourced from the local area. £25 per person including a hot drink and mince pie. Why not join us for lunch afterwards?

Christmas Tree Dressing Day6th December 11am - 3pm

Come and join us as we dress our Christmas tree, cut from the beautiful and well-managed Whipsnade Tree Cathedral. Write a wish to hang on the tree or make your own decoration.

Breakfast with Father Christmas8th, 10th, 14th, 16th & 18th December 10.15am - 12 noon. £7

Enjoy a delicious breakfast with Father Christmas and his elves in the View Café on Dunstable Downs. Place a wish on the Christmas Tree, receive a lovely gift and a certificate to prove you met Father Christmas.

50 Things Walks6th December 2pm - 3.30pm Grab your wellies and join the Rangers for a family walk. Complete some of the '50 things to do before you're 11 3/4' on the way and collect stickers and scrapbooks when you get back.

Boxing Day 'Burn Off Christmas' Walk26th December 11am 12.30pm £2

Need an excuse to get outdoors and get rid of that bloated feeling? Then join us for a breath of fresh air on this one and a half hour walk led by one of our rangers.

You can find out more about Dunstable Downs on our website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstabledowns. You can also join in with our events, and share your photos of this beautiful place on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NTDunstableDowns


Christmas Fun

Creasey Park Christmas Family Fun Day Come join us on Monday 21st December 10.00 – 13.00

For arts and crafts and Father Christmas While the children are busy adults can enjoy a tea, coffee or food from our bar.


Step On ItFRANKFLANKFLUNKCLUNKCLINKSLINK

AnswersCrossword

Across: 6 Greatly 7 Start 9 Piety 10 Ar-

rival 12 Provocation 14 Incredulity 18

Clarity 19 Droll 21 Adult 22 Succour

Down: 1 Trait 2 Halter 3 Ale 4 Strict 5

Creator 8 Trickle 11 Avidity 13 Include

15 Rarely 16 Thrice 17 Flout 20 Hue

This year sees the 25th Anniversary of the annual Puzzle set by Gordon Gray. The Puzzle is rated by participants as one of the most enjoyable (and devious) they have tackled and, with a theme

designed to help completion, it will appeal to people who enjoy doing word puzzles. Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with a donation, by 24th January.

25th Anniversary Charity Christmas Puzzle

Four highest scorers will each receive a £30 prize.Everyone who enters will qualify for one of five £10 prizes.Copies of the Puzzle can be accessed from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk You can register early to receive a copy on the issue date of 8th December. Over £63,000 raised for charity £5,900 donated last year.This year’s puzzle will support five charities nominated by Puzzlers.


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

Visit your local showroom at Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre, Leighton Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 9NX

Contact Peter Pascan

Tel: 01525 [email protected]

www.cladwinds.com

Transformyour homewith beautifulnew windowsfromCladwinds.A trusted local firm with30 years manufacturing and installing experience

Est.since1985

Insurancebacked10 year

guarantee

Cladwinds Full Sept 15_Layout 1 09/09/2015 17:42 Page 1

Quality of life

What makes an ideal care home?

Find it, at Dukeminster Court, DunstableDukeminster Road (off Church Street) Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU5 4FF

01582 474700 [email protected]

• Residential and Respite Care• Accredited providers of

Specialist Dementia Care • Competitive fee rates, not for profit

A friendly, stimulating atmosphereProviding the human warmth to help you enjoy life in a comfortable, homely environment

Well trained, caring staffWe choose dedicated staff for whom caring is not just a job, but a vocation

A convenient, central locationDukeminster Court is located in the heart of the local community

Quality of lifelife

For information on any of our homes or our care services: www.quantumcare.co.uk

Need a little extra support this Christmas?

Ask us about short-term

Respite Care

The Vine Villages - December / January 2016 - Issue 22

Documents

Transcript of The Vine Villages - December / January 2016 - Issue 22